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

search for clues of the AWOL White Death.

"Hold up, Ruby," Jackal called from the back of the shuttle. "Captain's walking up."

He gave a wave to Reaper. "Looking geared up just to say 'good luck,' Cap."

Reaper pulled himself into the shuttle. "That's because I'm coming with you."

"I got the best guys here. We can handle it."

"I know you can handle it. I just don't trust you." He pointed at Jackal.

Ruby laughed from the pilot's seat.

Jackal's jaw dropped. "What the hell?!"

"I don't want you to," he made air quotes with his fingers, "accidentally murder who we're apprehending."

Taken aback by that comment, Jackal made nonsense sounds.

"Don't act surprised. You're the most racist motherfucker I know."

"Captain's right," Mjolnir crossed his arms. "You're more likely to shoot an eldiravan than handcuff one."

With the shuttle door shut, Ruby powered up the shuttle for landfall.

"That's not true!" Jackal whined. "I don't murder people. I kill them before they kill me."

Reaper laughed.

"It's fine, Jack. We're gonna find her, put her in the brig and I'll handle it from there." His nose scrunched up. "I have to admit, Fenris you...smell awful. I mean, a lot worse than usual."

"Yes, my nose is offended by that stench." Mjolnir agreed.

"No smell." It retorted.

"You seriously can't smell it?" Jackal asked.

"He's used to the smell...when was the last time you bathed?" Reaper strapped himself into his seat.

The valkyrie was quiet in thought. Then shook it's head. "Never."

They collectively responded with genuine horror.

"That fucking settles it." Jackal stated. "You're getting a bath when we're done here."

"I'm sure you can borrow a pressure washer." Reaper said.

"Might need two…"

The shuttle shook as they entered the atmosphere of Thacatis. It felt ready to fall apart.

"When are you humans going to get better spacecraft?" Mjolnir shouted over the roar of the quake.

"This is better than the original!" Reaper answered.

“Yeah, this one won’t actually fall apart!” I added.

“This does not make me feel any better!” His ears bent back.

It lasted only minutes. When they broke through the atmosphere, the shuttle slowed down drastically. Shark fin wings unfolded from the sides, helping stabilize the craft. The jet thruster activated, kicking the shuttle backwards. Speed slowly increased.

“Captain,” Ruby called. “Radar shows a storm approaching.”

“We’ll be fine as long as we stay inside the colony.”

A tree the size of a mountain, a trunk twisted, and branches like an umbrella and lilac lily pads for leaves gave shelter to the colony. The buildings were jagged like a collection of boulders. Separated by paths of amethyst grass. The colony matched the planet seamlessly. Had they not known any better, they would have flown right by it.

There were only three landing pads just big enough for one shuttle each on the outskirts of the colony. One of which was already taken up by a Garchtan combat ship. Amber painted wings curved out and to the front of the ship, with a few series of layers for heat exhaust vents, and missiles which hung on the underside. The cockpit pointed forward into a spear tip, leaving the back end of the ship for the crucial systems.

Ruby landed the shuttle on the farthest pad and shut the engine off.

“Either we were beaten to the punch, or this White Death guy is an idiot.” Jackal said. He unstrapped from his seat and pushed the door open.

“It might be all she has.” Reaper said. “Besides, it might not even be hers.”

“We should find out before it’s too late.” Mjolnir stated.

The streets were filled with fleebeeron and ardrizi alike. They shopped together, ate together, and sat around gardens to bathe in the sunlight. Homes were made out of trees and giant flowers. Ponds and streams dotted the landscape.

“Sparrow would love it here.” Ruby said.

“I’m sure any hippy would,” Jackal chuckled.

Majority of the fleebeeron took wide births around them. They whispered among themselves. When approached, they gasped and ran in the other direction. The ardrizi barely acknowledged them.

Mjolnir caught sight of a particular woman who was sitting on a stone, cleaning a spear.

He approached her, leaning down to inspect the weapon.

"That's a fine weapon there." He purred.

Her ears flicked backwards. She put the end of the spear into the dirt. "It was my father's." She said.

"I meant those claws." He grinned. "Were those your mother's?"

She snorted. "Do you need something?"

"Wouldn't mind those in my back." He slipped closer to her.

"Think I'd rather they be around your neck."

"I could arrange that." He touched her waist, joining her on the stone. "As soon as I'm done with my mission."

She sniffed at his cheek and leaned into him. "And what's your mission? We have no trouble here."

"I'm looking for a particular eldiravan in white armor."

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a collection of gunshots rang out from across the city.

"It's over there!" Ruby pointed.

"Put your dick up, Mjolnir! We gotta go!" Jackal shouted.

"That's my cue." He nosed her cheek. "I'll come back for you."

They rushed towards the sound of the gun fire, right into the oncoming shadows of the storm. They went against the current of fleeing fleebeeron. A few ardrizi stood around, looking to see what the commotion was about.

As they neared where the gunshots came from, a man screamed.

They rounded the corner, running right through a stream.

A mission gone wrong. Four eldiravan in orange and yellow armor were laid out in the middle of the street. One was propped against a wall, head drooped down. Yellow blood poured out from his neck. The other three collapsed on the road. One face down, a knife still stuck in the soft part of the armor. One of them coughed. Tried to move.

Reaper hurried over to him, kneeling down next to him. He pushed the eldiravan back down to keep him from hurting himself more. That yellow blood stained the armor, seeped into the grooves of the street.

"Relax. Stay down." He looked up to Jackal.

"Fuck you," the eldiravan choked.

"We're here to help."

He hissed, laying his head back.

Jackal went to hand off a first aid kit only to catch the glimpse of something white as