I needed to be back on board for the return trip to Earth in three days. No, less than that now. The seventy-two hour clock was ticking.
The three men moved, hands up, in a circle. The challengers had stripped to the waist and dropped their weapons as well. It appeared this would be decided with hand-to-hand combat.
I should have been nervous that Kiel would lose, but something in the way he moved was almost magical. The other aliens had massive chests and arms, their bodies large and built for war, but I barely glanced at them. I couldn’t tear my eyes off Kiel.
When he moved, I swayed with him, as if I could feel his thoughts, his intention. The reaction was strange, but I felt linked to him somehow. One with him. And his confidence was obvious. There was no doubt in him. No fear.
His
