Free Moonbeams and magic by Janelle Taylor Page B

likes and wants you. He says you're perfect for our special unit."
    "What is the 'special unit' and who's in it?" Dagan asked.
    Sach explained about his leader's Enforcers and how everyone who lived or traded in the colony paid Tochar for that privilege, for water, and for protection. "Only our team raids for him alone. There were four of us until you came along: me, Auken, Moig, and Starla. You'll learn more tomorrow and during our first raid."
    Only four space pirates in the band . . . "Since there are so few of you going on raids, that speaks highly of the unit's skills. It's comforting to learn I'll be working with

    people who know how to take care of themselves and back up their teammates." Dagan watched Sach smile in pleasure at his compliment. "I've never met a female pirate before Starla. I've seen women traveling and working with men, but never alone. What's her story?"
    "She's grabbed your interest fast and hard, eh?"
    Dagan grinned. "She's a beautiful, fascinating, and unique woman."
    "You're right, but don't treat her as an easy conquest; she still flies by herself where men are concerned."
    "Is there a reason why?"
    "Auken thinks it's because she was either hurt by a man or lost one she loved. Probably doesn't want to get close to anybody she could lose again, and we do lead dangerous lives. Or could be she's just very selective. She doesn't talk much, if any, about her past. Seems to live for the deega."
    Dagan noticed that Sach was becoming more and more relaxed, perhaps due to the many drinks he was consuming. He continued his questioning. "How long has she been here?"
    "About three malees. She was trying to escape a Serian patrol after raiding an orbiting supply station for food, water, and fuel. They chased her across the entire sector, determined to capture her or blast her to pieces. We were on Auken's ship, returning from a raid, when they shot through the stargate, just missed hitting the Adika, and zoomed past us like speeding comets. You should have seen her evading their blasts; she's the best pilot I've ever encountered. We watched and listened to their exchanges. They ordered her to stop and surrender, but she told them they had no authority across the boundary. They said she wasn't escaping them if they had to chase her across three galaxies. When she realized that patrol wasn't going to give up, she turned her ship and went straight at them, firing away. Blasted them into bits of debris. We contacted her

    and told her to head for Noy. It took a while to convince her she would be safe here, but she took a chance." "She actually destroyed a patrol ship and crew?" "She had no choice if she wanted to survive, and the fools were in the Free-Zone. She probably confused them by turning and fighting; they didn't think a woman would respond that way. She was lucky to be on this side of the stargate when she destroyed them; that put them out of communication with their force, so life-taking charges didn't go on her record. All the Serians know is that one of their patrol ships vanished while in pursuit of a pirate. Starla's been real careful about working on the sly to keep her record short in case she's ever captured. She's tough, but she doesn't like to kill unless it can't be avoided." "But she does have an incriminating record?" Sach nodded. "Mostly made up of things like that Serian raid, enough to get her sent to a penal colony for life. She planned to leave us as soon as she rested, but Tochar convinced her staying would be safe and profitable."
    "How long was she operating in Seri?" Dagan asked after Radu served them another drink.
    "That was her third raid; she picked up weapons on one and a part for her cloaking device on the other. That's why she couldn't cloak and elude them, no time to install it. Since she's been here, Cypher repaired it."
    "I'm curious. Where did she get the android?" "It was being delivered to her father, a scientist on a skyball when the entire floating city was destroyed