Page 26 of Torn from the Alien Commander

Music to my ears.

Chapter 9

Tyrxie

Negotiation

Hours of brainstorming withFelixus led us to devise a plan to rescue Xandor—an insane plan. I vaguely remember Felixus listing numerous caveats: the high likelihood of failure, the near certainty of our deaths, and the severe consequences, even if we succeed. How would we escape and live in exile, forever hunted in Nebia? Too many obstacles to list, but none of them deter me. Where my fear should be, I feel only an arcweave-like resolve.

But this mission requires more than just me—it requires a crew, my crew. And I must convince them. I will tell them the dire truth, because I refuse to lie. Each must agree, knowing the risks. I thumb my locket nestled in my clothes, taking a steadying breath, knowing the fate of my Xandor and all Nebialies in the hands of five strange crew from a pile of space junk known as the Mutalisk’s Hammer.

“This planet too small!” Quad bellows, snapping me from my nervous thoughts. The Barlyxian huffs, having to stoop almost double with his broad arms squeezing tightly together, struggling to pass through the small door into Felixus’s quarters. “And tiny flying circles chaff my arse,” he adds, rubbing his backside.

I laugh at his silly and familiar antics, overcome with a strange giddiness, knowing I’m doing the right thing, even if I might not survive. “Oh, hello Tiny, Bug Brothers and Fuzzy,” Quad calls, waving his four hands at the others who are conversing with Felixus.

The last member to arrive. The moment of truth.

“Stop calling me Fuzzy, you dopey idiot,” Hyanxa snaps, puffing on her vaporstick, as I wonder if she was allowed to keep it because of Thalaxia’s interventions. The others turn, offering greetings to the newest arrival.

“Admit it, you glad to see me!” Quad bellows, approaching Hyanxa with arms outstretched. I wince, knowing from experience what comes next. With surprising speed, he rushes forward, scooping up the screaming Hyanxa in a spinning, teeth-rattling hug only Quad can deliver.

“For void’s sake, Quad, my vaporstick!” Hyanxa laments as her device is sent spinning into a pile of junk in the corner. “Okay, that’s enough!” she adds, the beginnings of laughter in her voice.

It wasn’t long ago I received a notification from Thalaxia stating the imminent release of the others. I replied, requesting they be brought to Felixus’ house immediately. Time is critical and if they got distracted, who knows where they’d end up?

Quad finally sets Hyanxa down. “Great, now the room is spinning,” she complains as Quad beams, his broad chest puffedout like he’s done a fine day’s work. I help steady the stumbling Hyanxa with a hand on her shoulder and move to join the others.

“Servo mechanism very smooth, precision cuts with immaculate tracing—excellent crafting. Yes?” Job marvels, holding one of Felixus’ devices of unknown purpose, a hand beneath his mouth slit.

“Spent bloody ages on that piece. Came out alright if I do say so myself.” Felixus beams, struggling to hold more objects, greedy for Job’s praise.

Hyanxa, now steadier, looks between Job, Felixus and the cluttered room, a frown creasing her scarred brown furred face. “What the void are we doing in this...” she pauses, gesturing to a particularly high heap of junk metal, “mess?”

Felixus bristles, “Now listen here. I’ve meticulously set up my quarters for optimal engineering efficacy. I didn’t expect a bunch of ruffians to show up unannounced.”

Mob picks up a black metal mechanism from the ground, “Could cultivate many mold spore cultures from these. No?” he inquires, tilting his narrow head.

“Give me that modulator!” Felixus snatches the object, his face turning a deeper shade of blue. “Spore cultures... The cheek!”

Quad stares at Felixus with his usual gaping-mouthed expression—the precursor to something particularly silly. “Wait, you tiny?” he points towards the frowning Felixus.

“I’m a Nebian. We aren’t known for our great height,” Felixus retorts with a sigh, peering up at the towering Quad, who scratches his bald head in puzzlement.

“But known for huge cranial capacity. No?” Mob declares with excitement. I wince as he approaches Felixus with a metal measuring device aimed at his head.

Felixus recoils, almost tripping over random junk. “Get that away from me, you blockhead!” he steadies himself beforeturning to me with a grimace. “Where did you find these people?”

It’s a good question which only Kaanus could have answered.

I shrug, having no answer as my heart hammers in my chest, struggling to pick an opportune time to make my desperate plea.

“But she is Tiny?” Quad bellows, pointing two arms at me while the other two still scratch his head. “Two Tinies...” he whispers, his voice trailing off perplexed by a dilemma he may never recover from.

“I’m not that small,” I protest. “Especially here, where I have to stoop through doors. I’m basically a giant now.” I nod with satisfied vindication.

“Pfft!” Quad spits globs of drool across the room, forcing Felixus to avoid it with a quick dash.

“Voidsons! His species aren’t poisonous, are they?” Felixus’ side-eyes Quad with renewed suspicion.

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