Page 31 of A Redemption for Ulrek

“Stupid humans. You want the rest of your credits? Don’t fight until after we have Ulrek in our shuttle.” He stepped aside, and Delaney saw that Craig had a nosebleed.

Tank poked his head out from the shuttle. “Where is the female?”

Scarface sniffed the air. He turned and tromped toward Delaney’s hiding spot.

Chapter 15

Ulrek

Ulrek watched the mercenary drag Delaney by the hair into the middle of the clearing. There were two Talleans and two humans. One of the humans was Delaney’s useless ex-mate. He didn’t recognize the other one.

He’d taken his personal transport but stopped just out of range of their sensors and had proceeded on foot to assess the situation. It was the perfect opportunity to use the personal cloaking suit he’d invested in several years ago, right before he left the Dominion. At the time, the technology was so new that he was sure he had snagged the only one. Now, these suits were available for anyone with enough credits.

Unlike the disguise, which could only modify what was there, the personal cloak made him completely indetectable, both visually and olfactorily. This allowed him to get close enough to survey the situation. It also got past any sensors that relied on visual movement, such as the ones these bounty hunters were using now.

He recognized them. These two mercs-cum-bounty hunters weren’t working alone; Gritarr was funding their missions for a cut of the bounty. What these idiots didn’t realize was that they wouldn’t see a single credit. Once they did all the dirty work, Gritarr would have them quietly removed from the equation. Ulrek had run into them in New Rhea; it had been the reason he’d left early.

Gritarr must really want or need the bounty on Ulrek’s head to have his lackeys come all the way to Reka 5. This colony was as far away from Dominion space as you could get.

He’d been watching long enough to know that it was just the two of them plus the two human males. How nice of Delaney’s former lover to ally himself with these idiots. Now Ulrek could get rid of them all at once.

Ulrek grinned, his jaws itching to extend. It had been a while since he’d had a good fight, and he did love a proper brawl.

He waited for the soon-to-be-dead male to release Delaney first, throwing her to the ground. Stars, he was going to pay for that, and every other mark on her body. With Delaney safely out of the male’s grasp, Ulrek pressed the tiny button at his neckline, toggling off the cloak, and stepped into the clearing. He still had the disguise in place and looked like Captain Uzzar. That would change soon.

His appearance took the two Talleans off guard. A moment of shock registered on their faces, but they recovered quickly.

“Look, the captain has finally decided to join us,” said the taller one with the scar.

“You wanted to see me. Here I am.”

“Let's do away with the disguises, shall we? Your female told us everything.” This time it was the shorter but much more muscular one.

Ulrek highly doubted it, considering the angry look on Delaney's face.

“She told you nothing. But you have me anyway.” Ulrek reached for the device around his neck, toggling off the disguise.

He could almost see the credits dancing in the bounty hunters’ eyes. Just as he’d thought, they hadn't been completely positive who he was and had been looking for confirmation. Well, they wouldn’t have long to celebrate the fact that they’d gotten it.

“Ha! I knew it,” said the scarred one to the shorter one. “You owe me a case of Rhean spirits.” Then he drew his weapon.

Ulrek charged, tackling him and knocking the blaster out of his hand before kicking it and sending it into the trees.

“Fight me properly,” Ulrek growled. “Fight me like a real Tallean warrior.” He backed away and let the male recover.

It wasn’t fun to kill them too quickly.

The male struggled back to his feet, his jaws unhinging as the first moments of bloodlust took over.

Ulrek laughed, eager to let his beast out to play. His fangs descended from their usual half-retracted position, and the crease at his cheeks unfolded. He roared at his opponent, opening his jaws impossibly wide.

Adrenaline coursed through his system, sharpening his senses. He loved this feeling. Everything was better, stronger, when he was like this. He could see clearer, smell better, and his reflexes were beyond compare. He craved action. Violence.

He scanned his playground. Both his opponents had embraced their bloodlust too. One of the humans searched in the leaf litter for something, perhaps a weapon. Delaney had gotten out of harm’s way, hiding behind the shuttle, her eyes wide as she watched him.

Wonderful. He loved it even more when he had an audience. And when the violence was over, Delaney would get down on her knees and thank him for the rescue. Ulrek couldn’t wait.

The taller Tallean attacked first, but he was slow, and Ulrek moved easily out of his way. He sent out a fist, catching the male on the side of his head. But Tallean skulls were made to handle a few blows. The male whipped around, punching. Too slow. But the other mercenary had joined the fight, lashing out with his feet, his claws extended.

---