CHAPTER ELEVEN
Heidi and Becky managed to slip out of town without attracting the attention of the Seed. They even found a working transport parked in an alleyway. Screams and crying had filled the streets as citizens scrambled about trying to avoid the marching Seed creatures. Worse yet the virus that mutated people into horrible monsters just like Bruno was spreading like wildfire. It had taken them most of the after noon slinking down alley ways and side streets before they had found the transport and even then it had taken them a while to get out of town. Night was now approaching as the sun had just sunk beneath the horizon. Now well on their way with the town sinking in the distance, Heidi couldn’t help but look back and feel guilty for leaving all those innocent people to die at the hands of the Seed. She turned away from the side mirror and sat back in her seat, her head slumping back against the head rest. Becky sat in the driver seat as she was in better condition than the Newman. Heidi had lost a lot of blood and now struggled to maintain consciousness. Becky looked over at her friend to make sure she was still awake and managed a weak smile when Heidi looked back at her. She turned her attention back to the road then discreetly lifted her shirt to check on her own bandage. She had quickly patched herself up while Samuel had been working on Teletha. She said a silent curse as the bandage continued to become blood soaked. She was still slowly bleeding and the bandage wasn’t stopping it. She slid her shirt back down over it and quickly checked to see if Heidi had seen her. Heidi’s head was slumped off to the side, her breathing slow and rhythmic. She was asleep but she looked stable at least. If they could make it back to the next town they could get medical help and water. Becky gripped her side as a wave of pain shot through her wound. It only lasted a second but it hurt none the same. She tried to take a deep breath but even that hurt. Sato meowed softly at the young woman. Becky smiled back and patted the Mag on the head.
“It’s ok, I’m fine.” She smiled
Sato kept quiet but she nuzzled up against her new friends leg. Becky turned back to the road and had to swerve quickly to keep from running of the path. Once she had regained control she quickly checked on her friend but Heidi remained asleep.
“Sleep would be so nice right now.” She sighed.
Sato meowed again.
“I know, I know.” Becky shook her head, “We stop know and we both might die.”
She continued on down the road glancing in her side mirror. One of the stars low in the horizon seemed brighter than normal. She kept watch on it as she drove and indeed it kept getting bigger and brighter. The roar of a ships engine soon thundered across the desert as a small rogue ship flew in over the transport. Giant spot lights beamed down over the transport and Becky heard grappling hooks pierce the roof of the cargo area. An EMP burst shot down from the ship disabling the engine. The transport settled down on the ground and three loud thumps came from the roof. Becky shook Heidi trying to wake her without making a sound. The Newman groaned but didn’t wake. Becky froze as she heard voices of the rogues. They began cutting holes in the metal then dropped down into the cargo area.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” One of them cried.
“Ya, where’s the stuff?” Another said in a gruffer voice.
“What kind of transport doesn’t carry anything?” The first one said, “Check the cab and ask the driver.”
“Duh, OK.” A third deep voice said.
Becky remained quiet listening to the footsteps approach her door. A big dog faced beast man appeared in the window. He smiled when he say Becky then turned to the back of the transport.
“Duh, hey Hiru, there’s a couple girls here.” He said.
“Girls, alright.” The deeper voice replied.
“Pipe down No.” Hiru said, “Let’s see what we got first shall we?”
“Huh, oh ya lets.” No nodded.
The short pink afro haired Newman popped his head up into the window with a little help from his big younger brother Do. He grinned and signalled for the beast man to set him down. The human named No dropped down from the roof and waited eagerly as Do opened the door.
“Welcome my dear.” Hiru smiled with a slight bow, “This is your lucky day. You’ve been found by…”
“The Vol brothers.” The trio said.
“Now if you’d be so kind as to step from your broken vessel...” Hiru said trying to sound smarter than he really was, “We will escort you to your new home.”
Becky just stared back at them for a moment before finally climbing down from the cab.
“You aren’t going to hurt me are you?” She asked softly.
Hiru looked at her and spotted the small trail of blood running down from under her shirt.
“Looks like some one already did.” He shrugged.
Sato floated over to the open door and hissed at the three men. They turned around and stared at the Mag.
“Duh Hiru, isn’t that?” Do began.
“Sure looks like it Do.” Hiru nodded.
No moved in front of the door and shone his flashlight in side.
“Hey, that looks like…” He gasped, “Could it be?”
“Don’t just stand there.” Hiru scolded slapping No across the head, which was a real stretch for him, “Get the poor girl out of there.”
No moved in to pull Heidi out. Sato moved out of his way and floated over to Becky. No carefully removed Heidi from the cab and set her down on the sand. Hiru moved in checking her bandages over then shook his head and turned to Becky.
“Where have you been?”
“Aramosa.” Becky replied, “It was attacked by Seed.”
“You better come with us.” Hiru shrugged, “You’ll be safe with us and Tylor will get you fixed up.”
“Wait, what’s going on here?” Becky frowned.
“Don’t worry sweetie.” Hiru smiled, “Any friend of Heidi’s is a friend to us isn’t that right?”
“Uh ya.” No nodded.
“Duh ya that’s right.” Do agreed.
Hiru moved over to the ship and called for a couple lift cables. They got Heidi and Becky on board then turned and headed back south. Becky was seated by a window and stared down as Aramosa passed by. It was lit up by several fires and she could see several small explosions go off in the streets from the remaining survivors still fighting. Hiru moved in beside her and peered out the window. He pulled his head away and slumped down in the seat beside her.
“When we get back I’ll get Tylor to send help for who ever is left.”
“Thank you.” Becky said softly letting her head rest against the glass.
Heidi awoke in a dark cool room. Panic washed over her and she tried to sit up but she quickly tangled herself in the I.V. tubes connected to her arms. She laid back down on the bed and calmed herself down before sitting up again. The only light in the room was from the display on her life monitor that was accompanied by the rhythmic beeping the machine produced to replicate her heartbeat. She pawed at her arms until she got the needles on the I.V. tubes to pull out then she pulled off the electrodes stuck to her chest. She swung her feet off the bed and dropped to the floor. The metal floor was cold under her bare feet. She quietly slid across the floor keeping her arms out to keep from bumping into anything. She found the wall and began searching for the light switch. The lights suddenly flicked on as the door slid open. A small child like beast girl appeared in the door. She smiled at Heidi and slid all the way in.
“You had us worried there for a bit.” She said.
“Liina!” Heidi grinned, “That must mean I’m in Tylor’s hideout.”
“Yep.” Liina nodded, “We’re just lucky those three idiots found you when they did. Guess they had to get something right eventually.”
“I was rescued by the Vol brothers?” Heidi gasped then sighed, “I’ll never be able to live down the humiliation.”
Liina laughed then waved Heidi to follow her.
“Where’s Becky?” Heidi asked.
“I’m not sure exactly.” Liina shrugged, “Don’t worry, she’s fine. We got her all patched up and she’s wandering around here somewhere.”
“Liina, I need your help.” Heidi said as they boarded an elevator, “Yours and Tylors I mean.”
“I know.” Liina nodded, “Becky told us all about it. Including your new found power.”
“Ya, that was a bit of a surprise for me too.” Heidi replied scratching the back of her head, “Only problem is I seem to be able to use it only when I get mad.”
“I’ll try not to get you mad then.” Liina grinned.
“You don’t have anything to worry about.” Heidi smiled back, “You could never get me that mad.”
The elevator door slid open and the two girls stepped off entering Tylor’s large office. The rogue leader was seated behind a large oak desk, one of the perks of his new position. On the view screen Heidi could see the image of Laia Martinez the Guardians president. Heidi froze in place not wanting to talk to Laia.
“What’s the matter?” Liina asked.
“I don’t want Laia to know I’m here.” Heidi replied.
“Why?” Liina frowned.
“Cause she doesn’t know I’m here on Moatoob and has no idea what I’ve been up too.” Heidi replied, “If she finds out she’ll order me back to the colony and I’ll never find my cousin.”
“Stay here.” Liina waved, “I’ll take care of everything.”
Heidi nodded and watch the little beast woman trot off down the slopping floor to Tylors desk. She whispered something into Tylor’s ear to which Tylor just nodded.
“Something wrong Tylor?” Laia frowned.
“Not at all.” Tylor smirked back, “My guest has arrived. Don’t worry I’ll send the Vol brothers out to the confinement site to help with the set up. They aren’t the brightest but they do follow orders.”
“Very good.” Laia nodded, “Parum and Neudaiz are ahead of schedule so as Guardians are freed up at those sites I’ll direct some of them your way.”
“Thanks Laia.” Tylor replied, “Any help is appreciated.”
He tapped the screen ending the communication then waved Heidi forward. Heidi moved slow but steady down to Tylor’s desk.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.” Tylor waved to a chair, “You had us worried.”
“So Liina tells me.” Heidi said taking a seat.
“You’re friend told us of your adventure up to this point so I won’t make you repeat it.” Tylor said.
“Thank you.” Heidi nodded.
“So, you’re searching for your missing cousin.” Tylor continued.
“That’s right.” Heidi confirmed.
“And she is being held by the Illuminus.” Tylor frowned.
“So I’m told.” Heidi shrugged.
“This is not good news.” Tylor sighed sitting back in his chair, “We don’t know where their main base is. We checked out the location Iceberg and Isis had infiltrated but the entire place had been cleared out. I’m sure they will be back, it’s too profitable to abandon completely.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Heidi tapped her fingers together, “The Illuminus’ actions lately haven’t exactly been typical.”
“True, I’m not sure what Lutz is up too.” Tylor shook his head, “The best we can do for you is drop you off at a southern mine we know to be under Illuminus control.”
“Thank you Tylor.” Heidi smiled, “I owe you one, actually two.”
“If you find the Illuminus base make sure I’m the first to know and I’ll call it even.” Tylor replied.
“Deal.” Heidi grinned shaking his hand.
Heidi followed Liina back out to the elevator. Liina hit the button and the elevator began to descend.
“We’ll give you what ever supplies you need.” Liina said with a smile, “I’ll arrange someone to transport you to the site.”
“I need some one to check my linesheild before I depart.” Heidi nodded, “For some strange reason it wouldn’t stop any of the attacks from the Seed creatures we encountered at Aramosa.”
“Alright, Becky has all of your equipment in her room.” Liina said.
The elevator opened and the two girls stepped off. Liina took Heidi to Becky’s room where indeed all her equipment was waiting for her. She scooped up her nanotransformer and slapped it on her back. Her clothes where placed in a neat pile next to her weapons. They had all been cleaned and repaired. Heidi slipped into them then stored her S-red daggers and her Ruby Bullet in the transformer then handed her linesheild over to Liina.
“This shouldn’t take long.” Liina said and scurried out of the room.
Heidi turned to the mirror on the wall and sighed at the pathetic looking girl staring back at her. She was pretty beat up but at least the medical treatment was healing her neatly. She would most likely walk away with this without a scare across her face. She picked up a hair brush off the dresser and quickly cleaned up the tangled mess on her head. When she finished it looked much better but still no where near the usual stylish neatness she usually kept it. She was even missing the flower that always sat on the left side of her head. She sighed softly then headed out into the halls in search of Becky. She found her and Sato in one of the hanger bays staring out the open bay door. Heidi strolled over to the door stopping beside Becky. She remained quiet and just stared out across the desert.
“I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.” Becky finally said.
“Thanks to you.” Heidi replied, “I don’t think I would have made it otherwise.”
“That’s what best friends do.” Becky replied.
This made Heidi turn to her friend with an upraised eyebrow.
“You are my best friend.” Becky said looking at her feet, “I’ve never had a friend who’d risk their life for me. Sure there’s girls I hang out with and do stuff. I’ve never had anyone who I could turn to with my inner most secrets. Look at me now.”
Becky looked up and smiled.
“To be honest, I’ve never had a best friend before either.” Heidi replied and hugged Becky tightly.
Heidi suddenly opened her eyes, staring straight ahead and said, “You can come in now Liina.”
The little beast woman stepped from the open doorway and into the hanger. The two friends released their embrace and turned to the beast girl.
“How did you know she was there?” Becky frowned.
“Newman hearing.” Heidi smiled tapping her ear.
“We’ve checked your linesheild.” Liina said walking over to the girls, “We can’t find anything wrong with it.”
She handed it back to Heidi who equipped it to her arm.
“The fact that is was useless against the Aramosa Seed attack has Tylor worried.” Liina said, “He’s going to send in a small team to, uh, collect samples.”
“Tell them to be careful.” Heidi said, “One creature took out three of us.”
“It’s not like I put up much of a challenge.” Becky frowned.
“The shuttle is ready to take you south.” Liina said to Heidi, “They’re waiting in the eastern hanger bay where the Landeel is parked.”
“Thanks Liina.” Heidi nodded then turned to Becky, “This is going to be very dangerous. Even more so than the Seed so as much as I’d like, I can’t ask you to come along.”
“Good thing you don’t have to ask.” Becky grinned.
Sato gave a happy meow and floated over to Heidi’s shoulder.
“Then you are going to need a line shield and some weapons.” Heidi smiled.
“Already taken care of.” Becky replied holding up her left arm, “Apparently I am a gunner.”
Becky shrugged as she drew her long bow from her newly acquired nanotransformer.
“I hope you’re a better shot with that than you were with a hand gun.” Heidi smirked.
“In case I’m not they gave me one of those too.” Becky replied with a chuckle.
“I’m doomed.” Heidi giggled.
The two girls continued to laugh and joke all the way to the hanger bay.
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