Tran whispers, “Will you stand guard while I search the immediate area.”

“Sure.”

He returns quickly after finding the BB in the center of the herded crowd. Tran hands me a jump bomb and keeps the stun-bombs.  We are fortunate enough to get right in the middle of the crowd unnoticed. 

I see the BBs are grouped together as usual.  As fast as my hands can move I prepare the jump-bomb.  About to set it off, I realize I am spotted.  My heart beats so fast I can hear it pounding in my head. I am frantic to get out  when Tran says, “Don’t move,” and sets off a jump-bomb close behind me that immediately deactivates the dozen BBs. I am sweating. Tran saved my skin. “That was too close.” Tran whispers. “You are lucky.  Oh, oh, I see another place of unrest. Have you got it?

‘Yes, I’m ready. This is nasty. Shall we PRO-ceed?” I say. 

     He smiles at my attempt of humor, “You bet, and I’m glad you have another day of life, pal. Living is pretty under-rated.”

“Sure is. Here, take these.” I hand him a couple of my stun-bombs, keep the jump-bomb, instantly move into the center of the crowd, and release one jump-bomb directly at the BBs. With that they are demolished. I see Tran set off a stun-bomb, The RMs fall in a heap to the ground, ready for the deactivation crew.  They will be removed quickly.  Tran is next to me, smiling, with his hands on his hips.

“You are hipper-dipper.” I drawl.

    “Gee, you make me blush, ” Tran laughs. “I proclaim this area safe.”

“Ya, ha, what a relief. Listen to the loud cheering behind us from the crowd.  It’s good to hear that.” I let out a long breath and finally let my muscles relax. We wave and disappear into the next zone of unrest.  I am tired and hungry. 

“It feels wonderful to be safe. Hey, Buddy, you OK?”  Tran studies my face. “I caught your thoughts old boy.  I’m tired and hungry too.”

I slap his back, telling him, “I could graze for days.” I can block his Psi intrusion when necessary,  but won’t now or here. I am glad he is able to know what’s going on.  “No time for rest yet, Let’s get to the next battle zone. The land is arid and barren there too.  It once was a lush wonderland long before the weather controllers killed it off. The area has a greater population, did you know?  That makes twice the worry because we can be spotted easier.”

As we arrive we see the ABs rounding up the people. “Rats breath, those ABs move fast.” Tran is not happy with their speed of herding any more than I am.

Making sure we are not seen, we prepare to neutralize the ABs, This is the first conflict we catch the ABs as they are herding. Holding our Jump bombs, we move in a circle. Tran goes to the left, I to the right. We surprised them, and we finish unhindered. Still separating our action, Tran concentrates on the BBs, needing only two jump bombs while I free the RMs with the stun bombs. The unaffected crowd quickly disperses. I ‘psi-call’ ordering the deactivation crew. Another job finished.

At the next stop, a Hover lands.  We count eight BBs that get out of the Hover and immediately position themselves in the center of some of the collected masses. At the same time, ABs are herding the rest of the people in the city square toward the BBs. The Hovers wait before leaving. The ground is shaking from the Hovers power. 

“This is more dangerous here, Jasher. The innocent people are close to the BBs and have not been injected yet. Their faces show sheer fear. The RMs appear near the people making this a difficult rescue. This is a mess.”

“You want to go first, Tran, and distract the ABs to separate them from the people? I’ll get to the BBs. I think that might work best. What do you think?”

OK, ‘I’ll be invisible so I can maneuver faster as I neutralize the RMs. I have the stun-bombs on a low setting.  Ready?”

I glance around, “Ready.” I say.

Tran adds, “Help me if I cry like a baby out there.” 

“Oh, sure, do your usual whine to the spine, will ya?”

Tran vanishes, taking a jump-bomb and stun-bomb with him. I watch carefully, ready to help. I agree this is the safest plan of attack at this time. The crowd is larger than usual.  I can be seen upon arrival while Tran can choose to be seen or not.

I enter the crowd right where the BBs are positioned.  All hell breaks loose when I set off a jump-bomb and BBs fall to the ground.  Tran is quickly back by my side, sets a jump-bomb that finishes the BBs. I aim my laser at the closest Hover still in our view, and shoot.  It spins wildly, bursts into flames, black smoke and bright white orange flames spew from pieces flying across the sky ending scattered across the ground. I shoot the second Hover and it explodes filling the air with hunks of burning pieces in black-grey smoke. It slams in large shards to the ground, the chunks are hot, even to us, several hundred yards away.  The third and final Hover is a clean shot. With a violent shudder it splits apart into burning hunks mid-air, the flaming pieces tumble into a building causing another explosive blast. The building is history. Chaos erupts.  The people run from the mess as fast as their legs can carry them,  realizing they are free. The last remaining are RMs and aimless, having lost direction since the neutralization of the BBs. I snap into the mess and use another stun-bomb. It is good to see all of them fall, now ready for the deactivation crew. They will soon rejoin their families, and be back to their daily lives.

“It’s time to leave, Partner. The BBs are finished here. Come back with me. I want to introduce someone special to you.”

Tran gives me the evil eye and smirks, “I don’t have any plans right now, anyhow. I’m excuse free.”

Without warning, the earth shakes under my feet. I recognize the movement. “Hold on, Tran.” Overhead, Hovers and ABs are coming back to pick up the BBs we finished off.

“I have talents, too. I will change their projected path and scramble their program,”  I hear her familiar sweet voice say. And I know Brana is with us.

Tran looks at me with a worried expression. “What’s wrong with you,
Buddy?  You are ashen.  I sense the Hovers and ABs, too.”

I realize he is not detecting Brana. “The woman I want you to meet is here helping us now.  Stay still. Let’s block our thoughts my friend so it doesn’t interfere with Brana.” I hear the nearing ABs and Hovers turn away.  Brana is  both powerful and highly skilled. I understand now how she and her baby survived the long trek, alone. She takes charge. The Hovers sound like they are wandering around aimlessly instead of flying in a direct path to a specific destination. She collapsed their program by disconnecting their electronic circuit from the main frame. “Thank you, Brana,” I psi-send to her.

“Anything for you. Hurry home.” She responds.

That is a warm fuzzy answer that slams into my heart. This fight is over.  It’s time to leave.  I sigh, thankful and ready to go home. “Want to get some good grub?” I ask Tran.

    “I’m ready! I am here thinking food is just a passing memory. Let’s get to cookin’.” Tran hugs his stomach, and licks his lips.
   
“Poor hungry boy, starvation is tough. Let’s go, before you pass out.” I laugh at the theatrics.

In a mini-moment we are in The House.  Brana looks up from the chair where she is holding a sleeping Lali. “Welcome home.”

“Hello, Brana.”  I have melted into a puddle.

“It is good to see you.” She smiles and her bright blue-green eyes are twinkling and penetrating.

My heart pumps faster than it should. “I want to introduce you to my partner, Tran, even though you already know him.

    “Tran, let me introduce you to Brana and her baby, Lali.”

Brana lays Lali on her soft pink blanket on the floor and walks toward Tran with her hand out. “I am pleased to formally meet you, Tran.”

“I am pleased to meet you as well. Thank you for your help out there.”
Tran looks back at me with an approving wink and grin.

“You are welcome. Glad I could help.”

Lali awakens, stretches and makes cute cooing sounds. As I walk over
to pick her up she giggles at me, and levitates nearly a foot off the floor. I look over at Brana, who is calmly watching all this and smiling.  Aha, I have learned something new, but I still have much more to understand. Yup, I’m in for the long haul here. 

                               --------------------------------------

    Tran says, “I want to go, too.”

I hadn’t said a word yet.  He gets me every time. I Psi back, “I haven’t
told her yet.”

“Yes, you did.” Brana has a Cheshire cat smile. No doubt about it, she knows.
 
                   


© Copyright 2014  J. Price, E-mail  Or send to judyaprice@gmail.com in your e-mail.
Used with the permission of the author.