Screaming Metal

Part 023

Or the crew didn't know how, because they weren't trained to use the warship. They had simply put it on auto-pilot and pointed it in a direction.

This further supported the idea that these people might be clueless as to the braincore's location, or even its existence.

That they were just opportunists – simply seeking whatever treasure they thought the crew of the Alley Cat was after.

In other words, the warship had been a bluff, a show of potential deadly force in the face of an unknown and potentially dangerous enemy.

Pretty ballsy gamble if true.

Be that as it may, they'd fired on her. Twice. The first time, nearly killing her.

Now that Priyanka and her crew been chased off, there was no reason to pretend they were here on delivery runs.

So as long as they weren't detected, they could hide out in the mountains for a few weeks before they themselves needed supplies.

If what she was beginning to suspect was true, the next few days would be telling.

If the locals pulled something out of the junk, Priyanka's crew might have to resort to a little theft to retrieve their property.

On the other hand, if these claim jumpers came up empty-handed, they might just leave, and she and her crew could get back to work.

Hopefully they would finish before they attracted any further attention. And if wishes were fishes, she'd be swimming in an ocean about now.

"Anything?" Deshel's voice rose from the darkness behind her.

Priyanka shook her head, "No. They could have had the braincore dug out by now if they wanted it so badly they were willing to fire on another ship for it."

"Unless they're just desperate," he returned.

"And how would you know about their desperation?"

"Nothing. Just an open ear picking up the obvious."

True. In all the bars on all the planets she'd visited, an open ear often paid off far better than greasing palms.

More often than not, palms were dirty and disingenuous.

Still, she wasn't going to let him off that easily. "You get buddy-buddy with the locals?"

Deshel sat down beside her and made a face. "A beer or two. C'mon, you know the game."

She nodded noncommittally. They fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Deshel spoke, "Take over for you?"

Priyanka glanced at the chronometer on the optical array. Deshel still had a little less than an hour before his shift.

She sat silently, suddenly feeling the weight of the day come down on her.

"It's yours," she said flatly before moving aside and lying down. She was asleep within moments.

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