Page 39 of Xefe (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #1)

R ace day.

If I’d thought the prequals were foreign, the Great Arena was next level.

The massive stadium was mostly outside, directly in the path of massive spiraling whirlwinds of death.

The Guardians spun and tracked our movements inside, slamming and swerving into the glittering force field.

The ground shook under our feet with each hit.

Our crew stood in the waiting area above a giant maze.

This morning, when Sunny snuck me back to Nheenya’s cave, he’d explained we would race through a deadly labyrinth.

One where we competed against other contestants as well as the maze itself.

He’d also administered the rest of the Oro to my teammates, and after they’d puked their brains out, they now felt pretty good.

“This place is… too much.” Nieve stepped up beside me, along with Querida and Nheenya.

Nieve studied the stands, where Aavvee chirped and clucked.

Instead of bleachers, the aliens were separated in either individual or family-sized pods, floating around the stands.

Sophisticated holograms with strange hieroglyphics, I assumed in their language, pinged and glowed around them.

“They are placing wagers.” Loxo joined us and studied the brightly colored symbols hovering over each pod. “You are of interest, but not the favorites.”

“Their mistake.” But my words lacked weight.

I was emotionally off-balance. I’d had the best night of my life, in Sunny’s arms, and because nothing good ever happened to me on this planet, I knew the cagada was about to hit the fan.

“All right. Give us the lowdown. What can we expect now that you know we’ll be battling in the maze? ”

“It is called EnRedo .” The Loxo tipped up his chin.

“There are five teams, the three you competed against in the prequals and our champions. Look.” He pointed at a group of four aliens that looked like the green team on steroids.

Of course. “They are the favorites and have never lost. You must keep away from them at all costs.” The usually optimistic alien balled his fists, his gaze touching on all of us, lingering on Querida.

“They win by murdering their opponents. Every time.”

“We’re smart. We’ll figure this out.” I patted his arm, a little afraid his red eye might start spinning. “Just tell us about the event.”

Loxo pointed at the city-sized maze. From here, it looked basic, no death traps visible, but Loxo explained that was an illusion. In each section, we’d have to face quicksand, or flying blades, acids… anything we could imagine. It changed every time.

“Welcome- come .” The supreme appeared, flanked by concubines and guards, on a floating stage in the middle of the arena.

He was in full regalia, wearing a red coat that trailed at least twenty feet behind him.

His head feathers stood tall, and the dick-tongues were on full display.

“You- you are honored to be here on our planet. You- you are honored to be here for this race. You- you are honored to be in our presence.”

Where is Sunny? I’d expected him to show up with the supreme. My muscles knotted, worried sick he’d been discovered somehow.

“Wow, now that you gave me the Oro, I can understand everything he’s saying. You’re right. It is a bunch of redundant shit,” Nieve whispered.

The boost of Oro they’d received wasn’t enough for them to speak other languages or get any special powers, but it was enough for them to understand and, most importantly, heal quickly.

“What’s the plan?” Nieve asked.

I had filled them in on most of what Veras had said, even about Valentina. “I’m waiting for Veras to reinstall our communication.” I tapped my palm.

“How is he going to do that?”

“The hell if I know.” I searched, desperate to find Sunny. “Loxo, where’s your First?”

“Unknown.” He gritted his teeth and watched the supreme blather on to the crowd. “I expected to see him.”

I took a deep breath. “All right, I’ll have to focus on the plan. I still have to find Freckles. Veras said I’d have access to him, but I don’t see him anywhere either.”

“Let- let us begin. We- we have our champions.” The supreme proceeded to announce all of the teams.

The floating platform lowered, and we all stood next to each other in front of the EnRedo, the alien name for labyrinth.

It appeared even larger and much more intimidating now that we were at eye level.

The maze walls were opaque, hinting at smoothness, as if they were made of onyx.

It made them look impenetrable and impossible to climb.

“Next- next you will welcome my scientists. The Aavvee who will ensure we conquer this planet at all costs- osts . They keep us beautiful. Most- most important, they have come up with a way to make sure we are safe. That no one will ever take the Glrtsstlllloroggg away from us!”

Another platform floated up to the stage, and it carried several of the Aavvee I recognized from the lab, along with Veras.

My mind went into overdrive. This was it. I had to figure out a path to Freckles. “Loxo, where will Freckles, or Tontoh… where will he be during the race? How can I get to him?”

“The supreme, along with all of the scientists and any other guests, will be watching from the floating stage. The platform moves at all times and follows the maze from high above. Why, what do you plan?” Loxo’s voice dropped.

He’d obviously fallen back on his warrior training to protect the supreme.

“Listen to me. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but you have to believe me…

I really care about Sunny. I would do almost anything for the people I love.

And I’ve grown to,” I choked on the words, even though I meant them, “ care about my girls. So anything I do today is to keep them safe.” To keep Valentina safe.

“Do you understand me? That includes Querida. And if she is important to you, you won’t fight me. ”

Loxo swallowed, his eyes burning into Querida, who stood off to the side, wringing her hands. They hadn’t allowed her to bring her metal shards, and she was clearly uncomfortable. “I… understand you.”

“Aww, Horrible Hera loves us. Come here, you crazy bitch.” Nieve wrapped her arms around me in a bear hug.

“I care for you all, as well. Thank you for allowing me to become part of the team.” Instead of a high-five, Nheenya piled on with the hug.

Querida looked at me and rolled her eyes, but she sidled up and embraced me.

“I love this!” Loxo followed suit.

I allowed myself exactly three seconds to soak in their care, but then my nerves got the best of me. “It’s driving me crazy that Sunny and Freckles aren’t here.”

“…ready for the Great Race to begin- gin ?” The supreme threw green-mottled hands in the air, and a confetti-type substance exploded over the crowd. They chirped and screeched, but when the material rained down on us, it evaporated in a puff. Hologram. Always smoke and mirrors on this planet.

“It is time. Line up. Remember, stay away from the champions and try to stay behind any of the other challengers. Let them figure out the treachery of each section of the maze, and learn from it. I fear it will be the bloodiest of its kind,” Loxo whispered and stepped away from us.

I felt tiny in front of walls as high as a two-story building, surrounded by aliens who wanted to kill or watch us be killed.

Plus, my super-sexy boyfriend had ditched me.

And the guy I was supposed to kill was a no-show.

What a day this was turning out to be.

We were led to the starting line. Simple red tape. After all of the futuristic technology in the stands, it was almost a let-down.

“You’re dead, earthers,” Greenie hissed from across the field, favoring her right leg. “I will choke you out with my own hands.”

“Oh yeah, how are you going to do that?” I pointed at her bum ankle. The one I’d bitten the hell out of. “You’d have to catch me first. Slow poke.”

The competitors next to us all snorted and hissed, in what I assumed was alien laughter.

“Yeah, she’s a liability. You guys might want to consider taking her out. Last time, she only slowed you down.” Nieve fluffed her hair and batted her eyes.

Instead of disagreeing, Greenie’s teammates all gave her the side eye.

A static sound, like electricity, sizzled in the air, and a jolt went through my hand. “Ouch!”

Nieve and Querida yelped, and the three of us looked down at our hands.

Reflexively, I tapped my palm, and a holo-vid of my sister materialized.

It listed the time and place I last called her, and it showed a missed call from the day we were kidnapped.

“It’s working!” I shouted and then lowered my voice when the competitors around me stared.

I grabbed Nieve and Querida around the necks, pretending to huddle.

“Our vid-phones are working. We’ll be able to communicate during the race. We’re going to—”

“Let- let the countdown begin!” A long, droning beep punctuated the supreme’s voice.

Five.

The crowd screamed. The girls and I got into place, knees bent, ready to race for our lives.

Four.

There was shuffling on the stage. A new platform floated up next to the supreme. On it stood Freckles, and behind him, Sunny. My alien looked dead inside. He wore a cold expression, and didn’t look at anyone—especially me—only staring straight ahead.

Three.

Freckles pulled a giant sack beside him. The stupid alien struggled with the weight but eventually plopped it in front of the stage.

Two.

Freckles whipped off the dark covering of the sack.

One.

Valentina lay in a crumpled heap, right at Sunny’s feet.