“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Usually, the warriors didn’t speak much of themselves to those not closely associated. However, these were unusual circumstances. Add in the fact this woman already appeared knowledgeable about them and he saw no reason to hold back. “Our seer uttered a prophecy the other night right after Aries met the alien commander. Something to the effect that the only way to defeat the ancient enemy was to broker a deal with the Martian Queen.”
Her laughter proved unexpected, rich—and apparently cock rousing. Embarrassing. Aquarius had long eschewed thecompany of women, not because he lacked interest but because he’d tired of meaningless sex. Why bother going through the hassle of flirting and all that for a single encounter? His hand did the trick with much less effort. It also didn’t require him to leave Tower, make witty conversation, or lie about what he did for a living.
“What’s so funny?” he huffed.
“You. This. The Mars thing.” She snickered.
“I’m glad you find the possible end of our world amusing,” he snapped, a rebuke that sobered her.
“Oh, I am not amused that the Earth is doomed. However, I don’t see how a dead planet is supposed to help.”
“Aries got the impression these aliens had been to our solar system before. It said something about a defeat?” he stated on a querying note.
“Probably referring to theastrolábosstymying their scouts.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I think they were beaten.”
Her expression gave no clue as to her thoughts. “If beaten, then why return?”
“Perhaps they were scared to, but now Earth is proving to be too big a temptation.”
“Nothing scares the Kukakk.”
“What did you call it?”
Her lips pinched tight. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit. I heard you call them the coo-cack.” He stumbled slightly over the foreign word, a rarity for a man who could speak, read, and understand every language known to man. A gift from the Astraeus. “You know more about them than you’re saying.”
“And if I do?” she hotly challenged.
“Then you need to relate to me everything you know.”
“I don’t have to do shit,” she spat.
“Even if it will help?”
“That’s just it. It won’t. The Kukakk are practically immortal.”
“Their pawns weren’t,” he countered.
“Because the Saursu are meant to be expendable. They’re launched first to cause panic in the populace and to sow disarray. Their ease in replicating means those defending against them never truly have a chance.”
“Except we beat them, remember?”
“Their masters, the Kukakk, aren’t so easily vanquished. For one, as you mentioned, they are not of fleshly or biological origin. Kill the body it inhabits and its sentient energy will enter another.”
“What if it’s trapped and there is no one it can possess?”
“Trapped?” Her laughter didn’t have the same effect as before, given its shrill high note. “These are beings of pure power; there are no walls, no prison they can’t escape.”
“How many of them would have been on their asteroid ship?”
She shrugged. “More than one I’d imagine but not too many, given their greedy nature.”
“Assuming only one landed on Earth, what happened to the others? Are they currently zipping around space.”
