Page 44 of My Big Scaly Alien Naga
He turned to Venom and held out a massive hand.
“You helped get me and Fay off that cursed planet.I don’t forget debts like that.”
Venom hesitated, then reached out and clasped the orc’s forearm in a warrior’s grip.
“I didn’t do it for thanks,” he said.“But I’m glad it worked.”
“It worked because you let the Artep beam us up,” Vruhag said.“And then you helped Silus get down onto the planet when he went against Twim’s orders, and I’m almost sure you confused the ships that were pursuing us shortly after I picked up Silus and Pria from Kalumbu.I have never heard of a selfless naga before, but I am pleased to meet one.”
“I had to,” Venom replied.“And it wasn’t selfless.I did it for Clare.There was no way I could save her myself.And the other females still on the space station.”
Vruhag nodded solemnly, then turned to me.“You’ve been through more than most.You made it.”
“I wouldn’t have without him,” I said quietly, glancing at Venom.
Silus hopped closer.“Okay, but seriously.Did you use the skewed-packet trick to override their network parity?Because I tried that once and–”
“Silus.”Pria’s voice was firm.“Later.Don’t be such a geek.”
He backed off with a sheepish grin.
Pria stepped forward.“I’m in charge of crew welfare.This ship is not a pleasure craft, but it’s safe.You’ll have privacy, food, a place to sleep.We don’t have many rules, but one of them is this: survivors are family.If you’re here, you’ve earned your place.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat.“Thank you.”
She nodded.“I wish we could tell you to retreat to a cabin and get some rest, but we have a bit of a situation going on here.”
Silus snorted.“You can say that again.A second IA warship just showed up on my sensors.Vruhag, I think you should take the captain’s chair and send them a message.We don’t want them to think we’re part of the game makers’ fleet.”
The bridge door hissed open again, and a new figure stepped through – tall, broad, and golden.
His skin gleamed like warm gold, its surface subtly patterned with a scale-like texture that reminded me uncannily of… waffles.
This had to be Qong, Penny’s partner.
He carried a tray piled high with actual waffles, their buttery scent wafting across the room like an orgasm wrapped in sugar.
“Did someone mention snacks?”he asked, his deep voice a mellow rumble.
“That smells amazing,” I said before I could stop myself, my stomach growling in enthusiastic agreement.
Pria grinned.“Apparently, this is whathesmells like for Penny.Gofrens have a specific scent that mimics their mate’s favourite food.”
Penny blushed.“That’s private.”But she smiled at me before taking a plate from her golden partner.
Venom blinked but accepted a plate.I followed suit, still slightly stunned that a seven-foot golden waffle-man was handing me breakfast in space.
Qong handed out the rest of the plates and sat beside Penny, their arms brushing in quiet affection.
Silus licked syrup off his fingers with zero shame and spun back to his console.“Still holding steady,” he said, mouth full.“They haven’t hailed again, but both IA ships are now approaching geosynchronous orbit over Kalumbu.Big ones.Proper warbirds.Venom, you know Kalumbu’s fleet the best.Do they stand a chance against the IA ships?”
Venom exposed his fangs.“Maybe.Remember, they have hostages.Not just the Peritan females, but also hundreds of other contestants, some in cryosleep, others awake and ready to join the Trials.The IA has to follow strict laws.The game makers don’t.If they threaten to kill the contestants…I’m not sure what the IA command will do.Honestly, I hope they find a different way to free them other than brute force.Lives will be lost either way.I can’t see a peaceful solution.”
Vruhag wiped his hands on a napkin and rose from the captain’s chair, which creaked faintly beneath his bulk.He leaned toward the comm panel and pressed a button.
“This is the Bloodstar,independent vessel operating under humanitarian exemption protocols.We have recovered survivors from the Kalumbu Trials and are not affiliated with any sanctioned or unsanctioned operations on or around the planet.Please respond.”
The pause was long enough for the air to feel heavy.
