Page 311 of Scorching the Alien Empire
“They’re not that big!” I protest, heat flooding my face as I take a second look at the oversized—perhaps clown-sized—shoes.
This is definitely the Nib fabricators’ fault.
Still, I power through. “Your kids’ll grow into them... eventually.” I flash a smile that wouldn’t look out of place on a back-alley hobo drug dealer. “I mean, let’s be honest, Rocks.” I wave vaguely at her belly, which looks ready to declare independence. “You look like a herd of elephants is about to pop out.”
Rocks’ expression shifts to full horror-movie murder scene. “AHH! It’s just like AHI said—I’m going to expand until I explode!” she wails, gripping Krogoth’s arm like a life raft.
His eyes drill into me—sharp, unblinking, and edged with violet menace. “No, my sweet Pebbles. You’re going to have awonderful,painlessbirth.” He turns to Xandor, voice edged with threat. “Isn’t that right,Xandor?”
“Um... well...” Xandor glances between Rocks and Tyrxie like a man caught in an ambush. “Painless? Hmm. I—uh—you’re in no danger, I promise you, Rocks.” He nods quickly at his Mortakin-Kis. “And Tyrxie will be there to, uh... smooth out the bumpier bits.”
“Whatbumpierbits?” Rocks demands, whipping her head around like a condemned woman facing imminent fashion disaster.
I know that look. Too well.
“I can help too,” I chime in, grabbing her hand and offering my most compassionate grin. “I could use my shields to, you know—widen the passage. Like a water slide kind of thing. Your babies willloveit.”
She stares at me, stunned.
“Swoosh,” I add, making a wave motion with my hand.
“RIGHT!” Rocks shrieks, wincing as she clutches her belly. “EVERYONE GET THE HELL OUT NOW!”
My back snaps straight. I blink.
Rude.
We all scurry out—except Tyrxie.Of course.
“Ugh, not you, Krogoth,” Rocks huffs, breathing heavily. “Ahh! I think I’m contracting.” She leans forward, groaning.
“Don’t worry, I’m right here with you, Rocks,” Tyrxie says gently. Her eyes flash green as she lays a glowing hand on Rocks’ back, soothing her.
“May they be born in strength,” I mutter, tossing some ceremonial ash over my shoulder as Xandor slams the door behind us.
Groans echo down the corridor—long, awkward, and ominous.
Like the spooky ghost of painful regret.
Dracoth, Xandor, and I linger outside like the three ugly stepchildren the galaxy forgot to collect.
“Wild, huh?” I say, weakly.
“AAAHHH!” A shriek pierces the air, sending a chill up my spine.
“Yes,” Dracoth growls, his gaze fixed on the door.
“Sooo...” I chew on my lip, glancing at Xandor. “Slander, was it?” I play dumb, hoping to erase that smug little smile glued to his face like silly putty. “You wouldn’t happen to know where Sandra is? I’d hoped to speak with her again.”
It doesn’t work. His eyes glint with smug amusement. Mine twitch.
“Little Sandra? Oh, she and Logarn are off on a very important,top-secrethunt,” he says, sighing like a proud dad. “To think—wasn’t long ago he was just a corrupted youth with a hard-on for charging into Graviton orbs.”
“She’seloped!?” I blurt. “With Blonde Goth?”
Visions of some black-eyelinered, moody teen abducting my poor, innocent Sandra assault my mind like a bad high school drama reboot.
“But... she’smyginger-in-waiting.” I stroke Todd for comfort, wishing—for just a second—that he was red like Sandra.
