The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

Jackal declined. He would rather head to a simulator for firearm training.

Mjolnir grumbled. He enjoyed his time on the Syndicate, but he was the only of his kind. Ardrizi were still working on a relationship with humans. Most of them worked as mercenaries, but Mjolnir actually joined the Federation. The humans kicked ass against the eldiravan and he wanted to see them in action himself. He wasn’t disappointed. Humans were a well-rounded species. They preferred the diplomatic way until it no longer worked. War was another tool, and they knew the tool well.

Being the only ardrizi on the ship was lonely. Mjolnir struggled with keeping his prowess up to par. Humans were frail compared to him. He had to hold back to avoid hurting them badly. Most were afraid of getting physical with him. Afraid of any confrontation.

Mjolnir headed to the training room. On the wrestling mat was Sparrow and Ruby. The latter of which swung away against the smaller woman’s defense. He was in the lead, pushing her to the edge of the mat. He let up, believing he had won, but Sparrow went in for a full body tackle.

She was big for a girl, good height, good weight, the ferocity of a soldier fighting for his life. She brought Ruby to the floor and sat on top of him. She gave him a punch to the side of the head and held him down.

The sparring mat came in two parts. A floor and a ceiling. Electromagnetism kept those on the mat on the ground by way of a flexible metal sock that fit over shoes.

Ruby started laughing. He lay there beneath her, hazel eyes gazing up to her. He took the loss with grace.

“Guess I win again!” Sparrow cheered, throwing both fists into the air.

Mjolnir clapped, tail flicking.

Both fighters looked up.

“Mjolnir!” Sparrow jumped and ran up to the big cat man. “You saw that, huh?”

“Impressive!” Mjolnir grinned. “Next time you should try dodging instead of taking those hits.”

“You’re talking to a steel wall there, Mjolnir.” Ruby sat up. “You know there’s no telling her what to do.”

Mjolnir crossed his arms. An ear folded backwards. “Perhaps you cannot, but we all know she takes advice.”

“Pfft! Not from an old cat! You’re too cute and fluffy.” She pinched at his cheeks.

Mjolnir grumbled and pulled back. A flick of his ears and he grinned again. “Cute and fluffy? Perhaps I am fluffy, but I am too scarred to be cute!” He poked her forehead with a claw. “Unlike you little humans. You’re all adorable with your guns and armors, acting like kings and queens, but you’re just as frail as a fleebeeron.”

“Don’t fleebeeron lack bones?” Ruby chimed in. He wiped his face dry with a towel and sat down on a bench.

Mjolnir chuckled to himself.

“Okay. Okay.” Sparrow raised a hand. “I’ll show you boneless!” She stepped onto the mat.

“Oh, ho, I’m sure you will!”

Mjolnir took it easy on her. It was good practice for self-control. He let her swing and hit him multiple times before deflecting and countering. He didn’t budge, but when he attacked, she stepped backwards to the edge of the mat. The only thing she could do was to knock him down by hitting him in weak spots; joints, such as the back of the knees, elbows, collar, neck. Yet his muscles were nearly hard as a rock, and Sparrow was not nearly strong enough to force his arm or leg to bend. She might as well have been hitting a brick wall.

Ruby sat back, drinking from a bottle of water. He gave a soft cheer whenever Sparrow landed a good hit or made a good dodge.

“Yeah, get him, baby!” He shouted.

By the end of the few minutes, Mjolnir had Sparrow on the floor. His foot on her chest and nearly no weight on her at all. She couldn’t sit up. Panting, she lay there with a smile.

Mjolnir grinned, removed his foot and gave her a hand back to her feet.

“You are getting better, little birdie.”

“Maybe one day I’ll be as good as you.” She brushed loose strands of her hair back into place.

Mjolnir laughed. “If you become an ardrizi, that would be the day!”

THREE

"Sir, I'm getting a signal in." Irzazee said from his console. He was a humanoid figure in a wetsuit, with small reinforced plating here and there and a large hump on his back like that of a sea shell curled into itself. Each breath he took could be heard through a respirator, water rushing through the tubing. It was clear his voice was computer generated.

"It seems there is a colony under siege from a fleet of pirates." He continued. "They are in need of supplies, but the pirates are raiding any ships that get within the vicinity and refusing to return the cargo to the rightful owners." He then added in quickly, "they are two light years away."

"Ah... that's typical." Reaper sighed. He was sitting a little higher than the others, towards the back of the bridge. He scratched his cheek. "Well, I suppose it'll be a chance to stretch our legs. Set course for that colony, we'll take care of the problem and share some of our cargo."

"Yes, sir. Setting course for Raasheen. I will start the automatic pod preparation for the jump while we approach the relay."

"Go ahead and send out the call for everyone to prepare. Let's make it as smooth as possible." Reaper leaned back. "Everyone, but Willis and Irzazee get ready."

Everyone got up and headed out. The speakers crackled with a robotic voice calling for everyone to prepare themselves and meet in their designated pod rooms. All the lights in the ship changed from fluorescent white to a deep yellow. Some lights along the floor flashed, pointed toward the pods.

It was routine. All occupants of the Syndicate had been through it before, save for a few of the youngest. Everyone was calm, chatting among themselves as they