Small hatches on the units’ shoulders opened to reveal laser weapons that swiveled to lock in on him. Ontarii breathed deeply and started charging up his bioelectric weaponry. Zantharians had the ability to discharge powerful pulses of electric energy from their bodies. The discharge should be powerful enough to take out the unit.
The door behind him opened, catching him further off guard.
“Intruder alert,” came from behind him. He risked a glance and found two more units stationed behind them. They were effectively trapped between the robot pairs.
Ontarii wasn’t used to someone getting the drop on him. It rankled. While he and his companions could each discharge into one of the robots, they would still leave one unaffected, and that one robot could do significant damage before they were sufficiently recharged to use their bio-weapons again. Still, they couldn’t stand here and do nothing.
“Prepare for shock discharge,” he said, powering up his own weapon.
“Stand down!” a strong feminine voice commanded.
Ontarii’s head shot up at the command. His eyes narrowed as his gaze fastened on the one who’d spoken.
A human female stood behind the two robots blocking the entrance to the bridge. She was tall, for a human, only a couple inches lacking six feet. Her hair was dark and pulled back tightly. Her eyes were a light amber that reminded him of starlight seen through the tinted glass dome of Noruma’s temple. His heart fluttered uncommonly in his chest.
That’s an unexpected thought to have while facing down the enemy. Ontarii chastised himself.Focus on the matter at hand.
“Call off your robots, human,” he said, his voice firm.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her tone sweet but her face expressionless. “I can’t do that. It looks like you’re charging up some kind of weapon of your own, if the pulses in your skin are any indication. Why should I disarm myself when you’re not willing to do the same?”
Ontarii had to admit that she had a point.
“Perhaps you’re mistaken about your situation here,” he said.Point or no point, she’s outnumbered and outgunned. She will back down.“Your ship is tractored to our hull. I’ve got over one hundred soldiers on that vessel. Your paltry vessel couldn’t hold more than a dozen, and I doubt you have that many with you. Even if your robots succeed in overtaking us, they still can’t match the force we can bring to bear.”
“Maybe not,” she said, her dark eyebrow rising. “But my robots will still be able to put a hurting on you and your companions before your ship of soldiers can get to you. So stand down, stop charging up whatever weird weapons you’ve got, and let’s talk like civilized beings.”
Ontarii considered her words. The Earthlings posed no real threat, and if he wanted to push the issue, he could alert the flagship and have this tiny craft flooded with Zantharian soldiers within seconds.
He didn’t appreciate the tone the Earthling female was taking with him, nor the way it was making him feel. He had half a mind to blast her with his charge and see how she took it. Hopefully it would wipe the smug look off her pretty face.
Ontarii’s eyes narrowed as he stared down the human female, giving her a minute to think through her strategy.
