“Where are you, Bane? Vee needs help. They have him pinned!”

Khane’s urgent voice rattled in Rydak’s comm. Khane was new to their Unit but proving to be an asset. His nerves pricked at Rydak’s senses. Easing deeper into the shadows, eyes on the renegades blasting away from the office, Rydak tensed. The six-man gang they’d chased through the streets was down to three but showed no signs of surrendering to the military team which had them outgunned.

The owners of the shop where the criminals hid were long dead, their bodies on the front path of the entrance tossed away like trash.

Rydak inhaled deeply and calmed his rioting thoughts as he held his laser aloft. These men didn’t care about the innocents in the city. Over the last several days, they’d looted and killed without discrimination and now Jutaks responded. Everyone knew to give up if the military sent in the elite soldiers to quell resistance.

“I’m almost there,” Bane muttered, his deep bass rumbling.

Rydak searched the area and spotted his teammate scaling the wall of the building one handed, his other hand pressed to his side. Rydak switched channels until only his Team Leader Jahul would hear. “Bane’s hurt.”

“How bad?” Jahul’s steady response flowed over the line.

Rydak studied Bane a moment longer. It was hard to tell with the Ceraton. The fact that he climbed the wall at all would have one assume the injury to be minor but climbing one handed signaled a weakness. Bane would never reveal a weakness unless it was bad.

“Bad,” Rydak decided as Bane’s foot slipped but he regained his balance and never stopped his rapid ascent toward the top of the building.

“I’m fine,” V’hor chimed on the main channel.

Vee was far from fine. An abandoned rover provided his only cover and bio-fuel from the tank leaked into an ever-widening pool about his boots. One well aimed shot from the onslaught of laser fire and it would all blow.

Rydak’s gaze shifted back to the criminals desperate to make their escape. Glee lit their faces. Something about the way they concentrated their fire power on Vee hinted they knew how close they were to blowing up one of the famed Jutak warriors.

If it wasn’t for the decorative archway keeping the men partially hidden, Rydak’s line of sight would have been perfect for the take-out shots. He wished they’d brought Faruk, whose skill and ability with a weapon were without equal.

“I’m on top. A little longer, Vee and I will have you clear.”

Bane had finally cleared the top. After his announcement, he raced across the pitched roof. Rydak narrowed his gaze but the black uniform disguised any hints if Bane’s wound bled.

“In position, awaiting orders.” Bane stretched out flat on the edge of the roof, a sniper laser propped on his shoulder.

“Rydak, can you draw them out?” Jahul questioned.

He studied everyone’s position. Khane’s location proved negligible, able to see everyone but unable to help because the moment he moved their enemies would shoot. Same as Rydak’s position.

More lasers spit across the ground setting off sparks around Vee. Rydak went with his gut. “Yes.”

Jahul didn’t hesitate. “Proceed. Bane, as soon as Rydak clears, take them out.”

“Affirmative.”

Rydak drew a deep breath then launched from his spot and raced into the open toward his teammate. Vee’s green eyes widened and his mouth parted. Nice to know he could still surprise everyone.

Jahul cursed in his comm but didn’t reprimand Rydak. Khane’s deep chuckle filled his ears. Rydak ducked and ran in a zig-zag pattern as the men they wanted shifted their attention to him, giving up on the efforts to blow Vee up. They fired without care.

One brave soul determined to make a kill, yelled and straightened from behind the barrier. His head exploded in a spray of blood seconds later as Bane hit his mark. The other two shouted and increased their fire power once more. At the last second, Rydak rolled across the ground, gravel scraping his uniform and the side of his face mask as he hid beneath another unmanned vehicle.

His position placed him a few feet closer to Vee but didn’t improve his angle on the men they needed to take down.

The criminals must have realized the futility of their efforts. A concentrated barrage of laser fire once more hit the ground near Vee and the spilled fuel. The men burst into the clearing in an evident suicide run. One lucky strike later and flames ignited.

Bane picked off another. The man collapsed mid-step, falling to the ground on his front, weapon clattering as it skidded from his lax grip.

“Get out of there, V’hor!” Jahul ordered, his voice tight with command and concern.

Vee slung his weapon over his shoulder and rose from his crouch to follow the order. Rydak dragged oxygen into his lungs with measured breaths. He couldn’t do anything but watch, his heart pounding out an uneven rhythm. Curses rang out in his comm.

“Fuck! My laser cell jammed,” Bane announced.

Rydak flex his thigh muscles, prepared to dash forward. Maniacal laughter came from the last man. He’d taken Rydak’s approach and crouched behind a tipped over hover-car. Vee leaped onto the top of the rover as the flames around the vehicle shot upward. Time seemed to slow and Rydak’s gaze tracked it all, unable to do anything yet.

Tossing his weapon to the side, Bane surged to his feet, palms toward Vee. Slivery lengths of white poured from his hands and wrapped Vee’s entire torso in a sticky cocoon.

“What’s he doing?” Khane murmured.

Rydak had an idea. The distance should have been too great for what Bane attempted but all of them waited with breath held. Bane yanked his arms back and Vee flew through the air in a controlled arch to land in a tumble beside Bane on the rooftop.

Vee fell to his knees as the webbing slid free. His shirt had torn and one sleeve hung off limply around the collar but other than that, he appeared fine. Rydak wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t witnessed it, despite his awareness of Bane’s skill set. Elation filled Rydak and he mentally cheered.

Khane charged the last criminal and tackled the screaming man to the ground, sliding electro-cuffs around his wrists once he pinned him down. Behind Rydak, the rover exploded, sending all of them diving for safety. Rydak covered his head, the chatter in his ear running together until he could make out Jahul’s words.

“Team Three report.”

“Clear.” Khane.

“Clear.” Bane and Vee.

Rydak shook off the grime and pushed up to kneel beside the hover-car providing him protection. “Clear.”

“Well done. Head out,” Jahul declared on an exhale.

***

On the walkway outside of the club the quiet night settled about Lissi’s shoulders. Too quiet. She wished she’d left with Ellie and begged her friend for a ride. Too late now. Lissi bit her inner cheek and contemplated how much yelling she’d endure if she called Torkel.

Raucous laughter and a loud whine behind her decided the matter. Lissi eased to the side of the entrance as a group of drunk males stumbled outside. Sticking to the shadows kept her hidden as they made their way to their hover-car and left.

Lissi tapped the black band on her wrist with its built in mini-comm. It dinged twice before her brother’s harsh greeting snapped out. “What has happened, Lissi?”

She swallowed past the bitter acceptance that she should have stayed home. “I need a ride.”

“Wait one moment.” He whispered to someone in the background and Lissi wrapped her free arm around her middle. Torkel returned. “Where are you?”

Lissi hesitated. She leaned against the stone wall behind her and tipped her head back to stare at the pitch-dark sky. She was so in for it.

“Lissi,” Torkel’s deep voice rumbled.

“Reiker’s,” she croaked.

Torkel cursed. “We will talk of this later. Team Three is on route to Enotia. They will come to Reiker’s to get you. Less than ten minutes arrival time. Keep your comm open.”

Lissi closed her eyes as remorse filled her. “I am really, really sorry, Torkel.”

His heavy sigh came through loud and clear. “I am more worried your actions will see you in danger one day and I may not get to you in time. Do not place me in the position to lose the only sister I have.”

Her lids fluttered and Lissi blinked back tears. “Thank you, Tor-Tor.”

“Do not thank me yet. I plan to tell maman.”

Lissi gasped but before she uttered a protest her brother ended the transmission. Telling her maman was considered severe punishment. Shaya Alonson would sip kaffe and gaze at Lissi in silent disapproval.

The very thought pinched her conscience. Lissi straightened and wondered if using her brightest smile would get her out of trouble. No, bright smiles only worked on papan and sad eyes worked on her brother. Nothing worked on her maman, who was immune to every trick Lissi and Torkel had devised as children. Not that it mattered. Lissi vowed never to go anywhere without clearing it first with Torkel again. Her wild days in a desperate bid to find friends ended today.

The wind picked up and she huddled into herself, wishing she had dressed in warmer clothing. Her outfit was more fit for dancing and having fun. The cooler night temperatures hadn’t been taken into consideration.

Lissi wasn’t sure how long she stood in her spot waiting for her brother to send one of his teams to pick her up but the noise from the club spilled outside when a group of rowdy partyers burst through the door.

Everything would have been fine. They would have passed right by Lissi in their revelry if a really hairy multi-legged bug hadn’t chosen that particular moment to drop down beside her face. She screamed and jumped away frantically slapping at her clothes.

The five guys turned as one. And stared.

Lissa stopped. Slow smiles spread over their faces as they sauntered toward her en masse. Her heart thumped against her chest.

“What do we have here?” The one in the lead asked as he approached.

Lissi backed up, ending up deeper in the shadowy depths of the alley. “I’m with friends.”

For some reason, they found this funny and started to laugh. Lissi shivered and wished not for the first time that she’d learned how to use a weapon when Torkel had offered. Not that she would have carried one. Lissi worried too much about hurting people but the thought was nice.

“We can be your friends,” the leader said as he leered. “Right, Campo?”

Campo, she assumed, grinned, revealing a chipped front tooth. “Oh, yeah. I want to be her friend.”

All five spread in a semi-circle, blocking Lissi’s potential means of escape. Frantic, she backed up another step and her palms met the wall behind her. No longer worried about bugs, she considered screaming again.

Before she could put thought to action, a rough and smelly body slammed her into the wall. Lissi kicked out and received a sharp smack to the head which brought tears to her eyes.

“Hold her, Jimon. Let me get her first.”

Hands pawed at her clothing. A rip and tear to her shirt left Lissi gasping and struggling. She yelled out for help and a sweaty palm covered her mouth, muffling any noise she made as her skirt was yanked up.