Chapter 2: Ugency

The medical center aboard the ship was buzzing with activity as the medic sent commands to the four medi-bot units treating Salin. Each robot a compact, cylindrical, hovering unit; perfectly suited to the Ship’s tight medical quarters. With a slender extending claw one of the bots held an oxygen breather over Salin’s nose and mouth.

             From the next room, separated only by a sheet of enviro-plast, Catanya watched as the med-droids tended to Salin.

            Without her noticing, Jarron had stepped up beside her. He reached out and touched the enviro-plast, resting his head on his hand he said, “Eight years and I still can’t get used to this.”

            Catanya looked at Jarron with disbelief, “Eight years? Why? Are you looking for something?”

            “Aren’t we all?” Jarron flashed a sideways smile at her, “I signed up with this bucket some ten years ago.” He shook his head at himself, “I was such a glorbin’ idiot! I had no idea what I was getting into. Two years after that the captain got a report on a bounty-”

            “You’re a bounty hunter?!” Catanya interrupted said in shock.

            Jarron scoffed, “No but the captain will take the occasional bounty if it’s high enough. Let’s just say he’s a business man, of any sort. Why?”

             Catanya stumbled over her words, “I thought– I mean– no one would take a bounty __ unless __ you know?”

            Jarron took a deep breath, “Calm down, the reason there’s a bounty on her is that the Tanulian government finally defeated the pirates that have held a strangle hold on our world, and the Royal family wishes to have all the captive children returned in hopes of finding their daughter. The reward offered by the queen is ten thousand drocks for each slave and an extra hundred thousand if we happen to find her princess. So the captain decided to take on the search. He’s more of a mercenary then a bounty hunter.”