Page 16 of Xefe (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #1)

E arthers on practice areaX. The message had come through Xefe’s uniform.

Each suit was specially designed to accommodate each of his warriors, and they used it to communicate throughout the day.

But this wasn’t what he’d expected to read.

Area X was the oldest of the arenas and located outside the mountain.

Yes, it had a surrounding force field, but the local beasts and Guardians tested the barrier constantly.

It might not be safe.

Xefe stormed through the dark tunnels, his body tight at the idea of the earthers so close to the tundra.

Had Loxo adequately explained the dangers?

He and his warriors spent most of their surveillance and patrols dedicated to keeping the monsters who lived outside, at bay.

The wildlife was ruthless—barging, climbing, burrowing to get beyond the boundaries.

But nothing was more relentless or powerful than the Guardians, the killer wind funnels that wreaked havoc wherever they materialized.

The Aavvee, the pampered elite, had no idea how close they lived to death.

Or perhaps they did, and it made it part of the appeal.

“When did Loxo take them to X?” He messaged Nime when he heard no response from Loxo.

“About one ona ago.” Nime, Third, responded via suit before stepping out of a portal next to Xefe. “I came as soon as I heard you ask about the earthers. I have much to discuss with you about them.”

Xefe grunted, bracing for a long list of complaints. His head still felt rattled after speaking to one scheming earther last night. He couldn’t imagine what Nime had endured with three of them.

Nime slammed his staff into the ground, and the north mountain force field faded away.

Warm winds whipped against Xefe’s skin, kicking up jet-black dust. No one had used field X in sonas .

The area was in complete disrepair. After a brutoo , a plumed beast that stalked the black sands, had blasted through the barricade, most fighters chose to practice in the overcrowded, but safe, main training unit.

“Why bring them here ? It is too dangerous,” Xefe said.

“By order of the supreme.”

Anger flashed over him. He didn’t fight it, and it persisted much longer than usual.

The echo of it always remained. Loxo had once told him he was on the edge of anger so often that it left a residue, making it a permanent part of him.

Impossible. If Loxo weren’t his closest and most trusted ally, he would have killed him for that insubordination.

Xefe and Nime burst through the main tunnel. He watched from a distance as the earthers shrieked and ran toward the force field.

Fear, a pure shot of it, pierced his heart.

Hermosa ran straight for the shimmering fence.

Beyond the force field, Xefe spied a brutoo in wait—his massive body concealed by jagged rocks, but the top of his mango plume gave him away.

Xefe imagined its giant teeth, as long as his forearm, consuming Hermosa in one bite.

“No!” Xefe’s voice bounced off the side of the mountain, echoing through the ample space. All three of the earthers stopped in their tracks, balancing on tiptoes. He only had eyes for Hermosa. “Do not go any further.”

She looked… fascinating, her long mane swaying around her, her lithe muscles flexed and shimmering. Xefe caught the lightest brush of Glrtsstlllloroggg floating off her. Why did he want his eyes to linger, never to leave her glistening skin?

Slowly, Hermosa raised her hand and lifted the longest of her four fingers. The middle one.

“What is that gesture?” Xefe asked Nime.

“The stars if I know.”

Before he could warn them, the earthers shrieked in laughter and began running again . Xefe held his breath, willing them to run toward the equipment rather than try to escape.

Nime slammed his staff against the ground, and a plume of electricity surrounded the force field. It lit up like fire to warn the earthers back.

The women didn’t even notice. How irresponsible was that? Did they have no regard for their lives? At the last minute, they headed toward the rope ladders, not bothering with instructions on how to ascend to the top.

Robbed of his prey, the brutoo slunk off behind the mountain range beyond the force field. Xefe could breathe again.

“Brothers.” Loxo joined them.

Nime greeted his Second and turned to Xefe and said, “First, I must have a new assignment.”

“Why?”

“They earthers are impossible . They destroyed my kitchen, sowing unrest with my workers. Look at them. They never stop complaining and fighting. Look at how they treat each other.”

The warriors watched as the women raced across the beam.

At every turn, they elbowed and slammed fists into each other.

At one point, Hermosa had her hand wrapped in the hair of another, while the third earther jumped on Hermosa’s back in retaliation.

Luckily, nets were stationed below the equipment as they shoved each other off the ledge.

Eventually, Hermosa made it to the Floating Stones, but the other two quickly caught up.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t reach the last one.

It was too far away—their short legs incapable of making the last jump.

They would never qualify for the Great Race if they did not stop fighting each other and come up with a solution.

“They are miniscule yet destructive. They have no concern for each other. Other species I observe work together to fight, to learn. They feel no loyalty to those of their own kind. These, these… strange aliens, I do not understand them,” Nime said.

“Perhaps the Glrtsstlllloroggg addled their brains,” Loxo added.

“It killed many of the humans, some that received far less than Hermosa.” Xefe pointed at her as she tossed one of her teammates away from the Floating Stones instead of toward them.

“They were competitors on their planet. Pitted against each other to survive.” Reluctant to share any more of Hermosa’s secrets than necessary, Xefe kept the rest to himself.

Nime grumbled. “I spent my whole day observing these three. They are the laziest, most conniving specimens I have ever dealt with. Constantly sitting down, needing a ‘smoke break,’ and then screeching like flying greeeooowwllls .”

“It is laughing. I like it.” Loxo tapped both sets of thumbs together.

“You would. You do it all the time yourself.”

Xefe would have been concerned if anyone but Nime made that observation. They were the first three warriors and were aware of each other’s flaws. They never exposed the glitches in their training. All warriors were to be emotionless and focused. Loxo over-emoted, and Nime felt nothing at all.

“I have many workers to attend to, and that one is the most difficult. She feigns ignorance when I give her a command, yet she speaks the language of every alien she encounters. She translates secretly and bares her teeth at me when I confront her. I don’t like it.”

“It is a smile, meant to convey friendship, I’m told.” Xefe gripped his staff when one of the earther’s body slammed into the other.

“She wants to be my friend?” Nime reared back.

“No, she is not stupid. She wants to curry favor.”

“Then she asks the wrong warrior. Perhaps you should stop by to receive her smiles,” he huffed at Loxo.

The warrior rubbed his hands together. “I would be happy to receive anything from the—”

“Stay away from her.” Xefe slammed his hand into Loxo’s chest and knocked him to the ground.

“First, no! He has already lost control once today.” Nime blocked Xefe with his body.

“In front of the earthers?” Xefe roared at Loxo, balling his fists. “Did you hurt them?”

“Hurt?” Nime scoffed. “He protected them. It took ten men to stop him, and he only settled when I threatened to keep the dead-eyed one away from him.”

“Is this true?” Xefe unclenched his fists and looked at Loxo, who remained on the ground. He studied his eyes; they always told the true story. The purple eye swirled.

All was calm.

“It is true.” Loxo looked away, and Xefe felt his shame. “It will not happen again.”

“See that it does not, or you will be barred from the earthers.”

Loxo’s red eye swirled for a tic and settled, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Understood.”

“They may be dangerous. Or carrying disease. Stay away from them.” Nime tipped his head up in agreement. “Keep them far from your rod.”

“Enough. Earthers. Come here!” Xefe activated his staff, and his voice transmitted around the dilapidated arena.

They completely ignored him, too busy wrestling in one of the nets and screaming words like: die, puta , and ho-bag.

“Listen.” He slammed his staff into the ground and continued with his message, “This is the most important competition of your life. To determine if you are fit to compete against our warriors.”

They paused and disentangled themselves from each other.

Xefe continued, “You must compete as a team.”

“ What? ”

“No.”

“We’re all going to die.”

The words flew from their mouths faster than he could track. “Silence. You will because you have to if you want to survive and compete in the Great Race. Understand?”

For once, they listened.

“Now is the time to ask questions. You compete tomorrow. You have five tics before I leave, or you will compete uninformed and clueless.” Everything Nime said about them was correct, they were ruthless and conniving… but also smart. They would want this information.

The earthers straightened and looked at each other, hopefully taking his instructions seriously.

To his surprise, the squabbling stopped, and some sort of negotiation began.

They spoke intently to each other. Xefe allowed the extra time because they looked like they might be willing to work together.

Or it could just be a precursor to violence. Either way, it was their choice.

Live by Nozaroc’s rules or die ignoring them.