Page 5 of Alien's Challenge
Faris clamped a hand on his companion’s shoulder, keeping the impetuous youth in place. Faris had been twenty-five when he was transported to Reazus Prime. Perrigaul had been eight.
Eight.
Faris knew what he had done but couldn’t imagine what crime a child, little more than a hatchling, could have committed that warranted a life sentence on an inhospitable rock. The child wouldn’t have survived on his own for more than a day, and Faris distrusted the male who proclaimed himself the hatchlings’ protector. Impulsively, Faris made a trade for the child. They’d been like brothers ever since.
Perrigaul hadn’t liked Rand when he joined the crew, which should have been Faris’ warning. The youth had an uncanny ability to sense trouble that saved their tails more than once.
“Come on, I’m freezing my frills off,” Perrigaul grumbled.
Faris ignored him. Perrigaul was soft, too soft for this world, and that was partly Faris’ fault.
The train sped forward, gliding on the mag levitation track. Their timing had to be perfect. They only got one shot at this.
“Now,” Faris said.
He pushed off, his hovercycle speeding down the steep slope toward the maglev tracks. Snow flew past him, thick in the air.
The bikes wanted to connect to the tracks. Internal sensors were drawn forward, ready to dock and zip along at ludicrous speeds.
With a jolt, his bike hit the track. The machine hurtled forward, the last car of the train growing closer. They had moments to connect before the train entered the tunnel; a force field would shut out any stragglers hoping to hitch a ride.
Reazus Prime was a dangerous place, full of criminals and miscreants. Ne’er-do-wells would take a hovercycle down a mountainside just to rob a train.
Faris would know.
The bike inched closer to the train. Faris deployed the leash. Power zipped down the tether, forcing a connection between his bike and the train’s security system.
The display on Faris’ control blinked. Success.
A glance to the side showed Perrigaul struggling to make the tether connect. He smashed buttons, his mouth moving in shouted curses that the wind swept away.
The tunnel grew closer.
Faris told Perrigaul his bike was a pile of expensive junk, all flash and no substance, but the youth wouldn’t hear it.
“Now or never,” Faris said, knowing that Perrigaul would not be able to hear him.
Power crackled and fizzed along the tether.
The train entered the tunnel, plunging into darkness. The security field slammed down on the other side of his bike, close enough to shave off the tip of his tail.
The bikes docked along the back of the caboose.
Now came the tricky part.
Faris climbed aboard, a plasma blaster strapped to his back while a small arsenal of various weapons of destruction decorated his person. Using an iron lever, he pried open the back door.
The male guarding the door jerked in surprise but never shouted his warning. He crumpled to the floor after a blow from the pry bar.
“No style,” Perrigaul teased, stepping over the fallen guard.
“Brute force is a style.”
Perrigaul removed his blaster from his holster, the weapon humming to life. “Setting to stun?”
“Yes. I’d prefer not to make any corpses today.” He stepped over the stunned male. “It’s not this poor bastard’s fault he works for Randevere.”
Randevere, though…
