OMEGA Guardian by Stephen Arseneault Read Free Book Online Page A

Feldon flat in the ribs with my left fist. He went sprawling to the floor, gasping for breath with his now-damaged right lung. The other Feldons hesitated to follow his lead.
    Garrett grinned. "OK, two of you come down here and collect your friend. And tell your boss, whoever that is, that level 99 is now closed. If they have a problem with that, they need to come see us."
    As two of the Feldons stepped down to gather the leader of their group, I grabbed one of them by the neck. "You, tell me who you work for."
    The Feldon pointed toward his friend on the floor.
    I shook my head. "Who does he work for?"
    The Feldon was silent until I began tightening my grip.
    "We work for Casinas."
    I continued, "And this Casinas, who does he work for?"
    The Feldon looked at his friends with a terrified expression. They both nodded their approval of his giving the information.
    The Feldon stuttered a response. "Casinas works for Ko... Kominga. Kominga runs everything from level 84 down."
    I smiled and spoke to Garrett as I released the Feldon. "As soon as we take care of this Gammatin, I think we pay a visit to Casinas and then Kominga."
    A voice could be heard coming down the stairs. Casinas was a Human. "Well, I don’t think I have seen a live Grunta before. Impressive."
    I replied, "Your business is finished here on this station, Mr. Casinas. You have the opportunity to turn and leave now before things spiral out of control."
    Casinas smiled. "I have to say that I like your boldness. And you are?"
    Garrett spoke. "He is an agent working directly for the Saltons. They are reclaiming this station in the name of the New Alliance. It would be best for you if you left immediately."
    Casinas laughed. "The alliance has no authority out here. Now, I will give your Grunta friend one more opportunity to join me, before very bad things happen to him, and to you."
    Garrett smirked. "If you are talking about your Gammatin—"
    I held out my hand. "You may leave now, Mr. Casinas, or I will be forced to drag you back up those stairs by your head."
    Casinas nodded. "I believe you would if you could. However, you will have to get past my friend first. Harga! Could you come down here, please. I have a Grunta that is being difficult. I believe he may need to get acquainted with your club!"
    The Gammatin slowly came down the stairs. His big torso swayed from side to side with each step. The club in his right hand was just over a meter in length. At its thickest point it matched the diameter of one of Garrett Rourke’s legs. Garrett began to reach inside his tunic.
    I again held up my hand. "No need, Mr. Rourke. I’ve got this."
    I looked up at the grinning Gammatin standing at the turn of the stairwell. Although slightly shorter than my height, he easily outweighed me by more than two hundred kilograms.
    I spoke. "Harga. You do not have to do this. In a few short minutes, Casinas will no longer be employed. He will not be able to pay your salary."
    Casinas laughed. "Pay his salary! Hahaha! Harga does this because he likes to bash heads! I am certain he cannot wait to add a Grunta to his list of smashed skulls!"
    I looked up to the Gammatin, who now had an even bigger grin. Garrett stepped back. I raised my hand and signaled for the Gammatin to begin. He brought the club up over his head and let out a thunderous yell. Garrett took another step back.
    The Gammatin then lurched forward, charging down the steps as he swung his club. I stepped just to the right, the club grazing my left shoulder as it fell. The heavy iron club impacted the thick steel decking just to my left, forcing a deep depression into the floor. I swung my balled right fist, catching the Gammatin in the top left forehead by surprise. He stumbled backward, bumping into the wall at the base of the stairwell with a confused look on his face.
    As the heavy club began to be lifted into the air, I stepped hard in the Gammatin’s direction, bringing my solid left fist up under his jaw. The