Page 22 of Protected by the Alien Warrior Triad

Can you blame me? There’s comfort enough in the presence of a single seven-feet-tall alien warrior, and with three of them here I even have the slightest spark of hope that we mightactuallybe able to find Tyler and Runner and get out of this godsforsaken city.

We step out into the alleyway – and that’s when the silence hits me.

“Cover your eyes,” I whisper, but I know it’s already too late.

The children whimper as the bloodshed is revealed. Puddles of red have already been swallowed up by the thirsty dirt and grime of the alley, but there are still body parts strewn all around –humanbody parts.

The bodies of only a few Scorp warriors lie among the severed limbs. It’s very apparent that the people of Barl were hopelessly outclassed – although a few managed to take down one or two of their attackers before they were overwhelmed.

Out in the street, the doors of the houses have all been torn down, and the windows smashed – with pincer marks clear on the walls from where the enraged Scorp attacked.

I notice that there are no humanbodiesto be seen – just the severed body parts. A shiver runs down my spine. Scorp warriors like to cripple their foes, not kill them – and then they’ll drag their helpless, flailing victims back to their Queen to be injected and inseminated with eggs.

As I’d said before – it’s a literal fate worse than death; to have your body stuffed and stretched with countless pulsating eggs, and then feel them hatch inside you; releasing wriggling, gnawing Scorp larvae than devour your still-living body from the inside out.

As we tread carefully down the street, we see and hear nothing. The Scorp have clearly taken what they came for in this sector and moved on. Those that remain are no doubt protecting their Queen while she violates the still-living victims with her eggs.

Up ahead of us, Forn starts heading south. He’s clearly the leader of this triad, as Hadone instantly follows his lead.

“No!” I yell firmly – and then something grabs me from behind.

A hand is clasped hard against my mouth and after a second of panic I realize it belongs to the third Aurelian, Darok. He’s clearly shutting me up; aware that my protest will alert any lurking Scorp to our presence.

He might not be quite as tall as the other two, but Darok’s hand is still huge against my lips and cuts off all sound. I feel instant shame that I made the rookie mistake of drawing attention to us in the middle of a warzone. My eyes dart left and right, looking for the red eyes of the Scorp; emerging from the shadows like cockroaches scuttling into the light.

Fortunately, there are none.

I nod numbly, and Darok acknowledges that I’m aware of my mistake.

The hand is slowly removed and I breathe deeply, calming myself.

The disturbance, at least, attracted Forn’s attention – so I point north. The Aurelians look at each other, and it’s as if they’re having a conversation; only we can’t hear it.

Maybe they are. I remember a hologram conversation I’d once had with my two friends, Jade and Anna, after they’d joined those Aurelian harems on Colossus. Jade told me that Aurelian triads are able to communicate telepathically – and that it drove her insane when her Aurelian lover did so!

As long as they decide to come north with me, I don’t care how they do it.

But if they don’t? What do I do then?

I swallow hard. I know what I’d do then. I’d leave Stacy and Tod with the Aurelians and hope they make it out alive – while I search for Tyler and Runner near the market. If any orphan could have survived this bloodshed, I know it’s those two. Gods know they’ve caused me enough trouble over the years. I have no doubt they’d give even the Scorp twice as much.

Fortunately, it seems like Forn is agreeable to my plan. We start heading north, and my stomach churns as we tread through the city streets.

Gods! What carnage!

The city has become a hellscape. A place that was once bustling and vibrant is now barren and eerily silent. I step softly down the street, and my boots crunch against something. When I look, down my stomach roils – as I see the exposed ivory of a human finger bone.

I want to tell Stacy and Tod to close their eyes or look away, but I know they’ll have to keep them wide to the horrors of this world if they want to survive.

Fucking Scorps! Damn that species! Damn them to the void!

As we move north, Hadone grips his war-hammer. His body movements are…eager?

Oh, Gods - he’s actually aching for a fight.

There is a strange death-lust to this alien. I hate Scorp more than anyone, but I can’t imaginewantingto find the creatures.

Then again, I couldn’t stand against one in combat. I’d seen Hadone slaughter several in just seconds.

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