Page 83 of Captured By the Dragon Warlord
“I am the next generation of Sarkarnii, as imagined by my master,” Drex says. “A new hope for the species, controlled and lethal.”
I roll my eyes. If I keep him talking, it gives me a chance to escape or Dexx a chance to find us. Although the sounds of explosions have moved away from us to the other side of the sector, I’d like to think this is by design and not just Dante’s enjoyment of making things go boom.
“I keep hearing about this master, but if you were anything like a Sarkarnii, you wouldn’t have one,” I say, wriggling in his grip.
“That is where the Sarkarnii have failed. They require leadership, guidance, a way forward to take this galaxy and many more. My master can provide it. He will provide it, once he has enough ready.”
Drex lowers his gaze to me.
“You and the other female humans are the only things which stand in our way.”
I don’t know where I get the strength. I don’t think I could ever do it again, but I shove at him with all the force I have.
It seems it’s enough. I pop out of his grip like a cork out of a bottle. Despite the choking nature of the smoke, I run into it, covering my mouth and nose with my hand.
I have to get to Dexx, and Ihaveto get to my friends. If Drex is not who we thought, who knows how he’s infiltrated the rest of the sectors and the warlords. Especially given the tech he has to change his features.
My friends and the Sarkarnii are at risk, and I’m the only one who knows the truth.
DEXX
Nev Dante and his nevving psi-grenades. The nevving Sarkarnii is unhinged at the best of times, even before we came through the wormhole, but put something which makes a noise and damage in his hands and it is mayhem.
Mayhem I needed, but Dante is not stopping and there’s no sign of Dalsor. I need to get back to my Scarlett.
I spot the streak of green scales through a gap in the smoke which is steadily filling the neutral sector, and I dive at it. If I can stop Dante, I might possibly make the target I’m really after.
With a thump, I hit a body, and we tumble over and over until I’m sure he’s dizzy enough he might just stop with the psi-grenades.
It is not Dante.
I have found my mark. Dalsor stares up at me, his eyes blank, his jaw slack. For a nova-second, I think I might have killed him, and I swear under my breath.
I had questions. He had answers.
Then he blinks.
“Who are you serving?” I snarl in his face.
“Dexx.” I hear Driok’s voice behind me.
“Nev off. This is my business,” I growl, glaring down at Dalsor.
The nevver will not leave my sight again, not until I’m done. And I will be done.
“Dexx,” Driok snarls again.
“What?” I heave Dalsor to his feet and turn to face Driok.
He has hold of another warrior. Not just any warrior though. He has Dalsor too.
“What the nev?!”
“Dexx!”
I keep hold of the warrior in my claws tightly as I turn in the direction of Scarlett’s voice. She’s racing towards me out of the smoke. I know I told her to wait, but if she’s here, something is wrong.
“Scarlett?”
