Two Purveli males—Jak’ri and Ziv’ri—joined them.
Dagon smiled. “They’re something, aren’t they?”
Janwar nodded. “Something special.”
Another highly emotional reunion had taken place when the Ranasura at last docked with the Tangata three days ago. Now five Earth females sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the cushy sofa, passing snacks back and forth and chattering happily as they watched an Earth entertainment vid called Aliens that Kova had successfully transferred from Simone’s phone to the large view screen.
Dagon and the Purvelis were the only males from the Ranasura present. Janwar had insisted all others remain aboard the Segonian warship, not wanting anyone curious about his unusually advanced technology to wander around, snooping.
The two Yona—Vedon and Denu—were sparring in the training room, as were M’kor and Luft’a, who struggled to regain the strength they’d lost at the Gathendiens’ torturous hands. But the rest of the Tangata crew loitered in here with Janwar and the others, enchanted by the boisterous behavior and laughter of the Earthlings in their midst.
Jak’ri, Ava’s lifemate, nodded at the vid screen. “If that is Earthlings’ conception of aliens, I’m surprised their leader allowed the females to venture into space.”
All laughed as they regarded the revolting, drooling creature with its jagged teeth.
“Do you think he’ll send more?” Ziv’ri asked, his tone a bit wistful.
Janwar shook his head. “I’ve spoken with him several times. Seth is unwilling to risk the females’ safety and made it very clear that no more Earthlings would travel to Lasara until the Gathendien threat is under control.”
Dagon snorted. “I’m not certain that will ever be the case. Those grunarks are tenacious.”
All nodded.
Krigara joined them, taking the seat on Janwar’s other side. “We could get them there safely.”
Janwar turned to him in surprise. “What?”
“We could convey Earthlings safely to Lasara.” His cousin shrugged. “We’ve defeated the Gathendiens at every turn and are the only ones in the galaxy with the balls to actively seek confrontations with them.”
Janwar grinned at Krigara’s use of the Earth word for insisas.
“Oh no, you’re wrong there,” Ziv’ri said with a chuckle and pointed to the women who appeared unfazed by the gory violence transpiring on the screen. “I believe those women have bigger balls than all of us.”
What could the men do but laugh and agree?
Janwar shook his head as he eyed his cousin. “You think turning the Tangata into a cruise ship is the answer?”
Ziv’ri grunted. “I think Krigara is simply looking for a means to meet more Earth females. And I don’t blame him.” He met Janwar’s gaze. “If you end up doing it, I would happily join your crew.”
Jak’ri shook his head. “You have to help me convince our government to quit drekking around and join the Aldebarian Alliance… and their fight against the Gathendiens. There is no question now that Purvel has become a target.”
Ziv’ri swore foully. “True. But after that—”
“You have to help me terraform Purvel’s moons,” his brother reminded him.
More cursing.
Janwar laughed.
Simone grinned at them over her shoulder. “You’ve been spending too much time around Eliana, Ziv’ri. You curse like a sailor.”
Eliana laughed and gave Simone a playful shove. “Shut up.”
“Hey! Don’t make me spill my jarumi nuggets,” Simone protested with a chuckle.
Dagon turned to Janwar. “You do realize you’re going to have to fill one of your cargo bays with bags of jarumi nuggets now. Earthlings love them.”
He smiled. “No need. We make our own.”
Dagon stared at him. “What?”
“We have the company’s recipe.”
“How the srul did you get that?” the Segonian asked in astonishment.
Janwar shrugged. “I’m a pirate.” Though he knew the guests present would all assume he had stolen the recipe, it had actually been a gift. The producer of jarumi nuggets had rewarded him with it after Janwar and his crew located his son and saved the boy’s life after the idiot made a series of unwise wagers, racked up too much debt with the wrong people, and went missing.
His lips turning up in amusement, Dagon shook his head. “Any chance I could get that recipe?”
Janwar feigned a sigh full of regret. “I’m afraid you law-abiding folk will have to acquire jarumi nuggets the usual way. I wouldn’t want to corrupt you, after all.”
Dagon laughed. “Or deprive the company of business. Eliana’s appetite will probably double their profits.”
“Damn straight,” she called without looking back.
They laughed.
Liz twisted around on the sofa and searched the room. “Kova,” she called, “come watch. This is the scene I was telling you about—the one where Ripley gets into the machine thing like me.” Switching places with Allison, she settled at the end of the group and urged everyone to scoot over and make more room. Then she smiled at the Rakessian and held out her hand.
All eyes went to Kova, who tensed. Leaning against a wall in the back corner, he did not like being the center of attention.
“Hurry up,” Liz urged with a grin and waggled her fingers. “You’re going to miss it.”
Rubbing his hands on his pants, he hesitantly strode toward her, as unable to resist the Earthlings’ lure as the rest of them, it would seem. But vuan, he looked awkward.
Liz didn’t appear to notice as she grabbed his hand and tugged him down to sit beside her. “Watch.”
Still silent, Kova obediently watched the Earth female onscreen climb into something resembling a loading machine that was as large as Liz’s monstrous mechanical armor but far more primitive.
Eyes glued to the screen, Simone passed Kova a bag of jarumi nuggets.
Janwar turned and caught Srok’a’s gaze.
Expression stunned, Srok’a mouthed, What the drek?
Janwar couldn’t help but smile.
Hours later, he and Simone bid her friends goodnight and retired to their quarters.
“What did you think of the movie?” she asked, all smiles after spending time with her friends.
“I think you could kick those aliens’ asses.”
Laughing, she rose onto her toes and looped her arms around his neck. “I think you’re right.”
Hugging her close, he rocked her from side to side. “Are you sad that your friends will leave tomorrow?”
“A little,” she admitted, her smile dimming.
In the morning, Allison, M’kor, Luft’a, Vedon, and Denu would join Eliana, Dagon, Ava, Jak’ri, and Ziv’ri on the Ranasura and depart.
“Thank you for letting Liz stay on the Tangata,” she murmured. “I know you don’t like having strangers aboard, but you can trust her. She won’t betray you.”
If Simone trusted Liz, Janwar would, too. “I understand her reasons for asking and know how difficult it must have been for her to admit them to me.” The smaller Earthling valiantly tried to hide the trauma she’d endured behind smiles and teasing comments, but sometimes it bled through. After being in the Gathendiens’ cells for so long—first on the ship and then on the base—she now had trouble with confined spaces.