Free Planet Genocide I (Galaxies Collide Book 3) by Andrew McGregor

as they neared the darkened undergrowth, the lights from the fires and torches casting shadows through the trees into the brush beyond as the girl tugged him forward laughing.
     
    The black armoured figure rose from the waves, salt water glistening as it cascaded from the alloy exoskeleton protection. More figures emerged behind, their eyes glowing red as they stepped forward slowly.
    The first body stood nearly seven feet tall as metal boots sank into the sand beneath the water, the liquid surging around the muscled legs as the commander strode forward. The nearest dancers turned, their eyes widening as the armoured frame stepped onto the beach, seeing the numerous red dots glowing, almost glimmering out in the darkness, their dulled senses unable to comprehend the meaning.
    A muscled reveller stepped forward grinning, his bleary eyes taking in the frame and hand rising to point as a couple of dancers further up the beach backed away nervously, ‘Nice suit dude…you want a spliff?’ The Australian smiled widely, approaching the figure as others stared on wide eyed, the black helmet lowering at an angle to seemingly inspect the human.
    ‘You not talking?’ The toned and tanned figure stepped nearer, glancing over his shoulder at the dancers behind for reassurance as his nervousness rose slightly with suspicion. He looked back, the eyes before him glowing red as his footing became slower, a low crackle coming from the helmet as the armoured head rose again.
    They stood for a second, some two metres apart, the Australian staring wide eyed at the large frame before him, his muscled stomach tensing as uneasiness gradually filled his body, ‘You ok?’
    The armoured figure suddenly lunged forward, a muscled back arm crashing against the Australian’s torso, a sickening crunch as ribs shattered and the blades swept through the young man’s upper body, slicing across tendons and muscles as a scream echoed out. Blood spurted across the armour and sands, the Australian staggering backwards from the blow, his eyes widening in horror. The black armour moved swiftly, a second armoured fist grasping the Australian’s throat before he fell, the grip closing like a vice as the scream was cut short, bones cracking as the youth’s spine disintegrated under the pressure, the body going limp.
    The nearest girl screamed, the limp body lifted into the night air and tossed aside as several more dancers turned to run in panic. The lead armoured figure’s head rose up, the light flickering off the lines in the helmet, an inhuman shriek filling the beach as other dancers further along the sand stopped suddenly. Their eyes strained as they glimpsed the many strange piercing red glows out in the water, then terror filled their bodies as more loud shrill shrieks filled the air, the armoured bodies stepping forward into the light and advancing towards the beach.
    The revellers that stood transfixed in terror whimpered as armoured fists rose to helmeted necks, removing long double edged bladed weapons from inside their back protective plate, the razor sharp alloy flashing in the light from the flames. Screams filled the long beach as the armoured figures hesitated in unison to stare in relish…absorbing the fear…most of the scantily clad humans fleeing in panic from the water. A couple of people ran in blind terror straight into the fires, their bodies rolling in agony as flames swept across their flesh, searing sun burnt skin as others scrambled past oblivious, their bare feet slipping across the golden sands in desperation.
    Several of the party goers simply lowered themselves onto the sand in despondent defeat, their human chests shaking uncontrollably as they wept in terror. They had heard more inhuman high pitched shrieks filling the air all around the island…there was no escape…it was pointless to run.
     
     

0430hrs: Tokyo:
    The downtown Tsukiji fish market had been open for over an hour, the small trucks buzzing back and forth