"Vaelix notified me you left the lab in a hurry. The captain has informed me you will be a guest on our ship." He tilted his head, studying me with the detached interest of someone cataloging a new species. "I wish to ensure you are useful if something dangerous occurs."
I blinked. "Something dangerous? What exactly do you think I can do?"
He leaned forward, four arms folding with unnerving grace.
"Come with me," he said. "I will show you."
Chapter5
The gym was even bigger than I expected, which made sense when I thought about it. When they weren't out plundering, stealing, and kidnapping, what else was there to do in deep space? Other than stealing my theories, running awesome experiments with them, and then rejecting me outright.
Whatever. His loss.
I wasn't even thinking about those abs— I mean, that scientist guy. Who clearly wanted nothing to do with me.
A large object blew past my ear, and I hit the ground with a moderately undignified MEEP.
"In deep space, you must be ready for everything," Kaedren bellowed.
"Did you just try to kill me?"
"No. If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead."
An absolute charmer, this guy.
"Okay, but why throw a boulder at my head? We have LIDAR. We'd see a meteor coming from a million kilometers away."
Kaedren crossed all four arms. "LIDAR doesn't help when raiders board the ship. Or when equipment fails. Reflexes do."
I opened my mouth. Closed it. He had a point.
"Fine. But maybe warn me before the next attempted murder?"
"Of course not. That would defeat the purpose." He tilted his head, and a slow smile spread across his lips. "But I see you are cleverer than you look."
"Gee, thanks."
"Come. Follow me to the sparring mat, please."
"Sparring mat? Are we talking about fighting?"
"Sparring. You will practice at your full strength. I will practice at a quarter of mine."
"Oh, well, thank goodness for that. You realize you're ten times my size, right?"
"7.83 times, actually. I reviewed your medical scans this morning."
I held up a hand. "You know what? I don't need the exact math."
"But you made an incorrect statement."
"And I'm making another one: let's get on with your lesson, Sasquatch."
He went still—completely still—like his brain had to reboot. After a few moments of silence, he turned and walked toward the back of the gym.
"Where are you going?" I called.
"To the sparring mat, like you asked. Our lesson is about to begin."
