Page 35 of Hunted By the Dragon Alien

Bruil shifted closer. There was an unusual tension in the air surrounding the older Zaruxian. His brow furrowed and the lines around his mouth deepened. “Maybe finding more Zaruxians wouldn’t be such a bad idea,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically thick. “I didn’t think I missed them, but it’s been many cycles since I’ve heard any word of my kind. A long time since I’d felt…hope.” His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning, catching everyone off guard.

Sevas blinked, her mouth slightly agape. “Bruil, you—”

“Shush,” Bruil interrupted with a wave of his hand. “I’ve been an old soldier too long, too accustomed to loss. I figured being alone was my fate. But having you two, having a chance to reunite or rebuild… It’s more than I ever thought I’d get again.” He gripped the handle that kept him in place. His voice was heavy with emotion. “If there’s a chance we could find our kin, I want to take it. I want to see if there are more of us out there. More survivors who’ve kept our fight alive despite the odds.”

The sincerity in Bruil’s voice struck a chord deep inside Sevas. The weariness in his expression and the weight of loss reminded her that she, too, had hoped desperately for connection, for survival, for a sense of belonging. The notion of tracking down Zaruxians, of seeking lost ties, brought warmth to her heart. She saw the determination in Bruil’s yellow eyes. It echoed the fierce drive she’d seen in Takkian and felt in her own heart.

“We’ll do it, then,” she declared, her voice resolute. “We’ll find this ship with Zaruxians and my friends, but we need to be smart about it.” She glanced at Takkian, meeting his gaze with unyielding resolve.

Excitement flared within the small group, easing the lingering sadness of Ulo’s departure. A sense of purpose wove through them. They had each experienced great loss, but together they could forge a fresh path, one defined not by fear, but by the connections they could rebuild and the family they could reclaim.

Bruil nodded. “I’ll navigate. If we can avoid the Axis patrols, we can make it.”

Sevas’ heart swelled. Silence hung in the air, filled with the promise of what was to come. The ship hummed softly around them, a reminder of their shared escape and the journey ahead.

“Let’s check those coordinates. The Dokkol would have sent them by now, and we’ll make our plans.” Bruil’s voice was practical once more. The emotion faded to his familiar gruffness. “And let’s do it quickly, because the moment we move, we’ll be vulnerable.”

SEVENTEEN

Takkian

Takkian gazed at the cabin as another wave of uncertainty flooded him. With Bruil at the controls, focused intently on the display and the coordinates sent by the Dokkol, he was alone with Sevas. She stayed clipped into a seat, arms wrapped around herself. The distant hum of the ship resonated in the silence between them.

“Takkian…” Sevas began. “Tell me what is on your mind.”

He took a breath, pushing past the mix of emotions spinning in his head. “I would like to hear everything you know about the overseer. The one from your settlement.”

Sevas’ expression shifted. The warmth in her eyes dimmed slightly. “He was…hard to explain. He protected us, but he was also the reason we lived in constant fear. He marked Turi’s doors with a symbol. It kept the wild creatures from bothering her family’s crops.”

“Marked how?” Takkian asked, folding his arms. “Why did he do that?”

Sevas hesitated. “Turi never told us why. She might not even know. But it gave her family a break from thecibrats,filbats, andirgsthat constantly invaded the farms. They left her land alone,” she said, her voice trailing off.

Takkian frowned. “So he was a tool for the Axis? A puppet?”

“I don’t know,” Sevas replied, her brow furrowing. “The overseer kept the peace in the settlement, but he couldn’t override the Axis’ order to let the raiders abduct us. He could negotiate with them to keep Turi, because he had laid claim on the land she lived on—and wewereabducted from her family’s land.” She rubbed a hand over her forehead. “It was a hard life. They drained our resources until we barely had enough to survive.”

“That is what they do to penal colonies,” he said coldly. “I—I’m pretty sure I served on one.”

She peered at him. “You don’t have a number on your neck.”

“No, I don’t.” Takkian’s voice held a dangerous edge. “But I’m wondering if I’m marked somewhere no one can see.”

“What do you mean?” Sevas asked.

“The officials at the arena somehow found out about our escape plan,” he said. “Bruil and Ulo didn’t tell them. Neither did you. And Bruil and I did regular, thorough checks for listening devices.” He shrugged. “Add in that I can’t remember much of anything before I arrived at the arena, and…I wonder if the listening device isme.”

Her eyes widened. “Could they be listening now?”

“I don’t think so,” Takkian replied, considering her words. “If they could, they would be here now.”

Sevas nodded. “That’s true. You’re well out of range.”

Takkian clenched his fists, anger tightening his shoulders. “But I might not be if we come near an Axis ship or facility. If there’s an implanted device in me, I need to find and remove it.”

Her gaze met his. “Then, when we get to this outpost, we find someone to do that. The overseer and this other Zaruxian—Cyprian—may have had one, too. And if the overseer isn’t at the settlements anymore, that means something big happened there.”

Takkian let out a deep, steadying breath as he pulled Sevas closer, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder. The warmth of her body against his steadied the turbulent thoughts racing through his mind. He could still sense the lingering fear that the Axis might be watching, waiting for them to slip up. But right now, in this moment, she was his sanctuary.

---