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He stares us all down, daring any of us to protest. I look down, almost instinctively. I don’t care how brave you are. It’s hard to meet an Aurelian’s eyes.

“I’m Captain Aelon—and when you’re aboardThe Instigator, you’remine.” He takes a menacing step forward. “Mine, understood?”

His voice is hard steel. If he’s captain of Independent Aurelians, it’s because he’s the meanest bastard around. Tasha won’t take his arrogance lightly. I can see by the way she’s standing she’s about to tell this asshole where he can stuff it.

She doesn’t know what Aurelians do to disobedient women. If I don’t intervene, my captain is going to find out the hard way what Aurelian discipline is.

“We understand,” I pipe up, before she can do something she’ll regret. Tasha turns to glare, but I can only shrug. She doesn’t realize it, but I saved her a red bottom and her pride.

“Sir!” Another soldier appears. “We’re receiving a transmission from the Toads.” There’s more Aurelians on this dock than I expected, coming out from behind Reavers.

“Toads. Fucking scum.” Aelon shakes his head. “Very well, I’ll accept the transmission.”

A holographic projection appears—rippling to life between Captain Aelon and our crew.

Three-dimensional, life-sized Toads appear, as if they’re right there in the loading bay with us. If it wasn’t for the flickering, translucent effect of the holo-projection, you’d almost think you’re staring at the authentic article. Toads are the only thing I hate more than Aurelians. At least Empire Aurelians let women join their harems. Toads are disgusting, fleshy creatures covered in thick, warty skin, and their attraction to human women sickens me. No woman would ever let a monster like that touch them willingly. They take human slaves, but they’re so greedy they’d sell you for a credit if the opportunity presented itself.

Six to seven foot tall, they weigh hundreds and hundreds of pounds of fat and muscle, with distended bellies that flop out in front of them. Toads capture human vessels and auction them off to Rogue Aurelians, trading lives for cold hard credits. We’re nothing but a payday for them.

The holographic transmission will only let the Toads see forward, so my crew is out of sight of them. I’m glad for that. I don’t want their eyes on me.

“I am Captain Hoplan!” the biggest of the Toads gurgles out. “You have something that belongs tous, Aurelian! That ship is ours! We saw it first!”

The Toad gurgles and jiggles his fleshy jowls, the greed apparent in his voice. Toads can’t help themselves. He’s up against a massive warship and all he’s thinking about is profit. The disgusting creature is clad in nothing but a short loincloth around his flabby, overhanging waist. His belly looks like it’s about to burst. He’s got a wet, green hide that makes me feel like maggots are crawling under my clothes.

“Calm down,Hopper,” with an arrogant sneer, Captain Aelon dismisses the Toad’s words. “You’d better watch your fucking tone.”

“Hoplan,” corrects the Toad—but he’s not yelling anymore.

“Alright,Hopper,” Aelon deliberately gets the name wrong again. He’s arrogance through and through, and it only makes me hate him more. “I don’t have anything that belongs toyou—and even if I did, why would I hand it over?” His laugh is cold, without mercy.

“From what I see, you’ve got three dinky little assault ships, and I’ve got sixteen las-cannons trained on each of them. So, you raise your gurgly voice to me again, frogspawn, and I’m going to wipe you and your fat little friends out of existence.”

The Toad takes a step back like the Aurelian could rip him in half through the hologram. This Aelon cat wants a fight. He’s got a brain marinated in testosterone, just like Chris.

We’ll have to use this to our advantage.

What do I know about our captor so far?

He’s cocky. Arrogant.

And he hates Toads.

“You… You wouldn’t dare!” Captain Hoplan gurgles. “It would be an act of war between our two Empires!”

Aelon stares down the Toad. “You really want to test me, Toad? I’ve killed twelve of your species with my Orb-Blade—and three more with my bare hands.”

Hoplan is stunned.

“But with my las-cannons?” Aelon laughs mockingly. “Hell, I’ve killed so many of your kind, even I’ve lost track.” He snorts derisively. “You won’t even be a number in my record book when I’m done with you.”

“Please…” the slimy Toad gurgles. “We’ve tracked criminals to this sector, and we demand—ahem, weask kindly—that you give them over to us.”

“I don’t have your criminals,” Aelon snorts. “I’ll give you one chance, Hopper. Turn your ships around—and as long as I never see your slimy hide again, you’ll get to see another day.” Aelon’s menacing smile widens. “You’ve got ten seconds to pull away.”

The captain then cuts the feed before bringing his smart-watch to his mouth.

“Fire on my signal,” he orders calmly.