He is staring at me staring at him—Yup, classy as always. Hey, I said I am good at assessing people critically, not that I am super clever about it.

Thankfully Sica comes to my rescue as she glides in like a predator on the prowl with Nekkal just a few feet behind her.

"Good, you are all here. We are getting ready to warp any time now, so we need to get you two on your way. I take it you two have met?"

I just look at her. Still recovering from being caught in my apparent scrutiny of the guy, I find my tongue is refusing to move.

"Ah, no. Sorry Lady Secretary, I am afraid we have just arrived ourselves." Mister top-heavy gives a dashing smile to Sica.

The new guy is smooth. Voice a deep purr like warm butter melting on toast.

Ugghhh. I groan inwardly—charming males with large egos. I barely contain my eye roll.

Practised smoothness like that doesn't put you in my "liked" category, ever. Too much smoothness usually leaves a slime trail.

But Sica smiles back at him. Granted, it isn't a friendly smile. It's more predatory, like she wants to eat him. And not in a kinky kind of way either. Maybe his fluency in bullshit bothers her too.

"No problem." Purposely ignoring him, she focuses on me. "Marshal Zea, this is Ufrik." With that, she looks pointedly at the Commander, daring him to correct her. Or does she want him to add something?

Whatever. I don't care. My rank isn't going to save my ass from death. They will probably be finding a new Marshal soon either way. But who names their kid Ufrik? Poor bastard.

I take note that Ufrik has no rank, or at least it isn't being offered. That is interesting. Merc? Independent pilot for hire? I can figure it out later. Doesn't matter right now.

I notice Sica hadn't bothered introducing me to Ufrik. She doesn't like him. I make a mental note. Just one more thing to make me question my new partner.

"Nice to meet you, Ufrik." I decide to play it cool.

Doing my best to act like I hadn't been giving him the once over just a few minutes ago, I extend my arm in greeting. He takes it to my surprise. I had wholly expected him to snub me, thinking he is better than me. He has that air about him.

Yet, I am even more surprised when a jolt of energy shoots up my arm when our skin makes contact. It sends pins and needles through my body, starting from my forearm. I can feel my arm hairs standing up straight.

What-the-fuck!?

His eyes widen ever so slightly as he registers his own shock for half a second. He quickly collects himself and purposely releases my arm, being careful not to pull back too fast.

Huh. So that caught him off guard too. In a way, this is good news. Flexing your power like that with someone you don't know is either a warning or a threat. Or foreplay, but we aren't exactly there yet, and I doubt we will ever get that friendly.

I don't want to deal with this at the moment. He might not even know he is an energy bender. That's scary.

There are a lot of species that can harness the many different energies in the Universe. Many learn to harness their own individual energies too. Perhaps this is where the folklore of magik comes from in some species.

These people can only bend one specific type of energy, and it comes naturally without guidance. Energy benders call these people Natives. They are born native to one particular strand of energy.

Either way, I will have to tread with caution around this guy. This is not facilitating a trusting relationship for the partnership we need.

Damn. I hate feeling unsure. Especially about people I have to complete a mission with.

The muscles in my neck flex and my face hardens. I have a shit job to do with a possibly unstable, powerful, energy bender.

How the hell do I always end up in impossible situations? It has to be Karma.

However, as his gold eyes continue to stay locked with mine, a familiar feeling starts to unfurl in my gut. Intuition is telling me there is nothing accidental about what just happened.

Mother of stars.

Suddenly Ufrik takes a step back, once again a look of surprise on his face.

Shit. Get a grip, woman. I scold myself as I realize I am glaring like I want to kill.

But it isn't him. I need to be cautious with him, make sure not to get too close, but I can't blame him for my being here. Or can I?

Had he just been testing me with an energy probe? Did he know something about me? Ok, I have officially made my head hurt with trying to sort this out. Now isn't the time to figure this out.

I don't get a say anyways. Yet, I can't just go on a mission with this guy without knowing anything about him. My instincts are screaming danger.

Ugghhh. Why can't things just be simple? Why couldn't he just be a dumb grunt good with a gun?

In my mind, I do a quick assessment of the situation and decide more information is needed before I do anything. Like, spend hours alone on a death planet with him.

I check myself. Inhaling deeply, I remove my death glare from my face, forcing my muscles to relax into bland indifference.

I ask, "Before I confine myself in a small enclosed space, travelling to that forsaken death trap down there with you, I need to know something, Ufrik."

The air starts to get thick with tension, even with my efforts to diffuse the situation. His surprise is gone. He rises to what he feels is some kind of challenge. Straightening his back and lifting his chin slightly, his gold eyes blaze brightly at me.

For half a second, I suddenly lose focus. His countenance overtakes my senses. I wonder if he truly knows how intimidating he is as he stands to his full height, chest expanding, square jaw jutting out and a hard look forming on his face. Energy beats out in intense waves of power as he composes himself.

Blazing stars. I force myself to not suck in a breath of awe.

Maybe I could grow to like him. Anyone this scary can't be all bad. Ya, I know. My reasoning is messed up. I like what I like, and I am not ashamed of it.

"And what would that be, Marshal?" His voice is a low rumble. It holds a genuine warning at how dangerous it would be to piss him off.

I bite back a smirk. This may work out after all. Depending on his answer, that is.

"Why did you volunteer?" I look into his eyes, challenging him to try and lie.

He raises an eyebrow at my question. He hadn't expected it. What had he expected me to ask? His voice comes back impassive, empty of all emotion.

"Armada gave me two options, spend the rest of my waking days on Xartics or volunteer for a top-secret mission that requires my unique heisting skills." His eyes hold a glint of humour for a second. Something about his situation is funny to him, and I understand why.

He hadn't volunteered at all. It just sounded good on Armada paperwork.

Xartics is a desolate frozen planet with nighttime temperatures that could freeze you stiff in under 5 minutes. Rumours are, somehow, the other exiled convicts that had been sent there had found a way to survive under the heavy layers of ice. It is just a rumour.

The idea that anyone found a way to break through the surface, to get under the ice, seems impossible. I am not about to discount the rumours either, though. I have seen crazier things.

So he is an outlaw then. Interesting. What could this overgrown male have possibly done that was so evil that Armada wanted to exile him?

His answer is an honest one, at least. He hadn't volunteered to get close to me. That's all that mattered to me right now. The energy probe and Ufrik's past can wait.

I keep the cool look on my face, refusing to show I see the humour in his situation too. I am not ready to make friends just yet. Instead, I grace him with a curt military nod as I turn to Sica.

"Is there anything else, or can we leave?" May as well get this over with.

Sica looks back at me for a moment, bestial eyes glowing with an intensity no Zukrog could ever imitate. Then glancing between me and tall, broad, and untrustworthy, she answers.

"We have put everything you should need on your ship." She focuses on Ufrik and smirks, adding, "It's state of the art, brand new technology purchased from Quantum 4. Almost as small as a personal interstellar ship but will handle warping to anywhere in the Universe. I will let you discover the new weapons for yourself, Ufrik. But, I recommend you do your homework before you use them."

Sica's animalistic eyes laugh at Ufrik. Inside joke, obviously. Maybe that was how he had gotten caught? Trying to heist technology he didn't fully understand?

But a better question is why Armada is buying technology from anywhere in the Iornos Galaxy? I smell something rank.

If they are willing to do business with the one group of planets that are their sworn enemies and who are possibly trying to obtain the same objective, then Armada is up to something.

"Great! I will head to the ship now then." I look at Sica in case she wants to add something else.

She just nods a silent farewell. As I turn to leave, Nekkal stops me mid-stride to the door, forcing me to tilt my head sideways to look at him.

"Marshal, I cannot stress enough how important it is you succeed in this."

I can see a war in his eyes. Once again showing the most un-Zukrog characteristic I have ever witnessed in the military. I get the impression he wants to explain further, but his eyes flick to Sica, who is giving him a terrifying look.

For being one of the shortest and smallest species I have ever encountered, the Nefiram can sure look scary as shit. I nod at him and find myself doing the most uncharacteristic thing.

Turning to face him fully, I place a hand on his forearm and give it a quick squeeze, offering what reassurance I can.

It feels odd to want to offer comfort, but he struggles with a deep-seated turmoil of some kind. I guess it tugs at my heartstrings. Ones I hadn't been aware I had, honestly. Then I turn back and stride to the door.

I almost reach it, with no intention of acknowledging the Commander-in-chief. Stupid, maybe, but I am about to die, so who gives a shit?

However, he stops me too. He is standing to the side of the door, an intense look full of sincerity storming across his face. It gives me pause.

Whatever the end purpose is in saving this frozen Human popsicle, it is crazy important. This is officially the weirdest day I have ever had with Zukrog and emotional issues.

"Good luck, Marshal. I hope you make it back with your objective... Alive."

Well damn.

I acknowledged the truce we have just reached. I stand at attention, saluting my Commander-in-chief. He returns my salute before nodding his farewell.

I finally stride out the door towards the docking stations, not caring or looking to see if Ufrik follows. We will meet aboard our new ship sooner or later.

I hope it doesn't have these creepy bio-mechanical living walls.

It is one thing to have the latest and greatest technology at your disposal, but it is another if you have to live with it. Did you have to feed it? Nope. Just nope. I don't want to know.

As I round the first corner, leaving the view of the conference room door, I hear another manly shoulder slap, and the Commander say, "See you soon, Ufrik. I will be waiting."

Footsteps echo behind me, gaining ground quickly, and I soon find myself walking side by side with Ufrik.

I am reasonably tall for a female of any species, standing at six-foot-four, but he makes me feel small. It's an unusual feeling for me. Even Britt, who had been six-foot-ten, not much shorter than Ufrik, hadn't made me feel so small.

I have spent a lot of time with Zukrogs in my day, most being as tall as me or taller, but none of them ever had a massive upper body like Ufrik's.

His shoulders almost spanned the entire doorway when he had entered the conference room. I wonder how strong he'll be down on the planet with its weak gravity.

We will have to set the ship's atmosphere to mimic the planet's, giving us a few hours to readjust, or in his case, adjust for the first time. I am interested to see how quickly he adapts. It will tell me a lot about his travel experience and natural skills.

Suddenly Ufrik's deep voice echoes gently in the empty corridor startling me out of my contemplations.

"So, Marshal, are you afraid to die?" His voice is teasing but not entirely joking. It is the planet of death, after all.

I cock an eyebrow at his question, giving him a sideways glance. His eyes dance with humour and excitement, even though his face remains stoic.

The thought of possibly dying not only excites him but seems to please him thoroughly. Or does he think my death would be funny?

I feel a smile tug at my lips regardless of the reason for his good humour, and I look away, pretending to be unmoved by the question or his mood.

Why did he have to be so charismatic? Ugghhhh!

"I hate to disappoint you, Ufrik, but death is afraid of me!"

At first, I hold my face deadpan, but I soon feel myself giving him my best cocky grin.

My excitement at the thought of our impending doom sends a thrill through me. That thrill of the unknown, the rush before a battle. It is one of my favourite feelings. Better than any drug. Knowing each day could be your last, your next step could be death; it's intense and exhilarating.

I know my eyes dance wildly at him. It looks like we may have one thing in common. A twisted desire for all things scary as shit!

What could go wrong with two people, who both get off on the idea of possibly dying, being partnered to complete some secret mission that neither of them gave a shit about?

This may turn out to be a beautiful thing. Or a fucking disaster.