[Lord Stanley]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Get everyone out of the city, now!” Edur released the comm. button and swore under his breath. He grabbed the jetcopter’s flight handle and twisted savagely, pulling the copter into a spin away from the Keuja’s reaching tentacles of darkness.

He should have expected that monster to attack Denzling before now. That huge monster was practically unstoppable, having destroyed the capital of Glukksonia and hundreds of Sligs and Mudokons only two days before. As a SKRUT, it was Edur’s duty to protect his city and his country.

He took a brief glance out the jetcopter windshield at the ground below. The Keuja was still five miles from Denzling, but already hundreds of Sligs tanks rolled forward to meet it, already firing their blaster cannons at the monster that would not die.

I could use Oner here, now, Edur realized grimly. Never realized how much that comedian meant to me, until he’s not around anymore.

Edur punched in the button to switch frequencies. “Commander D’aan, launch the missiles now!”

“Patience, SKRUT,” came the infuriatingly slow reply. “We’re prepping the launch now…”

“I can’t guarantee we’ll survive that long,” Edur snarled.

“Firing in ten seconds…”

Edur suddenly shook in his chair, as did the whole jetcopter, as its spin brought it within reach of the attacking Keuja’s tentacles. The monster sent a vast electric shock through the jetcopter. Suddenly every metal part in the vehicle – roughly 97% of it – was flowing with lightning, and the pain made him scream.

Then everything went black.

* * *

What is to become of a life with no purpose?

So thought Stranger, as he stood alone and gazed up at the shining sun above him.

He had no purpose for his life. Since the death of King Fragg and the destruction of Mantin City, he had wandered the empty wastelands of Glukkon land, wondering what was to become of a former bounty hunter who was too moral to kill for pay, yet none too moral to join with Abe in his quest to save the planet.

He looked down at the double-barreled crossbow strapped to his right wrist, at the Boombat and Stingbee hive placed there, and shook his head. The Keuja was a great threat, and he had helped Abe to slow it down, but still he felt no loyalty to the Mudokon or to anyone else. Was he destined to be a conflicted loner all his life?

A question without an answer.

His whole life had been a conflict, from his birth as a Steef, his life in hiding, his career as a bounty hunter, his vendetta against Sekto, his return to hunting, and now his quest for personality.

But what was he to do? Should he help Abe destroy the Keuja? Should he go after it himself?

Something struck him in the back of the head, wiping out all his thoughts in exchange for shocking pain.

* * *