Page 9 of Alien's Challenge
The quill’s on Big’s head flexed up and down. “Female, allow me to remove the collar. Sentient beings are not property.”
“Thank fuck for that,” she said.
Holding still, Big hacked through the collar with a knife. She tried real hard not to think about what a knife could do to her neck if she moved, or the blade slipped. Finally, the cursed thing fell away.
“Thank you,” she said, rubbing her throat.
“She understands. The translation chip is defective,” Big said. The quills on his head went flat. “Or Rand enjoys it when his breeders speak like hatchlings.”
“Breeders? No, no, no. I was his pet,” she said, needing to erase the mention ofbreedingfrom the conversation. No one was breeding anyone, hot lizardman or not.
Big patted her on the head. “See? It is cute.”
“I’m not cute, you scaly bastard.” She slapped his hand away.
“Adorable,” Small said, sounding less convinced.
She shook a finger in warning at Small but continued to speak to Big. “I’m coming with you.”
He watched her, the quills flexing up and down. Eventually, he let out a low hissing noise which reminded her of a tired sigh. “I’m sorry. You make no sense. You better come with us.”
Alice grabbed her blanket off the floor.
Yeah, this wasn’t going to cut it.
“I need shoes and clothes.” She lifted a foot.
The red guys looked at each other. The smaller one’s side ruffles flexed and went flat.
“Is it speaking?” he asked.
“Shoes. Cold.” She hopped from foot to foot, then mimed shivered, wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing to keep warm.
“The female’s chip is defective. She is speaking nonsense.” The larger one glared at her like it was her fault. “I believe she is telling us that she requires footwear, and she is cold.”
“Yes!” Alice sighed, never so happy to be understood.
The big one stripped Randevere of his boots. He then cut her blanket into narrow strips. Getting the idea, Alice wrapped the cloth around her feet and stuffed the excess into the toes of the boots.
Good enough.
She stomped in a circle, getting the feel of her boots. “Thank you,” she said, giving the big one a smile.
He gasped.
“What did they do to her teeth?” the small one asked.
“What? Nothing.” She ran her index finger over her teeth just to make sure. Everything felt fine.
“They took her fangs.”
“That is barbaric,” Big said, not sounding surprised.
Being misunderstood was getting real old, real fast.
“Alice,” she said, putting a hand to her chest. “I’m Alice.”
“Al-iss,” Big repeated.
