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Free! The honey haired temptress has given us a gift that is beyond understanding. I’m still not sure she is for real. No one does something like this without wanting something in return. Soon the truth will be told if we can escape the Squad. Umbri’s security detail is one of the most ruthless in the city.
“If you can go any faster, then do!” I say, looking behind us to see Relly and his brothers gaining on us. Akiyra pushes the engine to go faster, and I can hear the engine whine as it is stressed. Thankfully the space station is just ahead. If we can get onto her ship, we should be safe.
“When I park this thing, follow Fynn to the ship. I will be right behind you to unlock it.” Akiyra’s voice is hard. “I knew it was too easy getting you guys out of there. What lie do you think he has come up with to make us stay?”
“He doesn’t need a lie,” I say quietly. “He is the richest man on Xistrosie. He is the law, well half of it.”
Akiyra’s fingers tighten on the wheel, “Then why did that investigator let me buy Fynn and Tobis’ contracts? He knew that it would tick off Umbri.”
Jax answers before I can, “He has to look as if he is following the laws in case any of the Galactic Consociation come looking. He would leave it to Umbri to find a reason that the contract can’t be bought or that we all end up in the auctions for some reason again.” Bitterness laces his voice. He is the only one of us who has spent his whole life as a slave. His mother wasn’t supposed to get pregnant, but she did. Supposedly, Xistrosie law prevents a parents debt from transferring to the child, but there are ways around it. His mother took his cost of care onto her debt, he was supposed to be free. But her owner supposedly caught him stealing and sent him to the auctions. He was 15, one year from being allowed to jet from Xistrosie.
“Crap!” Akiyra exclaims. She twists the wheel hard and we jolt to a stop at the hover station. “Run!”
The five of us jump out and start running, but Akiyra runs into the hover station for some reason. Fynn stops, looking back at her.
“Fynn! Come on, man!” I yank his arm. “You heard her. She said she would be behind us.”
He yanks his arm from my hand, “No! I am staying and will run with her. You four go wait at the ship!”
I look at the set edge of his jaw and shake my head. No way I will change his mind. After ten years with him, I know when to not bother with arguing.
“Fine! Just hurry. No matter how much Relly likes you, his loyalty to Umbi is more important than anything.” I punch his shoulder lightly then take off after the other three.
The four of us reach the ship that Fynn had pointed us too. Roberd and Jax look up at the massive ship in shock. I forget that they have never seen a ship or traveled through space. For some reason the weight of being the oldest weighs on me more now than it ever did. Maybe it is. Before I just had to worry about them knowing the rules on Xistrosie and make sure that they did what Umbri demanded.
Now I have to figure out how to teach them of the universe while reacquainting myself with that universe. Add in that I don’t understand what game Akiyra is playing or what she wants or expects out of us.
“Get your hands off her!” Fynn yells.
I spin around to see Fynn running towards the space station where Akiyra has just emerged from. Umbri’s Squad had her surrounded, Relly holds her. Akiyra’s arms look like twigs in his large hands. I could just make his words out.
“Umbri demands your presence. You have unfinished business with him.”
Akiyra jerks her arms, trying to free herself from his grip. “I owe him nothing! Let go of me!”
Fynn flies at them, punching and kicking. But the Squad are massive, one of them holds him off just by placing his large hand on his head. If the situation wasn’t so serious it would be funny watching him held back, his feet moving as if to run, but going nowhere, arms flailing at the giant's large hand and arm.
“Guys! Trouble!” I start running towards them, trying to figure a plan out. How can we get out of this without hurting the Squad or being taken captive? If it was only Relly, we would have a chance, but the other two goons were the ones we all tried to avoid. They were as mean and devious as their boss.
“Ideas?” Roberd asks, running beside me.
“Thinking. Relly has Akiyra, so we at least know she won’t be hurt for now. Jax, you and Fynn deal with Balon. Roberd, Tobis and I will take Ibwa. Remember they are big, but if you can knock them over, they can’t get up.”
We split off, each running towards the giant they had been assigned. Ibwa is the largest of the giants, standing almost ten feet tall. He is also the meanest and ugliest of them. “Tobis, Roberd, the only option is to overpower him. The three of us should be able to topple him.”
The looks the two of them give me would be humorous if this was a film, but it’s real life. Honestly, I am not thinking we have much luck in this, but we have to get Fynn and Akiyra free.
With a scream I launch myself at Ibwa, clinging to him like a toddler on its mother’s hip, pinning his arm down. Roberd has done the same to his other arm. I turn to look behind me and see Tobis standing there, watching us.
“Tobis, what are you waiting for?” I yell, locking my legs tight around the giant’s waist. This would be really uncomfortable if I had landed more center on his body than his hip.
“Just memorializing this moment.” He says, pulling a small holographer out of his pocket. “Say ‘Papa’!”
“When we get out of here, I am so roasting you. Now get over here and help.” I watch as he puts the holographer away and then runs at Ibwa. Moments before his feet make contact with Ibwa’s jewels I realize my mistake. “Oh crap!”
Without the use of his arms to help keep his balance, the force of the kick knocks Ibwa backward, just as we had planned. Except I couldn’t jump off without hurting Roberd. I found myself clinging to Ibwa, my leg crushed under his body.
“Get. Me. Out. Of. Here.” I yell through gritted teeth as Ibwa twists and turns on his back, trying to gain leverage to get up, while crushing my leg. Jax and Fynn were successful in getting Balon on the ground, his legs and arms kicking in the air as he tried to right himself. I can’t see what is going on behind me, to see if Akiyra is safe. The roars of the two Polznians drown out any conversations or sounds of fighting that may be going on around me.
Tobis pulls me out, “Fynn has Akiyra. Can you run?”
I stand and take a tentative step on my leg, “Yes, just not well. Let’s get on her ship. We will have to leave immediately.”