by Anna Hackett
The fleeing car got slammed by the remaining bug. The sedan swerved, changing direction.
“God, they’re going to hit us!” she screamed.
Adam managed to get his door open, but the speeding car was too fast.
It slammed into them.
There was a crunch of metal and glass. Liberty was thrown around, her seat belt digging into her chest. Her head cracked against something.
“Come on.” Hands were tugging at her.
She fought back dizziness. Adam dragged her out of the wrecked vehicle. “The other car?”
“It caught fire. I’ll help them now.” He set her down beside the truck. “Liberty? Look at me.”
She did, trying to focus.
“Those bugs are everywhere. They’re strong enough to carry a human off. I need you to stay down.”
Her fingers curled in his shirt. She didn’t want him to go. To be in danger. But he’d go to save others, it was how he was built. “I’ll be fine. Go. Stay safe.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, then he was gone.
She took some deep breaths and tried to get a hold on this dizziness. She staggered to her feet, holding onto the truck. She had to help.
Three young kids rounded the truck, all of them screaming. She straightened.
An alien bug whizzed closer, its wings flapping so fast they were a blur. Its multifaceted eyes were glued to the children.
Liberty squashed her fear. “Hey! You big, ugly bug.” She waved her arms in the air. “Over here.”
The kids spotted her, their pale faces frantic.
“Under the truck.” She pointed. “Hurry.”
They ran and dived, wiggling under the truck.
When she looked back, the bug hovered two meters away, its close proximity making her gut roll. Its pincers were clicking open and closed.
And now it was looking right at her.
Chapter Fourteen
Adam dragged the last person from the burning vehicle. “Stick together.” He tried to block out the screams and the whine of laser fire.
He spotted a couple of Doc Emerson’s paramedics running past. “Rick? Molly? Can you help these guys out?”
The man and woman raced over. “We’ll take care of them, General,” Molly said.
“Thanks.” Adam turned…and found himself face-to-face with an alien bug.
It hovered at head level, its wings fluttering. Adam ripped his laser pistol from its holster. He didn’t pause or stop to think, he just aimed and fired.
It made a high-pitched, squealing sound, its wings fluttering faster. But it didn’t go down.
Adam kept firing. He had to give Rick and Molly time to get the others away.
The bug moved closer, and Adam gritted his teeth. His laser pistol was getting warm under his hands, threatening to overheat.
A hail of laser fire joined his.
The bug tilted like it was drunk, and fell to the ground. Adam turned and saw Marcus and the rest of Hell Squad bearing down on him.
Thank God. Adam lowered his weapon. “We need to hold these damn things off long enough to get out of here.”
Marcus shook his head. “Elle just told me there are raptor patrols incoming. Some vehicles slipped out of the illusion during the attack. There’s no time to get far enough away.”
Fuck. Adam felt ice slide into his veins. “These people aren’t fighters, Marcus.” He looked at the surrounding gentle hills covered in grass and pockets of trees. “We can’t make a stand here, out in the open.”
“They fight, they survive. They run scared, they die.” Marcus’ face was a hard mask. “You gave a pretty damn good speech this morning. They’re fired up, ready to defend the people who are their reason to survive.”
Adam scraped a hand through his hair, watching the rest of the squads picking off the last of the bugs. He spotted Tane and his berserkers mowing down a trio of the alien insects. Then he spotted a guy from the kitchen truck, a woman he knew was a schoolteacher, and an older man working together, smacking a low-flying bug with what looked like baseball bats.
“Okay, okay.” Adam’s mind raced, a plan forming. He considered and discarded options at a split-second pace. “Let’s get the vehicles all in the defensive position. Form a barrier. Two rows deep.”
“Circle the wagons,” Cruz said.
Adam nodded. “Anyone with a weapon needs to be ready to fight. We’re making a stand.”
Marcus nodded and touched his earpiece. “Elle, the general’s ordered laager formation. Let’s get everyone into position.” Hell Squad moved off, directing traffic.
Some kids ran up to Adam, chests heaving. “Sir…Liberty. A bug was chasing us, and she helped us.” The oldest boy’s face was white as fresh snow. Fear muddied his eyes.
Adam’s gut cramped. Lifting his laser pistol, he sprinted back to his truck.
Be okay. Be okay. She had to be okay.
He rounded the truck and his heart sank. She wasn’t where he’d left her.
Adam scanned his surroundings and spotted her. She was off in a field, knee deep in grass, an alien bug hovering above her.
“Liberty!” He ran and fired. His shot went wide, but the bug backed off a little.
Liberty bent one knee, picked up a long stick, and whacked at the bug like it was a piñata.
The bug made a screeching sound that made Adam’s ears ring. He slowed his frantic pace, slowing to a walk, and still firing. He aimed for the wings, damaging one of them.
The bug continued to hang there, now flying crookedly.
Then Liberty gave it another huge whack.
The bug flew to the side and crashed into the ground, flopping around like a fish. Adam strode over to it and fired at point-blank range. With one last squeal, the bug went still.
He wrapped an arm around Liberty. “You’re okay? It didn’t hurt you?”
She nodded. Her hair had been torn free of its ponytail and was a blonde mess around her face. She had a small trickle of blood at her temple from the crash, but otherwise looked okay.
He released a shaky breath and cupped her face. “Come on. We need to get inside the protective barrier.”
“We aren’t leaving?”
“Raptors are on the way.”
Together, they jogged back to the convoy. Everyone had quickly followed orders, and the vehicles were parked in two rings, forming protective circles. He spotted Marcus waving them over through a narrow gap in the cars.
They rushed inside and behind them, four berserkers pushed a crashed car into the gap with a heave and flex of tattooed arms.
As Adam glanced around, he saw the tight, frightened faces of the civilians huddled together in small groups in the center. In some places, the squads had strategically parked their Hunters. Several soldiers were on top of the roofs, weapons up and ready.
Some of the civilians were also in place behind parked cars, holding whatever weapons they could find. Standing by the groups of civilians were Santha—holding a combat crossbow—and her second-in-command, Devlin Gray.
They were as ready as they’d ever be.
Adam’s squad leaders approached.
Marcus lifted his chin. “Back-up plan if we’re overrun is for Santha and Dev to take the civilians out and up that hill.”
Adam turned. The hill in question was covered in trees. He nodded. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Anyone have a laser pistol I can use?” Liberty asked.
Adam turned. “No. You need to get back there with the civilians and stay in cover.”
She set her hands on her hips. “You need everyone who can shoot a weapon.”
“You can’t shoot.”
“Oh?” She cocked a hip. “I’ll have you know that my crusty farmer granddaddy taught me to shoot when I was five years old. I bet I could outshoot you.” One perfect brow arched. “Next you’ll go caveman on me and tell me I need a penis in order to shoot straight.”
Adam heard a snort and a laugh. He
glanced over to see Shaw laughing and the other Hell Squad members hiding smiles behind gloved hands.
Claudia stepped forward, holding a laser pistol out to Liberty. “Think you can use this?”
“Looks fine.”
Adam watched, his heart dropping, as Liberty checked the weapon over with practiced moves. Dammit, why couldn’t she just be a simple hairdresser who stayed back with the other civilians? Safe.
But that wasn’t Liberty. He loved the hidden depths to her, and he knew she had the heart of a warrior under the goddess looks.
“Okay,” he said. “But you stay with me. Stay in cover.”
She nodded. “I’ll be careful.”
“They’re here,” Marcus said.
The group tensed, soldiers moving into position.
“Raptor soldiers, and they have canids with them,” Marcus added. “Get the cedar oil grenades ready.”
Adam didn’t pray. After the alien invasion, he’d given up praying. Instead, he looked at his people. The brave men and women who were willing to fight for humanity.
They were enough to give him faith.
“Hold the line. Let’s protect what’s ours.”
***
Liberty’s heart was hammering like thunder in her ears. She crouched down behind a car, with Adam beside her.
A hushed silence fell over the convoy. The waiting was horrible. Like listening to a ticking bomb, not knowing when it would go off.
She looked left and saw Hell Squad waiting, tense and ready. She looked right and spotted Squad Nine, the female soldiers and the two men on their team all in position, gazes focused ahead.
Behind her, she heard the berserkers. They were talking quietly, ribbing each other, like they were at the pub for a beer. For some reason, that settled her nerves a little.
All around, other convoy members were primed, holding what weapons they’d scrounged up. They were all ready and willing to fight.
She pulled in a breath, but before she could let it out, there was a clattering sound.
Claws on metal.
Canids leaped over the first line of cars and onto the roofs of the second line.
God, they were so big. Laser fire erupted. From the carbines and pistols, and from the Hunter autocannons. She saw grenades fly through the air, exploding and spraying the cedar oil the canids detested.
She heard a buzzing sound and saw more alien bugs rise up, the second wave that followed the alien hunting dogs.
All around her was chaos. She fought down her fears and focused on shooting the canids who’d made it past and into the heart of the convoy.
A quick glance to her side and she saw Adam doing the same. There was no fear on his face, just steady determination.
He wouldn’t give up. He’d protect her and the others until his last breath. It both inspired her and frightened her.
She didn’t want to lose him.
She wanted to live now, more than ever.
“Watch out!” someone shouted.
A canid landed on the roof of the car they were using for cover. Liberty and Adam sprang backward. The huge alien dog bared its teeth, its demon-red eyes glowing, and let out a roar.
Liberty fired. She aimed for the head, and Adam did the same. A Hunter autocannon swiveled around and its large green laser joined in.
The canid fell off the car, its lifeless body hitting the dirt.
Exhilaration fizzed through her. Adam grabbed her shoulder and urged her back into cover.
She lifted her weapon again…just in time to see alien raptors climbing over the first barrier of cars.
Her gut cramped with fear at the sight. It had been a long time since she’d actually laid eyes on one this close. Liberty had forgotten just how huge they were. And these weren’t wild dogs or buzzing bugs. These were thinking humanoids…the architects behind all the death and destruction.
She saw the horrible, scaly faces, the sharp teeth, the red eyes filled with the terrible hunger to kill and conquer.
Now she felt the determination she saw on the faces of the human soldiers. She aimed and fired. And kept firing.
All around her, pandemonium reigned. She tried to block it out and just focus on whatever was in her sights.
High-pitched screams broke out behind her. Both she and Adam swiveled. Raptors had reached the civilians.
Santha and Devlin were fighting hard. Santha’s crossbow sang as it fired, and Devlin moved like a whirlwind as he fought, bringing down two huge raptors.
But then she saw a giant raptor backhand Santha, and the woman fell back into the crowd of sobbing people.
Liberty knelt, drawing a breath and trying to steady her racing heart. Beside her, she heard Adam firing. Saw a raptor go down.
Liberty fired. Another raptor fell.
Then Santha was up. She ushered people away, urging them toward the back of the barrier. Devlin heaved some junk out of the way, clearing a small gap in the wall.
They were getting the people up the hill. Into the trees where, hopefully, the raptors wouldn’t follow.
Liberty gave them cover fire until they were all safely up the hill.
“You should go,” Adam yelled at her. “Get to safety.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not leaving, I’m fighting. I have something to fight for, too.”
Something rippled over his face, then he nodded. They moved back into cover and kept fighting.
The squads were amazing. They fought with a raw precision that, while not pretty, was hard-hitting and unforgiving. Hell Squad was tough and relentless. Nine was fast and cunning. The berserkers were all wild power.
There were other groups of civilians dotted here and there, still trapped inside the barrier. They huddled in cars or behind them, keeping children pushed down to the ground.
Liberty was sure they were getting the upper hand. Sure there were fewer raptors coming over the barrier.
More screams.
She swiveled…and saw a giant canid menacing a group of civilians tucked down behind a car. Children were crying, women screaming, men yelling. The canid was pressed low to the ground, moving closer, drool dripping from its fangs.
There was a streak of movement, and Liberty watched a slim figure run in front of the alien hunting dog.
It was Selena.
The alien woman was so small and fine compared to the brutish dog. It growled at her and Selena raised her hands.
Liberty held her breath. She knew the woman had some sort of affinity with animals. At least, with Earth animals. But Liberty had no idea how the hell she was going to fight off the dog.
Liberty fired at the creature. But one laser pistol was like flinging pebbles at a tiger.
Suddenly, the grass at Selena’s feet moved. Liberty blinked, not believing what she was seeing. The blades were already long, but as Selena waved her hands in a graceful, weaving dance, intense concentration on her face, the grass grew longer, right before her eyes, and wound up around the canid’s legs, tangling around the limbs.
The canid was heaving its body, trying to break free. But the grass was now wrapped around its legs like a bright-green rope.
Another huge, scaly body reared into view. The raptor let out a guttural shout and slammed into Selena.
It was like a tree hitting a graceful, slender twig. The raptor picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.
The alien woman hammered her hands against the raptor soldier’s back, fear stark on her face.
Liberty couldn’t fire at them. She was a good shot, but not good enough to try and hit the raptor and not Selena.
The raptor was running, making toward a small gap in the barrier.
Liberty’s heart was in her throat. Selena was an enemy of the Gizzida, had already been their prisoner once before.
“Adam!”
He swiveled and spotted Selena struggling, trying to get out of the raptor’s hold.
“Dammit.” He raised his weapon, but couldn’t get a good shot either.
/> A flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. Liberty turned, tracking a big man sprinting toward Selena and the raptor. His armored body was a dark silhouette, his dreadlocks pulled back at the base of his neck.
Tane ran up on top of a car and leaped off the other side. His boots hammered against the dirt as he closed the distance to Selena.
Liberty held her breath, almost afraid to watch.
The leader of the berserkers turned his carbine and slammed the butt into the alien’s lower back with enough force to make Liberty wince. The alien roared, almost dropping Selena.
With him distracted, Selena reached around and scratched at his face.
Tane launched a vicious set of kicks into the alien’s legs and back. Liberty realized he was trying to free Selena before he shot the alien. He was relentless with his blows, and his face was a blank, scary mask.
The alien stumbled, still clutching his victim, still stumbling toward the gap. God, he was almost there.
Selena was shouting something at Tane.
Something flickered over Tane’s face, then he whipped his weapon around, jammed it into the alien’s lower back and fired.
The alien’s head bent back, and the sound he made was horrible. Selena tumbled out of the creature’s arms into the dirt. She was clutching her own leg where the laser had grazed her.
She’d told Tane to shoot, and not to worry if it hit her.
In one swift move, Tane shot a final barrage of fire into the raptor’s chest, then bent and swept Selena into his arms.
He turned, running back toward his squad, hunched over Selena to protect her. The woman looked tiny, cradled in the brawny, tattooed arms of her rescuer.
“They’re retreating,” Marcus shouted.
Liberty whipped her head back and saw the raptors were leaping back over the cars, some dragging their wounded with them. Other injured raptor soldiers writhed in the dirt.
Adam stood. “Marcus. Clear the area.”
Hell Squad’s leader was eyeing the wounded and dying aliens. “On it.”
Liberty let out a breath. The aliens had almost overrun them. Then they’d…just given up.
