Page 34 of Accidentally Abducted
A small drone zipped over head with flashing white lights and a camera mounted to the top of it. It moved as if it were looking for something or someone. Us?
One of the buildings in the distance lit up, a screen showing a very familiar scene. The escape pod's remains were covered in sand, but I knew what it was. The crash site. White drones were surveying the area.
"They've found the pod," I whispered.
Zeysor nodded. "At least the Mars wind will have swept our tracks for us," He said. "But we need to hurry and find disguises. Then we're getting you home."
***
We moved through the back streets, following Zeysor's instincts until we ended up in a run-down part of town, not too far from the hostel. It was the kind of place that screamed black market dealings and other shady business.
I clung to his hand, glancing around to make sure no one was looking at us and no drones were following us. It was a careful balance of fear and not wanting to look suspicious.
Just as we were walking behind a metal building, someone walked out.
Well, were thrown out.
It was a Terruxian, just like Zeysor, but his rough skin was greener. He stumbled and nearly ran into me.
Zeysor pulled me back. "Watch it!" He growled.
The Terruxian looked up.
If I had to guess, he was quite drunk.
He looked from me to him. "Are you two the ones they're after? The space station?"
"So?" Zeysor said, not denying it.
"They're looking for you, dude," the alien said, sounding almost more like an Earthling that a Terruxian. "I saw it on the report before they kicked me out." He shook his head. "What are the chances?"
"Please don't turn us in," I whispered.
The alien laughed. "Don't worry about me, girl," He said. "The space station and the Commander are as good as dead to me."
Zeysor relaxed a fraction. "As to me." He paused. "Tell me, do you know where we can get a cloaking device?"
The drunk Terruxian grinned. "Sure, dude." He pointed down the street. "Two blocks that way, there's a scrap shop. Talk to the man at the counter about a moon plate."
"Moon plate?" Zeysor repeated.
The other alien nodded. "Yeah. He'll hook you up."
"Thank you," My mate said.
"Oh, and if you're looking to get off this rusty hell hole, there's a shuttle leaving to Earth at nightfall." The alien added as he stumbled away.
"Why are you helping us?" Zeysor asked.
The alien looked over his shoulder. "I don't want anyone else to lose what I lost to the Commander. Go. Be free."
We watched him walk away in silence.
I squeezed Zeysor's hand. "We need to hurry."
We followed the instructions until we arrived at a dirty-looking garage. Rusty metal was piled as tall as the fence that encircled it, doing little to keep the mess from creeping over into the streets and alleys.
"This must be it," Zeysor said.
