Chapter 11

When the first Lifreet rounded the corner, it paused at the sight of the armed Raugon and humans and held up a hand. The rumbling of Lifreet footsteps stopped, and it shouted back at its comrades, who must’ve just halted in the adjoining corridor. The Lifreet language was very growly and deep, guttural. Many of the words were snarled, making it seem like they were always a heartbeat away from tearing each other’s throats out when they spoke. It was so different from the Raugon language that there was a considerable delay from when the Lifreet spoke to when Kipexo’s databand gave him a translation.

“Armed and covered Raugon and Earthwalkers,” said the Lifreet soldier. Another Lifreet started asking questions, but their voice was too faint for Kipexo’s databand to pick up. “Four sights. Three scans. No shots fired, sir.”

“We want no fight with you,” Kipexo called out. “You’re in Raugon territory, and we’ve not provoked you in any way. Leave this ship, and we won’t report your location to the Veil.”

Kipexo hoped they wouldn’t call his bluff.

The Lifreet at the end of the hall was silent save for the occasional tap of its claws against the metal floor of the ship as it shifted. Its blackchitinous body easily took up half the space, and its long, insect-like legs curved out, making it seem even larger than it actually was. It was taller than a Raugon, so tall its head nearly touched the ceiling. Kipexo had forgotten just how large this race was up-close. Its long hair was braided back out of its face, and it wore a shiny blue armor vest with insignia on the chest Kipexo didn’t recognize. An officer, perhaps? It wasn’t wearing a helmet, so Kipexo kept the sight of his gun aimed right between the Lifreet’s eyes, but he kept his finger off the trigger. For now.

“Your ship is defective,” the Lifreet called down the hall to them. “There will be no call to your chiefs. Not for report or for aid.”

“Why are you here?” Kipexo asked, redirecting the conversation well away from the Anamafrid’s current condition. “Like I said, we did nothing to provoke you, so why have you gone so far out of your way to board this vessel?”

The Lifreet didn’t answer. It didn’t take its eyes off Kipexo as it leaned back and spoke again to someone behind it Kipexo still couldn’t hear, though the voice was closer now. “The hostility level is uncertain, sir. We advise… Yes, sir, I understand, but… Yes. Right away.”

The Lifreet stepped further out into the hallway and was quickly joined by another wearing a matching vest and insignia. They started down the hallway toward them.

“Not another step!” Kipexo ordered loudly. He slid his finger onto the trigger, but the Lifreet stopped about halfway down the hall, so he kept steady and didn’t fire.

The two Lifreet took small round devices from the pockets of their vests and struck them against the palms of their hands, activating large oval shields they held out in front of them. They positioned themselves so that their shields overlapped in the middle of the hall, and they blended together to form a shield wall as tall as a Lifreet and as wide as the entire corridor.

“What the fuck are they doin’?” Reethis asked in a hushed whisper.

“I have no idea,” Kipexo replied.

“What’s happening?” Ethan whispered.

Kipexo didn’t get the chance to explain before another Lifreet stepped around the corner and walked up behind the two shielded ones. It was difficult to see clearly through the glow of the Lifreet shields, but he could see blue flecks woven into long white hair, thick blue metal armor that covered the entire torso, and a band of blue and silver sitting on the top of the head like a crown. This Lifreet carried no weapon and stood with its hands clasped behind its back in a much more relaxed posture than the two stationed in front of it. No less than half a dozen other Lifreet entered the corridor behind this one, and every one of them had a bow in their hands with an arrow nocked and aimed at the Raugon and humans at the end of the hall.

“Kipexo?” Grolpre whispered in a trembling voice.

“Steady,” Kipexo said softly. “This must be the one in charge. Don’t make any sudden moves.”

The Lifreet with the white hair cleared its throat and started to speak. Though it spoke for several long moments, what was translated ended up being just a few lines in Raugon, which meant a lot of the context was lost along the way, though the message came across clearly enough.

“I am Luxtetana,” said the white-haired Lifreet. “Sovereign of the Lifreet people, leader by blood and my people’s will. I wish to know who here claims charge of this ship and those contained within it?”

Reethis swore. “Now we know why there’s a dozen of the fuckers,” he said quietly. “They’re all here protectin’ him.”

Knowing that the leader of his people’s greatest enemy was there in the ship with him and that all it would take is one bullet aimed in just the right spot to cut off the head of the entire Lifreet army made Kipexo’s hand twitch on his weapon. The thought was tempting, and if it were just his life in the balance, he would’ve fired without hesitation, but there were hundreds of lives aboard this ship counting on him to get them out of this, and we wouldn’t betray that trust.

“I’m the captain of this ship,” Reethis announced. “But I’ve got nothin’ to say to you. You wanna yap, yap at him.” He jerked his head toward Kipexo.

The sovereign turned his attention to Kipexo and asked, “Do you claim charge of this ship and its occupants?”

“I do,” Kipexo said.

“Are you the one who defied the Veil, stole a ship and its captain, and fled Raug with Earthwalkers seeking escape?”

Kipexo was stunned to silence at the question. How did he know that? And what did this have to do with their relentless pursuit of the Anamafrid? Were they here for the humans? He would never let that happen. His eyes flicked up again to the exposed pipe above the sovereign, and a small, feathered head poked out of the wires and grates in the ceiling to stare straight at him expectantly. Kipexo nearly smiled at the thought of the hebin landing on the unsuspecting Lifreet below, but he gave Dex the smallest shake of his head instead, and the creature ducked back into the shadows.

“I’m the one who took the humans from Raug,” Kipexo said. “What do you want?”

“I came seeking a balance of trust and faith with you, Sergeant.”

“Says the one safe and sound behind a shield.”

The Lifreet studied him a moment then said something to the guards in front of him that made them both whip their heads toward him in disbelief. He barked something else at them, and they both straightened with twin nods just before the shield disappeared, leaving the sovereign standing, unprotected, in the middle of the hall, though there were still the armed Lifreet behind him who would no doubt take all their heads off at the first sign of violence.

“I give trust and faith,” said the sovereign with a wave of his arms. “Can I ask the same in return?”

Kipexo lowered his weapon, but only enough so that it no longer pointed at the sovereign’s head but at his feet instead.

The sovereign bowed his head in gratitude. “My arrival is no coincidence, you guessed this, yes?”

“I have no idea why you’re here, Sovereign Luxtetana,” Kipexo replied. “Enlighten me.”

“News of a ship fled from Raug reached my ears. First, I cared none to hear it, but I heard the story more, the details and the names. A ship of Earthwalkers and a Galacorp Sergeant recently demoted. The story intrigued me, so I sought the name of this Sergeant and learned it. Kipexo, formerly Galacorp Commander of the 1st Veil. That name carries fear throughout my ranks. Fear, dread, and hatred, but respect also. A bloody warrior with many Lifreet lives hung on his weapons, this Kipexo. His people revere his bloody hands and reward him with power. I have need of that power, Sergeant.

“When I heard this name who fled his people, I told my men ‘Go! Find this Sergeant so that I can speak to him.’ They found the broken, fleeing ship and brought me to it so that I may talk to the Sergeant with the power to save my people.”

“Save your people? What does that mean?”

“Lifreet and Raugon have spilled blood for hundreds of solar cycles, long before us, you and I. My kingdom came to me already bleeding, and I’ve sullied my own hands in the past, I admit. No more. I want no more blood. My people suffer, starve, die. No more. Help me end the blood, Sergeant. Help me heal the wounds, Lifreet and Raugon both.”

Kipexo’s gun lowered a little more. “You want me to help you broker a peace?”

The sovereign nodded. “Peace, yes. No more blood. Will you lend me your power to bring peace?”

“It’s a trick,” Reethis hissed.

“No trick,” the sovereign said, shaking his head. “We will reward the Sergeant if he will help us stop this war.”

“What kind of reward?” Kipexo asked.

“We will fix the broken vessel and point it toward the Earthwalkers’ homeworld with speed and precision.”

“A hyperjump?” Reethis asked. “You have the coordinates for a hyperjump to the human homeworld?”

The sovereign nodded. “We watched the Earthwalkers for a time now, from the edges of their sight, waiting for signs of travel amongst the stars. When Raugon found the Earthwalkers, they did not wait. They conquered like they do all species they feel are lesser. The Sergeant stopped the Earthwalkers’ bleeding. He stopped their suffering on Raug. His power is great, and I wish to borrow it. No more bleeding.”

“To be clear,” Kipexo said. “If I agree to try to broker peace with my people, you will fix this ship, let us go, and send us on our way with hyperjump coordinates to Earth?”

“The Sergeant understands, yes. If you can stop our bleeding, more rewards will be given. Many rewards. But repair of the broken vessel and travel to the Earthwalker homeworld is promised even in failure with your word to lend me your power. Try, Sergeant. I ask you to try with heart, for Lifreet, Raugon, and Earthwalker all.”

Kipexo looked down at Ethan at his feet behind the barrier.

“Can we trust them?” Ethan whispered.

“I don’t know,” Kipexo replied. With a cautious glance at the sovereign, he ducked behind the barrier but kept his weapon drawn and ready should any of the Lifreet make a wrong move. “They could’ve destroyed the ship on sight. They could’ve opened fire on us as soon as they saw our weapons. But they didn’t. If he’s who he says he is, he went through a lot of trouble to come here. But… they’re Lifreet. They hate my kind. Why would they want a truce?”

“Maybe they’re losing,” Natalie whispered from behind Reethis’ barrier. She was sitting at the captain’s feet with her gun just as Ethan was sitting at Kipexo’s.

Kipexo nodded thoughtfully. “Our intel on their ranks and populations were hard to come by, but we know their numbers have dwindled over the past several decades.”

“It’s been hundreds of years, Kipexo,” Ethan said. “At some point, someone has to push for peace.”

“So you think we should do this?”

“What other choice do we have?” Grolpre asked.

Kipexo reached out and petted Ethan’s hair. “Stay close to me.”

“Always,” Ethan replied.

Kipexo straightened behind the barrier and addressed the sovereign again. “I don’t promise I can sway my people’s opinion on your kind, nor do I promise peace. But I will speak to the Veil on your behalf in exchange for repairs to this ship and hyperjump coordinates to Earth.”

The sovereign bowed his head. “I ask for this, no more no less.”

“The humans are not to be separated. There are around two hundred of them, so plan accordingly. As for the Raugon, a few of us have denmates and they will not be parted from us.”

“Of course.”

“The baby, Kipexo,” Vroft murmured.

“There is a child on board,” Kipexo said. “She is to be left in the care of her human father and our Raugon doctor. None of your kind is to come near her.”

“We learned of the child too,” the sovereign replied. “Earthwalker and Raugon, first of her kind. She will be safe, you have my promise.”

Kipexo nodded and finally relaxed, slinging the strap of his rifle over his shoulder. Just behind him, Grolpre did the same, but Vroft and Reethis still hesitated. Kipexo waved his hand, encouraging them to fall in line. Vroft did, but Reethis’ pistol stayed stubbornly up and pointed directly at the sovereign.

“Stand down, old man,” Kipexo told him. “Do you want your ship back or not?”

“Youra fool to trust these bastards,” Reethis spat. “What assurance have they given that they’ll make good on their promises?”

“They haven’t killed us yet,” Vroft said, slinging his rifle over his shoulder as well. “That’s a start.”

Reethis harrumphed.

“Trust me to handle this,” Kipexo said. “Or do you lack faith in me as well?”

Reethis glared at him, swore violently, then finally lowered his gun, though he kept it in his hand rather than holstering it.

Kipexo turned back to the sovereign. “What do you need us to do?”

“We need nothing,” the sovereign replied. “Your ship will be docked to ours. Prepare for travel. We will, as you say, ‘hyperjump’ to our homeworld when the broken ship is secure.”

“You mean to piggyback us?” Reethis asked. “That’s risky.”

The sovereign smiled at the captain. “Risk for Raugon ships, perhaps, but not for Lifreet.”

Kipexo and Reethis shared an uncertain look. Was he implying Lifreet ships were more advanced than Raugon ones? This did not match up with what Kipexo understood about this race. Though more advanced than humans, the Lifreet hadn’t yet built ships or weapons to rival those built by Kipexo’s people… or so they thought.

The sovereign looked again at Kipexo as he said, “When we arrive at my people’s home, I wish you to join me. Communications to Raug will begin immediately. Your voice I wish your people to hear first.”

“The Veil won’t exactly be thrilled to hear from me after our escape,” Kipexo commented.

“You will address the Veil not, Sergeant. Raug will hear our plea for peace. All Raugon will know we wish for no more blood, ours or yours. We will ask a planet to sway the decisions of a few.”

“You mean for the public to force the Veil’s hand?” Vroft asked. When the sovereign nodded, Vroft gave Kipexo a knowing look.

That was exactly what Kipexo, Vroft, and Grolpre planned to do for the humans of Raug if the Veil refused to listen to reason. It could work.

“My men will call for you,” the sovereign said, pointing to the ceiling to indicate the ship’s intercoms. “Come yourself alone, Sergeant, with no weapons.”

Kipexo shook his head. “I’ll come unarmed, but I won’t be alone.”

The sovereign cocked his head. “Denmate,” he says in understanding. “News I gathered mentioned a person close to your heart, but intel was sparse. Who comes with you? Show their face so my men can recognize it.”

Kipexo glanced down at Ethan again.

“It’s alright,” Ethan said. “We have to trust them eventually or this will never work.”

Kipexo nodded and touched his databand, and an oval of bright orange appeared, attached to that arm. He reached down and gathered Ethan into his arms, being sure to keep him tucked completely behind the shield as he lifted his Earthling into view.

The sovereign studied Ethan and tilted his head. “An Earthwalker…” he said in surprise. “This explains much, Sergeant. My respect for you grows.”

Kipexo was taken aback by that, but he had more pressing things to worry about than this Lifreet’s opinion of him. “Armed or not, if any of your kind come near him while I help you, I will kill them.”

“It will be known. None will harm him.”

“None will touch him,” Kipexo said with a growl. “Say it, so I know you understand.”

The sovereign tilted his chin up when the full weight of Kipexo’s words finally sank in. “Not one will touch him, you have my promise.”

Kipexo held Ethan a little tighter, his nerves making him twitchy and uncomfortable. He was holding his entire world in his arms while facing down his greatest enemy. He curled his lip over his fangs without meaning to before promptly setting Ethan down, tucking him safely back behind the barrier.

“We’ve heard your plans,” Kipexo snapped as he dismissed his shield. “Now leave our ship and let us prepare for a hyperjump.”

The sovereign bowed his head yet again and waved his arm toward his men, who all pivoted and started back up the hall, all but the two guards with the shields who still stood in front of their leader. The sovereign turned to leave.

“Hey!” Grolpre called, and the sovereign stilled to look back at her. “The Veil may call him Sergeant, but he’s still Commander Kipexo to those who call him an ally. If you want to be one of those people, I suggest you show him the respect he deserves from this point forward.”

The sovereign tilted his head as he studied Grolpre a moment, but then he turned and continued down the hall without replying. His guards recalled their shields and marched at his back, bringing up the rear of their troop as they marched back to their ship. None of the Raugon moved until the last Lifreet tail disappeared around the corner, and even then, they waited for the sounds of their footsteps to fade entirely before any of them dared to move.

Vroft broke the silence first by slumping his shoulders and letting out a breath of relief.

Reethis slammed his pistol into its holster. “I hope you know what yer doin’,” he snapped at Kipexo.

Grolpre came around her barrier and touched Kipexo’s shoulder. “Are you alright?” she asked. He knew she didn’t mean physically.

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “We need this, but how am I supposed to broker peace between a race I’ve hated all my life and my own who no doubt hate me for my most recent betrayal?”

“The Veil may hold grudges against you, but they don’t speak for all Raugon. While they might condemn your actions of late, I dare say there are many of our kind who celebrated your victory in stealing two hundred innocent souls away from their abusers. We can’t be the only ones with love for humans who want to see them free and happy.

“You are a highly respected Galacorp soldier. Your voice on this matter will carry weight with our people.” She tilted her head at him. “That is if you can put aside your own grudges enough to use it. This is the Lifreet we’re talking about, after all, the ones directly responsible for your accident. Can you forgive and forget that?”

“I don’t have to,” Kipexo grumbled. “I can help them enough to help us, then we can all go our separate ways and go back to hating each other.”

Grolpre clicked her tongue at him. “You have an opportunity here, Kipexo. You can go on believing all we thought we knew about the Lifreet, the facts and the lies, or you can seek the truth at the source. Or did you learn nothing from this entire journey you’ve taken with your Earthling and his people? You once thought very little of humans as well, did you not? And now you’d gladly give your life for one.”

Kipexo gritted his teeth. “Don’t bring Ethan into this.”

“I’m right here,” Ethan said heatedly. He got up from the floor and crossed his arms. “And I think Grolpre’s right.”

“Now is not the time for some kind of healing journey, you two,” Kipexo argued. “There’s too much at stake.”

“If not now, then when?” Grolpre asked. “You may never get an opportunity like this again.”

“I have already made peace with my accident, Grolpre. There is nothing to be gained from opening old wounds.”

She bobbed her brows. “We’ll see.” She walked away back toward the common area.

Kipexo ground his teeth together as he watched her walk away.

“Why do you fight with her when you know she’s usually right?” Ethan asked.

Kipexo chomped his teeth together a few times before answering. “I honestly don’t know.”

“She cares about you. Maybe even as much as she cares about Sam.”

Kipexo raised a brow. “What does that mean?”

Ethan shrugged. “Just that she wants what’s best for you, for all of us. It feels like the four of us are like… a little family. We look out for each other. Maybe just keep what she says in the back of your mind as we work with the Lifreet? You might surprise yourself.”

Kipexo rested his hand on the back of Ethan’s neck and tugged him closer. “I’d rather avoid surprises altogether right now. The thought of you walking right into the hands of my enemies…” He shuddered. “What have I agreed to?”

“Do you regret taking the humans from Raug?”

“No. It was the right thing to do. Just like using my influence with my people to help us get them home is the right thing to do. If it works, it’ll be worth it.”

“That’s not all you’ll be doing, Kipexo. You could end a war. Think of all the lives you’ll save if you can strike a truce between the Raugon and the Lifreet.”

Kipexo shook his head. “I don’t think that’s possible. Our kind have fought for centuries. There is so much hate and resentment on both sides. Laying all of that to rest won’t be easy.”

“The sovereign said he’d reward you even more if you can do it. I wonder what he’d give you.”

“It doesn’t matter. Everything I want is right here.” Kipexo squeezed the back of Ethan’s neck. “I will fulfil my side of this bargain and finish what we started by getting your people home safe. That’s all that matters right now.”

Ethan smiled.

The Anamafrid jerked slightly as the Lifreet started securing the Raugon ship to their own.

“Come,” Kipexo said, and he ushered Ethan ahead of him down the hall. “We need to secure the others for a hyperjump.”

“I haven’t seen Dex,” Ethan fretted. “Not since yesterday.”

Kipexo whistled as they walked, and a soft thump announced the hebin’s descent from the ceiling a moment before he shot past their feet with a trill.

“There you are,” Ethan said in relief, and he knelt to scoop the creature up.

Dex rarely allowed Kipexo to pick him up, but he went willingly into Ethan’s arms and even rubbed his feathered head lovingly against the Earthling’s cheek when he hoisted him up against his chest.

“Kiss ass,” Kipexo muttered.

Dex snapped his beak at Kipexo over Ethan’s shoulder.

Back in the common area, Grolpre was already telling the humans about Kipexo’s bargain, and they all sat in cautious silence, either too scared or too emotionally drained to offer more than nods and whispers in response to the news. Sara was pale while Andrew had already given her his gun in favor of cuddling Teagan at the back of the crowd.

“They’ve promised to help us regardless,” Grolpre said. “No one will be separated, and we’ll be on our way to Earth soon.”

“If they do what they say they will,” someone grumbled from the middle of the group.

“Shut the fuck up, Tom,” Natalie barked. “What’s the point of saying that, huh? We voted. We agreed. Deal with it.”

Kipexo stayed silent, but secretly, he shared Tom’s sentiment. As they moved the humans through the corridors to the passengers’ hold and helped everyone strap into the long rows of seats in preparation for a hyperjump, Kipexo mentally chastised himself for trusting a Lifreet to keep a promise to a Raugon. He’d hung so many lives on the word of his enemy. Not to mention he and Ethan would have to walk, unarmed and alone, right into the belly of the beast. The thought nearly made him physically ill.

The soft smile Grolpre gave him as they gathered their Earthlings into neighboring seats said she knew exactly where his mind was, and before they buckled into their own seats on either side of their humans, she took Kipexo’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

Despite his doubts and troubled thoughts, Kipexo squeezed back and prayed she was right that everything happens for a reason.