“You have nothing to apologize for. I can talk to Chief Bosnan and convince him to—”
His sentence cut off as Natalia curled her hand into a ball and punched him in the face. Sora heard the bones collide and flinched. Jet flew backward, collapsing onto his desk. His body lied limp across it while his head dangled over his chair.
“Oh my,” Viktor said, rushing to the side of the desk. His eyes scanned the unconscious politician.
“You’re insane!” Trika said, throwing her hands up.
Sora held up his hand to stop an argument before it began. He rushed to the door. Talek and Natalia stayed close behind him. “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s get out of here.”
Sora grabbed the double doors and charged out of the office, nearly slipping as he turned right. The rest of the crew’s footsteps echoed throughout the narrow corridor as they darted for the elevator. Sora touched the rifle on his belt.
He pulled the rifle out as Captain Nelson stepped out from the side, blocking the elevator. He held up his own heavy assault rifle. Sora heard the click of guns behind him as he halted, struggling to keep his balance. As his heels held the rest of his body up, he pointed his rifle at Nelson.
“Apparently, Senator, there was a galactic search for your ship. Unfortunately, the Governor wouldn’t let me inform him before he welcomed you into his office,” Nelson said, gritting his teeth as he walked forward. The head of his gun faced Natalia. “Where is he?”
“This does not concern you or your people, Captain. We are not here to harm them,” Sora said. He kept his own gun steady. “Out of our way.”
“Wrong answer.”
Thick, fast purple shots erupted from the head of Nelson’s rifle. Without thinking, Sora fired back and jumped in front of Natalia. Nelson ducked, avoiding the blue that flew toward him, but two purple shots hit Sora’s chest.
He cried out, grabbing his burning chest and falling backward. Natalia fired four times and her own shots flew over Sora’s nose.
“Captain!” Viktor shouted, grabbing Sora before he hit the ground. Talek rushed in front of Sora as Nelson jumped out of Natalia’s trajectory and fired two more rounds at Sora. Talek absorbed them, grunting but firing back.
“We don’t have time for this!” Trika said, screaming. Lasers bounced off the walls and the vibrations echoed. Sora breathed heavily, pressing down on his chest. The burning remained.
Natalia yelled out, firing three more shots at Nelson. As he dodged Talek’s shots, he walked right into Natalia’s. The first one burnt his armor, the second one pierced it and the third sent him into the wall. The thud sent two paintings to the ground.
“Captain, can you walk?” Viktor said, pulling Sora to his feet.
Sora scratched his chest. He felt the blood underneath his jacket, but the burning started to die down. He coughed, spitting out a few drops of blood. “Yes. Let’s… go.”
Viktor held onto Sora’s right arm as the crew shuffled past Nelson, who had slumped to the floor. Fi removed her sword and stopped when she reached him. The sword drifted toward his neck.
“You… won’t… win,” Nelson said, wheezing. “Soldiers are waiting… for you.”
“You talk too much,” Fi said. Her sword grazed his skin.
“Fi, don’t,” Sora said, coughing again as he walked into the elevator. Viktor released his right arm and he felt stable again. “He’s not worth it and, like Trika said, we don’t have time. We must get out there.”
Also, Sora didn’t want merciless killing. Not anymore. Even if this captain deserved it.
Fi stared at Nelson, pulling her sword back and kicking him as she stepped over him. He groaned. “I fear we will regret not killing this snake.”
Talek punched a button on the elevator and the doors closed as Fi walked in. The elevator plummeted as the building shook again.
They couldn’t think about regrets right now. A battle awaited them.
Nait jumped, lunging for Felicia. Without flinching, her right arm rose and put a knife to his neck. The silver, carved lines of the hilt glimmered as the red light reflected off it, causing Nait to wince. Scout screamed and stood, but Felicia motioned for her to sit as she shoved Nait into his chair. The knife stayed at her scowling brother’s neck.
“You again, lady?” Nait said. He slammed his fist on the table.
“Hush, child,” Felicia said, pressing the knife against him. Nait gritted his teeth.
Naos hopped to his feet next, reaching for Felicia’s wrist. Her free hand collided with his nose and, as blood gushed out, one of the armed men put a pistol to the crown of his head. He pushed Naos’ shoulders down, sending him back into his chair with a cry. Scout gripped the sides of her chair, shaking. It reminded her of the palace and Nait’s capture all over again.
“Listen, ma’am, we were in the middle of a conversa—,” Naos said, clutching his nose.
“You have such a skill for making friends, Tian,” Felicia said, smiling. She didn’t give Nait and Naos a second glance. “Thankfully, so do I.”
Scout wanted to scream and take her own fist to Felicia’s fast. Pain exploded in her palms as she tightened her grip on the chair. “How did you get here?”
“I told you I have connections all over the nebula,” Felicia said, waving her free hand nonchalantly. “Once I knew that you were on Adli, it took me less than an hour to pinpoint your location. These are my kind of people here, after all.”
Scout chose to ignore how Felicia discovered she came to Adli. She’d tackle that later. She sucked air into her lungs, trying to bring out her soldier side. The side that knew how to handle a situation like this. “I thought I made myself clear on Puntan when I put a laser into your stomach.”
Nait leaned forward, pressing his neck into the knife. “Back off or this’ll end worse than last time.”
“Nait—” Scout started.
Felicia laughed, looking to her thugs. “So brave for a little boy. Get these two children out of my sight.”
“No!” Scout said, slamming her left hand onto the table. It ached, but she resisted the urge to show it. “They stay if you want anything out of me.”
“Then perhaps we can finish our discussion,” Felicia said, smirking as she turned back to Scout. Scout made a pushing motion with her hand and Nait leaned back. His scowl didn’t change, though. “I tried to be good to you, Tian. Sadly, you showed me I need to take an aggressive approach.”
“You told her your name?” Nait said, spitting to the side. “She doesn’t deserve that.”
“Doesn’t matter. That’s not who I am, which shows how much you know,” Scout said, locking onto Felicia. “I don’t know what you want from me, lady. I can’t destroy the Queen by myself. I’m not the weapon that you think I am.”
Felicia’s smirk faded. The stoic, emotionless look returned. “Of course you can’t, but you know how.”
“If I did, she’d be dead.”
“Why would you come to Adli of all planets? There has to be something here that you’re seeking,” Felicia said, gesturing to the world around them. “When you first spoke to me, I knew you had drive. A drive that would lead to the Queen’s downfall. A drive that would give me something to destroy her. Tell me, what are you here for?”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t give you anything. I won’t.”
Scout curled her left fist again, tapping it against the table. She didn’t want to listen to this woman anymore. She needed something.
The dagger. Sora gave her that dagger. Scout slid her right hand off the side of the chair and toward her back pocket.
“Oh, you will!” Felicia said, raising her voice as she yanked the knife away from Nait’s neck and put it to Scout’s. Nait reached forward, but another thug put his shotgun to Nait’s crown. Felicia poked Scout’s neck with the knife. Scout noticed minuscule, dried red spots on the blade. “You will.”
“Scout!” Naos said. He trembled and reached across the table, but the thug above him pulled him back. “S
cout, she’ll kill you!”
Scout’s hand froze on the hilt of the dagger. Felicia’s cold breath touched her cheeks. Felicia’s face hardened further, while Scout’s eyes narrowed. She started to pull on the dagger. “Sorry, Miss Malone. I don’t think so.”
Scout spat. The saliva landed on Felicia’s eyebrow. Felicia cried out and jabbed the knife, slowing as she reached Scout’s neck. Scout knew why: she wanted her to fall at her feet and confess or suffer as she died.
Felicia’s knife dug deeper. Scout felt the pressure in her throat as the knife prepared to make a cut. She slid the dagger out of her pants.
“No, Miss Malone, wait!” Naos said, breaking Scout’s focus. Felicia’s knife froze, as did Scout’s right hand. Their heads snapped toward Naos. “I have something you could use! Just leave Scout alone!”
Scout snarled, nearly dropping the dagger. “Naos, don’t you dare—”
“There’s an army beneath the Consortium in the middle of the city!” Naos said, pulling himself forward as he broke free of the thug’s grip. “A scientist is literally creating one in a lab. His name is Chief Bosnan and he can help you. Just let Scout go.”
No, no. Scout felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She screamed, curling her left fist again and shoving her glass of water to the ground. The sound of breaking glass matched what she wanted to do to Naos. That idiot. That complete idiot.
“Naos, you f—”
“My, my, quite a protector that you have, Tian,” Felicia said, pulling the knife away and standing straight. She grinned. “Thank you, Tian. I knew you were the key.”
Scout cried out again, pulling her dagger around and jumping out of her chair. She launched toward Felicia as the thugs turned their attention away from Naos and Nait. Nait grabbed the wrist of one thug and twisted it, ruining his aim. Naos uppercut the other as laser bolts let loose. Felicia grabbed Scout’s wrist, shoving it down as bolts zoomed past. One burnt the edge of Scout’s hair.
“Kill the boys!” Felicia said, still gripping Scout’s wrist as she tried to shove it closer to Felicia’s face. More orange lasers came from behind, distracting Nait and Naos before they could get any closer to her.
Scout gritted her teeth, kicking Felicia’s shin. Felicia staggered backward, but still held Scout’s wrist. She gritted her teeth in return, likely trying to block out the pain. “Sora’s lost, Tian. You have helped me.”
Scout heard a deep scream from behind as Nait fired his own pistol. Scout didn’t break away from Felicia, but she saw Naos charging toward them both. Next, her vision blurred as she fell and skidded a few feet across the floor. The room, now a mixture of orange energy and panicked people, spun around her.
“Hold your fire, he’s got the boss!”
Someone pulled her up. She saw Nait’s concerned, frazzled face as his left arm held her side. “You good?”
“Yeah.”
She saw Naos on top of Felicia. He’d tackled her. He pinned her with his arms while the few remaining armed men approached him. Felicia constantly wiggled, finally kicking his thigh. Naos’ grip loosened and she used that opportunity to shove him aside. Patrons rushed out the front doors in the background.
Scout didn’t think, grabbing her pistol and firing at the thugs as their fingers pressed the triggers. They ducked behind two tables. One shot hit Naos’ back and he yelled, rolling out of the way.
Scout ran toward him, extending her hand as another orange laser hit her shoulder. She hissed. “Hurry, moron. We need to go.”
Naos grabbed her hand and she pulled him up. He fired at the thugs who made their way to another table. Felicia backed away from the three teens, regaining her composure as she breathed heavily and brushed off her torso.
“Run!” Nait said, taking the lead in breaking away. Scout and Naos followed, firing stray shots. A bolt hit Nait’s hip, and he stumbled. Scout rushed forward, grabbing him by the stomach and shoving him forward.
She heard the shuffle of boots behind them. The thugs fired again and Naos fired back. None hit.
“Don’t waste time pursuing them,” Felicia said, raising her voice as the restaurant exit came into Scout’s view. “I can’t risk the Queen’s forces seeing me. We need to make our way to the Consortium.”
The Queen?
They didn’t have the stamina to stay and ask questions. Nait groaned, diving forward and out the glass door as more lasers followed them. Naos grabbed Scout from behind and pulled her head down as they followed Nait’s example.
She felt the skin of her chin break as she hit the concrete. Scout scrambled to her feet, wiping the blood away and glancing back at the destroyed lounge. Felicia and her thugs vanished. Von’s Lounge sat abandoned.
“That was lucky,” Nait said, letting out a labored breath. “Real lucky.”
Scout spun around, stomping toward Naos. He rubbed his burnt back, but she didn’t care. She slapped him. “What were you thinking?!”
Naos touched his cheek. His eyes went wide with disappointment. She still didn’t care. “Saving you from having your throat slit, that’s what I was thinking!”
Scout waved the dagger in front of his face. She still felt the heat in her cheeks, which probably appeared maroon. “I knew what I was doing, dipstick! I was getting ready to stab her the whole time!”
“How was I supposed to know that?! We just talked about how we are all here for each other,” Naos said, backing away. He growled. “I can’t sit and watch you die!”
“What we talked about was trusting each other as we explored this deal with Bosnan!” Scout said, slapping her hips. Her eyes stung with dirt from the ground. “Instead, because of your own cowardice, you sold us out to that madwoman! Bosnan was our one chance, Naos! Our one chance to make an impact!”
“Seriously, Naos,” Nait said. He grimaced. “What was that, man? We’d better hope that Bosnan gives her the middle finger because, if not, we’re in deep crap.”
“They’re both dangerous. You guys are too clouded,” Naos said. He put his hands on his head.
“Clouded by what?” Scout said, stepping toward him again.
Naos rolled his eyes, raising his hands above his head. “What else, Scout?! Your anger toward Bettina! I was betrayed, too, but you’re letting it decide everything you do! You nearly got into bed with Felicia on Puntan and now you’re doing the same thing with Bosnan!”
She stopped and swallowed. The sting in her eyes grew stronger but not from the dirt. This sting came from tears. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t. “This is different. I dealt with Felicia to rescue you. Just like I rescued you in the palace. Stop running your mouth for once and think about that.”
Naos frowned. “I-I just want you to—”
The ground shook again. Scout spotted smoke rising. She had forgotten about that. Felicia mentioned something about the Queen’s forces.
“I think we know enough about what you want, Naos,” Nait said. He motioned to the street. “Let’s go find out what else is going on. It sounded like an explosion.”
Scout broke out in a run, shoving Naos as she passed him. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t.
As she ran ahead of the guys, the warm tears rolled down her cheeks.
Sora staggered as he reached the gate, grabbing onto the bars to stay standing. Trika shot one of the remaining guards from earlier before he could fix his aim on Sora. The other guard came out from the right, but Talek’s next shot collided with the guards’ temple. Viktor grabbed Sora by the waist.
“Captain, are you sure you’re alright?”
“Nelson’s shot threw me off, but I’ll be alright,” Sora said, pulling away from the bars. He could let himself fall later, but not now.
Shrieks and explosions surrounded them. Shrill gunfire drew closer. Sora saw a handful of small fires inside buildings as he peered out the gates and into Idil. He didn’t know why the Queen’s army vandalized the city.
“My goodness,” Natalia said, walking outside the gate. Her rifle fell to her side. S
ora stepped outside behind her. “This is a massacre.”
Two overturned cars sat in front of them. People with torn clothing scurried through the streets. Sora spotted the silver twinkle entering a building at the end of the long strip that Natalia had just led the crew through earlier. The lively road now sat in shambles. One soldier carried a cannon on his shoulder.
“We are searching for Senator Natalia Valie,” a loud, mechanical voice said. His helmet caused his announcement to carry throughout the street. “We need to search these premises.”
Sora pulled Natalia down behind one of the cars. He couldn’t make out the words of the person inside the building, but he heard complaints and pleas.
Seconds later, the ground shook again. Natalia shot to her feet and her jaw dropped. Sora grabbed her hand and lowered her to the ground. He craned his neck and peeked over the top of the car. Smoke now consumed the stone building and the same soldiers strutted out the front door.
Sora examined his new opponents as fast as his mind could. He had never seen one of the Queen’s soldiers in person. Silver, reinforced armor covered every inch of their body. One carried a long, thin rifle in both of his hands. Three separate barrels sat at the end of the rifle. More soldiers marched in the background.
Talek rushed to Sora’s side, crouching. “We need to get the jump on them, Sora. Now is the time.”
Sora hesitated, looking at Natalia. It seemed risky, but he’d trust Talek’s judgement. He didn’t see other options. He nodded at Talek.
Talek stood, firing at the soldiers. His modified projectile flew out of his gun and headed for the front two.
“Alert! We’ve found the—”
The blue ball exploded between the two, but not before the cannon fired. Talek dropped to the ground and let the missile zoom over him, colliding with the stone wall protecting the Consortium. The explosion rocked Sora off his feet and he spotted the rest of the crew as they dived to the ground.
Survival, Dark Times Page 15
