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I could see her trying to make sense of her surroundings, her gaze darting around before finally settling on the panel at her feet.
I cursed under my breath.
Damn Ralor.
I should have seen his betrayal coming.
There were hints, sure, moments when I felt he might be straying from our cause, but to throw me intothe Mating Games?
This was beyond anything I could have imagined.
The Mating Games were notorious, a relentless challenge where the stakes were higher than one could fathom.
They were spoken of in hushed tones, a horrifying legend come to life.
Pushing aside thoughts of retribution — because therewouldbe retribution once I was out — I focused back on the female.
I knew how the Games worked.
There would be competition, alliances would be forged, and betrayals would be commonplace, but my main focus had to be on her.
The very structure of the Mating Games demanded it.
She seemed to have finally noticed the rest of us.
I could see her taking in the contenders in their respective capsules.
The countdown continued, each second drawing out longer than the last.
I took a deep breath, readying myself for what lay ahead.
Despite the suddenness of my participation, I was no stranger to challenges.
The arena might be unfamiliar, but the drive to survive and triumph was ingrained within me.
“One…”
I braced myself, every muscle taut with anticipation.
There was a slight lurch, an unsettling sensation of weightlessness, and then the pull of acceleration.
The once stationary chamber around me came to life with a series of mechanical whirs and hums.
The Mating Games had begun.
* * *
As my pod hurtled through space, I couldn’t help but let my thoughts drift back to the human female.
Shewould be my key to escape this madness, but there was something more, an inexplicable draw towards her.
I just hoped she’d see me as more than just another contender in this twisted game of chance.
The pull of the launch was nothing new to me.
Over the cycles, I’d flown in countless ships, experienced the jolts and shakes of interstellar travel, and grown accustomed to the momentary disorientation of quantum leaps.
The Malquarans had quite a reputation for cruelty and torment, but they weren’t stupid.
