Focused on the human in front of me for entirely too long, I didn’t notice the swipe of the Zhorn’s tail until I was lying flat on my ass. A loud growl rumbled deep in my chest. What a foolish and amateur distraction to allow myself to be targeted so easily. My fingers flexed as I jumped up and spun on the Zhorn. More of his fellow slavers stepped forward from the shadows.
I was on my feet within seconds and rushed into the first, knocking him back into the brick façade. A loud crack split the air as broken pieces fell to the ground the same moment my fist connected under his jaw. The hit was precise and slammed his head backward long enough to expose his unarmored throat. The Zhorn’s scales served as a strong plated armor but certain areas were vulnerable to attack and injury.
Claws extended from my hands as I swiped across his thick vein and stepped away as the body crumpled to the ground. The other Zhorn grunted and shook their blackened horns as I lashed out and fought my enemy without delay. My claws were a brutal weapon and pierced through the gaps in their armor with ease. The scales were strong but only from a distance. The Zhorn weren’t as invincible in close combat and their enemy was familiar with their physical structure. My longspanof discipline and training paid off. The slavers didn’t stand a chance.
Soon, I was standing with their bodies piled at my feet as I panted, my chest rising and falling quickly with the excellent workout. My hood was still covering my features as I breathed deeply and detected no other hostiles in the area. Hoping I was right, I pulled the scanner from my pocket and noted with alarm the Tylons I had smelled were still in the vicinity.
A single scream caused my head to snap up and I ran toward the source. The female had been standing there in shock moments ago and was now being accosted by the long, greenish blue tentacles of a Tylon male. He leaned in and used his many appendages to slap around her body and pull her closer as the suckers oozed their slimy and foul secretions.
Her eyes wide, she shook her head as her mouth opened and another scream pierced the air. I was certain she hadn’t any clue what was happening, and I didn’t hesitate to slash downward with my claws and separate the Tylon from the female. I’d succeeded in breaking her free, but the tentacles were flapping wildly and excreting extra goo as she fought to detach them from her body.
The horror on her face spurred me into further action.
I pulled the worm-like tentacles from her torso and arms and flung the appendages at the shocked Tylon as the female scrambled away from us both, falling on her bottom as her horror filled cries launched into the air.
Tylons and their gel-filled tentacles.Veeten Seekers!
The female continued to scream, and I ignored the shrill sounds as I picked up the Tylon and smashed his body into the nearest wall repeatedly until he was limp, and his color faded to a sickly gray.
No more gloppy tentacle sex for him.
A quick scan of the area confirmed that we were no longer under any threat.For now.
“Who are you?” the female asked with a breathless whisper as she stumbled to her feet. Unstable, she wasn’t going to remain upright long. I rushed forward and caught her seconds before she collapsed. Worried and remaining on high alert, I held her close to my chest. She was trembling and began to shake harder. It wasn’t only shock.
My body curled around her slender frame with a possessive and vicious snarl when I heard the sound of sirens. None would harm her again. I’d kill any who dared to venture too close.
The human female was undermyprotection. The Seekers and slavers were playing a dangerous game. One I would win without hesitation. My double hearts beat erratically as I left the shadows and ran toward her pod, noting with alarm the toxin was already taking effect.
“Valtus!”
MyFirstwas quick to answer as I hailed him on the comm. “Yes, Commander?”
“I’ve left behind a nasty mess.”
“Already on it. The humans will find nothing,” he assured me.
The female interrupted our conversation when she began to convulse. “Veet!She’s having some kind of allergic reaction!”
“Get her to a flat surface. The toxin needs to be extracted from her body or she won’t survive.”
“How do I do that?” I yelled in a panic. “There’s no medical bay here.”
“Hold on, I’ll be there in less than five Earth minutes. She won’t perish before I arrive.”
I didn’t bother arguing about his wry sense of humor. Earth minutes.Ridiculous.
The female’s pod was close. I was soon bursting inside, busting the primitive locks into pieces before laying her down on a flat table while I awaited Valtus.
If he didn’t save her, I’d never forgive him.
