Free Alien Coffee by John H. Carroll Page B

him and
stared at the emo bunny that appeared. It turned around and hopped
off immediately as though afraid something worse would happen.
    “Well done, Jillian,” Buffy said quietly. She
saw the BEM was on a stepladder, carefully cutting shackles to let
the girl down. The teen’s knees buckled as she was released and
Jillian went to help her up although the girl couldn’t see her.
After that, the male’s shackles were cut and he was let down gently
with the girl’s help. They stood there rubbing sore wrists and
stretching their muscles while Buffy checked their condition.
“You’re well enough to escape. I’m going to go invisible and
Jillian and I are going to clear the area.” Buffy tapped the
microphone button. “The captives are safe and ready. Can you give
us any help?”
    Nyxulla’s voice came back through the
earpieces for Buffy and Jillian to hear. “We have another
invisibility device for Sclurp and are back on the ground. We’ve
gotten all but four of the soldiers that came past the fence . . .
make that three. Sclurp’s a good shot.”
    Jillian realized that she hadn’t
missed yet. It surprised her since her parents had been peace
loving hippies in the seventies and had raised her not to commit
violence. Perhaps it was the fact that she was transforming people
into bunnies instead of killing them that made it different. She
thought her parents might actually approve.
    “That’s good. We’re going to go through the
hole I made in the side fence. I think we can avoid most of the
soldiers and get to safety,” Buffy told Nyxulla.
    “We’re near the back fence again and we’ll
cover you,” Nyxulla replied.
    “Thank you.” Buffy tapped the button
microphone off. “Jillian, can you scout ahead? I’m going to stay
visible and escort these two.”
    She was about to speak before realizing the
BEM wouldn’t be able to hear her. She tapped her button and said,
“Yes. I’m going through the door now.” Then she tapped the button
off.
    “Excellent, Jillian. You’re doing wonderfully
and I’m glad you came with,” Buffy said in her general
direction.
    Jillian smiled in response even if Buffy
wouldn’t be able to see it. She quickly went through the door only
to nearly stumble into two more soldiers that were coming from the
mansion. They looked wary and had their guns ready. Jillian’s
finger spasmed and she shot the nearest one. “Oh, sorry,” she told
the bunny that appeared. The other man looked to be an officer. His
jaw dropped as he stared in confusion at his transformed
comrade.
    She backed to the side and waited for her ray
gun to finish recharging. Buffy chose that moment to come through
the door. The officer was quickly transformed and both bunnies
hopped away to mope over their actions as humans. Another soldier
peeked around the far corner of the building and Jillian didn’t
waste any time zapping him. Buffy saw the transformation and nodded
in satisfaction before disappearing back into the doorway.
    A few soldiers were watching the building
from the mansion, but seemed to be afraid to approach. The front
gate was a distance away, but Jillian could see the soldiers there
running back and forth. She wondered why they hadn’t come to find
out what was going on. It occurred to her that maybe they weren’t
allowed to abandon vital points like the mansion and front gate.
Jillian suddenly worried that the drug lord might have children who
would be orphaned. A sudden giggle burst forth when she imagined
them sadly petting their emo bunny father.
    “Jillian, we’re coming out. Is it clear?”
Buffy asked through her earpiece.
    She jumped at the sound and tapped her button
microphone. “Hold on, let me double check.” Jillian focused on the
task at hand and scanned the entire area. None of the soldiers at
the mansion or front gate looked like they were going to be a
threat. She looked at the tower and saw that the guard there had a
gun aimed at the doorway of the building. If the