"NOBODY TOUCHES THE CARGO!!!" Eirik yelled out as he got a good look into the open box on the floor. Without further explanation, he called his ship on the internal communicator in his siege armor. Moments later, he heard Jeanette's voice, "Yes, Captain?" '

"Get Knud on the line!! And hurry!" Eirik's voice displayed his panic and fear and he could hear Jeanette scrambling on the other end of the call. after a few moments that felt like minutes, Knud spoke up "You wanted me urgently, Captain?" The older man sounded out of breath, which indicated he had indeed hurried to the bridge as fast as he could.

"Acces the camera feed from my helmet and tell me what exactly I am looking at!" Eirik put on his helmet as he spoke so the camera would view what he saw.

A few seconds of silence followed, interrupted by Knud "Can you lean closer, Captain? I want to be sure I am reading those labels correctly."

Eirik leaned closer, being careful not to get too close to the box with the vials in it. Finally, Knud spoke up again, "Captain, Those vials are extremely dangerous. If the labels are right, they contain samples of various deadly diseases from Terra, including but not limited to, the Bubonic plague, Anthrax, Ebola, Aids, and many more. Most of them were so illegal that merely transporting it, even ignorant of the contents of the box would land you a life sentence or an execution in most civilized systems. Captain, it is of the utmost importance you get those vials, and any others like it, to my infirmary as quickly as possible!"

Eirik had grown pale as Knud spoke. If even a single of those vials broke, it would be a guaranteed death sentence for all living things on board this ship. "I'm sending them back with David once he arrives. Be ready to receive him when he arrives!" With that, Eirik cut off the call and moved over to the intercom on the wall again, and pressed the button. "Captain, you have some explaining to do and you better come do it before we leave, or I am blowing your ship to dust once we are clear of it!"

This time he got an answer from the intercom, "We are on our way, Terran, please do not act hastily." It didn't take long for Eirik to hear the sound of running in the corridor and the 3 Kloxna from earlier came back into the cargo bay. Grabbing the one in front by the throat and holding tight, Eirik lifted the poor Kloxna to his face and growled, "Do you know what is in those vials??"

Unable to speak with Eiriks armored hand clasping her throat, the Kloxna captain could only shake her head vigorously and Eirik dropped her to the floor where she fell in a heap, gasping and coughing for air. "It is a good thing you have no idea. Your ignorance just saved your life!" Eirik stated flatly.

"What is in those vials that have got you so enraged?" the Kloxna managed to croak out between coughs.

"Only some of the deadliest diseases from Terra, the smuggling of which is always punished with a firing squad or a lifetime in prison. So, here is what is going to happen. You will provide me with the name of your supplier, any and all details on the buyer. The price, the drop-off location, any requests for further deliveries. In short, Anything you have in terms of information will be made available to me and it will be done so within 10 minutes."

"And if I refuse?" The Kloxna Captain har regained some of her composure.

"Then I turn your crew into a fine purple paste before I torture the information out of you and leave you here as a crippled husk, a burden on your people, unable to fulfill any function in society." The glint in Eirik's eyes told the Kloxna that he was being deadly serious and immediately ordered her 2 underlings to get the information requested, but as they turned to obey, Eirik stopped them.

"I will know if you are keeping information from me. If you keep information from me, all of your lives are forfeit." With that, he let them go on their way.

'While they waited, David arrived. Knud had briefed him while he was en route, and he took the boxes with the vials and placed them gently in the shuttle.

"Remember, David, If even one vial breaks, you are not getting off that shuttle alive." Eirik admonished David. who just smiled as he saluted Eirik before lifting off again.

While they waited for the rest of the transport, the 2 Kloxna returned with a datapad which they passed to Eirik. Looking it over, he was satisfied. They had simply copied their entire database over to him.

"This is more than I asked for. I am happy to see you cooperate." He said to the Kloxna Captain.

"What else can we do?" She whined, "You already destroyed our profit margin, making this trip an expense for me! who would I not be interested in saving my life?"

"Hmmm..." Eirik mulled it over. As a privateer himself, he could understand that sentiment. He made a decision. "Bring me 3 dozen from the first box," he ordered one of his men who hurried to comply.

As he was handed the small containers, he handed them over to the Kloxna Captain who looked mystified as she took them.

"If you sell them far away from Tai'Tanu, these should put your accounting books back into positive numbers," Eirik said to her as he noted her confusion.

She opened one of the containers and gasped audibly as she saw a dozen eggs inside. "Why would you do that?? Steal my cargo and then bribe me with enough eggs to earn me more credits than I have ever seen in my life?" She asked of Eirik, disbelief, and suspicion heavy in her voice.

"Because this bit of piracy is more about annoying Tai'Tanu than it is about profit. I hold no grudge against the Kloxna people in general. In fact, I never intended for you to lose business from this. There should be enough eggs for you to not only make up for lost profits but also pay your crew a hazard bonus, on account of being piracy victims." Eirik did not smile as he spoke, but his menacing scowl did disappear.

"I have never met a being with such a disregard for credits before..." The Kloxna Captain mumbled, more to herself than anyone else, as she stared at the containers in her claws.

"That's because you have only met merchants and other Kloxna. There are better, more important things in life than simple credits" Now Eirik was smiling again,

"....What kind of pirate are you??" The awe in the Kloxna Captain's voice was thick enough to slice with a knife

"One of a kind," Eirik said and winked at the Kloxna Captain, "Now get back to your bridge! I got work to do!"

As the 3 Kloxna left again, Eirik called Jesper over "Give an egg to each of the Kloxna crew, tell them they can eat it. Then pack up and let's get ready to leave. Oh, and Jesper?" Eirik added the last part as Jesper was turning away.

"Yes, Captain?"

"Tell the men to put back all the other cargo they have stuffed into their pants. Every man will empty his pockets as we return to the ship. anyone found taking anything other than what I have ordered will be given a month in a solitary prison cell." Eirik was staring Jesper down who grinned sheepishly and pulled a few bags of exotic-looking spices out of his own suit pockets. "Right away, Captain"

The cargo bay was filled with Eirik's laughter at Jesper's antics.