Chapter 5
Author's Note: Thank you for reading my work. I hope you are enjoying it.
***Harry peered around the corner of a building in the downtown area of Plon. "I think they're really gone this time."
"You think?"
Harry looked again. "I'm sure of it. Come on, let's hurry."
As they stepped out from behind the building, a security officer at least a meter taller than Harry and much more muscular stepped in front of them. "Halt!" He pointed his weapon at them. "You are under arrest." He jerked his weapon, indicating they should walk in front of him.
Harry and B'Elanna glanced at each other and stepped in front of the guard. As soon as the guard began walking behind them, B'Elanna spun around and kicked his arm. His weapon flew out of his hand, and Harry snatched it up. He pointed the weapon at the guard as he and B'Elanna backed away. The guard stood there stunned with his arms in the air until the pair were gone behind another building.
When they were a few meters away from the guard, Harry and B'Elanna ran. They ran until they were on the edge of the downtown area.
"I thought you said the coast was clear!" B'Elanna barked bending over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath.
"It was!"
"Well, then where did Godzilla come from?"
"Godzilla?"
"Never mind."
"I sure am glad I didn't have to use this thing," Harry said examining the weapon. He pushed a button, and a volley ricocheted off the ground and zoomed toward B'Elanna's head. She dodged, but the ends of her hair were singed off as a clump of grass went up in flames behind her.
"Oops," Harry muttered. "Sorry." He backed up as B'Elanna straightened.
"If we get out of this situation alive, and the captain doesn't kill us, watch out," she growled. She strode off in the direction of the woods where they would wait for Shyla. If they could get across this open sandy area first.
***"The suspect is inside Loyden's guesthouse," an officer spoke into his communicator from just outside.
"Does she have any equipment with her?"
"Negative. Lossin and Trandel conducted a thorough search of the shuttle and turned up no contraband, and she didn't have anything when she got out unless it was small enough to fit in a pocket."
"Scan the guesthouse for government equipment."
"Scan is already in progress, Sir. I'll inform you of the results."
"Understood. Stay there and make sure she doesn't leave. As long as we know where she is, we can minimize the possibility of further interference." Klorban, first in command of the security officers, switched his communicator to another frequency and contacted Consulat Trag.
When the Consulat had been updated, he said, "Contact Loyden. He's arranging things in his old office for the move to his new office after the Great Earthquake. Tell him my orders are to go to his guesthouse and try to reason with his wayward sister. If reasoning fails, he is to use any means necessary to remove the threat."
***"I don't believe you," Tamil said to Shyla. "Loyden would never do something like that."
"I know it's hard to believe. I was shocked at first too. But-"
"You're just jealous."
"Jealous?" Shyla said indignantly.
"You and Loyden have never been as close as we are, and you don't like it. If this is your way of trying to get between us, it won't work." Tamil turned and sauntered across the room to the plush sofa.
Her husband, Blin stood and said, "I know you two aren't the best of friends, but if what Shyla says is true, there are lives at stake."
"I can prove it," Shyla said and sat down across from her sister.
"How?" Tamil was mildly curious as she patted the cat-like creature in her lap.
"When I mentioned I suspected sabotage, Loyden quit drinking."
Tamil looked up sharply. She put the creature aside and studied Shyla's face. After a moment, she swallowed and said, "We have to inform our friends."
Shyla let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I thought you'd say that, so I devised a plan." She outlined her plan for Tamil and Blin.
"What about the children?" Blin asked. "They obviously can't go with us."
Shyla lowered her face. "I hadn't thought of that."
"Of course not," Tamil snickered.
"I'll look after the children. And, if need be, I'll take them to safety." No one had noticed Loyden's maid enter the room with a tray of refreshments. "I'm sorry to say I've known about the plot for some time," she continued setting the tray on the coffee table. "But, I had no idea it was so extensive."
"Where will you take them?" Blin asked.
"You're not really going to let this woman take our children, are you?"
"You can trust her." Shyla quickly came to the maid's defense.
"I won't say yes unless you agree," Blin said, "but bear in mind that we can't afford to lose much time."
Tamil looked at each person in turn, staring at Shyla the longest. "I suppose the first step in renewing a relationship is trust. Therefore, I trust your judgment, sister."
Shyla stood and embraced her sister while the maid gave Blin directions to a safe haven she would take the children to if necessary.
***Harry and B'Elanna had gone 3 meters across the sand when shots zipped past them. Harry glanced behind him as they ran faster. "There are at least five of them."
"Ow!" Harry turned as B'Elanna collapsed holding her side.
"B'Elanna!" He knelt beside her.
"Keep going."
"Let me help you."
"No. You have to get to the mountain region. I'll just slow you up."
"Too late for that," Klorban bellowed. Harry stood to find a weapon in his face. Klorban snatched the stolen weapon and returned it to its owner, who glared at the captives.
"It's set to kill. My orders are to bring you in alive, but if you run, I have permission to kill you." Threat issued, he jerked his head toward Harry and B'Elanna. Two guards yanked Harry toward downtown Plona. At the same time, two guards, one being the one they had stolen the weapon from, yanked B'Elanna up. "Owww," she cried at their brusqueness.
"Be careful with her. She's hurt!" Harry struggled, and one of the guards twisted his wrist so hard it snapped.
"Inform the Consulat," the guard in charge of their arrest said into his communicator. "We have them."
***"I told you something was going on," Silando said as Harry and B'Elanna were being fired on. "It looks like I was right about their destination as well."
"Why would they be going into the woods?" Kilando asked. "There's nothing of interest in there."
"The woods serve as a link to somewhere else."
"The only thing past the woods is the mountain region."
"Exactly."
"Why would they be going there?"
"I don't know yet. But, we've got to go there. Quickly. While the guards are distracted."
The two Plons ran to the far edge of the sandy area and across to the woods as the guards dragged their captives away.
