Chapter 2

Luckily, I already knew Zander. I knew how he tended to operate and what I should look out for as I did my research. The people in the small mining town didn’t have much to tell me. Most of them were drunk out of their minds or too tired to speak in coherent sentences. I tried going to saloons and the women of the town, but they didn’t seem to know much about the criminal either. It seemed like I was getting nowhere.

Then, I hit my stroke of luck. As I sat down at the local saloon, I picked up on a conversation next to me. Two bionic chimps were whispering to each other, talking about a high-speed train that would be full of expensive consumer goods. Apparently, it would be carrying everything from transporters to flying vehicles. There would even be rare novelty items such as muskets or cosmetic Nano-implants. I grinned, knowing this was exactly what I was looking for.

I heightened my hearing, edging a little closer to the chimps as they drank merrily, picturing what it would be like to ride a unicycle. I bit my lip. I had to find out where this train was going so I could plan my ambush.

“I sure wish I lived in Garuda. Everyone there is stinking rich, showing off their Blood Diamonds, wearing them like trophies. It makes me sick. You know I haven’t found one bloody diamond since I got here!” One of the chimps slammed down his glass.

“I’m sure you’ll find something soon.” The other one tried to comfort him, saying something else, but I was no longer listening. I had my target in sight: Garuda.

I briskly walked out of the saloon. Bianca was tied to one of the support beams, patiently waiting for my return. She flared her nostrils as she saw me, patting the silver dust under her feet in greeting. I smiled at her, gently patting her back. “I hope you’re ready for a long ride. I finally figured out where Zander is going to strike next.” Putting my foot in the stirrup, I hoisted myself up, settling myself in the saddle. She turned around, her long black tail flicking back and forth in nervous excitement.

I dug my heel into her side and she shot off like the wind. I leaned forward, letting her go full throttle. I nearly lost my beloved hat, but I managed to hold onto it even as we traversed the rocky terrain. Soon enough, we were approaching Garuda. I could see the towering buildings of the wealthy city. I spotted the slick track the train would rumble over and looked for any kinks in its armor.

Finally, I found what I was looking for. A few miles away, there was a remote valley the train had to go through, clinching it between two mountains. It would make it the perfect place for an ambush and I had no doubt that Zander would plan his attack from this very spot. I rode up to the valley, finding myself a hiding place, determined to stake it out.

Sure enough, Zander appeared with plenty of force behind him. Strangely, they all rode horses, just like I did. It was odd to see a non-human on a horse. I furrowed my brow at him, wondering where he had gotten them. Maybe he had been inspired to get some help since the last time we met.

Quickly, I grabbed my revolver from around my belt, taking aim at him. He was in my direct line of fire. All I had to do was pull the trigger and take him out. But where was the fun in that? I grinned and saw him pointing at the track, a beautiful bracelet hanging from his wrist. There was a blue orb attached to it, which I aimed for.

My hands were steady and my breathing level as I finally took the shot. My bullet whizzed through the air at a breakneck speed, making contact with the orb and shattering it to pieces. This spooked the group, their horses rearing in fear. Zander shouted something to his men and they dispersed.

With an air of confidence, he started to ride toward me. I didn’t hesitate to shoot again, this time blowing a hole in the canteen on the side of his hip. He didn’t even flinch. I was impressed. As he started to get closer, I noticed him for the first time. Even though I had seen him before, it was never in great detail. Now, however, I could see his lovely blue skin, decorated with well-placed hues of green. His pointy ears twitched slightly, listening for any movement. His muscular, human-like body. His piercing gray eyes. It was all so breathtaking.

I found my heart speeding up, admiring him further. Unlike most Zerothians, who didn’t tend to their hair, his was tamed into two thin braids that hung over his broad shoulders. Around his neck was a complicated necklace with a white gem as a centerpiece, glowing fiercely, as if his proud heart was on display.

“Why don’t you come out of hiding, Ms. Westerly?” He suddenly called out, flashing me a dazzling smile. His teeth were pointed, but his face was still sincere and gentle as if he were an old-time friend.

“Oh, I’m not hiding!” I called back, riding into the clearing, rushing right toward him, my gun pointed straight at him. He moved away before my bullet could make contact. I cursed myself for missing. Seconds later, I heard the ear-tingling sound of a bullet flying past my head. “Close, but no cigar!” I laughed giddily. This was more like it.

We kept shooting at each other. It seemed we were rather well-matched, making it almost impossible for either of us to hit our mark. Suddenly, just as I was about to reload, he came dashing into me, grabbing my gun and tossing it away. Seconds later, he grabbed hold of me, effortlessly picking me up and setting me down on his lap.

I was about to struggle when he pinned my body to his. He held me tight and I froze. My heart skipped a beat and I couldn’t think straight. I looked up at him with wide eyes. “You’re beautiful.” He whispered, his hot breath caressing the side of my face. I shuddered, a tingling sensation running down my spine. He chuckled at my reaction before tossing me back on my saddle and riding away, leaving me disgruntled and confused for a brief moment.

Suddenly, I realized what had happened. My cheeks turned red and my hands clenched into fists. “Why that rotten…!” I screamed out into the valley, hearing my frustration echo back at me. I couldn’t believe I had let him escape!