Primal Bond (Warlords of Vasz #4)

22. Chapter 22

Chapter twenty-two

T he Ironclad pulled up to the space station, its viewscreens revealing the sight before it.

The station was a ramshackle thing, a patchwork of metal and slag, built up in layers over who knew how many years. Wires and tubes snaked across its surface, leading to strange devices and jury-rigged machinery. It was like no other station, a hodgepodge creation that spoke of a hundred different hands and a hundred different repairs. It orbited its obscure moon like a hermit, far away from any of the more bustling spaceports.

Finn hovered uncertainly behind Zanik's seat. "What is this place?"

"You've never heard of it," Zanik said. "It's not big enough to be known by humans — it's barely known by Borraq, either."

Despite its ramshackle appearance, docking didn't take long. Zanik moved to the Ironclad's exit, the ramp lowering with a hiss. He turned back to Finn, peering around the corner of the docking bay doors. "You’re coming with me."

Finn's expression shifted from confusion to alarm. "What? Out there? With more Borraq?" His eyes darted toward the station. "Are you crazy?"

"They won’t hurt you. Not here."

Finn's brow furrowed, doubt flooding his features. "How can you be sure?"

Zanik stepped closer. "This isn’t like the rest of Borraq space. This place is… unique."

Finn took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on the station outside. Zanik sensed the boy's fear. It was palpable, like an electric current in the air. But there was something else, too — curiosity flickering behind Finn's warm brown eyes.

Zanik hadn't met Finn before he was taken, but he could guess well enough that Finn liked to stretch his legs. He'd only ever seen Finn inside a ship, or being shuttled to and from the club on a leash, but it was clear that he wasn't cut out for being locked up. "Trust me."

Despite his visible nerves, Finn moved beside Zanik. "Okay... Lead the way."

The docking bay opened into a maze of corridors. But unlike the rust and metal scrap of the other stations, this one had more… eclectic tastes.

Zanik led Finn through the station's hallways, each filled with mismatched furniture and half-finished projects. The walls were decorated with hand-painted murals of colorful figures and dense forests, giving the place a chaotic charm. Dim lights hung from the ceiling, casting warm glows on the eclectic assortment of plants and trinkets that adorned the tables and shelves.

Zanik's sharp eyes scanned the corridors, catching sight of familiar faces. They were an odd bunch here, but even they couldn't miss that a ship had docked with them…

Finally, three Borraq came pounding down the corridor.

“Zanik!” one of the males shouted, his voice booming off the walls. His name was Jarek, a muscular Borraq with a thick mane of hair that fell to his shoulders, framing a rugged face. “Look who finally decided to visit!”

“Thought you were too good for us now!” teased a female. Tira, her slim horns spiraling elegantly. She wore a necklace made of woven vines, and her golden skin glimmered under the soft lights.

“Yeah, what gives?” piped in the second male: Grom, shorter but stockier than Jarek. He bounced on his feet, a wide grin splitting his face. “We were starting to think you’d forgotten about us.”

Zanik forced a smile, his annoyance fading in the face of their genuine excitement. “I had business to handle.”

As they crowded around him, Finn lingered just behind, his apprehension growing. “Who’s this?” Jarek asked, peering at Finn with unabashed curiosity. Finn straightened, clearly trying to exude confidence despite his racing heart.

“This is Finn,” Zanik said, motioning toward him. “He’s my companion for now.”

“A companion?” Tira echoed, eyes sparkling with mischief. “What a cute little human you’ve got there, Zanik! What’s he like? Can he fight?”

“Can he fight ?” Grom snickered. “Look at him! He's tiny!”

Finn bristled, the teasing sending a flush to his cheeks. He opened his mouth to retort, but Zanik cut in. “Careful, humans are dangerous things. Watch out, or you might find yourself on the wrong end of his wrath.”

Jarek hesitated, peering at Finn. “Really? He doesn't look it… But Zanik’s vouching for you, so you must be special.”

Zanik glanced at Finn, who still seemed hesitant and out of place. “This is a haven for… strange Borraq,” Zanik said, choosing his words carefully.

Jarek let out a hearty laugh. “Strange, huh? You’ve always had a way with words, Zanik.”

Tira rolled her eyes, smirking. “ Finn , was it?" The sounds of his name were strange in her mouth, unused to human words. "It's true. We’re not exactly the warlike type. Didn’t have the guts for the battlefield. And clan life? Too much structure for our taste.” She said structure like it was a curse word.

“Yeah,” Grom chimed in. “So, we built this place together. A little sanctuary for the likes of us. And guess who helped us get started?”

Finn looked at Zanik, surprise evident on his face. “You did?”

Zanik shrugged, feeling a rare sense of discomfort under Finn’s scrutiny. “I cut them a deal on materials. Nothing more. It was that, or leave these young fools to flounder in space until their oxygen materializers cut out.”

"Aww, you like us."

"I couldn't have the deaths of idiots on my hands."

“Always the modest one,” Tira added, her eyes twinkling. “He likes us — even though he pretends not to.”

Finn’s brow furrowed, taking in the scene around him. “So, you trust them?”

Zanik nodded, his gaze steady. “I do. They might be... unconventional, but they’re reliable. I leave important things with them for safekeeping.”

Grom puffed out his chest proudly. “And we take that responsibility seriously. Anything Zanik gives us, we guard with our lives.”

If Zanik wanted that kind of assurance, he'd leave his things on stations that had trained security, and weaponry systems that actually worked more than half the time.

No, this was security through obscurity. No-one came to the odd little commune out here — in a small part because of the fear that its strange ways might somehow be contagious.

Zanik nodded to his old friends, then glanced at Finn. "Stay here. I need to collect something."

Finn looked at him, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty in his eyes. "Okay, but don't take too long," he said under his breath. "These guys are... a lot."

Zanik couldn't help but smirk. "They won't bite."

As Zanik walked away, he heard Tira's playful voice behind him. "Come on, Fi-nnn. We have some tea and treats. You're so small, you must be underfed!"

Zanik moved down one of the joyfully-painted corridors, his footsteps echoing off the metal walls. Eventually, he made his way through the maze, coming to the point he'd remembered by heart.

He reached for a panel, hidden behind an old tapestry depicting a forest scene from Vasz. With a practiced hand, he slid the panel aside, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside lay a wrapped bundle.

His heart thudded as he pulled it out. The cloth felt rough and familiar against his fingers.

Carefully, he unwrapped it, revealing his clan blade.

The weapon's polished surface gleamed under the faint light, the intricate carvings on the hilt telling stories of battles and honor.

Holding the blade again after so long, Zanik felt a rush of conflicting emotions. He remembered the countless hours of training, the sense of purpose he once had.

But that felt like another lifetime, another person. The war had changed him, made him a smuggler, a loner.

Could he ever truly go back to who he was?

He tested the blade's weight in his hand, the balance still perfect, as if it were an extension of his body. If anything could help him take down Rivek, it was this blade. A tool of honor, now repurposed for a mission of revenge and survival.

With a deep breath, he secured the blade to his belt. This wasn't a promise. This was just… just the best tool for the task ahead of him.

As he made his way back, the sounds of laughter and chatter grew louder. Re-entering the room, he found Finn seated among the three misfits, a bewildered yet amused look on his face. Tira was offering him a steaming cup of steeped Borraq tea, while Jarek piled a plate high with colorful cakes. Grom, meanwhile, was poking at Finn's arm, marveling at the human's thin skin.

"How do you stay warm?" Grom asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Finn chuckled nervously. "We wear clothes. Lots of clothes."

Jarek laughed heartily, like Finn had just told a joke. "That's so strange!"

Finn glanced up, relief washing over his face when he saw Zanik. The look in his face said it all: Can we go now?

Zanik nodded, suppressing a smile at the sight of Finn surrounded by the doting misfits. "Let's go."

Tira pouted. "Aww, but we still had questions!"

Zanik raised an eyebrow. "Another time, perhaps."

They made their way back to the Ironclad, the weight of his blade a strange presence at Zanik's side — odd after so long apart, but familiar.

He was picking it back up as a different man.

And this time, he had something new to protect.