Page 6 of Scorching the Alien Empire
Balsar’s snuffling grows frantic as my shadow looms over him, my claws mere inches from his quivering throat. He’s little more than a pile of quivering meat awaiting the slaughter. The scent of his terror hangs thick in the air, and I pause briefly, hoping he offers something worthwhile to stay my hand.
“Wait! Wait!” His snout snuffles wildly, his voice a high-pitched whine as his back presses hard against the cold metal wall. “The Orphanage’s base! I know its location!”
Praise Arawnoth.
“Show me,” I command, retracting my claws and gesturing toward the glowing blue star chart.
Balsar scrambles upright, brushing dust from his long black polymer coat. “I should have mentioned it sooner,” he blurts, scurrying toward the console. He hesitates, glancing nervously at Ignixis’ shrouded face. “May I?”
“If you’re lying,” Ignixis sneers, shifting aside with a deliberate slowness, “I will personally peel the skin from your pathetic hide, Captain.”
“There’ll be no need for that,” Balsar replies hastily, his stubby fingers flying over the controls with surprising dexterity. “You seek the Sirius system? Well, en route with a slight detour, you’ll find the moon of Pulsar—also known as the Crib to the captains of Whores’ Orphans.” He straightens, his snout twitching with pride. “There,” he announces proudly, gesturing at the holographic projection.
“Interesting,” Ignixis murmurs, his molten emerald eyes narrowing as they study the azure star map. “This moon... Crib, as you call it. Does it contain Elerium and the like?” He points a gnarled finger, distorting the glowing sphere that represents Pulsar—our hope.
“It’ll be a grand raid,” Balsar answers eagerly, nodding like a fool. “This is where the Orphans store all our hauls from all the...uh, mercenary work we do... Did.” He swallows hard, correcting himself with a nervous grunt.
“Adds half a day’s travel, not far from Klendathor,” Jazreal muses, leaning forward to scrutinize the coordinates. His words are like sweet nectar to my ears.
“If we can trust him,” Princesa scoffs, her silver eyes scanning Balsar with a curled, full lip of disdain. “He looks like that ugly alien cow that attacked me before.”
I place a reassuring hand on her supple shoulder, my fingers brushing her skin just long enough to feel her lean into my warm touch. A soft sound escapes her, almost a purr.
But there’s one question no one else has asked. “What of its defenses?” I inquire, fixing Balsar with a piercing glare.
“Well... um,” he stumbles, avoiding my eyes, scratching at his snouted face. “Depends. Ships come and go, but usually a lot, perhaps a hundred.” He nods, his confidence wavering.
A hundred ships, maybe more—pathetic transports, like the ones in my service now. But less than half of my own ships are crewed. We’ll be outnumbered, but we have this Scythian Battlebarge to even the odds.
Still, something in Balsar’s fidgeting betrays him. His stubby fingers twitch like Todd scuttling for food.
“And?” I growl, the low rumble of my voice filling the chamber.
“And... the moon’s defenses.” His beady brown eyes flick to mine, trembling. “Pulsar cannons. All over its surface.” His nervous chuckle is brief, hollow. “Kind of ironic, given the moon’s name, right?”
“A battle moon,” Jazreal mutters, the working side of his hard face shadowed by a grimace.
It makes sense—the Orphans would guard their stolen treasures with everything they had. Still, there’s no choice. Only glorious victory will pave the way to my destiny.
“Set course for the moon of Pulsar,” I command, sweeping my hand over the glowing star chart.
“Arawnoth demands sacrifice.”
Chapter 2
Alexandra
Battle for Pulsar’s moon
“Comeon!We’llmissthe fun if you don’t hurry!” I exclaim, unable to contain my excitement as I tug on the sleeve of the reluctant Sandra’s gnomish-blue tunic.
Her gaze drops, and she drags herself more stubbornly than one of those giant snail monsters from Celutok’s farm.
“I... I don’t know about this, Lexie,” Sandra stammers, her blue eyes flicking nervously from the black metal floor to the command bridge door behind me. “A space battle sounds a lot more terrifying than fun.”
“Didn’t you want to experience everything the universe had to offer?” I reply with a grin, taking her hands in mine. “This will be like a cosmic fireworks display!”
“Besides, Jazzy will be there,” I add, teasing with a mischievous smile.
