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“A Prime?”

“One who at the age of six acquires the markers for the Intergalactic Warrior system with his white hair and purple eyes.”

“Only a small percentage of Vettians are Primes?”

“Correct. Far’th and I were childhood friends so when my coloring changed and I subsequently began my training, Isearched for him, but he was nowhere to be found and no one would tell me what happened to him.” He paused, drawing a deep breath before forcing himself to continue. “Within a few days of my advent, they brought Far’th before us all and executed him for refusing to conform to the IW requirements. It was then I realized that not all of us make it through the system. We must conform to their programming or we are destroyed, like Far’th.” He gazed down at her. “I chose to conform.”

She froze in shock. “They executed him? Because he wouldn’t conform?”

“Because he refused to conform, the Vettian government saw him as a threat and eliminated him. It was a stark warning to us all. Do as they said or we would be put to death, as well. The rules for Intergalactic Warriors are very strict.”

Winn fell silent for a moment, no doubt processing the information he’d shared. “Which is why your living past four hundred years puts you at risk? For death?”

“Affirmative.” He had accepted it then, the brutal efficiency of the Vettian system unquestioned. But now, he would never conform again. He would find a solution to his situation. To a situation that affected allIWs.

Days ago Winn had suggested that the harshness of the IW program was the Vettian government’s way of controlling Primes. Her suspicion made far too much sense. Especially when combined with the ancient text that claimed Primes should rule Vetta. If true, it explainedmuch.

As soon as he had apples and offered them to the other members of his unit, he would find a way to share this information with all Intergalactic Warriors.

“It’s my turn now,” she said softly, her voice laced with understanding. “I had to conform, too. When my mother died, my father remarried. My stepmother had very specific ideas about how I should behave. If I didn’t follow her rules, Iwas punished.”

Outrage filled him and his hand twitched in the direction of his weapon. “She beat you?” Beat this tiny, delicate creature?

“Spanked. Or gave rather harsh punishments where I’d miss a meal or have my toys taken away and they’d be put in the trash.” She paused and rested a hand on his arm in a soothing gesture. “Nothing as bad as what you went through as an IW. But enough so I conformed rather than face more punishments.”

He listened intently, absorbing her words, his warrior instincts urging him to protect her, to shield her from the pain of her past. Not that he could. That past had forged her into the female she was today. Her resilience and fortitude impressedhim.

“You are a remarkable human, little one.” She offered a loving smile and his tension eased. “Perhaps, if not for our past experiences, we would not be who we are today. Perhaps we would not even have met.”

“Maybe we had to conform in our youth so we would know to resist now.”

Before he could comment further, they arrived at the marketplace, the bustling area a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds, and scents that assaulted Jo’Nay’s senses. Humans were everywhere, causing the cacophony of noise. Worse, potential threats lurked in every section. His warrior instincts, honed over centuries of combat, screamed at him to be vigilant, to assess every movement, every flicker of expression.

“Okay, we’re here,” Winn said, her hand briefly caressing Jo’Nay’s arm. “Just act natural. And try to relax.”

“Relax?” Jo’Nay echoed, his voice tight with tension. He scanned the bustling marketplace, his gaze darting from one human to the next. “It is difficult to relax when surrounded by so many… beings. Especially when I am tasked with protecting you from potential threats.”

“I know, Iknow, but trust me. Nobody wants to hurt us. We’re just here to buy some apples, remember? It’ll be quick and easy.”

He grimaced, asoft growl rumbling deep in his chest.

“I get it. It’s overwhelming.” Winn conceded, her voice laced with concern. “Just remember, no canines.”

Right. No canines. Maintain a neutral expression. Blendin.

He nodded curtly, forcing himself to relax his stance and unclench his fists. He was a First, so why did he find it so difficult to blend in? Maybe because he towered over these humans like a beacon. He yanked at the brim of his Ball. Cap. The unfamiliar sensation gave a constant reminder of his disguise, ahuman shell concealing a Vettian warrior. He struggled to maintain the precarious balance.

“Where to first?” Winn asked, her gaze scanning the crowded stalls. “My senses are tingling for the taste of a fresh apple.”

“Yes, apples. Those are our objective. We must focus on the mission,” he murmured.

“Seventy-two percent chance of success,”Rory chimed in.“You are forty meters from the necessary apples.”

Far ahead, Jo’Nay spotted a stall piled high with apples, their vibrant colors and tempting aromas drawing him in like a moth to a flame. Red. Green. Yellow. Aspecies unfamiliar to Vetta. He could feel his mouth watering, the unexpected craving a testament to the transformative power of the Earth fruit. The apples were key to the IWs survival. The hope for a future.

But first, they had to get there.

Chapter 6

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