Page 69 of Crossing Quinn

Chapter Fourteen

The mega sandstorm continued to pummel Qeeturah, slowing down the hunt for the var bugs. The sand didn’t bother the Executioners, and they captured enough bugs for everyone.

The minute Wulf and Quinn appeared on the bridge without Papa, Mami shrieked, “Where’s Lysis?”

“He went with Adan to spread the var bugs across the Tai-Kok fleet,” Quinn answered.

Mami’s eyes rolled back in her head and down she went.

I sighed.

Clio looked down at her. “Geema sleeping?”

“Yes, she is,” I replied.

“Look on the bright side. Now we won’t have to listen to her screaming all the way to Earth,” Wulf quipped.

Quinn grabbed me before I could hit him.

We beat the Tai-Kok battle squadron to Earth by an hour. Quinn teleported us directly to Central Command’s war room. According to my warlord, the command center was built in an old NORAD bunker buried deep within a Colorado mountain. Once Zarek had signed the treaty promising to protect Earth from Tai-Kok raids, he had immediately fortified Earth’s military command bunkers to withstand a bombardment from space.

The enormous room was filled with individual combat consoles. Each workspace was equipped with large holoscreen displays, tracking scanners, and weapons-control systems.

Military personnel from several different species mingled with human and Coletti warriors. Everyone’s attention was focused on the horde of Tai-Kok ships going into orbit around Earth.

I sent a silent prayer to the Goddess. The ships had more than enough firepower to destroy this planet.

Quinn urged me on. “Don’t worry, darlin’. The only ones dying today are the Tai-Kok.”

My gaze was drawn to a raised command console overlooking the room. Standing behind it was a big, distinguished-looking human male with thick gray hair and the cold, soulless eyes of a serial killer. He wore a midnight-blue uniform laden with medals. He studied us as we approached him.

Something told me he was as deadly as any warlord. “Who is that?”

“My uncle, General Saul Jones. He runs the place,” Quinn answered. He paused and saluted the general.

The general saluted him back. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to make it in time.”

“It took longer than expected to collect enough var bugs.”

The general turned his attention to me. “You must be Xenia.”

“I am.” I held out my hand.

Instead of shaking it, the general pulled me in for a hug. “Gotta tell me how you tamed our Scottish throwback.”

Quinn sighed.

“With a stun gun and a tranquilizer dart,” I quipped.

The general roared with laughter. “You’re gonna fit right in with the rest of the girls. Where are your parents? I want to meet them.”

“My father and Adan are spreading the var bugs among the Tai-Kok fleet. Wulf is taking my mother and Clio to a secure underground bunker.”

“Your mother’s unique singing was broadcast on all of the Tai-Kok communications links. Five destroyers turned tail and fled.” The general grinned in delight and added, “Zarek quickly put them out of their misery.”

A gurgle of laughter escaped me. “Papa and I wear earplugs whenever she sings.”

“Wise move.”

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