Page 89 of Aria's Ascension

“Awesome,” she grumbled. “Which one threw the punch?”

Twisting around, he scanned the crowd then pointed to the woman who’d been caged with two males, the one who mentioned throat punching.

“Figures,” she smirked.

Turning back to the Gaelli, she waved them forward. “When you communicated with me, I heard you in English. Does it work that way even if someone doesn't have a translator?”

Holding out a hand, she let the leader take it so they could answer.

“Often, yes, but not always. Some minds are naturally shielded.”

“Okay. Is there a way to fit these people with translators up here? Or do they need to go to the labs?”

“Yes, we can collect transfer rods to use on most. Some species do not have a fully-developed language center and will require more comprehensive adjustment.”

“Alright. Would you please send some of your people to gather whatever you need to do that. The people who need more… adjustment can be taken down together. Also, my mate, Kix, is down there treating those with more severe injuries. Could some of you help him?”

That small smile reappeared.“We are happy to help.”

“Thank you.”

Like a well-oiled machine, half the Gaelli headed back to the elevator while the other half started for the crowd, touching foreheads and calming people down.

They’d managed to quiet down a large portion of the mob by the time half those that left returned, each equipped with a thin, metallic rod about eight inches long.

While they were busy fitting people with translators, Aria pulled her ring off her finger and made Tirox step into it. Yes, it was just a bruise. No, she wasn’t willing to let him keep it, not when fixing it took all of three seconds. And yes, he did grumble about it. Next, she went to the still knocked-out female and slid it over her.

The woman sat up with a gasp, blinking eyelids that closed horizontally, then opened her mouth, likely to scream if the expression on her very pretty, but very angry face was anything to go by.

Snapping her hand out, Aria pinched the woman’s lips closed and slowly shook her head.

In contrast to her warning look, she kept her voice soothing, and murmured, “No screaming. You rile these people up again, and I will lock your ass in a closet, got it? Your friend is fine, I promise.”

The woman stared at her with wide, purple eyes set in a delicate, pixie-like face and mumbled through her pinched lips, “Sshhmmmrrr.”

“Mmhm, that’s right. Schumer. Now, you’re going to stay calm, right?”

“Mrrr.”

“Good. Thank you for your cooperation,” Aria beamed, then quickly covered her teeth when the woman squeaked with alarm. “Sorry. Forgot about the teeth flashing.”

Standing back up, Aria examined the crowd to make sure they were treating the Gaelli walking among them with kindness and to ensure no one else needed to be threatened with being locked in a closet.

She spotted a couple Gaelli leading a small group to the elevator and assumed those needed further brain scrambling before a translator would work.

When the Gaelli leader signaled to Aria that everyone could understand her, she stepped onto one of the odd-looking chairs scattered about for guests to sit in and whistled again to get everyone’s attention. When all eyes were on her, she gave them a small, tooth-covered smile.

“Hello! My name is Aria Taylor. I assume you can all understand me now, yes?”

Murmurs and nervous shifting answered her.

For the humans, she added, “I’m a former special agent for the FBI and, up until recently, was an enslaved gladiator at this arena. This is one of my mates, Tirox. My other mate, Kix, is the one who took some people away to treat their wounds. We are the bosses. If you don’t like that, too fucking bad. If you need help with anything, find one of us. Now, I know you all have questions. I will answer them as best I can. First, you’ve been abducted by aliens that planned to sell you as slaves.”

Predictably, alarmed shouting answered that statement along with a few screams and confused muttering. Aria nodded and gave them a minute to settle back down.

“Those aliens died when you crashed here. Which leads me to where, exactly, here is.”

Drawing in a breath, she debated how to word the next part and finally decided to stick with bluntness. None of them could afford to have any doubts about where they were. Best to lay all it out now.

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