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wailed. Others moved away with a quiet resignation, either too tired or frightened to fight back. While they moved away, Josh glanced at the man who had been shot for speaking. Smoke still swirled and lifted from his chest.
        The foul pirate yelled back to the leader and gestured toward Josh. The leader glanced in his direction and nodded. The eyes of the other prisoners looked toward him. Josh swallowed, taking a deep breath as his breathing quickened.
        He focused on the end of the rifle, the same weapon just used to kill an innocent civilian. The rifle jerked toward the pirate leader. Josh took his steps as if he had great weights attached to his ankles.
        He wanted to go home. It’s all he had wanted since being brought to Tarton’s Junction. He wanted to see his parents. He wanted to talk to Kadyn.
        He shuffled between the other pirates. Their stench was overwhelming.
        Two pirates stepped before Rodon.
        “Berlutut,” one pirate guard hissed.
        “I don’t understand,” Josh whispered.
        The pirate who had spoken laughed, holding his hand to his ear.
        “Apa?”
        A hard object smashed into the back of Josh’s leg. He tumbled to the rocky floor. A hand engulfed his skull and yanked him upright. Two pirates held Josh by the shoulders.
        Rodon took one knee in front of Josh and suddenly pulled out a yellow fruit that looked like an apple. He took a bite and stared at Josh. When he finished chewing, he smiled.
        With the fruit still in his hand, he pointed at Josh. “Star Runner?”
        Josh swallowed, hesitating. Rodon arched an eyebrow. Josh finally nodded.
        Rodon looked at the pirates and gestured with his free hand. The pirates placed a headset over Josh’s head. The earpiece buzzed.
        “Berkata-kata,” Rodon said.
        Josh shook his head. “What?”
        Rodon brought the back of his hand across Josh’s face. “Berkata-kata!”
        He tasted the salt of blood on his lip. It must be a translator.
        “English,” he said softly.
        The buzzing in his earpiece ceased. When Rodon spoke, Josh could finally understand.
        “They tell me you are a Star Runner?”    
        Josh swallowed. “Yes.”
        “Welcome, Star Runner. I am Dax Rodon.” He smiled. “We always revel in the chance to take a Star Runner alive and show him or her the light. Many of these you see around you were once sold the lie of the Legion. Welcome to your night of illumination.”
        Rodon finished the apple and stood, his hands once again on his hips.
        Josh sighed. “What do you want with me?”
        “Simple. Join us.”
        Josh contorted. “Join you?”
        “I need pilots,” Rodon said with a shrug. “I also need laborers who will be worked to death. I think you would like to live, no?”
        Josh glanced over to the workers on the far side of the cave. “I will never join you.”
        “Pity.” He nodded.
        The pirates kicked Josh forward and began beating him. The rifles pounded his body until he spit blood. They turned him over, smashing the front of his face. Josh cried out, but they didn’t stop.
        He did not know how long they pummeled him. When they stopped, his eyes had nearly swollen shut. He dimly felt hands lift him to his knees. Through tears and blood, he saw Rodon kneeling down in front of him again.
        “Now that you’ve had time to think about it,” Rodon said, “I ask again; will you join us?”
        Josh wanted to say he would—he did not think he could survive another beating. But he faintly remembered his survival training and knew the pirates would only torture him to reveal weaknesses in the Legion forces. He would be forced to fight his own people.
        “I …” he breathed, his mouth filling with blood. “I … will not betray the Legion.”
        Rodon took one more bite of the fruit and tossed it at