Chapter 56

"She will be held in a Shuib." Shuib. A small prison ship used to convey single high class prisoners. It had seven rooms, each one forming a circular formation around two cells in the center. Good to know.

"What path will they be taking? Kihjish-V isn't their typical route to the citadel and I doubt they've constructed any outposts there due to the lantern's interference."

"The Gordanians will be passing through a craagan serah gate." Koji'rar said, getting a sigh from Naruto. The Gordanians created those gates as portals to get to the citadel without having to pass through Thanagarian territory. If he failed to get Koriand'r and leave in time, he'd find himself in the middle of the citadel.

"A craagan serah gate. You're offering me a hisuku-class lightfold engine to intercept a ship headed for a craagan serah gate." Naruto said. The engine and a bit of money didn't feel like a good enough reward for the risk of whatever fate he'd meet if he failed.

"The money will be worth it, that I can promise," Koji'rar said hastily, noticing the bounty hunter's sudden disinterest. "Thirty million credits."

Naruto blinked. Thirty million credits could solve a lot of problems for him. Starting with buying that Thagnarian assault/escape hybrid ship he'd seen on sale. Thirty million and a lightfold engine. All to save some princess.

"Thirty million in a chip. And if you succeed and Koriand'r manages to take over from Komand'r, she might give you honorary citizenship as gratitude. Paid or nor, you'd be doing Tamarand a great favour."

"And if I fail, death would be much preferential to what I'd probably be put through by the Gordanians." Naruto said. "And your dear niece would be lost."

"The pay is perhaps worth more than your very life," Koji'rar said. "And if you end up failing, I can always call someone else to try saving her from the citadel. Perhaps, the unrelenting or the czarnian."

Naruto stared at him. He was clearly the first choice because hiring him would be cheaper than known mercenaries. If he did save her, Koji here could get back the princess and save the money that he'd have given to a more famous mercenary. Not a bad idea but it stung his pride a bit.

His choice made, Naruto stood to his feet and smiled brightly at Koji'rar who took another deep inhale of the stinging smoke. "You've got yourself a deal, Koji."

Six hours later

A slightly charred ship appeared in the void of space, streaks of energy racing around its frame as testament to it's feat of faster than light travel. A few kilometres ahead was a small fleet of large vessels surrounding a prison ship. Each one was headed to a large ring.

Naruto blinked a few times to get his bearings and scanned the fleet in his front for his target. For some reason, the ship was headed in a separate direction from the others. Curious.

"If my knowledge of the mapping out of this sector's correct, it's headed in the direction of Krypton." He muttered. Krypton had been destroyed for decades now. Why would they suddenly decide there was something of interest to find there?

Shrugging, he locked onto the ship's signature, hacking into its detection systems with a software he'd gotten from an associate. As his ship rapidly approached the target, Naruto examined himself, checking to see if he was missing any equipment.

Upon finding nothing missing, he began doing some exercises, watching the other ships disappearing into an invisible portal generated by the ring. When the last was in and only the stray Shuib was left, Naruto set his ship to approach.

Upon reaching a hundred meters above the vessel, the bounty hunter's ship released a narrow tube straight through the roof of the Shuib, killing a Gordanian and surprising the only other one with it. Naruto sighed at the sight. Stealth was already out of the option but he'd been hoping to avoid contact as much as he could.

Hopping down the tube, he brought out a blaster and switched it on. Upon reaching the end, he swiftly opened fire, taking off the head of another. The others were quick to arrive and upon sighting him, opened fire.

"Jsikhsi' juub!"

"Y'olsfutri huigb!"

Naruto yelped slightly when he felt energy pass through his body. This frequency modulating device worked like a charm. He'd have to thank Bolo next time they met. Steadying himself, he rushed towards the other three.

The first one swiftly took out a short blade and swung it at him, blinking in surprise when it's weapon passed through the bounty hunter's body harmlessly. Naruto capitalised on its surprise and thrust his hand forward, the vibrating limb passing through its head and spearing into its brain.

Drawing his hand back, he rushed towards the second as it made to flee and shoved his hand through its chest, destroying the nerve bundles commanding it's ability to move. Just as he was about to make for the other, he jerked back as he felt a bolt slam into his chest, nearly burning through his shirt.