Fatal Star (Star Mage Saga Book 7) by J.J. Green

Author:J.J. Green [Green, J.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: InfiniteBook
Published: 2021-12-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Though Bongo’s culture was pacifist, his species didn’t give a shit about each other, not if money was involved. He hadn’t imagined for a second Carina would be willing to spend more than half the large sum she possessed to buy her companions’ freedom, so he hadn’t bothered suggesting it. His omission had almost cost the mercs their lives, so it was with mixed feelings she said goodbye to him when she left Lakshmi Station for a second time.

As she pulled herself through the umbilicus to return to the Peregrine with the mercs, Hsiao spoke to her over the comm. “He really didn’t tell you until after you left our cell?”

“Of course he didn’t,” replied Carina. “Do you think I would have let you all believe you were going to die as a joke?”

“It’s just hard to understand,” said the pilot. “I mean—”

“He’s a different species. You can’t expect him to think like us.”

“I know, but he seemed nice.”

“He is nice, but remember how his cousin tried to fleece us? Money has an even higher value to them than to us.”

“You’d think after living all that time at the station he would understand humans better. You said the other people in the fight had their fines paid too, so he’s seen what we do.”

“I asked him about that. He said that amount of money is nothing to rich Lakshmi-ites.”

Hsiao whistled. “Holy smoke. I didn’t realize the quantity of creds washing around that station even existed in the galaxy.”

Carina reached the Peregrine’s airlock and hauled herself inside. Van Hasty, Rees, and the other mercs were already waiting.

“You don’t know the half of it,” she said to Hsiao. “Wait until I tell you where the rich got their money.”

Her boots hit the deck.

When Hsiao arrived, Rees shut the outer hatch and activated pressurization.

“Where?” the pilot asked.

At the same time, Darius spoke in her head. “Carina? Are you back?”

“Yes, sweetheart. See you in a minute.”

Her HUD showed normal atmosphere. She removed her helmet. “I have to see the kids,” she told Hsiao. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Uhhh...” said Rees. He was holding his helmet awkwardly.

She paused. “Did you want to say something?”

“Yeah,” said Van Hasty, her head down. “We’re...uh...”

“We’re sorry about the fight,” said Rees.

“Yeah, we’re sorry,” Van Hasty echoed. “And we want to thank you for paying all that money to save us from...” She faltered.

“It’s not a problem,” said Carina.

In fact, it was. With more than half their funds gone, they were now restricted on fitting out the Bathsheba with defensive weapons. The mercs’ stunt could cost everyone their lives in the long run, but they knew that.

“Well, thanks anyway,” Rees said.

The other Black Dogs nodded in agreement.

Carina quickly removed her EVA suit and set off to find Darius, Nahla, and Parthenia. Darius hadn’t said where they were, but she guessed they would be on the bridge.

It turned out she was right. Darius greeted her with a hug and so did Nahla after she’d limped over. Carina’s heart ached at the reminder that the visit to Lakshmi Station had been a disappointment on another level.

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