10. Krampus

CHAPTER 10

KRAMPUS

" T ime for me to head out." I set down the empty plate, my third helping of this delightful creation called 'mac and cheese.'

"Where are you going?" Mel's fingers twist in her shirt hem.

"Going to pay your workplace a visit. See what those Grolgath are really up to."

"The Ayl-Lean building? But-"

"The more I know about Gregor's operation, the better I can protect you and the small one." I tap the death ray remote control on the table. "This will keep you safe while I'm gone."

Sam picks up a marker and starts drawing on my arm. "Is this like hide and seek?"

"Something like that, little one." The marker tickles against my fur.

"Please be careful." Mel's voice cracks. "Those things they had at the office..."

"Ha! Let them try their toys on me. The Grolgath should worry about their own safety."

The garage door squeals as I lift it. A sheet-covered lump catches my eye. One sniff tells me it belongs to Mel's former mate. The scent of engine oil and neglect wafts up as I pull the cover off.

"What's that?" Sam pokes her head around the door.

"A motorcycle. Or what's left of one." The chrome's rusted, tires flat. Nothing my tech can't fix. I pull a handful of nanites from my belt pouch.

"Can I help?"

"Hand me that wrench." I point to the toolbox. The nanites spread across the engine block, converting the Earth tech to something more useful.

Sam brings the wrench, then sits cross-legged next to me. "What are those sparkly things?"

"Tiny robots. They fix things." I disconnect the fuel line. "See that box of bolts? Sort out the silver ones."

"Like a treasure hunt!"

"Exactly." The engine purrs as the nanites finish their work. Much better. The bike now sports a quantum drive and anti-grav stabilizers. "Perfect timing with those bolts."

Sam holds up a handful. "These ones?"

"Those'll work." I attach the new power coupling while she watches. The bike hovers an inch off the ground, ready for action.

"Wow! Is it magic?"

"Science. Want to go for a ride?"

Her eyes light up. "Can we?"

"Let's see what your mother says." Though I already know the answer. Mel's going to kill me for even suggesting it.

"Mom! Mom! The blue fuzzy man fixed Daddy's bike!"

"Absolutely not!" Mel plants herself in the garage doorway.

"Please mom? Pretty please?" Sam bounces on her toes.

"I'll keep her safe." I pat the bike's seat. "The quantum stabilizers make it impossible to crash."

"The what now?"

"Just once around the block." I lift Sam onto the bike. "Hold tight to my fur, little one."

"This is a terrible idea." Mel wrings her hands.

The bike purrs as we glide down the driveway. Sam's delighted squeal echoes off the houses. Her tiny fingers grip my fur as we turn the corner, moving at a sedate pace.

"Faster!" Sam giggles.

"Not this time, small human." The stars peek through gaps in the clouds. Perfect night for mayhem, once I drop her off.

Back in the driveway, Sam bounces off the bike. "That was awesome!"

"Inside, young lady." Mel points to the door. "Bedtime."

"Aww mom..."

"Now."

"Night blue fuzzy man!" Sam waves before disappearing inside.

"You're insane." Mel steps closer. "Taking my daughter joy-riding on that death trap."

Her pulse quickens as I lean down. The kiss steals her breath, leaves her frozen in shock. Perfect distraction.

The bike roars as I gun it, tires smoking against the pavement. Red and blue lights flash in my mirror before I hit the end of the street.

"Good, the new components need a field test."

My thumb hits the quantum boost, and Earth's gravity releases its hold. The bike shoots upward, wind whipping through my fur. A hundred feet below, red and blue lights spin uselessly as the cop gapes skyward.

Perfect arc. The bike touches down on the freeway ramp with barely a whisper. Earth vehicles scatter like frightened children as I weave between them. Their primitive combustion engines roar in protest.

"Now this is what I call transportation!" My laughter echoes off concrete barriers. The bike responds to the lightest touch, quantum drive humming beneath me.

A transport truck blocks both lanes ahead. I crank the handlebars, sending the bike up the trailer's side like a ramp. For a moment, I'm airborne again. Stars wink overhead, closer than they've been in centuries.

Earth's not half bad, now that I think about it. Sure, the technology's ancient and the humans are mostly annoying, but there's something charming about their determination. Like Mel, standing up to me with that baseball bat.

The bike lands in the next lane, suspension absorbing the impact. Wind tears at my fur as I accelerate past 200 mph. Conquest seems less appealing by the minute. Why bother when I could just...stay?

Mel's kiss lingers on my lips. The small one - Sam - already treats me like family. Maybe that's better than an empire. Save this ridiculous planet instead of conquering it, give it to Mel as a wedding present. Once she realizes she's going to marry me, of course.

First things first though. Time to pay Gregor a visit and find out what those Grolgath are really up to.

The Ayl-Lean building looms ahead, its windows dark except for a few security lights. I park the bike in shadows near the loading dock. My compad chirps - an incoming transmission from Mel's primitive device.

"Are you okay? I heard sirens."

"Just fine," I say. "Earth's law enforcement needs better toys if they want to catch me."

"Where are you?" she asks.

"Outside your workplace."

"Please don't get into any trouble," she says. "I…want you to come back to me."

Warmth blossoms in my chest.

"Relax. I'll be subtle."

"Subtle? You?" Her voice rises.

"Trust me."

The quantum drive purrs as I rev the engine. Glass explodes inward as I burst through the front doors, showering the marble floor in crystalline shards. The bike's anti-grav keeps us floating an inch above the debris.

The night security guard dives behind a potted plant. Smart man.

A young woman sits frozen behind the information desk, her mouth forming a perfect 'O'. Her name tag reads "Jessica."

I guide the bike right up to her desk, careful not to scratch the polished wood. Mother always said manners matter, even during acts of breaking and entering.

"Pardon me," I touch the brim of an imaginary hat, "can you tell me which floor Mr. Gregor's office is on, please?"

"T-top floor." Her voice squeaks like a mouse caught in a trap. "Twenty-fifth."

"Thank you kindly."

The elevator doors slide open with a pleasant ding. I nose the bike forward, the quantum drive's hum echoing off the mirrored walls. Quite roomy in here, actually.

The elevator chimes at the top floor. Mirrored doors slide open to reveal a plush carpeted hallway lined with abstract art. The quantum drive hums as I guide the bike forward.

A brass nameplate catches the emergency lighting.

"Johnson Gregor, Chief Executive Officer."

"Johnson Gregor?" I snort. "Got his surnames in the wrong order. Typical Grolgath - can't even get Earth names right."

The bike's engine growls as I rev it. The heavy oak door splinters inward, showering Gregor's pristine office with wooden shrapnel.

He sits behind his desk, image inducer flickering to reveal grey scaled skin beneath his human disguise. His compound eyes reflect the bike's headlight.

"Krampus." He folds his hands on the desk. "I wondered when you'd show up."

"Then you know why I'm here."

"The human female and her offspring?" His mandibles click. "Hardly worth this dramatic entrance."

I lean forward on the handlebars.

"Leave Mel and Sam alone. This is your only warning."

"Or what? You'll destroy more of my property?" He gestures at the ruined door. "How uncivilized."

"I can get much less civilized." The quantum drive whines as I edge the bike closer. "Trust me."

"Is that all?" He picks up a pen, dismissing me. "I have work to do."

"That's all." I back the bike toward the elevator. "For now."

Gregor's face twitches into what passes for a Grolgath smile.

"Did you really think you'd leave this building alive?"

The elevator doors burst open. A dozen guards pour out, their scaled hands gripping plasma rifles. The kind designed to penetrate Odex armor.

My fur bristles at the distinctive whine of charging weapons. The acrid scent of ozone fills the air as targeting lasers paint my chest.

I throw back my head and laugh. The sound echoes off the office walls, making several guards flinch.

"You brought friends to our private party? How thoughtful."

The quantum drive spools up beneath me, vibrating through my bones. My claws tighten on the handlebars.

"Take him!" Gregor barks.

The bike launches forward. Gregor's eyes widen a split second before I plow straight through his fancy desk. His body ragdolls over the handlebars.

Plasma bolts sizzle past my ears. The night sky beckons through the floor-to-ceiling windows ahead.

I gun the engine. Glass shatters around me as the bike bursts through twenty-five stories up. For a heartbeat, we hang suspended - me, the bike, and Gregor's limp form still draped across my handlebars.

Then gravity takes hold. The street rushes up to meet us as more plasma fire streaks through the night air. The wind whips my fur back, carrying the sound of Grolgath curses from above.

The quantum drive stabilizes our descent, my fur rippling in the wind. I dump Gregor's unconscious body onto a festively decorated awning three stories down. The tinsel sparkles as he bounces off into a snowbank.

Plasma fire still rains from above. My claws itch to go back, tear through the remaining Grolgath like tissue paper. One good rampage and this whole problem disappears.

The bike hovers at the intersection, my grip tightening on the handlebars. Through the office windows, I count twelve targets. Easy prey.

A child's delighted squeal draws my attention to the sidewalk. A small human points at an animated reindeer display, multicolored lights reflecting in her eyes. Just like Sam's wonder at the "magic" bike.

My shoulders relax. The fighting can wait. These humans put so much effort into their strange winter festival. Shame to wreck it all with a firefight.

Besides, Mel's probably pacing holes in her floor right now. The memory of her kiss sends warmth through my chest, drowning out the battle-lust. For three centuries, combat was my only joy. Now...

"Ho, ho, ho." The bike roars as I gun it toward home, leaving the Grolgath and their schemes behind.