Cobra Guardian: Cobra War: Book Two by Timothy Zahn Read Free Book Online

direction of the Troft transport.
    And for the next few seconds, the spinies grouped around the ship would have something more urgent to look at than a couple of distant humans. "Come on," Lorne muttered, pushing himself up and grabbing Nissa's arm. "That building right there," he added, nodding toward the apartment as he pulled her to her feet. "Keep low, and go ."
    She was on the move before he'd even finished the sentence, with no need for the shove he'd planned to give her if she'd needed added encouragement. Lorne gave the car and the spinies one last look, then followed.
    They were halfway to their target building when the street lit up with a brilliant flash of blue light. Lorne twisted his head around as the sizzling thunderclap of the high-power laser blast slapped across his ears.
    Just in time to see the car he'd sent rolling down the street explode.
    Nissa shrieked something unintelligible, her reflexive yelp nearly drowned out by the crackling of flame from the burning car and the creaking thud as it twisted violently around and flipped over onto its side. Putting on a burst of speed, Lorne caught up with the girl, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her along with him, trying to reach safety before the Troft gunners in the ship out there raised their aim.
    They were five meters away when the door was abruptly flung open. "Come on!" someone shouted to them. Leaning into his stride, Lorne kicked full power to his leg servos, his skin tingling with heat from the blazing car and crawling with anticipation of the laser blast that would disintegrate him where he stood.
    And then they were there, charging through the open door and into an ornately decorated lobby. Lorne caught a glimpse of dozens of people in night-robes and slippers standing tensely around the darkened room--
    "Whoa!" a middle-aged man directly in front of them gasped, holding up his hands.
    Lorne tried to stop, but he had too little time and too much momentum. With his arm still around Nissa's waist he crashed full tilt into the older man, sending all three of them sprawling onto the thick carpet.
    "Sorry," Lorne said, scrambling to his feet and throwing a quick look over his shoulder. "Someone close that door. Lock it if you can."
    "You think a lock's going to keep them out?" someone demanded in a sort of moaning snarl.
    "Just do it," Lorne ordered. He watched long enough to make sure it was being done, then turned back and offered a hand each to Nissa and the man. "You okay?" he asked.
    "I think so," Nissa said in a shaky voice as she took Lorne's hand and let him help her to her feet.
    "I'm fine," the middle-aged man seconded, ignoring the proffered hand and getting up on his own. "Didn't expect you to be coming in so fast."
    "Didn't expect to find someone in our way," Lorne said. "Sorry."
    "It's okay," the man said, lowering his voice. "I'm just glad you got here at all."
    Lorne frowned. "Oh?"
    The other glanced around and lowered his voice still more. "My name's Poole," he said. "I'm an assistant to Senior Governor Tomo Treakness."
    Lorne felt his stomach tighten. Treakness, the single loudest and most virulent anti-Cobra voice in the entire Cobra Worlds Directorate. "I guess I need to work on my aim," he said.
    Poole frowned. "What?"
    "Never mind," Lorne said, feeling a flicker of embarrassment. No matter how Treakness treated the Cobras, a comment like that was uncalled for. "Is the governor aware of what's happened?"
    Poole frowned a little harder. "What do you mean?"
    "I mean does he know about that," Lorne said patiently, waving a hand in the direction of the Troft warships and the spine leopards.
    "Of course he knows," Poole said. "Why do you think you're here?"
    It was Lorne's turn to frown. "What?"
    "That's why Governor-General Chintawa called you," Poole said, as if it was obvious. "You've been assigned to escort Governor Treakness."
    "Escort him where?"
    "Where else?" Poole glanced at Nissa, then looked back at Lorne. "Out of the