Chapter 31
Miles felt as though he was floating, he was so intent on reaching Lalia he didn’t even notice the pain in his legs. Somehow he could pinpoint Lalia’s location, she was near the center of Ailios, but Miles wanted to find Garth first. Miles needed to try Braes’ home, though it meant it would take him longer, Miles was certain he wanted Garth by his side while he rescued Lalia.
Some Aurrus stopped what they were doing to turn and watch Miles, concerned to see an alien running through their streets; most of them screamed and fled, some threw fruit at him. A soldier was caught in the street by Miles, before the soldier could reach for his weapon; Miles had already raised his hand and blasted him with a bolt of light. The soldier was catapulted into the air, and was smashed into a far off wall.
Miles deflected the swing of an aggressive Aurrus, slamming his light-coated fist into his gut; the Aurrus grunted and collapsed with several broken ribs. Garth met him outside of the house:
“Miles! Thank Phlasia you’re alive.” Garth exclaimed, his bag slung over his shoulder.
“Where is Lalia?” Miles demanded.
“I left her; she wanted me to come find you.” Garth explained.
“Why did you leave her?” Miles shouted angrily, his arms began to glow.
“She was hurt; she didn’t want to slow us down.” Garth tried to explain, Miles let out a guttural yell.
“She was hurt and you left her!” Miles screamed.
“She was shot.” Garth confessed calmly.
“Where is she?” Miles asked, calming down, he knew what was at stake,
“I left her in a house, she is resting. She is recovering.” Garth explained.
“No. She has been captured, she is being tortured. We need to leave now.” Miles directed.
“I am already packed. Let’s go.” Garth agreed. “Here,” he pulled a smaller pouch from his bag, “This goes under your clothes. We might need the added protection, I am already wearing mine.”
“There are three?” Miles asked.
“One for Braes…” Garth asked, “Where is she?”
“One for Lalia. Braes is gone.” Miles began walking.
“I don’t get to be angry?” Garth yelled, half joking.
“Let’s save it for the Admiral and his goons.” Miles answered.
The two picked up their pace and moved quickly through the empty streets, most of the Callos had already boarded shuttles and were taking off for the Convoy.
“We don’t have long.” Garth observed, “The Convoy is preparing to leave.”
They ran, down the alley ways, led only by Mile’s psychic connection. They were close. The moon, with its icy glare, was bright in the night sky. The streets were empty and eerily silent, Miles and Garth slowed their pace and gathered their breath, they crept quietly closer to the home.
“This house?” Miles pointed, turning to Garth.
“Yes. We looked for a single-story, but this one seemed like it has been empty for a while.” Garth explained.
Miles crept closer to a side entrance to the home.
“Stop.” Garth whispered, “Maybe I should come from the roof, we can go in at the same time.” He directed, loading his plasma pistol.
Miles nodded his head in agreement and remained hidden behind the neighboring house. Garth scurried up an exposed pipe and through a window, a minute later he was on the roof looking down.
“I’m ready.” Garth gave Miles a thumbs-up.
“Let’s go.” Miles inhaled deeply, his arms infused with spiraling light.
Miles used his open palm to shoot down the wooden door on the back of the home, while Garth leaped across from the neighboring roof. Miles entered the home and spun quickly, the light from his arms illuminating the dark room. He called out:
“Lalia! Lalia!”
Figures emerged from the darkness, a shot was fired upstairs and something fell hard. Miles blasted one of the Callos soldiers; the sound of bones snapping filled the room. Another guard fired a plasma shot, hitting Miles square in the chest; the shielding system designed by Lalia absorbed the hit completely. Miles spun and shot a bolt in turn, the Callos' arm was shorn off, and the Callos’ face contorted in pain before Miles delivered another crushing blow. Two more soldiers rushed towards Miles, but he shot blasts at both of their heads, both catapulted through the wall into the adjacent room, neither living. Miles ran up the stairs, before him lay both Lalia and Garth; Lalia not moving on the floor, Garth with his hands behind his back. Miles froze.
“Welcome.” Doctor Melric stepped from out of the shadow, his gun leveled at the back of Garth’s head.
Miles snarled, squinting his eyes as he tried to count the soldiers in the room, he counted four.
“As you can see, I have been taking good care of our friend the Doctor.” Melric coughed, he taunted gesturing with his gun.
Miles seized his opportunity, he projected a blast at Melric’s hand, the gun skittered across the floor. He leapt towards Melric, but a guard caught him by the leg. Garth jumped to his feet and swung one leg under Melric dropping him to the floor. Garth scurried for the gun.
Miles double-over, focusing intently. Several of the soldiers in the room shot their weapons at him with trembling hands, one soldier ran downstairs out of the house. The room was filled with swirling light, as though a fog had entered. Melric sat with his jaw a gape, speechless and afraid; the room began to tremble. Miles lifted his head and screamed in pain, a pulse emanated from his body and slammed into each of the standing soldiers, incinerating them in a flash. Garth toppled over and fell in a heap, not moving. Miles flinched slightly; his shielding system crackled with static. He quickly tossed it off, blue flashes darted across it as it hit the floor.
Miles turned to face the quivering lip of Doctor Melric:
“Don’t kill me. Don’t kill me. I, I…” he stuttered as he crawled away and bumped against the over-turn nightstand.
Miles turned to face Garth, he stooped over him:
“Garth.” He called, trying to shake him to consciousness.
Melric rushed at Miles screaming, his arm raised above his head in an attack position, Miles raised his palm to return an offensive blast but found himself unable to do anything.
Melric began to laugh: “What’s wrong?”
Miles glanced down to his chest where Melric had stabbed him with a piece of broken glass. Miles choked for air.
“Can’t breath?” Melric taunted, lowering his arms for momentum as he put his body weight into a kick; Miles was sent sprawling. Miles writhed in pain.
“Based off of footage from your prison break. You can’t use your powers when you can’t breathe. Funny, I thought I would need some sort of magic rock.” Melric stood over him grinning.
“Come bring me my shuttle.” Melric called into his headset communication device.
Melric reached for an empty syringe that had leaked on the floor, but then stopped.
“I know a different type of sedative.” He raised his boot and kicked at Mile’s head, Miles blacked out.