Kayla, appeared to be whole again. God knows what the aliens had done to her. We’d work on that later.

“Back to the engine room,” I told her. “The second I’m on board take us back home.”

“We most apologize, leader Kaine,” the Vronel said. Their obseqiousness immediately convinced me they were trying another scam. “The thousand tons platinum, transported, your storage rooms.”

The bars of metal fizzed then vanished.

“Kaine,” Arni’s awed voice came over the communications. “A shit load of platinum just appeared in the hold.”

“Okay Arni, I’m coming back to deactivate the self destruct. It’s time to go home.”

“Journey well, leader Kaine.” I swore I could hear them snicker. “Till, it trade time again.”

I couldn’t risk any more time with the swindlers and so I ran back to the ship. After all,I had to pretend the threat was real.

Panting slightly I walked onto the bridge.

“Arm the nukes inside the contructs,” I told Arni. “Those guys are up to something and I want to be prepared.”