Ash Ketchum: Rise of Galactic

Ch. 25 Retribution

Would you like to get your own Serena?

   The plane landing in Rio de Janeiro to refuel, then quickly took off again, finally touching down at a small airfield near the Galactic's Peruvian compound, in the town of Puerto Maldonado.

The asphalt runway was surrounded by walls of trees that spilled outward from the burgeoning forest. The jet taxied to a small hanger where a contingency of Galactic guards and a bus were waiting to transport the group to the compound.

The plain stopped and a stairway unfolded from its side. A guard climbed to the top of the of the stairs and knocked on the door.

Kiawe was the first one out, followed by the rest of the youths.

"Whoa," Kiawe said. "It's hot. Like a furnace hot."

"And humid," Selene added. "My hair is going to be frizzy."

Alain rolled his eyes. "This is nothing. Wait until summer."

   A moment later the guard walked out, followed by Cyrus. The six Peruvian guards at the bottom of the stairs saluted Cyrus as he emerged from the plane and descended the stairway. Cyrus stopped at the bottom and returned the Galactic salute.

  "Captain Figueroa," he said.

  "Yes, sir!"

   He pointed to the guard from the plane, who was not standing at attention. "This man disobeyed a direct order. His inaction nearly cost us our lives. Put him under arrest."

  "Yes, sir," the captain snapped. "Guards at attention."

   The Peruvian soldiers pointed their guns at the lone guard, who, in spite of his many years with Galactic, was still caught off guard. He looked on in horror.

   The captain stepped forward with his gun drawn, his other hand out. "Guard 247, surrender your gun. Slowly and by the barrel."

  "Yes, sir," he said, his voice trembling. He slowly removed his gun from its holster and, holding it by its barrel, handed it to the captain.

  "Put your hands behind your back. Now!"

   He quickly obeyed.

  "Secure this man," the captain barked.

  "Sir, yes, sir." One of the soldiers ran up behind the guard and handcuffed the man's hands behind his back, fastened the metal belt through a buckle in the back of the guard's uniform.

   The captain turned to Cyrus. "Prisoner is secured. What are your orders, sir?"

   Cyrus scowled at the handcuffed guard. "Captain Figueroa, detain this man for now in maximum security. For the benefit of the visiting guards we're going to make an example of him. We're going to put him in the chute."

   The condemned guard's face turned pale. "No, please, sir. Not that. I beg you!" He fell to his knees, bowing his head to Cyrus's feet. "Please, sir. Anything but that! Shoot me. Please, shoot me."

Cyrus sneered. "Show some dignity, man." He kicked the guard away from him. "Captain, keep him alive until I give you further instructions."

"No!" the man screamed. He tried to get to his feet to run, but he was knocked down before he could stand.

The teens watched the exchange with amusement.

"What a wimp," Alain said.

"What's the chute?" Selene asked.