“Everybody freeze,” Nick said, because that’s what people on TV say in situations like these, so it seemed appropriate, and because Nick really wanted a moment to figure out what to do and what was the best way to end the day without being tortured to death in a Kreeth dungeon, which just had to be an unpleasant place.

The Kreeth all froze, arms still half-raised to brace against the explosion, so the TV template was working so far. Nick took several steps backward, so that he could see all the Kreeth at once.

“Nobody move,” Nick said, which was redundant because he had already told them all to freeze, then said, “Nobody call for help,” which was probably a good idea, both because he definitely didn’t want any more Kreeth in that hallway and because ordering them not to call for help reminded him that calling for  help was a thing he definitely could, and probably should, do. 

Nick took another half-step back and tightened his grip on the prince, whose jaw remained tight and breathing remained heavy. Nick stuck out his right thumb and, on the second try, activated his helmet comm while keeping his gun mostly pointed at the prince of the Kreeth Dominions.

“Uncle Damian,” Nick said quietly. No one heard him but the prince.

“Not now, kid,” Damian said. His breathing was strained. “We just blew the vault, we’re headed your way.”

“Don’t,” Nick said quickly. “I mean, um, there’s a bit of a problem.”

Damian paused. “What’s wrong?”

“There are people, er, were people in front of the closet,” Nick said. “Station master’s one of them, so if you want his keys, now’s your chance.”

“Nick,” Damian said softly. “What’s going on, are you okay?”

“Um, I’m fine,” Nick said. “Mostly fine. I was briefly captured but I think I’m okay now.”

Prince Xatlan took a deep breath, as if he was trying to control himself. Nick poked him with the gun, just to keep him from getting any ideas.

“What’s happening, Nick?” Damian was losing patience.

“Um, I think I may have captured the Kreeth crown prince,” Nick said. “Like, I have him at gunpoint and we’re staring down the rest of his retinue.”

Damian let out a sigh. “You… what?”

“Yeah, I could use some advice,” Nick said, “because I don’t really know where to go from here. I’m pretty sure if I let him go, they’ll all shoot me, but I can’t really stay here in this hallway, so…”

“Wait, calm down,” Damian ordered. “Just…” he sighed again. “Okay,” he said after a moment, “here’s what we’re going to do,” he said some things Nick couldn’t hear, probably to Triskar. “You are going to demand a ship from the Kreeth. Anything will work, no, wait, take the ship the prince arrived on. It’ll be ready to fly and they won’t have time to plant a bomb on it.”

“A bomb?” 

“Not the point,” Damian said. “I’ll meet you in the ship hangar. Don’t mention Triskar. They’ll think it’s just the two of us. Tell them to give me safe passage, and threaten to shoot the prince if they hurt me.”

“Isn’t the prince being alive basically my only leverage?”

“Yes, it’s the open secret to every hostage-taking that once you shoot the hostage, you no longer have a hostage to threaten to shoot,” Damian said, losing his patience. “Just, pray it doesn’t come to that.”

The Kreeth hadn’t moved this whole time, just stared at Nick as he talked to himself. Finally, the young girl in the fancy gown stepped forward.

“Please,” she asked, “don’t hurt my brother.”

The prince stiffened.

“Ah, uh, you must be the princess,” Nick said. The prince scoffed. Nick took a deep breath, then began again. “I won’t hurt your brother, if you give us a ship. Your ship,” he clarified. “Allow me and my partner to get into your ship, the one you arrived on, and fly away and your brother will be fine.”

Damian cut in, “We need to keep the prince until we get out of gun range. Tell them we’ll let him go after we get back to our own ship unharmed.”

“Doesn’t everyone say they’ll let the hostage go when they get away?” Nick asked.

“Yes.”

“And do they ever mean it?”

“More often in space,” Damian said. “Without a central government there’s less reason to kill witnesses. Just say it. They’ll go along with it, I promise.”

Nick relayed Damian’s instructions to the princess. She stood still, face impassive. She had noticed Nick’s delay and realized he was taking orders from someone else. Nick didn’t like the look in her eyes.

“Where’s your partner,” the princess asked. “The other one you want to fly away with?”

“He’ll meet us in the hangar,” Nick said. “If you harm him, I’ll shoot the prince.”

The princess nodded, expressionless. “Station master, tell our men to leave the hangar. Give them plenty of space.”

The old man in the military suit nodded. “Yes, princess.” He pulled a comm unit off his belt and started issuing orders. 

“We will agree to your demands,” the princess said calmly. “I hope to resolve this without bloodshed.” Still stone faced. She was either keeping her emotions over her brother’s predicament under very tight control, or else there wasn’t much there to speak of.

“In the hangar,” Nick said. “To the hangar, I mean. You go first.”

“The hangar is behind you,” the princess said calmly.

“Take the long route,” Nick said. “Lead the way.”

She paused for a moment, before nodding. She led, and the two old men followed, one on each side. The guards walked between the princess and Nick, looking back over their shoulders nervously every few seconds. Nick and Prince Xatlan went last, Nick keeping a safe distance from the last of the guards.

“You don’t know the layout of the station?” Xatlan asked quietly, an incredulous note in his voice.

“What’s it matter?”

“You’re an amateur in over your head,” the prince said flatly.

“Looks like our plan’s working to me,” Nick said.

“This was not your plan,” Xatlan said. “You’re desperately taking orders from your partner. Maybe he’s a professional. You are a child.”

“You can’t be that much older than me,” Nick said, smothering the part of his brain that pointed out he didn’t really know how Kreeth aged.

“Age doesn’t matter,” Xatlan said. “I am a prince. I was born to lead, and so I shall.”

“Not if I shoot you,” Nick pointed out.

Xatlan didn’t hesitate. “You won’t. You’re too much of a coward.”

“That sounds a lot like a dare,” Nick said. “Which doesn’t seem very smart, personally.”

Xatlan shrugged. Anything more he was going to say got cut off when they reached the hangar bay. The hangar was a single room the size of a football stadium, one wall missing. A starscape, shimmering slightly from the fields that kept the air inside, hung just out of reach. 

A single ship, half as long as the Stargazer, if that, stood in the middle of the hangar, facing the open wall.

“That’s your ship?” Nick asked. The prince scoffed. “Where’s…”

“Over here, kid.” Uncle Damian walked out from one of the side hallways, stride long and even. The Kreeth guard watched his approach warily, a few hands straying toward sidearms, but they did nothing.

“There,” the princess said. “You are reunited, and here is our ship for you to use. We’ve fulfilled the bargain.”

Damian nodded. “We’ll release your brother once we’re out of the system. Not more than one hyperspace jump, you have my word. Once we’re free and clear, we’ll let your brother go.”

Nick could tell from the faces of the Kreeth exactly how little they trusted Damian to keep his word, but the princess nodded. “I accept your terms. You may leave.”

Damian smiled. “Perfect.”

Damian led the way into the ship. Nick followed, walking backward to keep his eyes on the Kreeth, and the prince’s body between him and their guns. No one made any moves before Nick was on the ship and Damian drew up the ramp.

“Here,” Damian threw the device they used to climb into the station, “tie him up and keep an eye on him. I’ll get the ship started.”

Nick nodded and got to work.

The princess stood completely still as her boat floated into space. She kept a stony expression on her face, for the sake of appearances.

“Your highness, was that wise?” the Marquess of Gri asked.

“We can only hope that they’ll keep their word,” the princess said, adding a quiver to her voice. “It was the only way.”

A message crackled through the station master’s comm. The man’s eyes grew wide. 

“Your Highness,” he said. “The intruders… that blast… they made their way into the vault.”

“Project Xhi?” the princess asked.

“There’s no sign of it.”

She paused for a moment, pretending to mull it over. “The intruders must have the plans, then,” she said with an air of finality. “We cannot allow the enemies of the Kreeth to get their hands on that weapon. Blow their ship from the sky.”

“But, your highness…” the station master was at a loss.

“My brother’s sacrifice will be remembered,” the princess said. “He will be missed. He loses his life today to make our nation stronger. Remember that.”

Ashen faced, the station master nodded. “Yes, princess.”