Tristan (Tristan book 1) (Draft 1)

Chapter 04

"You can close the ramp before someone else decides to walk in," Tristan said as he watched the human, wondering how he had managed to make it to the ship without attracting attention dressed as he was.

The man reached for the wall behind him, never taking his gaze off Tristan. He didn't search long before finding the switch and the insides of the ship became dark as the ramp closed.

The darkness didn't last long for Tristan. His pupils dilated almost as fast as the light faded. His vision lost most of its colour, as well as some of its sharpness, but the light emitted by the control panel was enough to let him see the human slip his goggles down around his neck.

Tristan continued watching as the human crept along the wall. He was impressed at how silent the man could be, he'd never come across a human who could move barely making any sounds. He let him take a few steps before moving his aim to his new position. "Don't think the shine job will give you the advantage."

The man stopped moving and leveled the heavy weapon he was holding on Tristan.

Tristan studied him for a moment. "How familiar are you with the Pisteron three?" The man didn't reply. "The one you're holding has been modified. Its beam strength is probably at the maximum the components can handle. If you fire it you will certainly take me out, as well as the front of the ship, unless you know how to reduce its intensity." He continued to watch the man, looking for any reaction, but he didn't get any, even his face stayed completely still. He had heard stories about this man, but he had doubted their veracity. Now he wasn't so sure.

The man was silent for a few moments. "You got an offer?"

Tristan kept himself from reacting as much as possible, and counted on the human not being familiar enough with his species to catch the few signs of relief he couldn't stop. He decided against putting on a mask as he cautiously stood. The man's ruthlessness was legendary, if he caught on to any trickery, the result would be bloody. He might be able to take him out in a hand to hand fight, but he wouldn't win it unscathed. "We obviously both want to get off the Sayatoga, something which will be easier to accomplish if we work together."

It was the man's turn to study him. "And I trust you why?"

"Mutually assured survival," Tristan answered, "I have nothing against you and I don't believe I would still be alive if you had something against me. If we fight, whoever wins will not be in any position to take advantage of the opportunity to escape when it will present itself. The only useful option left is cooperation."

The man considered it for a moment then nodded as he rested the weapon against the wall. "What are you up to?" he asked, pointing to the open panel.

Tristan put his Kytron in its holster, noting that the man's hand always stayed near the shiv he kept at his belt. He looked at the wires and circuits. "Something I don't need to do anymore. Can you turn the light on?" The man hit the switch and Tristan undid some of the changes he had done then closed the panel and sat in the pilot's chair.

The man looked at the control panels. "You're waiting for something to happen," he commented.

"Yes," Tristan answered, "I planted the seeds of escape in the mind of one of the convicts released to hunt you down. I also gave him the means to make it happen. I'm sure he sold both to others quickly. Stealing a ship is the only way off the Sayatoga, I'm waiting for someone to try." He focused on listening to the ship's chatter, trying to get an idea of what the convicts were up to. He would have liked to access the main computer and get a read-out on their implants, but he couldn't risk raising any kind of flag that might alert someone he was in the ship.

All he could do was wait, with the human standing behind him.

The wait wasn't too long. Within an hour the chatter intensified with warnings that some of the convicts were loose on the ship, reports of shots fired and death. Not long after that the noise level outside the ship increased. Then came explosions and the general alert with an order for available pilots to report to the flight bays.