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No wonder human females are so fierce.

A sharp, trilling sound interrupted the conversation. Brennan pulled a small handheld from his pocket. He glanced at it, hit the screen and set it on the nearby table.

“One problem at a time,” the male gave a resigned sigh. “So, this Juju Bilana want to enslave and pillage Earth, but you say this cloaking array will hide us.”

“Yes.” He nodded, not bothering to correct the male’s pronunciation.

“Will it hide us from these Mira people, too?”

“No. They are already aware of your location. They may find it odd that your planet is cloaked the next time they visit, but we doubt they’ll interfere with the device. They will understand its value.”

“I understand why Providence sent you to me of all people. If you were to attempt to reach out to a president or prime minister on your own, I don’t think things would go well for you. I can try to contact the Chief of Staff, except they’re just as likely to think I’ve lost my mind, unless you’re with me. But again, that puts you at risk.” Brennan cracked his knuckles again.

“Ah, yes.” Ashtoret nodded and frowned. “This is what your daughter feared. It is why she didn’t come. She worried your people would do something to her and take the young from her belly.”

They convinced Brennan of their mission, but now the difficulty was convincing his superiors. This was aggravating. If a species came to Cadi to warn Daimio Kagan of an impending threat, their leader wouldn’t react violently to the messenger. Of course, the Cadi had long known of other species, and now more than ever were open to forming alliances. The Jurou Biljana threat had taught them not to be so vain, and the humans needed to learn the same. Hopefully the lesson wouldn’t be a painful one.

“Do you know how sad that makes me? My own daughter couldn’t come home because she now fears her own damn people. Son of a bitch,” Brennan snarled.

Ashtoret didn’t know what a bitch was, but the Cadi had a similar phrase and he understood the sentiment.

Brennan’s handheld trilled again, and the male picked it up.

“What?” Brennan barked into the small communicator. “What was that, Frank?” His expression darkened as he listened intently. “No. I haven’t seen anything unusual.” Brennan looked up at them. “Well, thanks for the heads up.” The male pocketed his handheld. “You two need to…”

Brennan was cut off by the sound of breaking glass as several smoking canisters were hurled through the nearby window.

“Evacuate,” Vintor bellowed, pointing toward the rear of the house.

Ashtoret coughed as he ran through the dense choking haze. Crashes came from every direction, followed by flashing red beams and thunderous booms. He ducked a beam as he sprinted down the hall. The wall beside his shoulder exploded in a cloud of dust. There was a crash, and he glanced back in time to see Vintor clutch his side, and stumble.

“Go,” Vintor yelled, as three dark figures converged on him.

He wasn’t about to leave his fellow warrior behind. He struck out and sent one male hurtling down the hall, before the human could aim his disrupter.

“Go! That’s an order.” Vintor struggled with the two remaining shrouded figures, while another three poured in from the kitchen.

Ashtoret growled in anger. They were physically stronger than the puny humans, but with their weapons drawn and their sheer numbers, the odds were evened. A blast followed by a twinge of pain lit up his arm, forcing him back.

“I’ll come back for you,” he yelled to Vintor.

He barely avoided another shot as he darted for the rear door. He threw his shoulder into it, taking the flimsy wood panel off its hinges. The door knocked down the pair directly on the other side, leveling them flat. Ashtoret ducked shots coming from a trio breaking through a nearby window as he leapt over the outdoor table. Every instinct said to use lethal force, but this was supposed to be a peaceful mission.

He ran across the yard, veering to avoid the blasts kicking up dirt around him. He ignored the biting sting that strafed across his thigh, focusing on the dark figure who leapt from the shadows. Ashtoret laid out the human warrior with a single punch, not even bothering to slow his stride. The sound of boots beating the earth followed, but he was faster on his feet, darting between the nearby dwellings.