Chapter 26
The bazaar was loud with laughter and children still running around. Vendors cried out to dozens of wide-eyed Callos. It would be their final outing; Lalia needed the last component for her shield system. The system would provide protection from solar radiation and zero atmospheric pressure, as well as being nearly impenetrable from plasma shots. The shielding system could be added to three separate survey suits, so that she, Garth, and Miles could use them for protection as they stormed the bridge. Of course, Lalia lied to Garth;
“These will provide adequate protection from the environment; we can use them on the exterior of a ship in case we need to do some repairs. You never know, right?” She asked him, biting her lip. But Garth was always worrying, she needed to set his anxiety aside and focus; she needed a way back to the bridge, to confront the Admiral. She shuffled in her cloak, she and Garth were keeping their faces hidden, and the vendor in front of her was still scanning the crowd looking for a potential customer to harass.
It wouldn’t be as easy as stealing a shuttle from unsuspecting Callos, each shuttle had a soldier aboard; the Admiral had initiated a heightened state of alarm. Short of a war, there was no possible way for her to board CLERGY 1…alive.
“Garth, I may need to fake my death.” Lalia mused for a moment.
“Listen. I already know your plan; you want to reach the Admiral yourself. I have known it the whole time; I am actually disappointed you didn’t trust me enough.” Garth admitted.
“I am sorry. I wanted to protect you…” Lalia tried, but Garth interrupted;
“Did you think I was oblivious to the patrols of soldiers scouring the market for us? It was fairly obvious that you were keeping us hidden.” Garth yelled.
“You are right. You are plenty capable, I was being irresponsible; yes, I want to take the fight to the Admiral himself.” Lalia confessed.
“As do I.” Garth agreed confidently.
Garth continued; “Neither of us should be forced to live on Aurrus. As great as the planet is; we know the truth and shouldn’t need to hide in fear. The Admiral’s regime of cover-ups needs to end.” He proclaimed.
“I didn’t realize you felt this strongly.” Lalia admitted.
“I didn’t either. But…” Garth paused, “I want to go home.”
“I don’t intend for anyone to get hurt.” Lalia said, staring across the road at some Aurrus squabbling over spilt juice.
“No one will.” Garth assured her, “I promise.”
Lalia walked past the vendor, no w watching the arguing Aurrus, slipping a small metal disc into her pocket. She and Garth continued down the street arm in arm. They rounded the corner, but the two were too excited to keep their heads down, Alvar and his soldiers were interrogating an elderly Callos, Alvar turned at just the right moment to make eye contact with Lalia. He raised his arm and shouted.
“There!” Each of the soldiers then turned to look at Alvar, and then followed his finger to two cloaked figures fleeing down the alley; they unholstered their weapons and gave pursuit.
Lalia and Garth cut through the large open bazaar, with their cover blown, their best chance for escape was to lose the soldiers. Each of the soldiers ran down the steps into the bazaar as well, Alvar remained at the top of the stairs to provide a vantage point; he called into his communication device.
“They are heading away from the plaza, past the green vendor, they made a right.” He shouted, jumping to the roof next to him.
Lalia pushed Garth behind a wall for cover, she raised her gun and fired several plasma rounds, one connected and dropped a soldier; he clutched his shoulder.
The other soldiers fired in response, she dropped behind a barrel and rolled to her side, Garth helped her up. They sprinted to a bridge over an ovalt grove, Garth slid onto his knees, and lowered himself into the stream, Lalia quickly followed him. They ran down stream, doubling back form where they had come. Two of the soldiers ran across the bridge, Garth and Lalia sloshed through the water, Garth helped Lalia into an ovalt tree. Lalia unlatched a window and stepped into the house; Garth stepped off of the branch and pulled himself into the house.
Gingerly, they tiptoed through the dark home; Lalia leaned against the wall to peek out into the street. Alvar stood on a roof a few houses down directing several soldiers to split up and search nearby areas. One soldier opened a door a house down to search inside.
“They are searching the houses.” Lalia whispered.
“Are they coming this way?” Garth whispered back.
“Yes. What should we do?” Lalia hissed.
“I’ll check the back.” Garth answered, he ran to the window from where they had come, two soldiers sloshed through the stream looking for them.
“There are two out here.” Garth observed.
Several loudspeakers blared; Lalia could only distinguish “Callos” and “Return”.
Callos? She mouthed to herself in thought; they were broadcasting a bounty on their heads, she thought.
“Go up. Go upstairs.” Lalia ordered. She and Garth ran up the stairs, a snoring Aurrus lay in bed as they ran past the open bedroom.
“Open your door!” A Callos soldier demanded downstairs.
Lalia looked out the window; an escape across the roof would put them in Alvar’s view.
“What to do…” Lalia asked herself.
“I am coming in!” The soldier warned loudly, breaking the door in.
Garth grabbed Lalia by the arm and yanked her into the dark bedroom; he lay down and directed her to do the same. He rolled under the sleeping Aurrus’ bed; Lalia went into the prone position and hid next to him.
The soldier slammed cupboards closed and he slid furniture across the room loudly.
“They are broadcasting a bounty on our heads.” Lalia warned Garth.
“Is that why there is such a commotion outside?” Garth asked.
Garth’s breath was hot on Lalia’s neck; she noted how dusty she was after sliding under the bed, as well as the streaks of water her boots left. She stuck her hand out from under the bed to wipe the water away. A foot landed next to her hand, the Aurrus woke up. The soldier stomped up the stairs and slammed open the bedroom door:
“I ordered you to open the door.” The soldier boomed.
“I was sleeping, you wretched Callos!” The Aurrus shouted.
“Sir, I apologize, but I am looking for these convicts.” The soldier fumbled with something in his pocket, the room lit blue.
“I don’t care! Get out of my house!” The Aurrus shouted, a smack noise reverberated in the room, a holo-gram flickering Lalia, Garth, and Miles fell to the floor next to Lalia.
“I understand.” The soldier whimpered, turning to run out of the room, he ran down the stairs.
“Callos live on a ship and they have escaped convicts. Harrumph!” The Aurrus muttered as he got back into bed. Lalia and Garth exhaled a sigh of relief, a cloud of dust puffed into the air, Lalia’s nose tickled.
The familiar stomping of the soldier ran back up the stairs;
“Sorry sir, I need to grab my holo-gram.” The soldier apologized, leaning to pick up his equipment. He stopped; the holo-gram fell in some water.
“Sir, your floor is wet.” The soldier said accusationally.
“You tracked all sorts of water into my house.” The Aurrus said, losing his patience.
Lalia inhaled some of the dust, her nose began to itch and her eyes began to water.
“I am going to check the room one more time.” The soldier said slowly, as he searched the bathroom and closet. Lalia needed to sneeze.
The soldier scanned the room, the Aurrus cleared his throat to shout, and the soldier took the cue.
“I will just leave, then.” The soldier turned to leave.
Garth sneezed, Lalia turned to look at him. He gave a frightened smile.
The soldier approached the bed, Lalia reached for his leg; Garth slid from under the bed and shot at the soldier. The plasma bolt hit him sq
uare in the chest, dropping him.
The Aurrus yelled: “Help! They are in here! They are in here!”
Garth led Lalia towards the window at the end of the hall, jumping though it onto the roof of the neighboring house. Alvar stood on the roof across from them, shouting madly:
“Get them! Get them!” He shouted, waving his gun towards the escaping convicts. The soldiers were struggling to push their way through the crowded streets, Alvar gave pursuit himself, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. He was gaining on them, he leveled his gun at their silhouettes, and he squinted one eye against the setting sun and fired until his clip was empty. They had escaped.