Page 29 of Asmodel
Across the gorge was the capital city of CeluriaVO, Panterion Prime. Instead of a conglomerate of buildings settling on flat land, the alien city was built along the sheer walls of the cliff. Its structures were seamlessly integrated into the rock, with buildings clinging to the vertical surface like natural extensions of the stone.
The vast metropolis spread out for miles, a prime example of an advanced technological civilization that made the alien planet Akurn look like a primitive village of cave dwellers. Rushes of gentle waterfalls created clouds of moisture-laden fog that swirled up from the dark canyon bottom below and surrounded the natural foliage between the dwellings.
“How do you suppose we…” Raxx began.
“I think someone…” JR13 said at the same time.
“Stand up and turn around.” A growling, hissing voice interrupted them. “Slowly, where I can see your paws.”
Asmodel closed his eyes and groaned. How the hell did he get caught like this? Clenching his fingers, he slowly stood. He was such an idiot. How could he forget to keep his psychic senses open?By the love of a motherless goat.If Arakiba ever found out…
It was a male scikvak. Some kind of guard, if he wasn’t mistaken. Easy enough to tell with the guy pointing a long, hollow pole made of a dull, silver metal in their direction. Asmodel doubted the guy was going to whack them over the head with the thing. Had to be armed with a laser of some kind.
“JR13—” He tilted his head and whispered to his AI bot, never taking his eyes off the scikvak as he raised his hands. “—when he gets close enough, can you render him unconscious?”
The spider-bot snorted. “Of course, organic man.”
“Stop talking.” The guy stepped closer and poked Asmodel in his chest with the end of the pole.
“Now listen, friend,” Raxx smiled wide, his hands high in the air. “We’re just visitin’…”
“You will be quiet!”
The guard shoved Raxx with the pole on his shoulder so hard he stumbled.
“Now, JR13!” Asmodel stressed in a low voice.
The black plates on JR13’s back fanned open, revealing soft, iridescent wings. Without a word, he jumped from Asmodel’s shoulder and headed straight for the shoulder of the scikvak, whose back was to him. He landed by the short fur between the male’s shoulder and neck and drove his spindly foreleg into the skin.
The male dropped to the unforgiving ground.
“Duude!” Raxx’s dark eyes widened. “Did you just give him a Vulcan neck pinch?”
Asmodel frowned. A what?
“Affirmative,” JR13 answered him. He flew back to rest on Asmodel’s shoulder and sniffed as if exasperated.
Raxx whooped with laughter. Asshole didn’t bother to put his hands down yet.
“Can we focus, here?” Asmodel gestured to the prone guard. “I’m sure he’s not the only one around.”
“He’s not.” JR13 interjected. “I can hear the communication he has in his ear. Someone is trying to get hold of him. I’ll put it on audio,” he volunteered.
“Cool beans, Spider-man.” Raxx put his hands down. He squatted next to the unconscious feline and turned him over.
“Talonar! Do you have them? Talonar, report!” The command came through loud and clear.
Asmodel made a split decision. He turned to JR13. “Can you respond for us?”
“Of course.” The small droid snorted. “I can even sound like this guy.” His multifaceted eyes studied the unmoving male. “What do you want me to say?”
“Respond by saying one of them got away, but he’ll bring in the other one.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, wait. Find out where they want him to meet them.” He looked around the dense jungle behind them and glanced at the futuristic city across the gorge. “Hopefully on this side of the canyon.”
“What are ya gonna do?” One of Raxx’s black eyebrows raised. “Turn into one of them?” He grinned.
“Yeah.” Asmodel grinned back. “Unless you got any other ideas?”
Raxx shook his head. “Nope. Not really.”