Truehearts & The Escape From Pirate Moon by Jake Macklem (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

meters away, stalking up the giant stone hill above the swaying red grass, the Tree-knocker stopped and staring each other down.

Without moving his head, Cam darted his eyes around, marking the location of his hat, rifle, and backpack. I was hoping to keep the Talon 50, but that might not be prudent. “Easy there, big fella. No need for us to…”

The Tree-knocker lunged, covering half the distance in a single bound.

Cam was already running. “Damn it!” He snagged his hat and his rifle in one hand and his pack with the other, while he sprinted past a massive boulder on the edge of a cliff. Sliding feet first, he kicked a smaller stone over the edge, his coiled rope trailing behind it, the other end anchored to the boulder. He frantically stretched for the rope with his free hand, but it was out of reach.

As he rolled over the edge of the cliff, he felt the thud of the Tree-knocker landing, its poisonous tongue just missing him. A claw swiped at the empty space he had just occupied, and his fingertips just managed to catch the rope as he plummeted to the cave entrance ten meters below. With the speed of his fall, he knew he was in trouble. His fingers tightened on the rope. Gwen!

The rope stopped with a vicious jerk, sending an odd, sharp sensation through his hand and yanking his backpack loose; it fell to the ground, dragging his gun with it. He slammed into the ground on top of the pack, the air hammered from his lungs.

Far above, the Tree-knocker glared over the edge, swaying in place, searching for a way down. With a roar, the monster spun and vanished from sight.

That’s not good. Forcing his body to move, Cam rolled to his side. Everything hurt, but his hand was excruciating. He looked at it and felt confused. He counted again. One. Two. Three. And a thumb. Damn it! The index finger on his right hand was missing.

He managed to stand and gather his gear, careful not to bleed on his white hat. He continued looking around but could not see his finger. “Damn it.” I really liked that finger. Was kinda attached to it. He chuckled at his own joke and hurried toward the ship. Could have been worse; it could have been my ring finger.

His right leg did not want to bend, so a hobbled skip was the best he could do. His body could take it, Cam knew that—it had taken worse. But he was younger back then. I just don’t bounce back like I used to. He shook his head at another bad pun.

The backpack he had Ace carry lay where she had dropped it. I’m not leaving the coffee behind! He picked it up with his bloodied hand. Yep. That hurts something awful.

  28: Ace

Ace watched as a female O’rix assisted the one-handed captain. A Zontra started firing and she dived behind some vehicle transport clamps. Really wish I had a gun.

The firing stopped for a moment and she peeked out. The three pirates had gathered in a room labeled ‘Amory.’ Why do they get to have more guns? Looking out the loading bay, she saw Shaw falling from the ledge as a Tree-knocker swiped at him. No! Her throat tightened. Don’t die Shaw. I’m not letting People die so I can live anymore.

Three meters above the ground, the rope he held went tight, his body stretched in two directions, his gear falling to the ground below as his momentum changed, but the force was too much, he lost his grip and fell next to his gear. C’mon Shaw, get up! Twelve meters above him the Tree-knocker paced, looking for a way down, then turned a disappeared. Get up!

I don’t want to be alone.

Cam rolled over, pushing himself off the ground and to his feet. Thank the Verse. The fall had hurt him—his body moved awkwardly—but he collected his gear and put on his hat. Then, instead of heading her way, he continued to search the ground. Did he lose something?

The quiet of the room caught her attention. They stopped firing. Footfalls of someone running in her direction, getting close. Oh shit! Refocusing her attention, she saw a female O’rix with red, pink, and black fur markings like a psychedelic puma, closing fast. I let myself get distracted.

The O’rix leveled her laser pistol and fired. Ace ducked back behind the thick strut used to anchor the all-terrain vehicles and other rollers. The red beam of the laser melted orange globs on the metal but did not pass through.

Timing has to be right. Ace dashed in the opposite direction, going around the strut as the O’rix reached her location and fired. Surprise flashed on her face when she realized when Ace was not there.

She’s just an O’rix. I can take her. Coming from behind the strut, Ace delivered a precise kick into the O’rix’s hand, sending the laser pistol skittering across the deck. Now we’re on even footing.

Ace saw the claws at the last second, as the O’rix lashed out with her saber-sharp talons. She has claws. How did I forget the claws! Ace used a classic series of STAR counter moves, but the O’rix tossed a low kick to create an opening and slashed, her sharp nails skidding across the scales of the Tree-knocker hide. She’s faster than me.

Ace stepped up to grapple—their faces inches apart from one another—both struggling for the upper hand. I need an advantage!

“I’m T’toli.” A malicious smile revealed pointed teeth. “In case you wanted to know the name of the People that’s going to kill you.”

Keep her talking. “Nice to meet you,” Ace grunted.

“You got moves—for a human. You’re one of those STARs that attacked our moon, huh?” T’toli asked through her exertion.

Ace’s eyes went wide.