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“Rexx has nothing to do with this,” Daisy said. “Let him go. You only need me.”

“That’s not happening. He’ll run back to his friends and form an attack party. We’re not stupid.”

“You’re also not that bright,” Rexx said.

“The Inkral ship has arrived,” one of the guards behind the leader said. “They’re coming on board.”

“Inkral? They’re the ones who paid you to run this experiment?” Daisy said.

The Gente leader waved away her comment. “Excellent. Tell the bridge to dock on Laire.”

“Laire? What’s there?” Daisy said. It was a tourist destination, not an Inkral stronghold.

“Our negotiations are over, Human. It’s time to meet your maker.”

Daisy didn’t move. She planted her feet and glared at the armed Gente surrounding them. “We’re going nowhere.”

“Kill the Apexian,” the Gente leader said. “He’s not that valuable to us. Perhaps the Human won’t feel so brave when she doesn’t have her warrior lover by her side.”

“No!” Daisy stood in front of Rexx. “If you kill him, I’ll make sure to kill each one of you. I’ll fight you every time you do anything to me.”

“Isn’t that sweet? The tiny Human protecting her warrior. What have you done to inspire such confidence in someone so small and insignificant?” The Gente leader gave a mirthless laugh as he looked at Rexx.

Rexx wound an arm around Daisy’s waist. He lifted her up and moved her behind him.

He bent so his mouth was by her ear. “Don’t make a bargain with them. They won’t stick to it. You’ve dealt with Gente before.”

“That’s enough, Apexian. If you keep your mouth shut and don’t cause us any trouble, we’ll bring your little Human back to you. That’s if she’s still alive,” the Gente leader said.

“Screw you,” Daisy said.

There was a shuffling, squelchy noise from out in the corridor. Daisy lifted on her toes to see who was approaching. Her stomach plummeted, and her mouth went dry. It was a group of Inkral. They were a race of tentacle laden squid-like aliens. Their main bodies were a gelatinous, ever moving form. They had six large, muscular tentacles that stretched out from their middle. They did everything with those tentacles, from feeding to fucking.

“Ambassador Ulut. Welcome to our ship.” The Gente leader turned and bowed at the giant blob of alien goo.

“Commander Malem.” The Inkral shimmied a tentacle in front of him.

“As promised, we have returned your experiment to you after the allotted time.”

Ambassador Ulut slid across the floor. He extended one long gray tentacle toward Daisy.

She backed away and slammed into Rexx’s chest. His arms went around her.

“Get your slimy limb away from her,” Rexx said. “I’ll rip it off if you don’t move it.”

“Remove the Apexian,” Commander Malem said. “Kill him if he causes trouble.”

“He stays with me.” Daisy gripped Rexx’s arms.

Two Gente guards moved to stand on either side of Rexx. Their weapons were aimed at his head.

Daisy swallowed her fear and tried to step away, but Rexx held on tight. She looked at the guns. Rexx couldn’t die. She couldn’t lose him.

She turned and looked up into his face. His agonized expression lanced into her heart. “It’ll be okay.”

He shook his head. “None of this is okay. They’re not having you.”

“They won’t. We’ve got this. We’re getting out of here.”