Dragon and Liberator

Very well, we'll try it, Draycos said thoughtfully. But save the tangler for future use. When we reach the Brummgas, just get me as close to them as you can.

Okay, Jack said doubtfully. You sure we want to reveal you this soon?

Trust me, Draycos said. Just get me close. And let your arms hang as limp as you can.

Jack frowned. As limp as he could?

But there was no time to ask about it. He turned the corner and found himself once again facing a door and a pair of armed Brummgas. He didn't break stride but continued confidently toward them.

The aliens were trying hard to look casual, and they were doing a rotten job of it. Their postures were stiff, their studiously unconcerned faces included masses of tense muscles in throat and jaws, and their hands hovered way too close to their holsters.

But at least they hadn't drawn the second Jack appeared around the corner. It was looking like his take on the situation had been right. As close to them as I can get, right?

Yes. If possible, get between them.

"What do you wish?" one of the Brummgas asked, his voice as pretend casual as his face.

"I need to take a look at the big gun," Jack said. Staying with his last script ought to make everyone think he didn't suspect they were on to him. That should persuade them to give him a little more rope to play with. "The Lordover wanted me to run a quick check on it."

"Very well," the Brummga said. Unlike the last time, Jack noted, neither of the aliens made any move toward the door release. "Come," the Brummga added, gesturing Jack forward.

Obediently, Jack stepped toward them. As he did so, one of the Brummgas unglued himself from the deck and started forward. Careful, Draycos warned. He's going to try to intercept you, with the other staying out of reach as backup.

I'm on it. Waiting until the Brummga was nearly to him. Jack half-turned as if he'd heard something behind him. As he did so, he gave a little sidestep, just enough to sidle him smoothly past the approaching Brummga. Jack turned back, doing the same step in reverse, and landed squarely between the two aliens. Time you go, buddy.

Arms limp, Draycos reminded him. The Brummga already in motion braked to a halt and reversed direction. Both aliens were now moving in on him. Jack felt a surge of weight on his chest and inner arms as the K'da came partially off his skin, pressing out against his flight suit.

And to Jack's astonishment, his arms abruptly swung upward of their own accord, his hands jabbing straight toward the Brummgas' throats.

There was no time for him to even begin curling his hands into fists. But there was no need. As it had been Draycos's forelegs that had swung Jack's arms upward in the first place, it was also his paws that lifted just far enough off of Jack's palms to slam with devastating force against the Brummgas' throats.

The two aliens dropped like stunned moose, slamming to the deck with a double thud the whole ship must have felt. Quick—inside, Draycos urged as he melted back onto Jack's skin.

Jack jumped over the prone Brummga blocking his way and hit the door release. The door slid open, and he sprinted inside.

To find himself facing three more Brummgas.

They were standing between him and the Death weapon, their mouths widening with surprise even as their eyes began to narrow with anger.

Uh-oh, Jack thought toward Draycos, the momentum of his forward rush faltering. The Brummgas reached for the guns belted at their sides—

With a flash of black-tinged golden scales, Draycos shot out of Jack's collar, his rear paws shoving hard against the boy's chest as he arrowed straight for the Brummgas. There was a blur of paws and tail, and all three Brummgas went down.

"I'm guessing we're finished with the subtle approach?" Jack suggested, rubbing his chest where the K'da's paws had shoved against the skin.

"There was no other way," Draycos said, turning to the Death weapon. "You eliminate the cameras. I'll deal with this."

"Right." Jack leaned down to one of the unconscious Brummgas and pulled out his gun. A single three-shot burst from the weapon shredded the camera over the door. He turned to the one in the corner of the room, waved cheerily at it, and shot it out, too. "Now what?" he asked, tossing the weapon aside and looking back at Draycos.

The subtle approach was definitely over. Half of the Death weapon was already scattered across the deck in mangled pieces. Draycos was still working on the other half, quickly but methodically shredding it with his claws. "There," the K'da said, flicking his tail toward the hull-side bulkhead.