Page 27 of Life-Debt

“The same. The black market operator was displeased with what he learned, why the buyer wanted the stones, and the acquisition method of the stones. The buyer requested the dirtiest stones possible. Planet busted from an inhabited world. The whole story is here on this sheet of paper, and the buyer was not aware.” Carthello offered the sheet back. “That sheet and a psionic reader is all you need to prove his innocence. I suspect the man you protect is mentioned in there. One was innocent. Three were not. One had a conscience. The others didn’t.”

“Conscience enough to break the shiftgem crystals throughout the ship without being able to repair them?”

“And to put the one innocent into stasis so only they would pay for the millions of lives lost.”

Fucking planet busters. “How much would it cost for you to transmit this data to Cremora Delta 005-26 along with the relevant information? They know I was on board the ship, and I’m prepared to take the credit for having apprehended the core crystals.”

“You can be cleared readily enough. You have salvaged core shiftgems before. You are licensed to carry them on board. You verified their source, and I will draw up the documentation for you. This was not condoned by our market, and we will honor this—and make certain the planet busters responsible fall. But you will become a target.”

I sighed. “When am I not a target?”

“Moreso than you already are. The planet busters will steer clear of you. You’re being targeted by Veloc. But the Veloc? The instant they find you would fling yourself on a sacrificial altar to recover core shiftgems and see them properly handled? They will not rest until you fall into their clawed clutches.”

I snorted a laugh. “I’d rather be romanced by one of their cousins, but being romanced is not a bad thing, Carthello. Venturing through space can be lonely. I’d even bring him back from time to time.”

I doubted Delta would leave his city, not with how much relief I’d seen on his face when he’d beheld his home after his harrowing adventure on the freighter. I wouldn’t want to leave home after that for a while, either. Unfortunately for me, my ship was my only home.

“Women,” Carthello complained. “Always wanting romance.”

“No, that’s the Veloc. I just understand there are benefits to the whole romance idea.”

Some of the benefits were more enjoyable than others, but I’d learned long ago to control my hormonal impulses. Space and hormones rarely mixed well. I would need to take a cold walk through space to restore my senses—after I handled the core shiftgem issue.

Carthello chuckled. “You were always a strange one. You are wearing one of the stones, I see. No, I hear. I hear the stone singing its joy.”

With my helmet off, I could dig my hand inside my suit, fish for the chain, and pull out the stone I’d put on. “Rainbow black. I wanted an accessible stone to show you.”

“You will have to register that as yours. It sings, and it will not accept another owner. No matter. These stones are psycho-activated, so it is to be expected there might be a mishap. I will simply inform the authorities the stone is wiser than most and understood your intent when you secured them.”

“I was going to return them to their planet of origin if that was an option. Or their people.”

Carthello shook his head. “There are none left to return the stones to. I’m sorry. But I hear the truth of your words, and they will know you had good intentions. They will mark that stone as your compensation, I’m sure. And perhaps another for a system on your ship. A stasis chamber, perhaps? I have a single-person model in stock and ready for install. You could have one ready in an hour.”

I grimaced. “The price?”

“Your agreement to help with legal missions would be a sufficient price for the unit. In truth, you have rescued many of our smugglers from bad situations, and like the Veloc, we take such life-debts seriously. This would clear all debts owed to you for the lives saved, and you will be able to save more with the chamber and the stones required to operate it. You will, of course, have to set aside your pride and acknowledge the debts we owe.” Carthello snickered and waggled his tentacles at me.

Bastard. “Very well. I acknowledge I have less sense than any sentient should have, resulting in me risking my life more than I should for a bunch of life-debt obsessed species. Debts owed are no longer owed for the stasis chamber, which I’ll inevitably use to accumulate even more life-debts I don’t wish burdening my shoulders.”

“Wise, wise, wise.” He held up his tentacles, and his beady lizard eyes paled to a silvery hue.

Psionic abilities came as varied as the stars, but I hadn’t seen someone’s eyes change color using such an ability before. One day, I might be brave enough to ask him what else he’d done on his quest to transform himself into the perfect being.

Then again, maybe I was better off not knowing.

“They will begin installation work on the stasis chamber as soon as we are finished here. They are taking it to your dock now. I have warned them your security system is impressive, and they will wait patiently for us to finish our business. They will, as they value their lives as much as they do their hearing.”

I grinned, as I’d deafened a few assholes who’d thought they could mess with me and my ship. “Did they finally irritate the wrong sentient?”

“Veloc got them both after they tried to steal a hatchling.”

I winced. “Having seen those claws and their teeth, I suppose they probably hadn’t lasted long.”

“They get annoyed when their meal kicks and screams, so no. They hadn’t. They ate them both and broke the bones down to fragments as a reminder of why Veloc hatchlings are not to be stolen and smuggled.”

“Noted. Do not steal adorably cute Veloc hatchings. I’ve seen the adolescents. They’re gangly fluffs. Two had gotten into trouble and had been assigned as mules to stock my ship.”

Carthello snickered. “You have earned much trust for them to allow a pair of their young to work for you. You could have easily lured them off.”