Alexander Outland: Space Pirate by G. J. Koch

Author:G. J. Koch [Koch, G. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: restricted
ISBN: 9781597804233
Publisher: Night Shade Books
Published: 2012-05-28T12:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 49

I put Slinkie and Tanner behind me. I didn’t want her getting hurt and the kid was clearly not going to be up to much for a while. Besides, one of them might have an issue with shooting Lionside, and I knew I didn’t.

“Men, fan out from here.” Lionside was close. “Give me regular reports.” I heard footsteps fade away. Then I heard footsteps coming towards us. “I know you’re here. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shoot me.”

My gun was pointing at him, but I didn’t say anything. Someone saying they knew you were around and them actually knowing you were and where you were hiding were not always mutually inclusive.

Lionside looked around, then stepped nearer to us. “Outland, we don’t have a lot of time. Please put your gun down. I don’t plan on arresting you. Unless one of my men spots us talking, that is. So time is of the essence.”

I could tell he could see us, he was only a few feet away. “You talk, maybe I’ll holster.”

He sighed. “Fine. I know you’re not the ones responsible for all the chaos and destruction. I have a man missing, no idea if he’s alive or dead, or if he’s involved or not. But he’s not the real problem.”

“The Land League and the pirate armada are the real problem.”

“Yes. If it’s really a pirate armada. You’re the only ones who’ve seen it. That’s why they want you and your crew dead, I’m sure.”

“Part of why. Let’s take your missing man out of the equation.” I made sure I was fully in front of Tanner. He was taller than me, but only by a couple of inches, so all Lionside was likely able to see was the top of the kid’s head. Hard to make a confirmed identification based on wet, tousled hair. “Who do you think’s behind this?”

“The same man you think is behind it. Nitin.” He spat the name out. “My men found a room filled with poisoned gas, and this was in it.” He held up a necklace. Slinkie’s necklace, the one that had the bug-spotter in it. I hadn’t realized she’d lost it, and clearly neither had she. “Is she still alive?”

“So far, all my crew’s still alive.”

Lionside looked relieved. “So, is that Miss Slinkie behind you?”

“Let’s assume I’m not feeling chummy enough to confirm. What’s in this for you? Why are you talking to us and not arresting us?”

He glared at me. “I believe I mentioned my name comes from the ruling family of this planet, from centuries ago?”

“Yeah. I’m not big on royalty, titles, or authority, for that matter.”

“Yes, I know. However, I am. This is my planet, these are my people. I may only be a major, but the blood of this planet’s leaders runs in my veins. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some insurgent scum murder my people randomly simply because they want power and glory.”

I was almost impressed. He meant it. He meant every word.

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