Tarak expected them to handle the situation on their own. The plan had been for them to control the situation on Fortuna Tau, eliminate the Xargek down to every last skittering larva, and await backup from Sector Eight. The general had even been contemplating capturing the mining station for his own purposes.
That had sounded as easy and straightforward as a walk on the Vaal until some cognitively deficient humans had decided they would be better off destroying their own mining station by setting off a bomb.
Ah, humans. Those Kaiin-cursed ignorant, primitive, meddling, sub-advanced, irrational life-forms. Arin, of course, was the exception. If the humans had left well alone, Rykaland his brothers could have contained the infestation on Fortuna Tau.
But the Xargek were on Earth now, and humans had only themselves to blame.
“You dodging the shit jobs again, Ry?” It was Kail who answered first, in his usual gruff voice.
“I’m just going down to check out the new arrival. Our sergeant is back.”
“Ah.” Kail sounded amused. “Your pet human.”
“Call her that again and I’ll deck you,” Rykal snapped, surprised at how defensive he sounded.
Kail responded with a wry snort. “We’ve all seen how you look at her, as if she’s your Goddess-given property already.”
“I just prefer dealing with her over some of the other humans.” Rykal tried to justify his actions. “She’s one of the rational ones.”
“Hm.” For a moment, Kail said nothing more.
“So are you going to come and take over here, or not? Or would you prefer going down to the docking bay to check out the incoming yourself?”
Kail hesitated. Rykal smirked. Kail didn’t do well with pleasantries and small talk, and he didn’t like dealing with other aliens. Especially humans. Kail was an irritable bastard at the best of times.
“Just go, Kail.” This time it was Torin who chimed in. “You’re closest to the navigation deck, and we all know Ry has to be there to greet his female.”
“She’s notmyfemale,” Rykal grated. Why was everyone on his case all of a sudden? “We just have a good working relationship, that’s all.”
“If that’s what you want to call it.” Now Jeral cut in, sounding darkly amused.
“I’ll deck you too, Jeral.”
“I’ll spar with you any time, pretty boy.”
“Get your ugly ass over here, then.”
Kail cleared his throat, interrupting their verbal sparring. “I’ll cover for you if it means you’ll stop your jabbering and leave me in peace, but you owe me.” His voice was a low rumble. “And if anyone wants to spar, you know where to find me.”
“Iwillbe taking you up on that offer,” Rykal grinned.
“Too much energy for your own good,” Kail muttered. “See you in asiv.” There was a soft beep, indicating that he’d signed off.
“Hey, Ry,” Torin’s voice was quizzical. “What in Kaiin’s hells have you done to all the humans?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Every time I walk past a human now, they look at me as if I’m Kaiin himself, risen from the underworld. They reek of fear and hatred.”
“That’s nothing new,” Rykal shrugged. “But I might have reinforced a little lesson about consequences. Some ambitious humans tried to ambush me down in the cargo hold, so I just showed them what would happen if they tried to fuck with us again.”
“Only a matter of time before they start to get desperate,” Torin warned. “There are thousands of them and only six of us. Right now, it’s just fear holding them in check. Only so long that will work.”
“Then I hope the leaders of Earth have decided to let us go and play on their fair planet.” Rykal bared his fangs, causing the two human navigators to glance at him in alarm.
“Give them some time to get acquainted with the Xargek,” Jeral said. “They’ll cave soon enough. They always do.”
CHAPTER SIX
