Page 98 of Salvation for the Alien Mercenary

"That's what the sedatives are for, genius. We're not amateurs. Just get them to docking bay twelve," the voice carried on. "They're expecting their 'charter pilot' any minute. Don't look suspicious or security will?—"

"I got it," Kenton said, pocketing his comm. "I'm not stupid, asshole."

Rann watched the man straighten his clothing and head toward the passenger terminals. Giving it about thirty seconds, he pretended to finish up his search and then followed, making sure to keep enough distance to avoid being noticed.

The crowds provided perfect cover. Convention-goers in extravagant costumes drew all attention, letting him move like a shadow behind his target. Kenton reached a junction and turned left toward the waiting areas.

He followed along, waiting until the human turned into a less populated corridor, then closed the distance in long strides. When they reached a maintenance junction, he grabbed the man's collar and yanked him into the empty service hallway.

"What the—" Kenton's protest ended abruptly as his back hit the wall.

"The women in bay twelve," Rann growled. "Tell me about them."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Fear flashed across the human's face as he registered Rann's height and alien features.

He leaned closer. Snarled."Wrong answer."

Kenton's eyes flicked toward the exit. "Security will?—"

"Never find your body."

The knife slid between the human's ribs with practiced precision. It was a direct strike to the heart… quick, nearly painless. The human's eyes widened in surprise, then dulled as he slid down the wall.

Rann flicked the blood off the blade before returning it to its sheath.

"Draanthit," he growled, looking down. Blood splattered across the front of the coveralls... the ones he needed to pretend to be the pilot. Stripping them from the dead man, he put them on over his clothes and sighed as he looked at himself. The cut where the blade had gone through the fabric was tiny… maybe they wouldn't notice the dark stains.

The personnel tablet he took from the pocket contained clearance codes and details about the so-called 'charter flight.' He rubbed at the stubble on his chin as he read. Six females had pooled resources to purchase land on a frontier colony.

Six females who thought they were about to start a new life.

Six females who had been about to disappear without him.

He tapped his comm unit, connecting to the Lady's Dream through the shuttle link. "Jex, I'm going dark for a while."

"Understood," came the immediate reply. "Situation?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Time frame?" That was what he liked about Jex; the big ex-cyborg didn't mince words.

Rann shrugged as he looked at the star charts on the tablet.

"Twenty-six hours, give or take. If I'm not in contact by then, tell Ryke..." He paused.

"Tell him I'm fixing something I broke."