Fate Unexpected (Earth Defender Book 1) (9 page)

“All right. That gives us some time. We’re going to need to come up
with a plan to rid us of those scientists without bringing more firepower on
us. For now, let’s let them believe you’re still alive and on task with your
assignment. I’ll go with you to collect the runners and your supplies.”

“Shouldn’t we break camp and move to another place?” Kylah asked.

“Not yet. I want to take care of the scientists before that. We’re
okay for now.” Rune leaned toward her and kissed her. “How about you see about
bagging a deer while Gada and I get the runners?”

“Okay. We do need the meat.” Kylah gave him a kiss, then stood and
walked out of the camp with her bow and quiver of arrows on her back.

Rune and Gada stood as well. His friend gave him a strange look, and
asked, “What was that mouth on mouth thing you did with Kylah?”

Rune chuckled. “That, my friend, is what Earthlings call a kiss.
They use it to show affection. You have no idea how…stimulating…it can be.”

Chapter Eight

Kylah returned to camp after a successful hunt. She carried a large
buck draped over her shoulders. She’d taken it down with one arrow. For never
even attempting to use a bow before that day, she’d made two kills, hitting
exactly where she’d aimed. She was comfortable using a bow and arrows as she
was a sword.

She dropped the deer at Rune’s and Gada’s feet. They were by the
fire pit with a bunch of alien-looking items around them. She glanced to the
left and saw two vehicles that weren’t from this planet. They were those wheel-less
motorcycles she’d seen the day she’d captured Rune. They had to be the runners.

“Here you guys go,” she said. “I got us dinner. I’ll cook it, but I
have no idea how to dress a deer since that was my first time to hunt.”

“I’ll do it.” Rune picked up something that looked like a metal
handle from a knife. He pushed a button on the side of it, and a laser blade
shot up. “I’ve had to hunt for my dinner on more than one planet in my line of
work.” He picked up the deer.

As he walked away, Kylah said, “Don’t dress it too close to camp,
and don’t take too long. Any turned nearby will smell the blood and be drawn to
it.”

“I’ll be as quick as I can. Be sure to have the fire going. We’ll
have to smoke a lot of the meat or risk losing it.”

Once Rune was gone, Kylah kneeled at the fire pit and set some
kindling inside it to get a fire started. Gada kneeled beside her and helped.
She glanced at him as she worked. It was easy for her to accept Rune, but Gada
was a different story. He was so alien-looking compared to humans.

“You don’t have to feel uncomfortable around me,” Gada said. “I
would never try to hurt you. You’re Rune’s mate. In Neele, it’s a great honor
to have a female chose a male to be her mate. Since he is my friend, I would do
anything to protect you.” Even speaking in English his voice was laced with
growls.

Kylah turned her gaze on Gada. His snow-white eyes were turned
toward her. There was a light black ring around the outer edge of the iris with
a black circle for his pupil. He appeared fearsome with those long bottom
eyeteeth of his, but with his toothy grin, he didn’t give off a vibe that told
her to run for her life.

She nodded. “Thanks, though I think I can take care of myself with
all the super solider abilities I have going on.”

“When Rune and I went to get the runners and supplies, he told me
more of what you’re capable of. All the more reason to keep you out of the
Xphens’ clutches.”

“I do appreciate all you’re giving up.”

Gada chuckled. “I should be thanking you and Rune. I’ve been an
Xphen conscript for the last twenty years. You offered me freedom, something
I’ve longed for, and never had the opportunity to take until now. Plus, I know
what it’s like to have the Xphens come to my planet and conquer it. Mine was
luckier than yours since they didn’t try to kill off or change the majority of
the population. We were too valuable as conscripts and slaves. My people knew
nothing of war until they arrived.”

“The more I hear of the Xphens the more I detest them.”

“That’s how most species in my galaxy think of them, but they’re too
powerful to cross.”

Kylah took her lighter out of her jeans pocket and then lit the
fire. Once the kindling burned nicely, she placed some larger pieces of wood
onto the flames. They were roaring and hot by the time Rune returned with the
butchered deer. He’d wrapped the pieces of meat in the hide.

She set to work cooking them their venison dinner while Rune and
Gada sliced up the rest of the meat to smoke. They spoke in English. She knew it
was for her benefit so she wouldn’t feel left out. Soon their conversation
turned to the two Xphen scientists in the other camp.

“What are we going to do about them?” Kylah asked.

Rune placed a long branch that had a chunk of meat on it close to
the fire before he answered. “We’re going to kill them.”

Gada shook his head. “They aren’t alone. Besides Torlak and myself,
there are six other soldiers. The scientists are guarded at all times. We’ll
never get past them.”

“You and Kylah will. I want you to take her to the camp tomorrow as
the Xphens planned. I’ll take out the soldiers who guard the perimeter while
you two take out the ones closest to the scientists. Once they no longer have
their muscle to protect them, they’ll be easy to end.”

“What if something goes wrong and I end up trapped?” Kylah asked.

Rune ran a hand down her cheek. “That won’t happen. You’ll just have
to give them a taste of the super solider they made you to be. You’re too fast
and strong to get caught.”

“Okay, say everything goes as planned. Won’t the Xphens send more
troops down to the surface when they lose contact with the scientists?”

“Maybe, but the biggest threat will be eliminated. They won’t send
any more scientists down until they perceive there isn’t one anymore. As a species,
the Xphens are physically weak. They only stand at about four feet tall and
have no muscle mass worth speaking of. They’re known for their huge
intelligence. They leave the fighting to the conscripts and mercenaries.
Killing two of their kind will send a ripple of fear through them.”

“I’ll have to trust you on that. We’ll still have to move higher up
on the mountain and make a new camp deeper in the woods.”

“That’ll be easier to do with the runners. They can go where your
cars can’t.”

“Then I guess tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

Kylah hoped like hell nothing went wrong. Gada and Rune were
comfortable making an attack on the camp, but warfare was out of her range of
experience. And she’d never tested her new abilities to the extent of what Rune
had planned.

* * * *

All three of them bedded down in the tent that night. Gada had to
set the perimeter field with his wrist control. Kylah slept in Rune’s arms
while Gada took the second sleeping bag. At their new camp, they were going to
have to figure out a separate sleeping area for him. Sharing the tent had put
lovemaking on hold for her and Rune.

The morning broke clear and sunny. After a quick breakfast of cereal
bars from Kylah’s stash of supplies, they started the first part of their plan.
She rode on the back of Rune’s runner. The small vehicle could go incredibly
fast, and skimmed above the top of the ground.

A half mile before they reached the Xphen camp, they stopped. Rune
would have to make the rest of the journey on foot. Kylah unbuckled her sword belt
and handed it to Gada. He did it up and then slipped his arm and head through
it so it lay across his chest. She climbed onto the back of his runner and held
on to his waist.

Rune came to stand beside them and gave Kylah a long, hard kiss.
“Don’t be nervous. It’ll be okay. Follow your instincts.” She nodded. He looked
at Gada. “Give me a head start to reach the camp before you do.”

Gada nodded. “See you soon.”

Rune took off at a run through the trees toward the camp. God, she
didn’t know what she’d do if something happened to him. Before they’d joined
Gada in the tent last night, Rune had told Kylah that he truly did want her for
his mate, if she’d have him. She’d kissed him and said she wanted the same
thing. They hadn’t professed their love for one another, but it was something between
them. She figured she was already more than halfway there, anyway.

After ten minutes or so had gone by, Gada started the runner and
made the short trip to the camp. A perimeter field surrounded it. He stopped in
front of it and nodded at the two soldiers who stood guard. One of them brought
it down for them to pass. As planned, Gada eased the runner forward, then
stopped right on the middle of the perimeter line, preventing the field from
being put back up. He spoke alien, and said something that had the soldiers
laughing. He used up the minute Rune had figured it would take him to slip into
the camp unnoticed.

Gada parked the runner with six others, then took hold of her arm
and towed her behind a large tree, blocking them from sight. He took off her
sword belt and handed it to her. Once she had it around her waist, she gave him
a silent nod. He grabbed her by the upper arm again and marched her toward the
large white dome. It was twice the size of the eight others and twice as tall.
Kylah figured it had to be where the Xphen scientists were.

She allowed Gada to drag her inside. Two more soldiers stood guard
just inside the entrance. As Gada spoke to them, Kylah studied the pair of much
smaller aliens.            The Xphens were gray skinned and wore black shiny
material uniforms over their skinny bodies. Their heads were hairless, and were
larger than the rest of them. They had big black pupil-less eyes. They had no
noses, just two holes where ones were expected to be. The mouths underneath
were small with basically no lips.

The Xphens turned to study Kylah as she waited for Gada to make the
first move to attack. A few seconds later, the first soldier went down. She
drew her sword, and moving at her speed, took down the second and then the
third that suddenly appeared in the entrance. Shouts sounded from outside. Rune
must have made his move.

Kylah turned with her sword raised toward the scientists. She took a
step in their direction, but pulled up short when one drew a smaller version of
Rune’s and Gada’s guns from his boot and shot the other.

The Xphen dropped the weapon and held up his hands. “Don’t harm me,”
he said in a voice that was low and calm. “I’m on your side. I want to help
you.”

Gada came to Kylah’s side. “Don’t listen to him, Kylah.”

“I tell the truth,” the Xphen said. “I’m part of a small faction
that wants to rebel against our government. Not all of us want to conquer
worlds. I want to help Earth, and guard the one human my people want most of
all.”

Sounds of laser guns going off grew closer and louder. “Gada, go
help Rune,” Kylah said. “I can handle this Xphen.” Gada didn’t move. “Go. I’m
the super soldier, right? Go help my mate.”

Once he was gone, Kylah turned her attention to the Xphen. “What is
your name?”

“I am called Arlax.”

“I hope what you said was true, Arlax. Now outside. You’re coming
with us.” She motioned toward the exit with her sword.

The small alien grabbed something like a backpack off one of the
tables, then preceded her out of the dome. Gada and Rune had already taken out
the remaining soldiers. They came to meet Kylah and Arlax.

Rune gave her a hug. “You okay?”

She smile. “Yes. Not a scratch. This is Arlax. He says he’s part of
an Xphen rebel faction. He wants to help us.”

“Can we trust you, Xphen?”

Arlax nodded. “I mean you no harm, Rune. I’ll prove it.” He turned
to Gada. “Give me your wrist control. Quickly. I need to remove the tracker.
With the loss of seven soldiers others on the ship will send more to
investigate. We must be well away from here before they arrive.”

Gada handed Arlax his wrist control. The Xphen took the back off and
used a small tool from his pocket to remove a microchip. He dropped it to the
ground and used a rock to smash it. Once the back was replaced he returned the
control to Gada.

Arlax pushed a few buttons on his, and a space craft came to land in
the middle of the camp. “Hurry,” he said. “Take some of the runners and the
large shelter pod. I’ll adjust the settings on the shuttle to make it
undetectable to the mother ship.”

“Leave that to me,” Kylah said. She looked at Rune and Gada. “You
two take everything down and I’ll get it onto the ship.”

She showed Arlax and Gada just how fast she could really move. In a
matter of minutes, three runners, the larger shelter pod and everything inside
it was on board the shuttle. And then Arlax had them in the air. He took them
to the camp Rune and Kylah had set up. Once they collected everything from it,
they took off again in search of a new one.

Epilogue

Kylah ducked out of hers and Rune’s tent and stretched. The days
were getting warmer. Summer would be soon in coming. She looked over at Arlax’s
shelter pod. The small alien would already be up mostly likely. He never seemed
to stop working. He’d already done more than his fair share to make sure they
stayed out of his people’s radar. The camp was surrounded and capped by an
energy field that kept them invisible to alien sensors and to anyone outside of
the field. He also kept in contact with his rebel friends on the ships. It was
only a matter of time before they made their move.

Rune came out of the tent behind her and wrapped his arms around her
waist. He kissed the side of her neck. “How is my mate this morning?”

“Good. I think I’d better get that garden planted if we’re to have
any fresh vegetables this season.”

“Arlax will probably want to help you. He’ll want to test those
super seeds of his.”

Kylah chuckled. The small alien had created a hardier seed for
various vegetables that would only need half the growing time to reach maturity.

“Probably. Or he’ll be too busy working on his cure.”

Arlax hadn’t been one of the scientists that had created the
chemicals for the red rain. He’d been against it. So now he worked hard at
trying to find a cure for the turned. Kylah had captured a couple for him to
take blood samples before she’d killed them. Until Arlax could change them
back, they were too dangerous to have them anywhere near their camp.

Kylah knew even if Arlax found the cure, Earth would never be as it
once was before the Xphens’ arrival. And there wouldn’t be a chance of any kind
of normalcy until they were taken out or forced to leave. Right now that was an
impossibility, but one day she wanted to be in the forefront of doing it.

As Rune took her hand and led her over to the large shelter pod,
Gada came out of the smaller one he’d claimed as his own. He joined Rune and
Kylah. She couldn’t help thinking of the strange family she’d acquired. Ten
months ago, she’d been alone with no idea what the future would bring. With the
three aliens who came to be in her life, things looked brighter. And with their
help, she hoped to give the rest of the planet a better future as well.

The
End