The Underdogs Cargo

"Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say." Was something her father had told her time and time again while Rayneleign helped him repair the ship. It was meant more as motivation to ensure Rayneleign would pay attention to detail when they conducted maintenance on the old Varken 61-Delta, christened The Mermaiden.

She now thought of it again years later, stuffed in a cold metal compartment, with only the hologram of the ships schematic casting its blueish hue over her work. Her eyes traced over the inner airtight hull welds and various ports and then to the caved in outer armor welds ripped open like paper and support struts bent like soda cans. She pivoted in her claustrophobic space turning towards the more serious component of wiring conduits. Rayneleign was a human of small stature and fit easily into these spaces. Her stature came in most useful when her counterpart, Sargo, a Garanthean grunt, flew the ship into landing beacons on approach. Her muffled voice broke up the calamity between the hulls.

"You're very lucky, Sargo. If you'd hit it any harder we'd be dead. Nobody can hear a scream i-"

"-In the vacuum of space. yes yes. Heard one thousand time from you and you father. But, we live. I no pilot. I shoot." Sargo said in his low gravel tone. Sargo's planet of Garant was home to a race of what humans would simplify as lizard people. A description which commonly started fights in the spaceport tavern. He stood outside the portion of hull where Rayneleign was crammed fidgeting his talons and shimmering his tiny iridescent scales as she grunted and clamored in the crawl space.

"I can fix the hull with some plasma welding but the biggest issue is the-" The muffled voice trailed off and upward toward the open hatch of the boxy ships port side maintenance access.

"The issue is what? Rayne? What is big issue?" His onyx eyes darted around the fuselage. Sargo had a pilots license but just barely. His lack of pilotage had caused problems before and Rayne only made him do it on occasion when she was exhausted.

She emerged from the access panel with smears of soot and space dust covering her. "The biggest issue is that Varken space craft run their utility lines in between the hulls and we damaged the main utility spline." She said holding up a section of thick cable with frayed wires pluming out of it. "We're gonna need a fiber splicer." She slumped over the opening for a moment before hoisting herself out and sat on the edge staring out of hanger 67B.

Thrusters thrummed their safety checks, boosters ignited from leaving craft, port personal waved their signaling lights to arrivals, and the constant hum of cargo carts hovering around the flight deck drowned out her thoughts for a moment. As she stared out a crew with cargo hovering behind them began past her hanger doors. The three men walked tall and paused gawking at Rayneleign's ship. The one leading the parade of peacock pilots placed his hands on his hips firmly,

"my oh my, Rayne Lunaster, You really did a number on her this time. See that's why on my crew we don't have geckos in the pilot seat." He said smirking back for peacock approval. "You really outa just scrap that old Varken. Don't worry I'll let you join my crew and I'll take really good care of you. We could use a good steward on those long trips." Their laughter erupted even louder this time.

Rayneleign's face flushed a deep red "go suck off an airlock, Kennedy. You and your boyfriends can take turns."

"Oh come on, your daddy wouldn't like you talking like that, little Luna. I don't think he would be so prou-" Before Kennedy could finish the sentence a wrench was hurling toward his face. He shrunk quickly as it passed over and pinged off the deck. "Hey! Not funny, Luna."

"Dont call me 'Luna'." Only her father called her that. It was his nickname for her, but, but Kennedy had been around long enough and even worked for her father when he first got his wings. The employment oppurtunity didn't work out when Kennedy's own ideas clashed with Rayne's fathers. Kennedy wanted to be a space cowboy, make a name, and take missions based on ego and hubris.

"Lunaster Logistics' trash wont plague the flight deck for much longer." He said as he noted a well known figure pulling up to hanger 67B in sharp United Galactic Nations uniform, "Maybe sooner than we think." Kennedy continued over to his hanger slowly gaggle of peacocks in tow.

The pleated pants stayed stiff as the man walked over in a firm military cadence only stopping shortly to recover the wrench. The shoulder board port captains rank on his pressed shirt shined nearly as much as his bronze name tag. "Rayneleign Lunaster, Hanger 67B, Lunaster Logistics Co." Light reflected in his glasses from a tablet as he read matter of fact from it, "you are four months overdue on hanger fees and being fined for the botched landing yesterday and your Garanthean friend needs to complete a landing protocols safety course. Total fines and fees- fourteen thousand five hundred credits. You have seven days to pay it or you forfeit your hanger and your ship as collateral for non-payment." He said printing the ticket and handing it to Sargo along with the wrench.

Rayne jumped down from the hatch and began brushing herself off. Dust puffed from her short under-shaved violet hair in a trail as she walked over.

"Jacobs wait, I just need a little more time. The stabilizers were acting up, it's not Sargo's fault. Please, just another month." Rayneleign gave the best puppy eyes she could muster, "please."

The captains lips stiffened and he exhaled through his nose, "For what its worth, I'm sorry, Rayne. I stalled as long as I could. Your father was able to make this work, but, maybe the business side of this isn't exactly your thing." Jacobs carefully dusted the UGN flight patch on the shoulder of her jacket, "He would still be proud. You're a hell of a pilot and a good technician. Most people are just one of those things. You'll be able to find work". A slight nod and the stiff cadence back to his cart. She watched him drive off along the row of hangers catching Kennedy smirking at the exchange. "Move along or I'll cite you for loitering." The comment was followed by a unanimous 'yes, Captain'.

she pushed the section of cable into Sargo's claws and snatched the ticket stuffing it in her jacket. "Screw Kennedy. We need another job and You're paying for the splicer. I'm gonna run another vacuum test just to be sure she'll pressurize."

"Rayne, how we pay fines? That too much credit. We spend all on repair." Sargo's eyes drifted down to the mangled section of cable and his shoulders dropped with a sigh. He knew the cost of a good fiber splicer, one of the few jobs necessary to outsource.

"We'll figure it out, Sargo. For now a splicer and then a drink."

"I break I fix. Understand. But you make me fly so first drink on you credit." Sargo said moistening his eye with is tongue.

"Fine," She turned to face the old boxy hull of the frigate and gave it one last trailing glance before leaving for the hanger showers. It was her fathers ship and she didn't want to think of what he'd say of it's current condition, "See you at Booster's."

Synths, tones, and steady bass lines filled the air with an upbeat background to the chatter at the bar. Booster's Bar was the long time watering hole for the pilots of Jump Port 227. Walls were lined with UGN memorabilia, pictures of pilots' graduating classes, and model ships that set off nastalgia for its patrons. A sea of flight jackets displaying various patches huddled in clusters that spewed outbursts of laughter to reminiscent stories. She noted it was much busier than usual and saw unrecognizable flight patches of wings, planets, and animals. She scoffed at a catlike patch as she pushed past thinking how ridiculous and unoriginal they were becoming. Wading through them she came to a secluded corner table and took her seat pressing a few buttons in its center. The table buzzed its electronic voice.

Order up.

Fumbling through her cargo pocket she pulled a small square out and unfolded it. Flickering static and blue light gave life to the hologram and she began swiping through the screens of the freelance job board, "Two thousand... five, one thousand, hell no. too dangerous. Too cheap. Too long." She crossed her arms and put her head down smothering the light. The deadline was meant to get rid of her she thought. It was fair though given that she let everything get so far behind, "This is pointless, we don't have enough time."

"Time is always there. Until it is not." Sargo's voice from over her slumped shoulders handing a mug of her order he retrieved. "Time we still have." He sat into the booth with his tail laying out the side tapping to the beat. "Splicer is working now. Booster's is busy no?"

"Good. And yeah, I haven't seen this outfit before" she nonchalantly waved her mug toward the crowd before holding it up to Sargo's. The glasses clinked together and they tapped them on the table taking their first sip. "If we time the jobs right and don't sleep at all I think we can make ten thousand credits in a week." A sarcastic smirk was followed by another sip.

"Or we do one job. Maybe job pays most. And Sargo wont fly while you sleep." His stiff brow raised slightly and a small smirk crossed his lips. Sargo had done some of the more frowned upon jobs in his past and was speaking of old connections that could land them a job that would pay well. The proposal had come up during hard times before but Rayne always passed. It wasn't her father's way or the way he taught her to conduct herself.

"Absolutely not. Not that kind of job. My father would kill me."

"But you father not here." He said breaking eye contact, "sorry."

She inhaled at the comment and sat upright but quickly discarded it knowing he didn't really mean anything by it. They had been friends since he was alive and he was like an older brother to her, "It's fine. But the answer is no. Nothing illegal. A cozy cell with bars that don't serve drinks should not be on the list of possibilities. There's a 5k job that takes two days. We fix the ship tonight, do the job and take another contract as soon as we get back. Maybe we find one around the drop off for this. We just hustle and do this old school, like dad did. Link the jobs together. If we scrape up a good down payment maybe Jacobs' will give us more time."

"Ok, what is first job?"

"Transport. It's medical supplies to the outer quadrant of Ziobe."

"Ziobe? Warzone Ziobe? Not UGN space"

"Yes and no. Just a medical outpost far away from any kind of conflict and barely in UGN. Look here." She pointed to the contract in the hologram. "Risk level one with seven jump points. It's a long haul but we just drop some crates, collect our pay, and haul ass out. Maybe they have a shipping contract or something to pay for the fuel to get back this way."

"Ziobe huh. I have friend there," Sargo said running his talons through the scales of his chin thinking of his days before Lunaster Logistics, "Ok, we do legal job." They clinked mugs in agreement tapping the table once more and Sargo clicked the center of their table.

Order up.

Rayne added her own buzzing commotion to the symphony of the busy space port. Her flight suit helmet protecting her eyes from the flashes of plasma welding that sealed the final bead along the port side front plating. Sargo was on the deck loading cargo and checking the manifest one last time as they hovered up the loading ramp of the Mermaiden. The last of six worn containers marked with circled red crosses organized itself in the hold and locking paws took firm hold as it settled in place. Rayne climbed down from her scaffold and made her way over to the ramp removing the helmet and wiping sweat from her forehead. "All set?"

"Mostly set. Will be ready soon" He said flicking through the manifest and looking around the hanger.

"What? It's six boxes. There they are so lets suit up before queue for the jump gets too long."

"Seven. It's seven boxes."

"What? The contract said six. I read it twice." Rayne peered over the manifest and pointed. "Right there, six medical crates."

As they both stood there staring back and forth through the manifest and each other the door to the maintenance corridor at the back of the hanger slid open. A tall pale blue figure with tendril hair dressed in a sleek black suit and dark glasses walked in slowly. The tendrils along the top of his head writhed around slowly as he made his way over to the pair. Just behind him was a crate, shiny and new, black inlayed metals that were elegant in comparison to the cargo they carried normally. The top panel quipped with sophisticated locking mechanisms and security screen. He approached the pair and looked back and forth between their expressions. Rayneleign's eyes did the same and her brow furled before her eyes went wide and darted to Sargo who's scales had uncontrollably shifted to a pale color.

"Sargo tell me you didn't." She said fist clenching around the plasma torch she still held.

"I sorry, Rayne. It goes close to same place. One job, lots of credit." He said raising his hands up.

"You never said anything about being involved with the Marconian. That's crossing the line."

The Marconian cleared it's throat and the tendrils undulated a little faster "Problem?" The voice was unnaturally deep.

"No problem, Sir. All good." Sargo said quickly.

"Your contact said your crew could get this done. I'm sensing different now, Garant." He said now removing his glasses to reveal piercing red eyes.

"We cant take this job." Rayne said turning her attention to the Marconian figure, "there's been a mistake."

"The Marconian don't make mistakes. Fifty thousand. Your associate accepted and you are bound. Three days. Do not let us assume failure." With that he uncrossed his arms and accessed a tablet checking in the seventh crate. Their manifest updated with all the appropriate customs documents and the crate began loading itself. He turned back toward the door he came through looking back for a moment "We have many eyes." and proceeded to leave in the same manner he came.

Sargo turned towards Rayne and his scales changed to a calmer tone of pale blues "Rayne I sorry. It is easy jo-"

"Shut up. I don't want to here it, Sargo, you screwed us. Everybody knows you don't deal with the Marconian. And who knows what the hell is even in that box with their reputation."

"We don't look in box we deliver. Fifty thousand and ticket paid"

"It's never that easy. Suit up." She looked around to see if anyone had saw the exchange before storming off to the hanger office. She knew full well that the Marconian's try their best to appear like a wealthy corporation but were no more than a well accomplished syndicate of crime. Their reach went as deep as government pockets and they profited often from starting conflict and subsequently providing the solution for those conflicts.

Inside she began pulling the legs of her suit up sitting on a cot adjacent to her father's desk. A picture of them from when she was just ten hung on the wall. Her hair an even more vibrant shade of violet back then. His strong arms wrapped tightly around her with his dark mustache the big caterpillar it had always been. The flight glasses covered the compassionate eyes she knew he had but the big smile was there. "I'm sorry, Dad. I don't know how I ended up here. It's just one job. There and back." She half zipped the suit leaving her arms out, grabbed her helmet, and paused at the door for a brief moment before locking the office keypad.

The Mermaiden shuddered through another jump gate jostling Rayne from her bunk. She made her way up the gangway to the cockpit where Sargo was cleaning his sidearm and monitoring the the autopilot. Sliding into the copilot chair she crossed her arms and gently closed her eyes again.

"How close are we?" She said half asleep wondering if they would be able to pull this off.

"second to last jump. short jump, then cruise to outpost."

"Anything happen while I was out?"

"Lot of traffic at last jump. More than should be. All leaving the quadrant and jammed at customs." He knew this route should have minimum traffic and only imagined why the increase was happening now.

"I don't like this." Her eyes opened and she sat up in the copilot seat checking the scanners. "I cant believe you went over my head. The Marconians? Sargo, if something goes wrong they'll hunt us down."

"I did not know. Contact said it good paying job but can't ask question." He paused finishing the assembly of the blaster, "nothing go wrong. We almost there and we get paid. Take legal job on way back and customs never know different. Look at these documents. All legit." He chuckled nervously handing over the manifest.

Rayne scrolled through them carefully. "They do look very legit. Damned Marconians can make anything happen cant they."

For a while Rayne monitored the scanners. She had all the right to be nervous. But soon she settled and watched as the galaxy flew by in the wormhole. Before long the ships autopilot broke the silence in the cockpit.

Jump drive spooling down. Wormhole exit in 15 seconds.

The Mermaiden began vibrating and the hull moaned as the whirring of the engines slowed their velocity.

Jump complete.

The wormhole collapsed behind them with a clash and Rayne toggled through a panel to her side.

Autopilot disengaged.

"You are not flying." She snapped. Sargo nodded readily in agreement as Rayne veered the ship onto course and a single ship came into view with a UGN customs logos branded across it.

"Where did they come from? There is nothing on scan." She said twisting dials on the screen trying to ping their signature.

The ships amber lights began flashing and the comms channel crackled open "Varken six-one-Delta spacecraft identify."

Rayne looked over to her copilot confused and keyed her comms "Lunaster Logistics Co, The Mermaiden. Cargo run from Jump Port 227. Sir, you're not on scanner?"

"Bad transponder, Mermaiden. You know how government funding is. Didn't mean to spook you but we need to board and check your cargo."

The color from Sargo's scales began to fade, "Open space boarding? Not protocol."

Rayne gave a nod at Sargo's reminder and keyed the mic "Customs Patrol that is not UGN protocol. We'll be at the next checkpoint within the hour anyway."

"Checkpoint is overloaded. We're taking the weight off them. Standby" The transmission sizzled out and the craft maneuvered to a boarding position alongside to couple with the Mermaiden.

Law enforcement override. Stabilization matching engaged. Don flight suits. Prepare for boarding.

Rayne pulled her suit up over her shoulders quickly and slid her arms in. Her helmet clicked and locked into place pressurizing with a hiss. Sargo's suit pressurized and he holstered his sidearm. "I no like this, Rayne."

She glanced a side eye back to him reminding him who got them into this mess before leaving the cockpit. They stood in front of the starboard airlock while the docking procedure completed. The hissing of equalizing pressure gave way to a green light on the panel next to the door and they screeched halfway open. Rayne thought it was good she was suited up and they couldn't see the sweat running down her spine. A stocky figure stood in the doorway looking at where it stopped.

"You know this thing is an antique right? Dangerous." He sidestepped through the opening, and behind him followed his copilot "Customs agent Bradley and this is Crayton. Lemme see the manifest." Sargo handed it over and the agent turned aft for the hold. Rayne and Sargo's nervous eyes met before turning to follow.

Crayton trailed behind looking around the gangway and systems panels. "I've never seen a Varken in person. Didn't know there was one functioning that wasn't in a museum let alone flying around still."

Bradley slipped between the worn crates briskly looking between the manifest and their screens before pausing at the seventh crate. "Whats in this one?"

"Medical Supplies as far as we know." Rayne said.

Bradley began tapping through the screen of the fancy crate his failed attempts at unlocking flashing red in the visor of his helmet. Sargo had been watching him closely and looked over to Rayne who was shaking her head back and forth ever so slightly catching him size up the customs agent "no."

Crayton had passed from behind them to one of the worn medical crates and began clicking through it. Sargo scanned him up and down and gave a slight tap to Rayne's side secretly then pointed at Crayton's holster. Looking over Rayne caught a glimpse of a somewhat familiar emblem, a red cat in a star shape.

"Where have I seen that before?" She searched her memory trying to place the foreign emblem, "Booster's Bar. The new pilots passing through."

Sargo started sliding his hand toward his sidearm and whispered back "Not customs..."

Crayton looked up and saw the move "Hands away from the blaster!"

In an instant Sargo had drew and fired two shots into Crayton's chest. Oxygen and blood spewed from the holes concealing Bradley behind the fog and they all covered behind crates simultaneously. Bradley's voice rang out "Killing a customs agent that's the death penalty for you, Gecko."

Sargo peeked from his cover and his shots scorched off the Marconian crate Bradley was using for cover "You not custom and border. You are space thug." More shots pinged and ricocheted off the crate and the hull.

Rayne grabbed his hand "Stop you're gonna damage the ship."

Sargo snatched his hand back. "What you have me do?"

Rayne looked around the hold anxiously and stopped at the door panel leading back to the gangway then reached up and sealed the cargo hold.

"Oh good we trapped with him now." Sargo said, he peeked again and fired more shots.

"Stop. Look." She nodded to the cargo ramp release on the wall next to them, "We gotta get him out from behind the box. I distract and you shoot. Hold onto something."

"Oh you are savage girl." He said responding to the obscene plan.

"It's him or us." She darted out from the crates to the starboard wall and the customs agent began firing at the movement. Grasping a hand hold she activated the release. Sargo hugged his cover tightly and began firing just as the ramp opened and sucked the oxygen out with a massive whoosh. Bradley's legs flew up with the burst as he clung to the fancy crate and Crayton's body ejected out lifelessly passed him. Sargo licked his onyx eye and squinted down his sights firing one shot into the hand of the thug. He flew out into the vacuum quickly with his screams only lasting a second before becoming dead silent.

Cargo hold depressurized. Emergency. Closing ramp. Pressurizing. Gravity restored.

Rayne slid down the wall of the hull panting "Easy huh, Sargo. Seven jumps and 50K. What the hell were you thinking?!"

"I may underestimate job."

"Oh you think so."

"But, we live." His shrug that followed was not comforting to her in the slightest.

Rayne made her way to the fancy crate riddled with blaster marks and discovered the security screen covered in scorch marks. "What the hell are we transporting?" Trying to test if the screen still functioned sparks jumped from it and the crate groaned mechanically. The flashing red screen dimmed until finally going dark and the locking claws fell slowly open releasing the lid.

Sargo walked over at the sound and looked at her curiously. "We should not. Better not know. Right?"

"I want to know whats so damn important that thugs hijacked a customs patrol and tried to kill us to get it." She turned back towards the lid and slid it over. The two peered inside seeing nothing but pitch black even in the light of the cargo hold "What? That doesn't make sense." Just as Rayne stared in two big orb eyes like galaxies opened up to stare back at her. Sargo quickly grabbed the lid and slammed it back onto the opening.

"CLOSE IT! LOCK IT! Quick!" He smashed at the screen emitting more sparks as the clasps opened and closed before finally locking. His scales vibrantly changed through all the colors Rayne had ever seen.

"What in creation is that thing!"

His hyper ventilation slowed enough to speak "It is Yahnki... We have Yahnki. On board."

"I don't know what that is. Speak human."

"Yahnki is Garant word for most rare thing in galaxy. Very dangerous"

Rayne stood still her eyes wide and fixed at what she just heard. Her heart pounded hard against her ribs. "This is supposed to go to Ziobe."

"Will change outcome of war." He added.

"The war? How can it do that?"

"No it fine. Yahnki small. Weak against special crate."

"What do we do? We have to get rid of it? If it's that bad we can't deliver it. Sargo?"

"Well. Maybe. I have friend near. Maybe 3 jumps. They know better."

"What friend?"

"He fight in Ziobe. High rank in war against oppression. Smarter than Sargo."

"Everything is smarter than you right now. Will this friend know how to fix this?"

"Maybe. We no talk in long time. Since I left Garant. But he knows Yahnki."

"Load the coordinates and I'll cast off the customs ship. We're getting rid of this thing with your friend. Screw the Marconians." Rayne looked around the hull at the blood sprayed across walls and splattered on the lid of the crate. She had only been in a situation like this once before. Her business was legitimate like her father intended but piracy was always a possibility the further away from UGN territory she got. Her father had to defend them once and it ended much the same way. But he wasn't there now and Rayne didn't quite know how to handle this.

The streaks of stars and blur of space slowed as the Mermaiden exited it's final jump. The old Varken ship rattling to life as Rayne switched to manual flight and activated the stabilizers. Just ahead of their view was the planet NDV-16K, a planet on the outskirts of the solar system used by the resistance to the oppression as a base of operations. Rayne flipped switches and punched codes into a keypad.

Landing approach initiated.

Atmospheric Stabilizers ready.

The comms crackled open, "Varken spacecraft six-one-Delta, you do not have clearance to land. This planet is restricted access only. State intentions."

Sargo took the comms "N-D-V-one-six-K, This Mermaiden, two souls, Sargo Kalak and Rayneleign Lunaster. Friend of commander Roxxian Golandis." He looked over to Rayne and shrugged as they waited for the response.

"Send your transponder ping and halt forward progress to the atmosphere. Await instructions." The transmission ended just as two signatures lit up on the scanner.

Rayne tuned the signals receiving their data, "Fighters, Condor class and they're coming in fast."

Missile lock alert.

She snatched the comms from Sargo "Woah woah woah, we are non hostile. I say again non hostile. Hold fire Condor group. We have important information for Commander Roxxian."

Missile lock terminated.

Rayne exhaled and slumped back in her seat. "I'm never working with you again if we survive this."

"That is fair" Sargo said immediately.

The autopilot blinked and approach data uploaded in the navigation screen "Mermaiden you will be escorted in, you may begin your approach. Stay in your ship on arrival and prepare to be boarded." The comms cut out abruptly and Rayne took the helm following the approach pattern. The two Condor fighters flanked off her aft quarters with their sleek smooth hulls and readily available armaments glinting their presence to them.

As the gear touched down on the outer flight deck soldiers in armored planet crawling vehicle surrounded the Mermaiden and the Condors hovered nearby prepared for engagement. Rayne and Sargo stood at the back ramp and she looked at the blood spray across the cargo hold. "I don't know if this was a good idea. None of this looks good." The ramp lowered and they faced a company of blaster rifles carried by soldiers in full battle armor.

"Hands up and walk out slow!"

The two followed the direction and came to the end of the ramp where a soldier relived Sargo of his sidearm and cuffed them both walking them towards the structure.

Soon they found themselves in a holding room. It's smooth white interior housed just two perfect cubes for sitting. The doors finally opened and a Garanthean in the dark military dress of the resistance with a cascade of ribbons adorning his chest walked in. A third cube rose from the floor and the commander took a seat across from them.

"Sargo Kalak, scales and all in front of me." He said speaking slowly and then moistened an eye before continuing, "You have much nerve showing up like this. Here of all places."

"Roxxian, we need you help. Much trouble."

"You would have to be in a great deal of trouble to seek me out. Why is there blood all over your hold? And better yet, what is in the box?" He turned to Rayne, "hmm?"

Rayne couldn't take the slow pace anymore, "It's a Yahnki" She blurted, "He took a transport deal from the Marconians and we didn't know what was in it. Mercs in a customs ship boarded us and we defended ourselves. I don't know what the hell it is but-"

"Enough!" Roxxian's Scales shifted to deep reds and yellows like fire as he snatched Sargo across the table by his throat "Is this true? You saw it? A Yahnki?"

Sargo could barely squeeze words out. "I pretty sure" and was thrust back to his seat.

The commander raised his wrist and opened a comm channel "High alert on the Varken cargo, do not open the crates. Threat level 5 containment. Confirm the contents of the black crate with scanners only." Shortly after the white walls turned red followed by the raised alarm. The three sat under the red hues in a moment of silence and the severity was settling in to Rayne's bones. A resistance commander was scared to death of their cargo and put an entire base on high alert.

"What does it do? Somebody tell me what this thing does. All I know is that everyone wants to kill us for it." Rayne said plainly.

The commander turned the flashing red light off in the room, "If it is what he says it is then there has only been one other of it's kind. It is recorded by other races that lived long before and those archives were decoded to reveal a being, which once it begins feeding cannot stop. It devours matter like a black hole. A living black hole."

"How was the first one stopped? How can we destroy it?"

"The archives say that the first Yahnki was found on a planet deep underground and it was brought back to their home planet of Bangrenash for study. A great discovery for science. In doing so they inevitably found it's ability to consume matter. Through testing they were slowly feeding it until finally it outgrew their ability to keep containment. Eventually causing the total evacuation and subsequent destruction of half their home." Roxxian ran claws through his thick plated scales slowly, "It is unknown if it can be destroyed. the Bangrens used a bomb of sorts that opened an enormous wormhole sending it to the edge of the known universe. So, you cant really say that it was destroyed if you are not on the other side to confirm it can you. Their solution was to merely send it as far away as possible. The only thing they knew for certain was that it destroyed the of their planet in the process."

The commanders comms went off "Sir, it's, like nothing I've ever seen. These readings are all over on the scan. It's almost like everything and nothing all at once. I've never seen this before."

Roxxian addressed the comms. "That container is never to be opened again. Seal it in the deepest most protected containment with full guard." His attention turned back to Rayne "So you see, you carry with you the second Yahnki to ever be discovered. The most unbiased weapon of complete destruction in the known universe. Sent here by the Marconians of all things."

Rayne hunched over the table and placed her head in her hands "So what do we do now?" She thought of what her father would say if he could see her in this situation, and then thought of her position in all of this, "Are you going to imprison us?"

Sargo chimed in "We did not know, Roxxian. Please no prison."

The commander stood up from his seat, "I do believe you did not know. Sargo may not be smart, but, he is also nowhere near that stupid. The good thing is its in better hands now and will be sealed away while we figure this out. You are not prisoners but you cannot leave."

"That sounds like prisoners," Rayne sat up.

"Think of it as semi-permanent guests. You'll have rooms and access to a common area and we'll discuss moving forward in the near future." He glanced back at Sargo "It was good seeing you old friend" and left the two.

A set of guards came in shortly after toting sets of matching blue pajama like uniforms "Put these on, you're going to residential" the other guard handed them key cards "For the mess hall."

Rayne snatched her uniform and card and shot a glare at Sargo "Looks a lot like prison uniforms."

Sargo shrugged "But, we live."