The lost nebula lost sta.., p.42
The Lost Nebula (Lost Starship Series Book 16),
p.42
The sponsor did not respond.
Even so, Grutch could feel the displeasure emanating through the screen. The sponsor held great hatred toward Captain Maddox. Grutch could feel that in his gelatinous bulk, and it gave him hope for a better bargain.
At last, Grutch finished his tale.
Only now did the screen vibrate and a mechanical voice speak in the Morag tongue to Grutch, “You have failed us, Morag.”
“I have faced setbacks. That part is true. Failure is only failure if one ceases to try.”
“Where is Captain Maddox? He is not in your possession and not now in mine. You have failed.”
“Only for now. He is the elusive Captain Maddox,” Grutch said, who used a small hidden sensor to attempt to pierce the species type behind the screen.
“What do you mean to imply by that?”
“It’s simple,” Grutch said. “I want more bars of tellurium. Captain Maddox is highly dangerous even for one such as I.”
“You’re here to bargain for more after your inept failure?”
“You did not tell me about Maddox’s various special and unique, even inhuman abilities. If there is failure here, it is yours as much as mine.”
“Vain beast of a Morag, this is intolerable.”
“Yet it is true,” Grutch dared say.
There was silence as the screen ceased vibrating. Grutch wondered if he had gone too far. His sponsors might not be who he thought they were. They might be some gross alien species instead.
“We hired you because we heard you are the best.”
“I am the best,” Grutch said.
“Vain boasts are useless to us. We desire Captain Maddox in the flesh, breathing so we may…deal with him in our own way.”
“Then hire me truly,” Grutch said. “Don’t try to go cheap. If you have the best, pay the best, and you’ll receive the best.”
“Your failure is galling and your lecture even more so.”
“I grow weary of this. Either offer me more or I’ll take my services elsewhere.”
“No,” spoken hastily. “No,” the voice said more slowly. “We will offer you more, mercenary. But this time, we demand that you succeed.”
“First, tell me how much you’ll offer. Second, tell me all you know about Maddox. Then, you will gain the great prize.”
The hidden sponsor did just that. The amount offered surprised Grutch. This was very interesting indeed. After the hidden one told him all he knew about Maddox, the amount made more sense.
“Can you do it, Morag? Can you kidnap and bring us Captain Maddox.”
“Yes,” Grutch said. “I will have to hire some help and buy some new tech—yes. I can do this.”
“Then go,” the hidden one said. “Bring us Captain Maddox as soon as you can.”
Grutch rotated his great bulk, slithering away, already envisioning how he could successfully capture the arrogant Captain Maddox and win many bars of rich tellurium and increase his fame as a bounty hunter extraordinaire. Yes. This time, with the added tech and muscle, he would succeed.
THE END
From the Author: Thanks Reader! I hope you’ve enjoyed THE LOST NEBULA. If you liked the book and would like to see the story continue, please put up some stars and a review to support the series. Let me know what you would like Captain Maddox and the crew to challenge next!
-VH
Vaughn Heppner, The Lost Nebula (Lost Starship Series Book 16)
