The Backworlds by M. Pax

gettin ’ me out of custody.”
    “You crew, mate,” Talos said. “As
your captain, it was an obligation.”
    Craze would accept that explanation
outwardly, but knew he and the aviars had started on an alliance deeper than
business. The things they’d done for him proved it. Unlike Bast, they deserved
his loyalty, and he vowed to show it moving forward.
    He kept his voice low. “So you got
the chocolates? I saw you escape.”
    Talos scratched at his sharp beak
of a nose. “We got the wrapped bars. We heard they mealworm cakes.”
    “Did you check?” Craze chewed on
the inside of his cheek.
    “We unwrapped one.” Talos giggled,
leaning in closer, rubbing his thumb over the pin on his lapel. “It was
chocolate.”
    “Great shit!” Craze clapped his
hands. “How many did you get?”
    Talos held up a cautionary hand.
“Fifty-three bars. We don’t know whether they all chocolate though.”
    With what the patrollers had shown
Craze on Elstwhere, the aviarman had a reason to be wary about what they had
taken away from Mr. Slade’s Emporium.
    “We should unwrap the others,” Craze
said. “Where’d you put them? I’ll help.” He took a step into the living area,
anxious to find out how badly he’d been duped by the Jix and the smugglers.
    “If we open them, they exposed to
rotting,” Talos said, his lips drawing to one side in a grimace. “Then they
lose all their value.”
    Lepsi held up a finger, signaling
he might have the solution. “If Mortua has a med bay,
there’s a surgical laser we can use to inspect under the casings ‘n foils. It
then reseals the holes.”
    Talos frowned, pressing his long
body against the wall. “It’s a shipyard ‘n that’s what it’s known for. If it
has more than a med kit, I’d be surprised.”
    “So we may not be able to find out
on Mortua .” Craze rubbed at his chin. “But someplace
out here on the Edge will have what we need.”
    “Yup,” Talos said, “until then we
carry on.” He pulled at the lapel sporting the badge with his beloved motto.
    Patience had never been a strength
of Craze’s. He hated the idea of waiting and probably for a big disappointment.
All of his investments had evaporated, as dried up as the mealworms. It kicked
at him, bunching his muscles into knots.
    Maybe the pay from the Assembled
Authorities would make up for some of the loss. He had to ask, fingering the
tab in his pocket, hoping the aviars intended to share. “How much did you get
paid to chase after these Fo’wo’ bastards?”
    Talos took out his tab. “Forty-two
thousand chips. I’ll ping you your third now. I was waiting for Dactyl to give
us some space.”
    Craze glanced at his balance to
make sure it went through. Fourteen thousand chips was less than Bast had given
him, but better than nothing. “I appreciate it guys ... friends.” That’s what
Craze wanted the aviars to be. He held out his hand for Lepsi and Talos to
shake.
    Lepsi shook with a big grin,
clapping Craze on the back as he did, laughing, a good-natured fellow despite
those stupid songs. “ Federoy will be envious when I
report a pal like you. Plant your face in it, brother.”
    Craze chuckled, sticking his tongue
out at Federoy’s image when Lepsi held it out. “You
got it better than he does. He’ll find out soon.”
    Talos also shook hands. “The Edge
is a dangerous place, mate,” he said. “We can all use as many friends as we can
get.”
    “Mate.” Craze grinned. Then he
explained how Verkinn could hibernate. “Wake me if anythin ’
comes up, otherwise I say goodnight until we arrive at Mortua .”
    He returned to his bunk, sinking
under covers that cradled him as softly and warmly as Yerness’s embraces once did. A pleasure he would never know again. At least not with her.
Sighing, he told the computer to wake him three hours before they arrived at Mortua .
    His overworked body began to shut
down, his heart beat and lungs slowing, his blood flowing like ice five. His
thoughts