Fox got up and walked back to the co-pilot seat, and sat next to Kiyo-zan. He patted Kiyo-zan’s back. “We’re safe to fly through.”
Jaxx closed his eyes, concentrating on Slade’s energy. “Slade is underground someplace. It’s under the largest skyscraper.” He opened his eyes and strolled to the cockpit. “Somebody else is with him. It’s a male. Human.”
Fox glared out the window. “Who would be with him?”
“I don’t know.” Jaxx rested his hands on Fox’s headrest, and pointed. “There. You see it? Land this bird right next to that big-ass skyscraper.”
The building was massive, and there would be no way Kiyo-zan could miss that. Kiyo-zan dipped his head. “Hai, soo desu ne.”
“You have to go through the city gates first,” said Fox.
Kiyo-zan lowered the craft, heading toward two doors in the city walls that were the same size and width of the city walls. He tapped a few holographic buttons, and monitored his approach by staring at a screen in front of him, and then out the window, and again at the screen.
Jaxx leaned forward. “Glad we didn’t try to fly over the walls. You see that?” A slight haze domed the city.
“A shield,” responded Fox. “We’d be a sizzling pile of shit if we tried to go through that.” He grunted and massaged his fists.
Jaxx could tell that all Fox had in mind was screwing Slade’s face up, most likely ending the guy’s life. It would be harder than Fox could ever imagine.
The city doors opened outward. Several Kelhoon soldiers stood on platforms built into the doors’ city side. They worked on holo-computers. They all stood when they saw the ship flying into the city. They punched their chests, then raised a fist in the air. Their leader had arrived.
Fox turned in his chair. “Your soldiers are saluting you, Okbak. Brings a tear to my eye.” He smirked and turned back around.
They flew past the open door, and over domed buildings, and by skyscrapers that were lined by empty streets. A hover-train zipped down a road, perhaps carrying a load of Kelhoon warriors, then curled around a building, and down another side street. A large castle stood in the middle of the city, surrounded by dull-looking warehouses.
Help me, Jaxx.
Jaxx cocked his head to the side. He turned toward Zara and took a seat. Zara was watching Okbak, making sure he was staying in line.
Find me.
A strange sensation came over Jaxx. He buried his head in his hands, searching for the mysterious voice. It was weak. Injured. Most importantly, the source of the voice was nearby.
An energetic map of the city came to Jaxx’s mind. He moved from building to building, scanning for life forms that were in danger.
In his mind, he came upon a crowd of Kelhoon congregated at a building close to one of the city’s massive walls. A flash of red, huddled in a room on the third floor of a six-story building, blinked on and off, then vanished. His gut twisted. That precious flash of red was soon to be overrun by the Kelhoon amassing on that floor.
It was Rivkah. But where were Bogle and Abdu? They should be with her. And how did her energy vanish like that?
Jaxx swung around, viewing the city through the cockpit window. He rushed to the cockpit, surveying the buildings. “There,” he motioned toward a building next to one of the massive side walls. “Rivkah is in there. Change direction. We’re heading to that building. We hover next to a third-floor window. I’ll tell you exactly where when we get there.”
Kiyo-zan pulled a sharp right, changing direction.
Jaxx ran back to the ship’s aft ramp. “Let’s back in toward the window. I’ll open the ramp when ready.”
Fox unstrapped and stood. “The hell we will.” He pounded his fist on the seat. “You turn this bucket back around. We stay on course and get Slade.”
“That will come next,” replied Jaxx, his hand resting on the ramp open switch. “I think I found Rivkah’s energy. She is in that building and needs our help.”
“You think you found her?” responded Fox. “All you have is that you think you found her? That’s the basis of us changing our plans?” He scowled. “Let me tell you something, Jaxx. I’ve been doing your shit, your favors, and have been your Goddamn major help during our time on Callisto.” Spit came out of his mouth when he spoke. He took slow steps toward Jaxx. “And this is how you thank me? No, this is how you thank us? By again doing what you want, instead of what we want?” He threw a punch in the air. “Not now, not today, Jaxx. We are going after Slade. That is the consensus.”
Jaxx dropped his hand from the open switch. “Kiyo-zan, stay on course. We’re getting Rivkah, then we’ll execute the plan that Fox has for us.”
Fox took another step toward Jaxx. “The hell we are.” He kicked a chair. “Zara, tell him what our plan is.”
“Throw me your phaser, Fox,” said Zara.
Fox stopped. “Why?”
“You are becoming too aggressive and cannot be trusted with a gun. Remember, we are all on the same team.”
“Try saying that to Jaxx-boy over there. He’s making decisions for us, not—”
Zara roared, her eyes like ice. “Get back into your seat, pink-skin, before I throw you in your seat. If it is Rivkah, we need her. She comes first. Your human, unevolved revenge comes on your own time, not ours.”
Fox straightened his lips, clenched his jaw, and flexed just about every muscle in his body. “Try putting me in my seat, pussycat.”
Jaxx, please come to my aid.
It was Rivkah, and to top it off, Fox was getting on his last nerve. He thrust his hand out, and a flash of energy rushed out of him like a river breaking through a damn. Fox lifted off of his feet and toppled over a row of cabin seats.
Jaxx strode over to Okbak, and leaned down, speaking into the lizard’s ear. “Tell your soldiers to exit all buildings, now.”
Okbak shook his head no.
“Then we have no choice.” He straightened, hands on his hips. “Kill him, Zara.”
As quick as lightning, Zara had her bamboo rifle off of her shoulder and pressed against the prime chieftain’s eye.
Okbak lifted his hand. “I will do as you ask.” He tapped behind his ear. “This is Kajka Okbak. Let—”
Fox came leaping over a chair and with a fist, slammed it hard against Okbak’s temple, and followed with a knee to the Kelhoon’s chin. Okbak’s eye slits closed and he collapsed unconscious.
Fox twisted, and lurched forward, planting his hand around Jaxx’s throat, and pushed him against the hull. “Turn this craft around. We’re going after Slade, not some chick you want to put your dick in.”
Jaxx shoved his forearms into Fox’s chest. Fox lost hold and flipped backward and landed on the cabin floor. Zara planted her foot on his stomach. “Don’t move, pink-cheeks. I’m saving you from your friend here. He has grown in strength and is much more powerful than you.”
This is my last calling, Jaxx. I can’t hold them off for long. Send help soon.
“Koko ni,” hollered Kiyo-zan.
Jaxx glanced up and out of the cockpit window. Kiyo-zan was right. They were at the building. “Third floor, eighth window to your left.”
Jaxx ran to the open switch and pounded it with his fist. A loud hiss and a ball of steam expelled at the ramp’s seals, and it began to open.
27
J-Quadrant, Solar System - Namuh Farms, Callisto
A group of Kelhoon stood behind her door, and Rivkah held her rifle as steady as possible despite her shaking, bloody hands. The door knob jiggled, then stopped. It was locked. Clicks and incomprehensible words mumbled loudly behind the door.
But Jaxx heard her calls. Jaxx was coming. She closed her eyes, balancing the rifle’s barrel on her knee. She proceeded to make herself energetically invisible again. After each thought packet she had sent Jaxx, she’d vanish herself in the ethereal realm just like Abdu had taught her.
But the Kelhoon had her dead to rights trapped in this room. Slade most assuredly knew where she wa
s.
The door burst open. Rivkah aimed, her finger on the trigger. The doorway, and the portion of the hall in front of her, was empty. She closed one eye, targeting with her other, waiting.
A Kelhoon’s hand quickly appeared and came up into a throwing position, a round, metallic device in his hand.
Rivkah was faster.
She squeezed the trigger the second she saw the Kelhoon’s throw.
Fffwapooosh!
Her shot connected with the device the moment it left the Kelhoon’s hand. The doorframe and hall went up in a burst of flames, sending a wave of heat into Rivkah.
She rolled away, her injured hand stinging like no other. The doorframe and the carpet danced in a blazing inferno. If she didn’t get out of here soon, she’d burn up all over again.
She dashed out of the living room and toward one of the bedrooms. She’d have to blast through the walls and into another apartment and continue to do so from apartment to apartment until she found herself safe.
A yank on her collar, and she was pulled to the ground and on her back. Her rifle slipped out of her hand and tumbled to the floor. She gazed up, her forearms crisscrossed in front of her head in a defensive position.
A Kelhoon, his clothes and skin on fire, stood over her, a knife in his hand. He swung, the tip of the blade heading for her chest.
Rivkah flipped her legs up and wrapped her lower legs around the Kelhoon’s striking forearm, and twisted her hips. A snap, and the Kelhoon dropped to its knees, the knife falling from his hand. He screamed in a hissing fit of pain.
“It’s not only your arm I’m going to break, you asshole,” yelled Rivkah, moving to her feet and grabbing his knife. She dashed forward, shoving the blade through his chest. She pushed forward, slamming him into the wall, then jumped and spun in the air, her heel connecting to the side of his head. “It’s your chest, too.”
He stumbled into the growing fire, motionless as the flames consumed him.
Wapooo! Wapooo!
A second and third Kelhoon jumped into the room, guns blazing.
Rivkah brought up her Chi, doing her best to shield herself from the incoming phaser blasts, then curled over as one shot hit her stomach. She flipped back as another shot slammed into her chest, a streak of cold ice penetrating her torso.
She unclipped a KH Whistle from her belt. “If I die, you die.” She brought the knife to her mouth and clinched down on the blade, her hand readying to turn the detonation dial.
Another shot landed on her leg, taking her off her feet, a forth shot whizzed by her head and cracked into the wall behind her. The KH Whistle flew out of her hand, landing next to the large windows. She was unable to set the detonation switch. Falling to her side, she reached for it, but it was out of reach. She scrunched up into a ball, readying to take the brunt of the shots that were no doubt coming to end her life.
Ksshhhh!
A window broke. Glass splashed across the room, covering Rivkah, and riddling the two Kelhoon aiming their weapons at her.
Rivkah rolled to her back, clutching her chest and stomach, feeling the blood well up under her hands. But when she saw Jaxx, a moment of triumph came over her and for an instant, the pain travelling throughout her body subsided.
Jaxx held two phasers and with both his arms extended, he popped shots into the two Kelhoon standing over Rivkah.
Green blood splattered on the walls as the Kelhoon jerked back and dropped dead to the floor, twitching. Jaxx raced forward, sending another shot at a Kelhoon rushing through the doorway, ending that lizard’s miserable life.
A wall of fire consumed the hall and doorway, and Jaxx backed up. Anyone deciding to come in and go out this doorway would be insane.
Rivkah reached up with her hands, her arms shaking, her body going weak. “Help.”
Jaxx grabbed her, pulling her close to his body, and carrying her to the window. “Back the craft up, Kiyo-zan,” he shouted.
A cool wind blew against Rivkah as Jaxx took a step off the window sill and onto a ramp. He hurried her into the craft’s cabin and laid her onto a row of seats.
Her body was cold, her breaths short. She wanted to give up, to let life take her to the next stage, the stage of blackness, of nothingness.
Zara pushed Jaxx out of the way and touched the top of Rivkah’s head. The lioness nodded, her eyes sad. She unclipped a red vial from her chains and parted Rivkah’s lips. “Drink up, darling. Drink up.”
Warm liquid touched her tongue and made its way down her throat. Rivkah blinked, then blinked again. Her third blink didn’t open, and her eyelids remained closed. She took a long, deep breath, her body tingling, and her vision fading.
She lifted her head a few inches, whispering, “I think I’m dying.” She let her head fall back onto the seat cushion. “Save the kids, Jaxx. Please save them.”
28
E-Quadrant, Solar System - Whitefish, Montana
The blue man stared at him, his eyes calculating who Drew was and why the intrusion, almost as if it was completely out of place for Drew to be in the bar, and not the other way around.
The alien pressed a few buttons on a console fitted on his chest. Several buttons lit up in different colors. He moved his gray lips, though no sound came out of his mouth.
Drew picked up Megan’s rifle and slowly stood, keeping his eyes on the big guy. He held the rifle in one arm, its weight almost too heavy. Drew backed up with Mya still in his arms. She stirred and yawned. She rubbed her eyes and rested her head back on Drew’s chest, her leftover sweat and tears cold against his neck, matching the icy feeling taking over Drew’s gut.
“Who are you?” asked Drew, his voice sharp, strong. The exact opposite of what he was feeling.
The blue man pressed more buttons on his chest console. “Is this your language?”
Drew nodded. “Yes, I understand what you’re saying.”
The man nodded in response. “And I understand what you’re saying.”
The guy’s voice had a robotic and metallic resonance. It held no emotion, no sympathy, no care, just like the guy’s face.
The blue fellow didn’t have a weapon in his hands, and from first glance, Drew didn’t spot one on the guy’s body. Drew lifted his rifle higher, aiming it at the man’s head.
“Why are you lifting a weapon in my direction, human? I did nothing to initiate combat. Or perhaps I scare you?” He glanced around the room. “None of my other comrades are here either, so you’re safe.”
“Who are you?” Drew walked a few paces closer to Megan, who still lay unconscious on the ground. “Better yet, what do you want?”
He patted his chest. “My name is ZEC-B5. My name is much longer than that, and has a different tone when speaking in my formal language. You can call me Zec, for short as I understand from my initial input that your culture has a tendency to cut longer names in half.” He washed his hands together, his big biceps and triceps bulging with every movement. “I’m not here to kill you, either. I’m here on a peace mission—” He paused. “My readings suggest you like peace? It’s a good word? Is that correct?”
Drew puffed out his lower lip. “Sure.”
“Fabulous,” he pumped his fists up in the air. “Let’s raise the roof, shall we?” A fake smile lifted his cheeks up. “I’m here on a peaceful mission to take that girl that you’re holding.” He put his hands out, waiting for Drew to drop her in his arms. “Come on. Give her to me.”
Drew pulled Mya closer to his body. “Uh…I’m not going to give you this little girl.”
“Humans are an understanding lot, able to see both sides of a story. Okay, so I will tell you ours.” He tapped a few buttons on his chest console. “Our story is simple. We can’t get inside this city without you handing her over to me. And it’s in your best interest to let us inside because we will modify this town, just like we are modifying this world, and make it a better place for all interested parties.”
“If you can’t get inside, then how did you get here,�
� replied Drew, backing away and toward the bar’s main door.
Zec stood as still as a rock. “Many of us have made it into this city, yes, but this girl keeps putting a stop to the majority of our attempts. Thousands of my kind have died in this portion of your Earth, and it is in this portion that this one mere girl has almost single-handedly defeated us. Yes, granted, a few of your military personnel have ended many of our people’s lives, killing a few of our reconnaissance troops, but like me, a few of our scouts have managed to slip under your shields without being shot.”
The front door burst open, and as quick as a flash, a small mounted cannon popped out from Zec’s back, lifted above his head, and shot a myriad of fiery projectiles at the door.
Phckjrrr! Phckjrrr!
The bar rumbled and Drew fell back, Mya in his arms, and landed on his rear.
The projectiles hit the front wall, ripping the wall off of its foundation, and throwing flaming wood and shards of glass onto the street.
Wapooo! Wapooo!
Two ion bolts flew through the smolder and struck Zec in the chest. Smoke rose from two puncture wounds and he stood his ground, touching the holes in his torso. Blue blood oozed and Zec touched the blood with his fingers. He lifted his hand to his face and stopped. He stood like a mannequin, unmoving, unwavering. A spark blasted out of the back of his head and he teetered forward, dropping to the floor like a dead weight.
A person in a battlesuit, Marine insignia design on the suit’s chest, walked through the dying fire where the bar’s front wall used to be. He held phaser guns in each one of his hands.
The Marine turned his head, noticing Drew. He walked forward.
Tsche! Tsche! Tsche! Tsche!
He stopped and holstered his weapons and brought his hands to his mask and helmet. A sizzling sound and a pop. Both items dropped to the floor. “How the hell did you get my daughter?”
It was Segarra, his eyes shooting venom at Drew.
Drew looked at Mya. She blinked her eyes and rested her hand on his chest, her soft touch soothing Drew for the moment. She yawned, glanced at her dad, and wiggled out of Drew’s arms. She landed on her feet and rushed her father. “Daddy, daddy, daddy!”
The Complete Atlantis Series, Books 1 - 5: Ascendant Saga Page 86