Page 11 of My Alien Bughead
“Enough.” Zarkan doesn’t raise his voice but both males immediately stand down. “Let’s focus on the mission and,” he scowls at D’Aakh, “be respectful. Or you’re out.”
“What do you mean, out?” D’Aakh spreads his arms in a wide shrug. “You can’t bench me. I’m the only one who can fix the ship.”
Wearing a smug grin, I clear my throat to point out thatDon Idiotezisn’t the only person around who can fix things. Astra and Tareq grin right back at me and even Zarkan’s tail twitches as he suppresses a chuckle.
D’Aakh scoffs. “Yeah, yeah. Hilarious.” Completely ignoring me, he turns to Zarkan. “She’s a human. Ahuman. It’s not like she knows anything about anything.”
Seriously, what is this guy’s problem? I’m used to dealing with imbeciles but this bughead is just plain hostile. Still, escalating the conflict will lead us nowhere, so I just grace him with another fake smile. “I bet I’m more pleasant to be around than you are, though,” I jab lightly, then continue before he can respond, “Cai, dear, would youpleasetell us if there’s anything useful in the UGC database about the Serramorphs?”
“Thank you, Ms. Norez,” Cai replies. “As I was about to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, there are some useful tidbits.” Being a computer program, Cai can’t exactly glare at D’Aakh, but I imagine she’d be shooting daggers at him if she could
“While they haven’t mastered spaceflight yet, the Serramorphs’ level of technology is similar to that of the planet Earth. It is only because they’re not really interested in venturing off-world that they haven’t started exploring their solar system yet. They’re highly intelligent and very proficient with technology, especially in the kind that intertwines with nature.
“Their communities are matriarchal and they are very slow to procreate. A female typically lays only one egg every several years.”
Tareq looks relieved. “So, we won’t be overrun by baby bugs any time soon. Are they aggressive?”
“Territorial.”
“Great,” D’Aakh sneers. “But this ship isourterritory. If they want to fight for it, they have another thing coming.”
A loud sound resonates through the corridor as Astra stomps her foot on the metal floor. “This ship is huge. Didn’t you say it’s meant for dozens of people? There’s eleven of us on board! We can share. Let’s just go before you piss me off and I claim the ship asmyterritory. After all, I was here first.” Both Tareq and D’Aakh open their mouths but Astra raises her finger. “Uh-uh. Quiet. We’re going now. Right, Captain?”
Zarkan doesn’t bother stifling his laugh anymore. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, my dear Astra. Cai, unseal hatch G-33, please.”
Metallic clanging sounds echo out from the hatch in front of us. D’Aakh wastes no time prying the lever up and yanking the door open to reveal the dark interior of a maintenance corridor. He crawls inside before anyone can say a word and swiftly takes off, only the light of the flashlight clipped to his chest betraying his position.
“D’Aakh, wait!” Zarkan shouts as he folds his massive body in through the hatch.
The walkways are mostly narrow, cramped corridors, filled with crisscrossing pipes and cables occasionally obstructed by control panels and access hatches to various machinery. Zarkan won’t have an easy time in there.
Tareq climbs in after Zarkan with cat-like grace, then turns around realizing both Astra and I have been left outside. “Age before beauty,” he says with a toothy grin.
“And here I thought chivalry was dead,” I joke dryly, turning my flashlight on before climbing inside. “By the way,mi amiga,”I tell Astra, “I thought Zarkan was the captain here but you just handed everyone their asses on a platter!”
Laughing, she pats Tareq’s arm as she follows me through the hatch. “I just learned early on that you need to show these guys you aren’t timid or meek. If you don’t, they’ll bundle you up in bubble wrap, lock you in a gilded cage, and pamper you to death.”
A growl emanates from Tareq’s chest. “Is it so bad that I want to protect my mate as my honor and instincts demand, myMyále? I don’t think it’s that unreasonable.”
“Sure thing, my tiger,” Astra coos. Shaking his head, Tareq pulls her into a passionate kiss. A very passionate kiss.
“I guess I’ll give you two some space,” I say, though I doubt they can hear me over the haze of passion clouding their minds.
Setting off down the same corridor D’Aakh disappeared through, I see light coming from around a corner a couple dozen feet ahead where I assume Zarkan has caught up with the bughead. I hope he’s giving him a stern talking to.
Carefully monitoring my surroundings to memorize which areas are the most damaged, I pick up the pace. If D’Aakh is getting his ass handed to him by his captain, I want to see it. Maybe even add my own piece to thatestupidoman.¡Qué cabrón!After all, nobody in the entire universe would make the mistake of callingmetimid.
Chapter 8
D’Aakh
My pulsating anger isso strong that I could have stormed off to pace the entire ship back and forth several times cursing if it weren’t for the sobering image in front of me. There’s damage everywhere.
I might be pissed at the mouthy human, at both of them, actually. As well as Tareq, Zarkan, and pretty much the entire universe right now, but I came here for a reason and I better start acting like a professional. I wouldn’t put it past Zarkan to actually send me away for some “time out” just to prove his stupid point.
“D’Aakh!”
Hearing the captain’s heavy footsteps trailing somewhere behind me, I roll my eyes and sneak a quick inhale from the stimstick in my pocket. The stimulant clears the cobwebs from my brain and eases the tremors in my hands to a more manageable level. “Over here!”
