“How was your trip, Kayel?” Teekay asked as he and several guards ushered the All-Ksa into his quarters. “Productive, I hope?”
“I guess?” Kayel shrugged. “You seem rather frantic.”
Teekay didn’t answer. He was in charge of all forms of protection of his fellow Skyavok. He was always frantic and it vaguely annoyed him that Kayel had only just noticed. Or did he mean more frantic than usual? Either way, he didn’t have time right now for banal chitchat.
“So why are you dragging me away?” Kayel was basically talking to himself. As were the other Skyavok in the room. All rambling on about goodness knows what. It was supposed to have been a simple meeting between the Skyavok leaders and a handful of snake-like beings that wanted to discuss… something. Teekay wasn’t particularly sure, he just knew that he needed to get everyone out of there.
The snake things weren’t impressed. They hadn’t liked Teekay from the beginning. They seemed to have some sort of awkward radar, picking out thoughts, memories, opinions and other tidbits that would potentially embarrass their victims. They gleefully exclaimed to everyone in the room that Teekay was a virgin and that he was somewhat getting desperate. That last part wasn’t true, but in a room full of beings, some of whom had worked as sex workers and prostitutes, it was enough to get a handful of audible gasps.
That ‘reveal’ though was the perfect opportunity for Teekay to start pulling people out. That was when he caught that scent. A weird, twisted scent, badly hidden by flowery perfumes and the stench of alcohol. These beings were a threat. Perhaps intentionally, perhaps it was part of their natural chemistry. Either way this scent was corrupting the minds of his fellow Skyavok.
And corrupting them in a weird way. Subtly driving them loopy. Making them say things that the snake beings liked.
“Why are you leaving?” one of the serpents hissed. “Are you not liking us?”
Teekay sighed, then nodded his head. One of the other, intoxicated Skyavok shook their heads and blurted out something about the snake creatures being beautiful. This clearly was something they were doing on purpose. Between the talks of cults of love, the strange feelings about economies and the scent, they had to be plotting something. Unfortunately for them, Teekay had worked out what they were doing.
Several other K-Class Skyans entered the room, wearing hazardous material suits, making sure they were completely out of contact with the serpents and their scents. They hurried the remaining Skyavok out of the room and into the room next door, which had otherwise been properly sealed up and prepared for detoxification. Teekay waved at one of his fellow Ksa and told him to escort the All-Ksa out while he dealt with the serpents.
“On behalf of the Skyavok, please vacate the premises and return to your ship.”
One of the snakes laughed. “On the authority of who?”
“While the All-Ksa is intoxicated or otherwise in danger, the leader of the K-Class has authority to remove persons from the situation.”
“And this leader of this so-called K-Class is?”
“Me. I am the leader of the K-Class. For your own safety, return to your ship.”
One of the snakes snarled, spitting a vile substance in Teekay’s direction. With just a flick of his armoured claws, the offender was restrained by telekinetic chains and knocked out cold.
“You hurt her!” another snake hissed, inching forward.
Teekay remained calm. He could feel the serpents becoming more and more aggressive. “Leave. Now.”
A particularly busty serpent rushed forward, only to meet the same fate as the first snake.
“Last warning. Attempt anything else and I will use true force.”
The snakes relented. Two K-Class Ksa created telekinetic barricades, stopping the serpent creatures from veering off track, leading them back to their ship.
With the room properly vacated, five more K-Class started steam-cleaning the room. Teekay walked outside, signalled to three fellow Ksa, then headed into the detoxification room.
“What are you doing in here?” the All-Ksa slurred, his senses finally clearing up.
“Decontaminating myself…” Teekay sighed. “Need to lock the place down. And unfortunately, Enkay will have to destroy those beings and their ship for me…”