Page 60 of Alien's Luck
“There is an exit nearby, if the schematics are correct,” he said.
He found a corridor that took them down a flight of stairs into the dark. Less than ideal, but the air was free of smoke. It was dark.
Poppy resisted every step. Frustrated, Ari slung the female over his shoulders. She snarled and snapped at his ears but could not reach.
“Are you sure this is the right way? It’s awfully easy to get turned around in here,” Carla said.
“This is correct. This is how I was brought in.” According to the schematics, the path would bring them to the base of the cliff, near the waterfall, which lined up with his memory.
“You were sedated,” Carla said.
“I was not unconscious,” he replied. “It lifts my spirits to hear your pointless bickering. It soothes my soul.”
“Now? You wanna flirt now?”
He could not see her face in the dark, but he could hear the smile in her voice. He adjusted the Nakkoni over his shoulder, redistributing her weight, and grinned. Nothing could sour his mood. Not even the Nakkoni’s tail hitting him in the face.
The corridor turned into a tunnel, the smooth concrete transitioning to rough stone. Soon enough, the tunnel spilled them into the sunlight. Mist from the waterfall hit his face, washing away the smoke that clung to his skin.
A Nakkoni guard waited, a blaster pointed at them.
“I was correct,” he said, shouting to be heard of the sound of the waterfall.
“Now is not the time,” she shouted back and raised her hands in surrender. “Kronkee. Why am I not surprised?”
“You’ve caused quite a mess,” the male said, the blaster trained on Carla.
He did not like this one bit.
“I do not wish to fight,” Ari said, stepping in front of Carla. He knew he made a ludicrous sight, carrying the struggling Poppy over his shoulders. For her part, Poppy continued to do her best to bite him.
“You’re absconding with stolen property,” Kronkee said.
His desire to avoid conflict vanished.
“People are not property,” he said, a menacing growl in his voice.
“Aren’t you guys busy?” Carla asked. “Like there’s a ship firing on your boss, and you’re chasing us down?”
“I have my orders.” Kronkee waved a blaster in their direction.
“Is that supposed to frighten us? If Tavat wanted us dead, you would have shot us already,” Carla said.
Ari gave her a stern look. “You are not helping.”
“I’m totally helping,” she replied. She turned her attention to Kronkee. “I’m helping, right? Distracting you while Ari here does something amazing, which he will do any minute now because of… reasons. Amazing reasons. He totally knows karate, too.”
Ari sighed. Yes, reasons. “I do not know what karate is.”
In a fluid motion, he slung Poppy off his shoulder and yanked on the chain. It fell away as he pushed her toward Kronkee.
“What the hell?” Carla demanded. “What about not hurting Poppy?”
He did not have a chance to reply. Kronkee fired wildly. Ground exploded at his feet.
No, it was more than simple blaster fire. The ground rumbled. A roar of engines filled the air, drowning out thewaterfall. Ari recognized the peculiar tang of fuel in the air. A ship was launching and very close by.
Carla shielded her eyes with her hand and pointed to the sky. A rocket streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of vapor. “That fucker is escaping!” Despite shouting, the noise of the engines nearly masked her words.
