HAWK

CHAPTER FOUR: SELVA (4/7)

'So where are you going now?'

'Selva, of course. Gotta return this.' She knocked on Hik's shoulder like he was a second-hand car she was selling. 'How much they shelling out for rewards these days, d'you know?'

'No idea,' he said, letting that smile back in. 'But I don't particularly care. This job is about more than just financial gain.'

'Is that right?'

'Yes, it is. You do it for money and glory, I do it for the good of the galaxy. It's about honour.'

'Well, why don't you 'honour' me and tell me why you're disrupting a federal mission?' Astell's grin slipped and fell like a loose tile and shattered on the floor.

'I'm not disrupting anything. You've repeatedly refused to answer Selva's calls. The Federation is concerned you're trying to retain the X1 for yourself.'

Kas smirked. 'Really? Is that what you think?'

Astell shrugged. 'You're a bounty hunter. Hardly the most law-abiding of people in the solar system.'

'Everything I do is licensed and legal.'

'I'm sure it is. Now, back to the topic at hand... what's your name again?'

'You never asked.'

'Then let's start over. Hi, I'm flight lieutenant Astell of the C.A.P.' He held his hand out for her to shake. 'What's your name?' Kas crossed her arms.

'You can call me Ms Balera.'

'Well then, Ms Balera, I am here to inform you that the X1 in your possession is to be seized by the C.A.P. and returned to Selva. I will, in fact, be delivering it myself.'

'Like hell, you will.'

'You are not required to agree to this instruction. You have no choice in the matter. My telling you is simply a courtesy.'

'How nice of you. How about you give me just one more courtesy and get off my ship before I kick your ass back to Chantos.'

Astell held Kas's gaze but didn't smile.

'Perhaps I should inform you, you're threatening a C.A.P. officer.'

'Like you said, I'm a bounty hunter. Hardly the most law-abiding of citizens in the solar system, isn't that right? Nothing gives you the right to come aboard my ship and order me to hand over my haul to you.'

Astell paused and licked his lips.

'How many people do you have aboard this ship?'

Kas squinted. 'Excuse me?'

'How many people?'

'It's just me.'

'You sure about that?'

'Of course I'm sure.'

'So if I did a search of your ship, I won't find anyone else?'

Kas tried not to blink. 'That's right. Who were you expecting to find?'

'I heard a report that a young girl's gone missing in Artis. A mechanic.'

'And?'

'And she was last seen repairing your ship.'

Kas nodded. 'There was a girl, sure, but she did her work and left before I could tip her.'

'How do you know she hasn't stowed herself away?'

Kas did her best to maintain her composure, but inside she was worried. This guy might be a cretin, but he had the law on his side and she was sheltering a runaway girl. If she denied it and he found Worm, Astell could arrest her right then and there and there'd be nothing she could do about it.

'I guess I don't,' she replied. 'If the girl's stowed herself away, then I suppose we'd better find her so you can take her back home.'

'If I find the girl, I'll need to take you in for questioning to ensure you weren't involved in her kidnapping.'

'I have to take the X1--'

'To Selva, yes. But like I said, that's what I'm here for.'

Kas stuffed her hands into her pockets to quell the urge to hit him. Astell smiled.

'Of course,' he continued, 'I was only sent here to collect the X1. If you'd be willing to hand it over to me now, I would consider that a far more important task than searching your ship for a runaway girl.'

Kas mulled it over. The X1 was her top priority. If she handed it over, she'd still be stuck with Worm, only then she'd have to smuggle her back to Artis. If Astell found her, on the other hand, she'd still lose the X1 but at least she'd delay him by forcing him back to Chantos. It would also give her some more time to think up a plan.

'Shall we start in the cockpit?' she replied with a polite smile.

Astell nodded, and with that, Kas led him towards the far door where the cockpit awaited.