Page 12 of Arakiba (Alien Legacy Brotherhood #3)

Chapter Eleven

A ri hadn’t lied to Morgan. Just because he’d gotten his psychic abilities back didn’t mean he should put himself in a vulnerable position if he didn’t have to. Look how opening his senses turned out when he first encountered As’ni aboard Elemi . Luckily, his arrogance only cost him a temporary memory loss.

Speaking of As’ni, he checked on the crystal being.

The guy was happily playing with his coil toy as he hummed, his back against the wall.

Case in point… As’ni was now a much different person than before they combated. The crystal alien had once been a vastly intelligent creature with an immovable determination to capture Ari at all costs and was as formidable an opponent as he’d ever met. His intent to take Ari to his Krystalii master from another dimension, Lord Baelon, was all-encompassing, and drove him to extremes.

Not that Ari had the faintest idea why the Krystalii wanted a human, any human, for some sort of breeding purpose. That wasn’t gonna happen to this boy. He’d rather die than suffer at the hands of some perverted dictator again.

The intense psychic fight with As’ni ended in a draw, with neither one of them overpowering the other. The only thing they’d accomplished was blasting the ship, JR12, as well as themselves, into unconsciousness. Which left them afloat in the galaxy to be picked up easily enough by the Ozevroc. When he’d finally come to, he’d lost all his memories and a huge part of who he was at a fundamental level.

While he watched As’ni hold the Ozevroc in a death grip, Ari ran an encompassing psychic scan on him. The prior intellect As’ni had before was gone. It’s as if their battle left a permanent scar on his brain, leaving him with the limited intelligence of a child. A happy and contented child, but a simple one nevertheless.

“Can you take this off first?” Morgan interrupted Ari’s musings. She confronted him, gripping the nutesh snare around her lovely neck. “Otherwise, I can’t leave this room without getting my head blown off.”

Ari cupped her precious face in his hands. “This crass material doesn’t deserve to touch your lovely skin, my irnini .“ He made the leather collar disappear, casting its molecules into the very fabric of space. With her reddened skin exposed, he placed a light kiss on the side of her neck and smiled when she shivered.

She gripped his hands, her eyes smoldering. “Thank you.”

Not one to fight such a powerful urge, he leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her full lips. “Let’s greet our guests, hmm?”

Morgan stepped back with a warm smile that reached the golden-green of her eyes. “I can’t wait to get to know the real you when we’re done with all this chaos.”

His stomach tightened. Stepping closer to her, he brushed one of her golden curls behind her ear. “I’d like that, Morgan. I only hope I’m worth the wait.”

Her grin was mischievous. “We’ll see.” She turned and exited the engine room, bypassing several prone Ozevroc frozen in place.

Mesmerized by the sensual sway of her hips, it took her leaving his sight to jolt him back to reality. From the corner of his eye, he noticed JR12 prone on the workstation table. “Come on, Zippy.” With a light tendril of power, he finger-waved at the bot and psychically lifted him to rest on his shoulder. The action juddered the spybot awake. “No time to sleep on the job. We’ve got work to do!”

“First, you shut me down for no good reason, and then you act like it’s my fault?” JR12 groused. “I’m mad as hell, Ari, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” The bot huffed, stomping his front two legs. “It’d serve you right if I just stayed here and let you flounder on your own.”

“Quoting old movies won’t get you out of things, Sparky.” Ari was light as a feather as he rushed out of the room to follow Morgan. “Besides, it’d piss you off more if I left you behind. Right?” He picked up the pace when he spied her turning at one of the branching corridors.

“Fine.” JR12 huffed. “You’re lucky I like havoc as much as you do, A-Man.” The little bot poked him in the neck with one of his pointed forelegs. “Now, keep up, or I’ll quote something really annoying to make you move faster.”

It didn’t take Ari long to catch up with Morgan since the docking station was close to the engine room. The low hum of machinery grew louder as they entered the immense chamber. The stark lighting from the ceiling cast long shadows over the floor, giving the place an eerie atmosphere. A groan of metal on metal fixated him on the main bay doors, which took their sweet time sliding open.

Morgan stood beside him, her arms crossed, her expression revealing nothing.

The ship that emerged from the darkness of space was unlike anything Ari had seen before.

Sleek and angular, it was almost predatory in its design. The matte-black hull absorbed the light rather than reflected it. No insignia or identifying marks adorned its surface, leaving its origins and intentions a mystery. The vessel hovered silently for a moment before descending with a controlled grace that belied its size, touching down with a hiss.

Ari’s gaze swept over the ship, taking in the subtle curves of its wings, the way its thrusters cooled with an eerie blue glow. Something about it set his instincts on edge. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He hated this—the unnatural silence of the ship, its windows blacked out, concealing whoever—or whatever, waited inside.

“Ever seen a ship like that before?” Morgan’s voice was low, barely above a whisper, but with a sharp edge to it.

“No. How about you?” Ari addressed JR12. “Anything like that in your database?” He kept his eyes on the hatch on the ship’s underside as it slid open with a smooth, almost mechanical precision.

“That looks like an AoA ship,” JR12 supplied. “My dad worked with some of them before.” His two-pronged silver-gold body gleamed in the light as the matte-black bottom of his eight legs remained muted. “Wouldn’t that be great if it were them?”

The longing in the spider-bot’s voice was a surprise.

Sending out a tendril of psychic exploration, Ari took a chance and scanned the inside of the ship. So far… it was hard to tell. There wasn’t any malevolence. But then again, he barely sensed anything at all.

“Well, let’s keep our guard up.” Morgan interjected. “At least until we know who they are.”

Nodding, Ari watched as the ship’s ramp extended in slow motion. That’s when he sensed a surge of unease.

The bay’s lights reflected off the glossy black surface of the ramp as it touched the floor with a soft thud. A hiss of pressurized air escaped from within the ship.

For a moment, the silence was so absolute that Ari could hear his own heartbeat thudding in his chest.

Then, a massive humanoid figure appeared at the top of the ramp—tall and shrouded in a flowing, dark cloak and cowl that obscured their features. They paused, as if surveying the bay, before taking a single step forward.

The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Before the figure finished coming down the ramp, a much-shorter figure raced down the ramp. Instead of being shrouded in mystery, this one was clearly a human. A human female who rushed to Morgan with open arms.

“Chloe, stop!” The shrouded figure reached out an arm as black as midnight. “ Diofokyo , female! I told you to stay on the ship.”

The male’s thundering shout didn’t stop the female.

Ari relaxed when he read the woman’s intent. She was overjoyed and excited to see Morgan.

While shocked, Morgan returned the feelings.

“Morgan, girl!” The shorter female rammed into Morgan and wrapped her in a hard hug.

From her accent, Ari deemed her an African-American from America on Earth.

She pulled back, keeping her hands on the other woman’s upper arms. Her dark eyes studied Morgan from head to toe. “I can’t believe it’s you!”

Morgan pulled the newcomer back into a hug. “Is it really you, Chloe?”

She let go, giving Ari a clear view of her tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I’m so happy to see you.” She glanced up at the humongous male who now stood behind her friend and towered over the females.

“And who is this?” Morgan stepped back.

Ari pulled her back to his front. Any excuse to keep her close was a good one.

The woman’s face glowed as she tugged the male closer.

Ari smiled as he absorbed the sheer joy Chloe had for the male.

“This is Aylzrunth, my, er, husband.” Chloe patted the male’s side. “Damn, gargantuan man. Take your stupid cloak off. You look like a pathetic imitation of Darth Vader.”

“Female, you must allow me to ascertain the situation before you continue to put yourself in danger.” At first, the male’s overtly male voice came out muffled, but the words became clear when he pulled the hood of the cloak back and revealed his features.

Ari’s eyebrows rose at the guy’s appearance.

The guy definitely wasn’t a human. His skin was blacker than midnight, with an opulent sheen. His full lips were a deep purplish-black now set in a hard line while the alabaster white of his hair could rival any Akurn’s. The strands rested on his shoulders in a straight line, nary a wave or curl in sight.

But it was the neon-blue pupilless eyes framed by platinum-white eyebrows and lashes that gave Ari pause. The intelligence shining from them was obvious. Here was a formidable male. To be safe, Ari sent a tendril of psychic power to him, just to make sure he wasn’t a threat. What he found wasn’t a big surprise. The male’s mind was a formidable one, not that easy to penetrate. For now, Ari pulled back to keep his options open.

“Oh, Ay,” Chloe turned her back on the male and waved his admonishment away. “Please. As if I’d be in danger with Morgan, here.” She narrowed one eye at Morgan. “Right, sista?”

“More than right.” Morgan’s smile was wide. “If you came an hour ago, things would have been much different.”

Chloe gawked around the docking the bay. “We thought we caught a criminal Ozevroc ship in Federation Consortium space.” Her attention came back to Morgan. “So why are you here and not them?”

Morgan chuckled. “Well, they are here,” she thumbed over her shoulder at Ari plastered to her back. “But my friend here has them in a psychic freeze.”

Chloe’s dark eyes bore into Ari. “Is that right?” She hummed, tapping a finger against her lips until her eyes widened on JR12. “Oh my god!”

Her squeal made Ari wince.

“Is that JR10?” Chloe leaned to get a closer look at the droid on Ari’s shoulder. “Wait, you’re not JR10.” She straightened with a frown.

“No.” JR12 gave a little dance. “I’m his son, JR12!”

“How can…” Chloe frowned.

“Are you still with the AoA?” JR12 bounced. “Are there some of them on board? Can I meet them?”

“I don’t…” Chloe started.

“ Aruu —“ Aylzrunth placed a large palm on Chloe’s shoulder. ”—I think there is much to discuss.”

“I believe he’s right,” Ari agreed with the male. “Isn’t there a better place for us to get acquainted, Morgan?”

Morgan sighed. “This entire ship is a cesspool of Ozevroc, ah, stuff. It’s either here or back to the engine room.” She looked up at him. “What do you think?”

Ari smiled with a nod. “I think here is just fine.”

With little effort, he generated a large cushioned sectional couch that the four of them could relax on. “How ’bout you all get comfortable and I’ll go back to the replicron and grab the consumable-maker so we can have some food and drinks.”

He laughed at their wide eyes and open-mouthed gapes before teleporting away.

The small group gathered on the sectional Ari had made for them in the cargo bay.

Whenever she got a chance, Morgan studied Ari out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t believe how strong his psychic ability was. Especially after he teleported to get the consumable-maker from the replicron and brought it back so the four of them could get whatever they wanted to eat once she programmed their requests.

It seemed easy enough for Ari to conjure things up while keeping the Ozevroc frozen. She couldn’t imagine the energy drain it took to do that. Keeping a close eye on him was becoming second nature as the four of them enjoyed the most relaxing hour she’d had since leaving Aethralis. Like four friends getting acquainted at dinner rather than being on a hostile alien ship.

Now that the light meal was long gone, the four of them relaxed with drinks in hand.

Morgan smiled when Chloe laughed at something Ari said. While she hadn’t been in the same group as Chloe on the StarChance during the exchange program, they’d become fast friends during the meal breaks. It was nice to reconnect with her.

Chloe preened when Morgan commented on the unusual tiara her friend wore.

Aylzrunth called it a Qabhuth-Kun , something he’d been born with.

The thin circlet looked like silver with a gleaming, diamond-shaped blue gem at its center.

Hard to believe every part of it was living tissue.

He explained that, on his home planet Runihura, a male placed this circlet on the head of his aruu , his eternal mate. Instinctively, the Qabhuth-Kun merged into her skin, signaling to everyone they belonged together.

Morgan wasn’t sure she’d want to wear a body part from someone else. But at least Chloe didn’t have to worry about ever losing it.

“I always wondered why I hadn’t seen you after the first week,” Chloe said to Morgan with a sigh. She sipped the Mojito Morgan had given her, smacking her lips with a grin.

“Yeah, that’s what I got for snooping around where I wasn’t supposed to,” Morgan admitted. She’d just told them the tale of how she ended up on the Ozevroc ship. Instead of confessing the real reason she’d been at the exchange, she kept her cover story as being from Atlanta, Georgia, rather than being from a hidden city under the Antarctic. She just wasn’t ready to confess how she wasn’t fully human. She glanced at the male sitting next to Chloe. Not that she thought for a second the other woman would mind her hybrid status.

Chloe snorted. “Those gray little pissants, the fibber-mcgee somethings, tried to get me too.” She patted her companion’s beefy arm. “But Ay here took care of ’em. Didn’t ya, snuggle bunny?”

“Friebbigh, not fibber-mcgee, aruu .“ Aylzrunth pulled Chloe onto his lap and massaged her neck with his strong-looking fingers and thumb.

Her eyes lowered to half-mast with her mouth slightly agape.

“And don’t call me snuggle bunny. I am not a small, Earth mammal in the Leporidae family.”

“Yeah, ‘k. Whatever you say, you sly foxy snookums.” Chloe moaned.

Her behemoth companion’s thick, alabaster eyebrows rose as he frowned.

Morgan stifled a laugh. The guy might not be much of a conversationalist, but by God, Ay’s expressive face said it all. It was clear he knew arguing with Chloe was a lost cause.

“Anyhoo,” Chloe continued. “I can’t wait to meet this purple guy you’ve got stashed somewhere. Never seen a crystal dude before.” She gave Ari a narrow eye. “You’ve got him under wraps, right?”

Ari sat with his hands laced behind his head and his feet up, ankles crossed, on the ottoman he’d generated. “I’ve got everything under control.” He kicked the footrest away and put his feet on the floor. Resting his arms on his thighs, he leaned forward. “But it’s important we take him to Earth as soon as we can. Once there, we’ll work with our family and the Federation Consortium on the best way to stop the Krystalii from invading this dimension.” He narrowed his steely-gray eyes at them. “Can you help?”

“Are you asking us to assist you in returning to your home world?” Aylzrunth asked in his rumbling voice. “Or join in your endeavor in stopping the invasion?”

“Well—“ Ari drawled, sitting back. ”—you should probably stick to your original plan with the Ozevroc. That way, we won’t have to worry about them coming after us when we leave.”

“Leave?” Morgan swung to Ari with a hard stare. “How in the heck are we going to do that? We don’t have a ship.” She had no trouble fixing the Nebula Viper’s engines, but piloting the damn thing was far beyond her capabilities. She gave the guy next to her a narrow-eyed consideration. They hadn’t a chance to talk about it.

Don’t worry. Ari spoke in her mind. Now that I’ve got my abilities back, I can fix Elemi .

Startled, Morgan narrowed her eyes on Ari. Good thing she was used to psychics poking into her brain without an invitation. Are you sure? Since he’d opened the path between them, she now had a mental way to reply to him.

Of course.

Morgan mentally humphed. Hopefully, he wasn’t being too overly optimistic.

“That’s good, since there isn’t enough room on our ship to take all the Ozevroc,” Chloe piped in. “We’d planned on towing their happy asses.”

“My aruu is correct.“ Aylzrunth confirmed. “It would be unwise to let the Ozevroc free to interfere. Should the Krystalii become the major ruling party in this galaxy, the Ozevroc would surely strive to ally with them, aiding in identifying the systems that benefit the crystal race the most.”

He stopped massaging Chloe’s neck, and she rested her head against his massive chest.

“I believe it would be prudent to take them to the AoA headquarters to be dealt with there. While there, we will inform AoA of the upcoming difficulties the Krystalii bring. They will be an invaluable resource in defeating this new threat. However—“ He shrugged his massive shoulders. ”—their base is in the opposite direction of the Chancellor’s palace. Thus, we cannot be of assistance in ensuring your safety on your journey back.”

Morgan was glad Chloe had previously explained what AoA meant… the Alliance of Assassins, of all things. Mercenaries, among other talents for hire. Looked like her friend had been a busy woman since leaving Earth.

“Eh, it’s all good. We’ll be fine.” Ari stood. “I agree. You should take the Ozevroc back to the AoA to keep them out of the way. If you don’t mind, we’ve got a ship inside the engine room that needs to be repaired before you go.” He glanced at the spider-bot on his shoulder. “You ready to fix Elemi , JR12?”

Wow, she’d forgotten all about the spybot. He’d been uncharacteristically quiet while the four of them got to know one another.

Chloe sat up, eyes wide. “ Elemi ? You got Elemi ?”

“Oh, that’s right,” the spybot piped up. “When you worked with Dad, you worked with Elemi too, eh?”

Chloe scooted off Aylzrunth’s lap and rubbed her hands down her pants.

For the first time, Morgan admired the simple, black, wide-leg pants topped with a long, sleeveless vest over a bright, multi-colored knit sweater. She sighed. She’d give anything to wear something besides the mechanic’s coveralls. Back home, she kept up on all the latest trends and was a bit of a fashionista.

“Yes!” Chloe exclaimed. “Wait!” Her dark eyes narrowed. “Are you tellin’ me she’s hurt?” She put her fist on her hip while she wagged a chastising finger with the other hand. “You’d better take me to her right now!”

“Come on.” Morgan thumbed over her shoulder to the entryway. “I’ll lead you to her.”

Chloe looped her arm through Morgan’s and tugged them to the door. “Let’s go, then. No time to waste.”

Morgan couldn’t agree more.

Morgan led Chloe and Aylzrunth out of the docking bay while Ari used his telekinetic ability to make the furniture disappear before following them. As they approached the engine room, they passed the area in the corridor that suffered the blast.

Chloe whistled and looked at Morgan with an eyebrow raised. “That’s new.” She sniffed. “I can still smell the burnt circuits and metal.”

“Yeah.” Morgan snickered. “The high chieftain here has employee problems.”

Chloe snorted and kept walking.

Once they entered the engine room, they stopped and surveyed the frozen Ozevroc stuck in several poses.

Which was creepy at best and nerve-wracking at worst. Even given her experience with a multitude of psychics in her lifetime, Morgan didn’t know anyone who had abilities similar to Ari’s. She glanced sideways at him. The man hadn’t broken a sweat with everything he’d done so far. And now he claimed he could fix Elemi at the same time? She couldn’t imagine how he’d complete that momentous task all by himself.

“Pee-ew!” Chloe waved a hand over her face. “What in the hell is that smell?”

“What?” Ari chuckled. “You don’t like eau du smelly alien parfum? It’s all the rage this side of the galaxy.”

Chloe narrowed an eye at him. “Boy, you are one sick mofo if you think this stinky shit is something I want to continue breathing.”

“Then it is a good thing we will not be transporting the Ozevroc on the same ship as us,” Aylzrunth deadpanned.

Morgan chuckled. She’d gotten used to the Ozevroc odor and hardly noticed it anymore.

“Oh, lordy, two gargantuan smart-asses. Just what the universe needs.” Chloe shook her head.

“As’ni happy Ari back!” As’ni lumbered to them through the Ozevroc, causing some of them to fall to the floor or crash into one of their comrades. He clutched his springy coil toy. “Look what As’ni did!” With a wide smile showing his blocky lilac teeth, he held up an identical coil in his other hand as he bounced it up and down. He stopped in front of them, his crystalline body swaying to a tune only he could hear.

“Dah-yam!” Chloe took a step back with her hand over her heart. “There’re three gargantuan men!”

“As’ni,” Ari said. “These are our new friends, Chloe and Aylzrunth.”

As’ni nodded vigorously. “As’ni like new friends.” Clutching his treasures, he held the coil high. “See? As’ni make pretty!”

Chills ran up and down Morgan’s spine. He psychically created something out of nothing? “Do you think he’s getting stronger?” She pursed her lips and glanced at Ari.

His comforting smile made her feel better. “No.” He shrugged. “I’m afraid our little, ah, altercation damaged him beyond repair. But—“ He patted As’ni‘s shoulder. ”—deep down, he has no love for the other Krystalii, especially Lord Baelon. Isn’t that right, big guy?”

The mirror and crystals on As’ni‘s purple face creased into a scowl. “I no like icky Lord Bay-lon. He bad man.”

I don’t have time to explain, but I’ve scanned him and he is just what he appears to be. A simple creature with basic needs. Ari mentally told her. But I want to take him with us. I think my brothers can uncover distinct memories from him on how to defeat the Krystalii better than I can.

Morgan eyed their childish companion. Okay. If you’re sure.

Ari turned to Aylzrunth and Chloe. He thumbed to the other side of the large room. “Come on. Elemi is this way.”

As’ni joined them as they weaved between the group of frozen Ozevroc guards. This time, the hulking crystal giant avoided bumping into the unmoving furry aliens. Soon, the dominant bulk of Elemi nestled in the corner became clear.

Chloe squealed. “OMG! Look at her!” She ran the rest of the way to the ship. Petting the dull outside hull with both hands, she crooned at it. “Sista, you in there?” She spied the open doorway. “I gotta get inside.” She sprinted through the dark entryway.

“Chloe, wait!” Morgan rushed in after her. Damn. If her friend didn’t like the outside, no telling how she’d react to the devastation of the inside.

The keening wail from Chloe was answer enough.

Who would have guessed that the woman’s tough demeanor hinted at her having a soft heart? Especially for a ship.

“Oh, baby girl! What did they do to you?” Chloe twirled around with her arms raised. “Can you hear me?”

The only response was silence.

“I thought this ship annoyed you, my aruu .“ Aylzrunth put one of his massive palms on her shoulder.

Chloe wiped a tear from her eye. “Yeah, but she didn’t deserve this.” She turned her dark gaze to Ari. “How can you possibly fix this?” Dropping her arms, she studied the room. “ Elemi’s very soul is gone. It’s nothing but an empty shell now.”

“She’s not dead, Chloe.” Ari assured her. “It might take me some doing, but I’ve got everything I need to make her whole again. Trust me, she’ll be better than a hyperdrive held together with duct tape.”

“Well, ain’t you a hope in hell.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’ understand how you can do that.” She gestured with a hand wave.

“Time to confess, A-Man,” JR12 interjected. “To quote the British SAS motto, ‘He who dares, wins .’ ”

Ari scratched the side of his temple. “Thanks, JR12. That’s real helpful.” He shrugged with a sheepish grin. “Well, I’ve, ah, put her someplace safe.”

Now it was Morgan’s turn to frown. “What do you mean, you put her someplace safe?” She crossed her arms.

“Okay, I’ll show you.” Ari put his hand up. “But you’ve got to promise me you won’t freak out.”

Morgan’s eyebrows rose, pretty sure her expression mirrored Chloe’s. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Morgan, I mean it.” Ari put his fists on his trim hips. “You’ve got to keep your cool when I show where I put Elemi . Just remember, I did this way before I knew you.”

She pursed her lips and looked first at Chloe, then Aylzrunth, and finally As’ni. What choice did she have? None. That’s what. Besides, she trusted Ari down to her core. Steeling herself, she nodded. “Okay. I promise. Show us what you’ve got.”

Ari stared at her before a warm smile pulled his full lips up. “Good. Okay, then.” He took a step and grasped her upper arms, pulling her into a brief kiss. “You won’t regret it, I promise.”

Face hot from his show of affection, she humphed and pulled away. Crazy man.

Ari went to the middle of the opposite wall, closed his eyes, and placed his palm on it. The organic material of the panel parted, then widened. He opened his eyes and stepped back to reveal a tray holding a still figure with its eyes closed.

It was a sexbot. A bright-pink, freakin’ sexbot from the gangster planet FiPan.

One of those hated jailers she and the other human women endured while trapped in a cramped cell no bigger than her bathroom at home. Just the sight of the prone robot burned her blood. Good thing Ari made her promise not to “freak out” because it took everything she had to swallow the scream threatening to erupt. She clutched her hands into tight fists.

“You have a fucking sexbot?” Her voice was low as she glared at him. “Care to explain why?”

“It’s a good thing I had it!” Ari held his palms up in defense. “It was the perfect place to put Elemi just before I lost it.“ He let his hands drop and went to the still robot. With a flourish, he placed his hand on the side of its bald head and pressed. “Wake up, Elemi. Time to get to work.”

Ever so slowly, the android’s eyes fluttered open. Her eyes, the color of flamingo pink, widened. “Arakiba?”

“Yes, darlin’.” He reached out and took her hand to pull her up. “Time for you to wake up.”

If Morgan’s eyebrows rose any higher, she’d lose them in her hair. Darlin’? She’d show him who his darlin’ was…

“What took you so long?”

The whine in the female voice stopped Morgan. The shrill tone made her wince.

“Honestly, Arakiba. I expected more from you.” The droid yanked her hand out of his and sat straight. She narrowed her gaze at him. “Perhaps I overestimated your abilities.”

“And there she is,” Chloe announced with a grin. “The diva herself is back. Just in case any of ya’ll forgot who was really in charge.”