by Tripp Ellis
The plasma bolt streaked across the street and exploded into the quarter panel. The targeting system was spot on.
Ronan scavenged several extra magazines, and also acquired a rocket launcher. No doubt that would come in handy at some point. He gathered a few thermal grenades to round out his arsenal.
Ronan rushed off towards Sussex. With any luck, Aiden an the prisoners would still be in the same general vicinity.
9
Ronan hobbled his way north on Yale, which ran parallel to Sussex. Each step sent a jolt of pain through his leg and spine. His neck was stiff, and he knew he was going to hurt like hell tomorrow—if he lived that long.
After several blocks, Ronan was able to catch up to the prisoners—the alien platoon was marching them north, presumably to some type of prison compound.
Ronan cut through an alleyway to get a closer look. He crouched down behind a dumpster. The stench coming from the trash bin made rotten eggs smell like perfume.
Ronan watched the aliens pass by with a dozen prisoners—they were all kids from the high school. Ronan caught sight of Aiden among them—he looked unharmed. Ronan breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Ronan assessed the enemy. There were only four infantry soldiers, accompanied by a mechanized unit. Its massive metal feet clanked against the concrete. Hydraulics whirred with each step.
A few well-placed plasma bolts and an RPG might do the trick, he thought. He waited for the squad to pass by, then angled the barrel of his weapon around the corner of the alleyway. He figured he could probably take two of the soldiers down before the others had time to respond. Two soldiers were at the front of the procession, and two were behind. The mech unit brought up the rear.
Ronan much preferred to snipe them from the high ground. But he grew impatient, and he didn't want to risk losing sight of the prisoners while trying to find a building rooftop that he could access. He was going to have to make do with this vantage point, but he wasn't exactly setting himself up for success.
Ronan lined one of the rear soldiers up in the reticle of his sights. The crosshairs were dead center on the alien’s head. Ronan squeezed the trigger, then instantly shifted the barrel and targeted the other soldier. He squeezed off another round.
The two aliens dropped to the ground, both of them missing their heads.
“Run, Aiden! Run!” Ronan shouted as he grabbed his rocket launcher.
The mech unit turned and took aim at Ronan with its massive plasma cannons.
The prisoners scattered in all directions.
Ronan fired the rocket launcher, aiming at the junction between the torso and pelvis of the mech unit. It was the weakest spot on the walking tank. The missile blasted towards the mech unit, spewing sparks and propellant. It left a stream of white smoke in its wake.
The rocket slammed into the junction point and exploded in a blinding fury. The blast severed the unit in two, showering bits of armor plating, gears, struts, and actuators. The metal beast collapsed to the ground, haphazardly firing bursts of plasma.
Glowing bolts sizzled down the alleyway, narrowly missing Ronan.
By this time, the two remaining soldiers blasted a flurry of projectiles in Ronan's direction. He took cover behind the corner. The brickwork exploded, showering chips of debris as the aliens peppered the wall.
Ronan slung the barrel of his plasma rifle around the corner fired several shots. Then he ducked back around the corner for cover.
Ronan hit one of the aliens. The creature was now face down in the roadway. The other soldier had taken cover behind a pile of rubble and was continuing to pelt the alleyway with projectiles.
Ronan had lost sight of Aiden—he had scampered away with the rest of the students.
Ronan waited for a lull in the oncoming fire, then angled his weapon around the corner again. He blasted at the alien, but the creature was well hidden behind the pile of concrete.
Ronan waited for the soldier to pop his head up and return fire. Ronan kept the reticle of his sights right where he anticipated the creature to appear.
A moment later, the soldier peered over the berm and angled his weapon toward the alleyway. But Ronan had squeezed off a few shots that greeted the alien the minute he showed his face.
The alien’s skull vaporized, and his body slumped forward against the rocky pile.
Ronan had a slight grin on his face. He relaxed, flattening his back against the brick wall and taking a deep breath. But the barrel of a plasma rifle pressed against his head made his grin fade. A Tarvaax warrior had snuck through the alleyway behind him.
Ronan figured he had a few seconds before the creature pulled the trigger.
10
The soldier marched Ronan north on Sussex. He couldn't quite figure out why the beast hadn't killed him, but he wasn't going to argue. It seemed that the Tarvaax wanted prisoners for some reason. Ronan could only speculate why, and none of it was good.
After several blocks, they reached a forward operating base. The Tarvaax controlled this sector of town, and the base was evidence of that. There were dozens of dropships, mech units, and supply crates. There were a plethora of temporary command structures, and thousands of temporary barracks to house the troops. It had all been erected within the last few hours over several square blocks of the city that had been completely leveled.
The alien escorted Ronan into a holding area enclosed by an energy fence. The red beam rose 20 feet into the air and cordoned off the area in the shape of a giant rectangle. Every 10 feet there were relays that reinforced the beam.
A guard was stationed at the entrance portal. As Ronan approached, the guard pressed a switch on the portal frame, and the beam turned orange. The soldier shoved Ronan through the portal, and he tumbled into the containment area. The guard pressed another button, and the beam turned red, matching the rest of the fence.
There were roughly 20 prisoners inside the containment area. But there were dozens of containment areas in the forward operating base. Ronan glanced around at the weary and scared prisoners. They looked tattered and dirty. Their faces hopeless.
“Ronan?” Jessica shouted. She plowed through the crowd and ran to Ronan. She flung her arms around his neck and squeezed him tight. "Thank God you're here. I mean, it sucks that you're here… But I'm glad you're okay. Did you find Aiden?”
Ronan nodded. "But I don't know where he is now. Hopefully he is far away from here."
But Ronan spoke too soon. Three more prisoners were shoved in through the portal. One of them was Aiden. His wide eyes lit up when he saw his dad.
The two ran to each other and embraced.
“Are you okay?” Ronan asked.
Aiden nodded. "We got caught a few blocks away.”
“At least you’re okay. I'll figure out a way to get us out of here."
“Dad, you remember Jax?”
Ronan scowled at Aiden's friend. “How could I forget your co-defendant?”
Jax smiled and offered his hand. “Good to see you, sir."
The two shook hands.
“Well, since the two of you are proving yourselves to be accomplished thieves, do you think you can break out of a holding cell?"
Jax shrugged. He had a devious grin. “I’d like to think I can pick any lock.”
Ronan introduced the boys to Jessica. They were instantly smitten. Even in her frazzled condition, she was still a sight to behold. Aiden gave a wink to his father and gestured thumbs up.
Ronan didn't waste any time surveying the integrity of the force field. Without drawing attention to himself, he probed the beam. It was solid. There was no way through it, and you couldn't climb over it. The only way to deactivate it was from the outside.
The sun had dipped down below the horizon, and the sky had turned gray. Ronan gazed up at the angry clouds. It looked like a storm was brewing.
The portal flickered then turned orange. Two guards marched into the holding area with their weapons in the firing position. One was quite short for a Tarvaax wa
rrior—the other was tall.
The prisoners stepped back, giving the soldiers a wide berth. Their faces were washed with fear. They cowered like animals that had been beaten by their master.
The soldiers sifted through the prisoners searching for someone. The short soldier fixed his gaze on Ronan and marched toward him with a determination that was unsettling. The two guards jammed the barrels of their weapons in Ronan's face.
"This one will do,” Shorty said.
The tall soldier agreed.
Shorty grabbed Ronan's arm and dragged him toward the portal.
Aiden screeched and protested. He tried to keep the guard from taking his father. The soldier kicked Aiden in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Ronan’s face tensed. He jerked his arm free from the soldier's grasp, then planted an elbow in the alien’s face. The creature hit the ground and Ronan lunged for his plasma rifle. But before he could grab the rifle and blast the soldier, the tall alien had taken aim.
“Drop the weapon, or I will incinerate you in front of your child."
Ronan's grip on the plasma rifle loosened. He raised his hands in the air and stood tall.
The short soldier got off the ground and grabbed his weapon. He jammed the stock of the rifle into Ronan's belly.
Ronan doubled over, clenching his gut. Shorty was going to hit him again, but his partner stopped him. "He's no good if he's disabled."
The short soldier grimaced, then backed off. He shoved Ronan forward. The portal turned green, and the three of them passed through. The minute they cleared the beam, it turned red.
Aiden staggered to his feet, crying. It was easy to see that he was terrified of what was going to happen to his father. Jessica put her arm around Aiden's shoulder and tried to comfort him.
11
The bald man swung hard, and his fist slammed against another man's face. Ronan could hear the man's orbital bone shatter from the impact. He smashed to the ground, unconscious. Blood oozed from his mouth, and the left side of his face swelled.
A crowd of Tarvaax soldiers hooted and hollered. About a dozen of them had gathered around the two humans, watching them fight. Now the Saraax were exchanging credits with each other, having clearly wagered on the fight.
The bald man towered over his opponent. He must have been close to seven feet tall. He had an old-school mustache that curled on the sides. He had to use wax to get it to do that. His diabolical eyes found Ronan, and a devious grin curled on his narrow lips.
It was clear why Ronan had been brought here. He was next in line to fight the giant crusher.
Two guards carried the defeated man's limp body away. The odds were good that he was never going to wake up again.
They were in a temporary storage structure, that was 40 x 40. Crates were stacked in the corner, and some of the soldiers were sitting atop them. It was like a small arena.
One of the guards motioned for Ronan to step into the ring.
Ronan peeled off his shirt and tossed it aside. His scalloped abs flexed, and his pectoral muscles were carved with deep striations. Ronan had kept himself in good shape. But the bald-headed man was easily a head taller, and quite a bit thicker.
Ronan felt like a gladiator thrown before the lions as he stepped into the makeshift ring. There was no telling how many fights Baldy had already been through. But he didn't waste any time getting this one started. He charged at Ronan and swung his massive fist.
Ronan stepped aside, deflected the blow, then hammered a swift punch to the man's kidney.
The behemoth recoiled and winced.
Ronan was fast on his feet and moved away quickly. There was no way he was going to stand toe-to-toe with this behemoth. His plan was to get close, strike, then getaway. Rinse and repeat.
Baldy squared off against Ronan and scowled. He charged again and swung hard.
Ronan ducked as the man's sledgehammer fist whooshed overhead.
Ronan struck another devastating blow to the big oafs kidneys, then darted away.
The big guy spun around to face Ronan again. His scowl deepened. He seemed even more pissed off at himself that he let Ronan capitalize on the same maneuver twice. He approached the bout with a little more caution.
The two danced around each other for a moment. The big guy gave a few head-fakes, then jabbed left and swung right.
Ronan leaned back, avoiding both of the blows. He moved with the agility of a prizefighter.
The bald man's fist had passed inches away from Ronan's nose. His inertia carried him forward, and put him off balance.
Ronan cocked his fist back and struck like a cobra. His knuckles smashed the bald man's nose. A fine mist of blood sprayed out, and Baldy's head bobbled back.
Ronan followed with a devastating left, then an uppercut. The successive blows knocked the big guy back on his heels. He staggered back a few steps. Ronan hoped he would topple to the ground, but the man regained his balance.
Baldy shook his head, splattering blood. He brought his hands up to guard his face.
Ronan had hit him as hard as he could, and the beast still didn't go down. The last time he punched a man that hard, it sent him to the hospital. The bald guy had a chin of steel. And the punches had only enraged him further.
The bald man charged Ronan again. This time he anticipated Ronan's nimble movements. He tackled Ronan to the ground, plowing over one of the soldiers. The three of them lay in a pile on the ground.
Ronan took this opportunity to strip the soldier’s weapon. He fired a quick shot into the alien’s belly, then spun around and sprayed a stream of plasma bolts at the other aliens. He took out six of them in one sweep. Their bodies crashed down, smoldering with plasma craters.
The other soldiers grabbed their weapons and took aim. The big bald guy tackled one of them, while Ronan blasted at the others.
The bald guy pummeled the soldier into submission and took his plasma rifle.
Plasma bolts streaked across the tiny storage compartment, in all directions. When the smoke cleared, the two men had eviscerated all 12 of the aliens.
Ronan and the bald man exchanged a grin.
“Nice shooting. The name’s Ian Atherton."
"Ronan Nash."
The two men shook hands.
Ian wiped the blood from his nose.
"No hard feelings."
Ian grinned. "Not at all."
"How many have you fought today?”
"You're the sixth guy. I'm pretty sure five of them are dead."
"It doesn't surprise me."
It was easy for Ian to see that Ronan had military training. "What branch did you serve in?"
"Space Corps. Recon Marines."
"I knew you fought like a devil dog."
Ronan scavenged the Tarvaax soldiers for extra magazines and grenades. He grabbed a tactical knife from the utility belt of one of the corpses, then moved to the door. He peered out at the compound. There was a dropship not far away.
Two maintenance technicians worked on the vessel. One was on top, and one was under the wing. The loading ramp was lowered.
Ian joined Ronan at the door. His eyes glimmered at the sight of the dropship. "That is my ticket out of here. You're welcome to tag along, if you like."
"My son’s in a holding cell. I'm not leaving without him."
Ian shrugged. "You do what you gotta do. Get your people and get to the dropship before I leave, and we'll all get out together. But I'm not waiting around."
"Give me five minutes."
Ian nodded. "Five minutes, and I'm gone."
Ronan snuck out of the storage building and crept between a row barracks, heading toward the holding cell. He heard a Tarvaax patrol marching his way and ducked around the corner. He threw his back against the wall and tried to make himself slim. As he hid in the alleyway, the Tarvaax passed by on the main pathway. Once they were gone, Ronan continued down the path. He held up at the last structure in the row of barracks. There was a clearing that spanned 30
yards between the barracks and the prisoner area.
Ronan surveyed the grounds. A guard was marching the perimeter of the fence. Another stood at the entrance portal. The guard’s head kept bobbing as he dozed off. His head would droop, and a few seconds later he would jerk awake and snap his eyes open. Then he'd glance around to make sure no one had noticed.
Ronan watched this go on for a few minutes. Then the creature leaned back against the fence and his head drooped again. This time he didn't bob awake.
Ronan could actually hear the creature snoring. The other guard was on the opposite side of the containment area. Ronan had maybe 30 seconds to sprint to the portal.
He ran across the clearing.
The guard snapped awake just as Ronan reached him.
But it was too late. Ronan had his hands around the thing’s skull. He snapped the alien’s neck, wrenching it around 180°. The creature dropped to the ground.
Ronan waited patiently for the other guard to finish his rounds and turn the corner.
Ronan jabbed his tactical knife in the alien's chin, piercing up into its cranial cavity. The creature gurgled, then flopped to the ground as Ronan pulled the knife free.
The blade was covered in blood. Ronan wiped it clean on his pants leg. He pressed a button on the portal, and the beam turned green. He dragged the two creatures inside the containment fence.
Aiden and Jessica ran to Ronan, followed by Jax.
"If anybody wants out of here, now is your chance." Ronan didn't have to ask twice.
The group of prisoners followed him out of the portal. Ronan led them back down the path between the barracks toward the dropship.
It was gone.
Ian had left without him.
12
Two soldiers rounded the corner. Their eyes went wide at the sight of the prisoners on the loose.
Ronan moved with lightning speed. He brought his weapon into the firing position, lined up one the soldiers in the reticle of his sights, and squeezed the trigger. The plasma bolt put a hole in the alien’s head.
