Free torg 01 - Storm Knights by Bill Slavicsek, C. J. Tramontana

doing?" he asked as he saw the jack extend toward his head. "That's illegal!"
    "Illegal?" Thratchen laughed evilly. "You have data I need filed somewhere in your pathetic system. I will simply search through your memories until I find it. Of course, it won't be very pleasant for you, and I do imagine that what's left of your mind after I sort it won't be worth very much. But then, that's life."
    Thratchen jacked into the port under Alec's right ear. Then he again tightened his grip on Alec's throat so that no screams would escape the scientist's lips.
    And Alec very badly wanted to scream.
    Bryce sat in the passenger seat, next to the driver who wore remnants of a police officer's uniform. Behind him, in the van's cargo port, Coyote and Rat sat across from a lizard man. The lizard man eyed the two boys curiously, while he absently petted a large, gray cat wearing a red collar. The boys, fighting over whether to be scared or curious themselves, sat with their backs against the van wall, as far from the lizard as possible.
    There had been little discussion since they piled into the vehicle. For one thing, the priest and the teens had been glad to get away from the winged reptiles, and they had been totally surprised to see a van that actually worked. For another thing, the cop was too busy navigating through the Lincoln Tunnel to answer any questions. Every so often they reached an impasse, and the van had to squeeze through a narrow opening or push another vehicle out of the way.
    The winged reptiles followed them as far as the daylight penetrated the tunnel, but refused to venture further into the darkness. That suited Bryce and the others just fine.
    The priest wiped rain water from his beard. "Thank you for your timely assistance, officer. I am Father Christopher Bryce. And these two young men are Coyote and Rat. We are in your debt."
    The police officer examined the priest with quick glances, never letting his eyes leave the road ahead for more than an instant. "I'm Rick Alder, and I'm not sure if the NYPD still exists for me to be a member of. But I guess once a cop always a cop, huh? The big guy in the back is Tal Tu. He helped me out of a jam so I decided to keep him."
    Alder swerved to avoid a stalled Honda, straightened the van out, and continued on an even path.
    "Do you have any idea what this is all about, Father?" Alder asked.
    "If only I knew the answer to that question," Bryce sighed. "I've heard it quite a few times since this all began."
    "What about you hoodlums? What are you two doing wandering around in the rain with a priest?"
    Rat started to say something, but Coyote silenced him with a pat of his hand.
    "We don't talk to cops, man," Coyote spat.
    "Suit yourself. But if you give me any lip, I'll let Tal Tu eat your face off."
    Coyote paled visibly and Rat huddled behind him.
    "You are kidding, aren't you?" asked Bryce quietly.
    Alder smiled nastily. "What do you think?"
    Tal Tu, apparently pleased by all of the attention, opened his jaws wide and exposed a mean set of teeth.
    An hour later, Alder had the van running smoothly along I-95 South. Rain was still falling, but it was much less intense than it had been. They were approaching the Newark exit when Bryce noticed a warm glow off to the right. He sat up in his seat and peered out at the horizon. The glow extended for some distance to each side. It was a natural light, without the coldness of artifical illumination. It took a few seconds, but when it registered, Bryce's mind went into panic mode.
    "Officer Alder, there is a fire out there."
    Smoke hung in the air, thick clouds of black that darkened an already gray sky. Alder could see the red and orange glow of crackling fire. It had to be a large, intense blaze to create such a display.
    "Get off here," the priest ordered. "Maybe we can help."
    The police officer maneuvered the van onto the exit ramp. The Newark skyline came into view, and it was burning brightly.
    "My God, Bryce," Alder said, "the