Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

KHORAHN

The second Wernius fell to the ground with a resounding thud. It emitted the same echoing rumble the first one had, calling to more of its kind. I needed to end this quickly.

Thumbing the switch on the utility stick so the end reshaped into a lethal blade, I dropped down onto the second Wernius. The blade sank deep into its gelatinous body once it pierced the thick, outer membrane. However, that wasn't enough to kill one of these creatures. I leaned into the top of the utility stick, pushing it forward and forcing the lower blade to slice the beast internally. It writhed, doing its best to shake me free.

Something hit my side, almost knocking me off the second Wernius. Only my grip on the embedded utility stick saved me. Using the momentum, I swung up and pulled the utility stick free just as the thing rolled.

I stabbed and dodged and ran, jumping over the oozing spots of the second Wernius until its body stilled. The first creature let out another echoing bellow as sweat trickled down my back within my suit.

My gaze darted to the band of burning veg, much closer now to where I stood panting on top of the dead Wernius.

"Sorry, my friend. Our time together is at an end."

I jumped at it just as it swung toward me, its mouth open. The ill-timed move cost me. One of its razor teeth sliced through the side of my thigh as I tucked and twisted midair. The suit immediately repaired itself, but my leg struggled to support my weight upon landing. Ignoring the pain, I set upon the creature with vicious efficiency.

It breathed its last breath a halo-flash later as I hacked my way through its membrane to its engorged third stomach. A quick slit to the top created the opening I needed to get to the cleansed terra.

At my command, the crate lowered, and I switched the end of the utility stick to the wide flat option, which allowed me to move material quickly.

The heat climbed. I fought to work faster even as my head began to pound. The hiss and pop sounds of burning veg filled my ears, but I didn't stop. I was determined to gather every micron of cleansed terra.

And I managed it. Barely. The second body was already half ash when I toppled onto the terra-filled crate.

The cables retracted swiftly at my command, rocketing me and the crate through the boiling air until we fell under the ship's protective shadow. Shaking, I lay back on the terra and let the ship lift me into the cargo bay.

The cooler air was an immediate relief.

"Command Khorahn, prep the sys-unit for repair," I said, rolling off the terra. "If I'm not in the med bay within a prexel, initiate emergency protocol five-one-nine."

"Confirmed."

I limped through the cargo bay and into the hallway. A rhythmic thumping made me pause. For a moment, I couldn't place the noise. When I did, I cringed. Despite all the scent-markings, my female had not remained calm.

"Command Khorahn, open the nav center door."

"Khorahn!" my female yelled a halo-flash later from deeper within the ship.

I wanted to go to her and comfort her, but if I passed out and she witnessed a bot drag me to the med bay under emergency protocol five-one-nine's directive, she would likely become more agitated.

So I continued my slow, limping walk toward the med bay.

The door slid open just as my female found me.

"What in the hell was that?" she asked, her scent lightly infused with anger. "You ninja-killed two giant worms for what? Eating a fucking king's ransom in gems you dumped on the ground in the first place? That was on you."

While she scolded, she tucked herself close to my injured side and helped support my weight with an arm around my waist.

"Did you see the teeth on them? Thanks to the cameras, I did. You should have run the moment that thing surfaced. What if it had killed you? What would have happened to me ? I don't want to starve to death in space. Or did you forget that I was completely dependent on you? I can't even drink without you."

I stopped in front of the exam table.

"Begin removal," I said.

The suit fell away from my face, and my female scowled up at me.

"I'm so mad at you."

"I know, my female. I understand you're upset. Give me a few prexels, and I will help calm you again. All will be well."

The ship shuddered against the orbital pull of Divas One, and the female wrapped her arms around me, grabbing onto the exam table to hold us both. She sought to protect me . The gesture made me even more determined to do what was necessary to sway her decision to stay with me.

Once the turbulence ended, she released me, and I started peeling away the suit. Her delicate little hands caressed my skin as she helped tug it down my arms and waist.

"I saw that thing bite you. How bad is it?" A hint of worry seeped into her scent but quickly faded.

"All will be well, Vya." I took her hands and brought them to my mouth, pressing her fingers there before tugging the rest of the suit free.

The thigh gash was as bad as I'd imagined. The suit had done what it could to stop the bleeding, but it ran freely without the material sealing the wound.

"You bleed purple?" Vya asked, helping me onto the exam table.

The sys-unit's light swept over me, scanning the extent of the damage, and I nudged Vya a step back so the arm wouldn't bump her. Her wide-eyed gaze searched for other injuries along with the unit.

"Substantial damage detected on the lower extremity. Cauterization and regeneration stims recommended."

"Proceed with recommendation."

The arm swung around and injected the stim into the skin of my damaged thigh.

Vya hissed out a sympathetic breath and reached for my hand.

Turning my head toward her, I focused on the way her fingers caressed over mine rather than the cauterization laser. She pressed the back of my hand to her chest between the mounds of her smooth, pale skin. The enthralling contrast of lighter and darker skin distracted me, and my ambal began to swell at the thought of rubbing my secretions into those fleshy mounds. Her nipples had pebbled the last time I'd done it, and she'd found her pleasure on my hand. I craved to repeat the experience until I was no longer gently coaxing but she was demanding her pleasure from me. I didn't think it would take much longer for me to gain her remaining trust.

"Command Khorahn, are the jump calculations to resupply and reach Navar Seven complete?" I asked as the sys-unit began spraying the knitting compound over the opening in my leg.

"The most time and cell conserving option has been found."

"How many arcs?" The compound shrank as it dried, pulling the edges of the opening together. The arm moved lower to my ankle.

"Three flares."

"Set the course for Navar Seven and send a message to Mtinash. I require a translator installation in three flares. I'm offering extra chits if he can also discreetly supply any of the veg on my requirement list and any other human-safe foods."

A single flare was more time than I wanted to give. I ached to thoroughly mark Vya and wanted that translator in her now so she would understand what I needed from her.

Shifting the hand she held to the right, I trailed the backs of my fingers along the curve of her breast. Her nipple immediately puckered in response, and she smacked my arm.

"Are you kidding me right now? You're gushing purple blood, are two shades lighter in color around your mouth, and you're lying there thinking, ‘Mmm, boobies good?' You need to get your priorities straight."

"Ah, female, you are my priority."

The sys-unit completed the spraying, and I waited for the wounds to close while Vya narrowed her eyes at me.

"Whatever you said sounded too calm and smug. So I'm going to disagree. You need rest. How much do you even sleep? You're rarely in bed with me." She frowned. "Maybe I'm taking your bed. That stops now. We're going to put you in bed, and you're going to stay there until?—"

Her stomach growled loudly.

"Don't worry, female. I will feed you before I show you that you are not taking my bed from me. But first, I think I need to calm you."