"Sire," he stated, his eyes never leaving Ba'dqeel's. "We have found katutxoa on board the ship. We need to fumigate before we go anywhere."
I felt He'dtaalh stiffen under me at the other male's words, but what stopped me dead was a very limp-looking Fluffy hanging from his hand as he lifted it up to show proof of whatever he was saying.
"Fluffy!" I screamed, bolting off of the demon's lap and practically flying over to the new male. I snatched my poor little kitten and brought it closer to my chest. "Shhh," I murmured, stroking his fur as I tried to feel for his heart or even a breath.
The only problem was that he was so fluffy that I couldn't tell what was fur and what was him.
"I'm here," I continued, rubbing my cheek against his soft fur. "You don't need to be scared. I'm here."
There was a soft chirp, and one of Fluffy's bright yellow eyes opened to look right at me. Seeing that he was safe, he jumped up and went to hide in my hair.
Letting out a sigh of relief, I walked back to He'dtaalh, only to see him quickly get out of the chair and back away from me.
"Little One," growled Axis. "I need you to move very slowly. You have a katutxoa on your shoulder."
I blinked at him. "What's a katutxoa?" I asked, cocking my head to the side and inadvertently squishing Fluffy between my shoulder and my cheek.
Ba'dqeel slowly approached me like I was a ticking time bomb before stopping inches from me. It was weird to be having a conversation with a male when I only reached their belly button, but there was almost a four foot difference in height between us.
Realizing my situation, the ambassador sank down to one knee. There was a slight gasp from someone in the peanut gallery, and Ba'dqeel shot a dark look over his shoulder.
I didn't know what the implications of him kneeling in front of me were; I was just happy that I was finally able to look him in the eyes.
"Little One," he started, his gaze going to my shoulder where Fluffy was trembling in fear. "The katutxoa are a species of…" his voice trailed off as he tried to think of the correct word. When he finally found it, it only sounded like a short yelp with a click at the end.
My translator was unable to figure out what he was saying in English, so I just cocked my head to the side. He let out a frustrated sigh.
"They aren't as harmless as their appearance leads people to believe. They are a… parasite. Yes, parasite. They latch onto a being and begin to infect them. The unsuspecting victim starts to take care of them, leaving them food and water and looking after their younglings, until eventually, they are willing to die for the katutxoa. In less than a year, the katutxoa have bitten their victim, killing them instantly, before using the corpse for additional food as well as shelter for their youngling."
I blinked rapidly at Ba'dqeel as he continued to talk about Fluffy. "If they don't have a chosen host, the katutxoa will then turn to eating the voragyvis, a toxic species that is almost as deadly as the katutxoa. Thanks to the toxins entering the parasite's system, the parasite then becomes toxic itself. There is no known planet that will allow katutxoa, and any ships that they have been found on have either been fumigated in hopes that the parasites are killed."
"And if fumigation doesn't work?" I asked, completely fascinated with the male's description of the kitten.
"Then the ship is destroyed so that the katutxoa are killed," grunted He'dtaalh, his eyes never leaving my shoulder.
"But they aren't a parasite," I protested, grabbing Fluffy with one hand and bringing him to my chest. "It's a cat."
"I am unaware of this word… cat," grunted Ba'dqeel as he once again looked over his shoulder at the others. When they, too, shook their head, he turned his attention back to me. "But that thing in your hand is a katutxoa. And where there is one, there are many. We need to get the crew off the ship as safely as possible before eradicating the parasites."
"But it's just a cat," I sputtered, rubbing my face against Fluffy's soft fur. The four males that I tolerated let out a quick gasp as they all lunged forward, their hands outstretched. Fluffy and I ignored them, and the little kitten licked my cheek before burrowing down in my hold and falling asleep. "I won't let you kill them."
"Hirini," grunted Nai'dqa. "If you are going to risk the entire ship for your selfish desires, then I am going to have to eliminate the threat."
He spoke so calmly about killing the kittens that I had no doubt that he would follow through with his words. But if he was willing to destroy something that was smaller than the palm of his hand, then what would he do if he decided that I was a threat?
However, unbeknownst to every last male in the room, the tiniest of kittens had crawled up Nai'dqa's leg and bare back and was currently sitting on his shoulder, right under his ear. I had a brief thought if it was because the male's skin was so thick that he didn't feel her claws, or if the kitten was really just that good.
"I really don't think you are going to get the chance," I said with a sigh. Walking over to the vacated chair, I took a seat, adjusting the bottom of my makeshift dress to hide all my lady bits.
Placing Fluffy on my lap, I started petting him absentmindedly.
"Are they that much of a threat?" I asked, looking at Zua'the. I didn't know why, but I trusted him to tell me the truth.
"Next to the eight-legged voragyvis, they are the biggest threat in the known universe," nodded Zua'the. He had an earnest look on his face as he gave me his undivided attention. He was begging me, without words, to make the right decision.