Read Online Survivor Planet III by Juliet Cardin - Free Book Online Page B

is.”
    Ayres grinned. “She’s back.”
    â€œGood. We’re gonna need her.”
    Both men now had their eyes trained on a small monitor off to my right.
    â€œNot Roamyn,” Ayres said. “Hell. Akkadians.”
    â€œWhat?” I asked.
    â€œGod damn filthy snot suckers,” Lourde snapped.
    â€œThat good, eh?” I couldn’t help but smile.
    Despite the danger, all I felt was relief. It was good to be back.

Chapter 13
    The three of us slunk through the winding corridors of the tunnels, making our way up to the surface. Our plan was to leave the cave from one of the few exits we’d uncovered, hopefully coming up behind the Akkadians and catching them unawares. First, we’d booby-trapped the main exits, rigging them with powerful explosives that’d annihilate anyone unfortunate enough to trip the wires. The aliens already knew from our ship that we were here. They’d soon figure out we were a force to be reckoned with. From the small portable monitor Lourde held in his hand I knew he was gauging the movements of the enemy above.
    Slung over our shoulders and strapped to our hips and legs were several weapons. Ayres held a duffle bag in each hand, containing a veritable arsenal to use in our defense. Along the way he filled me in on the vile creatures that were the Roamyn’s sworn enemy.
    I did my best to pay attention, despite the fact that only a short time before I’d been in an entirely different world, experiencing a whole other set of problems. Try as I might to focus on the here and now, I couldn’t quite shake off the recesses of Lara’s life. Her fears had been mine, and only now that we were separated could I process all that I’d taken in. Lara had no idea of the horror awaiting her in the tournament on Taleon.
    But I knew it all too well.
    We finally came to a halt several feet from an opening to the outside. Covered over by vines and brush I knew it to be virtually invisible from the other side. Lourde paced, his eyes darting between the exit and the screen monitor.
    â€œWe can go out there and do some damage, but we can’t guarantee success. If they get in here and find the room, all of this will have been for nothing.”
    Ayres gave him a grim look, his grip on a lethal looking short-handled, steel battle-axe that shot laser bolts. “I plan on doing a lot more than just some damage.” He fixed his stern gaze on me. “You’re to stay in here and protect the door. Do not fire and draw attention to yourself unless you’re forced to.”
    I nodded. While on Taseeus, he and Aris had endlessly drilled me on weapon use and hand to hand combat in the weeks before we left. Though I lacked the strength of a warrior, Ayres had assured me I was beginning to make up for it in skill. The biggest threat we faced right now was the fact we only had one true warrior among us. As if reading my mind, Ayres said, “If only my brother were here.”
    Lourde’s head jerked up as though he’d been slapped. “What’d you say?”
    â€œYou heard me,” Ayres snapped.
    He was always snarky when in warrior mode I’d come to learn.
    Lourde shoved the monitor into my hands and began digging through his pockets. “I know I have it somewhere. Bloody hell!” Then his face lit up. “Ah! Yes. Here it is. Almost forgot about it.”
    â€œUnless you’ve got a warrior in your pocket then I don’t see what all the damn fuss is about,” Ayres snarled.
    â€œBut that’s just the thing! I do have a warrior in my pocket. Well, not really in my pocket, but…”
    He pulled his hand from his pants and held up pinched fingers, waving them before my face. “What is it?” I couldn’t make out what he was braying about, the object was too tiny.
    â€œOne of the many things I was in the midst of working on when I was forced to leave Calixtus was this…” He put a