“I have absolutely no idea how to use a ray gun,” I point out. “But I’d be happy to find out.”
Deus shoots me a heated gaze and shuffles from foot to foot uncomfortably. “You wish to try a pulsar weapon?”
“Yes,” I respond. “Because I want to blast back to hell anyone who threatens my friends.”
This time it isn’t a growl I get from Deus but a whine and uncomfortable shifting while he palms his crotch.
“Then it is time I got you one.”
We exit his spacecraft into Darax’s hangar, where Deus mugs the nearest warrior for his weapons. I say mugs, but the warrior merrily hands them over.
Deus places a ray gun in my hand. It has a heft to it, but it isn’t heavy.
“What do I do?”
“Point and shoot. Try to make sure I’m not in the way when you do.” He grins at me. “The rest I’m sure you’ll figure out yourself.”
I turn the thing over in my hand, making very sure it’s pointed at a nearby blank wall. Deus does his shuffle again and adjusts himself.
Now I get it. I put the ray gun in my pocket, and his eyes widen.
“Let them assume I’m an unarmed female,” I say to him. “See how they like it when they find out I am not.”
Deus makes another noise, one approximating a groan, if he didn’t have his teeth clenched together.
“So, how are we going to find out who is here, on Vorostor, betraying the Sarkarnii?” I ask.
“Bait.”
“Bait?”
“Me,” Deus rasps.
“Not a chance.”
“I know they’re coming this time,” he says. “And I know their tricks.”
“But if they find you here, won’t they know they’ve been caught out?” I suggest.
Deus does a long blink.
“You are correct, my mate.”
“In which case, I believe I need to be the bait.”
“No,” he says instantly. “Why you?”
“They took you first. Who’s to say they won’t take me next?”
“I don’t like the idea of bait anymore,” Deus grumbles.
“In which case, we need to find another way to flush them out.”
Deus wrinkles his nose.
“I mean, if we can track you, why can’t we track those on Vorostor who shouldn’t be here?” I suggest.
“Because if we don’t know they’re here, how do we know to track them…” Deus’s voice trails off as he puts his hand to his neck. “Wait a nova-minute, little ember…”
