Free Krac's Firebrand by S. E. Smith Page B

pain, shutting down the nerve-endings long enough to send enough nano-bots to retrieve the information before they were destroyed by the corrosive blood.
    “Tell me,” Krac bit out.
    The massive creature chuckled. “You cannot use your talents on me, assassin. My blood can kill anything.”
    “So can mine,” Krac growled as he sent a command.
    The creature’s laugh turned into a choked gasp as waves of electrical currents rocked through his brain, making his body stiffen. Krac pushed more of his blood into the cut. He ignored the feeling of metal on flesh that told him that the creature’s blood had eaten through the outer layer of flesh covering his skeletal frame.
    “They’re gone,” Pius cried out as another wave hit him. “They left.”
    “Where did they go?” Krac demanded.
    “They are looking for the girl,” Pius choked out.
    “What girl?” Krac asked, pressing deeper until the metal tip of his finger sank into the meaty flesh.
    “The one… the one that took the kid,” Pius groaned.
    “The child is not with the men who kidnapped her?” Krac asked in disbelief.
    Pius tried to shake his head, but it was impossible as the metal rubbed against the outer bone protecting his brain. He had never met a creature in any star system that could survive having his blood on them. That was one reason the Leader had chosen him. The Leader swore that his corrosive blood would protect him from the monster that would come looking for the kid.
    “What are you?” Pius asked in pain.
    “Who was the woman? What did she look like?” Krac asked instead.
    The faint vision of a shadowy figure formed. It was too disjointed for him to get a clear picture. He needed a name, either of the woman or the starship she was on. She must be working with the New Order. She was probably sent to take the child so it would be more difficult for him to track. A low curse escaped him as he realized he was still one step behind those responsible for taking Violet. He would kill the woman as slowly as he had killed every other creature he had encountered so far.
    “Don’t know her name,” Pius whispered. “She said she needed a part. She just wanted a part.”
    “Do you know what starship she came in on?” Krac asked, pressing the metal tip of his finger deeper.
    “Wait! I heard one of the men say she was Ti’Death’s daughter . Lulu Belle . She is captain of the Lulu Belle ,” Pius forced out as he remembered. “She is…”
    Pius never finished his sentence. Krac had enough information. The mysterious and very dangerous Razor-tooth Triterian was involved with the New Order. Krac had heard of Bulldog Ti’Death. The male was extremely wealthy and dangerous. It would appear his daughter followed in her father’s footsteps.
    He would have to be very careful. He hadn’t been joking when he said he would have a hard time defeating a Razor-tooth Triterian. They were massive creatures with layer upon layer of scales that were as strong as the metal that made up his skeletal frame. They could unsheathe claws over a foot long, making it difficult to get close to them. If one was able to get close, they had rows of razor-sharp teeth that could slice through skin and bone with one swipe.
    Krac stared at the exposed tip of his finger. With a silent command, tissue began reforming over it. Within seconds, the flesh was once again soft and gray. That was just one of the advancements designed into him over the original Alluthans who would have needed to replace the finger. He glanced at the slumped body of the shopkeeper. Fury burned through him that Violet was exposed to such creatures. Now, she was in a far more terrifying situation.
    Yes, he thought as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and exited the dim shop. It would be difficult to kill Ti’Death’s daughter, but not impossible. I just hope she has not harmed Violet first.
     

Chapter 11
    “Ahhhh!” Violet cried out as the sword went through her. “You…” She