Page 90 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

“I’ll come with you,” Korben said. “My Sah-ah has an affection for the Heronas too.”

“Neh. I will do this on my own.”

“Zar!” Si-Moon shrieked.

“I will be back with Chozo in no time.” Zar kissed her on the forehead. “But for now, you need to leave.”

“No.” She shook her head.

“Please, Si-Moon.”

“No, I’m not leaving you!”

“I agree, Zar. What if something goes wrong? We don’t know what we’re up against.”

“He’s right.” Si-Moon lifted her chin. “I’m not running away. We rescue Chozo.” She took his hand. “And we rescue him together.”

Zar wanted to argue. If anything happened to Si-Moon…

“It won’t.” She strode toward his zapten. “Now let’s go!”

They hurried to mount their machines and lifted off into the air, heading toward the dangerous light beam.

Chozo was near to the base of the enemy spaceship. Zar calculated the distance left and realized they might not reach him in time. Even if they did, the pull of the beam could be tricky to resist. Any attempt at rescue could mean getting sucked into the enemy’s ship as well.

“Korben!” He gestured to the terros. His hair flowed wildly around his face as the powerful wind caused by the machine’s motors chopped loudly.

Korben glanced his way, his eyes narrowed to combat the harsh winds.

Zar pulled a strong vine from the treetops and used it as a rope. Woven by the elements, it was the strongest material on the planet encased in a soft fabric to make it easier on the hands.

Korben nodded, agreeing to the plan. They both drove to either side of the beam. The energy burned his eyes and made it hard to maneuver, but he forced himself through the pain and leveled the zapten up to where Chozo was hovering.

Si-Moon bravely held on to the handles. Turning to look at him, she said, “Bring him back to me, Zar.”

Wielding his rope, Zar tried to get it around Chozo, but the wind from the energy beam swatted it away. Korben’s rope met the same end.

Chozo was almost at the top of the beam now.

In a few moments, he would be consumed by the machine.

Zar gritted his teeth. They had no time. He had to save the brood. Now.

Turning to Si-Moon, he said, “My heras…” He caressed her cheek. “I need you to catch me.”

“What?” Her eyes widened.

Without hesitation, Zar launched himself off the zapten and hurtled towards the beam. Raking through the hot light, he roared and wrapped his arms around the brood.

The force of his body slammed into Chozo, knocking him out of the beam. They hurtled through the sky, falling at lightning speed. Zar gritted his teeth, protecting the unconscious brood in his arms.

Si-Moon awkwardly guided the zapten below him just in time. He grabbed hold of Garbus’s spikes with one arm, hanging on as Si-Moon brought the zapten to an abrupt stop.

“Are you crazy?” she screamed.

“Yell at me later, my heras.” Zar grunted as he held on to the zapten with one hand and carried Chozo in the other. “Now is not the time.”

Korben’s zapten inched closer. “Here. Give him to me, Zar.”