Turmoil.
They turned a corner, and Erzo skidded to a stop.
A blaster was pointed right at him.
“No. That’s not how this is going to end,” Tellis said, blaster in hand.
Erzo blinked and stared at his brother, not sure he fully understood what Tellis was up to. “What are you doing?”
“What no one else has the guts to do.” He raised the blaster. “What should have been done years ago.”
“How about I just leave? Then you don’t have to deal with me anymore.”
“That’s not enough.”
“You do know you’re outnumbered, by, uh, a lot,” Erzo said, gesturing to Olmed and Phares.
Olmed slammed his traditional Kantenan weapon on the metal floor, and it glistened from the citricite in it.
Polly swung her bat. “Yeah. A lot.”
Erzo smirked at her enthusiasm, but didn’t look away from his brother. He adored that she was there, backing him up, and supporting him.
No. He didn’t adore it.
He loved it.
Her.
He loved her. A terrible time for him to realize that, but he did.
He loved her.
Trellis snarled at him, and Erzo stepped forward, letting his tail fall in front of Polly.
“Cute. Protect your transaction,” Tellis said.
Erzo growled.
“Stop calling me that!” Polly shouted. “I wasn’t bought, you lizard!”
Tellis came forward, like he was going to grab her. “I’m not an animal!”
Erzo inserted himself between them.
Polly stepped back. “Stop acting like one!” She swung her bat around, rolling it in one hand, and then up to her shoulder, like she was ready to take a swing at him.
“You mess with her, you get all of us,” Tori said from behind her.
“Who is coming out brandishing weapons, looking for a fight?” Tellis snarled.
Erzo moved forward. “You will respect my mate. And you will let us go. Whatever that chaos is back there, you can have it.”
“That’s not chaos! That’s the future!”
“War? That’s your future?”
“Only the strong survive,” Tellis said. “The deserters, we’ll deal with.” He held up his blaster, aiming right for Erzo’s face.
