Free A Clash of Aliens (The Human Chronicles Book 13) by T.R. Harris Page A

flash weapons inside the hidden room. Arieel and Riyad disappeared into the opening, followed by Sherri.
    Benefis reach past them and pulled the counter back against the wall. Instantly, a string of lights attached to the ceiling came on. “Follow me. This will lead to an underground garage with transportation.”
    “Who’s doing the attacking?” Riyad asked the Juirean as they rushed down the dimly-lit hallway. “I thought your units were told just to track and observe.”
    “Communication security is virtually non-existent in Kidis. This may be another faction looking to either capitalize on the goal of your mission, or to offer you up for ransom. It is how things are done here.”
    “We have to get to the spaceport.”
    “I followed you from there, so I know the location—as will others.” He skidded to a stop. “Let me try something.” He pulled out a small communication device, similar to a cell phone. Sherri placed the barrel of the MK against his chest.
    “Don’t do anything foolish.”
    The Juirean grinned. “I am not like others of my kind. I value my individual life. I am attempting to clear us a pathway to your ship.”
    When the connection was made, the alien said, “This is Benefis Na. There are hostiles attempting to confiscate a vessel I have at the Zou Spaceport, pad forty-one. I need a force of Defenders to clear the area of everyone nearby. The hostiles may be posing as Defenders. I will pay a bonus for their elimination.”
    There was a response from the other end. “That is very high,” the Juirean protested, until Sherri pressed the MK at little harder against his body. “But it is agreed. Proceed immediately. I will be there in approximately twenty minutes, if not sooner. I will be in a brown Unii. The lights will be flashing. Be sure to alert your forces.”
    He broke the connection.
    Sherri smiled. “Very impressive, Benefis. I like your style.”
    “Save the compliments until we are safe. Now, again, follow me.”
     
    ********
     
    Benefis was able to take his Unii transport vehicle out through a long tunnel that emptied onto a deserted street several blocks from where the battle was taking place. He sped along, eventually joining up with roads with more traffic, before using what was essentially a very fast mini-tank as a battering ram on any car or truck that got in his way. After leaving a wake of destruction behind them, they reached the spaceport a mere fourteen minutes later. Benefis flashed the lights.
    A pitched battle was taking place in front of them, all centered around Riyad’s ship. The five Defenders who had stayed to guard the ship were being fired on by no less than a dozen similarly-dressed Defenders. One by one, they were falling, even as they sought shelter behind huge power boxes embedded along the side of the landing pad.
    The new Defenders stepped back and allowed the Unii to rush through their line, heading for the Najmah Fayd . The tank screeched to a halt right beside the entry hatch. Sherri was the first one out. She crouched down to avoid the flash bolts that filled the air and fingered in the access code. The door slid open and she rushed inside.
    Next, Arieel and Benefis ran from the transport and into the ship. Lastly, Riyad stepped out. He heard a call from off in the distance. Turning, he saw Saln Xacin yelling at him.
    “You owe us our bonu—”
    The level-two flash bolt to his chest, fired from an unseen assailant, ended the negotiation. With a sigh, Riyad entered the Najmah Fayd and secured the hatch.
    Sherri was already seated at the controls. Three seconds later the ship lifted off the pad. Through views offered by several exterior cameras, the four people on the bridge saw Defenders fly into the air, following the ship as she climbed higher into the sky of Wokan, caught up in the gravity-well. Some would fall back to the surface, others would remain under the influence even as the ship entered space and engaged the full engines.
    Riyad