A Threat Revealed (The Burnt Ship Trilogy Book 2) by T. S. Beier

Author:T. S. Beier [Beier, T. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nostromo Publications
Published: 2022-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14: Stares

After days of being stuck in Cheli’cerae’s personal shuttle (if he was even telling the truth about that), Stares was growing more bored by the second. While the Trychu, for some reason, had a few Terran books (Stares couldn’t read Strenoi or Pir-An, at least not enough to get much out of a book), je wasn’t what you’d call a reader at any juncture. Most of the Trychu’s video media was religion-based, which bored jer to gnawing on jer own flesh. Je now knew the central tenets of the Trychu’s philosophy, at least the version that Cheli’cerae’s ship followed, and while je still thought it was amusing how much they venerated silver, je had grown sick of the colour.

The only thing that kept jer amused was trying to hack into Cheli’cerae’s computer, which je still hadn’t been able to do. Two days ago, Cheli’cerae had told jer he was sick of speaking Rip, and to brace jerself. Stares was struck by the same pulse as the first-time je was in the ship. Like then, the pain in jer head was exquisite, making jer body grow stiff and jer eyes widen, but je forced jerself only to hiss slightly.

Cheli’cerae hadn’t said je was impressed with jer reaction to the pain, but the way he had rubbed his jaw with his hand had made jer think he had been. Unfortunately, the modification to jer brain, which he could or would not explain, only affected speech and not visuals. Je couldn’t read their language.

Stares was almost elated each time Cheli’cerae showed up with meals he would share with jer. It gave Stares something to do with jer time.

Today, instead of stalking in with his usual pompous flair, Cheli’cerae barged into the jut. Stares spun listlessly in his seat. The chair was more of a glorified stool, given the requirements of the alien carapace, with two armrests that curved out from underneath the central pole and up to where the Trychu’s lower arms would be. Stares sat in it with jer butt on the stool and jer legs draped over one armrest and jer back against the other.

The Leadership stood over jer in what Stares assumed Cheli’cerae thought was a menacing pose. Stares gazed up at him, unimpressed.

“Get out of my seat!” he bellowed.

Stares rolled jer eyes. “You’re the one holding me here!” je protested. Je could easily have moved, but je was bored, and Cheli’cerae was clearly in a mood. Annoying him was much more entertaining when he was already frustrated.

The Trychu hissed at jer, his arms opening wide in an aggressive stance. Stares glanced blandly up at him, then looked down at jer long claws. Je picked at one idly.

“Is it true you guys believe that the universe was created by a single fleck of silver dust?” je asked.

Cheli’cerae reached down and bodily hauled Stares from the chair by the arm.

“Get out of my seat! I need to check something!”

“Well, shit!” Stares replied. “No need to get all huffy.”

Cheli’cerae said nothing as he sat in his chair and began to type.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.