Hytar's Ship ch 2

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Tala wiggled her ears. "That makes being in water much more hazardous. One would not wish to drown, no matter how pleasing the water is. It is well you survived."

~~
The cops waited patiently for Hytar. They nodded in greeting when he came out to see them.

"You are the captain here?" the first cop asked.

"You are a princess?" Tala asked. Her ears wiggled. "No wonder you had many nannies and servants! And your fondness for glitter now makes sense!" She paused, recalling the news of the royal family. "I am sorry for your family's distresses."

Nikita held a strained look, "My father and I were at odds on how to work on the slavery issue within our corner of space. I choice to work with the free colonist behind his back. This is why I don't want this out, I was a ambassador on Terr for a period of time. My brother is here, If I'm found out be ready for a lot of drama."

Tala shook her head. "Your brother is on this planet? I suppose he will soon be heading home, and that you should be going with him." She couldn't see how there could be much drama about slaves when the entire royal family was going through massive internal chaos, royalty took priority, that was how it was.

"I have priorities here." Nikita said firmly, "Viver will be able to take control easily enough. Most assassins don't even give me a second glance, I can do more good here then in the courts."

Tala looked unconvinced. "You think helping Hytar to kill slaves and slavers is better than helping your brother to kill slaves and slavers?" She knew enough about how Hytar and the light shards worked to know they were pretty darn similar that way. "Hytar does not generally go out of his way to rescue slaves, he likely would have killed the ones he rescued most recently if we had not stated otherwise on his contract."

"The main reason I am part of this crew was to have transportation and to be a direct contact with Nila West." Nikita said firmly, "For some reason she feels that they can benefit each other in the future. My alliance is to the free Colonists, not light, not dark, not Hytar ways."

Eleven snorted. Well la dee dah, a princess. Xe rolled xyr eyes and went back to work.

"What does the boss feel about this assumption?" Lope asked, adding "i'm sorry for your loss."

"On me or Miss West views of him?" Nikita asked to clarify. "Honestly I believe they both can manipulate each other to their fullest benefit. Doesn't help matters he apparently has caught eye of Ferick and has a bounty from her too. The latter I think is more ego though since his bounty is bigger then Miss West." The shard chuckled softly.

Tala twitched her ears. "And why are you telling us who you are? It seems an unnecessary risk to take." There wasn't any benefit to telling then she was a princess, was there? If there was, Tala couldn't see it.

"There isn't, but with the recent death my face and my family going to be plasterd everywhere." Nikita said dryly with annoyance. "Which means there a chance of people connecting dots which I don't thing any of our crew wants the spot light with."

"There's a bounty on the boss?!" Lope looked alarmed.

"There's probably loads of bountys on him, he's not exactly good at making friends." Eleven pointed out.

"But.. if there's bounty hunters after us, shouldn't the crew be aware!" Lope protested.

Eleven dropped to the floor with a graceful somersault. "Why? What exactly can we do about it? If this.. what was the name? Whatever, decides to come try to take this ship, well good luck to em."

"The people who... do you think you're in danger too?" Lope asked Nikita.

"Most likely, it was one of her pets that made me go for a bob." Nikita said miffly, "Fire bending bitch..." she mumbled. "I'm able to handle myself, and nor will Ferick make a large scene about this. The bounty is off the books offically so most of the people heading for Hytar is from her own little pet group of telepaths." She put the tablet away. "I am doubtful they are on Tera, Darks who have papers with their empire rarely come here because of the stigma they have for being pro slavery. If they made it through though we'll know very soon, trust me."

Lope didn't understand half of that, but he nodded.

"Great. Sooner we get home the better then." Eleven muttered. "Let's get this pile of bolts cleaned up and running as fast as she can, then we can work on the weapons array and shielding improvements."

Lope nodded. "good idea."

Tala snorted softly. "It seems I had best stop this idle dillydally and see to my charges, to make sure they are safe," she said. She didn't want to leave her dragon crew unattended, nor did she want to have Vestia parked near Hytar's ship any longer than necessary if he had bounty hunters on his tail. Vestia attracted enough hostility on her own.

Nikita nodded, wondering when Hytar would actually return

"May your family be found, Nikita," Tala said. She headed off again, to go see to her own crew. If there were bounty hunters around, Tala was going to be there to scare them away.

Eleven and Lope worked hard on the ship, spurned into more action by the thought of having to repel bounty hunters as well as slavers and anyone else their captain had pissed off.

Nikita would help as much as she could.

Tala would go to her ship, and maybe see Starr heading that way.

"Hey Tala" Starr said, seeing her easily enough as she came out.

"Greetings, Starr! You have come to see your companions, I suppose?" Tala asked, looking pleased. She was glad to see Starr again, familiar faces were nice after such a long absence.

Starr chuckled and nodded. "Yes, I was coming to see my people." She said happily "How are you, my friend?" She asked as she walked over to Tala

"I am well. It has been a long voyage with little fresh vegetation, but the rewards have been great to cherish," Tala proclaimed. "How have you fared?" She thought Starr seemed happier, so that was a good sign.

"It has been good to be home and among friends again." Starr said with a smile. "Now we will have more friends." She said, looking to the transport

"I am glad to hear such. Yes, you shall love them, for they are most excellent companions and crewmates," Tala said. "Come, I shall take you to meet them, and you can have a fine reunion!"

Starr smiled again at that and nodded "They think highly of you too Tala." She said cheerfully.

"I am glad that is so," Tala said proudly. They were a good crew, and it was a good feeling to have mutual respect. She led the way to the ship. "Crew! I have a friend of yours!"