Page 54 of Game on Askole

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”I held out my hand.

He ignored it and pointed to a regen tube.“Remove your clothing and climb inside.”

Guess Askoles weren’t into shakings hands. God, the cultural differences between our two species were enormous. I’d probably piss people off without even knowing it.“What about KeeKee? She was exposed to the radiation too.”

“No wanna die,”KeeKee cried pitifully.

With a sigh, Yann inputted data into his scanner.“Place the Tabor in the smaller tube.”

“Thank you.”Stroking her grungy fur, I put KeeKee in the regen cylinder.“It’s gonna be okay.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”I stripped down to my underwear.

“Removeallyour garments,”Yann ordered, his gaze never leaving the scanner.

Basic training had cured most of my modesty, but getting naked in front of strangers still bothered me. I pulled off my panties and bra and scrambled inside.

“Lie down,”Yann directed.

Reluctantly, I complied. I knew Tihar would never hurt me, but this guy? I didn’t know or trust him. The instant the lid closed, a thick white smoke swirled around me. With one breath, I was so tired, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I floated off.

Angry grunts, groans, and clucking jerked me awake. Tihar? I reached out psychically. No. Someone else. An Askole. Make that a very angry Askole. Wonder what had crawled up his butt and died?

Then I realized Yann was making awful, gurgling noises.

My eyes popped open. A horrifically scarred Askole was choking the life out of Yann.“Tihar! Get your ass to sick bay.”I pushed at the glass imprisoning me. How did I get out of this thing? I randomly hit icons until the lid slid back. Grabbing a scanner off a metal tray, I hurled it at Scar Face.Thunk!It bounced off his head.

Damn. He hadn’t even flinched. I flashed Tihar an image of Scar Face.“He’s killing Yann!”

A clanging noise erupted, followed by a bunch of grunts, cackling, and groans. Must be the Askole version of an intruder alert.

Yann’s skin turned a sickly gray, and he hung limply in Scar Face’s grip.

“Hey, asshole! Let him go.”

The asshole dropped Yann. He bared his fangs and bellowed his battle cry.

“Mwah-hah-hah,” I shouted back, scrambling out of the tube.

Scar Face blinked in disbelief.

I summoned every ounce of power I had and hurled it at him. His head snapped back, and he toppled over like a pole-axed steer.

The little Askole wasn’t moving.“Yann?”Dropping to my knees, I put my ear to his chest. Shit. He wasn’t breathing either. I started CPR. “C’mon, breathe.”

With a roar, Scar Face shot to his feet.

“Oh crap.”

The sick bay doors slid open, and Tihar zoomed in. His terrifying war cry echoed around the room.

Scar Face yelled something and attacked Tihar.

I quickly dragged Yann into a corner and continued CPR. His thick armored skin made mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions difficult. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught brief glimpses of the fight. Both warriors were moving so fast, all I could see were black blurs as their terrifying claws flashed in a dizzying display of death.

Blood sprayed across the room.Thud.Scar Face’s head rolled to stop by my foot.

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