Page 100 of Game on Askole

Bree scooped up a black grenade reverently. “Jaylan said this puppy produces a fire that burns over four thousand degrees Fahrenheit. It’ll reduce all these weapons to a pool of molten slag.”

“Wanna set the timers for thirty minutes? It should be enough time to infiltrate the bar as dancers and persuade Tihar to come with us.” Huh? A training grenade. I stuffed it in a pocket. It might come in handy.

Bree gnawed on her lower lip. “The rebels outnumber us. If things go south with our snatch and grab, we’ll need a big, noisy diversion.”

“All we have to do is make the rebels think they’re under attack by Sariel’s forces. While they’re running to man their laser cannons, we boogie with Tihar,” I answered matter-of-factly.

Detja stated,“A strategic plan. You think like a Coletti.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”I grinned at Bree. “The ultimate compliment.”

An orange glow filled the building, and green lightning crackled like fiery snakes around the armory. The vortex spat out Adan, Detja, Kaylee, and Zoey.

A prickling sensation crept across my brain.“Hostiles.”Bree and I took cover behind the crate.

Kaylee, Detja, and Zoey quickly joined us.

Adan crouched down like some great, hungry beast.

Two Legionnaires teleported into the armory. Their eyes bugged when they spotted Adan.

I waited for them to start dancing.

“Waewae. Waewae.” The wannabes did a funky two-step as they fumbled for their weapons. “Tama-nur-ra. Aiieeeee!” they shrieked when Adan pounced.

Gulp!The Legionnaires disappeared down Adan’s gaping maw.

Keeping a safe distance, I asked,“Feeling better?”

“I am.”Adan burped loudly.

“Holy cow! Asus laser rifles. These are top of the line,”Kaylee crowed, pulling one off the rack.

An exceptional weapon was almost as good as chocolate. Almost.“We’ve got thermite grenades too.”I held one up.

Detja walked over and examined the crates of explosives.“The grenades will do nicely. Adan, I need you to place two of these on the power generator, the rebels’ planetary weapon systems, and any of their ships you can find. Set the first timer for twenty minutes and the other at thirty second intervals.”

“Yes, daughter.”He snagged a bunch of grenades and summoned his vortex.Slurppp!He was gone.

Detja stared at me for a long moment. “Are you ready to bag Tihar?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am.”

Chapter Twenty-One

With the Ditrim crystals masking our psychic signatures, Kaylee teleported me inside the tavern’s storeroom. Detja, Zoey, and Bree followed.

Kaylee checked the scanner on her bracelet. “We have forty hostiles.”

I mentally surveyed the area. “Tihar’s here. Let’s go say hello.” I opened the storeroom door and peeked out.

The room was a dimly lit shithole. Filthy tables were packed with intoxicated Askole and Bjarke warriors. The furry Hus Ping bartender was enclosed in a huge iron cage filled with bottles of booze. To get a drink, a customer slipped a credit chip through the grill.

A tipsy Bjarke female wearing only a smile did a weird hippity-hop table dance that made her breasts bounce wildly. The warriors hooted and pounded the table.

“Oh, hell no. I’m not stripping,” Bree stated firmly.

Zoey made a gagging noise. “Me either, and God, do they stink.”

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