Toni had no idea who this Arakiba might be, but he had to be an imbecile if he thought this bubble-headed sex-toy could somehow combat the Krystalii.
“Interjection,” JR14’s mechanical voice interrupted. “Elemi, please explain to Antonia your purpose here and your role in achieving that goal. As you accomplish that, I will keep Azazel apprised.”
“Oh, very well.” The sexbot pivoted her head to focus on Toni. “I am Elemi. While my true nature is not this outer casing—” She gestured up and down her form. “—my original form is that of a sentient organic, sleek 11-15 spaceship engineered by the Warriors of Light, once funded by the disgraced Chancellor U’unk to take over the galaxy.” Throwing her slender shoulders back, she put one of her hands on her hip and tilted her neon head. The bubble-gum color of her eyes narrowed. “I have since survived being gutted by the Krystalii and re-created in two forms. One as my glorious ship, and one as you see here. I am literally in two places at one time.”
The android tapped a gleaming pale-pink fingernail against her lips while she walked around Toni as if judging her.
Toni crossed her arms and returned the favor, keeping eye contact with the absurd automaton.
Elemi stopped walking in circles and continued. “While my 11-15 body is in a nearby orbit not too far from this ship—” Her full lavender-rose lips lifted into a slow smirk. “—I am here in my second glorious form as a loyal citizen of the Federation Consortium to save the day… as only I can.”
Azazel couldn’t believe there was an actual sexbot standing there on the Krystalii mothership—one JR14 declared was a collaborating ally working with them against the invaders. He narrowed his eyes, studying the nauseating-pink android’s interaction with Toni. Where had he seen that one before?
Bro, you there?
A faint masculine voice in his head startled him. It was odd, since the path the voice came on wasn’t a psychic one. Cocking his head, he unfocused to concentrate on the sound better.
Bro? Answer me, dammit!
Bro?The only person who called him that was his brother, Arakiba. But… that couldn’t be him. It had to be Baelon playing some kind of trick on him.
I know you. All cool and aloof... You act like some greatigigiwho believes he shouldn’t bother with us merenamlugallutrying in vain to keep up with your superior divinity.
Look, Arakiba. I’ve asked you more than once not to call me that.
He tightened his gut to hold back the rumbling as his inner beast struggled. He’d spent a lot of time trying to keep the damn thing in check so he didn’t end up hurting his blond, smart-ass brother. Good thing Arakiba was nowhere in sight to make things worse.
Yeah, well. Someone should knock you off your self-imposed pedestal so you can join the rest of us mortals.A chuckling snort.And of course, we all know I’m the best one to do that.
It took several heartbeats before Azazel believed he might be talking to Arakiba. No one went out of their way to be a bigger pain in the ass than his younger brother. And no one, but no one, could mimic that annoying personality. No matter how powerful a psychic they were. But it didn’t hurt to ask. Azazel narrowed his eyes.
How can that be you? This isn’t our normal psychic path.
This isn’t a psychic path at all, you dork.A bark of laughter.Boy, for such a brainiac, you sure can be clueless sometimes.
Dork? What’s a dork?Azazel shook his head.Never mind. If we aren’t talking on a psychic pathway, how are you talking to me?
It’s adorable how impatient you’ve become. Can’t wait to tell the bros about it.
Azazel’s chest tightened with helplessness. Trying to get Arakiba focused was a constantly hopeless cause.
You know that thing JR14 injected into you? Well, it opened a slight path to my JR12, who snapped one in me. Hurt like a mofo, didn’t it?
It took everything Azazel had not to roll his eyes. One tiny scratch made Arakiba whine like a little baby. The injection JR14 gave him on the neck only pinched for a second. He resisted the urge to tell the petulant ass to grow a pair.
And I endured all that pain just so I can talk to you.Now the mental voice had the same tone and inflection his brother had. As if using this means of communication made it easier for him.
Okay, instead of talking so much, why aren’t you here to get me out?Let’s at least start there.
Working on it, bro.Came the annoying reply.You just gotta sit tight. I promise things are cookin’ for sure.
Sit tight.Yeah, I’ll get right on that… bro.He swallowed his annoyance with a sigh. Not surprisingly, Arakiba’s remark about Azazel’s fraying patience hit the mark. Glancing out of his cage, he clenched his hands into fists as he watched Toni and JR14 leave the room with the neon-pink sexbot. Where were they going? It dawned on him where he’d seen that android before.
Son-of-a-lilit! Was that the sexbot from FiPan you liked so much?Pervert.And why is Toni going with her?
Isn’t she the most glorious thing you’ve ever seen?Arakiba hummed.Just so you know, the reason I took her from FiPan was to see if I could make her work again. And not for the reason I know you think I did. You’re such a perv.
Oh sure. His brother knew him well enough to throw his words back at him, even without reading his mind.
