Page 83 of All You Need is Alien Love
However, around them it’s evident the tide has turned and our side has a clear advantage now that we’ve incapacitated so many among the invading force. Groxil slime for the win!
Zion’s father seems to recognize the shifting situation as well and shouts at one of his subordinates, “Where are our reinforcements?”
I follow the sound and home in on him and one of his men, who taps at an earpiece, a frustrated look on his face. “I can’t reach them, sir. None of my communications are going through.”
I grin. Yep, the Alliance is going to owe Nirblob big time when all of this is over.
Meanwhile, Zion and Lu-Ren are holding their own until a Vroknu opponent manages to land a savage slash to the big blue alien’s ribs. Letting out a cry of pain, Zion clutches the gash and falls to the ground, blood dripping from the wound, while Lu-Ren takes on his attacker with fierce determination.
That’s when Zamir’s focused attention on fighting his father is distracted by his brother’s cry of pain.
Seeing his opportunity, Zamir’s father swings his weapon at his son.
I try to race toward them but it’s like I’m moving in quicksand.
It’s clear Zamir’s father has given up on kidnapping him. I can tell with one glance the trajectory of his motion is designed to kill.
“Look out!” I scream, but I’m too far away to help, and I can tell Zamir’s brief moment of distraction over his brother is going to prove fatal.
Then there’s a sudden flash of lavender skin and silver hair as Wilder appears out of nowhere like an avenging angel to shove Zamir out of the way.
But he doesn’t have the time to avoid the deadly blade himself.
It pierces Wilder’s abdomen and embeds itself with a sickening thunk. To my amazement, he grins at his now weaponless opponent, blood trickling from his lips and down his chin. With what I can only imagine is adrenaline-fueled strength, he lashes out with the blade in his hand.
And smoothly severs his opponent’s head in one powerful slash.
Blood sprays everywhere, like something out of anEvil Deadhorror movie, and everyone watches in frozen stupefaction as the mighty Vroknu warrior’s head falls to the floor with an echoing splat.
I feel my gorge rise, and I try not to hurl.
Sure, I’ve already seen a decapitation once, thanks to my mom, but it evidently isn’t easier the second time around. It’s so surreal that I’m still having a bit of trouble processing what just happened.
In an instant, time seems to return to normal speed for all of us, except Wilder. He moves in a kind of slow motion as his weapon slips from his hand and he falls to his knees, coughing a wet stream of blood.
Roxy screams.
Wilder’s eyelids flutter but before he can fall forward, Zamir’s there, carefully taking him in his big arms.
Lu-Ren, Ellie, Maddox, and Aiden recover first and quickly take down the stunned Vroknu attackers, who still haven’t fully comprehended that their leader is now dead.
In moments, it’s just us as we all crowd around Zamir. Wilder lies in his arms, his lavender skin unnaturally pale, and blood soaking his shirt. From across the hangar, Roxy tries to rush to her brother’s side, but Lu-Ren holds her back.
I stare at Zamir, shocked to see the normally stoic big man shaking uncontrollably, tears rolling down his cheeks as he strokes Wilder’s silver hair. After everything I’ve heard and witnessed in my time at the Alliance, I always suspected Zamir still loved the man who broke his heart.
Now, however, I have no doubt.
Wilder whispers something to Zamir, then coughs weakly, more blood dribbling down his chin.
Ellie calls out loudly, “We need a medic now!”
People rush to get help.
Wilder reaches up a trembling hand and touches Zamir’s cheek, then his eyes flutter shut and his hand drops away, limp and unresponsive.
“Dammit, Wilder! Don’t you dare leave me,” Zamir shouts, panic and desperation written all over his face.
Roxy starts wailing as she struggles harder in Lu-Ren’s arms, and they let her go as she rushes to her brother’s side.
