He scanned his Space Corps quarters. The room was shadowed. Quiet.
What had woken him?
He heard a faint, furtive sound.
He pushed the sheets off. He was only wearing tight, black undershorts. His helian throbbed.
Yes, I sense it, too.
He opened his senses. There. There was something in his closet.
Scales flickered over his body, flowing from the helian band to cover his arm, then across his chest and the rest of his body. Once his armor was in place, he snatched up his utility belt from the side table and clipped it on. Then he morphed a short sword that had a faint purple glow.
He yanked open the closet door.
A bug sprang out.
It was the size of a hunting dog. A mottled brown-and-black in color, it had a long body, with a narrow head, six sturdy legs, and a row of spikes along its back.
Sabin slashed with his sword. The bug dodged sideways, extremely agile. The spikes on its back vibrated, like it was picking up movements in the air.
The creature leaped onto a side table, sending a lamp crashing to the floor.
Sabin chased the alien into the living area. With two long strides, he stabbed with his sword, skewering the Kantos bug. Green blood sprayed onto the carpet and he pulled the sword back.
It was an ugly creature. He hadn’t seen it before, but he knew it was Kantos. They bred all kinds of abominations.
He found his communicator and called Gadon and Rade. The other warriors had both clearly been sleeping, but snapped to alertness when he told them of the attack. They both checked their quarters and confirmed no sign of any Kantos.
Sabin made another call.
“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Airen Kann-Felis’ face appeared on screen. The second-in-command of the Rengard always looked prepared for anything.
“I was, but I had an uninvited visitor.”
“A cute Earth woman?” Donovan asked from behind Airen.
The dark-skinned Terran Space Corps officer was extremely competent, and had been seconded to work aboard the Rengard. Sabin liked and respected the man.
“Unfortunately, not.” Sabin turned the communicator so they could see the alien.
Airen made an unhappy sound.
Donovan whistled. “Ugly critter.”
“The Kantos clearly know myself and the other warriors are here.”
“Were the others attacked?” Airen asked.
“No.”
“I got a pop in the Kantos database.” Donovan frowned. “It’s a stalker. Said to be a hunting bug that accompanies these guys.” An image popped up on the screen.
Sabin’s blood chilled. He took in the black skin, the wings. “That’s a Kantos assassin.”
Airen’s brow creased. “If the bug came after you, who did the assassin go after?”
Sabin felt a pressure in his chest. “Finley.”
He dropped the communicator and ran.
He powered down the hall and hit the stairs. He thundered down several levels, sprinting toward her lab.
In his gut, he knew she’d still be there.
He sprinted past a startled man with a mop and a bucket. He rounded a corner and heard a screech in the distance. He made out the sound of a fight, and something crashing.
No.
Sabin charged into Finley’s lab.
The Kantos assassin lifted her like she weighed nothing. It had one clawed hand wrapped around her neck. She twisted and jerked.
Sabin’s sword lengthened, and he leaped over an overturned bench.
Finley saw him, her eyes widening.
Then she punched the Kantos in the eyes.
It tossed her, and she hit the wall and slid to the floor.
The creature spun and saw Sabin. Its wings snapped open, and it threw its bony arms wide.
Sabin swung his sword and the Kantos dodged, then it took flight, fluttering close to the ceiling.
Gritting his teeth, Sabin followed. He swung again, then spun and slashed.
He scored the alien’s wing and it let out a deafening screech, crashing to the floor.
It flew at Sabin in a flurry of claws and flapping, barbed wings. He felt sharp talons scratch at his armor. A wash of energy flared from his helian. His armor was holding.
Jaws snapped at him and he stumbled back…and tripped.
Cren.
Sabin fell onto his back, his sword arm pinned by the creature.
“Get off him, you ugly asshole!”
Finley appeared, a bulky piece of equipment in her hands. She raised it over her head and then slammed it down on the back of the assassin’s head.
The creature jerked and its hold loosened. Finley smashed it again.
Sabin heaved up and knocked the alien off him.
He grabbed Finley and shoved her behind him.
Swinging his sword, he stabbed down, slicing into the assassin. Its screech made Sabin wince, but he slashed again.
Finally, the Kantos slumped, its wings crumpled. Green blood pooled on the floor beneath it. The sharp stench of it swamped Sabin’s senses.
Sabin turned.
Finley stared at the alien—her face white, her eyes wide. “God. God.” She pressed a hand to her stomach.
“Are you okay?” He detected her racing heart, her rapid breathing.
She dragged her gaze off the alien, and looked at him. Her face turned even whiter and she started to collapse, but Sabin’s reflexes were fast.
He grabbed her and they both sank to the floor.
“I knew you would kill it.” Her voice was shaky. “I was trying to get to you.”
“Just take a deep breath. Hold on. You’re okay.”
He maneuvered her into his lap, his arms wrapped around her.
She let out a shuddering breath. “It was…terrifying.”
“You’re safe now.”
With a sob, she pressed her face to his neck and held on. Her body shook and he felt a strange need to comfort her. He stroked her back and she clung tighter.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome, Finley.”
“I tried to get away.” Her voice was shaky. “I knew you could kill it.”
She’d held her own against a Kantos assassin and fought it when he needed help. There was a lot more to Dr. Finley Delgado. “You did well, Finley. Let me see your wounds.” She had scratches on her face and on her chest. “I want to treat your scratches with havv.”
He didn’t tell her that the assassin could have poison on its claws.
She withdrew, and he watched as she pulled herself together. There were no tears, no hysterics. Her fingers toyed with a narrow band on her wrist, snapping it against her skin.
She was tough. Admiration hit his belly. There was an inner strength to Finley Delgado.
He pulled out his vial of havv. The scratches on her face weren’t too deep, and he quickly smoothed the gel over them. Then he opened her shirt. He saw her pretty, pink underwear, then the red scratches on her skin. His body took notice of the smooth skin.
Not now, Sabin.
He started smoothing havv across the scratches, and his fingers brushed the top of her breast. Her chest hitched.
“Does it hurt?” Just focus on her, nothing else.
“No.”
He looked at her face. It was flushed, her eyes bright.
“Finley? Are you all right?”
“Just grateful I’m alive, and not bleeding to death on my lab floor.” She shot a quick glance at the assassin. “It’s Kantos?”