Page 78 of Xefe
“Clever human. You understood what the Aavvee have still not grasped. They think the Oro is a weapon. It is, but it is also a living, breathing entity, native to this planet. When the Aavvee realized they couldn’t leave Nozaroc, they decided to move in. Take over. And if you want to keep something, you need an army to protect it. But the Aavvee are stupid. The Dupes are flawed. They are mindless. The Aavvee have not been able to build a fully functioning soldier. Not yet.”
So that means Sunny isn’t a clone.“Sunny must not have any idea. At least he’s never mentioned it to me. They told him they collected his man-juice to keep him clear-headed. Are these warriors why the supreme is so willing to let Sunny return to his true mate?” The words sounded bitter on my tongue. I hated his stupidalmax—whoever she was.
“You do not listen.Think.I told you these copies are mindless. Can a brainless warrior keep the arena safe? Guard the grounds and the aristocracy?”
“No. So that means…he’ll never let him go.”
“There is nowhere to go. The story of his home is a lie. All of the warriors working for the supreme were stolen as children or bred with Nozarocan warriors who had traveled off-planet. The supreme cannot expose his lies, nor does he have an army to replace them with.”
“Why would you show me this? What does this have to do with killing Freckles?”
“If the supreme cannot grow new warriors, he will breed them. Human DNA is extremely adaptable. They have already begun testing, and even these knuckleheads are figuring things out. But if they discovered that humans and warriors are genetically compatible? They would breed you, and every human onthisplanet and Earth, to death.”
Holy shit.My hands automatically went to my lower belly. Babies. “I can’t have them.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. “On Earth, they didn’t want us distracted, so we were all operated on.”
“I am sorry.” Veras placed his hand over mine. “But I don’t know. There is a possibility that the Oro repairs what has been taken.”
What?The idea was outrageous. “Ignore what I just said. It’s irrelevant.” I shook off his words, absolutely not needing that discussion right now. “If I kill Freckles, how will that affect any of this?”
“Tontoh is getting too close. He will quickly decipher that humans and Nozarocan warriors are compatible. He must be taken out. I have to remain hidden to protect the planet and discover other humans. As for you, I can at least save you and your friends. Is this not worth freedom?”
There was so much he wasn’t telling me. It set off alarm bells. “Why would you care about humans?”
“Trust me when I tell you that there is nothing more important to me in the universe.”
Huh.“I need access to him. He’s always hiding behind the supreme.”
“Understood. He will be there for the Great Race. It is required watching for the whole sector. I will aid you by activating the communication device implanted in your palms. From Earth.”
My vid-phone? Yes!“Good. And we need more Oro. My teammates, too. There’s no way they can fight without it.”
“I agree.” He pulled out a vial from his cape. And a small device. “This is the applicator. If you are too squeamish to administer it to your eye, you can penetrate any part of your body. But the eye is fastest. Share it equally between you. Remember, if you take too much, you will never be able to leave this planet. Your body will be too dependent on the Oro.” He placed the contraption in my hand. “In the meantime, I will try to find your sister. After you kill Tontoh, I will send you instructions through the communication link.”
“You have a deal.” I practiced the simple instructions to use the applicator. “But what about Sunny?”
“He has been programmed. Memories implanted.”
“That’s why they all share the same words from their mother?”
“Yes. But they have instincts the Aavvee could never control. They know on a cellular level about theiralmax. When they meet their fated mate, they will experience physical changes. The Oro carries the memory of their heart’s desire.”
My stomach dropped. “Physical changes? Like what?”
His orange eyes swirled, and he chirped out a laugh. “I think you already know.”
CHAPTER 34
True to hispromise, Veras returned me to home quarters. The trip wasn’t comfortable; the dramatic alien shoved me out of the rapidly shrinking death trap portal, but I made it safe and sound. Back on solid ground.
Never thought I’d be happy to be here.
The place was milling with aliens, and I was overflowing with information. I’d been given the green light to share my epic tale but not talk about the facility.Fine with me.For the first time, the death grip on my heart lessened the tiniest bit. Veras was going to look for my sister and let me know one way or the other whether Valentina was here. We had a whole day of soup kitchen and practice before the Great Race, so I prayed it was enough time for him to get the information I needed.
I have so much to do.
Nheenya’s cave was clear across the massive space, and I weaved through the milling aliens, some talking, others sparring. Surprisingly, I’d grown accustomed to the scales and horns, snorts and chirps. It would never be home, but I was starting to get the hang of things, bartering for goods and products. I still hadn’t found the perfect hair gel, but I had snagged some cool soaps for bathing.
“Hera!” Nieve stood on the ledge next to our cave, waving both her hands in the air. “Watch out!”
