“Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.”
Robert A. Heinlein  (American sci-fi author)
 

        The next few minutes seemed to Rwing to take forever.  He drew his pistol followed by the subsequent screech of the beast attacking them. It was shaking it’s claw that it had lunged with, trying in vain to remove Emp’s firmly lodged sword.
        Shadow stood leveling off for a shot with his weapon.  Mara and Schala had all but disappeared into the darkness.  The creature dropped it’s claw which was bleeding slightly.  It spat a strange liquid from it’s mouth.  Rwing dove out of the way as the liquid flew by splashing onto one of the huge pillars in the room.  It began to hiss and bubbled wildly spewing up a strange steam. Rwing stood and fired simoultaniously with Shadow catching the creature in the claw without the sword tearing one side of it clean off.  The creature again howled.

        The strange acid was dripping from its lips. As it readied to spew the liquid again Mara and Schala appeared from over the top of it’s head. “Surprise, big boy!” They called out together.  Placing the manacles in the acid the two managed to free themselves.  The creature roared loudly.  Shala jumped off holding the part of the manacles which contained the bomb.  Mara drew a small object from a pouch hidden in the lining of her jacket and threw it in the creatures mouth as she
jumped down and rolled as she hit the ground.  Seconds later the creatures head exploded in a spray of blood, bones and brain matter. The small party was caked in the mess as it came raining down.
        Schala looked to Mara, “I still don’t know why you want to keep this thing.” she said indicating the manacle bomb.
        Rwing looked at it, “Could come in handy.”
        Schala scoffed , “Could blow our heads off.”
        Emp and Shadow both sat down, “If you are quite done, we must wait for Vamp to awaken if we are to continue.”
        Rwing and Mara sat down across from the Elerians.  Schala scoffed and reluctantly sat beside Mara.  The five rested in complete silence for the next few minutes.
        Rwing broke the silence, “Emp, I know the Elerians get their names from some aspect of their lives.  I was wondering how you got your’s.”
        Emp sat silent for a moment, “Yes, a very personal question.  Myself, I got mine because I am a leader of my people. CPM5 denotes family and rank.”
        Shadow sat looking at Vamp with sad eyes, “I got mine because I have an innate ability to blend in with my surroundings.  Vamp will tell you hers, if she is willing.  What you have asked is considered a very inappropriate question where we come from.”

        Chanlin raced down the corridor with the emergency lights flashing by in a blur of color and metal walls. The rest of the group, the engineers, and security officers followed with Shark bringing up the rear. Not far behind four alien fighters were in hot pursuit.  Shark could hear the sound of their clawed feet hitting the metal floor. The whole group of runners sounded like a stampede of elephants.
        A shot rang out from behind, it was from an alien plasma rifle.  Shark dove and tackled the nearest person as the shot flew overhead and hissed into the wall in front of them.  The two got up and kept running, barely loosing pace with the others.  Shark panted as he called ahead, “HEY CHIEF, WE CAN’T KEEP THIS UP FOREVER!”
        Chanlin looked back, two other aliens had joined the rest.  The Security officers were barley winded from the two and a half mile run, but the Engineers were sweating and starting to lag behind a little. To top it off they had at least another mile before reaching a way down to the next deck.  They had to find cover and fast.  As if his prayers were answered Chanlin noticed a torn bulkhead about three meters away. It jutted out of the wall just enough to give them what they needed. With renewed speed the group picked up and dove behind the thick sheet of metal.
        As they leaned up against the wall the aliens began to open fire.  The shots flew past in an endless barrage.  An incessant hissing told that the wall was being eaten away, and would not last for very long.
    Chanlin and Shark leaned around the corner and both opened fire.  Two of the aliens screeched as one had its arm torn clean off, the other hit in the chest.  The group was badly out gunned even with only four aliens left.  “Shark, take the group and get out of here, I’ll hold them off.”
        From behind a robotic voice chuckled, “I think not.”  As they all turned to look a Black Cyborg approached with a wicked looking weapon aimed at them.  Behind him stood two huge burly aliens covered in highly defined muscles.  They looked like huge walls standing behind him. The expresiion on their face’s was dumb, but they were deffinitely not to be messed with.  “Now, lay down your weapons and come with me.”
        The officers quickly layed their weapons down as did Shark.  Chanlin slowly layed his rifle down and pulled one of his pistols.  In a quick motion he simultanously primed and fired it at one of the huge aliens hiiting it in the arm and rolled to avoid the Cyborg's shot.  The huge alien roared and smacked the Cyborg into the group of alien fighters who had been chasing them.  With ear piercing gutteral screeches the fighters began to shoot the burly aliens.  The Cyborg was out cold.
        “RUN!” Chanlin shouted to the group as the officers picked up their weapons. The entourage took off down the hall.  The sound of the fighting behind had ceased only momentarily and the chase continued. From behind Shark heard one of the engineers scream.  Judging from the voice it was a younger one.  He closed his eyes and drew a cross in the air as he ran in silent prayer.  When he opened his eyes he came to a skidding halt.  In front of him the group had come to a sudden halt. Ten other fighters stood holding weapons accompined by a female alien who looked all but human aside from the scales on her stomach.
        She chuckled as she took away the weapons from the group, “In a hurry y’all?  I don't think so.”  She laughed as she moved through the group.  She smiled when she reached for Shark’s pistol, “You won’t be needing this hon.” Shark glared.
        “What do you want, Avenger?” Chanlin groweled.
        Shark’s eyes went wide, “ You know this psycho, Chief.”
        Avenger scoffed, “You know my name is Marina.  And you are in no position to make insults mister!”
        Chanlin looked over his shoulder, “Unfortunately I know all to well.”
        Avenger smiled , “ Tell them Channy boy.  Tell them what you know.”
        Chanlin gritted his teeth, “ You know that’s classified.”
        Shark stood dumbfounded, “What’s going on?”
        Avenger looked like she was in heaven , “ Tell them Channy, how you and I were on the same team.”
        Chanlin was near yelling but kept his emotions in check, “ You bitch, I should have shot you then, when I had the chance.”
        Avenger glared, “ Now now, no need for harsh words to your former commander.  You were always such the noble one.  Why didn’t you just go along.  We could have been rich, but no.  You had to go and mess up the whole plan.  I should kill you where you stand.  With you out of the way, Aleean and I would be the only black Berets left. No one to stop us, but that would be too easy.  No doubt your plotting my demise right now.”
        It was Chanlin’s turn to smile , “ I’m afraid Aleean is a little busy right now.  I think he’s taking a nap.”
        Avenger growled, “ Your bluffing.”
        “ Look for yourself.  He’s up there and out cold.
        Avenger pushed her way past the group and up the hall.  Chanlin leaned in close to Shark and whispered, “ When I say go for the alien on your left, low and hard, grabs his plasma rifle then scoot back in and grab whoever you can on our side.”
        Avenger yelled as she came back, “ WHAT HAVE YOU DONE CHANLIN?! You could have killed him.”
        “ Oh, so sorry Marina, I guess I should have done .... Oh say.... THIS!  NOW!”
        With that He lunged for the nearest alien punching him out grabbing the Plasma rifle and teleporter belt.  Shark managed to grab a rifle and get his hands on Chavez and a security officer before the green light of the telporter enveloped them.  He could hear the grunt of someone being shot and Avenger screaming orders to stop them, but it was too late, the teleporter was taking them to safety....Or was it. All Shark could do was hope.
 

That’s it for Part 6 and the world's best plot twist :-)  Stay tuned to find out the connection and the grand Scheme that connects these characters together in the next shocking addition to  The Siege of the Mirada.