Chapter 4 #2
The Gali’gorath’krian scientists actually look scarier than their tentacle-faced allies.
They’re large beings that resemble what some cultures refer to as demons.
The Gali’gorath’krian tongue is a gargled mixture of clicking and clacking that barely resembles a word in any language other than their own.
If they were warriors, they’d be fierce, but their kind favors science and knowledge over war.
“I mean you no harm!” a male demon yells, right before Sigurd’s hammer shatters its metal skull.
“We’re just scientists!” a female demon screams, then Erik separates her head from her body, and sparks fly as her metal horns skid across the cargo bay.
I kill several myself while my brothers finish off the rest. Then there’s silence, except for the alarms blaring. The atmosphere shield won’t hold much longer. They’ll send more scientists. More soldiers. But we’ll be gone by then.
Phase one of the plan is a resounding success. Now we just have to find some human women we can breed.
“Onward,” I say, clutching my axe as we move out of the cargo bay.
We run into a few scientists and social workers as we rush through the first floor of the refugee center.
They fall before they realize they’re in danger.
Once we make it down to the second floor, we take care of the Gali’gorath’krians on that floor, along with two Fraz’melkians that weren’t called to the cargo bay.
“According to the schematics I found when I hacked the Intergalactic Alliance’s servers, this is the floor where they keep those with flesh,” Erik says. “Which means the humans from Earth should be here.”
“No survivors, unless they’re viable mates,” Sigurd pronounces. “We can’t have a bunch of refugees running around, interfering with our plan.”
“It’s necessary,” I acknowledge.
The refugee center is a staging area where survivors of extinction level events are examined, cataloged, and kept in luxury accommodations until they’re transported to their new home.
Those deemed worthy, at least. Our research shows that the majority of beings who are rescued end up in the incinerator.
“I got one of the keycards,” Erik says, walking up to a door and swiping it across the panel. “Be ready for anything. The Providers can give them weapons if they’re quick enough to ask for them.”
“We’ll make sure they aren’t quick enough for that,” I say.
The door opens and it looks like a bar, based on what I recognize from some of the more primitive planets we’ve raided. There’s a man sitting at the counter with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He spins around when the door opens. He’s human, but not what we’re looking for.
“Whoa, never seen aliens like you guys!” the guy says, some excitement in his voice. “Are you like… Vikings? Name’s Mike! The demon doctor dude already examined me, and?—”
“We’re the last faces you’re going to see,” Sigurd interrupts, delivering a merciful killing blow that ends the man’s life before he has time to suffer.
“On to the next room,” I say.
We open the next door and find a green-skinned being with large oval eyes and antennas on his head. He’s standing in a room that looks like some sort of bedroom. I’m not familiar with this species, but Erik rushes ahead of me.
“Kill the Xanduvian before he can put images in your head!” Erik yells, swinging his sword.
A second before Erik’s blade strikes, I’m standing on a beach.
The loot from my latest plunder is on the ground.
My wife is sorting through everything, cataloging the gold and gemstones.
My son is running along the surf. My daughter is laughing and trying to get my attention as she splashes in the shallow water.
Then the image shatters, and I stumble, holding my head. I feel the pain of losing my family all over again, and it makes my heart clench in my chest. It’s been almost fifteen years, but the memory the green-skinned alien brought to the surface leaves the taste of saltwater on my tongue.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask.
“It’s their defense mechanism. They show you happy memories and you stand there in a daze while they tear you apart,” Erik says, kicking the green-skinned being’s head across the room.
“Could have warned us about those,” Sigurd grumbles.
“If I warned you about every single species that could be here, we’d still be planning the mission at home,” Erik replies, walking out of the room.
Another room. Another green-skinned being. This time he gets Erik locked in an old memory before he can strike, so I have to do the honors. Erik looks shaken after he’s freed from the daze. If it’s anything like the memory I was forced to revisit, I understand.
We were young men when the plague swept across our planet.
We weren’t as advanced as some civilizations, but we were capable of traveling the stars, as long as we didn’t have to go far.
Pillaging, plundering, just like our ancestors, except we struck neighboring planets, rather than cities on our world.
“It’s a human!” Erik calls out as the door opens. “Fuck, it’s another male.”
The room is covered in posters of nude women. The refugee is naked, reclined in a bed, and he’s got his dick in his hand. He quickly pulls his hand away.
“I said no more AI Companions after what happened with the last one!” he shrieks, but he’s given a quick, merciful death, courtesy of Sigurd’s hammer.
“At least he died happy,” Sigurd chuckles, turning away from the bloody scene.
“We need to hurry. We don’t have much time before more soldiers locate us, and we still haven’t found a viable mate,” Erik says. “The scanners can’t find us, but the equipment in these rooms will notify them.”
“I know,” I say, stomping over to the next door.
I gesture for Erik to open it, but before he does, I feel something. It’s like my wolf is trying desperately to claw its way to the surface, even though I haven’t called it. I put my hand on the door and the sensation gets stronger.
Whatever is on the other side of this door is making my wolf react. It usually only craves honorable combat. But this is just slaughter. Means to an end. I’d be lying if I called it honorable.
“My wolf is going crazy,” Sigurd growls.
“Mine too,” Erik says. “Never felt anything like it before. Be ready for anything. This refugee could be dangerous.”
We clutch our weapons and prepare for battle.
Or whatever is waiting for us on the other side of this door.