“Crystal. I have no problem with that, Nori, we still want the same things. The only exception, my own condition, is that if we find someone who had a hand in the Calamity, he dies. That’s not debatable.”

Nori hesitated. “Okay, but you have to agree to hold off until we have irrefutable proof they were willing accomplices. Fle'gak didn’t deserve to die.”

“It was either him or us. He was about to take us down with him. But I see your point and I agree.”

“Then it's settled. We won’t tell what happened here to the others—they don’t need this burden.”

Bulco nodded. “Sure.”

Nori exhaled. “Crap. Okay then. I’ll go tell them. What about the body?”

“I’ll get my guys to handle him.”

Nori winced at the unspoken implication, but she kept her thoughts to herself. She left the man in the toilets and returned to Unity.

Lana jumped to greet her. “How did it go?”

Nori hesitated, looking at Nathan who was standing behind the young woman. “The Inthidlon scout attacked Bulco’s men. We had to kill him.” She wasn’t lying, but having to hold out the full details from her crewmates gnawed at her.

Lana’s eyes bulged, and Nathan's face fell at the news. “What? But he was so nice when we met him, and he was really worried about his friends.”

“I guess he was just fishing for information.” Her heart felt even heavier for misleading her friends.

Bulco entered the ship with a relieved grin. “My men are waking up, they’re alright. A few broken bones from falling, nothing major.” He caught the worried expression and chuckled. “I guess Nori told you the good news?”

Nathan frowned. “Good news?”

“Follow me.”

The Engineer led them out of the ship and into the open square, stopping in front of the sleek, needle-shaped scout ship. “This baby is all ours now.”

“Wow,” Lana said. “This is like, the third alien ship we found this week.”

Nathan frowned “Third?”

“I’m counting the shuttle as well.”

“Can you open it?” the large man asked.

Lana approached the back of the hovering craft and ran her fingers along its hull. “I can’t find any consoles to interact with.”

“I’ll do it,” Nathan stepped forward. The young man closed his eyes and raised his arm. He could feel the signals coming from the smaller ship, calling out to their real owner. He reached out with his senses, and felt Unity aiding him, directing his mind to grab at the signals, convincing them to bend to his will.

An opening appeared at the ship’s aft. A part of the hull liquefied, turning into steps leading up to it.

Nathan opened his eyes. “There was an anti-intruder system in place, but I disabled it. It’s safe to go in.”

Waves of light came out of the library, soaring into the four companions.

Extracted 1.2 Tec