“Huh? Where are we?” he mumbles, completely disoriented.
“How do you feel?”
If he’s got anything broken, his self-diagnosis will be faster than a full checkup.
“Oh, shit!” he blurts out as his eyes snap to the battle.
I turn my head and see his attacker has knocked out Ileana the same way. Pherebos lets out a furious roar and, with two swift moves, decapitates both enemies in front of him before launching himself at the one who dared strike his wife.
Prax, meanwhile, is locked in combat with General Nivek himself. My Sadjim may be big and strong, but the Ninasarvik is even more so. He lands several powerful blows that make Prax stagger backward.
I remember the pistoblaster I’m holding doesn’t work on Ninasarvik. But Ileana’s weapon definitely did! I head toward the unconscious woman just as Pherebos scoops her up into hisarms. He spins around in a flash, bloodstained blade in hand, ready to strike.
Our eyes meet—his violet gaze burning with pain—and I hesitate for a split second. Help his wife… or help Prax, who’s struggling against the Ninasarvik?
I make my choice. I grab the woman’s weapon and turn toward the ongoing fight. I examine the gun. It looks more like something out of an old Earth western than one of the Confederation’s sleek pistoblasters. It’s heavier, too. Do I have the nerve to fire it, knowing it’s lethal, as I saw earlier? Especially since there’s a real risk I could hit Prax instead of that monster General Nivek.
Unfortunately, the beast has Prax cornered against the ship’s hull. They’re both fighting with everything they’ve got, but then the Ninasarvik suddenly opens its mouth wide—unnaturallywide, as if its jaw unhinged—and sinks its teeth into Prax’s left arm. With a vicious yank, it rips the limb clean off.
My heart skips a beat as I watch my love’s arm separate from his body.
That’s when my subconscious kicks in and takes over. Without thinking, I step toward the General, who is so focused on finishing off Prax that he doesn’t see me coming. I pull the trigger without aiming.
Apparently, my instincts are spot-on. A massive hole appears in his chest. His knees give out and he crumples backward.
I run to my Sadjim and desperately search for something to use as a tourniquet. My thoughts are scrambled, and panic is flooding my brain.
“Here!”Wingo says, handing me a cloth with his little prehensile trunk.
I don’t waste time thanking him. I just take it, tie the tourniquet, and start doing whatever I can to tend to my man.
“Don't cry, Purrsong. It'll be okay,” he whispers in a broken voice.
Only then do I realize my face is drenched in tears.
“I love you,” he adds.
A painful sob bursts from my chest. His declaration sounds too much like a goodbye. I can't take it.
“You listen to me! If you ever pull that 'I'm dead/nope just kidding' stunt again, I'm gonna lose it! I forbid you to leave me again, you hear?”
“My hearing’s excellent, remember? I heard every word," he answers with a faint smile. "But Neela... a Sadjim with one arm? I'm damaged now. Weaker. I'm not worthy of you anymore.”
“What a load of crap,” says Pherebos, walking over while helping Ileana, who's limping. “Cut the self-pity. In two days tops, Admiral Akifumi will be here with his ship and a regeneration pod.”
“A what now?” I ask.
“A regeneration pod. It's like a sarcophagus that heals any injury and rebuilds the DNA structure of the lifeform inside. Basically, it’ll regrow Prax’s arm!” Pherebos explains.
“In the meantime, we need to cauterize the wound!” Ileana says. “I'm a doctor, but my head’s spinning and I’m nauseous. Can you do it? Prax said you’re a doctor too.”
“I don’t know how to do that... but if you guide me—”
“Wingo? Could you bring my med pouch?” she asks.
A moment later, Wingo comes speeding in and drops the pouch at my feet. I open it and, following Ileana’s instructions, pull out an injector pen I'm familiar with, along with a small, glowing blade I’ve never seen before. I inject my beautiful Sadjim with a painkiller, hoping it’ll take the edge off. The fur on his face is damp with sweat, and his breathing is labored. The suffering has dulled the gold in his eyes.
“There. That should help with the pain,” Ileana confirms. “Prax, do you want to be completely sedated?”
