Rogue Warriors of Lorr
Captured By the Alien Chapter 17

Scarlett was so relieved to be safe and comfortable again that she didn't mind being trapped in her royal suite. After a warm bath, a change of clothes, and some good food, she curled up in the big bed and slept through the entire night and part of the next day. When she woke, the mood of her attendants seemed strained. Scarlett didn't think much about it, figuring it was most likely because she had put herself in danger, and now everyone was overly worried. However, as the day wore on and she still did not see Grux, she began to feel anxious. When Nyla arrived with extra guards, Scarlett demanded to know what was going on.

"I am not supposed to cause you any stress." Nyla tried a soothing tone of voice. "Just accept that we are acting in your best interests."

"But I am already stressed!" snapped Scarlett. "Why are extra guards in my room, and why does it sound like the entire palace is rushing around on high alert?"

Nyla regarded her with a calm, cynical gaze. "Because we are on high alert. There is trouble with the Xoyosans again."

Scarlett took a step back, her breath catching in her throat. Even though she tried to control her emotions, her hands started to tremble.

Nyla sighed. "This is exactly what I was afraid of. Don't make me give you a sedative!"

"Where is Grux?" Scarlett asked weakly.

"He is seeing to security. Don't worry. He'll visit you when he can."

Nyla went back to overseeing the extra locks being put on the door, and Scarlett tried to rest but found it impossible. Throughout the day, scary sounds increased inside the palace and around it as warriors were mobilized.

Scarlett managed to eat an acceptable amount of food to satisfy her attendants and went meekly to bed. Even though she couldn't sleep, she knew if she protested, they would give her a sedative. She wanted to avoid that at all costs as if she knew something was going to happen, and she wanted to stay alert. Something other than being invaded by a hostile army.

When it was very late, and the only sound was the rhythmic marching of the warriors scouting the palace, Scarlett heard the door creak open very gently. She was alone, the only luxury Nyla would allow. Guards were still in the hall but even her warden had to sleep sometime.

She didn't sit up or let the person know she had heard them. She was terribly afraid it was the Xoyosans coming to steal her away.

The footsteps got closer to the bed, and when a heavy weight fell on the mattress beside her, she tried to scream, only to have it smothered by a big, strong hand.

"Scarlett, it's me!" Grux whispered. "Be quiet. We're getting out of here!"

"What's happening?" she asked.

"The Xoyosans don't care about any negotiations. It was pointless to even consider reasoning with them, which is apparently what my father did when he learned of our child. They've enlisted the help of the Jorvlens."

Scarlett gasped, trying to hold in her voice. Panicking and bringing the royal guard was not going to help. "What are we going to do?" Scarlett muttered.

"We're getting out of here," Grux hissed at her. "Don't bother to pack. I have some things already in the hovercraft." He flashed her a grin. "I've been planning to get you home, just like I promised."

"How are we going to get out?"

"Right there," he said, gesturing to the window. The royal suite was very high up, and Scarlett grabbed her belly protectively and shook her head.

Grux didn't wait for an argument. He pulled a strong cable out of his backpack and tied himself to her before securing the rope to a stone support and then dropping out of the window. It took every last scrap of control for Scarlett to keep from screaming as they rappelled down.

It seemed to take forever, but eventually they touched ground in the stone courtyard. Scarlett reasoned that it had probably only taken them a few minutes. It had just felt longer because she was so afraid.

It was a relief to settle into the big, deep seat of the hovercraft and let Grux make her comfortable. Soon, they sped away from the palace into the night.

"Where are we going?" Scarlett asked, her voice soft.

Grux shrugged. "A few private spacecrafts are docked nearby. I'm hoping to steal one of those. We just have to get off Lorr."

Scarlett stayed quiet, letting Grux focus on driving. Suddenly, he pulled the hovercraft viciously to one side, speeding into the thick cover on a narrow track. "What is it?" she cried.

Grux checked the mirrors, keeping the vehicle at top speed. "Someone's following us," he muttered.

Scarlett gasped with fear, beginning to tremble as she thought about what her fate would be if the Jorvlens or the Xoyosans caught up with them.

Not to mention what could happen to my Grux!

For quite some time, Grux piloted the hovercraft through side roads, eventually coming out in a farming area with open spaces. Finally, he could be sure that no one was behind them. "What now, Grux?" she asked.

He sighed defeatedly. "We have to go back," he said in resignation. "We are too far away from any private areas now. The one place I know we can get a ship is back at the royal airfield." Scarlett shook her head, not liking the plan.

Grux gave her a sideways glance. "I know. I'm not crazy about it, either. But we have to get off Lorr. This is the only way."

Scarlett trembled, willing herself not to cry, but she had to trust Grux. He had done just what he said. He'd gotten her off of bedrest and almost found them a way off Lorr. He was gone day and night trying to find her a way home. He'd get them out of this, too.

I just have to have faith.

Grux could sense how scared Scarlett was, and he didn't blame her for her fear. This was a risky move, but he knew they had no choice.

"We'll only be vulnerable for a few minutes," he spoke, trying to convince himself as well as Scarlett. "Once we're in the ship, we can be out of here in seconds."

Scarlett said nothing, but Grux knew she was probably thinking the same thing he was-getting to the ship was going to be the impossible part.

A light on the dash screen blinked, and he cursed. The damn thing was running out of charge. It wasn't about to drop dead immediately, but he didn't have much time. Grux didn't even know if they'd make it back to the royal airfield with the battery they had remaining.

Then, as they turned back toward the main city, he saw lights behind them.

"No," he muttered.

"What is it?" Scarlett asked, hugging her belly.

"It's that same tail we had before," he said. "I'm fairly sure. I don't think I can lose them this time."

Still, they had to get back to the airfield. He had absolutely no choice now. As he picked up speed and hurtled through the streets, he saw another set of lights join the first.

Cursing, Grux turned wildly onto the nearest street. He had already been driving too fast. Now he was moving at a truly dangerous speed. Scarlett shrieked as she was thrown against the window from the momentum.

"What's wrong?" she cried.

"Two tails," he growled, eyes flicking between the mirrors and the road ahead. The two hovers following were swerving into each other, trying to get closer to him. Grux took another savage turn in the hope he could get the vehicles to crash into each other. They rounded the corner behind him, swerving dangerously, but neither crashed. Grux found himself hoping that one of those hovercraft was a royal guard sent by his father, but he really didn't think so.

It will be Jorvlens, hot on the case, and that damn bounty hunter looking for a fat reward.

Grux hoped he was wrong, but he could tell by the relentless way they were being pursued that the hovercraft behind them cared little for their safety. His father would be more likely to close the roads and surround them with royal airships. The fact that this was not happening made Grux realize that the palace probably didn't even know they were gone.

The two crafts began to catch up. Grux drove faster, forgetting about the low charge problem as he attempted to make it to the airfield at all costs.

The hovercraft shook alarmingly as he turned into a side road. When Grux tried to push the vehicle to full speed as he came out of the turn, he heard a faint clicking sound, and lights all over the dash screen began to light up.

They weren't completely out of charge, but it was low enough that the hover couldn't go any faster. Grux roared in frustration as the two vehicles came up on either side, forcing him off the road. Scarlett started to scream, and Grux looked over at her in panic. "I won't let them take you!" he cried.

In a last attempt to save them, Grux slammed on the brakes, making the other crafts speed past. He wrenched the wheel and turned them around, flying in the opposite direction. He could hear Scarlett sobbing uncontrollably, and Grux glanced over at her, feeling a terrible hopelessness rising inside him.

The lights of the other hovers illuminated the inside of their craft, pinning him between them again. This time both hovers smashed against the sides of their craft, making Scarlett scream as the windows shattered. The craft jerked, spinning out of control, and Grux couldn't correct it as they careened toward a tree, the trunk finally stopping them.

The two other hovers swerved to a stop right behind them, and Grux leaped out, his fists held high. He saw three figures leap from one hover and charge him while only a single person jumped from the other craft.

With the light behind them, he couldn't identify anyone, but he knew for sure it was not the palace guard. He found himself hoping a royal airship would descend at that moment and save them, but deep down, he knew he was on his own. Behind him, he heard the hover door open as Scarlett got out to run into the wilderness. Grux roared and leaped at the approaching figures, determined to give her a chance to get away.

He threw himself into the fight, but the three figures-who turned out to be Jorvlens-tackled him to the ground. He struggled as hard as he could but couldn't get free. Helplessly, he watched as the last figure ran past them, going after Scarlett.

She screamed as the bounty hunter grabbed her, and the sound of her terror gave Grux new strength. He rose to his feet, throwing off the Jorvlens and charging at Broga. Scarlett was struggling as hard as she could, trying to get away. Grux stared right at his enemy, feeling his whole body energized with a singular focus.

I'm going to kill you!

"Let her go!" he bellowed.

The bounty hunter turned toward him, his face still obscured by the thick robes, but a soft chuckle reached him.

What's so funny?

Far too late, Grux heard the fast footsteps behind him. He was halfway turned around when he saw a dark shadow with something huge and heavy swinging above its head.

With no time to block the blow, a sense of massive impact and darkness rushed over him so swiftly Grux couldn't fight it. He dropped like a stone, Scarlett's screams ringing out over the abandoned road as the bounty hunter forced her into his hover and drove

away.