The Shady Shade

Prologue

The large aircraft hovered some feet above the ground making a slow rotation before its landing gear touched down. There was a slight hiss as the exhausts released all the pent up air raising a large cloud of dust around the metallic beast. The area was deserted and a deadly desert if you had no way of getting into the air. The only city that was still standing could be found on the other side of the planet and its only purpose was mining. The temperatures were mind numbing and any food or liquid had to be shipped here for the survival of the few crazy enough to accept the working conditions. -

- Well it's about time you scorwin maggot! How long did you plan on keeping me waiting?

The owner of the angry voice, a tall, thin creature, came into view a moment later from the other vessel that had been scorching in the sun for a few greids. His green skin had a coat of liquid on it though if that was sweat or slime, no one was curious enough to test it. He approached the newly arrived vessel with a limp and waited for the ramp to come down. As the event was slow to commence he rolled his eyes at the need for ceremony of the other pilot. Finally, his accomplice descended with an irritatingly calculated and leisure step.

- Where in the gods have you been?! I've only been waiting for 5 greids! Any more than that and you would be meeting a dried up corpse.

The new arrival barely refrained from rolling his own eyes at the comment and made no effort to answer. Instead, he switched to the topic that mattered.

- How did it go? He asked in a neutral tone.

- Perfect I would say. There was one survivor, but he won't be a problem, the green skinned creature answered.

The other man frowned, a flash of anger passing momentarily through his eyes and he took a step closer. He reached for the dirty old rag the creature called a shirt and brought his face close enough to scent his foul breath.

- How is that not a problem, Biza? The question poured through greeted teeth.

- He won't make it. The healers say that the damage is too bad and there have been no signs of any improvement so far. Besides, just like you said, he will be blamed for the incident, so he's out of the way even if by some miracle he does survive.

Taking in Biza's cowering form and his slight tremble the other pilot felt a small thrill pass through him. He gave a faint smile to the lowlife in front of him, then wrinkled his nose as the another one of those withering breaths hit his senses and he felt compelled to release the other man's shirt and even go so far as to push him away.

- What about the other one? He asked in a clipped tone.

- Everything is going according to plan. We have a backup route if necessary, but it doesn't look like we'll be needing it, Biza answered trying hard to regain some semblance of composure.

- Good. Let me know if anything changes.

Biza almost sighed in relief that the conversation seemed to be over, but before he could do so, the other pilot moved with such speed he barely had time to register the motion before he had a long, sharp blade pressed to his neck.

- Fail me again, Biza and I will make you beg for a quick death.