Page 55 of Zinnia and the Zombie
“I’m almost tempted to take you on, but that would be wasteful. I should have realized there was a human female involved.”
Human?This time she realized that he’d recognized her.
“You know what I am?” she asked, trying to peep around Jaxx again.
“For my sins. Humans are quite the fashionable little pets these days.”
Jaxx growled as she gave a startled gasp.
“That’s what the Ithyians said. I don’t understand.”
Doren raised an eyebrow again. “Those bastards? You have been having an interesting time.”
“Enough,” Jaxx snapped. “You’re not taking her and you’re not taking me so why don’t you get the hell off my ship?”
Doren’s amusement disappeared.
“You seem to forget that not only is this not your ship, but it has no power. Assuming you didn’t die of starvation, you would be easy targets for anyone who came along. Perhaps I should leave you here after all.”
Before she could respond, the door to the bridge slid open again. A tall human woman started to step through the opening and promptly stumbled. A huge hand kept her upright and the newcomer flashed a quick smile at her rescuer—an enormous male with blue skin and a wild mane of white hair adorned with tiny braids. He looked like an alien Viking. He even sounded like one when he growled at Doren in a deep rumbling voice.
“What the fuck’s taking so long?”
“I imagine it’s because the pilot isn’t a Grorn after all,” the woman said calmly, smiling at Zinnia as she pushed her glasses up her nose. She appeared to be a little older than Zinnia, and she was dressed in a practical coverall that suited her tall, thin body.
“Hi. I’m Faith. And this big lug is my mate, Athtar,” she added, giving the Viking’s hand an affectionate pat.
“I’m Zinnia,” she managed, still stunned at the sight of another human. “And this is my mate Jaxx. You’re human.”
“Of course I am. Now why don’t we go back to our ship?—”
“My ship,” Doren interrupted, glaring at the woman, and Athtar growled at him again. Faith ignored them both.
“The other ship, and talk? You really can’t stay here,” she added when Zinnia gave Jaxx an uncertain look. “Don’t worry. Doren isn’t really going to try and sell you. Either of you.”
“I should,” Doren said, still scowling.
“But you won’t,” Faith said calmly before turning back to her. “Is there anything you want to bring with you?” Her expression brightened when she looked around the bridge and spotted the container of plant samples. “Where did those plants come from? Do you have any to spare? I’m conducting an experiment in cross-propagation between different planetary species with similar physiology but I haven’t had a chance to pick up as many samples as I’d hoped.”
“Because you’ve been leading me on a wild fucking chase across half the damn galaxy,” Doren grumbled, but he looked resigned rather than angry.
“She found the fucking ship for you.” The blue giant was still scowling.
“But no Grorn. I don’t suppose you left any of them alive?” Doren asked Jaxx.
“No,” he snapped. He was still standing protectively in front of her. She could feel the tension in his body, but the dynamic on the bridge had shifted with the appearance of the other two and she was no longer scared Doren was going to shoot him.
“I think we should go with them,” she said softly.
“What’s going to happen to this ship?”
“I told you. I’m going to collect the bounty,” Doren said, giving him a challenging stare.
“I know the perfect fucking client,” Athtar said suddenly grinning at them. “He’ll pay a fucking fortune.”
“He will,” Faith agreed. “Now come along.”
Jaxx hesitated a moment longer, but when she nodded he sighed and picked up their meager belongings. He kept his other arm around her as they went through the airlock and onto the other ship. It was… unexpected. Based on the exterior, she’d expected it to be bristling with weapons and trophies. Instead it was more like Aladdin’s cave, filled with colorful tapestries and cushions and a motley collection of objects.
