Page 18 of Time Traveling Space Bastards

B axter came back wearing new outerwear with some kind of logo on it. I thought it looked very comfortable and wouldn’t mind bringing something like that back home as a souvenir. If it was hot or cold outside, I could just adjust my internal temperature so it didn’t bother me, but I wouldn’t mind wearing something like that when it got cold outside.

Torrek’s nostrils flared and his pupils blew out. She was completely covered and buried in big clothes, so I didn’t think he was aroused. This was some Saki thing I didn’t understand.

“That shirt smells like another male,” he growled.

Ah. The Saki were extremely territorial when they had feelings for someone. How could he not? She was lovely. Some of the other planets in our galaxy might find humans strange looking. They had no fur, horns, stripes, or tails. We had the Enix and Kuka’s race on our planet. We were similar to humans in a lot of ways. It was the eyes and the abilities that differed.

I didn’t know what it felt like because I’d never felt it before. I would have said I wasn’t programmed to, but she made me realize I didn’t need everything programmed to feel it or learn it. I didn’t want her to die, but the idea of leaving her behind made me feel things I didn’t like.

“Um, unless you want a giant Saki scent marking you to get another man’s scent off that shirt, I suggest you take it off,” Omi said.

Baxter just tossed her hair over her shoulder and winked.

“I read enough smut that this doesn’t sound completely awful.”

Omi threw back her head and laughed. Most people didn’t stare down an enraged, jealous Saki and look forward to what was going to happen next. And Torrek was big even for a Saki. He was growling and looking like he was about to accost her.

Baxter looked like she wanted every minute of it, too.

“I don’t think you’re ready for that, love,” Torrek growled.

“No, seriously. I’m totally ready for it. Who am I to look down on your customs? Take me to your leader.”

Torrek picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and went marching to her bedroom for a little privacy. Was this what jealousy felt like? I’d never felt that before, either.

“Should I go after them?” Kuka asked.

“Don’t you dare,” Omi snorted. “And not because my brother will kick your ass. My brother won’t lay a finger on you because he’s sworn to protect you. You’re going to get your arse beat by a human woman who completely wants what’s about to happen.”

“She’d make an amazing queen,” he said, wistfully.

“I don’t want to leave her behind,” I said.

“It would be cruel to,” Omi said. “She can’t talk to anyone about this. You saw what happened last time. And I don’t think my brother is going to let you. He can’t exactly stay here. It’s impossible for the Saki to blend on Earth.”

“I think she’d be very uncomfortable if we brought her back and told everyone she’s the Devouring Mother. But I don’t want to leave her here, either. She might not want to come with us.”

“She doesn’t have to be the Devouring Mother. She could be the human you met when you were looking for her. I think she’d go along with that,” Omi said.

I thought she would, too. She didn’t belong to anyone, and she wasn’t being forced to work in a brothel, but I recognized the look in her eyes. Baxter wasn’t happy. I didn’t need that programmed to see it. Her parents had mistreated her, and she kept most people at arm’s distance so they never found her again. She could be honest with us. She’d be the only human on our planet and I was pretty sure we’d all revere her.

“I don’t know. I really like her. I don’t want to leave her behind, but what if we make things worse bringing her with us? We already ruined her life once. I have to think about what’s best for her.”

Omi and I just stared at Kuka. Kuka saved me and he could save her, too. Kuka was a genius, and he didn’t have access to literally all the data like I did.

I didn’t have to access anything. If he wanted to know what was best for Baxter Holmes, he should just ask her instead of deciding.