@starshipofmisfits continued from x
He gripped her elbow anxiously, gesturing towards his chest as he tried to keep her pace. “No, no, you don’t understand. I am Banik, a holy man. Let me go with you.” Stark realized he wasn’t especially making his case, and he tried forcing a smile at the woman. “May the goddess bless you? I am very useful, very knowledgeable for this enemy.”
“Commander K’Chit?”
The insectlike security officer scurried up and put an arm out to block Stark’s way. “Sorry, Mr. Banik,” she said, mistaking the title for his name. “Captain’s orders.”
“If you have any information that might be of use against the enemy, explain yourself now,” Captain Southgate ordered. “Otherwise, I will have Commander K’Chit escort you back to the ship and confine you to quarters for the duration of the conflict. Hurry up. I don’t have all day.”
Stark lifted his hands disarmingly but switched his attention, glancing up at the security woman imploringly. “No! Listen!“ he pleaded, wringing his hands. “They are evil creatures– lovers of death! I do not belong to them; I will help you stop them. I will! They poison the souls of so many. I can feel their poor, tortured victims, crying out for justice.”
He whirled back to the captain and dropped to his knees, still wringing his hands. “I know where their ship is. I can take you to it! There is a part of their ship– most broken.”
He hesitated, glancing aside with his one blue eye. “It’s a capacitor. Maybe even all of the capacitors. I’m not on their side!”











