Free sci-fi ebook: Legends and Liars, Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

Jake watched Toby and Lizzy run to their mother.  He had a strange look on his face as he remembered the battle on Mars eleven years before.  He turned to them. “Do you have weapons?” he said.

“Oh, crap!” Tibbs said stunned.

“A few old rifles, but not many bullets for them,” she said.  “We have one of the new pulse rifles.  And we have many blades.”

“We have the will and perhaps surprise on our side,” October said.  “They won’t expect a fair fight.”

“There will be nothing fair about it,” Jake said.

“Well, you can count me out,” Tibbs said.  “I’m taking my ore and getting the hell out of here.”

“You can leave if you want, Tibbs, but you’ll go empty-handed,” Jake said.

Tibbs jumped to his feet. “You don’t have any say in what I do!  I’m out of here!” he said and headed for the door, “I’m taking my share with me.”

He started to reach for the door handle and stopped when he heard the sound of a shotgun-blaster coming on.  He turned slowly and saw Elana pointing the weapon at him.

“You want to lose that hand?” she said.

Tibbs studied her eyes and the blaster.  He didn’t believe she would shoot and reached for the door.

A fist-sized hole exploded, vaporizing the handle.  He jerked his hand back and glared at her with hate-filled eyes.

“Bitch!” He snarled. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re a bad shot.”

“If it makes you feel better to believe that,” she said adjusting the weapon, aiming it at his head.

“Sit down, Tibbs,” Jake ordered.

Tibbs gave both of them a hateful look.  Reluctantly, he went back to the table and sat down.

Jake and Elana exchanged a quick look. He took a deep breath and seemed to dig deep inside to bring up a resolve that he had kept hidden for eleven years.

“How many men are there who can fight?” he asked.

October winked at Elana.

“All are willing, but perhaps eight or ten are capable,” she said.  “The women will also fight.”

 “We have to keep Amasunto and the others out of town.”

“How?” October asked. “There are too many of them to fight in the open.”

“I want you two to make preparations.”

“And you?” Elana asked.

He smiled slightly. “I’m going to try to convince them to stay away.”

“What are you gonna do, talk them to death,” Tibbs growled.

“Something like that,” Jake said.

Elana studied Jake a moment. Then she slapped the blaster up in both her hands as she turned to October. “Come on, father.  We’ve got work to do.”

“And what am I supposed to do?” Tibbs said.

Jake nodded toward October and Elana. “Help them or stay out of the way,” he said.

Jake, Elana and October went out the door, leaving Tibbs sulking.