Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
Preview
Rick Gordon, armed with a sniper rifle, plans to interrupt the wedding of Jedda and Krotan by firing a few warning shots — but finds himself confronted by a certain someone.
"Mongo Is Burning" — Part 1
"I'm not going to tell you again," she warned, pointing her blaster more directly now.
He had no doubt that she wouldn't miss. April was born with a blaster in hand. It seemed that way when they were kids at least. Whenever their parents took them out to shoot, she'd destroyed targets with relative ease, blowing huge holes through the cardboard heads, taking out drones via run-n-gun.
Rick had always harbored a silent envy, longing to equal her combat skills, but getting outclassed when he tried to compete. When he'd scored a 9, she'd scored 10. When he'd earned silver, she'd earned gold.
Eventually, they'd both grown tired of shooting at targets, and challenged each other to actual duels. They'd used safe guns back then, of course — little toy shooters that would do no harm.
But April wasn't holding one of those guns now. April was pointing a Mack T4, a weapon created for this situation, a gun that had put several snipers in graves.
Rick turned back to the ceremony. Jedda was about to say I do. He steadied his rifle, refusing to budge. It was clear that April could take him out; he just wasn't certain she actually would. "You'd put a laser round in your brother's head?"
April sighed, exasperated. "Rick..." she muttered. He heard her approaching. "Millions of people are depending on this. People on Mongo. People on Earth. If those two marry, this damn war ends. If you interfere, the clash goes on."
"Both of us know it's not nearly that simple. That's what The Brotherhood wants you to think."
"Look at me," she growled.
He stared at the stage.
"Now."
He turned — and then he twitched. April had a boldness that he'd rarely seen, a cold determination that staggered him.
She squinted while taking a step forward. "You're not interfering with that ceremony."