Page 81 of Crossing Quinn

“Yes, my lord.” I tapped my control belt. “Deploy helmet.” It formed around my head.

Quinn released me, and body armor engulfed him.

KABOOM!A titanic explosion rocked the mansion. The walls caved in, and a rippling fireball rose high into the sky. The ground around the huge house heaved and buckled before collapsing into a gaping crater.

Pieces of debris rained down on us. Thwap. Bap-bap. Thop. Bang.

The earth shook violently, and part of the hillside gave way, filling in the crater.

I checked my scanner. Nothing remained of the compound.

Quinn studied the area. “I’m not sensing any life-forms. Are you?”

Drawing on my psychic abilities, I scanned the area. “A couple of dogs, a cat, some birds, and a bunch of scared bunny rabbits, but no Tai-Kok, traitors, or var bugs.”

Quinn’s helmet melted away. “Good. Have you heard of tonsil hockey?”

I climbed up Quinn’s body and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Is it something like this?” I settled my lips over his and tickled his lower lip with my tongue. He opened for me, and I invaded his mouth.

Zarek was suddenly in my head. “Is this a new form of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?”

Drekk! I slid down Quinn’s body. “We were, ah, celebrating, my lord.”

“I take full responsibility for our actions, my lord,”Quinn stated calmly.

“No! I kissed you first.”

“Enough!”Zarek roared. “Return to the command center immediately.”

“Yes, my lord,”we said in unison.

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