“Yes!” Chloe exclaimed. “Wait!” Her dark eyes narrowed. “Are you tellin’ me she’s hurt?” She put her fist on her hip while she wagged a chastising finger with the other hand. “You’d better take me to her right now!”
“Come on.” Morgan thumbed over her shoulder to the entryway. “I’ll lead you to her.”
Chloe looped her arm through Morgan’s and tugged them to the door. “Let’s go, then. No time to waste.”
Morgan couldn’t agree more.
Morgan led Chloe and Aylzrunth out of the docking bay while Ari used his telekinetic ability to make the furniture disappear before following them. As they approached the engine room, they passed the area in the corridor that suffered the blast.
Chloe whistled and looked at Morgan with an eyebrow raised. “That’s new.” She sniffed. “I can still smell the burnt circuits and metal.”
“Yeah.” Morgan snickered. “The high chieftain here has employee problems.”
Chloe snorted and kept walking.
Once they entered the engine room, they stopped and surveyed the frozen Ozevroc stuck in several poses.
Which was creepy at best and nerve-wracking at worst. Even given her experience with a multitude of psychics in her lifetime, Morgan didn’t know anyone who had abilities similar to Ari’s. She glanced sideways at him. The man hadn’t broken a sweat with everything he’d done so far. And now he claimed he could fixElemiat the same time? She couldn’t imagine how he’d complete that momentous task all by himself.
“Pee-ew!” Chloe waved a hand over her face. “What in the hell is that smell?”
“What?” Ari chuckled. “You don’t like eau du smelly alien parfum? It’s all the rage this side of the galaxy.”
Chloe narrowed an eye at him. “Boy, you are one sick mofo if you think this stinky shit is something I want to continue breathing.”
“Then it is a good thing we will not be transporting the Ozevroc on the same ship as us,” Aylzrunth deadpanned.
Morgan chuckled. She’d gotten used to the Ozevroc odor and hardly noticed it anymore.
“Oh, lordy, two gargantuan smart-asses. Just what the universe needs.” Chloe shook her head.
“As’ni happy Ari back!” As’ni lumbered to them through the Ozevroc, causing some of them to fall to the floor or crash into one of their comrades. He clutched his springy coil toy. “Look what As’ni did!” With a wide smile showing his blocky lilac teeth, he held up an identical coil in his other hand as he bounced it up and down. He stopped in front of them, his crystalline body swaying to a tune only he could hear.
“Dah-yam!” Chloe took a step back with her hand over her heart. “There’re three gargantuan men!”
“As’ni,” Ari said. “These are our new friends, Chloe and Aylzrunth.”
As’ni nodded vigorously. “As’ni like new friends.” Clutching his treasures, he held the coil high. “See? As’ni make pretty!”
Chills ran up and down Morgan’s spine. He psychically created something out of nothing? “Do you think he’s getting stronger?” She pursed her lips and glanced at Ari.
His comforting smile made her feel better. “No.” He shrugged. “I’m afraid our little, ah, altercation damaged him beyond repair. But—“ He patted As’ni‘s shoulder. ”—deep down, he has no love for the other Krystalii, especially Lord Baelon. Isn’t that right, big guy?”
The mirror and crystals on As’ni‘s purple face creased into a scowl. “I no like icky Lord Bay-lon. He bad man.”
I don’t have time to explain, but I’ve scanned him and he is just what he appears to be. A simple creature with basic needs.Ari mentally told her.But I want to take him with us. I think my brothers can uncover distinct memories from him on how to defeat the Krystalii better than I can.
Morgan eyed their childish companion.Okay. If you’re sure.
Ari turned to Aylzrunth and Chloe. He thumbed to the other side of the large room. “Come on.Elemiis this way.”
As’ni joined them as they weaved between the group of frozen Ozevroc guards. This time, the hulking crystal giant avoided bumping into the unmoving furry aliens. Soon, the dominant bulk ofEleminestled in the corner became clear.
Chloe squealed. “OMG! Look at her!” She ran the rest of the way to the ship. Petting the dull outside hull with both hands, she crooned at it. “Sista, you in there?” She spied the open doorway. “I gotta get inside.” She sprinted through the dark entryway.
“Chloe, wait!” Morgan rushed in after her. Damn. If her friend didn’t like the outside, no telling how she’d react to the devastation of the inside.
The keening wail from Chloe was answer enough.
