"That'd be the gist of it, Loadmaster." A burly man with a beer gut and a ragged beard stood before the off ramp to a merchant vessel, arguing with a man in uniform.
"Then my answer is still no, Captain. Dock security will have my ass on a silver platter if I simply let you take some of their pets straight out of the academy. You can post fliers for them to come voluntary, but kidnapping is still kidnapping. Even for vorcha."
"Oh get off 'ur damn high horse, Mate. If them Reapers come here and ain't no vorcha to man the fleet, won't be a damn one of em' left anyway."
"Captain, i'm giving you fair warning. Leave. Them Alone." The uniformed man turned on his heel and left the captain sitting there fuming to himself as Ishk came out of hiding. It took the Captain a moment to even notice his presence, but when he did his mood failed to get better.
"What you standin' there 'fer ya slob? I got cargo needs unloadin'!
Ishk balked at the man's tone, finding himself almost moving to do as told before he could stop himself. Shaking his head, Ishk stood up straight and addressed the Captain.
"No. Not here for boxes and crates."
"'Scuse me?"
"I hear you and other alien talking about fleet. Ishk want to join. Want to kill Reapers."
The Captain's expression turned from annoyed to thoughtful as he ran a hand through his beard, eyeing Ishk as though expecting a trap of some kind.
"Why? Whadda you care? You got yer fancy school to huddle and cower in."
"You want help or not? *Snort* No more questions!"
"Fine, fine. Keep yer panties from a twist, christ. Ya can come with me to the defense fleet 'round Lihrat, but cause trouble and i'll space ya faster than an elcor with the shits. You understand?"
He didn't, but didn't see the point in disagreeing either. Ishk nodded that he did, and followed the captain up the cargo ramp. The bright cargo lights spilled a yellow tinted hue over the inside of the ship, and the large crates sat inside still waiting to be dropped off to the landing deck.
"Don't care what ya said earlier, Kid. You are helpin' me unload this mess." The Captain gestured towards the crates in question, and began showing him how to go about it. After an hour or more of shoving ridiculously heavy crates onto the conveyor belt, Ishk finally had a chance to sit down and rest.
No sooner had he let his head fall back against the wall than a familiar voice jolted him upright again.
"Excuse me, Captain? Might I ask you a few questions? We seem to have lost a student from the school earlier and were hoping you could help." Allyna's voice came from outside the loading ramp, just out of sight.
"Maybe. Depends on what kind of help yer talkin' bout'." The gruff voice of the Captain answered back rather rudely, and Ishk felt a moment of panic. If he gave Ishk away, he would be finished. He almost got up and went outside then and there to beg forgiveness, but managed to squeeze his eyes shut and keep still.
"As I said, a student has disappeared, and we're hoping you could tell us if you've seen him?" There was a brief pause, as if she were presenting something to him.
"Hmm... No, don't think I seen the likes of him recently. But who knows? All 'ese damn worms look alike to me anyhow."
"Worms? I find that highly offensive, Captain. These are thinking, feeling beings who deserve your respect."
"Ya, whatere' you say, Lady. I ain't seen the bastard. Now can ya move along? I still got work ta do 'ere."
Ishk sat holding his knees with both hands, staring at the bulkhead of the ship in slight disbelief. He had thought for sure the Captain would turn him over to her. He felt numb as he sat there, his nerves tingling and his mind empty. When the Captain stomped back up the ramp to find him, Ishk didn't even bother looking up.
"Come on then, Rodent. Yer new life awaits."
Ishk's shoulders began to shake with his silent cries.