Page 66 of All You Need is Alien Love
We were prepared for this likelihood, but seeing blatant evidence of the murderous intent behind these jerks has me seeing red.
I tap the small device in my ear to communicate with the rest of our team. “Be careful, everyone. They’ve got phasers set to kill.”
“I’m looking forward to beating the snot out of as many of these assholes as I can lay my hands on,” Ellie growls in my ear.
I grin. Fierce Mama Ellie is totally one of my heroes. I want to be like her when I grow up.
“Stay vigilant,” Kai’s voice interrupts quietly. “We have the element of surprise in our favor. Just stick to River’s ingenious plan.”
“Galactic gods, I fucking love you,” I whisper.
“Really? You two are going to do this right now?” Mal’s voice crackles in my ear, dripping with sarcasm.
The line goes silent as our opponents set to work on unlocking the mechanized doors leading into our headquarters. As we anticipated, they attach some kind of device to the scan-pad to hack it. Even then, they have to work at it for a few minutes before they gain access.
After all, we didn’t want to make it too suspiciously easy for them to break in.
In the dark office entryway, they silently spread out in formation.
“Is that all of them?” I ask.
Nirblob reassesses the screens. “Affirmative.”
I rub my hands together. “Excellent. It’s show time.”
Nirblob twirls giddily in his chair. “This is going to be fun!”
“Maestro, if you will?” I ask him.
He ostentatiously presses a button and the lights in the main office go on, momentarily blinding our visitors.
While they’re confused, a protective gate slams down outside of the office doors, sealing them inside like rats in a cage we made just for them.
Mwahahahaha!
Leaning forward, I press the ON button for the office communication system. “Good evening and welcome to Alliance HQ! So good of you to join us this evening. We’ve been anticipating your arrival. I hope you’ll enjoy the festivities we have planned. Welcome to Operation CHAOS—aka get ready to be sabotaged, motherfuckers!”
I start up the playlist I created, with Tom Jones’s help, just for tonight.
The classic Beastie Boys’ song starts blasting through the speaker system of Alliance HQ and that’s when our divided teams attack.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“You are the most exasperating and utterly maddening scoundrel I’ve ever met!” Captain Starblade blustered as he cradled Vardox’s injured tentacle in his hands.
Vardox tried to lighten the mood. “I’ve been called a lot worse in my life, darling.”
Starblade scowled at him, and Vardox was stunned to see the sheen of tears shimmering in his eyes.
He didn’t like it but he had no idea how to fix things.
Vardox could deal with anger, irritation, and even downright disgust from his sweet captain. But the more tender emotions left him flailing like a newborn Masnok tossed into a lake to sink or swim for the very first time.
“You’re safe now,” Vardox said uncertainly. “There’s no need to be frightened anymore.”
Starblade wiped at his moist eyes with the back of his hand and leveled Vardox with a glare so intense and confusing it left him unable to speak.
“Why thehelldid you agree to a duel to the death?”
