to demand Rick’s attention. Rick quivered more. “Do the work,” Max said firmly. The first rule of capture was to avoid death. Well, the first rule was to be prepared to give one’s life in defense of country and the second rule was to continue to fight as long as one had the means to resist. However, the third rule for prisoners of war was to make every effort to escape, and escape required them to avoid catching a case of sudden death.
“Intelligent,” the leader offered. Max didn't give a shit what that asshole thought. Anyone willing to kill children in order to extort someone and exploit their terror deserved to die, and Max would love to be the one to make that happen.
Chapter Fifteen
The leader alien stayed with Rick, and Max inherited one of the flunkies, who shooed him into the hall with a waving of tentacles and a few decisive air jabs of the triangular gun. One of the edges of the pyramid shape appeared to be the alien’s front, based on its eyes being on either side of that particular ridgeline, and he held the gun on the left side of that center line.
Max had no idea how that helped, but he did try to stay closer to the right side of the alien, since the invader would have to shoot around his own body. His fringe of tool tentacles was shorter than the four leg tentacles, so he might hesitate to shoot across his own edge... nose... protuberance. It appeared an illogical body design.
“Go,” the asshole ordered, with a leg wave to the left when they reached the first intersection. Max didn’t argue because this little shit didn’t have the power to negotiate. The boss had stayed with Rick, but Max had no way to help him. Hopefully, they would leave if Rick cooperated, but Max wasn’t counting on that. He was counting on these guys putting him in a room with Rick. Then he could get more information and start planning.
The flunky ordered Max into a lift. The lifts were designed for one person, so Max had a moment of irrational hope that the guard would send him down before following. Max had explored every bit of the ship outside the command level, so he only needed a few minutes to lose himself in the labyrinth. The alien squeezed into the cramped space, his damn gun pressing into Max’s stomach. Max braced himself against the corner walls and refused to give the asshole any more space. Rick might insist the offspring were tough, but Max would not lean against them, not when his damn shirt was already drying.
“You’re safe, Xander. You’re good, Kohei,” Max said, but he kept eye contact with the alien. If these assholes saw the offspring as children, maybe they would be more inclined to show mercy. “Don’t worry, kids. I’ll protect you.”
“Cold,” Xander said in a small voice.
That was odd because his hot body was pressed up against the small of Max’s back, but then Max realized they would swim together when Xander said that. Xander was so small, he was probably getting dry faster.
The tentacles around Max’s neck loosened, and Kohei slid down Max’s back so he was huddled around his brother.
“They’re scared and cold and dry,” Max said to the invader, and he hoped at least a couple of those words translated. He wasn’t sure if the improved translation was a function of being in the control room or if the computer had aligned the languages, but he needed these guys to understand the danger.
The lift door opened, and the alien backed out before issuing a curt, “Come.”
Max sighed, but after a few seconds, he followed the order. Max spotted two more aliens near the corridor that led to the medical room. That made five aliens so far, and Max didn't know how many he hadn't seen. The odds were not good, which was why he was still trying to play nice.
The guard kicked Max to get him to take the right turn at the next intersection. Max stopped. He turned and looked at the flunky. “Wrong direction.”
The invader jerked toward Max as if he might head-butt him, or at least chest bump him. He wasn’t the tallest alien in the world. “Move.” He then raised his weapon.
Max clenched his teeth. This was absolutely the wrong direction. This part of the ship had claustrophobic cubbies or bunks that Max assumed were either used for fragile cargo or low-paid workers.