Chapter twenty-three
The room glowed blue, and there was a kind of tank. You know like they have at the aquarium, it was filled with purple, Jell-O, at least I though it was Jell-O?
[What is that stuff?] Brooke asked.
"It is the ocean that the Nox brought with them when they left their home world." D replied.
Just then we heard, "Do you humans submit to the all-powerful force of the Nox empire?"
It was Ice again, and just as ugly as ever.
[Do you see the size of those worms swimming in that ocean?] Christopher asked.
We ducked behind a huge stack of toxic waste barrels.
"I will not say it again!" Ice yelled shaking her gun. "Do you or do you not submit?!"
[That's my dad she's yelling at!] Phoenix gasped.
[Okay, everyone take your guns out of your holsters. We have alien butt to kick!] I told my group.
We carefully crawled out from behind the barrels.
[Freeze!] Phoenix yelled in away that everyone in the room heard.
I see the Triumphernt has found someone to do his dirty work!" Ice spat. "I'll see to the death of you!" Ice yelled, as she pushed Phoenix's dad out of her way.
[You want a battle?] Phoenix challenged.
"Why yes," Ice replied.
[Be careful!] Brooke yelled. [Some of these people are just innocent bystanders!]
A wall opened and maybe twenty or thirty Caracaras stepped out, and all of them armed.
Phoenix was chasing Ice around, but Ice always managed to find a way to hide behind one of her followers.
Suddenly, a hole appeared in front of me!
I aimed for the nearest Caracaras leg, and fired!
He fell to the ground, his leg, wounded but alive.
[Aim for the legs and arms!] I instructed my friends.
[Brooke look out!] Christopher yelled a warning. Just before a blast of blue flew right over her head.
[That was close!] Brooke said with a sigh of relief.
Things were exploding left and right! It was total chaos!
Seeeeeeer!
A flash of bright orange exploded from my gun. A Caracara bellowed in pain and sank to the floor.
I was sweating like crazy. I could feel the beads of sweat trickling down like rain.
My heart pounded like my mom hitting the chicken before she cooks it.
I shot another, and another, and another Caracara.
More guilt on my shoulders.
I glanced over at Brooke, she looked to be doing plus she could. I turned back to the Caracara that was aiming at me, it fired and I ducked.
Seeeeeeeeer!
And it past just over my head, I could feel the heat from it.
Then I head s scream, one I had heard before.
[Brooke!] I shouted as I wove in and out from behind people to get to her.
Ice had stabbed her with a knife in the back! It didn't go in that far, but far enough to make blood come gushing out.
I got over to her, she was still conscious, but I had no idea what to do to help her.
[Can I kill the witch?] Phoenix asked pulling her gun out again.
Phoenix aimed her gun at Ice, and Ice turned to run, but ran into Christopher. So she ran to the left, but a young woman who was not one of her slaves, got in her way. She aimed a human gun at the woman and opened fire.
Ka-pop!
And Phoenix's dad had a hole in his head. He sank to the floor like a puppet that had just had his strings cut.
[Daddy!] Phoenix cried.
Christopher put his hand on Phoenix's shoulder and she just cursed like I've never heard anyone curse before.
[Phoenix he died a hero! Make him proud, save what people we can.] Christopher advised.
Ice was running toward the big tank, behind that was an exit!
[I'll kill you!] Phoenix yelled aiming her gun. [You will die and go to hell!]
Phoenix pulled away from Christopher and fired her gun.
Seeeeeeer!
It missed Ice, but hit the big tank. The exterior cracked and shattered.
[We've got to save my parents!] I yelled.
"One more move, and I kill the humans!" Ice threatened.
What could I do? I could have shot Ice and ended it all right then and there. But since I had no guarantee that my mom and dad would live, or any of the other people.
I watched as my mom and dad where strapped down, and as the purple slugs oozed into their skin.
If I let them become infested, then there still was hope.
And after I had watched my own parents, and other people that I didn't even know, become
slaves of someone from another plant.
That is when Ice yelled, "kill them!" And about, oh fifteen or twenty Caracaras came at us.
"I have activated a portal, and it will open in, five, four, three, two, one." D counted down and a black door appeared.
D picked Brooke up and carried her through, Christopher pulled Phoenix screaming curse words like made through the door. And I jumped in just as the Caracara came close enough to dig his claws into my back.
