The Street Survivors (The Guild Wars Book 12) by Ian Malone (great books of all time TXT) 📕

The KzSha guards marched to the cage, while the Caroon stayed put with the train. The wasps flung open the cage and grabbed the captives, shoving the aliens out into the open.

“Don’t do it!” someone else shouted.

One of the Pendal broke from the group and sprinted for tunnel three with all the speed his legs could muster. It wasn’t enough. Once the KzSha released their wings, they were on him in seconds.

The Pendal let out a scream that could’ve peeled paint when the first stinger slammed into his back. After that, he was struck in the leg, the right shoulder, and the groin before the final stinger tagged him straight in the neck. The Pendal collapsed, muscles twitching spastically out of control, and face-planted in the dirt as the final puff of breath escaped him.

“Oh my Lord in Heaven,” Jack murmured.

The KzSha dragged the motionless alien back to his cage and flung him inside, while the others were loaded onto the train. From there the prisoners were whisked away through the rail tunnel, while two of the KzSha returned to their guard post, and the others patrolled the cage grid.

“We need to find Colonel Torrio and his people, then get the hell out of here,” House said. “Yesterday.”

“On that, my large friend, we are in full agreement,” Stan said. “The good news is, it appears we ain’t gonna have to go far to do that. Have a look.”

Taylor followed the old man’s pointing finger toward one of the perimeter cages on the cavern’s near side. Torrio.

Sure enough, the River Hawks’ commander was there, along with what appeared to be ten or so of his troopers. The entire group looked haggard as hell with their tattered clothes and grimy, unkempt features. Paulie looked especially bad. In addition to his rumpled appearance and grizzly complexion, the Hawks’ CO now sported a rough scar over his right eye that hadn’t been there before, plus a litany of cuts and bruises that speckled his face and arms like squares on a checkerboard.

At least he’s alive. Taylor shifted his crouch. “Can we reach them without tippin’ off security?”

Jack peered across the yard with his goggles. “I only count the two guards on patrol, and based on their current rotation, I’d say we’ve got a good eight minutes before they round back into view of that location. Factor in some natural terrain cover between Paulie’s cage and the guard post, and yeah, I’d say a rescue is possible if we time it right.”

“The guard post ain’t our biggest problem.” Stan motioned to the other cages nearby. “I’m guessin’ Paulie and his crew aren’t the only guests in this establishment who’ll want to join our jailbreak. That could cause problems.”

A rumble of metal on metal echoed from rail tunnel one as another train approached. This time when the car reached the terminus, none of the prisoners protested. They simply loaded up under the watchful eye of their wasp masters and were gone, leaving most of the space around the River Hawks’ cage empty.

“If we’re gonna do this, we need to do it now,” Taylor said once the post guards had gone.

“Ayew,” Jack said. “This way.”

The group fell in line behind the cowboy and eased their way down a small rock path the latter had scouted during his initial survey of the cavern. The trail was incredibly steep, so much so that at one point, Taylor feared he might lose his footing and topple head over tea kettle down the hill. Luckily he recovered in time to catch himself without rustling too much debris, then he continued onward until the group reached the cavern floor below.

“Hold.” Jack froze their advance with a closed fist.

Taylor peered out from behind a rock pile and spotted the two KzSha guards on the far side of the cavern, still on their rounds. Meanwhile, there was no activity around the guard post.

“Move,” Jack said.

The group hurried into the open, mindful to leverage every last shadow possible, and rushed toward the River Hawks’ cage.

“Van Zant?” Paul Torrio blurted, green eyes widening. “What the hell are you doin’ here?”

“Ain’t it obvious?” Taylor lowered his voice. “We’re here to bail you out. Now get back.”

Jack went to work on the cage lock, while the others kept lookout for guards.

“How did you find us?” Torrio asked.

“Your XO, Michael Genovese,” Taylor said. “He and about 200 others made it back to Earth after your run-in with the KzSha on Emza. He told us what happened, and we tracked your trail from there.”

“Mikey’s alive?” Torrio brightened. “Where is he?”

“He missed his ride into the dome,” Taylor said. “I’m guessin’ he’s back with the rest of my team outside, which is exactly where we mean to take you. Can you move?”

“Is the Pope Catholic?” Torrio shot back.

“Good,” Taylor said. “Round up your people and get ready to run. We’re bustin’ out of this shithole.”

The River Hawks’ CO needed no further incentive. He spun on his heels and went to work rousting up his crew.

“Human!” a gravelly voice called with a lot more volume than Taylor would’ve liked. “Human! Over here!”

The Goka who’d spotted Taylor earlier was summoning him to a cage in the next section.

“You come, now!” the alien said with a snarl.

Taylor rolled his eyes and trotted over, hoping at the very least to keep the alien quiet.

 “You take me, now,” the Goka snapped.

“We don’t have time,” Taylor whispered. “We’ll send someone back for you. I promise.”

“No,” the creature snapped. “You take me now. Or I tell the KzSha. Then you too will suffer. And your people.”

Taylor muttered a curse. “Gimme a second.”

“Chief Van Zant?” another voice asked, audibly surprised.

Taylor glanced up to see a group of Sumatozou huddled near the back of the Goka’s cage. Much like