What if I hurt them?
Sensing mydistress, Ziggy shifted Pedro’s position, stretching out their little arm and firmly holding it in place so I could aim for a vein.
What if they don’t have veins?!
“Allowme, sunshine,” my man offered when I continued to hesitate, unleashing a tendril to deftly snatch the syringe from my hand.
Unsurprisingly, Pedro didnotlike the sight of those starry katanas, but they only released a single hiss before slumping in Ziggy’s hold—as if suddenly overcome by exhaustion.
Sleep powers, more likely.
“Thank you…” Zig murmured, glancing at his creator, and my heart warmed to see him accepting the help he deserved.
Equally unsurprising was that a Stellarian was able to locate a vein on a shaggy fur-covered creature almost immediately. As soon as the blood sample was acquired and handed off to the lab tech, Honnor released our patient from their doze.
That was stressful!
“Now, let’s commence a more thorough physical examination.”Honnor nodded at the tech before gesturing toward a metal countertop that looked freshly cleaned.“There was an odd breastplate formation I would like to take a closer look at?—”
The other Stellarian reached for Pedro with starry tendrils, but then froze when a siren abruptly blared outside.
“What is that?!” I hissed, grabbing the alien baby from Zig and clutching them against my chest while peering around the windowless room.
Honnor was already barking orders into their Celestial Cube, so I looked at my man for answers.
Ziggy’s pale skin had gone even paler. “Air raid alarm,” he murmured, his gaze growing distant. “It appears Stellaria is under attack.”
11
ZIGGY
To say I was triggered by the sight of my maker suited up in their Star Unit-issued armor and headed into battle was an understatement.
What if…
Just like when they…
“I’ll be fine, Ziggy,”Honnor stepped closer and placed a hand on my chest, coaxing my resonance into answering theirs.“Initial reports indicate the approaching ships are carrying Irathians. This will be child’s play.”
“Are I-Irathians not dangerous?” Micah stuttered, his voice muffled behind the shields he’d already activated to cover himself and Pedro.
Finally, some self-preservation!
“Oh, they are incredibly dangerous—to those with corporeal forms,”my maker distractedly replied while glancing at an incoming message on their cube.“But Irathians are flesh-eaters, and since we have no flesh to devour…”
“Like zombies?!” Micah squeaked.
Honnor didn’t correct what was an accurate assessment, but their next words surprised me. “It would be best if the three of you took the Lodger and escaped elsewhere for now—in case Pedro is the asset they’re after.”
“Pedro is not—” Micah tried to protest, but I placed a hand on his back as best I could through his shields.
You are an asset too, babygirl.
My most precious asset.
“Why would the Irathians want this creature?” I frowned, glancing down at Pedro. “It was the Maroxians I stole from, and they are not allies.”
An explosion from outside had Honnor’s attention understandably wavering.“I do not know, my child, but right now, you need to leave.”
