Creature Worlds: Solar Slick Read Free Page B

going to either,” he said.
    I stopped dead. “What?”
    Tigg turned around and took my hand, urging me onward. “I have a ship. If we hurry we can make it to Earth, clear your name, and make it back before Clay suspects anything.”
    “Wait!” I said, digging in my heels, bringing us to a stop. “If we by some crazy chance ever cleared my name on Earth, why the hell would I come back here?”
    Tigg looked like the idea had never crossed his mind.
    “Besides, if we do come back, Clay is expecting a bag of menite.”
    “Has Clay actually ever seen menite in its base form?” Tigg asked.
    I shrugged. “I dunno. And I really don’t want to take that chance. You don’t know him like I do. I’m afraid to cross him.”
    “I’m not.” He gave me a determined look and then started walking again. I followed.
    “You don’t even know what it is I’m accused of doing on Earth,” I reminded him.
    “Whatever it is I’m sure you’re innocent. Or else you were coerced into doing it.”
    He was right, but that still didn’t mean I could get out of it. I had gone along with Clay’s schemes and in the eyes of the law I was guilty. “If you have a ship why don’t we go someplace else?”
    “This is my home. It will be our offspring’s home as well.”
    Oh yeah, I’d forgotten he’d supposedly knocked me up. “The baby would be fine growing up someplace else.”
    “No. Lizords must be reared on Treox. Our young feed on the jineg bugs native to this planet.”
    Gross.
    “But you’re forgetting he’s half human. Maybe he won’t want to eat bugs.” Was I really having this conversation? Tigg stopped suddenly and swung me up into his arms. “What’re you doing?” I asked.
    “We need to hurry.” He began to jog and then sprint, then run. The scenery flew by me in a rush while I clung to his neck. It was several minutes later when he finally slowed down. He stopped and set me gently on the ground. “We’re here,” he said, walking over to a tall bunch of bushes. He began grabbing at the branches and tossing them aside revealing a spacecraft hidden beneath.
    “Cool,” I said, wandering forward. The craft was small and sleek, one of the newest and fastest models. “How’d you get it?”
    “Hard earned money,” he said.
    If he had a craft like this then he was definitely not thinking of spending his every waking moment on Treox. This was a craft built to leave the planet, not zoom around on it.
    “You’re full of surprises, Tigg,” I said, impressed.
    He began feeling around the crevices of the craft. “Damn.”
    “What’s the matter?” I asked.
    “Teneg, my brother, was the last to drive it. He borrowed it and I told him to replace the key where he got it. He hasn’t.”
    “Well, it’s gotta be here some place.”
    We spent the next several minutes searching the outside of the craft and the area around it. Tigg shook his fist in frustration. “That imbecile probably locked the keys inside.”
    “You think?”
    “He’s done it before. I have a second set but they’re at my apartment. Now I’ll have to go all the way back and retrieve them.” He looked at me regretfully. “I’m sorry, Minka, I can get there faster without you.” He came forward and kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be back soon. You’ll be safe here.”
    “Wait,” I said as he crouched down, preparing to take off.
    “Yes, my love?”
    I sighed. Tigg was willing to risk everything for me. Despite me being wanted on Earth, he was prepared to leave his home and go there to help me clear my name. We hardly even knew each other, and yet, he would do it for me.
    I had to trust him.
    “I can get inside the craft. I’ll open the door and you can look for the keys,” I said.
    “That’s impossible. You can’t get in without the key.”
    “I can. Just don’t freak out, okay? Promise me.”
    He looked at me funny, but then gave a quick nod of his head. “Promise.”
    I closed my eyes and concentrated, just for a