“What happened?” Thia gaped at the ten large bodies strewn around their camp. To Hauk’s credit, he’d dispatched them quickly and in virtual silence. An impressive feat for anyone.

Hauk moved to the body closest to him so that he could search it. “Big fluffy bunnies paid us a late-night visit. And look, kids, they were kind enough to bring us ammunition and weapons. Could they be any more thoughtful?”

Ignoring his sarcasm, Thia aimed her blaster toward Sumi, who held her hands up again as she feared her imminent death.

“Stand down.” Hauk jerked his chin to the body at Thia’s feet. “They’re not League. Look at them. They’re incas.”

Sumi frowned. Incas were independent contract assassins who didn’t follow League protocols. They were killers for hire, regardless of law or procedure. If you paid their exorbitant fee, they would deliver the head of whomever you named.

Thia toed the body by her feet. “Are you sure?”

He gave her an offended glare.

Without another word, Thia examined the body she’d toed in a way that left Sumi astonished. Most girls Thia’s age would be sickened or horrified by the grisly sight, and honestly, she was a little herself. While she wasn’t fond of killing, she really didn’t like handling dead bodies. But Thia acted with the abrupt sternness of a seasoned soldier. “There’s nothing on this one. You got any markings over there, Uncle Hauk?”

“No.” Standing up, he shot the body again.

Sumi arched a brow at his actions.

“For being so damned inconsiderate,” he explained. “And waking me up from a good nap… toe-humping bastard.”

Still ignoring him, Thia sat back. “Are they all human?”

“No.” Darice kicked at the legs of the one closest to him. “This one’s Partini… Partinai… Partiny? Whatever you use for them. They’re a screwed-up race when it comes to singular and plural.” They were also a race known for their brutal fighting skills. It was hard for anyone not born of their breed to hold their own against them, never mind actually kill one.

Highly impressive.

As Darice skimmed the bodies and he noted their number, he duplicated Sumi’s earlier gape. “Gah, Dancer… You took them all out without even breathing hard. How?”

Bracing his forearm on his bent knee, Hauk gave his nephew an irritated smirk. “What do you think I do for a living, boy? Bake fucking cookies?” He holstered his newly found weapons and continued to search bodies.

“I thought you did IT for the aristos. Computers and desk stuff.”

Thia laughed out loud. “You’re so stupid, D. You really think your uncle keeps a body like that from lifting microchips? Yeah… Stay delusional. The planet Oblivion needs more occupants.” She moved to untie the lorina so that it could patrol for others. “I don’t know how they got through my traps and alarms that I set earlier.”