Page 95 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

A disbelieving gasp came from his left.

He glanced over and saw both Zar and Korben staring at the warriors spilling into the room. Though he could not read their thoughts, he imagined their horror mirrored his own.

Tens of warriors could be restrained by their group.

But thousands…

The Healer held up a hand at the Plutonians who stood in the front lines. Lans recognized them immediately. They were the sons of the elders. Tanek, Na’vak’s son had his father’s eyes and temper. His shoulders heaved and a fierce scowl lingered on his face. Liquid dried on his cheeks. The humans had a word for the release of their sorrow—tears.

“Tanek, welcome.”

“Do not play that game with me, Healer.” Tanek lifted his glassy purple eyes. “I will not be swayed.”

“You have come to seek healing?”

“I have come for the humans.”

Grunts of agreement rose from the warriors behind him.

Lans’s heras increased in speed. He watched the front lines intently, making sure that no one stepped out of place. As he swept his gaze over them, his anger faltered.

He saw the comrade he used to go hunting with back when he was just a brood.

He saw the teacher who helped him learn to read the ancient symbols of his elders.

He saw weavers.

Storytellers.

Warriors with families.

Uncles.

Grandfathers.

Lives.

He saw and his heras faltered in the wake of who he was up against.

Put Lans in front of a pack of lizera and he would tear them to pieces with his iron will, no matter how powerful they were. No matter how easily they could snap his neck. The animals that murdered his father were instantly killed on sight. It was a personal rule. And he never,everhesitated when it was time to rise against them.

The Heronas, too, were subject to this treatment. Vile and wicked, they stole broods from their mothers to experiment on them. They turned on their own. Broods like Chozo had been subject to unspeakable horrors all in the name of advancing their own kind.

Lans rarely felt regret for taking the lives of such dangerous enemies.

That included the Uldimar Raiders.

The Rulari guards.

Everyone who abused, stole, or brought pain to the innocent.

But in this war, there was no monster on the other side.

There was no lizera with teeth twice his head and big beady eyes.

There were no Heronas with their energy shields and bombs.

It was his own.