Iscariot

[Zapp]

Once she cycled her ship’s hatch shut, the man yanked his helmet off and took a deep breath. He had a scraggly beard, and frost clung to it. His hair was gray, and his features were hard. His eyes were sharp, though. They were in her ship’s cargo hold, which was otherwise empty. A set of metal stairs on the far end of the room ran up to a hatch that led to the cockpit.

“Hello, I’m Goodwinn. What’s your name?”

He started to make an ‘eh’ sound, then stopped and grimaced. He tried again with the same result.

“There are some who call me . . . Iscariot.”

She waited a moment, to see if he’d volunteer any more information. When he didn’t, she pressed him about what had happened on the ship. He was reluctant, but eventually gave in.

“The ship was like that when I found it. I tried to fix it enough to fly to Freeport 11, but that didn’t work. Then some other folks came by. Blew my ship off the docking hatch, docked their own ship, and tried to take it from me. Must’ve been a cruiser, and Order by the uniforms. I killed most of them.”

At that, her jaw dropped, but he continued as if he had commented on an everyday occurrence.

“When they realized it was futile, they left right before I could get onto their ship. I’m lucky they didn’t think to blow the wreck up with me on it, but I guess they figured they’d let me suffocate instead.”

She examined him closer. His armor was obsidian, and seemed to kill light that touched it. It was unmarred. He had no visible weapons.

“Who are you, really?”

His lips pursed—he was done answering her. Instead, he asked: “What’s a young thing like you doing out here?”

Winn harrumphed and stalked towards the cockpit. Call her young, would he! He must be over seventy. She called over her shoulder: “I’ll be setting a course to Freeport 11.”

He trailed her into the cockpit, and asked for food and water. She gave him a ration pack and canteen. She sat in the pilot seat, and he sat behind her.

“You know,” he said, “sitting with your back to me—or anyone—is a mistake. It would take me less than a second to break your neck and steal your ship.”

Her shoulders tensed, but she said nothing and didn’t turn around. He chuckled dryly.

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