Scout's Courage Part 2

    Pebbles shifted in one of the nearby buildings.

    Scout yanked Teeko toward the cover of a collapsed Rygol statue. She kept the pistol. Teeko was in no state to shoot at anything.

    A brown Rygol peered through the shattered window of a second story building. It ducked behind the wall. 

    Teeko’s eyes widened in panic. “Please, kill me!” He grabbed Scout’s shirt.

    Scout pulled away. “What is your problem?” Scout stared at Teeko. Were all the Grakon unstable as he was?

    Teeko’s gaze darted from building to building. “The Rygols. I can’t let them take me alive.”

    So that was it. Teeko feared the Rygols just as much as Scout feared the Grakon. She stepped to him and touched his shoulder. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

    Teeko shivered. “You won’t be able to stop them. They’ll kill me just like they killed my father.”

    So, his father had been part of the invasion force. Still, Teeko had saved her life. Scout couldn’t let anyone hurt him after what he’s sacrificed. She stood tall, even though her knees trembled. Whatever happened would have to happen soon or she’d collapse. 

    A Rygol, this one a young male with warpaint, darted from one building to the next.

    “We don’t want to fight!” Scout shouted. 

    The brown Rygol peered through the window. Scout searched the ruins. Another Rygol, who looked like the war painted one but older, peered from behind a rusted vehicle.

    “I say we kill them both,” Warpaint shouted. “You got a shot, Dad?”

    Scout shoved Teeko farther behind the statue. She crouched beside him, hopefully out of Rygol range. Why did they want to kill her?

    “Hold fire!” a female Rygol shouted. 

    Scout peered toward the voice. 

    A purple-furred female stepped from behind the corner of a rotting building, her head held high. “You two behind that rubble, step out where I can see you.”

    “Stay here,” Scout whispered to Teeko. “I’ll talk to them.” 

    “Please, kill me fast,” Teeko whimpered. 

    Scout stood and limped into the open. “Don’t shoot.” She kept Teeko’s pistol pointed at the ground.

    The female Rygol strode closer. Something about her build was familiar. “What’s your name?”

    “I’m Scout, and the Grakon is Teeko. He saved my life.” Please let that be a good enough reason to let us both live.

    “Scout?” The female hurried forward. “Don’t you recognize your aunt?”

    Scout stared. “Shabba?” Yes, it was Shabba, though she’d exchanged her pretty clothing and makeup for a rifle and feral expression. 

    Shabba turned to the other Rygols. “This is my niece, Scout. Don’t shoot.”

    Warpaint’s dad stepped from the shadows. “Shabba, she’s got to be brainwashed. You remember what happened last time.” 

    Shabba spoke to Scout. “Where have you been and why are you with a Grakon?”

    Scout told the story, about how Rita had rescued her from the ruined city, all the way up until she escaped with Teeko. By the time she finished, her legs shook.

    Scout stumbled and caught herself. 

    Shabba ran to her and helped her to the ground. “You shouldn’t be running around. You shouldn’t even be out of bed.” 

    Scout’s head swam. “Don’t let them hurt Teeko.”

    Shabba glanced toward where Teeko cowered in the rubble. “Tie the Grakon up and blindfold him. We’re taking him to camp.”

    Warpaint glared at Teeko. “But—”

    “Do as I say. This is way too obvious for some brainwashed sleeper agent,” Shabba snapped. She shrugged a pack off her back and pullet out a canteen, which she pressed to Scout’s lips. “Drink.”

    Scout gulped down the water. It helped a little, though her head still swam.

    The three male Rygols circled around Teeko, who snarled at them, his eyes wide.

    The old Rygol kicked Teeko’s legs from under him. The other two Rygols pounced on Teeko before he had a chance to rise. 

    “Don’t hurt him!” Scout tried to stand but fell.

    Teeko’s terrified gaze landed on her, then the brown Rygol pulled a sack over Teeko’s head.

    “He saved my life,” Scout told Shabba.

    “We’re not killing him, yet,” Shabba said. “That’s the best I can do.” She pulled Scout up.

    Scout swayed and leaned against Shabba. 

    The old Rygol left Teeko and stared at Scout. “Better blindfold her. I’m not taking chances after Jorj.”

    Scout clung to Shabba. Was it getting darker? She shook herself, trying to get her vision to clear.

    Shabba shook Scout. “Stay awake.”

    “Need to lay down.” Scout’s vision went dark. Had they blindfolded her already?

    Strong arms wrapped around Scout. “I’ll carry her.” 

    “Don’t hurt Teeko,” Scout mumbled. 

    Whatever the old Rygol said was too far away for Scout to hear.