A shimmering wave of black and gold raced down the mountain to meet the unconscious animal. They hooted and screeched a song of relief, of hope.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. I saw Freckles clutch his arm as I braced my body to attack. Again, a plan of action emerged.
Jump up, backhand him in the squishy brain. Go for the kill shot…
My fist flew, inches from his vulnerable face. Right before contact, I felt a vice lock around my throat. Deadly, immovable. I hung in mid-air, but it wasn’t because of Freckles. The alien asshole stood stock still with his drooly mouth open and his fetid dick-tongues hanging out. All three tiny tubes.
The grip on my neck came from behind.Can’t breathe.I was wrenched back and flung down to the floor. I gurgled something out; dust obscured my vision.
“Stay down.” Came a deep growl.
Something about his voice made me shiver. As the powdery dust cleared, I saw nothing but swirling sunset eyes. “Sunny,” I whispered.
It all came back, and something settled inside me. It was as if I’d been waiting for him. The massive alien rumbled something. It sounded like a chuckle, but by the look of his stony face, he was probably pissed. He appeared exactly as I remembered. Dark leather enveloped his forehead like a mask. The covering continued over his head and along his shoulders and crisscrossed his chest. Massive spikes lined his head and spine, and even the backs of his arms. I focused on his swirling sunset eyes.
His hand loosened, and his long fingers brushed my fluttering pulse. I didn’t know why, but it was a comfort. The adrenaline faded. The glow that had surrounded me, the superstar confidence, was gone. The Oro had receded, and I was alone with my normal human strength. Less than normal because I was tapped out. I had no chance to kill Freckles now, and it made me want to scream. I’d been so close!
“What-whathave we here?” A new voice boomed above me or maybe through me. It sounded like it blasted through every inch of the mountain—oily, languid, and oh-so-entitled. Had anyone who wasn’t an asshole ever uttered those words? His voice screeched and crackled in an all too familiar way. A glass-shattering tone I’d heard one too many times. But now, unlike on the ship—I understood the alien language. It was similar to Freckle’s language with a few differences.
“Don’t move, or I will kill you,” Sunny growled above me. His strong hand retreated slowly, and his long fingers caressing my cheek as he stepped back.
I shut my eyes for a moment, mourning the loss of the Oro flooding my veins, but really just wanting to avoid the voice of the asshat that approached. Eventually, I looked up and instantly knew I’d been right. This new alien… he reeked of power.
When he waved a long-fingered hand, Sunny came down on one knee and bowed his head. “Till death. Supreme first!”
The supreme?Carajo.This was bad. Very bad.
The alien stood about five and a half feet with spotted mossy skin. The plume of feathers running down his head and the back of his neck were vivid yellow. His cloak wasn’t any fancier than the other aliens I’d spied in the stands. What made him so special?
“Is it a female-male? What species is it-it?” After he spoke, fivefatdick-tongues unrolled from his mouth and hung over his chin. The size of his members dwarfed Freckles’ teeny-tiny tubes. Everything clicked into place. Freckles was a giant pulsing asshole because he had Little Dicks Energy.Unbelievable.It didn’t matter what part of the galaxy you were in—men never changed.
My eyes widened when I saw three new,huge, aliens circle the supreme. They were half gold and half turquoise, with shimmering hair flowing over their muscular backs. Glittering wings made of spiked blades, vibrated behind their backs.
They never left the supreme’s side. They must be his personal guards.
“Who is this-this?” the supreme roared. Or maybe whispered, my brain had started to lock up. One by one, my senses shut down.
I need power, I whispered to theOro. A brief shudder and a wave of ice smashed into my soul. Completely different than any other sensation I’d felt before by the Oro. They had no more to give. I got the sense it would hurt them to help.
Loxo came up behind me. Querida and Nieve’s arms were clasped in his large hands. “Forgive me, Supreme. Earthers run fast.” For once, he didn’t crack a smile.
“Earthers? Oh, yes, Tontoh’s pet project-ject. Why-whydoes she not speak? I will understand her inferior language. TheGlrtsstllllorogggmakes it so-so.”
Sunny stepped forward. “Ask Tontoh why she cannot speak.” Sunny pointed his staff at Freckles, who’d been slinking away, his hopefully broken arm clutched in his hand.
Freckles straightened and rushed over. “She tried to kill me. Look at my arm.Give her to me.I demand it. I will make her pay.”
My eyes blurred, and it felt like my blood thickened like oil. Things were going from bad to worse. I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My tongue was too thick to move. I was as helpless as when I’d first woken up. The burst of energy had tapped me, and my greatest weapon, my big mouth, was rendered useless.
The supreme looked restless, obviously used to getting his way. If I didn’t do something soon, he might dispose of me.
“They have potential, Supreme. Look how quickly she almost killed Tontoh.” Sunny’s surprising support was buying me a little time.
Who’s a good talker?Nieve! I looked up and saw her huddled behind Loxo. With the last of my strength, I motioned her toward me.
Nieve shook her head.
Get your ass over here.I crooked my finger again. Querida pulled Nieve next to me.
