The Green Ones

Episode 5, Part 9

“Zorrah!” Olin drops his pelota and darts toward the western slope.

Before I can stagger after him, Neca bulls me over. A bolt of lightning strikes the ground were I had been standing. All over the court, bolts sizzle and split the air.

“Probes!” Yetic crouches at the ready, dark red flames creeping across his back.

Neca rolls onto his feet and yanks me with him.

We all freeze as the announcer cuts through the action. “Congratulations. Now for the second test. Everyone who avoids being stunned receives a mark. Receive a bonus mark for every probe you disable.” The voice dies instantly, replaced by the roaring rain.

“Non-lethal, that’s a relief.” Neca smiles at me.

I punch him in the arm, hard.

He winces. “What was that for? I just saved you from being stunned.”

I kick Yetic in the back to get his attention.

“Hey!”

“Can it, both of you idiots.” I clutch them by their soaking wet uniforms. “Start thinking of someone other than yourself, or get the hell away from me and my brother.”

Stunned, both of them stare at me and then each other.

Spitting rain from my lips, I continue. “Focus on the tests. You can kill each other later.”

The water filling the air around us starts to dance. Before I can bark a warning, both Neca and Yetic launch a broad telekinetic defense. The incoming bolt of artificial lighting fizzles harmlessly. They exchange grim smiles and nod.

“Good.” I shove them in the direction of the western slope. “First we have to check on Olin and Zorrah. Then we’ll figure a way to take out as many of these probes as possible.” Blinding bolts of energy continue to flash across the entire court, high and low. By the sounds of the screams and moans, the second test is already a one-sided slaughter. “Olin!” I call for him but hear a girl’s voice in response.

“Over here, Calli.”

“Cera?” I slide to a stop next to the girl we met earlier that day.

“Yup.”

She’s holding Zorrah in her lap. Olin is propped next to her, his back against the slope. They’re both conscious, but dazed.

“What happened?” I ask.

Before Cera can answer, a probe zips within firing range. Yetic launches an attack at it, missing. Neca blocks the incoming bolt, and the probe zips away as quickly as it came.

“Wow, it’s nice to have you guys around.” Cera flips her braid onto her back while handing me Zorrah. “I was in the area when I heard the scream. I looked up and saw the little one careening head first down the slope. About the time I caught her, your brother here blocked an incoming bolt. Stunned I reckon, but breathing.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

Cera shrugs. “It wasn’t much.”

“You cared when you didn’t have to. That’s a lot.” I brush my hand agains Zorrah’s cheek. “Now, as for these probes.”

Zorrah blinks away the rain and sits up on her own strength.

I give her space and ask the others for the time.

“Three minutes and counting,” Neca answers.

I focus on Zorrah. “You’re our best shot at attacking these things. Any ideas?”