Page 33 of Uncovered By the Alien Commander
Until a powerful hand wrenches me from my contemplation, spinning me around with a force that sets my senses reeling, the blood pumping through my veins as if powered by Elerium. “Hey don’t get lost on me,” Kaanus says, grinning down at me. “Come on, we’re over here.” With an almost coercive pull, he steers me towards the rest of our crew, who are marching through the less crowded labyrinthine streets and alleys through the commercial sector.
“I want to shift our... special merchandise first. It’s making me nervous. Then we’ll trade the rest,” Kaanus declares, his words slicing through the dim atmosphere as we rejoin the others. This area is darker and silent compared to the rest. The massive buildings casting long shadows, obscuring the dazzling greenfield and the dancing iridescent drones above. It’s a moment of respite, allowing me to regain my bearings.
“Where’s Triandale?” Kaanus’ voice betrays a hint of apprehension, his gaze scanning the surroundings in search of the towering figure of our Gorglaxian companion.
We all pause together, scanning the surroundings, yet the towering and skinny Gorglaxian is nowhere to be found. The realization dawns upon me. His strange sincere words, his insistence on the Klendathian masks, his heavy backpack. He was saying goodbye, planning his own escape. But where my desire for escape is for safety. His desire is a thirst for vengeance.
“For void’s sake! Wasn’t he just with you?” Kaanus asks, his blank white eyes directed at me, demanding an answer.
“He... he was, but he vanished,” I stutter, careful not to betray the extent of my knowledge.
A furrow creases Kaanus’ brow, while Hyanxa snarls, pointing an accusing finger at me, leaving me bristling with unease. “You’re a voiding useless bitch. Can’t even keep track of a giant standing right beside you.”
“There... there were so many people. I’m sorry,” I plead; my demeanor veiled in contrition.
Hyanxa spits turning to Kaanus. “You buy this crap?” She waves a dismissive hand in my direction. “Something’s up, we should cancel this trade. I can sense it in my fur.”
Kaanus looks in my direction, his unreadable eyes weighing me for what feels like an eternity. “Yeah... Tyrxie up front with me, no more sneaking off,” he beckons to me. With a sinking heart, I agree, each step forward, feeling like a descent into an inescapable abyss. “A dangerous trade without our Security Officer, voiding nightmare,” he shakes his spikey head as I approach with tentative steps.
Have I missed my one chance to flee?
“Don’t worry, I protect you all!” Quad bellows as he slams his four powerful fists together, the sound echoing off the surrounding looming buildings.
We continue in silence through the labyrinthine streets, towards the heart of the station. The great crystal central spine of the station towers in front of us, like a cosmic shard birthed from a divine entity. It’s so wide and tall it dwarfs everything, ever. Embedded into the structure are countless lifts shuttling up and down between the tiered rings.
“We’re heading down to the residential tier. Keep your wits about you,” Kaanus recommends, his stance firm as he brandishes his plasma rifle. A seam in the colossal mega-structure parts before us, revealing a narrow platform aglow with ethereal luminescence. With tentative strides, I lead the way, followed by the remaining crew who step inside.
As the lift doors seal shut, a knot tightens in my stomach, and I can’t help but worry about the fate that awaits me.
Chapter 15
Xandor
Flux
“Has your strength returned,Noroth?” I ask, examining my war brother, inspecting the intricate web of strange-colored polymer straps and bandages that adorn him. The scent of sharp, pungent chemicals sting my nose that clings to the material somehow infused into it.
Noroth shuffles back and forth, testing his thick limbs with circular motions, a pained grimace contorting his features. “Better brother, but still far from my best,” he replies through gritted teeth, his flat face twisting with pain and effort.
Relief floods over me at the sight of his progress. A stark contrast to the fear that gripped me mere days ago, when he was slipping from this universe to join the ancestors. “Amazingwhat the little Glaseroid achieved, with his archaic methods,” I remark, my hand tracing the contours of my chiseled chin.
A flash of terror caresses Noroth’s expression, a jarring sight on the brutal barrel of muscle. “Gods, I’ve endured countless trials across a hundred battlefields, but none compare to the torment inflicted by that little netherworld spawn,” he says with heat as his blue eyes grow wide.
“That spawn of the netherworld saved your life,” I reply with a chuckle. “I saw his instruments. You might have more arcweave in you than Gorexius had,” I jest, tapping his broad chest with a knuckle, testing for sound.
Noroth furrows his brow, patting all over his body as if he suspects it might explode at any moment. “I am defiled?” his eyes meet mine full of earnest sincerity. “I’d rather rest with the ancestors,” he adds in a solemn tone.
“I jest brother. Besides, you won’t be saying that for long,” I declare with a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of my lips. “We’ve stopped at a station. And we’re going to find a pleasure house that will nurse your wounds and reignite your spirit, Noroth.”
“Oh?” His hard face softens at my words. “I’m still pained, but I’m sure I can be roused,” he remarks, his laughter mingling with the whistle of his flattened nose.
“I don’t doubt it,” I reply, still wearing my grin. “Quick, don your armor, the crew has already left, and I’m keen to find Tyrxie...” My words trail off, but even before the words leave me, I know I’ve spoken in error, causing me to grimace.
Noroth raises a curious red eyebrow, glancing to Logarn beside us, who is motionless as the void of space. “Are we not headed to a pleasure house?” Confusion etches itself on Noroth’s broad face as he begins to don his armor.
“Uh... I misspoke,” I confess, scratching the back of my neck, overcome with a surreal confusion that lingers like the remnants of a vivid dream. “I’m not sure why I said that.”
“Are you mating this female?” Noroth asks with casualness, while clamping his arcweave greaves to his ankles, almost fully armored now. “You mentioned her before, but I’ve yet to catch sight of her,” he gives a short laugh, meeting my gaze. “Are you certain she’s not a figment of your imagination?”