Page 34 of Baiting the Alien

They stare at me with their ugly and dumb tentacles as if they don’t see how dumb they are. But they soon peek at Zoe and turn around to leave.

I don’t wish to get into a fight with anyone if that means Zoe may get hurt. But I really want to punch that dumb tentacle thing.

Maybe I should control myself. There’s nothing more important than putting Zoe onto a bed and letting her rest. Poor thing... It doesn’t help when my absence is a large part of how that even happened.

Had I not taken the call... She wouldn’t be hurt.

I’m such a bad mate. Such a bad kuqnil that maybe I don’t even deserve to be the captain of the spaceship.

Maybe I smashed at those two blue males, but I’m not sure whether I have smashed them hard enough to avenge Zoe. I didn’t check whether those are still alive. I’d rather they stay alive, so I can maybe smack them again the next time, even harder. Or maybe I have caused them permanent damage, and I’d hope for them to suffer longer.

I suck in a deep breath, forcing myself to slow down. My heartbeat is racing a bit too much and blood is spiking through my brain that it almost hurts. I need neither of that.

The Patrol has gotten those two and I hope they will punish them further. Maybe I should and I can check on the progress, but for the time I’ve been a trader, I will only rely on what I can do and what I do on my own. No one else is as reliable.

Not that I don’t trust the Patrol to do the right thing.

Well...

I’m not sure whether I will trust them.

It will be annoying if I get into trouble with them. But there are limited things they can do to me. I’m a strong kuqnil and my fleet is powerful too.

I shrug as I give a nod to someone passing by, who gives a concerned look at Zoe.

“Captain!”

I turn around to see Onner coming and waving at me. He wades through all the beings, almost stepping onto a tail or two before he arrives at my side. I give him a nod, even though I’d rather not talk to anyone.

He watches me and stares at Zoe. She is still resting in my arms, seemingly asleep. There is a faint bruise on her neck. It must be because of those two males.

A fire burns inside me again, even though there’s nothing I can do about the situation at this moment.

“Captain, what happened? Is she tired? I don’t suppose you had too much action with her out in the open.”

I scoff. I’ll always want her, but I’m not that crazy for sex that I will want that when there are other beings around. “No, that’s not the case. We should get back to the spaceship before we talk.”

“Okay...?”

“You will make sure we get back there as soon as possible. Get these beings to move and pave a way for me.”

“Fine, fine.”

I stare at poor Zoe as she rests on our bed. I’m sitting on the bed by her side while Onner sitting on a chair nearby. I’ve told Onner everything that has happened. I think I’ve spent a lot of time talking, but apparently, that’s not enough for Zoe to wake up.

Maybe I should be a bit more patient. But I’m never a kuqnil of patience.

Is she fine?

Onner sighs. “I can’t imagine that can happen to her. She must be frightened.”

“I think she is. The taser must have tired her out. I hate for that to happen.” I also hate to let anyone know about that. It doesn’t make me look like a good kuqnil and I’m supposed to be a good role model for the rest of my fleet. Yet...

I continue, “Maybe I should have skipped picking up the call, or just pick up the call next to her.”

Onner shrugs. “I don’t blame you. When she isn’t ready to join us, it will be safer for her to not know everything about our business.”

I stroke Zoe’s hand. Her hand is still warm and I can feel her pulse, but it doesn’t make it easier when she is still down. There is a weak smile on her sleepy face. I will imagine she is doing as fine as possible.

---