Prosperity's Rise Book 1

Chapter 5 The Escape

Horonoka roared and slammed his head backward into the guard holding him. The guard clutched at his helmet and fell over.

"Sana, Fight! Mia, grab the kid and hide! Tygor, start being useful!"

One of the guards pulled out a small box and started shouting into it while the other guards attempted to dogpile the screaming Horonoka. "We've got a captive child on board the ship with the big scratch! We need backup!"

Sana punched through his com box and into his helmet, shattering its visor. The guard crumpled to the floor. "Ooh," gasped Sana. "I forgot my hands were metal."

"Haha! Nice one!" laughed Horonoka.

The Officer pulled out a pistol. "You are all criminals now. Even if you make it off this moon, if the boy's in Kardonian space he'll be found. We're all in the system. What were you even planning on doing with him?"

"I swear this was all a huge mistake," said Tygor, raising his mechanical hand.

"Yes, it was," replied the Officer. He fired the pistol.

With unexpected speed Tygor clenched his fist, causing a red shield to emerge that deflected the bullet just as it was fired. He let out a screech and ran at the Officer, knocking him down with his shield and grabbing him with his claw.

"Horonoka, duck!" he yelled.

"Why?" he shouted back. Upon seeing Tygor wield a flailing Selendrie his eyes grew wide and he jumped out of the clutches of the guardsmen. Tygor threw the Officer over Horonoka and into the guards, sending them tumbling out of the ship.

Horonoka hit a button on the wall, closing the doors, then collapsed on the ground.

Without missing a beat, Tygor began to shout: "Sana! Can you fly the ship?"

"I can do it," moaned Horonoka. "I just need some Spine. My body's not used to this kind of adrenaline without a little assistance."

"If you need to shoot up before every fight then you shouldn't be fighting. Sana, get to the cockpit, I'll meet you there!" He grabbed Horonoka, who fell limp in his grasp. "Where is Mia?" he asked. "And Natto? Or, Nyran I suppose."

"I don't know, stupid," mumbled Horonoka. "Knowing Mia, they probably hid in the Meat Maker or something."

"Mia!" Tygor shouted running through the ship, Horonoka making a quiet groaning noise as they skittered. "Natto-uh, boy!"

Mia emerged from her room holding a terrified Natto. "We're here! What's happening?"

"We're escaping..." moaned Horonoka.

Tygor shook his head. "You know, for an addict, you have a very hard time remembering to actually take your Spine."

"The addiction is mostly physical at this point. I got for funsies and for needsies, I need my needsy."

"You're a hopeless moron, you know that right?"

"At least I'm sexy."

"Eh, not really," said Mia.

Suddenly a horrible, monstrous sound engulfed the ship, the walls rumbled and groaned, causing everyone to lose their footing and for Tygor to drop Horonoka.

"Well, I guess the dockworkers wouldn't release the ship's docking claw!" shouted Tygor over the noise.

"No! My baby!" cried Horonoka, jumping off the ground.

"Baby?" asked Mia.

Tygor made a noise that almost sounded like a laugh. "Well, it looks like you're a terrible father in all regards Horonoka."