Jax looked at the three terrified faces and the one stoic one. “My friend has been distracting the folks outside. When I open this door, run around the building and across to the shopping center. Don’t look around. Head down, run fast.” He looked around and made eye contact. “Got it?”
Naomi was trying to calm the other three. She nodded. “I’ll go first. Follow me.” She pushed past Jax and opened the door. She didn’t stop to look back, or anywhere else, for that matter. She bolted.
Jax looked at the group. “Well? Go!” He pushed the other woman out the door, then the heavyset guy, followed by the other one…Joel, maybe? The three aid workers scrambled out the door and out of the building. They hugged the building, then darted across the narrow service road toward the waiting Naomi.
Jax looked up and down the narrow road, then dashed across. When he arrived, he said, “We go through the shopping center, then out to our transport.”
For the first time since they left the broom closet, Thomas Chen spoke up. “I don’t understand. You said you’re here to rescue us?” He turned to Naomi. “What’s happened at the camp? Who is this man?”
The probably-not-an-aid-worker looked at that man who was, in theory, her boss. “Thomas.” She turned to the other two. “Laura, Joel. He’s our only hope at not being imprisoned at best, executed at worst. The militia and the governor are no longer in power, and I suspect anyone that was here under an Imperial invite is no longer welcome.”
Jax nodded. “We’ve already tangled with folks from both sides who seemed hell bent on ransacking your camp and taking anyone they found into custody.” He pointed to the section of the shopping center where he and Naomi had entered. “This way.” He headed off.
Thomas leaned down to Naomi. “This went to shit fast.” She chuckled and nodded.
Outside the shopping center, the results of Baxter’s distraction were everywhere. Most of the armed vehicles that had been parked in front of the Palace were smoking wrecks. There were a few bodies on the ground. Far more parts of bodies were in evidence.
“I’m going to puke,” Laura croaked as she stepped out of the shopping center.
“Point it that way,” Jax said, pointing away from the group. He looked around. “Looks clear. Come on.”
The hovercraft was right where Jax and Naomi had left it. When they entered the mechanical bay, Baxter stepped out of the shadows.
“Holy hell!” Thomas Chen shouted, then clamped a hand over his mouth, looking around to see if he’d given them away.
Baxter was damaged. He had several scorch marks on his torso, and one of his forearm blasters had been hit. It no longer retracted completely, and was spitting sparks. His scatter light optical sensor seemed to be stuttering. The droid climbed aboard the hovercraft. “Sorry to startle you.” He turned and stooped to offer his undamaged hand to the three new arrivals.
“Is this thing safe?” Joel asked as he climbed into the cargo bed.
“Until they start shooting at us,” the droid replied.
“Just get in.” Jax helped Laura up into the cargo bed. He turned to Thomas. “Up you go.” He turned to Naomi. “Get it started.” She nodded and climbed into the small cab. As he climbed into the cab next to Naomi, he tapped his earpiece. “Rudy, Skip, we’re probably coming in hot. Find me an exfil location, please.”
“Copy that,” the Osprey’s SI replied.
The hovercraft’s motor engaged, whining as the craft lifted off the ground. “Hang on tight,” Naomi said, pushing the throttle forward as the small vehicle eased out of the garage.
“Need me to drive?” Jax offered.
The black-haired woman next to him smirked. “I’m good.”
“We’ve got company,” Baxter said over the whine of the motor. Jax looked over his shoulder. Two military hovercraft were racing behind them. As he was watching, the familiar energy bolts of Baxter’s forearm blaster lanced out, striking the lead hovercraft, leaving scorch marks. “My auxiliary power cells are a bit depleted.”
“They’re getting closer!” Laura shrieked.
“What do we do?” Joel shouted.
“Who are they? Militia?” Thomas Chen shouted.
“Does it matter?” Jax asked as weapons fire raked the back of their vehicle, chewing up the metal tailgate. He turned to Naomi. “Maybe try to avoid their fire?”
“This isn’t a fighter,” the woman growled. She yanked hard on the controls, forcing the hovercraft to take a turn far too tight. They slammed into the corner of a building, losing speed.
“Okay, gimme the wheel,” Jax ordered but was met with a hand shoving him away.
“I got this!” Naomi hissed as their vehicle picked up speed. The two chasing hovercraft took the corner slower but were already gaining again. The edge of town was three or four more blocks to the side of their current course, though the buildings were all single story already.
Before Jax could reply, a beam of deep purple light lanced down from the sky to spear the lead hovercraft. In the span between two seconds, the hovercraft and its occupants ceased to exist. The Osprey roared overhead, sending dust in every direction.