CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
Abe’s footsteps pounded down the staircases of the palace as he ran for his life.
Once they had broken through the roof above, the Snoozers had showed the power built into their laser guns. Spewing concentrated beams widespread, their destructive rays had burned through walls, ceiling and floor all around with no care about collateral damage. The very framework of the Glukkon palace rattled and shook as parts of the structure collapsed in on itself from the impact of having dozens of Snoozers blazing their path after Abe.
At least King Fragg was dead. The mighty factory MeechCo, leveled to the dust, would never be rebuilt. With any luck, the Meeches would be able to populate again, and once more be a species to be found all across the planet.
Part of the ceiling caved in atop him; he rolled forward, trying to dodge the falling pieces, but one bit of wood pounded against his skull and threw him to the floor. Another crash sounded from behind him, accompanied by the sound of laserfire.
Abe recognized what it was immediately: a Snoozer had fallen down onto his hallway and was opening fire!
He threw himself into a sprinting, staggering run away. Laser bolts chewed at the walls all around him as he rushed away from the attacking mechanical menace.
He rounded a corner, skidding on laser-scorched floor and wincing at the heat, and saw a party of Sligs marching resolutely up the passage toward him, Barrage-32-A carbines in hand. Abe frantically waved his arms, and screamed “Get! Out! Of! My! Way!”
The Sligs’ only response was to level their carbines and pull the triggers.
Abe dropped into a roll and barreled forward along the ground, rolling at their feet. Several lasers came close to hitting him as he rolled at them like a steamroller out of control – one struck his shoulder and blazed pain up his arm – but they could not stop him before he was crashing into them and sending Sligs flying.
Then he was up on his feet and staggering down the corridor, clutching at his wounded arm. He could hear the mechanical rumble of Snoozer feet as the mechanical enforces rounded the corner, and hoped the Sligs could get up in time to provide a barrier.
“Those Vykkers knew what they were doing when they designed Snoozers,” he gritted between his teeth.
Thinking of Vykkers made him think of Vykkers Labs and the mission that had crashed the infamous laboratory. It stabbed pain into his heart as he remembered his companion on the mission.
Munch was no more. Munch was the Bringer of Pain now.
Abe ground his teeth together. “Munch…when I help those Mudokons win the victory on the ground…you’re dead! This I swear!”
* * *
|