Truehearts & The Escape From Pirate Moon Jake Macklem (classic romance novels TXT) 📖

reason for you and your crew to be killed today. We just want your stuff.” He smiled at the thought of the plunder aboard the vessel.

Getha laughed. “They are changing course and starting main engines.”

Remy stopped smiling. “Mr. Vargi, please shoot that ship,” he ordered.

“Aye, Captain.” A moment later, laser beams ripped through the mining ship, causing secondary explosions. Drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair, Remy awaited the results. “Direct hit,” came the report.

“Ship has no power. Life support down. She is adrift, Captain,” the Zontra added.

“Thank you, Getha. Bring the Javelin around and prepare the boarding tube.” Satisfied, Remy stood back up and strutted toward the doorway. “Mr. Vargi, assemble the crew and board that ship.”

The giant Gargin stood from his gunnery station. “With pleasure, Captain.”

“Getha, T’toli, the bridge is yours.” Remy walked off the bridge and to the lift, Mr. Vargi close behind.

Remy watched Mr. Vargi escort his prisoners marched onto the Javelin. Slapped and shoved into rows and columns across the cargo hold, they offered little resistance. Stepping toward the captured crew, Remy evaluated them. Some were wounded, some almost dead, and they were all scared. Their dirty, terrified faces looked up at him and he put on his best, most reassuring smile. “I am Captain Dark,” he began, gesturing broadly around them, “and this is my ship.” He brought his hands together. “And you are my property. Any questions?”

One of the prisoners opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Remy dropped his smile and lifted his plasma pistol. The super-heated energy blasted a gaping, cauterized crater in the man’s torso.

The corpse collapsed to the deck, the flesh around the crater still glowing and smoldering like cinders. “Questions? Anyone?” Some people cried, but no one spoke. “Wonderful. Get them in their cells.” He holstered his pistol and walked to the closest commlink and pressed the button. “Getha, we’re on. Detach and get us down to the moon. T’toli, radio Crossbones and have a crew come get this piece of shit for parts.” Remy spun and walked with cocky arrogance toward his cabin. “Mr. Vargi, I will be in my quarters.” I can still get a little training in before we land.

Walking back into the loading bay, the hot, wet air smelled of metal. Remy saw that twenty or so of his crew had opened the bay door as the ship cruised over the stampeding herd of three-legged creatures the crew had taken to calling ‘tripes.’ Several of the men were shooting at the fleeing beasts, taking bets, laughing among themselves, and cheering each other on. Remy walked up to the loading bay railing and looked out over the surface of the moon.

Billowing yellow and red clouds floated high in the sky. A light rain fell, wetting the rust-colored dirt. This moon… Remy thought back to when he discovered it with his first crew. It should not have such high gravity, nor a breathable atmosphere, but it did, making it a perfect hideaway. Using it as a private storage site for close to a decade, he could not count how many people he had left here over the years. Including my first crew. Anyone he wanted to make sure was never found, he brought here. Good times.

He drew his plasma pistol and fired a few shots at the herd, killing a beast with each bolt. “Mr. Vargi, I believe the crew would enjoy a few rounds from the forward battery!”

The Gargin rock-man smiled. “Aye, Captain!” Hurrying to a nearby panel, he fired a single shot with the mag gun. The explosive blast ripped through the herd, throwing expansive dust clouds and pieces of the beasts into the air, raining carnage across the surface below. The pirate crew roared with delight.

The large cruiser swept over the leaning rock towers and landed, the herd behind them frantically disappearing over a ridge. His crew extended the ramp and lowered the loading bay railing, then eagerly advanced as the captain shouted, “Half of you secure the ship and the rest down to the cave. Watch out for those spider-things. And for the big lizards—poisonous tongues on those.” Remy walked toward the cave, Mr. Vargi walking next to him. “Once it’s cleared, we’ll have the crew set up a couple of lookouts and have the slaves start hauling everything to the ship. We have extras at this point, so kill the ones that won’t fetch a decent price. No sense keeping them alive if we won’t get paid for it. I mean, am I right?” Remy chuckled.

Mr. Vargi shrugged and watched the dozens of slaves exiting the ship. Some were from captured ships, some from small spaceports or colonies they raided. A few they had taken in trade for goods and services. The ones that were too old, weak, or just ugly would not sell for much; this was their last walk. Once the ship was loaded, Remy planned to leave the dregs to face the big purple lizards that always came around. The crew seems to enjoy watching them scramble even more than shooting them. In any case, survivors are always more compliant once they see what can happen.

Remy stepped in front of the slaves. “Some of my things are in that cave. Valuable things. Once my crew has cleared any of the local fauna, you are going to carry my possessions from the cave to my ship. You will do this quickly and efficiently. Any questions?” A long silence drifted on the barely noticeable wind. “Wonderful.” He clapped his giant mate on the shoulder. “Mr. Vargi, please see to it.”

“Aye, Captain.” Turning back to the gathered captives, the Gargin shouted. “Is anyone too injured to work?”

“I can’t lift m…” The whine of a laser pistol cut him off as the beam pierced his forehead.

“Anyone else?” Mr. Vargi smirked. “Good. Then…” A scream echoed from the cave.