Chapter Seven

The instant we appeared on the bridge, every Askole warrior went on red alert.

Even weaponless and nude, Hothar radiated menace.

I waved at them all friendly-like and gave the warriors my Debbie Sunshine smile. "Which one of you assholes stunned Hothar and took his armor?"

They all grinned.

Hothar grabbed me. "Do not injure them. We need every warrior on this ship to capture Mallox and destroy his base."

"What? Little ole me hurt them?"

An older warrior missing some tentacles strolled over to me. "I stunned your mate."

"That was a big mistake."

"Are you challenging me, female?"

"I am."

Hothar growled, "No, she is not."

"I have heard Earth females are difficult to control."

"You have no idea," Hothar replied with a sigh.

"Har. Har. Very funny."

"Casey, this is Enzo, he is the Askole version of a war commander."

I gave a slight bow. "It is an honor to meet such a distinguished warrior."

"Why is your mate smiling like a hungry Gorum?" Enzo asked.

Hothar answered matter-of-factly, " She is eager to kill Mallox."

"As we all are."

My attention was caught by the viewscreen. Diza was a planet filled with stunning candy-colored sandstone mountains.

Hitch yowled.

"Mallox is near a pink lake?"

Hitch meowed.

Enzo pointed at Hitch and demanded, "What is that?"

"His name is Hitch and he says Mallox is by a pink lake," I advised.

"You can communicate with the creature?"

"I can."

"Your female is proving to be useful," Enzo told Hothar.

"Gosh, I'm good for something other than bedsport. Who knew?"

Hothar shot me a dirty look and hit an icon on his warrior's bracelet. A three-dimensional map of Diza appeared. "The lake is at latitude 33.575.20 and longitude 12.212.70."

Enzo walked over to a security console, entered the coordinates, and focused the scanners on the area. "There is a grade ten forcefield protecting the buildings. Commander Bodhi's son is in building two."

"Is he still alive?" I asked.

"Yes, but he needs immediate medical care."

"Good thing Aphrodite is a healer." I just hoped she didn't faint at the sight of blood.

"How good a healer?" Enzo wanted to know.

I shrugged. "I've never seen her work, but Skye says she's first-rate."

"They have created a kill zone with dozens of automated laser cannons on the surrounding hills," Hothar advised.

Hitch meowed loudly.

"According to Hitch, the power generator is outside the forcefield."

Enzo tapped an icon and sneered. "Mallox does not think like a warrior. The generator is only protected by an electrified fence."

The lift doors opened and out stalked Tihar. His tentacles churned wildly around his face.

I bit back a laugh. "Wonder what Aphrodite did this time."

"Only the Goddess knows," Hothar replied.

"We have the coordinates for Mallox's base and Dway will die unless he receives immediate medical care," Enzo announced.

"I have informed Commander Bodhi." Tihar handed me an armor belt. "I will watch over Casey while you visit the armorer, Hothar. Mowat has your armor belt and weapons. I am gifting both of you with a new Sturm laser pistol."

"We appreciate the gifts." Hothar warned on our private link, "Do not attack anyone while I am gone."

"I reserve the right to defend myself," I shot back.

"Tihar is more than capable of protecting you." Hothar teleported away.

Tihar gave me a toothy smile. "The armor belt comes with the jackal helmet you like so much."

"Oh, cool." I wrapped my armor belt around my waist and triggered it. Snikt. Schlik. Schlik. Schlik. Schlik. Schlik. Within seconds black armor covered me from head to toe. I took a couple of experimental steps. The armor fit perfectly, and the heads-up display had some new functions.

Hitch squeaked frantically.

"Oops, sorry." I retracted the helmet and scooped him off my head. "You okay, little dude?"

He meowed his displeasure.

I stroked him. "You'll have to ride on my shoulder."

Hitch hissed at me.

"Okay, okay. You can ride on top of my helmet."

Bodhi and Aphrodite exited the lift.

Hitch jumped on my head and yowled at them.

"Get that monstrosity out of here," Aphrodite demanded.

I sighed. On the bright side, she was wearing her armor, and she hadn't fainted. Yet. "No can do."

Aphrodite grabbed Bodhi's arm. "Make it go away, Pickles."

Pickles? I gave Bodhi my best predator's smile. "Shall we see how well your armor stands up to my telekinesis?"

Bodhi took a step toward me.

"We need Casey alive and unharmed to rescue your son," Tihar snapped.

Commander Bodhi focused his attention on the viewscreen. "How many warriors does Mallox have?"

"There are fifty Rodan soldiers, over two hundred mutant fighters and countless Kotsor hatchings," Enzo replied.

Yikes. We were a wee bit outnumbered.

Bodhi clamped a hand to his chest. "My assault team is ready."

"What?" Aphrodite gasped.

"Before y'all beam down, Aphrodite needs to scan the area for magical traps," I interjected.

Aphrodite blinked. "I do?"

"Yeah, you do. Unless you're ready to become one of Mallox's science projects."

"No. Oh, no." Aphrodite's eyes darted around the bridge as if she were looking for a place to hide.

Bodhi took Aphrodite's hand. "Scan Mallox's base. Now."

"I don't know how," Aphrodite whined.

I bit back a giggle as Bodhi's tentacles stood straight up. He had finally realized his mate wasn't the warrior he thought she was.

"Casey, link with Aphrodite and help her search for the traps," Tihar commanded.

"What?"

Hothar, in full battle armor, appeared by my side. "You heard him."

"Do I hafta?"

"Yes."

Swell. Like I knew what magic looked like.

Bodhi ordered, "Lower your shields female."

"No, I don't want her in my head," Aphrodite snapped.

"The feeling is mutual, but we're here to save Dway."

Bodhi stung Aphrodite's neck. "Lower your shields and search for magical traps."

"Yes, Pickles."

To my amazement Aphrodite lowered her shields. I reluctantly linked with her. Dang. All that power and her career goal was to be a stripper. What a waste. I helped her focus on Mallox's base. "Skye said Marion's magical bombs and hexes have an icky purple aura around them. Do you see anything like that?"

"Yes. The room where they are holding Dway has one on the door. There are several more in the hallway leading to the lab."

"You need to defuse them."

"I've never deactivated bombs or hexes before," Aphrodite wailed.

I felt Hothar link with us. " Ella says to use this spell. Aliud Markoo giet."

"You got that Aphrodite?"

"Yes. Aliud Markoo giet."

In my mind's eye I watched as one by one, the witch disabled the magical bombs. "Good work, Aphrodite."

"I did it! I did it!"

"Yep, now all you need to do is heal Dway." I could feel her concern as she scanned him.

"He's dying."

"I know."

Hothar asked on our private link, "Did Aphrodite disable all the traps?"

"Yes."

Enzo and I are going to teleport down and disable the power generator."

Hitch yowled urgently.

"What? Are you sure?"

Meow. Meow. Meow.

"Okay. Okay. Hitch says most of Mallox's lab is underground and there is a large cavern full of mutated Kotsors."

"Like Hitch?" Hothar queried.

A picture of a Kotsor spider with a strange bulbous head and two red fly eyes formed in my head. A tube-like tongue shot from its mouth and impaled a lab rat. Within seconds the rat had been reduced to a desiccated corpse. "No." I shared the horror show with Hothar, Tihar, Bodhi and Enzo.

"Hitch is a handy companion," Enzo commented. "Are there more like him?"

Hitch meowed sadly.

"That's a no." God, had I killed them all?

The images of Rodan soldiers eating Hitch's brothers and sisters flashed across my mind.

"I'm so sorry, little dude."

Meow.

"Once Enzo and I take out the power generator, you will beam down with Tihar, Bodhi and the assault team," Hothar informed me .

Like hell. "We're partners. Where you go, I go. Hitch will be able to warn us about Mallox's critters and you never know when my telekinesis will come in handy."

Enzo eyed me. "Where can I get a female like her?"

"Casey is one of a kind," Hothar answered proudly.

"Aw." I gave Hothar a mental kiss. " I love you too."

"My son is dying. We need to attack now!" Bodhi bellowed.

"It's okay Pickles." Aphrodite wrapped her arms around him. "We will save Dway, but you need to let them do their job."

My jaw dropped. Holy cow! The self-absorbed twit almost sounded caring. Maybe Bodhi was good for her.

Hothar wrapped an arm around me. "Under no circumstances remove any part of your armor or the sand hoppers will attack."

"Sand hoppers?"

The image of egg-shaped crab looking critters popped into my mind. "They are bloodsuckers."

"Gotcha." I frowned and plucked Hitch off my head. "Will the sand hoppers attack you?"

Hitch hissed haughtily.

"Oh, you eat them. Works for me." I put him back on my head.

"I am ready," Enzo stated.

"Me too."

Hothar clamped a hand on Enzo shoulder and the bridge vanished.