“Everyone relax—it’s my fault,” Ileana cuts in. “I’m sorry, Prax, I gave you a painkiller without asking. I got distracted.”
I retract my claws as Pherebos lowers his blade. We both eye each other with mutual suspicion.
The pain fades fast, and with it, my thoughts clear.
“Let’s talk outside,” I suggest, stepping out of that cursed hangar that’s definitely not helping anyone think straight—not with all these corpses littering the ground.
Once we’re outside, I immediately notice the transport ship is gone. Only a two-seater remains, along with the vessel that brought Pherebos, Ileana, and their... pet.
I give them a full rundown of the situation—what’s going on in Cydonia, the shady deals in Arabia Terra, and how some colonists thought it was a brilliant idea to do business with Bully and his gang. Ileana winces when she hears the name of her former jailer. Yeah... clearly, my ex-partner hasn’t evolved for the better.
“I can reassure you on one thing,” Pherebos comments. “No ship left Mars a few hours before we arrived. However, several did move from this zone to the coordinates at Cydonia. Your Human’s still on the planet. So, hope’s not lost!”
“Well, even if she had left Mars, I’d hop in that two-seater and chase them to the edge of the damn galaxy!” I say with full conviction.
“Okay, but that’s not the case yet. How many are we dealing with?” Ileana asks.
“Before Bully knocked me out with my own pistoblaster, I was fighting three. Add Bully himself and whoever else he might have stashed somewhere. Not to mention the colonists under his thumb.”
“Strange he didn’t just shoot you,” Pherebos muses. “Big mistake on his part.”
“I don’t think he realized. I had two pistoblasters—one set to lethal, which I used on two of his men, and the other set to stun, meant for the Humans.”
“Ah, so he left you unconscious thinking you were dead. That gives us a tactical edge,” Pherebos remarks.
“And what—you're suggesting the two of us attack them?” I ask, surprised. “There are at least five Penubians, likely more if he’s got similar forces at the second site. And they’re equipped with armor-piercing weapons, just FYI!”
“We’re four,” he says, like it’s obvious. “You’re forgetting Ileana and Wingo. Plus, they’re in Cydonia now. You can contact that Kiran guy, can’t you?”
I stare at him, dumbfounded. Is he serious? He’s counting his partner and their... furball as a strike team to help us rescue Neela and the other Humans? That’s… unexpected. I remembered Pherebos as a confident, skilled warrior, master of blades and nerves.
Has he gone soft with sweet little Ileana around? Is that what’s in store for me if Neela agrees to stay with me after I get her back?
“Nightfall’s coming soon,” Pherebos declares. “I say we head for Cydonia under cover of the heavy cloud layer. That gives us until morning to plan our next move.”
“Wait! I don’t remember seeing Pallas when Bully captured Neela.”
“Pallas?” Ileana asks, confused.
“Yeah, the young manul who’s been following us the last few days. Give me a minute.”
I walk to the edge of the clearing and let out low trills that might carry far enough to reach his ears.
A faint meow answers, and I take off at a sprint to find the little feline. When I spot him, he’s puffed up and looks completely lost. I scoop him up and shower him with soft purring and comforting strokes.
By the time I return to the Prianka, Pherebos just raises an eyebrow at the sight of Pallas. No comment.
“Oh my goodness, he’s adorable!” Ileana gushes.
She really does have a lot in common with my sweet Neela.
“I need to reach a housing unit so I can contact Kiran,” I say. “I have to explain what’s happening.”
“Why not go straight to him instead?” Pherebos suggests.
Now that’s a solid idea. I’ve never been to his place, unfortunately, but I can take us to Neela’s. Once we’re there, I can call him to meet us.
Half an hour later—after grabbing my pistoblasters I’d forgotten in the hangar—we step into my Purrsong’s house. Her scent is almost gone now.
