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The Hev-thing was making a noxious sound that it took Kell a moment to realize was laughter.  It was superficially similar to the human sound, but reminded him more of a long-extinct Earth creature when it was dying.  They were unintelligent, though, and this thing was intelligent – in some way that was different from a human.

He wondered what they would taste like.  He had yet to consume a thing not from Earth, and he was growing more and more curious.

Humans had told him not to eat the food of other species, and he assumed that meant entities as well.  Granted, he would not eat any intelligent entity unless the situation arose that allowed it with a minimum of fuss.

Alien foods could poison beings from other ecosystems, though he knew it would not be an issue for him.  It did not matter in what way its most minute elements were mixed, they were the same elements.  That was all that mattered.

His chance to try, though, had yet to come, but he was patient.  Time meant nothing to him, and to have a novel experience . . . that was itself novel to him.  Something to look forward to.

Ks’Kull was saying something, his words apparently harsh, according to the device that he’d been given that translated alien words.  One day he’d simply know their languages.

Perhaps soon, he thought.

Though the one known as Ks’Kull – or stand-in, whatever, he did not care – was different than the others.  A most subtle difference in chemical signatures.  He doubted that even the sensitive equipment of the humans could have told, but he saw it innately.  How could he not, seeing from angles beyond their understanding?

How limited they were.  And as Ks’Kull now gestured sharply, Kell realized that something interesting was about to happen.  He saw the change from within the being first, and he gave the matter his full attention.  Ah, yes, the differences inside it . . . they were chemicals in small vials, distributed throughout its body.  And he saw now that the armor it wore was not true armor, but was built to shatter in a specific way when great force was applied to it.  He’d long ago learned about applying great forces in novel ways.

The chemicals reacted; exploding.  The Hev actor did not even have enough time to register surprise, though Kell felt certain it would have been surprised to know that it was a living bomb, trained to a higher degree and given greater autonomy solely to give Ks’Kull’s enemies reason to believe they were being granted greater prestige – and thus get them to lower their guard.

Its armor was shattering, hurling shrapnel towards Brooks and the others.  They would be ripped apart by it – the explosion itself would not be enough, the shrapnel would take care of the job.

It was time for him to act.

He only regretted that he would not get to consume the Hev; he and his guards were now in too many pieces, too charred and altered chemically to make it worthwhile for learning about them.

There would be other chances.  He just had to be patient.

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