Page 58 of Advance and Retreat
Chapter Fourteen
“Everyone on board!Get us out of here!”the Adraf captain shouted to his crew.
He likely didn’t include Piras and his group in the invitation, but they accepted it anyway.As Lokmi and Kila fired warning shots over the heads of those crowding the concourse, Piras pushed Mereta toward the shuttle hatch while simultaneously shoving the bin ahead.He was aware of screams, of the swirling chaos as various species battled to get out of the line of fire.
Just within the hatch, Piras turned.In the confusion, the security team’s and Beonids’ progress was halted by the tide of beings eager to get away from the shuttle and the “Alneusians” shooting up the place.As Piras watched, a couple of security guards suddenly staggered.A Plasian and a Drusk stopped trying to shove past them.They grabbed the confused guards’ blasters and returned fire.The Darks had swapped mounts.
“Kila!Lokmi!Come on!”Piras screamed as the hatch began to close.He braced against it, but it continued to slide inexorably shut.
The pair turned and raced to join him.He jumped out of the way.Lokmi shot into the cabin.Kila managed to slip through, but the heel of his boot caught in the rapidly disappearing opening.He wrenched his foot out of it just in time to keep it from being crushed as the hatch sealed shut.
The vessel shuddered, sending the Kalquorians lurching as it took off.The bin in which Hope hid rocked in the sudden turbulence, and it rapped hard on the floor.Piras sprang-fell on it to try to stabilize it before his clanmate was injured.
“Watch out!”the Adraf captain shouted from the cockpit.
“We don’t have clearance.Traffic’s heavy,” the pilot shot back.
“Transport, begin orbit escape velocity.We’re on our way, but we have company.”
“Copy, Captain.Reading show one-man fighters are enroute to our position.I hope we’re getting paid enough for this shit.”
“Like hell we are.”Piras didn’t think the captain broadcasted his last comment.
“Clear of the atmosphere.Fighters coming in.”
Thankfully, the cabin’s gravity stabilizers had kicked in.Kila shot to the cockpit.“I’ll take weapons.”
“Do it.”The captain’s tone was clipped, but he wouldn’t argue with a fleet-trained fighter when his ass was on the line.
Meanwhile, Piras sprang the locks on the bin.Hope all but flew out.
“What the hell is going on?”She looked around wildly at the otherwise empty cabin.Except for the captain and pilot, the other Adrafs had crowded in the cargo portion of the shuttle during the excitement.
“Fight and flight.”Piras steadied her when her cramped legs threatened to give out.He manhandled her to a seat with Mereta’s gentler help.“Lock down, both of you.It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
“For as long as it lasts.”Lokmi stood near the cockpit door.He watched the action within, his attention grim.
“The transport’s moving too far ahead,” the captain spat.
“I can’t dodge the fighters’ shots and stay on course to catch up,” the pilot returned.His tone sounded desperate.
