"Are we only allies of convenience?" Taneem asked, her eyes steady on the girl.
Alison seemed to brace herself. "We're genuine allies, Taneem," she said, her voice low and earnest. "More than that, I hope that we're friends."
"I hope that, too, Alison," Taneem said. "Because I trust you."
Alison laid her hand on the K'da's head. "I trust you, too, Taneem," she said. "We have to, you know. Because we're all we've got."
"I know," Taneem said softly.
"And we're going to get through this," Alison continued. "Come on; let's get something to eat."
She turned toward the supply cabinet. "And after that," she added over her shoulder, "you can tell me your impressions of Harper, Neverlin, and Frost."
"And the Valahgua?"
"Yes," Alison said grimly. "Especially the Valahgua."
CHAPTER 15
They were on their way to the Foxwolf's Number One weapons bay when Jack felt the sudden change in the air around them.
It wasn't anything obvious or big. Rather, it was a combination of small things. The ship seemed to go oddly quiet, as if dozens of casual conversations had been broken off or reduced to whispers. The background rumble of thudding Brummgan feet likewise softened, as if the big aliens had suddenly found reasons to stand still.
And as the background noises faded, they were replaced by a sense of watchful foreboding.
The enemy was on to them.
I think we've worn out our welcome, buddy, Jack warned as he continued down the corridor.
I know, Draycos agreed. We'd better get to cover.
Jack chewed at the inside of his cheek as he kept walking. According to Draycos's directions, the weapons bay should be right around the next corner. How far is your bolt-hole from the weapons bay?
Not far, Draycos said. In fact, there should be an access point from the bay's interior.
So if we can get in, we can wreck the Death weapon and go straight down the rabbit hole?
Theoretically, yes. But that would require us to get past whatever defenses they've now organized around the Death. I don't think we can take the risk,
I don't know, Jack said thoughtfully. Unless Langston changed his mind and turned us in, they have to still be thinking it's Chiggers going around doing God only knows what. We ought to be able to keep them thinking that way at least long enough to get through the next set of guards.
If that is their assumption, Draycos warned. If not, even now they'll be setting a trap for us.
I'm sure they are, Jack agreed. But even laying a trap implies they don't realize who we are. If they knew they had a K'da poet-warrior aboard, there should be alarms going off all over the place right now. Followed by massive quantities of gunfire.
Assume for the moment that you're right, Draycos said. What would be our plan?
Assuming I'm right, we should still have one surprise attack's worth of slack left, Jack said. Reaching into his side pocket, he slipped Harper's two-shot tangler into his palm. I'm thinking we march straight up to the guards like we own the place, hit them with Harper's tangler, then go in and wreck the Death weapon. Then we do a quick fade into the woodwork and work on our new strategy.
Very well, we'll try it, Draycos said thoughtfully. But save the tangler for future use. When we reach the Brummgas, just get me as close to them as you can.
Okay, Jack said doubtfully. You sure we want to reveal you this soon?
Trust me, Draycos said. Just get me close. And let your arms hang as limp as you can.
Jack frowned. As limp as he could?
But there was no time to ask about it. He turned the corner and found himself once again facing a door and a pair of armed Brummgas. He didn't break stride but continued confidently toward them.
The aliens were trying hard to look casual, and they were doing a rotten job of it. Their postures were stiff, their studiously unconcerned faces included masses of tense muscles in throat and jaws, and their hands hovered way too close to their holsters.
But at least they hadn't drawn the second Jack appeared around the corner. It was looking like his take on the situation had been right. As close to them as I can get, right?
Yes. If possible, get between them.
"What do you wish?" one of the Brummgas asked, his voice as pretend casual as his face.
"I need to take a look at the big gun," Jack said. Staying with his last script ought to make everyone think he didn't suspect they were on to him. That should persuade them to give him a little more rope to play with. "The Lordover wanted me to run a quick check on it."
"Very well," the Brummga said. Unlike the last time, Jack noted, neither of the aliens made any move toward the door release. "Come," the Brummga added, gesturing Jack forward.
Obediently, Jack stepped toward them. As he did so, one of the Brummgas unglued himself from the deck and started forward. Careful, Draycos warned. He's going to try to intercept you, with the other staying out of reach as backup.
I'm on it. Waiting until the Brummga was nearly to him. Jack half-turned as if he'd heard something behind him. As he did so, he gave a little sidestep, just enough to sidle him smoothly past the approaching Brummga. Jack turned back, doing the same step in reverse, and landed squarely between the two aliens. Time you go, buddy.
Arms limp, Draycos reminded him. The Brummga already in motion braked to a halt and reversed direction. Both aliens were now moving in on him. Jack felt a surge of weight on his chest and inner arms as the K'da came partially off his skin, pressing out against his flight suit.
And to Jack's astonishment, his arms abruptly swung upward of their own accord, his hands jabbing straight toward the Brummgas' throats.
There was no time for him to even begin curling his hands into fists. But there was no need. As it had been Draycos's forelegs that had swung Jack's arms upward in the first place, it was also his paws that lifted just far enough off of Jack's palms to slam with devastating force against the Brummgas' throats.
The two aliens dropped like stunned moose, slamming to the deck with a double thud the whole ship must have felt. Quick—inside, Draycos urged as he melted back onto Jack's skin.
Jack jumped over the prone Brummga blocking his way and hit the door release. The door slid open, and he sprinted inside.
To find himself facing three more Brummgas.
They were standing between him and the Death weapon, their mouths widening with surprise even as their eyes began to narrow with anger.
Uh-oh, Jack thought toward Draycos, the momentum of his forward rush faltering. The Brummgas reached for the guns belted at their sides—
With a flash of black-tinged golden scales, Draycos shot out of Jack's collar, his rear paws shoving hard against the boy's chest as he arrowed straight for the Brummgas. There was a blur of paws and tail, and all three Brummgas went down.
"I'm guessing we're finished with the subtle approach?" Jack suggested, rubbing his chest where the K'da's paws had shoved against the skin.
"There was no other way," Draycos said, turning to the Death weapon. "You eliminate the cameras. I'll deal with this."