Page 59 of Crossing Quinn

“Adan gifted the Tai-Kok destroyer with a few var bugs,” I said.

Mami interjected, “Tai-Kok blood is like chocolate to the beasties.”

“How difficult are the var bugs to capture?” Zarek leaned forward in his chair.

I took one look at Zarek’s avid gaze and grinned. He reminded me of a hunter intent on finding a new way to trap his prey.

Papa replied, “If you are wearing Eleni’s bug repellant, not difficult at all. We used a suction device to obtain samples.”

“Geema!” Clio in her toddler form climbed up on Zarek’s communication console and held her arms out. “Want Geema. Want Geema.”

Zarek picked her up. “No. It’s not safe.”

“Want Geema.” Clio pouted. “Now!”

“No,” Zarek said firmly and put her on the floor.

A tiny orange light popped into existence.

My eyes widened in alarm. “That can’t be good.”

“Relax. Clio is too young to teleport,” Adan reassured me.

A small maelstrom formed.

“Really?”

Adan shouted, “No, Clio!”

“Me go to Geema.” Clio reverted to her true form and jumped into the vortex. Slurppp! She was gone.

“Oh Goddess,” Mami gasped. “My baby. My poor baby.” She smacked Adan on the chest. “Do something.”

Miniature bolts of lightning danced over the floor. A tiny orange glow formed. It flickered wildly.

“Help her, Adan,” I demanded.

He touched the light. It grew larger and larger until a vortex formed. Adan reached inside and yanked Clio out.

Her little body heaved and shook. “Monster chased me. No like.”

A monster or an Executioner? If the Executioners thought Adan wasn’t taking good care of Clio, they wouldn’t be happy. The last thing we needed was for them to pay us a visit.

“Never. Ever. Do that again,” Adan scolded.

Clio wrapped her tentacles around his neck. “Me sorry.”

“The child is uninjured?” There was genuine concern in Zarek’s voice.

“Me hungry.”

“I would say that is a yes,” I commented.

Mami plucked her from Adan’s arms. “When we get to Earth, I’m taking you to the Magic Kingdom.”

“What magic?”

Adan took Clio back and snarled at my mother, “No. You are not.”

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