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“That’s better,” I said.
“Why does the rest of her body not move?” S’lec-Quos said.
“Better safe than sorry, sir,” Not George Clooney said. “She attacked me earlier and escaped.”
S’lec-Quos chuckled—what sounded like a chitter to my ears.
“You don’t say,” he said. “She’s more like the barbarian Titans than we thought.” It turned to me. “Speak, child.”
Every muscle in me bristled at being called a child. I wanted to scream and shout for help but it would be no use. I was far from home and no one could help me even if they did hear me. I glanced at Not George Clooney and his words of warning came back to me.
I bowed my head.
“I am at your command,” I said.
S’lec-Quos raised a leg. Not George Clooney shrank back, but his master only tapped him on the back.
“Congratulations,” he said. “You have finally done something that pleases me.”
Not George Clooney relaxed and rubbed his head against the creature’s leg. Seeing that made me feel sick. He wasn’t human but he had the appearance of one. A pet human.
“You were abducted from your planet,” S’lec-Quos said. “I am now your master. You belong to me.”
He wanted me to be his pet human. Fine. I could play that game. I bowed again.
“Yes, master,” I said.
“Are all humans this submissive?” S’lec-Quos said. “We could crush them like bugs in an afternoon.”
Not before you watch Independence Day, asshole.
Every fiber of my being rallied against being submissive. I’d never been a sheep and tended to fight even when I didn’t need to.
“We are the Changelings,” S’lec-Quos said. “We recently led a successful war against a species named the Titans. I don’t expect this to mean anything to you. Your species is backward in the way of the galaxy. But there are still those who might resist us—as foolish as that would be.
“They are a warrior race and will fight us to the death if need be. But they are also skilled miners and we need the resources they can extract. They will not attack without the support of their emperor or most powerful lord, of House Taw. Their emperor has abandoned his people like a coward. For now, Lord Taw does as he is told, but we need you to get close to him, to learn where his allegiance truly lies. With us? Or with his people? It has taken many years for us to overpower the Titans. And now that we have, we do not wish to let this chance slip through our fingers.”
“Why not remove him?” I said. “Then you can choose whoever you want to take his place.”
“Because Titans will not follow just anyone. They follow the strong, and those from an honorable line. Replace him, and they would only rebel, and they will not follow us, will not dig for us. And that would be a disaster. You must gain his trust and learn where his loyalties lie.”
“What do I get in exchange?” I said.
A helper’s mandibles quivered.
“Exchange?” it said. “The honor of serving S’lec-Quos is not sufficient?”
Not George Clooney stiffened. I noticed the barely perceptible shake of his head.
I smiled.
“Of course it is,” I said. “But someone so mighty and powerful as S’lec-Quos would surely give a big reward for completing such a mission.”
The helper stepped forward and waved his insect arms.
“He does not need to give you anything!” it said.
S’lec-Quos raised a leg for silence and appraised me.
