Page 37 of Einar

“Nocan-do big brother, where you go,Igo.So, pull those big boy breeches up, and let us get to the ship.”

Relieffills me atFalon’swords.Noneof us will permitSlavicto stay behind, that is unacceptable.

“Bikar, open the cargo bay door wide enough forFalonandIto slide in and then take off.Wewill make our way up to the main areas once the ship is out of theNavale’sorbit.”

“Frack, brother, that is going to be a rough few tics.Itgets mighty cold in the cargo bay.”

Thatis an extreme understatement.But… what other choice do we have?

“Youhave any other ideas?FalonandIcan hold our own easily against theJynrel, but not if they are joined by the threeKorgonsthat just walked onto the dock.Wecannot risk lowering the main ramp.”

Vibrationbeneath my feet tells me thatBikaris lowering the cargo bay door, and they are going to proceed with that plan.Thereis no way that theKorgons, or theJynrelcan gain access to theZeniththrough the main door, not withBikarin control of all the systems onboard.

“Slavic, get that door closed or both of you can say your goodbyes.”

Bikar’sshout comes just after theZenithjerks all around us, signaling our departure fromNavale.

“Shockthe hull, the fracker won’t let go.”

FrackingKorgonsare not the brightest species, but even they know that one zap from a ship the size of theZenithwill kill them, so it doesn’t surprise me when the clang of the cargo bay door rattles through the floor.

“Thatwas too close.”Falonhuffs out.

“Iagree little brother.Letus grab a few of these crates and head up.Iwould prefer to escape this cold as quickly as possible.”

Atleast it sounds likeRuarcandFalonwere successful in more than just translators.Thehuman females need coverings desperately, andIagree withRuarc.Ido not want my preciousStarshineto touch anything the fracking bugs did.

“Bikar, get everyone to the helm and keep track of thatPyrkynecruiser.”

“Alreadyahead of you.”

Turning,Imotion forMurgulandRuarcto join me.Weneed fuel, and the filthy pigs are going to give it to us.

ChapterTwenty-Five

EINAR

Pacingbackand forth on the bridge,Iimpatiently wait forSlavicandFalonto get here.RuarcandBikarare bickering back and forth whileMurgul, in typical fashion, is leaning silently against the far wall, watching the rest of us with a calm façade.Thewhooshing sound of the door opening announcesSlavic’sarrival, andIwhirl on him with a snarl the second he steps into the room.

“Howthe frack did they figure out we were the ones who took the females?”Ifeel foolish the moment the words leave my mouth, and the derision inSlavic’svoice only makes it worse when he snaps back at me.

“Wellapparently, they could smell them on us,Einar.Itdid not help that theVelgriddixput a huge reward out for their return and half the frackin galaxy is out looking for any sign of them.Likeuntried youths, we put ourselves right in their sights rather easily, asIam sure they contacted any and all spaceports within their ship’s last known location.

Ruarc, you andFalongo through those crates and separate the items acquired for the females.Einar, before you sneak off, you will tend to the other females hiding inFalconandBikar’sroom.Ido not care how you do it, but get it done.Allfemales are precious, and we will not neglect them.Falon,Ineed you to verify that those translators are working.Doyou know if they are the temporary or permanent ones?”

Noddingmy understanding toSlavic,Iglance over atFalonto gauge his response.Allthe females need the translators, but it is imperative that mine andSlavic’sStarshinesget them.Ourlives depend on it and all my other brothers know that. “Frommy understandingSlavic, they are permanent.Butmy informant told me that implanting them could be painful.”

“Einar, do we have anything that would assist with this?”

Slavic’squestion makes me wince a bit.Heis not going to like hearing the answer any more thanIlike giving it to him. “Notreally, andIfear they will only be more distressed when we subject them to the procedure.”

“Frack, these females have been hurt enough, the very thought of us harming them once again has me torn.”Slavic’s’ words are full of dismay, but to my surprise,Murgulinserts himself into the conversation.

“Fearis caused from lack of knowledge, brother.Theywill be temporarily upset but will calm quickly once it is finished and they can understand us.”

Weall fall silent at his words, andItake a nanotic to let them sink in.Murgul, more than most, understands the importance of knowledge.Tobe honest, those two short sentences are the most any of us have heard our youngest brother speak in many, many rotations.Hisvoice is hoarse with disuse as well as jagged due to the damage he suffered at the hand of theVelgriddix.

“Bikar, where is thatPyrkyneship?”

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