Hotbloods 6: Allies

“Of course he is, Dio.”

“It’s good to have you back, Ren,” the Darian proclaimed, grinning through her spiny teeth. “There’s been way too much testosterone wafting about without you on board.”

Lauren grinned. “You’re not on the prowl again, are you, Alfa?”

“Cheeky! At least I go after what I want,” he fired back with a wink, a hearty laugh rumbling from his throat.

It really looked like they were pleased to see Lauren again, treating her as one of their own. I didn’t know whether to be happy or worried, especially after what Lauren had said about not being able to return to a normal life. I wasn’t sure if she’d meant it, and now I was even less certain. The truth was, Lauren looked just as pleased to see them again, her whole face lighting up with joy.

“Anyway, what’s all this stuff about us working together, then?” the Carokian, Kip, rasped, his red eyes bulging. “I’m happy to see you both again, but let’s get down to business if there’s business to be getting on with.”

Stone shot him a look. “Trust you to piss on our jollies. Can’t a captain have a moment o’ joy in seeing his crew again?”

“He can, boss, but your moment’s up.”

“I s’pose you’re right, Kip. As ever,” Stone muttered. “Thing is, I made us a deal with Ri’s crew. She’s a sound sort o’ lass, and I want ye all to treat her with the respect she deserves, right?”

A rumble of agreement rippled around the junkyard crew. I was surprised that Stone had singled me out as the leader instead of Navan. I wasn’t really sure what to do with that kind of responsibility, but, with Navan as wiped out and woozy as he was, I figured I was as good a figurehead as any, for the time being.

“Right, well, we’ve made us a little agreement,” Stone continued. “I’ve said we’ll give this fine lot a hand, to help ‘em protect a planet called Earth. It’s Ren’s planet, too, if that sways yer vote. Now, ye know how we do things round here—you’re welcome to join us or not. I ain’t gonna force you, and I ain’t gonna take offense if it ain’t yer sack o’ Sonorans.”

Dio frowned. “Earth, did you say?”

Stone nodded. “Aye, I did.”

“I got pals down there, I think. Lycans are living there, right, as part of the Fed group stationed there?”

“You’re right, the Fed there are lycans,” I chimed in.

Dio smiled, flashing his wolfish teeth. “Then I say count me in. Be nice to see some fellow lycans for a bit. I could have sworn I had a pal there—can’t remember his name right now, but it’ll come back to me soon enough.”

“It’s all those mushrooms you’ve been cooking, Dio!” Alfa teased.

“Aye, you’re probably right… you’re probably right.” The lycan grinned dopily, a chuckle rising from his throat.

The Rexombra turned to me, his feline eyes meeting mine. “I go where my man Stone goes, and I help wherever my pal Ren needs a hand. So, I’d say you’ve got my assistance, Captain Ri.”

“Thank you, Alfa. Glad to have you on our side,” I replied, forcing the nerves from my voice.

The only two remaining who hadn’t spoken up were the Darian and the Carokian, though it was hard to read anything on their unusual faces. I couldn’t even look the Carokian in the eyes, and the Darian wasn’t much better. Even so, we needed all the help we could get, no matter where it came from.

“What d’you say? Niniver, Kip?” Stone pressed.

“I’m gonna stay with the ship, boss,” the Darian, Niniver, said after a lengthy pause. “I can’t be fighting the wars of other folk, not right now. My heart wouldn’t be in it, and there’s no point in fighting if your heart ain’t in it.”

Stone nodded in understanding. “That’s your choice, Nin, and I value yer honesty.”

“I’m staying, too,” the Carokian named Kip said, a moment later. “I know we all paid for the ship, but there are some improvements I’ve been wanting to make on it, and it’s been so long since we had a break to just fix things and recuperate. I’m going to stay here with Nin, if you don’t mind.”

“Understood, Kip. I only want ye with us if yer fully on board. It’d only be a waste of yer talents if I brought you along and ye didn’t want to get involved in the crux of the moment,” Stone conceded. “Better to part ways before an awkward moment comes along. Besides, I’ll be happier knowin’ there’s someone takin’ care o’ the old bird.”

“Just what I thought, boss,” Kip replied. “Though we’ll be seeing you again, right? You’re not going to leave us out here?”

Stone smirked. “Ye know me, Kip—can’t stay away from trouble fer too long. I’ll be back before ye know it, and we’ll be flying off into the sunset, pickin’ up where we left off.”

“Glad to hear it, boss,” Niniver chimed in.

“Well, you two better take grand care of me ship ‘til I get back to her. And take grand care of yourselves an’ all.”

“Will do, boss,” Kip rasped.

“Aye, of course we will!” Niniver agreed, smiling through her spiny teeth. “Don’t let these ordinaries get you locked up.”

Stone flashed them a knowing look. “Never have, pals. And never will.”

I looked at Xiphio, whose expression was darkening as he listened to Stone’s confidence. I still hadn’t told him about the other deal that I’d made, and, frankly, I didn’t plan to. What he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him. By the time all of this was over, he might have lost his hunger for locking Stone up and throwing away the key, anyway. It didn’t seem likely, but it wasn’t impossible.

“See you if you survive?” Niniver said.

Stone nodded, a smile on his face. “See ye if we survive.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d marveled at the ambaka’s ability to remain unerringly calm in the face of danger. He didn’t seem fazed by the prospect of his own death, though I knew he’d be worried about the lives of his crew. Perhaps after witnessing the genocide of his species, he simply didn’t care about his own existence anymore. I wasn’t sure where it came from, but I wished I had that same relentless cool.

“Ah, wait up, there’s another thing an’ all.”

“What’s up, Stone?” Niniver asked.

“Can ye fetch us them crates from the cargo hold? The ones with the stars on ‘em?”

Kip frowned. “What do you want them for?”

“Well, ye know they’re me nest egg. I’m cashin’ a few of ‘em in,” Stone explained. “These lads and lasses need a bit of an upgrade, an’ I’ve got the goods for ‘em.”

Niniver shrugged. “Fair enough, boss. It’s all yours fair and square. Seems a shame to waste it on a bunch of ordinaries, but that’s up to you.”

“That it is, Nin.”

“You heading for the nudus nests?” Kip asked.

“We are indeed.”

“Then we’ll stack your crates by the hatch here. We might not be here when you get back.”

Stone patted the Carokian on the back. “Yer a gem, Kip.”

With that, the Darian and the Carokian went back inside the patchwork shell of their ship to start unloading Stone’s stolen goods, while the rest of us moved off toward one of the craters, following Stone’s lead. At the top, he pounded his feet on the hard rock, like a bird stomping on wet grass, apparently trying to coax out the unsuspecting worms.

“Stamp your feet,” he urged, and we followed suit.