Page 24 of Touch the Stars
Now they were speeding through space hot on the Bajiki trail of…what was it?Artificial propellent?Well, whatever.Kris was at the end of that trail.That was all that mattered.
A huge yawn rose up and she succumbed to its jaw-popping force.If there was any fault with the cruiser, it was that a pilot was almost unnecessary.Space travel really was that fucking boring.It’d almost be a relief if Baatar banged on the door right now and bellowed to be let in.But, she hadn’t heard even a whisper of sound from outside the locked door.He was either still out cold, or awake and plotting her demise.
Bing.
“Incoming transmission.”The AI’s tone had returned to emotionally neutral, as if it was suddenly fine with its newest captain.
Shit.If someone was calling the ship, they’d expect Baatar…
“Wait.”She swung her legs around to sit upright.“Don’t put it through!”
A shimmer formed in the space between her and the main screen.It towered above her by at least a couple of feet, and it had to be over five feet wide.
“Fucking AI.”She gripped the armrests and pushed herself to stand.
The shimmer solidified into a hairless, gray creature that looked like the love-child of the Hulk and a granite boulder.Except it had three arms—all different sizes.And it wore a loose-fitting, white tank top and matching pants.
“Well, bite me.”Her words came out in a whisper.
She’d bet her entire bank account that it—he?—could pulverize boulders with one swipe of his humongous upper right arm fist.Hell, any of his arms could do some serious damage.
The creature’s golf ball-sized obsidian eyes focused on her, and the corners of his mouth turned down.“You.”
There was a lot of disdain in his deep, gravelly, most definitely male voice.What had she done to deserve that?
She cleared her throat and moved to put the command chair between them.“Yeah, me.Who the hell are you?”
Red flared in the guy’s eyes.“Where is Warrior Baatar?”
Great, a get-to-the-point kind of guy.No social niceties or exchanging, oh, say,names.
“He’s, um…taking a leak.”Thatwas the best she could come up with?The rock creature curled his upper lip.Not a good sign on Earth, so probably not a good sign here, either.“You know, going pee?Urinating?Indisposed?”
A glint of suspicion flashed in his eyes.“You have disposed of my warrior?”
“Disposed?What,no.”Notdisposeddisposed…exactly.
Whowasthis fucking guy anyway?
“It is just as well.”A calculating gleam replaced the suspicion.“You have saved me the unpleasantness of that task.Now there is only you.”
Okay, that was definitely bad.
The stone-like lips parted farther and farther until his mouth was open so wide, a couple of basketballs could fit inside.Holy fuck, the guy had some wicked razors for teeth.And what was that sound?Low in pitch, and growing…not louder, but stronger.The tone crept over her skin like ten thousand ants and sank through, setting off involuntary muscle spasms.Even her bones seemed to vibrate.
“S-s-stop it.”She slammed her hands over her ears, but it was like the noise was coming from inside her now.
There was no way to shut it out.Her breaths came in small gasps.How was he doing this?
The pitch changed, lowered… if that was possible.The thrum beat into the center of her brain and burned through her head.Wetness spilled down her cheeks as she sank to her knees next to the command chair.A weird pressure squeezed, then expanded repeatedly inside her skull.If he didn’t stop, her head would explode.
She rolled onto her side.The rock monster was killing her and hadn’t even told her why.
A scream welled in her chest.She opened her mouth to release it...
Baatar.
Every part of his body ached as if he’d been hit by a cargo transport running at full speed.Where was he, and what was the situation?Why could he not feel his arms or legs?He forced his eyes open.There was a ceiling above him.White, the color of royalty.
