The pirates that entered a half hour later were, as Niko had predicted, a motley lot, led by a tall, skinny man who’d been genetically altered to look like a tiger, primarily around the face. His slit-pupil eyes were brilliant green, and he had whiskers and flashing fangs when he smiled. His skin had been patterned in orange and black to accentuate the illusion, but his hair had apparently resisted the treatment—it stood up in straggly brown patches across the stripes, like clouds of dirt obscuring the colors.

Two large, identical women who looked like vat sisters stood with him. They were improbably muscular and unarmed; the way they carried themselves showed that they relied on brawn and speed over more conventional weaponry.

Beings like this were often used as bodyguards. Ones guarding the rich would have plenty of internal weaponry, biomodifications hidden under scars and flesh seams until needed. Behind them was a Gesli, looking uneasy and carrying a very large blaster pistol, and a Hiolite, grinning perpetually in the manner of their species and holding what looked like a glowing flechette pistol in each hand. The last of their number was a tall Illunti wearing a sorcerer’s battle robes and carrying a long, slender wand.

They directed everyone to line up against the wall, and searched them one by one. The two carrying guns stood back with them at the ready, but they relaxed as it became clear that the prisoners had no plans to resist. The sorcerer scanned the group once with the wand, lingering on Lassite, and then turned his attention to the crates.

The soldiers relieved Milly of several knives that had been tucked in places other than the bandolier, and she made only token protest. Skidoo had two bioweapons, small knobby sacs, which the soldiers took and placed in a metal-lined box.

The man scanned Atlanta, and gestured her forward. “Little fingers and a tooth,” he said to one of the women with him. She nodded, stepped forward, and grabbed Atlanta by the arms before she could react, holding her still. The other woman took something from her belt Atlanta couldn’t see.

“Simply deactivate them, you fucking savage,” Niko said. “She’s just a kid.”

“A kid with biomodified finger weapons,” the pirate sneered.

The woman grabbed Atlanta’s hand and snipped the little finger off. A flare of heat and the smell of burning flesh crashed through her. The pain made her scream; she was halfway through the sound when the woman removed her other little finger.