Writing in Public: Story 4 (Novella): Chapter 20
[image error]CHAPTER 20
Graul, Jian, and Brooks launched into a rapid planning session. Hope watched in both amazement and fear. They were business-like, efficient. All the parts worked together without any questions or arguments.
Graul’s image above the jeep flickered. “Comm’s already contacting the Marines in camp. How many weapons do you have?”
“Just me and Brooks,” Jian said. “Devil blasters only. The Marines have the rifles, and we have them in our shuttle.”
Hope hugged herself, reminded that she had no weapon, no way to defend herself.
“Do you have the capability to be a distraction?” Graul asked. “Give us a little time?”
“We have an old-style jeep, sir,” Brooks said. “We can drive right through them like a bowling ball if we need to.”
“We’re moving Kangjun into firing position,” Graul said. “I’m going to lay out a stripe of weapons fire in front of them. Twenty percent strength. Should be flashy and frightening. Hopefully, it will make them turn around.”
Evil fingernails scratched at the inside of Hope’s belly. What if the aliens didn’t turn around? She wanted to ask, but Jian and Brooks were already forging ahead.
“One distraction coming up, sir,” Jian said. She cut off the comm link and slipped it back over her wrist.
“What about me?” Hope asked. If they left her here alone, that would be even more frightening than not having a gun of any kind.
Brooks grinned in spite of the situation. “Don’t worry, Hope.” We’re not leaving you behind. Just get in the back of the jeep and stay as low as you can. The aliens might open fire on us. The CTU will protect you from a lot of weapons fire, but it’ll still hurt a lot.”
He took the driver’s seat, and Jian the passenger. She took her devil blaster out of the holster and laid it on her lap, resting her hand on the grip.
Hope clambered into the back seat, trying to scrunch herself on the floor as much as possible. As short as she was, there still wasn’t enough room!
Brooks mashed the accelerator. The jeep lurched forward, engine screaming.
He began honking the horn. Beep! Beep! Beeeeeeeeppppppp! Beep!
The jeep followed the outside of the barrel road, staying on the side where the camp was.
Hope risked popping her head up enough to see where the aliens were. A lot of them. They must have emptied out their town. They were on foot, approaching in an irregular line. Close enough that she could make out the weapons: guns that fired bullets. The triggers were big, so they could fit their shovel hands on them.
Coming up on the other side, the camp was already ready for the attack. They had nothing to hide behind, so the Marines were on the ground, devil blaster rifles ready to fire.
She wouldn’t want to tangle with any of them.
Brooks continued to blare the horn. He and began a chorus of singing—out of tune—the Army song. Jian added in her version of the Navy song. Together, it was a horrible mess.
The closest of the aliens stopped, staring at the jeep puzzled. Then one raised his rifle.
Crack!
Something whizzed above Hope’s head. She squeed and tried to flatten herself to the floor.
Then another sound, like an electrical short.
“Here it comes!” Jian yelled.
Brooks swung hard to the left.
The wheels came off the ground on the right side. Hung for a moment, then dropped back with a bounce that made Hope’s bones rattle.
The electrical sound grew louder. A weird blue light illuminated the air.
Hope covered her ears.
A blue beam shot out of the sky. It sliced a line through the sand.
Smoke and dust made Hope cough.
When the dust cleared, a ten foot wide hole had been carved into the sand.
The aliens were running in the other direction.
Brooks stopped the jeep. “Skipper sure puts on a show.”
But did it give them enough time?
Filed under: Writing in Public Tagged: GALCOM Universe
