Kaelen’s battle armor engulfed him from head to toe.“Stay behind me.”
“Yes, sir.”I pulled my Glock and scanned the ship.“I’m not sensing anyone.”
Kaelen’s helmet retracted.“Gael had his vengeance.”
“It’s not enough. Not nearly enough. How many worlds have the Tai-Kok destroyed?”I demanded angrily.
“No one knows.”Qa’a morphed back into the old man and his power filled the bridge.“The cargo hold is filled with the remains of your people.”
“They need to be given a proper burial,”I said, swallowing the sob rising in my throat.
Lightning bolts crackled around Qa’a.“Done.”
“Just like that?”
Kaelen pressed a gentle kiss on my mouth.“The Katanic cremate their dead.”
“Thank you, Qa’a. Now their families may find some peace.”Tears rolled down my cheeks as grief overcame me. The funerals were unending and the suffering endless. We had lost so many. So many.
“Never forget that because of your selflessness and extremely reckless actions hundreds of thousands of your people still live,”Kaelen declared.
I smiled at him.“I’m glad I fell into your lap. Even though you were a snotwad and stunned me.”
“We were fated to meet.”Kaelen kissed the tip of my nose.
Lightning bolts crackled around us.“Children have you forgotten your purpose? Find proof of Ziyn’s treason.”
“As you command.”Kaelen gave a slight bow and took a seat at the command console.
I touched Uncle Saul’s mind.“Sir, Qa’a cremated the human remains on the battle cruiser.”
“Good, I’ll notify the Pope to perform the Rite of Committal. The ship is empty?”
Since we had lost so many clergymen, the Pope was now our go-to guy for funerals.“Yes. Gael ate every one of the monsters.”
I felt Uncle Saul’s satisfaction and relief.“I’ll fly to the bunker and have Ben port me to the ship.”
“That will not be necessary. It will be my honor to bring the general to the ship,”Qa’a interjected.
I stared at him in horror. I was still dripping slime all over the floor and I never, ever wanted to ride the funnel again.“That’s a generous offer but not necessary. General Jones can use the portal.”
“I insist.”A tentacle guided me over to Kaelen.“Help your mate.”
A brilliant orange glow popped into existence.
“Yes, sir.”
The spinning light accelerated until a vortex formed. Bolts of green lightning crackled wildly around the growing opening. Qa’a walked into it and with a snapping crack it vanished.
“Uncle Saul you’re about to have a visitor and please accept his gracious offer of a ride.”
“What?”I felt his shock as the vortex appeared in the office.
Shit! Uncle Saul had gone into battle mode.“Put your gun away and pray Qa’a doesn’t have the munchies.”
“Not funny,”Uncle Saul growled.
Qa’a linked with me.“Where is your father?”
