While we’re on the subject…
“I would also like to remove Hydrassians from the body snatcher buffet menu,” I added decisively. “Anything reptilian, really…”
It’s all a little too close to big bro’s supe form.
“Noted,” he chuckled. “I don’t believe Ihavea Hydrassian in my closet anyway, since I’ve never needed one for a mission before.” Those big canines came into view again. “Perhaps I should add to the collection today?—”
“No,Zig,” I mock-scolded, knowing he was only kidding.
During one of hismanysessions with Dr. Micah, Ziggy had confessed that, since leaving behind the twin Kaalanesean kings, it no longer felt right to take over any bodies he hadn’t already acquired.
While I appreciated the sentiment, I’d told my Stellarian not to promise anything that went against his nature. Inhabiting another’s body was what he was meantto do—even if histruepurpose in life was to provide inspiration to his stellar collision.
That’s me, bitches.
Before I disappeared down the Ziggy-fucking-me-from-the-inside fantasy rabbit hole I’d been inhabiting lately, I refocused once again. “On that note, shouldn’t we be letting our Hydrassian out of their holding cell now that we’ve landed?”
Therewasa small holding cell on the Lodger 79—only accessible by star hopping—and even though the Hydrassian we’d liberated from the space dads wasn’t technically aprisoner,there was quite literally nowhere else to put them on the ship.
Aside from the boiler room.
Ziggy nodded before disappearing, reappearing a moment later with six sputtering snake heads attached to a lizard creature.
“There is no need to treat us so roughly! We have already agreed to take you to the elders?—”
“Yes, you have,” Borque-Ziggy loomed all seven-and-a-half feet of hairy goodness over our tour guide. “And it shouldn’t need to be said, but if you reveal what I am—what either of us are—I will wipe out your entire settlement.”
Babygirl boner imminent!
“Understood,” the Hydrassian shook themselves free before noticing the baby sling. “You… have a child?” They glanced at me, confused. “Together?”
I grinned, unable to hide my excitement over both Pedro’s karnilian-masking shields workingandthis alien thinking we’d gotten down to baby-making.
Only in spirit, unfortunately.
“That’s none of your concern,” Ziggy growled, placing a protective paw over the sling, making me swoon. “Now,” he practically shoved his fellow alien down the deployed ramp, “take us to the elders.”
“It wasn’t our intention to pry,” the Hydrassian muttered, sneaking another peek at Pedro’s bundled form. “We were simply unaware Stellarians reproduced at all. Not much is known about your kind, aside from your reputation for killing other aliens indiscriminately.”
Ziggy didn’t respond as we walked a blessedly foliage-free path toward a nearby mountain range, but I sensed the tension ratcheting up a few degrees.
This already does not bode well.
“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear,” I replied, earningmea warning growl from my man. “I mean,yes,Stellarianscankill any alien in the…ourpaths, but that’s not our purpose in life.”
I could tell Ziggy didn’t approve of the loose lips I was exhibiting, but my tea spilling was strategic.
Trust equals more tea.
The Hydrassian hummed thoughtfully. “That is unexpected, and in stark contrast to most war-minded species. When one’s only goal is to conquer, it does not leave much room for nuance.”
All or nothing.
“Do species come to you for predictions on anything other than war?” I asked, genuinely curious.
The Hydrassian seemed surprised. “Yes, occasionally—although the desire for love, marriage, or offspring is not usually treated with quite the same sense ofurgencyas the lust for war.”
Ya boy begs to differ.
