Defying The Alliance: INFERNO (Novokin Alliance Invasion 2) by Bobbi Ross Read Free Book Online

it fueled his intent, his need to protect her.
    Nothing would stand in his way. Not even the stone wall of the domicile that housed the youngling.
    CRASH!
    A large, ragged hole the size of his body now gutted the wall. A shriek of utter despair cut through the mid-morning skirmish. An infected female ran into the middle of the street. She stopped to stare up at the window where the youngling was standing mere moments ago. Two more miners appeared, and fought to pull her back to cover. The female, the youngling’s mother refused to budge. She cried, "Edsmond! Edsmond!"
    The window where the youngling had been standing moments ago shattered outward. Trex now stood at the gaping hole, holding a small male by the arm with one of the hypo-injectors to his neck. "Stand down people of Kalemta."
    The mother wailed again, but dropped to her knees. "Please!" She cried through desperate streams of tears, "Please don't hurt him, he's only a boy! Take me instead!" One of the men who had tried to pull her back shook with rage for a moment, but then let his head and his weapon drop alike.
    The youngling’s body was feeble and spent from his losing battle with the attacking xenovirus. He only managed to lift his head and cast a hollow stare at Trex. The Othmarvian felt for the youngling. He pushed the injector into the young male’s neck and pulled the trigger.
    "No! My son!" Before the mother’s soul wrenching scream died, the parasite began to recede. It disentangled from the youngling's arm, neck and face. The thing shriveled and cracked until it dried up and fell from the now listless child. The mother still on her knees, wept and reached up for her baby.
    Trex cradled the child in his arms, and then launched himself into the air from the third floor of the dwelling. The ground quaked and split when he landed with a loud thud in front of the mother. He knelt and offered her the youngling.
    "Mom?" The youngling reached a hand up to wipe away his mother's tears. His small, delicate hand smeared the salty water through the layers of dust on her face. The rest of the miners finally emerged. Each dropped their weapons and hurried over to see the miracle. They surrounded the giant man. They rushed to him falling over themselves to touch him and beg his forgiveness.
    Trex stood taller than the crowd his eyes searching for her. He wanted to make sure she was safe. He spotted her ordering her crew out into the open from their positions of cover. Her face unreadable. He wondered for a moment if she’d be angry with him. He didn’t like it when she was mad at him. But he had no choice. He had to. No, needed to keep her safe. He shook his head at the crowd of miners gathering around him and pointed to Caspia. "She is the reason we are here to help you."

Chapter 10
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Contrary to the miners’ initial hostile and plasma-filled welcome, their goodbye was heartwarming and gracious. They showered us with many thanks for our help. They shook our hands, patted us on the back and apologized for trying to kill us. They even shared their meager supply of food with us.
    Most of their people had succumbed to the disease. What little patches of land they harvested went mostly unattended. Their so-called feast wasn’t much. But it beat the prak out of the ship’s rations any day of the week and more than satisfied our bellies.
    Content grins spread around the round lunch table. Anya and Katlen sat across from me with my second in command and cooed over my soon-to-be godchildren. Jaxx caressed his two bellies with both hands in circular motions. His light green, half closed eyelids and the light pull of the corners of his mouth betrayed his contentment. I loved seeing him like that. He deserved to be somewhere on a planet’s surface. Safe, relaxed and rooted to the ground, able to enjoy his pregnancy. To prepare his body and mind for the birth of his budlings. I wished I could make that happen for him. But he refused to