pregnancies of friends and relatives is one of his special talents. Mom likes to keep abreast of any new developments, and he likes to keep her guessing.”
“I look forward to meeting them. For a while there, I didn’t believe I’d ever get the chance.”
“All we have to do is stay alive. They’ll find us eventually.”
Considering the possibility of widespread panic, Klara hoped their rescuers came sooner rather than later. “Are you saying we should hide out somewhere instead of going after Pelarus?”
“Oh, hell no,” he replied. “We have to be able to top Mom’s story if she rescues us. Bringing down a tyrant should just about do it.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Although it doesn’t look as though we’ll be doing it alone.”
“Wish we were, actually. I was hoping to watch you and Pelarus fight it out in the arena. Still can’t believe I didn’t know he had wings.”
“Yeah, well, you weren’t alone. I’ve never seen so many jaws drop at the same time in my life.”
“Harlex knew, and he figured I did, too. He’d even tossed me a rifle so I could do the honors. Unfortunately, I was too stunned to stun the bastard.”
“Can’t say as I blame you. Hey, look. Those Nedwuts are heading for that Scorillian cruiser.” He scratched his chin. “Funny, I’d have thought a hotshot like Pelarus would at least have a Rutaran ship.”
“Would a Scorillian ship be more accommodating for someone with wings?”
“Possibly,” he replied. “Although my brother Larry retrofitted his ship with sling-chairs for his Scorillian navigator. Not sure they’d suit a winged humanoid. I only know one other guy with wings like Pelarus’s, and he prefers to perch on a stool.”
Not for the first time, Moe’s wider range of experience made her slightly envious. “Friend of yours?”
“More like a friend of the family. I don’t know him all that well myself. His name’s Val, and in addition to being able to fly, he’s the best computer hacker you’ll ever meet. We might need him if Pelarus won’t admit where he hid all the money he’s stolen from this planet.”
“Guess you’d better call him, too, huh?”
“Yeah. He’s a useful person to know. He’s super smart, has amazing eyesight and hearing, which was genetically engineered along with his wings. There were a few others like him, cloned and modified by some mad scientist or other. I’m guessing Pelarus got his wings the same way—maybe they were even done by the same guy that did Val’s. Know anything about Pelarus’s background? Where he came from?”
“No idea. He’s just always been here. At least, as far back as I can remember.” She thought for a moment. “Velkma has been around a lot longer than I have. She might know.” Klara had seen Yirland at the arena, but she hadn’t noticed Velkma among the group who’d confronted Pelarus. “I hope she’s okay. No telling what Pelarus might have done to her for harboring us.”
“I think if she’d been hurt in any way, Yirland wouldn’t have let Pelarus fly off like that. She’d have snatched someone’s rifle and shot him out of the sky.” He shrugged. “I’m kinda surprised the Nedwuts didn’t do it—unless they wanted to take him alive hoping to get a cut of the money.”
“I think everyone wants a cut. Besides, a quick, painless death is too good for him. The son of a bitch needs to suffer.” She caught herself growling as she parked beside the other speeders. The Nedwuts swarmed out of their vehicles like a pack of hungry dwithans. Spotting Harlex, she shouted, “Seen any sign of Pelarus?”
“Nope,” Harlex replied. “But I heard him yelling at somebody.” He chuckled. “Whoever it was wasn’t being terribly cooperative.”
“I can’t imagine anyone being voluntarily cooperative with Pelarus,” Klara said grimly. “I just hope they stalled him long enough for us to catch him.”
“If he hasn’t killed them,” Moe said. “He’s probably feeling pretty desperate.”
Further shouts seemed to confirm this as the sound of pulse weapons fire split through the air.
“He’s getting away!” the Nedwuts shouted. “Blast him!”
Klara hopped out of her speeder and ran toward the starship berth—but she wasn’t nearly as fast as Moe, who shot past her in a blur.
Moe breezed by the Nedwuts and headed for the ship, only sparing a moment’s thought for where Nexbit might have gone.
“The hatch is closing!” Klara shouted.
Moe didn’t bother to reply. He could see the ramp retracting as well as she could, perhaps even better. Turning on the speed like never before, he zipped