Free Omega Force 3: The Enemy Within by Joshua Dalzelle Page B

Jason realized they were in the rear area of a custom clothing store. Automated machines and bolts of different material littered the floor as well as racks of finished garments that looked like they’d fit a variety of species. Thankfully the shop didn’t run a night shift and the place was deserted.
    “ We probably set some alarms off by breaking in,” Jason said. “Let’s get moving. We’ll take the back exit and try to make it a few blocks over. Let’s hope they haven’t had time to start putting up checkpoints.” He pawed through the racks on their way to the door to see if there might be anything to disguise some of their group, but none of it was an appropriate size and all of it was so garishly colored it would likely draw more attention than it would be worth.
    The rear of the building had a wide alley that led directly out to one of the main roads. Splitting up into pairs , Lucky and Kellea fell in behind Jason and Crusher so they weren’t so bunched up and obvious. As they walked out onto the street, a side street from the road the hotel was on, Jason could see more ConFed troops milling about and searching the area. They turned right and began walking away from the scene, feigning disinterest as some of the other residents of Kachamar City began to emerge and gawk at the spectacle.
    *****
    “We’re almost to the edge of the city,” Jason said under his breath. “After that it’s a straight shot back to the spaceport.”
    “ You think it’ll be that easy?” Crusher asked.
    “ Probably not,” Jason admitted before pulling out his com unit. “Kage, prep the Phoenix for flight. We’ve made our pickup and would like to leave in a hurry.” He pocketed the unit without waiting for a response.
    “ Trouble,” Crusher said. Jason looked up and saw two ConFed troops being led by a light-blue-skinned being dressed in casual clothes that could only be an agent of the ConFed Intelligence Service. The agent looked up and stared straight at the two of them as he continued his measured approach.
    “ He’s made us,” Jason said without moving his lips. He reached around like he was scratching his back and the agent’s reaction confirmed his identity as he tensed up, obviously thinking Jason might have been going for a weapon. Instead the human held up two fingers behind his back. Lucky grabbed Kellea when he saw this and left the street, disappearing into one of the shops. “And … now!”
    Crusher and Jason broke off in the opposite direction and shot down an all ey at a full sprint.
    “ HALT!” the agent shouted as three sets of footfalls pursued them. The pair ducked down as a stunner bolt whizzed by and splashed against a storage bin.
    “ Shit!” Jason said as he dove to the left down a connecting alley. This one was a dead end. “SHIT!” he shouted again.
    “ Follow me, I have an idea,” Crusher said. He wheeled around and began running back the way they’d come.
    “ This already seems like a stupid idea,” Jason said as he followed closely behind. Crusher ignored him as he listened carefully for the approaching troops. The intel agent had decided to lag behind once they’d lost contact with their quarry. The troops rounded the corner, weapons lowered slightly, just as Crusher accelerated to his full speed and dove into them. The impact was horrific as both soldiers went down hard and stayed down. Crusher, unable to slow his momentum, went flying out into the adjacent alley and hit the ground, sliding to a stop a mere ten feet in front of the agent. He rose slowly with his hands raised as the agent leveled an ugly-looking blaster at him.
    “ Who are you and why were you running away from the Sky View Lodge? Is this a local matter, or are you involved in something else?” the agent asked as he held his ground just out of the warrior’s reach. What the agent didn’t see, however, was that Jason had snagged a fallen soldier’s weapons and was standing just around the corner. He