Page 36 of Life-Debt

“And the next time someone tells me the gate has a mind of its own, I will absolutely believe them,” I announced. I flipped a switch, scanned for communication lines, and identified a traffic controller frequency, which I tuned into. Rather sheepishly, I identified my ship, informed traffic control of a jump gone rather wrong, and requested direction.

A rather amused traffic controller welcomed me to Veloci Minor, informed me they had already been notified we were attempting to use their cantankerous gate, and gave me permission to land at the nearest landport located a five minute flight at minimal throttle. They gave me a new frequency and ordered me to queue in for landing, but to expect preferential treatment due to the nature of my arrival.

Three minutes later, the traffic controller at the landport scrambled to get a free runway open, but after a brief conversation, I assured them I could use any pad large enough for my vessel. While doubtful, the Veloc instructed me to a cargo copter pad, and I eased the ship over, engaged the hover functionality, and dropped her down in the center of the pad. I killed the engine, slumped in my seat, and groaned. “That was a nightmare scenario.”

In my true fashion, I’d refused to accept names of my living cargo with the exception of the hatchling, as Miracle Star needed to hear her name and enjoy affection. Her mother trilled a laugh. “It was interesting.”

Damned Veloc. The instant they’d gotten beyond their fear, they had thrown themselves into the whole flying experience with enthusiasm. If they asked me to go through my ship one more time, I would lose my mind.

I pointed my hand in the general direction of the doors. “Please go home but leave the body so I can revive him. You’re welcome, I am honored to have enjoyed your company, and I appreciate your life-debt.”

The father chuckled, as did the guardian. To my amusement, they did leave, and I opened the gangway from my seat, flipping on the security cameras to monitor the Veloc. They eyed the kidnapper, but beyond some hissing, they left his body alone.

It would do. Weary from the travel and on edge from the untraditional planetary visit, I pressed the intercom and said, “Pandora, stay in your nest, please. It is not safe yet.”

I trusted her to stay and keep her new friend close. Rising to my feet, I followed in the Veloc’s wake to discover what new forms of trouble waited for me.

* * *

If the Veloc gave me one more gift, I would lose my mind. It had started with the mother’s sister, who’d keened, flung herself at me, and worshipped the ground I stood upon, wrapping herself around my legs while she wailed. At a loss, I bent over and stroked the Veloc’s crest, reassuring her in her tongue and thanking her for her gratitude.

When she finally rose, she removed a gem from her crest and pressed it into my hand, begging me to accept it, and that she would adjust the setting so it could be a bauble suitable for my crest.

I recognized a shiftgem crystal when I saw one, and she’d given me a beauty of a pitch black stone. At a loss of why she would give me something so precious, I thanked her.

Her tenuous hold on her emotions frayed, and she keened more, although another Veloc intervened before she could trap me again. With the crystal in hand, I realized the entire clan had been waiting at the landport with a prayer in their hearts and a plea for some miracle on their breath.

Somehow, the shiftgem gate had understood the true need, of the family waiting for word and not knowing if or when we would arrive.

The gate had understood the true meaning of mercy, doing what it could to help those who suffered. I would need many hours to think through the ramifications of its compassion.

More Veloc approached and swarmed the parents and hatchling, and with some help from the self-assigned guardian, I dodged the more aggressive displays of affection. More shiftgem crystals made their way into my hands, my pockets, and my hair, clipped into place by several older females, who said nothing but offered nuzzles to go with their gift.

Once the procession eased, I asked the guardian, “What’s going on?”

“You are a sister of our clan now, and they welcome you with a crystal each—a bauble we wear. It is a life-debt they cannot repay in this moment, so they do what they can. We had lost hope for her return.”

“He took her a long way from home and chose poorly where to sell her. He picked the wrong black market, and he will pay for his choice. And if you’re wise and make sure he doesn’t come to harm until his trial, you may be able to hunt any accomplices.”

“That will make it easier to control the clan.”

“Are you prepared to imprison him?”

“We’re prepared.”

“Then I’ll begin the revival process. If you have a doctor capable of treating humanoids, it would be useful. My medical knowledge is limited, and let’s just say the operators gave him a beating. I’d like him to stay alive.”

The guardian turned, and trilled, chirped, hooted, and clicked a request for the appropriate doctor and a holding cell. When he finished, I retreated to the ship, and he accompanied me.

Without me asking, the Veloc snagged the man and removed the cable tethering him to my cargo hold. “Will this be painful?”

I chuckled. “Considering I won’t be giving him any painkillers for his injuries, yes. And there will be quite some time while he thaws and his nerves are firing where I simply won’t give a damn. I usually try not to be cruel, but this is deserved. But I won’t have him killed without a trial.”

“That is because you are just and fair, excellent traits more people could use. But vicious enough to do unpleasant but necessary things.”

“Let’s just get him revived before the clan of angry predators realizes they’re angry. A corpse can’t stand trial.”

* * *