Inherit the Stars by Tony Peak Page B

“The ship I boarded was suspicious due to its Sarrhdtuu beacon.”
    â€œThis wasn’t just about Kiv’s ship. What else?” Sar’s hands remained on her wrists.
    â€œThe tower sent out a signal to wherever the Vim are now. My people have waited for this signal a long time.” Seul struggled to keep her voice emotionless.
    Sar released her, his eyes worried. “
Frevyx
never picked up such a signal.”
    â€œHuman scanners lack the proper configuration, though the Sarrhdtuu will have also detected the signal. Now do you understand my mission? Do you regret the Aldaakian blood you’ve shed?” Seul’s cryoports gave an audible snap.
    Exchanging a look with Cheseia, Sar nodded. “I’m regretting lots of things here lately.”
    Seul studied Sar’s swarthy face. Handsome, despite those nasty shocks of hair on his head. But something in his eyes spoke truth. “What is your offer?”
    â€œThe Inheritors are both our enemies,” Sar replied.“Whatever Dunaar wants that gem for means trouble for my friends and yours. Then you tell me about this Vim signal. Seems we have common cause here.”
    â€œYou suggest an alliance?” Seul tried not to laugh. “What are your weapons? Where are your fleets? Words cannot defeat both Sarrhdtuu and Inheritor starships.”
    â€œYour people have the weapons, the ships. My people, the knowledge. You’ve been fighting the Inheritors a long time and you haven’t won yet. My friends operate right under their noses.” Sar arched an eyebrow.
    She wanted to believe this human. Though the loss of her fellow Troopers still festered in her heart, Seul knew her people needed help to win this long, awful war. The quicker it ended, the closer she came to her daughter.
    â€œTell me more,” Seul said.
    â€œA friend of mine can read what’s on that gem,” Sar said. “I can’t say any more right now, until I know you’re committed.”
    He made no mention of the red-haired human. Did Sar plan to sell the woman or kill her? Seul had to be careful. “How do I prove this?”
    Sar hesitated, his eyes prying into hers. “Pretend you’re my prisoner once we debark.”
    Cheseia nudged Seul’s arm. “Let us find you something to truly wear.”
    â€œMy appearance is inappropriate?” Seul asked. Kael had always appreciated her form.
    â€œYou look too crisp for where we’re going.” Sar led her to the ship’s storage lockers.
    Though this ship was cleaner than the trawler her squad had boarded, Seul paid it little mind. Was
Aldaar
still in orbit over the crystal planet? Would Vuul follow this ship? She knew every decision would be weighedagainst the discovery of the Vim signal. Her own actions had to take that into consideration. If this gem’s potential matched Sar’s claims, her people’s search would be over.
    First, Seul had to hear the rest of Sar’s offer. Trepidation dampened her elation for a moment. Her race’s doom or glory might rest in the hands of that red-haired salvager, the one Sar called Kiv. No one else had been able to retrieve that gem.
    Kiv would not get out of Seul’s sight.

10
    With Tejuit love chains jingling, Kivita entered
Frevyx
’s galley. Cheseia scowled at her and elbowed Sar. He spilled his water flask.
    â€œSurely you have better garments than those?” Cheseia’s biceps twitched.
    Kivita wanted to glare back, but Sar’s annoyed look and Cheseia’s jealous one made her smirk and place her hands on her hips. “Yeah, guess I’m ready for a night on the spaceport in this getup.”
    Sar and Cheseia sat on stools behind a counter. Seul stood in a corner, wrists bound, wearing a farmer’s smock. Food lockers and water drums filled another corner. A hot-wave disk and dry-disher lay beside the counter. Too bad her ship lacked such a nice galley. Damn Sar for his