Tamed By the Alien Pirate by Celia Kyle Page 0,30

puppy, and curved antennas that are drooping down to the floor. More than looking like an insect, the critter has the appeal of a small puppy or a gentle bird.

“It’s hurt,” I whisper, slowly realizing there are holes in its glassy wings. Carefully, I approach Num, and it makes a low chirping sound. Its eyes lock on mine, and it drags itself across the floor toward me. The glow in its wings intensifies slightly and, just for a moment, the gray coloration of its body is replaced by a weak purple. Suddenly I realize the colors aren’t changing because of a chemical process. “Is gray its natural color?”

“He was glowing brightly when they brought him here, and he seemed healthy, but then he started turning gray. With each passing day, he became weaker and weaker.”

“That makes sense,” I say. I’ve read about creatures like this before.”

“It’s a butterfly. I assumed you’d have heard of it.”

“No, it’s not a butterfly,” I say. “It’s so much more than that. Creatures like Num here are a biological rarity. Their natural state is in quantum flux between energy and matter, and that’s probably why it looks so hurt.”

“Huh, alright,” Lokyer says. “Translation, please.”

“He—I think you’re right when you say it’s a he—shouldn’t be in a pure matter state for long periods of time,” I continue. “Someone must’ve messed with its natural organic processes, or maybe it’s the energy field in the cell, but Num’s being forced to remain in this matter state. It’s killing him.”

“Well, shit, that’s not good.”

“I might be able to do something about it,” I continue, mentally rummaging through everything I know about these types of creatures. I’m still thinking of that when I hear the doors to the cell block opening.

“On your feet, Miss Tits,” a Kreetu guards says. “Upper management wants a word.”

Chapter Fifteen

Zander

The gang plank hasn’t even drawn itself fully in, and I’m already out of the cargo hold, moving up decks toward the bridge, where I hope to find Solair.

Kintar rushes to catch up with me, slowed a bit because he had to park the hover bike next to our shuttle craft. His heavy bootsteps echo off the corridor wall as he draws abreast of me.

“Zander, where are you going?”

“To the bridge, of course, to see if our good captain is present. We have to launch a rescue op immediately.”

“I agree with you, believe it or not, but look at what you’re doing to the ship.”

He points at the burnished gold deck plating, and I cringe at the sight of black tar smears leading from the cargo bay.

“I recommend you use the sonic shower in the cargo bay and then go to present your case to Solair.”

My face screws up in a grimace, and I jab my finger in his face.

“There’s no time.”

“Think, Zander. Use that big brain. Solair’s more apt to listen to you if he’s not pissed off you tracked… whatever that stuff is onto the bridge.”

“It’s liquefied pavement, and… yes, I see your point.”

“Good man.” Kintar gestures up the corridor, where a pair of crewmen move pointedly to avoid stepping in the crud I’ve tracked all over the deck plating. “I will go and summon the senior staff to the bridge. I imagine Solair will want everyone there.”

“Thank you.” I catch his arm before he can leave, which unfortunately puts a black smear on his sleeve. “Ah… sorry… but seriously, thank you. Not just for this, but for saving my life, too. I owe you an apology for the way I treated you in the armory the other day.”

“Think nothing of it.” He waves off my concerns, grimacing at the stain left on his sleeve. “Any of us would do the same for each other.”

Kintar’s wide face breaks into a toothy grin.

“Besides… I can’t blame you for wanting some quality alone time with your fated mate. No one can.”

He raises his hand as if to pat me on the shoulder but then looks at the condition of my clothing and thinks better of it. We part ways, and I head to the sonic shower station in the cargo bay. I decide to just step onto the sunken dais fully clothed, since everything is soaked. Only when I’ve got the majority of the grime off my garments do I pull the privacy curtain and strip naked.

My irritation levels drop once I’m clean, and no longer have liquefied black pavement squishing around between my toes. Giving my clothes a quick shake, I don them once more