“Stay vigilant.” He took a long, exaggerated breath trying to identify the scent, but there wasn’t enough to process. He grumbled under his breath. The last thing they wanted was trouble. “This has been too easy. I don’t like it.”

“What’s up, Captain? Got a sixth sense on trouble?”

“Don’t you smell it, Ace? Like we’ve been here before.”

“Got the heebie-jeebies, for sure. But this baby’s practically new.”

“And a bit too pretty for a freighter, wouldn’t you say?”

Ace shrugged, but Merrick wasn’t about to let down his guard. Captain Carlton and his late crew had already made that mistake. But Carlton had been at a disadvantage from the start. The youthful appearance and young voices belied the true age and experience of Merrick and his men. They were frequently underestimated.

“Merrick.” Cooper’s voice came over the comm, “She’s all clear, Captain. All crew accounted for.”

A smile quirked Merrick’s lips. No trouble after all. “Well done, Cooper. Head back to the Breaker and take the bridge. I’ll walk our new baby.”
“Any idea where we’re heading?”

“Depends on the cargo. Set a course for Deport Twelve for the moment. Keep an eye out for company.”

“Roger that.”

“Okay, lads. Take a corridor and let me know what you find.”

Merrick found the equipment store. It was a small office that branched out into racks of supplies and machinery. It was tidy and well organized, easy to find the inventory. Everything looked pristine. Merrick thought the Den-Freight could well be on her maiden voyage.

He made himself comfortable at the desk and methodically plodded through the catalogues, giving a whoop when he came across something that would fetch a good price. It felt good to fill his head with calculations, his time with work—anything to keep him from his own thoughts.

He paused to close his eyes and the memory slammed him in the face. Something about the place triggered it. It was almost tangible. Jessie laughing, holding a vidscreen over Cooper’s head making him jump for it. ‘Tell him to stop teasing, Merrick.’ They looked so young. Merrick smiled. A good memory.

Ace buzzed his comm and Merrick was startled out of his daydream. “Merrick, look at this.” A view of a second cargo hold came up on the vidscreen. Rows and rows of metal storage containers with small patches of light that looked like screens centered on the front panels lined the walls, casting an eerie green glow.

“Holy shit, is that what I think it is?” He sat forward too quickly, almost tipping the chair.

“Hell yes.”

Just what he needed. Unexpected company. He knew it’d been too easy. He tried to keep his voice even and pressed the comm at his ear. “Keen, we’re going to need you in cargo. Ace, send him directions.”