job that fulfills me more than what I’d chosen and worked years for. But that’s not the best part.” He laughed at that, shaking his head. “Commander Lidon was right about a man’s true purpose and everyday acts of bravery. It has nothing to do with attaining rank or commanding a ship. It’s raising Callie and Zac. It’s being with you, my Matara. My purpose is all about the woman and family I love.”
Tina’s vision blurred. She blinked so that rivers poured down her cheeks. “Pickle juice. Of course you’d make me cry when I have a helmet on and can’t wipe my face.”
Osopa laughed. His gloved hand squeezed hers, and she smiled.
“I love you too, my Nobek.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep that love.”
His smile vanished the next instant. He froze and brought her to a standstill. He yanked off his helmet, inhaled, and growled.
“There’s a Tragoom in the vicinity. It passed this way only minutes ago.”
The helmet’s filtered venting allowed some scent to waft in, and Tina wrinkled her nose. How could Osopa pick up anything over the reek of rotting meat and trash?
It was enough that he could. She looked at their darkening surroundings worriedly. “Why would Tragooms be here in the middle of this carnage?”
“The same reason they show up anywhere there’s been a catastrophe. Abandoned technology, raw materials, and maybe even easy food.” Osopa put his helmet back on.
“You mean humans.”
“They have no problem eating other sentients. Opportunists at every turn.”
Tragooms had been a sporadic issue for Osopa’s men. Spurned by most member planets of the Galactic Council, the vicious race was rarely courted as allies. There’d been word some were on Earth, many on their own. A few others had also shown up in their capacity as slaves to the Bi’isils. The Bi’isils had been busy since Earth’s fall, promising good food and easy lives to those desperate humans who agreed to serve them.
A trap, according to her clanmates. Bi’isils weren’t kind masters to anyone foolish or unlucky enough to end up in their clutches. Half their slaves died within a year, usually by suicide. Many of the rest, who couldn’t help but displease their exacting owners, would end up sold to scientists and die as lab specimens.
Tina would never be so stupid as to sign herself away to a Bi’isil. Tragooms, though—the idea of such a creature anywhere near Zac made her blood run cold. She hoped her brother had chosen a different path than where she and Osopa hunted.
Her Nobek called in the foraging Tragoom to the other search parties. Then he switched to the command center on the site. “I need an extermination crew out here to locate and kill this thing. I won’t lose a single Earther to it.”
“What do we do?” Tina asked after he signed off.
He unholstered his blaster. “End its worthless life if we come across it. Don’t worry, my love. It won’t come anywhere near you.”
He checked their route and started forward again. They’d gone a few steps when he halted once more.
“What now?” Tina was scared, but she was also impatient. They had to find Zac.
Osopa pulled a knife from his belt. It had the thinnest blade she’d ever seen. She stared when he held it out to her. “In case the disgusting gurluck gets lucky. Which it won’t.”
Tina accepted it, but her attitude was skeptical. “What do you expect me to do with this little thing?”
“Tragooms have only three vulnerable spots: their eyes, through which you can stab into their brains; an inch of softness right here—” he pointed to just below his sternum “—and their cocks. You won’t need to defend yourself, though. It’s only an extra precaution.”
Good. She doubted even a sword would be of any use in her hands. They continued on.
“The scent is fading. Security patrols will pick the Tragoom up and dispose of it.”
They were closing on the containment barrier. She didn’t know whether to feel relief or discouragement. Zac hadn’t come this way. Hopefully, one of the other teams would discover him, and soon. The sky behind her had begun shading to purple.
Osopa halted and pulled his helmet off again. His expression alert, he stared around them.
“Tragoom? Did it circle back?”
“It’s Zac.” His nose flared as he sniffed the cooling air. He clicked his com. “Osopa to search party. Zac took our route. Sending coordinates. We’re following a scent trail.”
Tukui’s voice answered. “All teams, move to Commander Osopa’s position and fan out when you reach him. Let’s