The Alliance Boxset Books 4-6

Chapter 21-1

Chapter Twenty-One

Saber strained as he pushed up. Each man slowly emerged from the sand like ghost crabs on the beach, clawing and wiggling out from under the catamaran. He shook the sand from his hair before he slid out from under the taut, sand-covered tarp. He paused, listening before murmuring to the others that it was clear.

It was just before dawn and a hint of the sun could be seen on the horizon. Saber nodded to the other men. They spread out, each searching for the patrol that had been heading their way.

Saber topped a newly formed slope of sand and dropped down to lie along the rim. Less than a kilometer away were the remains of the patrol. He waited for several minutes, trying to see if there were any survivors.

He turned his head when he felt Trig and Dagger slip down beside him. Trig slid his goggles on and focused. He was silent a moment before he muttered a curse.

“I see at least three survivors,” he said with a shake of his head. “We could take them out, but I imagine they have already called for assistance.”

“That is all the more reason to eliminate them. We need to get to the canyon,” Saber said, sliding down the sand before turning.

A few minutes later, they were retracing their steps up the slope. Saber nodded when Trig raised three fingers. Focusing, they worked in sync, picking off each member of the patrol that had survived. Rising up, they approached the small cluster of transports. The air transport had turned around. They knew their airships were no match for the storm.

Walking among the dead, Saber could see that most of the men were Waxians. They should have listened to the three survivors. They must be members of the Western resistance.

“These guys look just as bad dead as they do when they are alive,” Ace commented, examining the almost skeletal remains of the Waxian where the sand had sliced through the flesh and tissue.

“This one, too,” Cain called out.

Razor and Hunter searched the remains of the other ground transport. Saber walked through the camp, pausing by the men they had just killed. He pulled the cover from one man’s face. A curse escaped him and he fell back when the creature suddenly turned on him.

“Drethulans!” he shouted, scrambling backwards and pulling his rifle around.

Saber fired at the creature as it began to shake and expand. Several large holes appeared in the tentacles that expanded outward from his assault. He fired again before it pushed down and disappeared under the sand.

Rolling to his feet, he heard the others firing on the other two creatures. He moved, turning in a circle when he felt the sand under his feet shift. His gaze narrowed, following the slight movement of the granules.

He flipped the switch on his rifle to full power. Stepping to the side, he followed the movement in slow, measured steps in an effort to minimize the impact of his weight on the sand so the Drethulan couldn’t tell where he was. Saber’s eyes froze on the sand two feet away from him.

He rolled to the side as the sand exploded outward, showering him in its stinging rain. He waited until the Drethulan’s mouth opened to reveal hundreds of razor-sharp teeth. Saber rose up on one knee and aimed for the center of the twisting teeth.

“I don’t think so, you ugly bastard,” Saber growled, firing a series of shots into the Drethulan’s mouth that was coming toward him.

Saber rose to his feet and twisted around when he heard laser fire. He ran forward, jumping up onto the front of one of the transports and firing on the Drethulan that had come up behind Cain while he was firing at the third one.

“Cain, look out!” Ace shouted.

Cain turned, and his face suddenly paled with a look of shock as one of the Drethulan’s long tentacles pierced his chest. He stumbled backwards, firing on the creature, even as his knees gave out. Saber swung off the transport, firing point blank into the Drethulan’s limb.

He ignored the Drethulans as he raced forward to catch Cain as he fell backwards. Regret pierced Saber when he saw the Trivator’s head roll to the side. His eyes stared blankly outward over the barren dunes. He carefully lowered Cain down to the sand and turned.

“Cain?” Ace asked, running over.

Saber shook his head. “The Drethulans?” he asked.

“Dead. We checked the others. The rest were Waxians,” Dagger replied, staring down with regret at Cain’s lifeless body.

“Shewta!” Razor exclaimed when he saw Cain.

“He had no family,” Ace said in a quiet voice, staring up at the sky. “Perhaps in the next life he will be given one for his loyalty and sacrifice.”

Saber nodded, looking at Hunter and Trig. “Did you find anything?” he asked.

Trig nodded. “I found a working transport. Not in the best shape, but it started,” he replied, glancing down at Cain.

“Ace said he had no family,” Saber replied, answering Trig’s unspoken question.

Trig nodded. Each man made sure their laser rifle was at full charge. Stepping back, they aimed it at Cain’s body. Razor gave the quiet command to fire. Within seconds, the fine ash of Cain’s remains mixed with the sands of the desert.

Turning, Saber stared down at his wrists. A wave of pain flashed through him when he thought again of the gift he had been given and how close he had come to throwing it away. A family was the greatest honor a Trivator warrior could be given. The urge to rejoin Taylor and sweep her away to the safety of his home on Rathon gave Saber a renewed determination to make Taylor his Amate as soon as possible.