Hotbloods 6: Allies

I felt so sorry for him, but the image of him wandering in on Lauren getting dressed was too funny not to laugh. The poor guy was doing everything he could to try to impress Lauren, yet he kept failing miserably. I knew why, but I didn’t think he was going to like what I had to say.

“You need to stop trying to be like Xiphio,” I explained. “You aren’t him—you’re you. Lauren likes you the way you are, so just be yourself around her. You won’t get anywhere if you act like some overly romantic idiot she doesn’t know.”

He frowned. “But she likes the charm o’ Xiphio.”

“Yes, but she also likes the banter you two used to have before you became this weird version of yourself. Honestly, act normally around her and you’ll be surprised how she reacts.”

“Ye think so?”

“I know so.” I didn’t want to get in the middle of a love triangle, but now that I understood Stone more, I felt sympathetic toward him and his plight with Lauren. He was trying to better himself, thinking that was what Lauren wanted. It was sad, in a way, to see him second-guessing himself. Hopefully, now, he would stick to his own path and see where it led him.

“Right, that settles it then,” he whispered, his face determined. “Today’s the day. I’m gonna tell that lass how I feel about her. I’m goin’ to be meself, and if she doesn’t like it, I’ll stand aside and let Xiphio keep on charmin’ her. I’m not a quitter, Ri, but I know when to give up.”

I smiled at him, feeling buoyed up by my own romance. “I think that sounds like a good plan, Stone. Just don’t make any overblown gestures.”

“Right y’are. I just have to be meself. Easy peasy.”

The food-printing machine beeped, revealing a huge cake covered in lurid green icing. Picking away a tiny bit of icing, I saw that the sponge inside was an unappetizing shade of black, though the crumb I’d managed to pluck out was absolutely delicious. It wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped for on my wedding day, but it would do. Everyone loved cake. I was just glad there was some other culture out there that loved it as much as humans did.





Chapter Thirty-Six





That afternoon, with our stomachs and our hearts full to bursting, most of us were lounging in the cockpit when Xiphio barged into the room. He looked excited, hopping from foot to foot, before rushing over to the pilot’s chair, peering down over Bashrik’s shoulder.

“Are we passing by the Gannet Quadrant?” he asked desperately. “I saw the Vitriol Tower from the window, and I am certain we have entered that part of the universe.”

Bashrik checked the navigation monitor. “Yeah, we’re passing the boundary between the Gannet and Zephyr Quadrants.”

I frowned, lifting my head off Navan’s chest. “Vitriol Tower?”

“It’s a space station for the lost and desolate travelers of the universe—those who have no other option but to leave it in the hands of a higher power,” Xiphio said. “They may go there in search of asylum, housing, money, forgiveness… anything, pretty much. The Voice of Judgment decides their fate, one way or the other. Anyway, that’s not important right now. If we’re near the Vitriol Tower, that means we’re close to one of the merevin Fed outposts.”

“There’s one near here?” Navan looked surprised.

Xiphio nodded excitedly. “There is, and now that I have Stone within my grasp, I’m certain they will come to our aid. I should like to contact them at my earliest convenience. Which happens to be right this moment.”

“That’s fine with me. Do you have their channel?” Ronad asked, from his seat beside Bashrik.

“Oh, no need for such things; I have a direct line. Indeed, I simply wished to inform you of my actions, as I shall be needing the cooperation of Mr. Stone.” Xiphio turned to look at the ambaka, who was tucked away in the corner of the cockpit with Lauren, the two of them playing a board game together. He looked up as he heard his name mentioned, though he didn’t look too pleased.

“What’s it yer wantin’ from me?” Stone asked bluntly.

“I would very much appreciate it if you would pretend to be my captive. They will not believe that I’ve caught you if you are simply standing there beside me; they’ll sense something is amiss. So, I must insist you look like a captive, cuffs and all.”

Stone shook his head. “Not a chance, pal. Ain’t nobody trussing me up for the slaughter.”

“There shall be no killing, Mr. Stone. I simply need to convince the Fed agents that you’re my captive. Nobody will die today.”

“Still, I ain’t doin’ it. I’m not playin’ pretend for a bunch o’ agents who’d happily lob me in a cell.”

“It’d only be for a short time, Stone,” I chimed in.

“Not sure it’s a good idea, boss,” Dio interjected, with Alfa nodding in agreement.

“Me crewmates have got me back. They can see the truth of it. I don’t blame you lot for wantin’ to trust in Xiphio here, but we know the Feds—we know what they do to folks like us.” Stone shrugged, sitting back in his chair. “Xiphio’s heart might be in the right place, but he don’t have no control over those agents down there.”

Xiphio looked affronted. “They will not lay a hand on you, Stone. I wish to speak with them and garner their trust, that is all. I shall turn you loose as soon as the communications have come to an end.”

“Nope, not doin’ it.”

I noticed Lauren getting antsy, wringing her hands in a worried manner. I wasn’t sure whose side she was on in this dispute. After all, she’d spent enough time with the scavengers to share their suspicion about the Feds, but then, she was still one of us, too.

“Stone, maybe you should do this, for our sake,” she said, a moment later. “We’re going to need more allies than we currently have. You know the value of numbers in a fight. Even with the nudus, we’re going to need backup. You always said to me, ‘Never go into battle without a big bunch o’ pals.’ These Feds might not be friends yet, but they could be useful to us.”

He looked at her, his expression changing. “Ye think I should gussy meself up like a common wastrel?”

“For one grand performance… yes. We know you’re not one,” she teased, reaching over the table to touch his hand. He flinched as though someone had electrocuted him, his eyes gazing down at her hand on his.

“Ye make a good point, Ren.” He looked up at her, keeping his eyes on her as he replied to Xiphio. “If ye promise to let me go soon as we’re done, I’ll do what ye ask.”

Xiphio grinned. “I absolutely swear it, Mr. Stone.”

“Right, well, call yer mates up then,” he said, with forced cheer. I could see he was uncomfortable with the situation, but he was doing this all for Lauren.

“I shall, just as soon as I have you tied up.”

Stone glowered at the merevin. “What, right now?”

“If you would oblige me, Mr. Stone.”

With a grunt, Stone got out of his chair and walked over to where Xiphio stood, allowing the merevin to clamp a pair of Fed cuffs across his wrists. He visibly shuddered as they locked into place, making me wonder if they were conjuring up a bad memory. Perhaps Stone had been captured, once upon a time, though he’d evidently wriggled out of it—otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

“Thank you, Mr. Stone!” Xiphio cried. Stone’s mood darkened. With his wrists in cuffs, his usual, cheerful self had disappeared entirely. Apparently, there was something that could chip away at his perpetually calm demeanor, and that something was capture.