Alcantaran 1: Alien Abduction (47 page)

"I didn't really get a good look at him.
 
I was being shot at and I was worried about my driver.
 
I didn't even think to take a good look at the other driver.
 
Did the wounded creature give you any clue why they were shooting at me?" Ron replied.

"All he ever said was that you would get yours one of these days and maybe sooner than you think," the policeman replied.

"I wish I knew what I did to upset them.
 
Neither my partners nor myself could think of anything we ever did to those creatures.
 
Did the creatures come from that space ship out there?
 
Are there any more of them out there?
 
Maybe you could ask them what we did wrong.
 
If we parked our space ship in their spot, I'll gladly move, if it will stop any more attacks," Ron stated.

"We can't legally go out to their ship, so we used the radio here in the terminal to try to reach them but we didn't receive an answer.
 
We are wondering what to do with the bodies.
 
By the way, do you wish to press charges if we catch the driver?" the policeman explained.

"I'd like to but if I have to stick around to testify, I probably won't.
 
I don't know how long it would take to bring the creature to trial but we are about loaded and ready to head for another planet.
 
We have enjoyed your planet and hope we will be welcome again but we have to keep on the move to make any money," Ron related.

"Yes, it could take awhile to come to trial depending on the lawyers and judges.
 
We would be afraid that if the creature got back to his space ship, he would leave and we would never see them again.
 
You are more than welcome here.
 
You have done nothing wrong, as far as we can see, and Mr. Fu here speaks very highly of you and your partners, as does your driver.
 
I think we have several merchants here that would like to see you return also," the policeman said.

"Good.
 
All we have to do now is trade off the goods we purchased here.
 
Then we can come back and stock up again.
 
Do you need anything else?" Ron asked.

"No, you've answered all of our questions.
 
We have finished the investigation.
 
You could come down to the station a little later and sign the report and then would be free to leave tomorrow, when you're ready.

"I'll be there between 4:00 and 5:00.
 
If you think of anything else, just get in touch with the terminal and I'll try to bring it," Ron said.

The policemen left and Fu said, "I need to talk for a minute if you have the time."

Ron told him, "I'll always try to make time for you, my friend.
 
What can I help you with?"

"It's more what I can help you with.
 
There are two more of the Nodac-Liujia space ships on the way in.
 
Only one is going to land for right now.
 
The other will stay in orbit for a few days before making up their minds to land.
 
The one landing is coming here for trade," Fu stated in a quiet, conspiratorial voice.

"Thanks, friend.
 
That's good to know.
 
Hopefully, they are here for trade and won't bother us like their countrymen.
 
We don't want any more trouble and like I said, we would like to come back," Ron told him.
 
"Could you do me a favor and see if our driver can come back at 4:00 to take me to the station?"

Ron turned and walked back to Auntie.
 
He found out where the other two were and headed to the situation room.
 
He told them about his conversation with the police and Fu.
 
He told them that he was going to the police station to sign the report so they could leave in the morning.
 
Ron asked Auntie if she had anything non-lethal that would discourage anyone from sneaking around outside.
 
She replied that her shield could give off a static electric spark that was non-lethal.
 
She said most creatures found it most unpleasant and didn't wait for a second jolt.
 
Ron said that sounded fine and asked her to set it up to use it on their ugly neighbors, if they came too close.
 
Tik and Gus decided they were going to tag along.
 
Tik said she didn't want to miss any excitement if it happened again.
 
Tik told him that there were two more creatures in the other space ship.
 
They must travel with a crew of six.
 
Ron asked Auntie to check with
Kota
to see if that would be right.
 
She did and reported they usually had six to eight for a crew.

Everybody went to the armory to make sure their weapons were fully loaded and then Ron grabbed some more of the silver trinkets.
 
They headed to the terminal to wait for the driver.
 
Kota
,
Zibo
and their new robot chef came into the terminal and told them they were headed to town to buy some groceries that the robot wanted to round out their stores.
 
Zibo
said they should meet for supper and it would be their treat this time.
 
Ron said they were headed to the police station to sign the report.
 
Kota
checked a map he had and said they were going to be fairly close to the station when they were buying the groceries.
 
He said they would drop their robot off and meet them there.
 
There was an eating place two blocks from the police station.

Kota
and
Zibo
had rented a vehicle and it was waiting at the curb for them.
 
They went out, loaded the robot and headed for town.
 
The trio's driver arrived a few minutes later and they headed to town.
 
They felt the rumble of the Nodac-Liujia space ship landing as they headed out.

Ten minutes later Auntie sent them a report.
 
She said the other ship had landed and eight creatures had gotten off.
 
She had scanned the ship and it was now empty.
 
The two creatures from the other ship had come out to meet the newcomers.
 
They all had headed to the terminal.
 
Two of the group had come sneaking over to check her out.
 
She reported that two static electric charges had helped them on their way.
 
Ron and Tik could have sworn that Auntie was chuckling when she told about the electricity hitting the two.
 
Auntie reported that she had launched two of the remote sensors.
 
One was following them and the other was following the two groups from the other space ships.

The driver embarrassed Ron by enthusiastically telling the story of this mornings events.
 
His story made Ron into some kind of super hero and the other two were sending ESP asking Ron for his autograph and asked if he actually walked on water.
 
Tik said they should look out for old ladies for him to escort across the street.
 
Ron shut them up by silently giving them the raspberry.

When they got to the police station, they told the driver they would walk down to the eating place two blocks down the street.
 
They told him to just wait for them there and he could go eat with them.
 
The trio went into the station and Ron read through the report before he signed it.
 
The police asked him a few questions and then one of them; who had kids in the same class as one of the Fu boys, asked him about grizzly bears.
 
He had to tell his Joe Meek story again to the delight of all the policemen in the station.
 
They were all asking if the story was true and Ron said that as far as he knew; it was the gospel truth.
 
They had been in the station about an hour by then and said they had to go meet some friends.
 
The police all thanked him for the story and his cooperation.

As the trio was approaching the door, Auntie told them
Kota
and
Zibo
had just pulled up outside.
 
She also warned them that there were now eleven of the Nodac-Liujia creatures in various positions surrounding the building outside.

Ron asked, "Auntie, is there any way to warn
Kota
and
Zibo
?"

"I could if I had some time but I would have to research their comm frequencies and methods.
 
There is no quick way to do it," Auntie replied.

Tik growled, "Let me go.
 
I'm a smaller target and faster than you two.
 
I'll warn them and see if we have anything to fear or if those sewer vermin are just observing.
 
They must be awfully desperate or awfully stupid to try something right outside the police station."

"That might be the smartest place.
 
They probably think we won't be expecting anything here," Gus countered.

The trio quietly drew their weapons as they triggered their shields and then Tik rushed outside to crouch next to
Kota
's vehicle.
 
She quietly told
Kota
through his open window, "Get down.
 
We have some sewer crawlers here and I think they are up to no good."

Kota
and
Zibo
slid down in the seat as far as they could and drew their weapons.
 
Two policemen started to walk up the steps into the station.
 
Tik had just started to warn them when two Nodac-Liujias next to the police station opened fire.
 
They hit Tik's shield which pushed her up against
Kota
's vehicle.
 
She returned fire at the one in front of
Kota
's vehicle.
 
The creature fell with a big hole blasted in its middle.
 
The two policemen turned at the sound and the creature toward the rear fired a stingerray at them.
 
One of the policemen fell to the steps while the other tried to hold him and get his gun out at the same time.
 
Gus and Ron leaped out of the building and in front of the two policemen.
 
Tik whirled and fired at her other attacker.
 
That attacker fell and would not be bothering anyone again.
 
The Nodac-Liujia creatures across the street opened fire on Ron and Gus.
 
Some of them were not using stingerrays.
 
They were using blasters.
 
Ron and Gus returned fire as Gus reached down and picked up the stunned policeman.
 
He shoved him and his partner through the door.
 
He and Ron ran to crouch behind
Kota
's vehicle with Tik.
 
Kota
and
Zibo
started picking targets and firing at them.
 
Tik took off down the street and Ron went the other way.
 
Gus was firing over the hood of
Kota
's vehicle to keep the creatures' attention.
 
Ron and Tik caught two of the creatures as they rushed from the back of the police station where they had been watching the rear door.
 
They blasted and both of them dropped where they were hit.
 
Ron and Tik had reached opposite ends of the block and now crossed the street.
 
They had the Nodac-Liujia creatures in a deadly cross-fire now.
 
Gus had dropped two others with his fire.
 
Ron managed to drop one more and the creatures had all they could stand.
 
They leaped into a waiting vehicle and sped off.
 
As they sped off, they tried to avoid getting anywhere close to Ron because of his deadly fire.

The street was deathly quiet.
 
Ron and Tik started advancing to check for any creatures left behind.
 
All they found were bodies.
 
The police were cautiously rushing out of the door and crouching beside Gus.
 
Some of them came out of the back door and slipped cautiously around the building.
 
The whole thing was over in less than five minutes.

The policemen slowly checked out the dead bodies and picked up the weapons.
 
Ron and Tik walked back to
Kota
and
Zibo
to see if they were all right.
 
They were a little shaken and their vehicle had been hit several times but they were not hurt.

Ron broadcast a thought to Tik, "Can you work with Auntie from here and get those two space ships into the air before these creatures get back?"

Tik replied, "I don't know but I'll sure give it a try.
 
I think Auntie should be able to fly them remotely if she can get into their computer."

"Good.
 
We'll make it really costly for these vermin.
 
We'll let the police chase them on the planet here," Ron said angrily.

Tik went to the rear of
Kota
's vehicle and concentrated on her task.
 
Ron and Gus kind of led the policemen up the steps to check on their fallen comrade.
 
Gus looked at him and said he had been hit by a stingerray.
 
He would be all right by tomorrow but he would ache and be weak for awhile.
 
The police thanked him and got an ambulance on the way, just to make sure.
 
The sergeant called in detectives to start investigating everything and put out an all points bulletin about the attackers who'd escaped.
 
He told some units to block the road to the space port to keep them away from the space ships.
 
Others were already blocking off the road and sidewalk to keep curious onlookers from contaminating the scene.