Chapter 20 – Saying Goodbye

Corso took a deep breath and reached up into the cab. One strong yank and the corpse of the driver tumbled out, landing heavily against him. He staggered back a step, his stomach clenching, and the body slumped to the ground. The driver's face was still frozen in a mask of surprise and terror, and as it stared up at him, he felt bile rising up in his throat. He turned, abruptly leaning over and spilling the contents of his stomach onto the sand at his feet.

He'd killed before; back when he first started working for Viidu he'd kept a tally of how many seps he'd taken out. After a few months the number hadn't seemed to matter as much and he'd lost count. But this had been different. Something within him had driven him not just to kill these men, but to ensure that they suffered as they died. He didn't know how, exactly, but he'd sensed the moment of their deaths, and whatever it was inside him had been darkly pleased.

With a shiver, he stepped over the body and up into the cab. Grabber lay across the lap of the dead slaver captain. When he'd shot the man, the grapple had refused to unfasten. Then, when the cable retracted, it had yanked the gun out of his hands, pulling it across the cab to where it now remained.

Ignoring the blood that had been seeping from the gaping wound in the center of the dead man's torso, Corso reached for his weapon and flicked the switch that would disengage the clasp. It clicked uselessly. He swore under his breath, set his jaw, and reached forward, into the wound.

Something squished, and Corso clenched his teeth, trying not to think about which organs he might be pushing out of the way. Just get the clasp loose, Riggs. He could feel the metal grinding against something else – probably bone – the spine? Oh stars, dammit, DON'T think about that.

His fingers wrapped around the prongs of the grapple, and his focus narrowed to the resistance to his grip. For the moment, neither the heat nor the gore nor even the rapidly degenerating stench could distract him.

That was why he didn't notice Vacy trying to get his attention until the rock she threw hit him in the shoulder.

"Corso Riggs, what in hell are you doing?"

He whirled, eyes wide in horror. "Uh – Captain! Um. I… just… came back to pick up Grabber." He swallowed thickly, realizing what she was seeing, and did his best to shift to block her view, even though he realized it was already too late. She's going to see me as a monster.

Vacy lifted both hands, as though to push away what was before her. "Hey – we'll talk about this later. For right now, though, time's running short," she said, staring at the door to the cab rather than at him. "I got the rest of the prisoners freed. Most of 'em are headed up to Anek, but there's one who's just layin' there. I figure we may need to get her to an actual doctor." Without looking up, she turned. "I can't lift her, and she ain't moving, so unless you think we should just leave her to fry, find some way to get yourself cleaned off and get back to the hold ay-sapp."

When she headed back that way without another glance at him, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His shoulders dropped in a mix of relief and discouragement. A moment later, though, he pulled himself up again. Whatever she thinks, there's nothing I can do about it now.

With one last, wistful look at his beloved harpoon gun, he let go of the grapple, trying his best to ignore the squelching sound it made as he pulled his hands free. He hopped down from the cab and jogged back to one of the guards that lay sprawled beside the freighter. It looked to be one of the cleaner kills. He knelt beside the corpse and pulled out Shorty. A flick of his thumb brought the vibroblade to life, slicing quickly through the fabric of the man's shirt. Corso bunched it up, wiping sweat and dirt (and whatever else) off of his face, first, before rubbing it over his gauntlets and armguards.

He didn't have the resources to be thorough – nor the time – and so after taking care of the worst of the mess, he stood again and ran the rest of the way to the back of the freighter and up into the cargo area. "Captain?" he called softly, squinting into the darkness.

"Back here, Riggs," came the answering sigh. "I can't get this one to budge. I dunno, maybe she's touched in the head or something. Told her the same thing I told 'em all, that they needed to get to Mos Anek and grab a taxi, and nothing."

Corso could hear the exasperation in her voice, but as he crossed the length of the compartment and his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could also see shock and sheer terror in the posture and expression of the lethan who lay huddled on the floor. He walked past Vacy and knelt beside the twi'lek, hoping the sight of him wouldn't make things even worse. "Hey there," he said, keeping his voice as gentle as possible. "It's gonna get a mite uncomfortable 'round here before too long. Now I'm sure you've had an awful experience, but if you'll let me, maybe I could help you sit up?"

At that, her head turned toward him. "Who are you?" she whispered, her brow-ridge furrowing.

His mouth quirked up in a bit of a grin, his eyes twinkling as he held one hand out to her. "Well, ma'am," he replied, "we'd be the cavalry."

She slipped her hand in his, and ever so carefully, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, offering support rather than pulling as she sat up. "Thank you," she whispered, her gaze never leaving his face.

Vacy tossed her arms up with a rather unladylike snort. "Oh, great, I talk to her and get nothing, but you come in with that smoky deep voice and make eyes at her and everything's jake? Pf."

Corso looked over his shoulder, one brow arching. "Captain, I'll have you know that you ain't the only member of this crew who can be smooth from time to time. In fact, upon occasion, I've been known to be quite charming."

Muttering curses, the spacer put one hand on her hip. "Well then, Yer Highness, you'd best get your new damsel to shake a leg. Somehow I don't think Imps or slavers are liable to be as receptive to your charm. We need to scoot." With that, she turned on her heel and marched toward the door.