War Tide (Starship Bandits Book 4) by Buzzell Ross & Yanez Jonathan

Author:Buzzell, Ross & Yanez, Jonathan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Archimedes Books
Published: 2024-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

21

ESCAPE

A small cylinder popped out of the back of PITA. Dax closed his eyes and plugged his ears. The detonation still made his ears ring and its ambient flash visible through squeezed shut eyelids.

Henuva let out a grunt. Dax turned and dashed toward Kane. What looked like fur frilled around PITA’s neck before shooting into the air. The wiry barbs stuck into the Valtuktas’ armor while they staggered back from the flash-bang.

Dax dove at Kane. He drove his shoulder into Kane’s chest while looping arms around him. The hairs exploded, knocking the Valtukta backward and dislodging Henuva’s crystal. Rolling forward, Dax hooked one arm behind Kane’s knee.

“Cover us,” Dax barked.

“Affirmative,” PITA replied.

A belch of flame erupted from its mouth. Dax rushed toward the gap in the wall with Kane on his back. Glancing behind him, he saw Henuva fire several shots from his arm. PITA’s nub of a tail started to spin. The plasma broke apart, striking a shield around the dog that emanated from its butt.

Dax squeezed through the crack and back out to the desert. The three guards lay lifeless on the ground. The Junkyard was landed with its cargo bay open. Sandrina stood with the punt gun aimed at the cave opening. Henuva’s ship chased the damaged Valtukta vessel overhead.

“Put me down, I can ride,” Kane snarled.

Dax leaned to his right and released Kane, who hit the sand and rushed toward his bike. Climbing on, he rode it to the open rear of the Junkyard. Dax grabbed his bike off the ground. Its box’s lid was open. Climbing onto it, he looked at the cave’s mouth. PITA stood outside, fire still erupting from its mouth.

“PITA, get over here,” Dax ordered.

“Initiating homeward bound protocol.”

PITA’s mouth shut while still playing heavy metal music. It turned and charged Dax. A deafening explosion rang out from the Junkyard accompanied by the zipping of rapidly compressed air. Sandrina’s projectile crashed into the wall hard enough that the shockwave danced through Dax.

Stone erupted from the mountainside while PITA leapt into the air. Small thrusters underneath fired. It landed in the box while the cave opening closed. Revving the engine, Dax drove as steadily as he could to the Junkyard. Once inside, he clamped the bike on its rack. PITA jumped out of the box with a clatter while Sandrina stepped away from the gun.

“We’re clear,” Sandrina said. “Let’s cover Buzzro.”

Engines roared to life. The Junkyard kicked up sand and lifted off the ground. Dax looked out of the back to see a purple explosion send stones flying in every direction.

Henuva and his team marched out of the mountain and opened fire. Their shots whizzed past them while they flew away. Dax walked over to the control panel and pressed the close button. He rushed to the ladder. Kane followed closely behind.

“My stubby legs do not allow for me to climb ladders,” PITA announced. “Will someone with thumbs give me a hand?”

“I’ve got you,” Sandrina replied.

The Junkyard pitched to one side. Dax bounced off the inner tube but continued to climb.

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