Jak Phoenix

  ***

  “Captain, we’ve captured two more prisoners on the detained ship.” Captain Cartrite’s chief of security, known only as Zelus, stood at attention during the report to his master. “Their ship arrived and they attached to the vessel as we were unloading the last of the cargo. The ship itself, labelled as the Tempest, escaped after we brought the prisoners back here.”

  Cartrite wondered why the ferociously strong security officer was bothering him with such details. The captain looked at Zelus’ giant muscular arms and admired the work he and Voth had done. When Zelus had come to them he had been well built and strong, but after the genetic changes Voth had tailored, Zelus’ strength had increased ten-fold. Cartrite was forced to look up at a severe angle to make eye contact with the nearly seven-foot tall man.

  “Thank you for your report, Zelus. Put them in storage with the rest of the prisoners.” Cartrite tried to make his irritation known vocally before he turned to leave.

  “There is something else, sir.”

  Cartrite stopped and closed his eyes without turning back to face the over-enthusiastic enforcer. A skull splitting headache had overtaken him and it was making his dark mood worsen.

  Zelus continued without urging.

  “Through DNA testing, the professor has determined that the male captive is none other than the mercenary, Jak Phoenix.” Cartrite’s eyes opened. “The other is a female Balarian. Her name is not on file.”

  Cartrite turned quickly.

  “Where are they now?”

  “Phoenix is in processing, sir,” said Zelus, “and the female is already in the laboratory with Professor Voth. They’ve been knocked out and haven’t woken up yet.”

  “See that no further harm comes to them for now. We’ll figure out our exact plans after I speak to Professor Voth.”

  Zelus nodded and rushed off the bridge. He could sense Cartrite’s black mood and didn’t wish to annoy him any further with more mundane details.

  The capture of the well known space pirate Jak Phoenix was one thing, but the addition of a Balarian would contribute significantly to the project. Of course, she had obviously come out there to interfere with their plans or save her precious tablets, but her mind would need to change quickly.

  Plenty of tests would need to be done and Cartrite knew Voth would prefer to do them on a living sample, not a corpse.

  However, in the end, that would be her choice.