Author's Note: Characters and concepts are the creative property of Savin Yeatman-Eiffel and Sav! the World Productions.

This is a collaborative work between me and Queenbean3.

Chapter Four: Righteous Like Rakesh by MasterOfThePen

Joaquin and Eva stood in awe before the majestic figure, and even Rush and his opponents paused briefly to look at the new arrival before commencing their fight once more. White hair cascaded over his feathered headdress, his silver eyes focused on the effeminate man holding Eva hostage. Rakesh spread his wings, the sunlight reflected on the pale blue glass that formed the feathers, and brandished his sword.

"I will not ask you again," Rakesh said. "Release the girl, or prepare to suffer the consequences."

Steely gray eyes focused on the stranger, and Joaquin sneered. "Another alien? How dare you set foot upon our world? Your kind does not belong here."

"I am a servant of the Avatar," Rakesh said. "It is his will that Eva be brought before him."

Eva let out a small gasp as the vice-like grip on her wrist was released, and she stepped back a pace. Joaquin flicked his wrist and a dagger appeared in the hand that had held Eva. He crossed his arms before him, eyes gleaming as brightly as his weapons.

"I wonder," Joaquin said. "If I cut you, will I see sticky green ichor bleed from your wounds?"

"I bleed red just the same as you, human," Rakesh said. "Put up your weapons, or I shall slay you."

"Let's see who draws first blood!" With lightening speed, Joaquin raced forward, his twin daggers clashing against his opponent's sword. Rakesh parried easily; sparks flew each time their blades met. No matter where Joaquin's daggers struck, Rakesh's sword was there to meet them.

Knowing that Joaquin would be out-matched by the strange swordsman, Reinhard turned to his companion. "Boris! Can you handle this one on your own?" He blocked another savage blow from Rush's pickax.

"As you say, this is the piece of cake," Boris said, the haft of his hammer clanging against the Byrussian's weapon. "Is just like time I wrestle bear in the mountains of my homeland. Go help Joaquin, my friend."

The red-haired swordsman disengaged from the fight and rushed to the aid of his companion, all thoughts concerning Eva banished from his mind in the chaos of battle.

Eva took the opportunity afforded her to hurry back toward the garage. The screech of steel against steel and the sounds of men grunting and shouting drowned out all thoughts except one: escape. The ground was littered with bodies; dead or dying. The cement was dark with blood. Eva focused her gaze toward the entrance of the garage, unwilling to look at the carnage. Don and Rick were standing there and had just now noticed that Eva was no longer a captive.

She hurried past the fallen LRA soldiers, making a beeline for the garage, when something snatched at her ankle and she fell to the ground. A wounded soldier gripped at her leg, as if he were clinging to life itself. Only the lower half of his face could be seen; he was bleeding from a split lip.

"I've got you now," he said with a grimace. He rose and steadied himself, intending to drag the girl to her feet.

Eva screamed, flung an arm up to ward away her attacker. Before his hand could reach her, a shadow descended upon the soldier. There was a flash of black feathers, a gurgled scream, and blood spraying from the soldier's back as he fell to his knees and collapsed. Eva stared at the bird-shaped shadow that hovered before her.

"Spirit," Eva said, watching with rapt attention as the creature's body writhed and collapsed upon itself, metamorphosing into a humanoid form. He fell to one knee and clutched at his right arm. He was bleeding all over, eyes squinted with pain.

Eva approached the crouching figure and laid a hand on his shoulder. His eyes slowly opened and stared at her, and she heard a soft voice in her mind: "Do not worry about me. Are you hurt, Eva?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks for saving me."

Spirit winced as he stood. Eva offered her shoulder to steady him and he leaned heavily on her. "I am glad. We must get you to safety."

"You're in bad shape," Eva said as they hobbled toward the garage. Rick and Don hurried to meet them. "This is all my fault."

"Do not blame yourself," Spirit's voice echoed within her mind. "It is my duty as a Guardian to protect you from harm."

"Eva!" Rick was the first to reach her. "You okay, Little Mouse?"

"Yes, but Spirit's hurt. We have to get out of here."

Don gathered Eva into his arms, "Eva! I thought I was going to lose you." He stared over her shoulder at the shadowy figure. He gasped, memories of his wife's fiery crash flooded his mind as he stared into those unblinking eyes. "What is he doing here?"

"He's one of my Guardians," Eva said.

"No time for chit-chat," Rick said. "Let's head to the truck and get the hell out of here."

Don nodded and herded Eva toward the garage while Spirit trailed along behind them.

Rush, still engaged with the abnormally large human, knew that time was growing short and he needed to finish the battle quickly. Boris continued to fight, his suit had torn at the seams a while ago, unable to bear the strain of the bulging muscles pumping furiously as he sought to smash Rush's head open like a melon.

"You're a worthy opponent, for a human," Rush said. "But I can't stay and play with you any longer."

"Think you can leave so easy, Byrussian?" Boris said, raising his hammer and swinging it downward. The cement at Rush's feet shattered as he leaped backward. "This game is not yet finish!"

"Don't waste my time!" Rush surged forward, shouting his battle cry.

Their weapons clashed once more, the pickax hooked against the hammer. The two warriors strained against the other, attempting to disarm one another. The veins stood out on Boris's arms through the tears in his suit, the tendons stretched to their limits. With a renewed burst of strength, Rush yanked on his pickax, and the war hammer was wrenched from Boris's grasp. Rush took advantage of his opponent's moment of shock and bashed the side of his head with the flat of his weapon. For a few seconds, Boris stood as if he hadn't felt the massive blow, then his eyes rolled into his head and he dropped to the ground like a felled redwood. Noticing no immediate threats, Rush hurried toward the group of humans gathering in the garage with the injured Spirit.

During that time, Reinhard and Joaquin battled against Rakesh and quickly realized that he was quite the accomplished swordsman. Reinhard stared at the winged warrior clad in silver armor and wondered how such an angelic figure could fight with such demonic tenacity.

Joaquin hovered on the edge of the melee, waiting for an opening. Reinhard's broadsword clashed against his opponent's blade, and they stared into one another's eyes: emerald green and shining silver.

"You truly are despicable," Reinhard said as he raised his sword and brought it down on Rakesh's shoulder armor, the force of the blow sent his enemy staggering. "A demon like yourself has the gall to masquerade as one of God's messengers."

Rakesh regained his balance and blocked a blow aimed for his head. "I am no demon, though I cannot say the same of you and your bloodthirsty friend."

"How dare you!" Reinhard and Rakesh clashed and separated again. They had entered into a bloody dance of flashing steel, their swords singing as they sliced through the air.

Joaquin had circled to his enemy's backside and was trying to find a weak point in Rakesh's armor that his daggers could exploit. The back of his neck looked like a suitable target. Sever the spinal cord; quick and easy. He gripped his daggers and tensed, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Rakesh staggered beneath the fury of Reinhard's blade, and knew something was very wrong. Out of instinct, he glanced behind him and noticed a figure at his back. He snapped his wings outward and side-stepped another blow from Reinhard. Joaquin cried out as the razor tips of Rakesh's wings grazed against his chest, leaving three crimson gashes on flesh. He clutched at his wounds, his gray eyes boring holes into the one who injured him.

"It is time to end this pointless battle," Rakesh said. "You are no match for me." With a flap of his metallic wings, he took to the air and hovered above his opponents. He held his sword before him, his left hand touching the blade. "May the power of the Silver Moon purify your blackened souls." The blade began to shine with blinding silver light. Gripping the sword in both hands, he dove toward the two men below, shouting, "Soul Reaver!"

Reinhard stood protectively before his injured companion, feet firmly planted, sword gripped tightly in both hands. He raised his sword just as Rakesh's blade swung downward. Sparks rained upon the ground, silver lightening crackled between the crossed weapons. Reinhard stared into the silver eyes filled with righteous fury and tried to turn the blade away, but his strength was failing. A sharp crack, like a thunderclap, split the air as Reinhard's sword shattered and the silver energy threw him and Joaquin several feet back. They collapsed, their energy spent, weapons lying broken beside them.

Rakesh alighted on the ground as his sword, armor, and wings dissolved into silvery motes of light and vanished. He was dressed in the pale blue robes once more and slumped forward, breathing heavily. That last attack had drained almost all of his energy. He would not be able to fight again until he could regain his strength. It was at this time that he noticed Rush dispatch Boris and then head for the garage. Rakesh jogged toward the others, knowing that time was growing short for them all.

Eva watched Rush and the white-haired stranger approach at a rapid pace.

"Rush!" Eva said. "It's so good to see you again!"

"It's good to see you too, Little One," he said with a gap-toothed grin. "Those humans are all talk and no fight." He noticed Spirit slumped on the ground, blood-stained and battered. He knelt beside him and scooped him up. "We need to get to Nourasia, and fast."

"How?" Eva said.

"I know a way," the white-haired man said, entering the garage. He looked tired.

"Who are you?" Don said, standing protectively next to Eva.

"I am Rakesh, servant of the Avatar, and one of Eva's Guardians," he said. "The Avatar has shown me all I needed to know to escort Eva safely to Oban. We must hurry, before those soldiers regain consciousness. I have not the strength to fight them off a second time, and Spirit is too injured to fight."

"I have no idea what's going on," Rick said. "But if Eva's life is in danger, just tell me what to do and I'll do it."

"Then tell me, which of you is the faster driver?" Rakesh said, looking at each of them in turn.

Rick grinned and thumbed at himself. "That would be me."

"No fair," Eva said.

"Then pilot the swiftest vehicle you possess and convey us to the space port immediately. There, we shall charter a ship to take us to Nourasia."

Stan and Koji were waving at the others. They stood next to a large vehicle used primarily for transporting parts and tools for star-racer maintenance.

"Come on you guys!" Stan said. "Everything's ready to go!"

Koji opened the double doors in the back and waited while the others piled in with the baggage. Rick took the driver's seat with Eva next to him and Don on the passenger side. Once everyone was inside, Koji hopped in and slammed the doors shut. Stan held the rabbit cage steady while Rush kept Spirit cradled in his arms. Rakesh stood near the back and looked through the grated window into the driver's cab.

"Rick, is this really a good idea?" Don said and buckled his seatbelt. "Remember your condition."

"The doctor didn't say anything about no driving," Rick put the truck into gear. "And if anything goes wrong, we've got a backup driver on hand." He nodded toward Eva.

"Hurry! We're running out of time!" Rakesh said through the window.

"We're going, we're going, just sit tight," Rick said. The tires screeched on the pavement as the truck peeled out of the garage and toward the main entrance.

"Take the highway," Don said. "There's less traffic, and no speed limit."

"Gotcha," Rick said and turned away from the city streets toward the less traveled highways.

"Don Wei," Koji called from the back. "Where's that first aid kit you packed?"

"In my bag, the blue one."

"Thanks!"

Just as Rick and the others drove off the premises, many of the soldiers who had been knocked unconscious began to stir, groaning and clutching at aching heads and sore limbs. Boris sat up and rubbed at his right temple.

"Oy, Boris has a bad hangover ..." he looked around and noticed his companions stirring not too far from him. "My friends, where is the girl?"

Joaquin hissed and put a hand to his wounded chest. "She's escaped again. If she leaves Earth, we'll never catch her."

"Then we go after her!" Boris said, grasping his war hammer once more.

"Reinhard, pull yourself together and let's go!" Joaquin said. Reinhard was staring at the shattered pieces of his sword, his emerald eyes blazing in fury.

"That bastard," he picked up a shard of steel and clutched it so tightly that blood streamed from his palm. "This sword was a family heirloom, and he broke it like it was a worthless piece of iron. I won't forgive that demon ..." He gathered the shattered pieces and the scabbard, and turned toward his companions. "Come, we haven't a moment to lose." He signaled to the recovering soldiers. "Get to your vehicles and follow me. If the girl escapes, the general will have your heads!"

Koji applied disinfectant and bandages with practiced care to Spirit's wounds. He was used to fixing minor injuries at the garage. Cuts and bruises, and the occasional hammer dropped on someone's foot. But Spirit's wounds were a bit more serious. The young mechanic hoped he was doing this right.

"There," he said, tying the last bandage. "That should help." He checked it to make sure it wasn't too tight.

"Thank you," a gentle voice said inside Koji's head.

"Wh-who said that?" Koji looked around wildly.

"I did," the voice answered and Koji noticed Spirit's watery blue eyes staring intently at him.

"You ... you can speak?" Koji said.

"Only if we are touching," the Phils said.

Rakesh continued to stare through the grate at the road ahead, paying little heed to the events in the back of the truck. The buildings had thinned out considerably. They were traveling along a two-lane highway through areas of open fields and farm land.

"How far until we reach the space port?" Rakesh asked.

"Not much further," Don said. "About ten more miles, give or take."

"Guys," Rick said, looking in the huge rectangular mirror on the driver's side. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we've got company."

Don glanced at the mirror on his side and saw the black hover-car along with three Humvees trailing several yards behind. Some of the soldiers were leaning out of their vehicles, and they were aiming laser guns.

"Can't this piece of junk go any faster?" Don said.

"I'm trying," Rick said. The needle on the speedometer was steadily turning to the right. "But this isn't exactly a star-racer, you know?"

"Step on it," Eva said. "They're gaining on us."

"It won't go any faster." The needle was hovering to the far right at 100 kph.

The passengers in the back of the truck suddenly slid to the right as the vehicle swerved. Rakesh was knocked off balance and fell onto Rush. Stan struggled to keep the rabbit cage from bursting open while Koji was nearly crushed beneath an avalanche of baggage.

"What is happening out there?" Rakesh said, trying to regain his balance.

One of the Humvees had nudged the left side of the truck, attempting to make them fishtail out of control. Rick growled and worked the wheel, blocking off the other lane as the Humvees converged upon them. "Back off, buddy!" He swerved to the right, causing the black hover-car to drop back or be forced off the road. Don pushed Eva's head down as some laser blasts streaked by the windows, scorching the white paint.

Rick stared at the mirror and swerved back and forth, preventing the vehicles behind them from passing. Sweat was running into his eyes, and he wiped it away with his forearm. His vision was going blurry, and the muscles in his arms were starting to seize up. Not now, Rick thought. Please, not now ... The vehicle began drifting to the right shoulder and shuddered as the tires left the pavement, sending up a plume of dust on the passenger side.

"Rick, what are you-" Don said, but his tirade quickly died when he saw the look on Rick's face.

"Hang on!" Eva grabbed the wheel and guided the truck back on the road.

"Heh, don't know what I was thinking," Rick said, sweat beading on his pale forehead. "Thanks, Little Mouse."

"I thought you said you were well enough to drive?" Don said, more concerned than angry.

"I did it just fine while I was overseas. But I wasn't involved in any high-speed chases at the time."

Rakesh glared at him through the grate. "You said you wanted to help, and look at you. You've nearly gotten us killed before our journey has begun. Are you certain you are able to undertake this task?"

Rick growled low in his throat. "I'll be just fine, buddy, as long as you keep your mouth shut."

"Calm down, Rick," Eva said and fixed him with a penetrating stare. "You work the pedals and I'll handle the steering, okay? It'll be just like your race against Ceres."

Rakesh sighed and muttered to himself, "At least you have inherited your mother's piloting skills, not to mention her firm resolve."

"Have you managed to lose our pursuers?" Rush bellowed.

"I can't shake them," Eva said, swerving as more laser blasts whizzed by.

The Byrussian laid Spirit aside and walked purposefully toward the double doors.

"What do you think you're doing?" Stan said.

Rush flung open the doors, his pickax brandished before him. "What does it look like? Protecting Molly, of course!" Before anyone could protest, he grabbed onto the door and swung out into the open air with nothing but the road whizzing away beneath. He waved his weapon at the nearest vehicle. The blade smashed through the hood of the Humvee, the force of the blow caused it to fishtail out of control and crash into one of the vehicles behind it. That just left the black hover-car and one Humvee.

Eva heard the screech of tires and saw the two vehicles smashed together on the side of the road. Up ahead was the spaceport surrounded by miles of chain-link fence. There were several small spacecraft parked on the tarmac, their windows glittering in the afternoon light.

"Almost there," Eva said, her attention focused on the prize ahead. "Just hang in there a little longer, Rick."

"I'll be fine," the ex-pilot said weakly. "Just concentrate on the road."

The doors swung closed as the truck rounded a sharp curve and swung outward once more. Rush saw only the black hover-car; the Humvee nowhere in sight. Joaquin was leaning out of the passenger side window, a pistol aimed at the truck. He used both hands to steady his aim and fired, the bullet ricocheting off the bumper. Rush swung at the hover-car and missed as it veered to the left out of his reach. Stan, Koji, and Rakesh hurried to the back of the truck just as Joaquin fired another shot and hit Rush in the arm that held onto the door. Before he could fall forward, Koji and Rakesh grabbed his belt and dragged him back.

"Thank you," Rush said, clutching at his bleeding arm.

"Back off, you creeps!" Stan had grabbed a nearby suitcase and raised it over his head. He hurled it at the hover-car and watched it smash into the windshield in an explosion of garments, leaving behind a spider web of cracks. Joaquin barely managed to duck inside as the suitcase bounced toward him.

Meanwhile, the Humvee had managed to pull along side the truck. Eva hadn't noticed as they stayed in her blind-spot, waiting for the right moment to strike. Rick turned his head just in time to see one of the LRA soldiers raise the butt of his gun and smash the window open. Eva screamed as the soldier reached forward and grabbed the wheel. Rick grunted and tried to move his arms, but they had gone leaden and would not obey his commands.

"Pull over!" The soldier said.

"Let go," Eva tried to wrench the wheel from his grasp as the truck drifted toward the middle of the road. "You want to kill us all?"

"Leave my daughter alone!" Don unfastened his seatbelt and struggled to reach for the wheel.

"The Messiah belongs to us," the soldier said, his lips pulled back from his teeth in a snarl. "You have no right to keep her to yourself!"

"I'm her father!" Don pressed his hand against the soldier's helmet and shoved with all his might.

Everyone froze as a loud horn blared, growing closer with each passing second. A semi-truck barreled down the road, and it wasn't slowing down. The soldier was yanked from the window and Eva shifted to the right lane as the semi-truck passed by seconds later. The Humvee had swerved into a ditch to avoid being rundown.

"Jesus!" Stan said as the semi-truck flew down the road.

"Hold on to me," Rush planted his feet firmly and brandished his pickax once more. Stan and Koji held his legs while Rakesh grabbed the wide belt. Rush yanked on the pull-cord of his pickax and grinned as the motor roared to life and the chain surrounding the blade spun rapidly. He swung the weapon and watched it slice through the hood of the hover-car as if it were made of paper. In seconds, the hover-car slowed visibly as steam and machine oil gushed from the huge gash in the hood. Soon, it was resting on the side of the road and the truck had sped away.

"We did it!" Stan said, giving a high-five to his young companion.

"I can't believe we're still alive," Koji said, tears shining at the corners of his eyes. "I was so scared."

"Thanks for helping me out back there." Rush killed the motor and closed the double doors firmly.

Stan rubbed at his nose, grinning with pride. "Don't mention it. Just doing our part as Eva's Guardians, that's all."

Rakesh raised an eyebrow. "I do not remember the Avatar mentioning you as one of Eva's Guardians."

"Listen here, buster," Stan said. "Don explained the whole situation to us. We may not be strong fighters, but we're still Eva's friends and we'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe, you can bet on that. I dunno about this 'Guardian' business you keep going on about, but if that means protecting Eva, then I guess that makes me a Guardian, too!" He folded his arms over his chest in a gesture of finality.

"Stan's right," Koji said, standing before the white-haired man, his hands clenched to keep them from shaking. "We were Eva's friends before you even knew her, and we'll stay by her side, no matter what. So I'm going to be her Guardian, whether you like it or not."

Rakesh stared at them both with an unreadable expression on his face. I have watched over her far longer than you can imagine, he thought.

Rakesh closed his eyes and sighed. "Very well." He fixed them with a piercing stare. "But I hope that you are both prepared to accept the consequences."

"Consequences?" Stan said.

"Guys, we're almost there!" Eva called from the cab. Rakesh hurried toward the grate. The security gate was coming into view. "Better hang onto something. It's gonna be a bumpy ride."

"Like is wasn't before," Koji said with a sigh.

The truck smashed through the flimsy security gate and raced down the tarmac. Security personnel and baggage handles scattered. Eva looked back and forth at the various spacecraft; they all looked the same to her.

"Which one is our ride?" Eva said.

"That one, straight ahead," Rakesh said. It was a squat, ugly thing that reminded Eva of a dump truck with wings and thrusters. She shrugged, pulled alongside and parked the truck. Rush threw the doors open and hopped out, the mechanics close behind him.

"You've got to be kidding me." Koji looked the spacecraft up and down. "This is a simple cargo carrier. It's not even equipped with a sub-light engine. How are we supposed to get to Nourasia in this?"

Rakesh stepped lightly from the back of the truck, a knowing smile on his face. "We are not going to travel to Nourasia in this. There is a vessel waiting for us on the dark side of the moon. Two more of Eva's Guardians are on board. They shall escort us to Nourasia."

Rick had regained control of his arms once more and dropped shakily to the ground. He leaned heavily against the truck, grinning, "Jeez, you think your partner's got enough bodyguards for you, Little Mouse?"

Eva hopped down next to him. "Hush up!" she said, her cheeks turning pink. Rick chuckled at her embarrassment.

Don Wei exited the truck and had resumed his stern managerial bearing once more. "Stan, Koji, load up the luggage, on the double!"

"Yes, sir!" The two mechanics set to work immediately. Spirit descended from the back and tapped Rush on the elbow.

"Eh?" The Byrussian looked at Spirit. "Oh yes, I almost forgot." He rummaged in a bag at his side and pulled out a folded piece of black fabric. "You told me to hang on to this for you."

Spirit nodded and unfurled the fabric. With a flourish, he wrapped the tattered grey duster around his shoulders and buttoned it. Most of the bandages were hidden from view beneath his coat, except for the one on his right arm. He turned and regarded Don with unblinking eyes.

"Are you absolutely certain he can be trusted?" Don turned to Rakesh, his firm resolve wavering for a bit.

"Of course," Rakesh said. "He was personally chosen by the Avatar himself to protect Eva, as were the others. I assure you, the Avatar holds each of us in the highest regard."

Don's eyes narrowed slightly, but when he turned toward Spirit, he was already boarding the cargo ship. He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was Rick.

"What's wrong?" Rick said. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"I wish I had ..."

"Let's go, people!" Eva was already at the entrance to cargo ship. "Get the lead out. Nourasia's waiting."

Don sighed. "I'm getting too old for this." He trudged toward his daughter, with Rick close behind.

"Looks like we're off on another grand adventure, eh Don Wei?" Stan winked at him, a suitcase in each hand.

"It would seem so. Though if you ask me, I'm about ready to retire from adventures after today."

In a few moments, everyone was settled in. The luggage was loaded up and Rush stood at the control panel, prepared for take off.

"Everybody strapped in?" Rush said. "Good! Hold on to your breeches, cause here we go!"

As the ground shrank further away beneath them, Eva fished the dog tag necklace from her shirt and looked at the one with Jordan's name.

"See you soon, partner ..."

In a few minutes, the Earth was nothing more than a blue orb hanging in the dark reaches of space. The moon loomed ever closer, like an enormous pearl in the darkness. Eva stared out the window in wonder. There were several satellites with bright orange construction ships nearby. Men in spacesuits were busily welding away at the structures.

"What's going on out there?" Eva said, her nose pressed against the window.

"You haven't heard?" Koji said. "They're working on the Earth Defense Grid, an added safety measure used to deter any hostile actions against Earth."

"Come again?" Stan said.

Koji smiled and adjusted his glasses. "Basically, ever since the Crog Invasion twenty-five years ago, the Security Council has been working on various projects to prevent something like that from happening again. I heard that it went on hiatus, due to lack of funding, but then the Crogs showed up again a year ago, and the Earth's safety has become a top priority once more."

"So, what exactly is this Earth Defense Grid?" Eva said, still staring out the window.

"A completely automated satellite defense system with enough firepower to take out several Crog capital ships. See, each Earth ship is equipped with a transponder that would make it readily identifiable to the Defense Grid. After identification, the ship is free to pass without harm. If you don't have a transponder, those satellites will target and destroy anything within Earth's orbit."

Everyone stared at Koji with looks of incredulity.

"The tax payer's money at work," Koji said. "All thanks to the Secretary of Defense."

"Where the hell do you learn all this stuff?" Stan said.

"I'm not paying thousands of Euros to go to college just to sleep though it. I'm going to join the space program one of these days."

"You're going to be an astronaut?" Eva said.

"Oh, no! I'm afraid of flying. I want to build spacecraft, not pilot them."

"This is most troubling news," Rush said after a long moment of silence. "And to think, the people of Byrrus believed that Earth was ready to open its arms in friendship."

Koji shrugged. "That's the price of security. Of course, our allies who wish to trade with Earth will be allowed special 'green cards' that would be used at check points throughout the Defense Grid. It'll still be a few years before it's up and running, though."

"So, this vessel is on the dark side of the moon, you say?" Rush said. "Who does it belong to?"

"Best to wait and see," Rakesh said. "Think of it as a surprise ..."

Don glowered at the white-haired man. "Another surprise. Wonderful."

Eva continued to stare at the moon. The cargo ship flew into it's shadow and sure enough, a huge vessel was waiting for them. Painted red, silver, and black with three distinct blades curving against the hull, there was no mistaking the point of origin of that ship.

"What is the meaning of this?" Rush roared and rounded on the white-haired man, "Rakesh, you traitor! That's a Crog Destroyer! You've led us into a trap!"

I like cliff-hangers. Because I'm evil that way! Stay tuned for chapter five, "Critical like Kratos."