Sorta Seized By The Alien by Athena Storm

Author:Athena Storm [Storm, Athena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Athenaverse Press
Published: 2019-10-01T05:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

Gurtal

My eyes snap open and I lift my head, glancing about our makeshift tent in confusion. Xana continues to slumber in my arms. What has awakened me? It’s still dark, though I have no idea of how far away dawn is.

Then I hear it, a cry muffled by distance. It seems louder than before, however. In a moment I realize they’re shouting my name, and Xana’s.

Thrusting my head through the tent flap, I see four of the convicts from the compound, dressed in wide brimmed hats and flowing cloaks. I recognize Sidek, but I can’t recall the names of the others. Ducking back into the tent, I rouse Xana with a gentle nudge on her shoulder.

“Wake up and get dressed. We’re about to have company.”

Xana’s green eyes are full of dread.

“Is it another gang?”

“No, it’s Jyt-lei’s people.”

“Were they looking for us?”

“Probably, but they look pretty grim. I want to be prepared for the worst.”

“They’re not here to fight, Gurtal.”

I nod, but on the inside I’m not so sure about that. If any of Jyt’s people saw me dragging Xana off over my shoulder, they might have gotten it in their heads that she needs rescuing from the big, bad Vakutan male.

When we’re about half dressed, the call comes again. Xana turns and yells with surprising volume.

“Here. We’re here.”

By the time we finish dressing and stand out in the early morning pre dawn, Sidek and the others are almost upon us. One look tells me that while they don’t want a fight, they do have some grim business. The first thing I think is that their compound must have been overrun.

“You’re alive. Looks like I just lost a bet.”

“Nice to see you too, Sidek. Did your boss send you after us?”

“Indeed. You said you had a companion, an Alzhon in a brightly colored shirt?”

“Yeah, Zylan.” I swallow hard. Did they find his body? “What about him?”

“Our scouts found him near death out by the buttes. He’s awake and asking for you.”

Xana and I exchange glances. At least now we can find our way back to the compound. We’re also that much closer to rescue, because I’m pretty sure only Zylan can pilot that rickety jalopy he considers a sweet ride.

The journey back to the compound is maddeningly short. It seems we were wandering in circles for the last few days. I come across another wrapper and want to kick myself. I suppose I should have studied up on my desert survival techniques. Why did I ever think we would just blast down the surface, grab Xana, and then blast away? Nothing in life is ever that simple.

I wonder who’s going to cut the power to the electrical field if Sidek is outside of it? The answer winds up being Jyt herself. The grim glare she beams down at me on the ground outside the walls says she doesn’t approve of my hauling Xana off, but I don’t think she’s going to make it an issue.

“Jyt’lei.”

She grunts and twitches her nose, but gives Xana a slight smile.

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