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He grunted. “I know that. You checked that one. I was making sure you did it right.”

Rexx growled at him. “You’re saying I don’t know how to check my own weapon?”

“Gentlemen, how’s it going in here?” Blaze strolled in and set down two semi-automatic lasers.

“Striker’s got his head screwed on the wrong way,” Rexx said.

“Rexx is skimping on the exo-oil,” Striker said.

“Excellent. So long as you’re having fun.” Blaze grinned at them. “I just had a call come in for a retrieval on Earth. Apparently, some rare tiger’s been spotted.”

“Earth? I’ll take that job. Wren would love to go there,” Striker said. “She hasn’t had a trip home since she started working here.”

“You take the next one. I want that shout. Daisy wants to go to Earth. You can take Wren there on your honeymoon,” Rexx said.

Striker scowled at him. Like that would ever happen. “Forget it. Dumb idea.”

“What’s this I hear about you transfering out?” Blaze said. “You’ve never mentioned that.”

Rexx shoved Striker. “You bailing on us?”

Striker shrugged. “No! I just need a change. And I don’t talk everything through with you, Blaze.”

“You should. I’m higher ranked than you. What gives?”

“Nothing. Wren’s made it clear she doesn’t want me as her partner, so what am I supposed to do?”

“Tell her to lighten up,” Rexx said. “She knew what she was taking on when she got an Apexian partner.”

“I shouldn’t mess around on the job. It gets her bent out of shape,” Striker said.

“I’m on her side with this. You bug the hell out of me with your jokes,” Rexx said. “I understand why she wants rid of you.”

“Thanks, buddy,” Striker growled.

“Let’s not move too fast,” Blaze said. “There are times when Eden drives me nuts. She never does what she’s told. The second she gets the chance, she goes off plan.”

“You love that,” Rexx said. “You get weirdly protective when she’s around.”

“She’s my partner. We’re supposed to protect them. Humans have no natural defense mechanisms.” Blaze ducked his head.

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that,” Rexx said.

“You’re the same with Daisy,” Blaze said. “If anyone gets within ten feet of her, your muscles bloat, and you draw your weapon.”

“I have to. She’s way too trusting. She’ll believe anything anyone tells her. I’m amazed she hasn’t been abducted by a renegade group of Gente who offer her candy and tell her there’s a cute animal in the back room. Life isn’t fairy tales. There’s dark shit out there.”

“Which is why you’re around to stop her from getting covered in it,” Blaze said.

Rexx hunched his shoulders. “It’s my job to stick close to her.”

“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that,” Blaze said. “How’s Wren doing, anyway?” he asked Striker.

Striker’s insides contracted, and his shoulders sagged. “Fine, I guess. I’ve been busy. I haven’t seen her.”

“Huh! That’s not like you. I heard she got bitten,” Blaze said.

Striker’s heart double kicked. “Bitten? What got her? Not that long-toothed critter we bagged off the Gente ship?”