Dual Abduction Read Online Free Page A

human, and then it passed on to Jaro, who got abducted and claimed by some female Zonian warrior. Their departure from the scene should have meant he and Brax finally got to bask in the attention they’d always deserved. Instead, there was talk of a new mercenary stepping in to take the spotlight, another cousin or uncle from his mother’s side of the family. Frukxing jerk. That spotlight belongs to us! We earned it.
    Murphy must have eavesdropped again, this time on his thoughts, because suddenly Xarn got his blasted spotlight. Literally. It shone from the sky while a loud speaker crackled, “Halt you murdering thieves and allow yourselves to be arrested. Or even better, keep running so we can shoot your scurvy hides.”
    Neither scenario appealed so Xarn took aim and shot the glaring white light. Blackness fell over them again and Brax cursed as he bumped into a wall, the sudden lack of illumination rendering them blind while they adjusted to the gloom. They got moving, hoping against the odds they’d somehow make it off the planet alive. It was one bet Xarn wouldn’t take. He preferred sure wins.
    “Psst! Purple warriors. Over here.” A voice called to them from the shadowy recess of an alley.
    Xarn halted and Brax plowed into him, sending them both stumbling. Good thing too, considering the number of laser bolts that flew past where they stood just moments before.
    Scrambling on all fours, they darted across the street into the crevice between the buildings where a short, cloaked figure beckoned them with a claw tipped hand. Since no better offers seemed in the making, they followed, only making a moue of distaste when their guide dropped through a grate in the ground, right into the sewer system below.
    “This is not how Tren would escape,” Brax grumbled as they slogged through the rancid mire.
    “Got a better plan, genius?” Xarn snarled, his stomach roiling at the stench. “Hey, you, guide person, where are you taking us?”
    “I know a way to your ship.”
    “And just why are you helping us?” Brax asked, halting.
    The cloaked figure also stopped and pivoted as it pulled back its hood. One ugly green female with familiar red eyes greeted them. “It came to my attention that you might need assistance escaping and perhaps even a job?” Her pointed grin seemed entirely too satisfied.
    “We’re not that desperate.” A rumble shook the ground around them and the agitated muck slopped over his boots.
    “Fine. See if you can find your way.” The irritating female turned and began to walk away.
    Brax glared at him and hissed. “Smooth move. Do you know your way out of here?”
    As much as it galled, Xarn sighed and called their guide back. “We accept the mission but we not only get twice our rate, we keep the treasure too.”
    “And you will guide us to our ship and ensure we can get away,” Brax added.
    “Done.” She answered quickly, too quickly in his mind.
    It occurred to Xarn to ask how the vengeful female would accomplish that, but, his stomach chose that moment to revolt from the stench and with more important things to occupy his thoughts, such as vomiting away from himself, he quickly followed as the cloaked figure led them through a maze of tunnels, which thankfully turned dry at one point.
    It took several galactic units to reach a ladder leading up to a grate.
    “Climb to the top and wait for the diversion.”
    “How will we know it?” Xarn asked.
    Their employer snorted. “And to think I chose you over the new purple champion.”
    “Hey, who are you talking about?” he asked, but the squat form of the female had already scurried off into the shadows.
    “I’m first,” Brax announced, clambering up the ladder, leaving Xarn to follow, the not-so-delightful view of his friend’s buttocks his penalty for not moving quicker.
    They hung on to the metal rungs, waiting. Even so, when the surprise arrived, it almost shook them from their perch.
    “Psycho frukxing female,” Brax