Hijinks, Hitchhikers & Mayhem by Gail Koger

Author:Gail Koger [Koger, Gail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

We appeared behind a six-foot tall, rust-colored geyser. It spewed pinkish water high into the air.

Huh? A thermal lake, and oh yay, the minerals in the water interfered with my scanners. My gaze focused on the bubbling watermelon-pink lake. A few funky bottle-shaped trees with coppery bark and orange leaves dotted the banks.

I switched my attention to the towering mountains rising out of a glittering white salt plain. The stripes of cerulean blue, magenta, canary-yellow, and blood-orange seemed almost mystical, as did the heat waves quivering across the terrain like restless spirits.

“Beware, little one,” Enzo cautioned, “this beauty hides many dangers.”

Hitch meowed in agreement.

“Paradise with a bit of a bite, huh?”

“Very much so,” Hothar added as he tossed a small device into the geyser.

Boom! A thick cloud of smoky vapor poured out, obscuring the area.

“Today Mallox dies.” Enzo zipped away.

Hothar teleported us to the electrified fence.

The mist parted revealing four headless Rodan soldiers sprawled on the ground.

Askole warriors were lethal.

“Fence is de-energized,” Enzo advised and swung the gate open.

Dropping me on my feet, Hothar pulled his laser pistol and commanded, “No wandering off.”

Grrr. Doing my best dimwitted impersonation, I gushed, “Gee, I was hoping to take a couple of selfies with the pretty pink lake in the background.”

Hothar gave me the stink eye. “Behave.”

“Right back at ya, Hot Lips. I’m not twelve.”

With an aggravated sigh, Hothar trotted through the gate.

Enzo inquired, “Hot lips?”

“He’s a great kisser.” I frowned as Hothar placed what looked like two thermite grenades next to the power generator. “Are those grenades?”

“Yes.”

“Holy hell! Is he nuts, we’re too close.”

“Run!” Enzo zoomed away without offering me a ride.

“Jerk.” I ran for my life. “Stay put he says.”

Hitch yowled at me.

“I’m running as fast as I can.”

“What happened to your kamikaze courage?” Hothar asked as he scooped us up.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I might be crazy but I’m not suicidal.”

“You still take too many risks.” Poof! We were back at the geyser.

“So do you, big guy.”

Kaboom! The power generator blew. A rippling fireball rose high into the sky.

I flinched as rocketing shards of metal pelted the ground around us.

Hitch yowled in alarm.

Hothar curled his body around us. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Yeah, but who’s protecting you?”

“Tihar gave me one of their prototype battle suits to try out.”

“Guinea pig, huh?” I frowned as prickles of alarm skittered up my back. Something horrible was heading our way.

Enzo zipped up. “Mallox has released the mutant fighters.”

“How many?” Hothar set me on my feet.

“All of them.”

“We need to get to Dway before they kill him,” I interjected.

Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow.

“What? A secret passageway? Show us.”

Hitch hopped down and scurried over to a raised sentry post. He stopped on top of what looked like a sewer grate and hopped up and down.

“There’s a tunnel underneath the grate that leads directly to Mallox’s lab,” I translated.

Purring loudly, Hitch scrambled up my body and took his spot on my helmet.

Enzo vaporized the grate and dropped into the tunnel.

“And you think I take unnecessary risks.

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