by C. R Corbin
There was nothing.
"You think they're waiting for an ambush?" asked Koros.
"I don't know. Is your radar picking up anything?" I asked him and he shook his head.
"No boss." he said.
"What about Kagi?" I asked.
"He's making his way to the extraction point right now." he said.
"Alright then, to the tunnels we go I suppose." I said to him.
She takes my hand and we dash down the stairs which were situated in the corner on the end of the hallways, the brutalist stone architecture of the entire building already started to take its toll on me so I could only imagine how she was feeling at the moment. Her eyes were dead but I could feel an aura of relief from her, she was glad to be free, glad to be out of this mess and I was glad for her.
"Almost there, come on." I said.
She only bites her lip and nods.
The prison was incredibly tall, the stairs would have taken forever to traverse but there were elevators installed at most floors. In addition we discovered that there was a secret back path of tunnels that we could enter and escape from. We charge down the stairs and I hear the guards approaching now, every inch of the hall was covered in shadow. I could hear their chatter, their weapons cocking.
"Right here?" I asked Koros.
"Yeah, i'll set the charge." he explained.
I keep a lookout while holding onto her with my left arm. She stared at me, quivering slightly. It seemed like she was still in shock over the entire experience. I take the few seconds that I got to look at her real closely. Her blond hair flings over her face and she sighs, her back arched slightly while she hugged my torso. Her curves press into me, her ample breasts and her arms wrapping against my side as I feel my member harden. I looked down at her crotch and imagined the kind of flesh that was there. I wanted to bend her over the railing of these stairs right now and fill her.
"What's your name girl?" I asked her in my stern voice, I was still in merc mode. As soon as she shivered while glancing at me I knew I should have used my gentle voice. I soften my glance and she seems to be fixated on my eyes but eventually gathers the energy to answer. Her voice was parched and rough but I could still make it out for the most part.
"Helen." she said and I nodded.
"I am Osorn, we're here to take you back to...." I began but cut my sentence, I realized that she would likely flee in fear if I told her that I was hired to take her to another crime boss. A crime boss that might be a bit better to her but a crime boss nonetheless. She didn't seem to be too thrilled at the idea of hearing anymore about prisons at the moment and I wasn't going to add onto those fears.
"Thank you." she whispered into my shoulder.
The feeling of that pale skin on my blue shoulder was peculiar, I feel her heat radiating onto me, her lips pursed while she kept her chin on my shoulder. My fangs poked out from my lips and my red eyes glowed in the dark, to a human that has no experience with aliens she might have been shocked, she might have thought I was a demon.
But no....the only thing I saw from her was a gentle glance.
I hear the charge beeping in the background and held her tightly, I order her to duck before the charge goes off behind me and I tremble. I looked back to see the rubble falling to reveal the pathway. I take her hand and guide her along, she follows closely with Koros leading the way. His rifle lifted and his brows furrowed as the laser aim from his rifle beamed across the darkness of the tunnels. I turned on my plasma light and soon we were enveloped in a ball of white light. There were miles upon miles of these tunnels through the entire prison complex, luckily our exit was only a couple hundred meters away.
"Alright, here we are." said Koros. He walks up to the weak spot and presses his grenade into it and runs back, soon a beam of light shone through. He jumps behind the wall next to the hole and gripped his gun tightly. Once he made sure that the coast was clear he led us out.
And for the first time in a month she saw something else other than that horrid place.
CHAPTER TWO
Helen
For a simple hole to some back alley it was beautiful.
The sun shone eternally on this city so there had to be sunroofs installed at certain intervals to give the residents some form of night time. The stones bundle beneath my feet, the soles of my shoes stained with ash and my blond hair in ragged tatters behind me. I stepped out and looked around before turning my eyes skyward, it was daytime, good, I needed some sunlight. The two men sent to rescue me looked around with their guns first before carefully guiding me out of the back alley. There was a car waiting for us at the end of the hall, a man was already inside, the same race as my would be heroes.
The one that held me caught my eye in particular.
I gazed at him, his red eyes shining and his black hair flickering in the sun. He stands there, tall and proud with his muscles tightening. I couldn't see too much of his body since he was wearing some sort of black battle armor but I imagined that he must have been in incredible shape. His pecs tighten and he glanced over me, shooting me a gentle smile to reassure me, I was certain that this wasn't something he gave out too often, he rescinded it a few moments later, a shade of doubt cast over his eyes for some reason.
"You're safe now." he said to me.
I looked into those red eyes, they contained a lot of pain, a lot of loss, his face bore many scars, many markings on his chin that indicated a life of war. He and his friend seemed to be rather skilled in the art of combat, his nature was rough but it betrayed an underlying sense of kindness, an underlying sense of sweetness that was lacking in all the other alien's that I interacted with. Granted those were guards and jailors but still...this man made me feel different, a lightness that was expanding in my chest. It was if I was being granted an immensely compelling reason to pursue him, to hold him and to be with him. He had a quality that was even rare in humans.
He understood.
"Get in." he said and I hopped in the car, dashing over the leather and crawling onto the middle backseat, shaking before he shuts the door behind him. It was a standard four door car, it didn't hover like I would have expected but it was certainly more futuristic, I would have thought they all had teleporters. I sunk into the seat and hear Osorn saying "Go!". The car speeds off with my back rubbing the black leather and the sun peeking through the tinted windows. I shook there for a moment before Osorn strokes my shoulder to reassure me, I glanced at him and he held that same stern look but his eyes indicated a want for something else, a desire to smile and tell me that it would be alright.
"Well that went better than expected." the driver said.
"How many were there Kagi?" the other man in the back, the man to my left asked the driver, Kagi.
"Not that many Koros, maybe thirty. They’re scattered around the entire place so when I set off all the charges it sort of sent them into a scramble." Kagi replied.
"Part of me thinks that this is way too easy." said Koros.
"Yeah I get that feeling too. No way he would let a prize like her go free. Not when he had to travel that far across the galaxy to get her." said the driver.
"What do you mean? Who are you guys? Why are you saving me? Who wants me?" I asked.
"Oh darling.....you were the property of a crime lord by the name of Kaiso. He runs things around here, we're under the employ of an organization that has taken a particular interest in you." said Kagi.
"And what do you plan on doing with me?" I asked.
"That's up to our employer, our only directive is to take you to him, nothing more, nothing less." said Kagi, I bite my lip and nod. I turned to the left to see if the alien was glancing at me but instead he was looking directly at Osorn.
"You seem awfully quiet Osorn. What's wrong?" Koros asked him.
"Just thinking about the potential mess that we got on our hands." Osorn said, he was still holding me, hugging me tightly with his fingers wrapped around my should
er.
"It's more than that. You've been holding that girl for an inordinate amount of time. Getting attached to the cargo huh boss?" Kagi asked him and he immediately let go of my hand, much to my dismay.
"I am not." said Osorn.
"Yeah well better not boss. I don't think Jumo is going to be too happy if you end up liking his prize too much." said Koros.
"Who knows? Might be his mate." joked Kagi and I felt Osorn immediately grow a bit more indignant. He shakes his head and furrows his brow.
"Fuck you guys. And keep your eyes on the road Kagi, they're sending cops through every inch of the city so keep your eyes peeled." said Osorn.
The car was moving much faster than an Earth vehicle, the images outside the door zoomed past me. I glanced at the buildings that melded into a simple grey stroke. My hands were shaking and I got a little sick but Osorn holds my shoulders, he smiled at me and I nodded, I don't think I had anything to throw up at this point anyways.
"Incoming!" shouted Koros.
"Hold on!" said Osorn, he cocked his rifle and opened the window.
He stuck his head out of the car and I looked out the back window to see two cars speeding our way. In front of us were several more, they were attempting to sandwich us in but my protectors had other plans. The car continued to speed and by some miracle we manage to slip in between a pair of the vehicles in front of us. Our car shakes as we scraped the sides of the other cars, I tremble and quiver while we continue speeding down the road.
"Firing!" shouted Osorn as the energy beams began to shoot out from his rifle.
This was all so strange to me, back home we still used bullets not whatever was being used here. The air lights up, the plasma shining as a purple beam stretches out from the rifle and hits the asphalt near the cars. I wanted to cower but I had to keep my gaze on this. I had to see it. There were several beams being launched at him as well but he was such a good shot. They struck the tires of the car behind us and used the vehicles to flip into a mess of metal while we dashed away.
"Turn, get on the highway! Get us out of here!" said Osorn, his gloved hand hugging the seat while he leaned out the window. I feel the car shift and the images distort even more before we reach something that they called a highway. I could call it a city in itself.
Its length and width were massive, it stretches far beyond what was even the largest roads back on Earth. The lights of the cars on the pathways shone like a thousand candles in the night, they all blurred together into streaks of sepia tone light. I feel our vehicle shifting, we were turning down something akin to a corkscrew to reach the next exit.
"Whew! Earn that money boys!" shouted Kagi.
"Would you shut up?!" hollered Koros.
"They're going to be alert so I need your help for this one Koros. Get down Helen, you don't want to be hit by any potential gunfire. Even if they are trying to take you alive I don't give Kaiso's soldiers that much credit." said Osorn. I nodded and hugged my knees but still managed to still be somewhat alert in order to see whatever else was after us.
As soon as we got onto the highway it was a mess of cars. A collection of sepia tone that melded together, it was a wonder anyone didn't crash in this kind of environment. In the distance I saw a collection of buildings, skyscrapers essentially. Osorn reloads a clip and I see him looking out the back window, there were none for now but soon they would approach.
"One's hot on our tail. Should I hit him?" asked Koros.
"Negative, might cause a pile up. Don't hit him unless it's absolutely necessary. I don't want any more casualties than are necessary understand?" ordered Osorn.
"Always gotta be a boy scout." quipped Kagi under his breath.
"What was that?" Osorn asked him.
"Nothing, nothing." he said.
The vehicle was hot on our trail, a four seater that looked like a car that had been melted into some sort of futuristic shape. It was painted red in contrast to our black, it had the insignia of their police force on it. The shots came and bounced off the back of our vehicle, shaking it before Koros snarled, they barely scraped our bumper but the message was sent.
"Is that necessary?" asked Koros.
"Fine fine." said Osorn and the two poked their heads out and began firing.
The beams clash and the air around them brightens up. Various cars on the highway swerve out of the way of the two vehicles before Osorn lands another clean shot at the tires. The vehicle flipped and crashed into the median while Kagi began to bob and weave in and out of traffic. There was a helicopter looming overhead, its lights were focused on us and there was a sniper there trying to shoot out tires out or kill us, either one would probably lead to our deaths at this speed.
"Activate the magnetic field!" shouted Osorn.
"Roger. Looks like this is going to be a fun one." said Kagi.
The field activates and the air around our vehicle hums with the sound of electromagnetic energy. The debris in our way begins to harmlessly bounce off the field but that didn't stop the energy bullets from the sniper.
"Shit, shit." shouted Kagi.
"I got it." said Koros.
"Well hurry the hell up! Shit takes a lot of energy." said Kagi.
The field could only last for a few seconds so Koros gripped his rifle and opened the window. He poked his head out and fired a couple shots that resulted in the helicopter coming down. It crashes into the median next to our car and we manage to swerve at the last minute to avoid the burning wreckage.
"Holy shit, holy shit." I said.
"Not every day you get to ride with the Jzarian Demons honey." said Kagi.
"I told you not to call us that goddamnit!" said Koros.
"It's a nice name. We're from Jzar, we should be-" Kagi trailed off while he continued to swerve through the traffic lanes. I feel a hand grip my shoulder and I turn to stare at the man that I had formed something of a bond with.
"You going to be okay?" Osorn asked.
"Yes, I am." I said before glancing at a small glowing part of his neck and pointing at it. He glanced at it and covered it up, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Uh guys? A bit of a problem." said Kagi.
"What is it now?" Koros asked.
"All the roads leading to the docking bay are shut down. There's no way out." said Kagi.
"So what? He's going to roadblock an entire section of his city to stop the exit of some of his cargo?" asked Koros.
"Looks like it." said Kagi.
"Then we'll have to find some way to get through the congestion......." said Osorn.
"There's no way, we're going to have to go back or head out on foot and in the middle of this highway I don't like our chances much." said Koros.
"Activate the repulsion field on the bottom of the vehicle only. Make it one big pulse and we might have a chance out of this." said Osorn.
"You want us to launch ourselves into the air? Well I guess it's either that or get shot at on the street while running on our feet like morons so yeah. I guess that'll do." said Koros.
"Aim it for the port, we only got one shot at this." said Osorn.
"Wouldn't be the craziest thing we've done." said Kagi as he started the engines up.
"It was an honor. Except for you Kagi." teased Koros.
"Hey that's the first joke i've heard you say all week. Good job." said Kagi.
Minutes later we were flung into the air. I was held from the side by Osorn who caressed my cheek against his chest. I hug him tightly but take a moment to look out the window. The infinite orange sky of this planet shone onto this car in the middle of the air. I can see the sun behind that glass exterior, the infinite fields of orange plasma bleeding and reaching out to me. They tried to grope the glass, tried to grip us but we continued through the air. I could have sworn that the car flipped a couple of times but we kept course after a few adjustments.
"Please tell me that the airfield isn't closed too." said Kagi.
&nbs
p; "Better hope it's not." said Osorn.
We are all silent for the seconds that we fall. The ground rapidly approaches and the grey stone shifts beneath us before we land with a loud thud near the airfield that they spoke of. The car's batteries were completely drained so driving was no longer an option. We were all a bit disorientated for a bit, the field had managed to offer us some level of protection but we still took an incredible amount of punishment.
"You guys alright?" called out Osorn.
"I think I made a mess." said Kagi.
"Yeah, i'm fine." said Koros.
"Then let's go, the airfield is close, their cruisers are going to be here any minute." said Osorn, he grabs my hand and dragged me out into the streets. I trail behind him as we run into this large arena like complex. It seemed to be at least a mile long with a large clear blue dome on top that ships flew through. That would be our ticket off of this horrid place, whatever it was.
"Come here." Osorn said to me, he holds my hand gently and we dive behind some trees while his men get their belongings and join us. I rubbed his battle armor with my fingers and he stroked my hair while the domed building continued to shine.
"Alright, so back entrance to the grey jet with model number Y-77 like we agreed. Koros you take my flank, Kagi you take my front. Let's move." ordered Osorn, I carefully hold him as we dash away.
The back door of the arena flings open after a small unlocking device is attached and we run through, it was a blur of crowds, conversations, and backroom pipes. I don't remember much but once we got inside of the airfield it seemed to be more of a bazaar than a complex dedicated to flying crafts. He points at our ship in the distance, its silver was the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes on. Soon I would be safe, I could have a shower, a hot meal, and a bed to sleep on. After that I could worry about going home, I could worry about getting back to Earth to see my family....
Family....
I watched the tiny alien children with their parents. There were a variety of races and they all mingled together. The kids seemed so happy, it was almost a distant memory of me being truly happy in a domestic setting. I dreamt back to those days that I had nothing to worry about, living at home and going to school. Somewhere along the way I made my own way and finally settled on a nice job, I even liked the boy at the office but it wasn't a job that I aimed on keeping for long. I wanted more, I wanted to finally have that feeling of familial security, intimacy, a feeling that I haven't received ever since mom and dad passed away in that crash, leaving me here alone in this world.