by Jake Bible
“What you got?” Xew asked.
“See for yourself,” Halsey said and gestured towards the cargo hold. “It’s not pretty, Detective. These folks have been dead a long time.”
“You gonna be okay?” Xew asked Tipo.
“I’ll be fine soon,” Tipo said, still doubled over. “Go see and I’ll be right up.”
“Okay,” Xew said and walked up the ramp towards Halsey. “How many are we talking, sergeant?”
“Fifty. Maybe more,” Halsey said then narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. “Hold on. The precinct is refusing to send transport to haul the bodies away. They’re saying GV is in charge, so GV needs to authorize the request.”
“Fine,” Xew said and pointed towards Tipo. “Coordinate with Detective S’lunn. He’ll get it straightened out.”
“Sure. Put me with the rookie,” Halsey grumbled as he descended the ramp and stomped over to Tipo.
Xew waited for the sergeant and Tipo to begin speaking before he turned and gave his full attention to the contents of the cargo hold. Half the tactical team was milling about, all trying not to look like they were going to vomit. Xew figured the other half were still sweeping the rest of the barge. He took a few steps then paused as the full weight of what he was seeing hit him.
Easily fifty corpses in stages of advanced decay covered the floor of the cargo hold. They were of all galactic races, genders, ages. The sex trade was indiscriminate when it came to appetites, so all demographics were represented.
“Eight Million Gods,” Xew muttered under his breath. “They’ve been dead for weeks. Why bring them here?”
“Detective?” a member of the tactical team asked.
“Nothing. Talking to myself,” Xew said.
“We got a live one!” someone shouted. “Help me get her up!”
All attention focused on a member of the team and a convulsing human woman that was propped up against the hold’s back wall.
“Wait!” Xew shouted. “Do not touch—!”
Those were the last words the detective ever said as the cargo hold was filled with a brilliant light and heat so hot that Xew never felt his flesh melt away. He was shouting then he was gone. Forever.
Galactic Vice is available from Amazon here!
