Page 26 of Zinnia and the Zombie (Alien Abduction #26)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“ H ow did a Zathix warrior end up on an Ithyian slaver?” Doren continued, his sharp gaze fixed on Jaxx.

His jaw tightened. “My crew was ambushed. I was critically injured and went into a state of stasis. Stasis is… a defensive mechanism for my species. We become like living metal. It allows our bodies to repair while maintaining a certain degree of awareness. “

“Fascinating,” Doren murmured, his tail flicking with interest. “Is it always involuntary?”

“No. I can choose to enter it.”

“And you are able to exit this state when needed? Maintain control of the transformation?”

Doren’s sudden, intense focus made his skin prickle, but he nodded.

“Yes,” he said cautiously. “Zinnia’s presence… her touch… helps me control it.”

Doren exchanged a significant look with Faith. “That explains it.”

“Explains what?” Zinnia asked.

“Do you know why the Grorn were hunting you?” Doren asked.

“No,” he said truthfully, although he was beginning to suspect.

“You’re one of their sacred keys.”

Key? Zinnia’s hand tightened around his as she too recognized the word. “That’s why they were hunting Jaxx specifically?”

“Yes. They were retrieving a holy artifact,” Doren said. “You.”

The irony didn’t escape him. His ability—a natural defense mechanism evolved to protect his species—had made him a target, a prize to be captured and used.

“How many other keys are they hunting?” he asked.

Doren manipulated the hologram again, bringing up a series of glyphs. “According to what we’ve pieced together, seven keys in total. Each with a unique biological ability that, when combined, will grant access to the Vault.”

“How do you know?”

A shadow passed over Doren’s face. “Let’s just say I have a personal interest in the Grorn.”

“We believe they may be close,” Faith added. “They may have already captured at least two of the other keys. That’s why we were searching for the Grorn ship.”

“What happens if they succeed?” Zinnia asked, her voice small but steady. “If they get all seven keys and open the Vault?”

Doren’s expression darkened. “The Grorn believe it contains technology that will allow them to remake the galaxy in their image. A divine transformation.”

“Genocide,” Faith said bluntly. “For any species they deem unworthy.”

“So what are you proposing?” he finally asked.

Doren shut down the hologram with a sharp gesture. “We can try to intercept the next Grorn collection vessel. But now that we’ve found you, we have an even better option.”

“Which is?” Zinnia asked suspiciously.

“We go to the source,” Doren said, his eyes gleaming with the light of obsession. “We beat them through the Serpent’s Maw and claim the Vault for ourselves.”

“That’s suicide,” he stated flatly. “You said it was impossible to navigate.”

“For most, yes,” Doren agreed. “But I’ve spent years studying its patterns, its rhythms. I know when and how to enter. But it would be helpful to have someone who can manipulate their physical form at a molecular level.” Doren’s gaze locked on him. “Someone like you.”

“You want to use me,” he said, his voice hard. “Just like the Grorn.”

Doren shrugged, unapologetic. “Call it what you want. But if the Grorn open the Vault, nobody in this room will survive. Nobody on your home worlds will survive.”

“There’s another option,” Faith said. “One that Doren doesn’t want to hear.”

Doren rolled his eyes dramatically. “Here we go.”

“You could take what you know—what we know—to the Emperor. On Kaisar, you’d have access to imperial resources and to the protection of the Imperial Fleet. I’m sure the Emperor would want to meet Jaxx personally.”

“They’re offering you a gilded cage,” Doren cut in. “Sure, they’ll protect you—while they study you, question you, maybe even dissect you.”

“That’s not true,” Faith sighed, and Athtar nodded.

“I don’t like most of the fucking bastards, but they aren’t going to fucking dissect you.

” He stood up, effortlessly lifting Faith to her feet, but keeping her tucked against him.

“Decide what you want to do. We’re going back to get our fucking ship and go home. We can drop you at Kaisar on the way.”

“Faith didn’t find a Grorn for me,” Doren protested.

“She found you a Grorn ship and a fucking key. And more fucking information. It’s enough.”

“Going to Kaisar is a waste of time. While they try and decide what to do, the Grorn will get closer to their goal,” Doren argued. “My way is faster.”

He shook his head. “You just want to use me.”

Doren shrugged. “That’s what the Grorn want. The Emperor won’t be any better. At least I’m honest about it.”

He looked down to find Zinnia watching him.

“What do you want to do?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t know. I’m obviously concerned about the Grorn and the Vault, but I’m more concerned about my people.”

“Do you think the Emperor would help with your search?”

“Perhaps. But they seem to think I’m the last one…” His chest suddenly ached. “They clearly don’t know the location of any others.”

He watched the emotions play across Zinnia’s face as they considered their options.

He knew what she was thinking—he’d grown adept at reading her expressions, the subtle shifts in her posture that betrayed her feelings.

She wanted safety and stability, a chance to build something permanent.

Something they’d glimpsed in those ruins before the Grorn arrived.

She deserved the things the Empire could provide. He wanted those things too, not just for her but for them.

“We’ll go to Kaisar.”

Faith gave him a relieved smile. “You’re making the right choice.”

“Perhaps,” he conceded. “Time will tell.”

He turned to Doren, who was already moving toward the door. “Thank you for the intelligence. And for not shooting us on sight.”

Doren paused, a sardonic smile twisting his lips. “Don’t thank me yet. The Emperor might lock you away as a curiosity. Or worse, a weapon.”

“Doren,” Faith chided, “that’s not?—”

“It’s a possibility,” he interrupted. “One I’ve considered.”

“Nonsense,” Faith said cheerfully. “Zinnia, would you mind letting me look at your cuttings?”

Zinnia looked at him, then laughed and nodded. The two women took the canister of plants back to Faith’s quarters, Athtar trailing behind them, and he found himself alone with Doren for a moment.

“The Vault,” he said quietly. “What makes you so certain it exists?”

“Because I’ve seen it,” Doren replied, his voice equally low. “From a distance. Couldn’t get close—Grorn patrols.” His eyes took on a distant look. “It’s real. And whatever’s inside it is worth dying for. To them, at least.”

“And to you?”

“To me, it’s worth living for. It’s the ultimate prize.” He leaned closer. “Your ability isn’t just a defense mechanism, Zathix. It’s a key that unlocks something powerful enough to make the Grorn afraid. Think about that when you’re bowing to the Emperor.”

Doren studied him for a moment, then pulled a data crystal out of his belt and tossed it at him. “Here. It’s the coordinates of a distress beacon I logged a few years back in the Outer Rim. Might be nothing. Might be Zathixian.”

“Why give me this?”

“Insurance,” Doren replied. “In case your imperial sanctuary doesn’t work out. Or in case you need an escape route.”

He realized that Doren was offering them a fallback option—a path to potential freedom if the Empire proved to be another cage.

“I don’t expect gratitude,” Doren continued. “Just remember who gave you a choice when everyone else was making decisions for you.”

He nodded slowly. “I’ll remember.”

Zinnia returned with Faith and the moment passed, but Doren’s words lingered.

The next few hours passed in a blur of preparations. After an extended and very heated argument, it was decided that Athtar would bring the Grorn ship to Kaisar to be studied—in exchange for a generous bounty.

“You’d better transfer the fucking credits to me, Athtar,” Doren snapped as they prepared to depart.

“Unlike you, I’m fucking trustworthy,” the big male said piously.

“I’m trustworthy,” Doren snapped.

“You tried to take over my fucking ship when you were part of my crew.”

“You stranded me on a fucking ice planet!”

Faith rolled her eyes as the argument continued. “Males. You’d never believe they were actually friends, would you?”

Zinnia laughed, but as Faith went to calm the two males down, he saw her giving her cuttings a worried look.

“They’ll have better places to grow on Kaisar,” he said softly.

She nodded, but her expression remained pensive. “Do you think we’re making the right choice?”

He considered his answer carefully. “It’s the safest choice. For now.”

“But?”

“But safety isn’t the only consideration.” He touched the data crystal Doren had sent him. “And we have options. If Kaisar doesn’t work out, we’ll find another way.”

She smiled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Together.”

“Always,” he promised.

“Be careful,” Faith warned Doren when they reached Talis Station.

“I’m always careful. Now off you go. I have places to be. Treasures to find. Grorn to avoid.”

“Or antagonize,” Athtar muttered.

Doren grinned, unrepentant. “That too.”

Before they went to the shuttle that would take them to Faith and Athtar’s ship, Doren caught his arm.

“One last thing,” he said, turning serious. “The Grorn aren’t just collecting keys. They’re eliminating competition. Anyone who might reach the Vault first.” His eyes narrowed. “Watch your back on Kaisar. Not everyone in the Empire wants the Grorn stopped.”

He nodded, filing the warning away. “Good hunting, Doren va Korr.”

“Same to you, Zathix.”

The transfer to The Dancing Lady went smoothly. The vessel was smaller than The Vagabond , but it had a comfortable, home-like feel, and Faith escorted them to a cabin with a large bed and private facilities.

“This is perfect,” Zinnia said.

He left her with Faith and found his way to the bridge. Through the viewport, he could see The Vagabond preparing to depart, its battered hull gleaming dully in the starlight.

“He’s a strange one,” Athtar observed, coming to stand beside him.

“Yes,” he agreed. “But not without honor, in his way.”

“Perhaps.” Athtar gestured to the navigation console. “We’ve laid in a course for Kaisar.”

He studied the star chart, committing the route to memory. Old habits died hard—always know your escape routes, his commander had taught him.

The Vagabond’s engines flared to life, and the ship pulled away, banking sharply before disappearing into the darkness of space.

“He won’t give up,” Faith said as the two women joined them. “He’ll go to the Maw alone if he has to.”

“Then I hope he finds what he’s looking for,” he said. “Before the Grorn find him.”

When they were alone in their cabin later, he showed Zinnia the data Doren had given him.

“A distress beacon?” she asked, studying the coordinates.

“A very old one. But the signature is distinctly Zathixian.”

“Your people?”

“Perhaps. It’s in a very remote part of the outer rim. It would take weeks to reach from Kaisar.” He closed the display. “But it’s something to investigate. After we’ve spoken with the Emperor.”

She nodded, then hesitated. “Do you regret not going with Doren? To the Vault?”

He thought about it. Part of him was curious about the Vault, about what power it might contain, and part of him wanted to face the Grorn directly, to avenge his fallen crew.

But then he looked at Zinnia, and the answer was clear.

“No,” he said simply. “His path is too dangerous. Too uncertain.” He took her hand. “I want a future with you. A real one. Not a desperate gamble.”

“Me too.” She gave him the seductive smile that never failed to make his mating organ store. “Now weren’t we about to celebrate our escape before we were so rudely interrupted?”

He laughed and carried her to the bed.