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10 Alliance

Ashtoret de Origa

“Jesus, Ash, you ran here in like twenty minutes. The zoo’s just up this way.”

Ashtoret grinned feeling a sense of pride hearing how impressed Abby was. He grunted and patted her clasped hands at his throat to acknowledge he heard. They slowed to a walk as they entered a tarmac filled with the boxy metal vehicles, and he set Abby down. He was instantly on guard, scanning all the humans moving toward the squat building flanked by gates. Instead of males in black uniforms there were multitudes of families. He couldn’t help smiling at all the excited young. Some ran and jumped up and down, unable to contain themselves. Others were too small to walk, being pushed around in curious little carts. They were all incredibly sweet looking. It reminded him of the new park built in the center of Sargon back home.

“Um, guys, I don’t know how we’re all going to get in. I have enough cash for a few of us, but not everyone,” Abby commented as she looked at the line of humans in front of the main building.

“I’ve got my credit card.” Hope pulled her communicator and a plastic card from her pocket.

“No,” Abby blurted, capturing the attention of a passing family. She pointed to some trees and led them out of earshot of the public. “That’s how we were found in the club. You shouldn’t even have your phone. Crap.” Abby ran a nervous hand through her curly red hair.

“Do you mean this thing?” Aculus snatched the communicator from Hope’s hand.

“Yeah.” Abby nodded. “Shit, shit, shit.”

Ashtoret took another look around, studying the crowd a second time. The human warriors could easily change clothes, so he critically eyed any male who appeared to be alone. Except there weren’t any lone males. They either were toting young or escorting females.

“Dammit, bonehead, give that back,” Hope demanded.

“Sorry, Nadzia, this is compromising our mission.” Aculus crushed the communicator, then for good measure dropped it and ground it under his boot.

“Son of a bitch.” Hope punched Aculus in the chest. “Ow. Dammit!” She recoiled and held her fist.

“Now, ivory beauty, you went and injured yourself,” Aculus tsked as he grabbed Hope’s fist and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

“How was I supposed to know? It’s not like I run from Feds every day,” Hope growled and pulled her hand away. “If I’ve botched everything, we might as well use my credit card to get in.”

“We don’t know for sure that they’re following your phone,” Abby countered.

“I give up. How are we getting in?” Hope threw her hands up in defeat.

“Let’s go over the fence,” Terentius suggested as he surveyed the slat wall.

“Good idea,” Faktil agreed.

“Not here. There’s cameras.” Abby pointed to the surveillance unit mounted atop the squat building.

They followed the fence into the trees, then one by one scaled the wall. Ashtoret balanced at the top of the fence and Aculus tossed Hope up. He caught her and passed her down to Terentius, who stood on a bin of rubbish. Next was Abby. Then he and Aculus joined the others on solid ground.

“Ew. We certainly picked a spot,” Hope commented with a scrunched-up nose as she looked at the collection of trash bins.

Besides the rank trash there were a host of other unusual scents. Some of the smells came from sweet and fried foods, others came from the odd assortment of beasts housed in the park. He paused, seeing a pair of brown boots outside the gate concealing their group and the garbage bins. He held up his hand, motioning for silence till the human passed.

“We spread out. I’ll escort Abby and Hope,” he instructed everyone.

“I’ll be with you,” Aculus insisted with a keen eye on Hope.

There was no point arguing with the smitten bony warrior, and Aculus was more than capable. It would be good to have him close by.

“I assume you have a way to contact Frank to arrange where we’ll meet, since you obliterated my phone.” Hope’s brow rose as she eyed the armored warrior.

“Of course.” Aculus tapped the handheld strapped to his bony forearm.

“Here’s a map.” Abby picked a stained scrap of paper off the ground. “So, where should we meet Frank?” She unfolded the colorful map.

“This area looks like it has several ways in and out. What are these long-necked beasts?” He studied the drawing of the curious speckled creature.