Page 13 of Alien Abduction for Experts
With the way he was grinning widely, I had a hard time deciding if he was serious or making this up. His torso-brother seemed to have gone back to sleep, not caring at all that they were on a spaceship far from home.
"What does she have on you?" Hix asked.
"Why do you think we're not doing this voluntarily?" Trish shot back. "This could be our assignment."
"Sure, it could be. In a parallel universe where logic and madness have been reversed. No, Kat put you up to this and since you look like decent folk and not hardened criminals, I assume she's forcing you to do it. It's something she'd do."
Trish turned to me. "I'm kind of sad they don't think we're criminals. I was enjoying this rogue, pirate kind of feeling."
"We can do some pirating once we're done with this," I promised her. "Maybe one the way to Labeari, once we finally get to have our honeymoon."
"Honeymoon?" Hix looked from her to me. "Are you mates?"
"They're mine," Trish confirmed with a proud smile. "All of them."
I didn't like the dismissive glances Hix took at Havel and me.
"Is there another one?" the Gemi'i asked. "Someone a little more impressive?"
A growl broke from my throat and my tail slapped against the floor. "Maybe we should tie them up after all."
Havel flashed his fangs. "Maybe we should. And then do some very intimate probing."
Hix laughed. "Alright, now I see what you like about them."
"Stop talking," Hex muttered groggily. "How far are we from the IGU station?"
"Two IG days," Trish said before I could. I was impressed, she was really getting the hang of calculating time in the intergalactic standard way.
Hix sat up - it was clearly him controlling their body - and Hex let out an annoyed groan.
"Then we have some time to come up with a plan."
Xil
Once I was sure the Jade was on the right course and everything was running smoothly, including the machinery that had been damaged during the attack near Kitt-Y-6, I joined the others in the galley. I'd watched their first encounter with Hix and Hex from the bridge and had been very proud of how Trish had taken the lead. Maybe we should have a chat during our honeymoon, see if she'd be interested to do abductions with us full time. I was enjoying the rush of excitement this challenge had caused.
Our Gemi'i abductees sat on the small bench on one side of the room, which gave them enough space to sit comfortably. They had a drink in each hand so that they didn't have to share a glass.
That reminded me of something. "Klat, I forgot about the food."
Havel looked up at me. "I thought it had been delivered to the Jade?"
"It was, but I never went outside to bring it in. We had to take off to get to you in time for the abduction... it's still at the spaceport."
"I paid a lot of credits for that," Havel hissed, his fangs visible. "And now you klatting joke of a Captain tells me that you forgot it?"
I roared at him. I wouldn't tolerate insubordination. I'd admitted my mistake and that was it, everyone should just forget about it. Time to move on. We had more important issues than a basket full of very expensive Gemi'i food.
"I'm sure your replicator will do just fine," Hex said with a shy smile. "We're used to that. There was no source of good Gemi'i dishes on the IGU station either."
"Such a waste," Havel grumbled under his breath and it took all my will power to ignore him. I should throw him out of the air lock for that. I was his klatting Captain and he ought to respect me.
Matar cleared his throat. "Hix and Hex want to discuss our next steps with us. They know we're not doing this because we want to, but because Professor Katila isn't giving us another choice." He turned to the torso-brothers. "If we don't deliver you to her, she's going to attack us again. She has resources at her disposal, and I don't think she'll hold back. She had our mate kidnapped, then our ship shot at. I have no doubts that she'll try and kill us if we don't comply."
The Gemi'i nodded, their expressions sombre. "You are right," Hex said. "Kat is not to be trifled with, not when she gets into one of her rages. She's probably stopped taking her medication again."
"Medication?" Havel asked, curiosity piqued.
