Page 102 of Made For The Alien Warrior

Thirty-Eight

Tiegan

“What took you so long?”Tiegan murmured to Korben as they faced off with Sim-pony’s kidnappers.

“We had a situation of our own. We would have taken longer had we not seen the light that shot from the sky.” Korben glanced at him. “It drew us here.”

He faced the kidnappers again. To the leader, he asked, “What is your name?”

“Qin.” His eyes narrowed. “You have seen for yourself what sorcery the humans wield. We cannot allow such defiled blood to intermingle with ours.”

“Who are you calling defiled?” Si-Moon marched forward, punching one fist into the exoskeleton’s open palm.

Sah-ah placed a metal arm on the other female’s shoulders. “Not so fast, Simone.”

“Si-Moon,” Zar said under his breath.

The female settled down almost immediately.

Tiegan smiled. “As you can see, my comrades are upset.” He gestured to the females and then pointed to Korben, Lans, Pin, and Zar. “As are we. Surrender yourselves before this becomes a fight where the human females you detest will beat you.”

“We fight for our pride and honor.” Qin leaned forward, face set in determination. “It grieves us to send our own to the grave, but we will do what we must to protect our future.”

Tiegan started running, his dagger raised over his head. He clashed with Qin. The brute blocked his attack and lashed his tail, wrapping it around Tiegan’s leg. He was ready for it and jumped back, slashing his dagger out as he moved.

Around him, the others clashed in battle. Sah-ah and the other females held their own in the exoskeletons. Korben, Lans, Zar and Pin gave the females assistance where necessary and fought off their own attackers.

Tiegan’s heras grieved him to see Plutonian against Plutonian. This was not the world he wanted to live in, but he could not let Qin’s treatment of Sim-pony die without punishment.

Qin sneered. “You would murder your own brother for a taste of human heat? And you call yourself morally superior?”

“You would attack a vulnerable human for your own twisted plans?” He prowled around Qin, watching him intently. “Who are you to call yourself a savior for our kind? Our future lies with the humans.”

“They will destroy us with their greed and selfishness. It is only a matter of time.”

“Not unless you and those who think like you destroy us all first.” In a quick maneuver, Tiegan attacked. Qin matched him blow for blow, parrying perfectly with his dagger and moving so quickly that he nearly flew.

They broke apart, eyeing each other.

Qin smirked. “We are evenly matched.”

“Only because I am injured.” He gestured to his side. “Was that your plan? To get your comrades to weaken me so you could be evenly paced?”

Enraged, Qin sneered. “You dare to taunt me?”

Tiegan noticed him leaning forward with his left foot and dropped to the ground. With a sweeping kick, he swiped Qin’s legs from under him, causing the warrior to crash to the ground. He landed a punch to his jaw that knocked Qin out cold.

Tiegan lifted his fist and exhaled. “I do not wish to kill you. Not because you deserve to live but because Idovalue my traditions. Every life is sacred. Including a human’s.”

The other rebels were being defeated one by one. He heard the females hooting in triumph when the last of them had fallen.

Tiegan whirled around and hurried back to Sim-pony. She watched him with a weak smile. His concern for her escaped in his touch as he slid his hand up her arm.

“I’m fine,” she breathed. “I’m getting my strength back slowly, but it’s nothing a good rest won’t fix.”

Adhi lifted her eyes to his. She was sitting on the ground, Sim-pony’s limp body cradled in her lap. “I think using her arm took too much out of her. Should we go to the Healer?”

“No need.” Sim-pony insisted. “I just need a nap.”

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