Page 64 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
The word “woman” startled the octopus guard into looking in her direction. His eyes widened as he scanned her body. His weird little mouth opened, but no words came out.
Then Xane punched him. Two of his fists slammed out at once, plowing into the octopus’ face. The guy hit the sand with his eyes rolled back in his head. Hopefully, he was just unconscious and not dead. Could you kill an octopus by punching them? Did they even have bones to break?
“Rtaharion! Thank the gods.” Lord C’don looked close to tears. “You wouldn’t believe the indignities I’ve suffered. That ruffian pushed me down and used terrible language, didn’t he, Jynn?”
Jynn didn’t bother to respond. He was fixing his clothes.
“Move, you idiot.” Xane jerked Lord C’don to his feet. “We’re going back to the ship. That way.Now.” He pointed towards the fence. “Sadie, stay fucking close!”
After that, it was a race across the sand. Xane got them back into the open desert, but a clock was ticking. They didn’t have long before Vice-Corporal Siganthum-Rycen Lonel Lonel called in reinforcements. They had to launch the spaceship before someone stopped them.
“How long will it take to take off?” Sadie panted when they finally reached the ship. She was struggling to keep up. Running on sand was hard.
Lord C’don hesitated. “Well, these things take time…”
“You have two minutes.” Xane commanded and dragged him towards the control room.
Jynn looked around in distaste. “What a ghastly ship.” He trailed along behind, as Xane shoved Lord C’don towards the control panel. “You must betragicallypoor.”
Sadie resisted the urge to smack him on the back of his head. “You’re the second pilot. Get in a chair. We have to go.”
“I don’t like flying.” Jynn complained. “It’s beneath me.”
“Do you like mining for blue salt?”
Jynn sighed in annoyance. “What if someoneseesme in this piece of excrement? I’d be a laughingstock.” His eyes flicked towards one of the big monitors, and he seemed to perk up. “Oh, never mind. We’re not going anywhere.” He pointed at the screen. “The thrust crystal is black.”
That sounded bad. “Wait, what does that mean?”
“It means the ship won’t fly.” Jynn summed up, like she was stupid.
In unison, Sadie and Xane looked towards Lord C’don.
Lord C’don’s beady eyes darted around in panic. “Let’s not overreact…” His feathered hands were wringing together. “I’m sure we can figure something out. But you never would have rescued Jynn, if I told you the truth.”
Xane began cursing in so many alien languages the translator couldn’t keep up.
“It’s not my fault!” Lord C’don insisted. “The main thrust crystal is cracked. I imagine it’s why the Lythions landed on this dismal rock to begin with, instead of some more prosperous planet. No one could take off in a ship this damaged.”
“You little, yellowphlarge.” Xane made a grab for him.
Lord C’don scampered out of the way. “You would have done the same thing, in my place!” He gave a disparaging sniff. “…If you were smart enough to think of it, anyway.”
Sadie stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of this new disaster. “You lied? But we agreed to be a team!”
“I did what I had to do!”
“Why is there afeerinbush in here?” Jynn asked disinterestedly, gesturing towards the Christmas tree. “Ugh. This place is awful.”
Everyone ignored him.
“I told Sadie your kind was treacherous, and yet she helped you anyway.” Xane raged at Lord C’don. “Andthisis how you repay her?”
Lord C’don flinched. “I know I lied to you, woman. I apologize for the ruse. It was dishonorable. I will make it up to you.”
“How?” Xane bellowed. “Half of Corono is headed straight for us, because I didn’t have time to cover our tracks after savinghim!” He pointed at Jynn.
Jynn didn’t look very grateful. He ran a downy finger against the computer console, checking for dust and wrinkling his beak in distaste when he found it.
