The alien wavered and raised his hands placidly. “Please, hear me out. I came looking for missing members of my faction, and it looks like there are scant few I can turn to for answers. Please, won’t you wait a little longer? I wish you no harm.”

Lana wavered, but getting no more bumps from Nori, she straightened her back and cleared her throat. “I suppose we can spare a few minutes.”

“Wonderful. May we convene at the station?”

“No.” Bulco crossed his arms. “We’re in a hurry. You want to talk, then talk.”

The alien’s facial bristles stiffened, then he nodded. “Very well. A Gretqa-C9 freighter belonging to the Inthidlon 3rd merchant fleet has gone missing along with six of its crewmembers. I tracked their journey all the way to this system. My question is quite simple, do you know what had happened to them?” His tone was a bit too casual.

“No,” Bulco said impassively and turned around. “We’re leaving.”

“Wait,” Nori said, staring intently at the alien. “What was a freighter from the third fleet doing here? You are aware that intervening with an un-Infused planet stands against galactic law?”

The Inthidlon stared back at her. “The 3rd merchant fleet is a commercial entity. Our ships’ captains have the autonomy to decide on the best business opportunity for their vessels. If they have broken galactic law, it is even more imperative that I find them. The fleet doesn’t stand behind criminal activities.”

Nori narrowed her eyes at him. “I see,” she said finally. “Well, I’m sorry, but we can’t help you. Let’s go, guys.”

Lana lowered her head and turned to follow.

“Please,” the Inthidlon called behind them. “Two of the missing were my packmates.”

The Navigator stopped and turned back to face the alien. “What makes you think we even know anything?”

“You are Humans, yet your ship has obvious Inthidlon markers. I don’t know much of your species, but my sensors detected no other vessels around the planet, so you obviously had contact with my race before. You must know something. Please.”

Lana’s face softened at the hint of a plea in his voice.

Nori stepped in. “We’ve never met with your people before. Our ship is based partly on your technology, yes, but we built a lot of it on our own. I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.” She motioned the others and they turned away, leaving the flustered alien behind.

Once they entered the freighter and shut the door, Lana turned to the taller woman, her expression accusatory. “Why did you lie to him? The poor man was just looking for his ... family, I guess. We could have told him we found the ship. Alzigo said we were allowed to keep it.”