Pegasus (Part 118)

There were no more guards. Two rows of fifty starships of various sizes, classes, and make were parked in front of us.

Sharon, still being aided by Leanne pointed in the direction of her one. I sprinted ahead wary of the reinforcements that I thought were imminent.

“This one?” I shouted pointing to a dishevelled white Betomez carrier.

“The next one,” Leanne shouted.

I ran forward.

No, it couldn’t be. Not a first-class Mitzu. The ship was famous throughout the system for its speed and agility. Then there were the armaments. Two immense laser cannons protruded on each side. They had enough destructive power to give small space habitats concerns for their continuing existence. In my youth, I went through a phase of our Mitzu idolatry, and this was the ship that I always wanted to fly.

“This one?”

“Yes. The code is 0575ew2”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Most others would not have known where to input the code but I did, and I immediately entered it into the panel input device under the left wing. The rear cargo bay began to open, and I heard the unmistakable clicking sound of the laser cannons becoming operational.

Then I heard the sound of distant laser fire – reinforcements had arrived.

Pegasus Part 116

She blubbed that her name was Sharon. Instantly, I remembered the name. I let go of my embrace with Tabitha and turned to face her. Her right eye was swollen and blood was still dripping from her mouth.

“You’re a smuggler,” I said.

She nodded her bowed head.

“Do you have a ship?

There was no response. I stepped in her direction, but Leanne blocked my way, her facial muscles tense.

“Leanne, she is the key to getting us to the Emperor’s habitat. You know what you signed up for joining the movement,”

Chrissie put her hand on my shoulder.

“We need her help Leanne.”

Leanne pouted her lips and glanced back at Sharon.

“Yes, I know. Let me talk to her first. The woman is petrified.”

Chrissie looked at me.

“Give them a few minutes. Let Leanne talk to her.

I went back and tended to Tabitha.

Minutes passed, and the two women murmured to each other. Whatever Leanne said was worth it because she agreed to take us to the Emperor’s habitat. Her ship was at the top of the building. I helped Tabiitha to her feet, as Leanne did likewise with Sharon. There was a silent groan after each step taken.

Pegasus (Part 113)

The door swung open.

“Jarlath’s my name. You never asked on the way up.”

He was holding a baseball bat in his right hand.

“You really did come at a bad time. Right when a major operation against smugglers and infiltrators was under way. Bad, bad man. So are you just a smuggler or something worse?”

He lifted the bat over his shoulder and brought it down on my lower legs. A searing, immense pain engulfed my body.

“That’s a nice woman you brought with you. The boys are going to love her.”

Removing the cloth wrapped around my mouth I shouted, “Leave her the fuck alone!”

Jarlath laughed.

“Now, why were you trying to get to the Emperor’s habitat? And don’t fucking lie.”

“It was to trade…”

Another blow came crashing down.

“That’s not what Tabitha said, well after she got a few slaps. Oh yes, you were out cold so we started the process with her some time ago. A feisty woman. I sensed a real dislike of the Emperor. So, stop fucking around. I have places to be. Meeting a nice girl called Sharon in an hour so don’t delay. Funny enough, she’s the kind of person you were looking for. Ah well, too bad.”