Jev followed Dixon into the cargo hold. There was no telling how many intruders were on the ship and they covered as much of the ship as they could. They split up and crossed the area quickly.
"Clear." Dixon announced.
"Clear." Jev parroted.
"Why did you kiss Nibbler?" Dixon hadn't thought to bring it up until now.
"To distract him and keep him from giving us away by hyperventilating."
"Is that all?" Dixon probed as they moved onward. The next area was the crew quarters.
"Well, Tan Kade in a way brings out a protective side in many of us. He is like a little brother in that way. In other ways like a little sister. He's old enough to start experiencing life's pleasures but I don't think he has yet. So naturally, I thought to exploit his innocence to keep him distracted and quiet in that situation."
"Ok. I'm just asking because I'm being protective like." Dixon glanced over his shoulder at Jev with a smirk.
"Hey, look." Dixon gasped as they rounded a corner. Jev peered around the engineer and saw a number of bodies along the corridor before them. This was the main hall for the crew quarters.
"We should check this thoroughly and move to the lower lever and check the guest quarters next."
"Ok." Jev agreed.
They found nothing here except some items had been rummaged through. Of the four bodies, only one was definitely dead. A result of a small explosion. The others were out cold and severely injured. All were intruders.
"I have a feeling Deeno did this." Jev remarked.
"Me too. He might as well have left his dataprint."
"I think he wears his weapons and ammo all the time for situations like these!"
Once they had descended to the next level it was quiet. No signs of struggle or conflict were evident.
"If our guest isn't here we are going to have to find him. They're probably after him." Jev nodded and agreed with a grunt. They approached the room where their guest was quartered. The door was ajar and no one was inside. Dixon took a closer look inside and saw nothing of note. Jev surveyed the corridor and noticed another door they had passed was now open a fraction.
"Dix." Jev called hushly from the side of his mouth. He continued to study the corridor. "Two doors back. Right."
"Ok," Dixon's short acknowledgement was all he said when he backed out from the room. He faced Jev and the door in question was to his right in his peripheral vision. "Let's keep looking."
They proceeded back down the hallway passed the door and Dixon was stepping lightly and he motioned Jev to continue who walked heavily around the corner. Dixon then waited.
