Well, he should have seen that coming. No way would this lady hide behind anyone. To show his support, he placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her so her back was flush to his chest.
She said nothing but replied in a like manner to the Ozevroc with a small bow and her hand over her heart.
As the two of them growled, hissed, and snarled at each other, Ari took the time to study the other aliens.
Most of them looked pissed off, rumbling in gravelly noises that made their thin black lips ripple along their snouts.
Snorting in disdain, he looked over their shortness and surveyed the room. Where the replicron stood in its camouflaged mode, various sheets of dust covered its outline. Otherwise, it seemed in good shape. Hopefully, the crazy aliens wouldn’t notice it. Glancing around, he noted that nothing was broken or cracked except the wall where the explosion happened. He was itchin’ to see what that corridor looked like on the other side.
He checked Morgan and swallowed a grin. From his high advantage point, he saw her tight expression, pursed lips and all. Whatever Mr.I’m the grand, my shit don’t stink, pooh-bahsaid irritated the holy hell out of her. Not that he blamed her. The guy’s total superior dickness was loud and clear.
A few more rumbles and growls before Stubby and his merry band of Fuzzy Knuckleheads departed with lofty snorts.
Ari let Morgan go and stepped back. He waved a hand over his face as if that would get rid of the stench the Ozevroc left behind. “I don’t suppose you could insist they take a bath before visiting again, hmm?” He exaggerated a gagging noise.
Morgan humphed and tapped her forefinger against her lips. “It seems like High Chieftain Welozz is having trust issues with some of his crew.”
“Yeah? No kidding.” Ari nodded at the warped and bubbly wall. “Nothing says ‘surprise!’ like redecorating with a bomb.”
She nodded. “We’re told to keep an eye out for an Ozevroc named Grozzik, who’d taken the place of one of the head guards. You know, the one we found dead here.”
“Like I’d recognize him if he showed up with a blinking neon sign plastered on his forehead.” Ari gestured to the wall. “Did Mr. Wizard know why the bomb went off in the first place? Seems like a dumb place for it to happen.”
Morgan shook her head and crossed her arms. “He has no clue. But, that’s the weird part. The blast did nothing but make a loud noise, generate some heat, and shake the ship up a bit.” She dropped her arms and went to her floating monitor. Biting her bottom lip, she studied several readouts. “Look at this.” She pointed to a page.
Ari leaned down and squinted at the image. “What am I looking at?” It appeared to be some kind of video. “Is that the corridor?”
“Just watch,” she replied.
At first, it was only an empty hallway, then a blob of purple blurred into the scene. The image sputtered out and remained that way.
“What the hell was that?” Ari straightened. “Hey, did short, ugly, and hairy leave? I’d like to look in that corridor.”
She narrowed her eyes at his throat. “That’s right, you don’t have anuteshsnare on.“ Laughing, she grabbed his forearm and led him to the warped entrance. “Peek around the corner to make sure none of them are there before you go out.” She nudged him between his shoulders, as if he needed any encouragement to step out.
“Okay, super-snoopy.” He grinned at her over his shoulder. “No need to get pushy. I got this.”
With her hands up, she cocked her head. “Okay, just be careful. I’d hate to see you blasted into space dust.”
He rolled his eyes. “Sheesh. You’d think this was my first rodeo or something.” Not that he had any idea what a rodeo was or if he even had anything to do with one before. Not waiting for her response, he took a quick peek. The only thing to see was smoke listlessly floating around, several sparks popping in and out from the exposed wiring protruding from the roof and walls. He stepped out.
“Ari!” Morgan hissed a sharp whisper. “Wait…”
Not waiting to answer her, he slid out the doorway and kept close to the wall.
“Ari!”
At Morgan’s raised voice, he glanced back at her.
She was waving her handheld at him. “Use this to take some readings!”
Okay, rodeos aside. It never occurred to him to use something to scan the area. He snuck back and took the offered device with a sheepish grin.
“Just point it around. I’ve got it all ready for you.” She shooed him with both hands.
The corridor wasn’t wide or long, so it didn’t take him long to make a complete sweep of the blasted area. He made it back inside the engine room with no Ozevroc the wiser.
Morgan eagerly grasped the device he handed back to her. Her eyes moved back-and-forth as she pursed her lips.
