Adventures on RV Traveler (Free Trader Series Book 3) by Craig Martelle Page A

monkeys to them, Master Humans,’ Aadi directed. They threw the small bodies into the puddle at Pik Ha’ar’s clawed feet. Micah rubbed her hand on her pants. She didn’t know if the monkey’s stench would ever leave her.
    ‘That’s not our law of the trade.’ He nodded and a couple of the Lizard Men dropped their spear tips toward the humans as they moved forward.
    Micah was first. Her blaster was out in an instant, flashing a thin beam into the nearest Lizard Man. He clutched futilely at his chest as he dropped to his knees, gasping. Braden finally had his blaster out. Micah shot the second Lizard Man in the head. He was long dead before his body fell into the muck.
    Aadi delivered his focused thunderclap in the face of Pik Ha’ar. The Lizard Man fell over clutching his head as his eyes rolled backward. The other Lizard Men leapt toward the humans. The blasters sang as Braden and Micah each picked targets, firing as quickly as they could pull the trigger.
    It was over before the last Lizard Man knew to run. Only one remained alive, Pik Ha’ar, rolling on the ground and holding his head.
    “How come they never know that talking with us is the best way to stay alive?” Braden asked, shaking his head. “So now we have the monkeys as our enemies AND the Lizard Men. I really don’t want to burn our way to the Command Deck, but I will if they make me.”
    Braden slopped through the puddles until he was looming over the Lizard Man. He kicked him in his green chest, then stood with his foot on the creature’s throat.
    “Maybe now you’re willing to talk with us?” Pik Ha’ar tried to force Braden’s foot off his neck, but that only made the human push harder. “You are just like the worst on the planet. No wonder creatures there act like you! You’ve infected them with your evil before they had a chance. How have your people survived here without having any honor? How can you do anything if you don’t trust one another?”
    ‘Pik, I recommend you talk with the human. He will kill all your people and burn your forest down.’ Braden looked at Aadi sideways. That wasn’t what Braden would do. The Tortoid blinked quickly to show Braden that he was exaggerating.
    ‘Yes. I can guarantee your safe passage. But you must take me with you. As a Commander, when they discover I’ve lost my warriors, they’ll kill me,’ he pleaded in a weak thought voice.
    “G? What do you think? Do we have another Elder McCullough crying at our feet?”
    ‘No. He is sincere. We may need him.’
    “He violated the trade!” Braden made a fist and with the other hand waved his blaster around, until Micah put a hand on his arm to keep it pointed away from her.
    He holstered the blaster. ‘I suggest the Golden Warrior is correct. Having an ally may be important. This ship is dangerous. If he tries anything, we can lock him behind a door. He doesn’t have a bracelet.’ Aadi’s arguments were usually persuasive.
    “Pick up your spear and lead on. You will not stop until we reach the ramp. Do you understand? We know where it is. If you try anything, you won’t have to worry about your fellows killing you.”
    Pik Ha’ar tried to stand but wobbled, one hand on his head. Micah picked up his spear and handed it to him. Braden’s blaster seemed to leap from its holster as Braden leveled it at the Lizard Man while he was within arm’s reach of Micah.
    G-War watched everyone closely. He would have warned Braden of the creature’s duplicity, as he had done with the Elder McCullough. Braden holstered his blaster for the second time.
    The commander shook his head to clear it, then gave up. He stopped and looked at the monkey in the puddle. He reached down for it.
    “No,” Braden said firmly. “You leave it. Everyone here died without honor. They died for a trade that you reneged on. All of them. Those monkeys died for nothing and you wasted our time. Don’t touch it. Now move.”
    Free Trader Braden scowled at the back of the