Zack gazed at Tessa. "Mrs Gonzalez, I know what you're thinking.""I want none of it. He's too vulnerable for this kind of suicide mission.""Teresa, whatever Mort decides, we must be in full support. Gwen, you do not owe us your loyalty. We can manage." Carlos said. They moved to the car, Zack changed the licence plate.Mort waved stiffly to Teresa who cried on the porch. Carlos signalled him to look away.Conrad felt like the car was crowded. Gwen brushed her lip, thinking of thousands of scenarios that might happen to them in the long run. She could not believe that she was unprepared. It was all Conrad's fault. She recalled that Zandax and his army were responsible for harming their comrades.She was caught between her duty to her friends and her duty to her world. Afterall she was not Earthling but she was here because of her choices. Her belief in Zack caused more harm than good and here she was striving to fight for them.It was what Zed would have wanted anyway. She folde
"Gee Gwen it's not like there's a ticking time bomb underneath the trailer or something." He sounded anxious but not for the same reason as she."We're people, not machines alright? We'll get there.""Well we need to move faster." "What's your problem? We've been driving for 5 hours. Don't you think we need a break too?"She felt guilty about being hard on him. "How do you feel about your family?" She had not seen him upset and that left her puzzled.He glanced at her, she was actually throwing his failings in his face. "I'd rather not talk about it." He said hoarsely but his eyes said it all.Gwen turned to leave and Zack lingered alone for a while.Morty drove all the way and he spotted two drones zipping over their cars through the windshield. He gasped when they turned to him. The canons powered up and they fired.The bumper took a heavy hit and he drove faster. Till the arrow reached the speed limit. A squad car picked up their velocity on the way and started to chase after the
Gwen's lip trembled. "Zack...Zack! Please I need you to be okay.""Sharp, he's outcold." Conrad reminded.She just knelt there wondering who Sharp was and she sighed. Guard Dog tasered the men trying to get to them.They carried him to the car and they escaped. Zack woke up hoping that the nightmare would end. He expected to wake up to a pair of amber eyes and he winced at the steely blue ones. Conrad sat up straight. Gwen looked relieved."What were you thinking? You were being reckless and you were being too slow. I thought this mission was important to you." Conrad said."You think I don't prioritise this mission? I was just trying to help her out." Zack pointed.Gwen softened at him."At least we have to reach the ship in one piece. She's the only means to get us there."She frowned. "The staff was not safe with anyone else. Who knows what they might do to it.""It wasn't important." He said. "The vans were coming, I had to warn you!""I saved your life and this is all the app
"No. No one else is here, Amir.""Are you sure? Did you bring food? It's a pity if he finds it. I'm sure my dog is a pig in disguise.""Yes, it's our snack, he can have it." Gwen said. Zack slumped at the van, he felt like he was outside looking in ironically. He glanced at Conrad hiding in the car too. The set of his shoulders were tense. They were quiet. He looked like he preferred it that way.Rupert charged across the park and lunged into the car nipping and slobbering on his face. He held him close. Rupert barked and he plodded him to be quiet. "Shh, shh." "Rupert!" Seymour emerged from the house stretching and he brushed his fur around Amir's ankle and licked along his hind leg to make sure his scent was on him.Zack gazed at his cat alive and hearty. He maintained a calm expression even though he wanted to retrieve him back. Rupert whimpered prodding him to go outside."Go go." He tossed a drumstick outside and Rupert went after it.Mrs Akilah emerged."Amir, how many tim
"You promised so are we getting coffee or not?" He said pulling her out of her thoughts.She pursed her lips and she clapped his hand.He pulled her up. "Certainly." Zack lowered his sword surprised. "Really?" She took her jacket shaky. "Yes. As promised."He turned grim. "Oh. I was kidding about the coffee." He thought half disappointed.Gwen exhaled. They got to the ship, Mort huffed gazing at the can of soda. He flicked it at the can and missed."This is hopeless." Mort said."It's all we have and_"They paused at the Klozarian ship headed towards them.Conrad clenched his teeth. "How the hell did they find us?"Zack was jittery from the coffee or the vessel headed towards them."We gotta go." They rushed towards to Gwen's ship and Mort gasped at Guard Dog."Hey!" They paused as the doors opened and Conrad aimed closing an eye on the scope.The first person he saw was a large alien in a burgundy suit. He grinded his teeth at Zandax who had a golden Z on his chest. Zack frowne
"Then who are you?"Zack didn't know whether to feel sympathy or anger or fear for Zandax. As upsetting as it was, it wasn't about him. It was about Zandax. An alien going through an identity crisis. He had been lied to most of his life that he was no good. In a sense, it rang true but this one was muddled by the opinions of others that he couldn't seem to understand himself anymore. He didn't know what to tell him."I am deeply sorry that I tried to kill you. I did it for honour but nothing brings me any solace."Gwen softened. She fidgeted. "I feel empty and weak. I never seem to do anything right." Zandax knelt there feeling dejected. Aware of his own failings and his anger, now he was in front of the one person who could help him and he turned him down. Zack worked his jaw. Maybe he was lied to but it didn't excuse the fact that he tried to kill him. Zack left him quickly conflicted and frustrated.Zack looked lost. He sat on a tire swing holding on to the chains. He saw him
"Rule #1, never assume that your enemy will spare your life." Broseam said proudly."Duh, I kinda figured that out." He said and he glanced at Zandax watching them."Rule #2, trust your instincts.""Behind you!" Zack pointed and Broseam rammed him down. "Nice try. I am not so easily distracted Trevor."Zack laughed. "Does everyone just make up their own rules?""It's the code, what I was taught, it's not quite different from the handbook." Broseam said smiling."Great, more codes." Zack said."It's not that bad, a little structure won't hurt anyone." He patted his back with his metallic arm laughing heartily."Easy for you to say." He laughed, certain that he needed a chiropractor now.Broseam beamed at him. "You SHOULD have more structure. It helps.""Not for everyone, Bro." Zack said mildly annoyed by his domineering attitude."It's Broseam, no monikers...you should. And as for Zandax." He pointed to the alien isolated from everyone else."He is daft and evil. Who knows what evil lu
Mort patted his back. "Sorry for the advice."Mort walked out and curled in a corner crying in secret. Zack gazed at Gwen with longing. She had a talk with the others and stood on her tip toes talking to Broseam who placed a hand on her head. The other men tried not to laugh. He smiled with longing dreamy eyed. He felt guilty because he once had a crush and it burned him. But her feelings were mutual. Were they just there because she was alien and he had no chance with humans? Maybe he was just a simpleton longing for something or someone he couldn't have or he couldn't give. He could settle. Gwen glanced at Zack watching and she turned red maybe from him watching her being made fun of. Or just her instincts knowing someone was watching or the unsettling feeling in her midriff.She reciprocated with a casual smile and Zack looked behind him and saw no one was there.She chuckled and he rubbed his hair awkwardly.He approached her and she folded her arms. He paused.Gwen lowered her