Alpha Centauri

Twenty-One - Jaden

 "Congratulations," a snarky voice booms from within the sea of aliens. "You've found us. But where's the vengeance you promised your mother?"

A tallish, lean figure with an Earthly amount of arms emerges through the gap the army has created. He wears a metallic-looking mask, and I can't tell if it's to conceal his identity or for dramatic effect. Only his mouth is bare. He also wears a dark, high-collared coat that falls to his knees. He seems almost human.

"Who are you?" Julian demands, pulling me behind himself.

"The soon-to-be ruler of Crenala."

"You cannot become ruler. Not as long as Julian and Jaden are alive. It is the law everyone in the galaxy must abide." Nizami looks like her come-at-me-bro, I-will-kick-your-ass self again.

"Of course." The scout Commander struts over to us. He grabs Nizami's chin with his gloved hand and strokes a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll just have to kill them and claim you as my queen. No more laws in my new galaxy, my princess."

"Don't touch her," Julian seethes.

"Like I'd hurt her."

"I don't think we can say the same for you," I say as coolly as I can.

Nizami grabs her wrist, her diamond sword spiraling into action. I bring my foot back and kick him hard in the shin. As he curses, Julian flips his wrist and sends him crashing into a line of scouts like a bowling ball hitting pins.

The Commander yelps in pain, anger, and surprise. "What are you fools waiting for? Kill them!" His last words hit us like an icy wind.

The soldiers break their formation and charge us. Nizami turns a few into a bloody blue shish kabob, and Julian flicks his wrist, snapping a few bones.

And I can't do anything. I have no weapon or powers. I have nothing to keep my mind off the fact that we're hopelessly outnumbered and that this is probably the end.

"Nizami, what do we do?" Julian shouts.

She doesn't answer. She doesn't admit we're finished.

Suddenly four arms grab me from behind. Two of them wrap around my body, preventing me from moving, while the other two clamp onto my neck. All four arms force the air out of me. I try to scream for help, but no sound comes out.

"Jaden!" Julian yells. The alien's grip on my throat tightens. He's going to make me suffer through this instead of a quick death. When did getting stabbed become a better option?

I squirm and kick, but the scout doesn't budge. I'm no match for it. The bastard is twice my size and has ten times my strength. I kick harder, but it's useless as it squeezes the last of my air out.

But then my foot lands right square between the alien's legs. Its grip lessens for just a split second, but it's long enough for me to wriggle out of its grasp and scramble away, gasping for air.

My feat sends energy and confidence surging through me, though I know it's a hopeless battle.

Then everything explodes.

At least the roof does, anyway.

The smoking, flaming, gaping hole in the ceiling allows twilight to pour in, illuminating the huge enemy ship stowed in the warehouse.

One much smaller ship hovers above the flames, the heat distorting its image. It's about the size of Nizami's ship, but I've never seen it before.

"Nathan!" Nizami suddenly gasps. "What is going on?!"

She's silent as Nathan relays a message through her earpiece.

"Julian, Jaden, Nathan says to take cover under the enemy ship."

I'm totally confused, but we all grab hands and make a mad dash for the ship.

We barely make it under the hull when we hear blasts and explosions behind us. Orange beams of energy shoot from the sky and blast aliens to dust. The Commander has disappeared.

When only a few scouts remain, the unfamiliar ship descends into the warehouse and hovers a few feet from the ground. A door on the side slides open, crisp, pale light silhouetting a four-armed figure standing aboard the ship.

I gasp and jump back into Julian.

"Nathan says to climb aboard. That one is our ally."

I hold my ground. "Are you crazy? It's one of them!" I shout.

"Jaden, go!" Julian orders. "We don't have another choice!" I look around the building and see that the remaining scouts are starting to regroup.

I take a deep breath and sprint to the ship like I would if I actually cared about the 100-meter dash in P. E. I reach out for the ledge the alien is standing on. I want to look back to make sure Julian and Nizami are following, but hesitating could be my death.

The pod is already ascending when I leap for the ledge. Nanoseconds of horror flash through me when I miss the ledge. But a clawed, pale hand shoots down and grabs my wrist.

I look up at the alien. Its red eyes stare at me as if to say I promise I won't slaughter you and take over your planet.

The alien effortlessly lifts me aboard the ship. He lets go when I'm safely aboard, and I turn around to the battle scene.

Nizami and Julian are nowhere near the ship. Scouts are surrounding them. I try to jump off the ledge and get back to them, but the alien grabs me by the waist and pulls me back in as I scream in protest.

"No! What the hell are you doing?! They're still down there!" I cry.

Before the side door slides shut, I see a huge alien soldier surge forward, taking down Julian and Nizami.