Free Smugger's Virtue (Lathos Galaxy Chronicles Book 2) by Luke Darko Page B

and stepped through the threshold. When he saw a guard round the corner he leveled the gun and fired a blast that sent the man instantly to the floor. Ilyea gave him a surprised look as they ran down the now-deserted hallway.
    "These weapons are only designed to stun," Matt explained. "Here on Earth we believe in treating our prisoners humanely."
    "What a foolish concept," said Ilyea as the two of them hurried along. "I guess in this case it’s better than having to blast holes in the wall though." Twice more they encountered guards they had to stun before Ilyea pulled Matt down a small side corridor. It was clear to Matt this hadn’t been a spontaneous decision, so he was happy to allow himself to be led.
    The corridor twisted and turned until they came to an access panel that Ilyea slid back and entered. Once inside, there was barely enough light for Matt to see that his large companion barely fit in the passage. They moved along in silence for a few minutes until Ilyea opened another panel and they emerged outside the prison wall, where a two-person ground transport was waiting.
    "If squeezing my big ass down that tunnel isn’t enough to prove we’re friends, then I don’t know what more I have to do," said Ilyea as he worked the controls that allowed the transport to hover above the ground. In seconds they were moving away from the prison without any pursuit.
    "How about telling me the real reason you risked your neck to break me out of a maximum security facility?"
    "Please, if that’s Earth’s idea of “maximum security,” then I might as well move my base of operations here. The climate’s nicer and the women are better looking."
    "Stop avoiding the question," said Matt. "What’s in all of this for you?"
    "I need you to go back to Lathos and make sure that everyone there knows Kellenar Ragen is planning to assassinate Maxall Torin. With Torin in power, the sector runs smoothly. I can do business safely and in peace. If Ragen takes over, then he’s going to try and bring all of the other planets in the system under his rule as well. The war that would result would go on for years, and I won’t make any money.
    "Torin knows what Ragen is up to, or at least he suspects, but he doesn’t have any proof. Without it he can’t risk moving against Ragen or the remainder of the military not loyal to him will rally to his side. You need to go and give him the proof he needs."
    "How am I supposed to do that?" asked Matt incredulously. "All of Lathos thinks I kidnapped Xandra. No one there is going to take my word over that of a decorated revolutionary hero."
    "Matt, I’ve worked with you enough to know that you are the most resourceful smuggler in the galaxy. That’s why I risked my neck to break you out. Besides, we have something else that just might help," he said, pointing into the distance.
    "That’s my ship!" said Matt.
    "Technically it’s my ship now," said Ilyea. "The government seized it when they arrested you. It’s too old and outdated to be of any use to them, even with the upgrades I made, so they put it up for auction. I paid a little more than I would have liked, but it’s worth it."
    "I don’t understand how my ship is going to help prove Ragen is a traitor."
    "Not the ship," said Ilyea. "It’s what’s beside the ship. Or rather, who’s beside it." He landed the transport and when Matt got out, Xandra stepped into view. "I ran into her as she was leaving the prison. I gave her the coordinates of where I had the ship docked and told her to meet us. She might be able to help the Lathonians believe you about Ragen."
    "Matt, this is perfect!" said Xandra with a huge grin. She seemed to be enjoying all of this. "Now we can both go back to Lathos. When my father sees the two of us together and hears what I have to say, he’ll have to believe that you’re innocent. Then I can make a public broadcast about Ragen."
    "Xandra, are you sure that you’ve recovered enough from everything that’s