Read Slave Empire - The Crystal Ship for Free Online

vulnerable
worlds. And I don’t have the Atlanteans’ foolish notions of fair
play. A war with me would cost you dearly, so I don’t see why
you’re so reluctant to part with one ugly human girl. After all,
you must have snatched her to sell, and you won’t get a better
offer.”
    Norvar’s
captain appeared confused. “Then you don’t know who she is?”
    “ She’s the last human female, that’s all I care about. My
client wants her. A special order, so make up your
mind.”
    The Draycon
glanced sideways once more, and his eyes widened, then he faced the
screen again. “An Atlantean cruiser has just dropped out of the
Net. I must -”
    “ Captain, the Atlanteans saved her from her world. They’ll
want her back. Right now, ships will be converging on you. I
recommend you close the deal with me and transfer her to one of my
ships. I’ll deal with the Atlanteans.”
    Norvar’s
captain looked undecided, and, if he had been capable of it, he
might have started to sweat. Instead, his skin paled, and he broke
the connection. Tarke cursed as Pra’tar’s semi-transparent image
appeared again. She was speaking to someone beside her, and broke
off to face the screen.
    Tarke said, “I
understand Starlight has arrived.”
    She nodded.
“So have the Atlanteans. A cruiser called Hood. Shall I tap into
their communications?”
    “ No need. I know what will be said. The Atlanteans will demand
the girl, the Draycons will refuse, and a standoff will result. All
that remains to be seen is whether the Draycons decide to sell her
to me or fight the Atlanteans. We’ll wait, for now. I’ll be there
in...” He consulted a hologram. “Less than three hours.”
    “ The Atlanteans will send more ships, sir. It won’t be
safe.”
    “ Commander, please don’t be concerned for me. If you and my
other commanders had their way, you’d keep me stored in a vat on
Ramia Four and take me out once a month for airing. I’ve survived
this far, so let’s not start giving me advice now.”
    “ Sorry, sir.”
    The space line
screen turned grey and slid back into its slot, leaving Tarke
staring at the stars through the snakes of golden brilliance that
crawled over the screens when they were semi-enveloped in the
transfer Net. He was certain the Draycon captain had been on the
verge of selling him the girl when the Atlanteans had arrived and
messed everything up, and he cursed them.
     
     
    “ The Shrike stopped Norvar?” Tallyn demanded.
    “ Yes, sir,” Marcon replied. “Not him personally. As I
understand it, he has two of his cruisers and a battleship
confronting Norvar. There’s another small ship nearby; sounds like
Rayne’s ship.”
    “ Can Hood find out what’s going on between them?”
    “ They’re not currently communicating, sir.”
    Tallyn
grunted. “So, he must have offered them something, or they’d be in
battle by now. Rayne claims he’s her guardian.” He shrugged when
Marcon’s brows shot up. “That’s what she says, and he does seem to
turn up whenever she’s in trouble. Tell Hood not to start anything.
I want to know what the situation is first.”
    “ Hood’s not going to take on two cruisers and a battleship,
sir.”
    “ How many ships are en route, and when do they
arrive?”
    Marcon checked
a hologram. “Three cruisers were dispatched from Atlan. They should
be there within the next half an hour. A battleship was called in
from Hansovar. It should be there within the hour, and we’ll be
there in two hours.”
    “ I wonder how many more ships Shrike’s got on the
way.”
    “ He won’t risk himself if we’re there.”
    “ You’re right,” Tallyn agreed. “What’s more, he might have
been able to rescue her without a shot being fired, since he’s a
slaver. The Draycons might have sold her to him if he promised to
sell her to a murderer.”
    He shook his
head. “But I’m being as naive as Rayne. I don’t know why he’s
there, and I refuse to believe he’s her guardian, even if he