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A tremendous explosion could be heard near the front of the spaceport causing a lot of commotion within the fence. Clouds of smoke and debris rise by the front. Heavily armed, alien guards ran toward the front gate. The small shed was blown next to one of their men near the back of the compound. Whitney entered with Nadine just behind her. They ran toward the ammo shed. Nadine kept careful watch while Whitney inserted the access card into the slot on the shed door. The door slid open and Whitney slipped inside while Nadine stood guard outside with her own M-16 rifle.
Whitney then heard a series of loud explosions all coming from the front gate. Denny created quite a diversion, she was just sorry she couldn't see it first hand. By this time, Denny should be halfway across the woods. The aliens could be heard returning fire. Whitney couldn't worry about Denny right now, she would just have to trust his judgment and ability to be far from the area. Whitney drug a crate from the shed but found it was too heavy for her to handle herself. Nadine grabbed the other end and they both carried it to the fence where two others met them halfway. Whitney immediately ran back for the shed and caught a glimpse of several alien guards. The alien guards pointed in Nadine�s direction. Nadine joined the others by the opening in the gate. The rebels opened fire on the aliens. Whitney motioned for them to pull out and take the weapons.
Nadine signaled the retreat then continued to fire while backing through the fence. Whitney entered the shed and stood motionless for a moment and listened to the aliens returning fire with their laser guns. Whitney knew what she had to do. She replaced her Uzi to her inner jacket pocket and grabbed a laser gun from one of the crates. She opened a crate with grenades within it. She picked one up, pulled the pin from the grenade, tossed it into the crate, and then ran from the building while firing rapidly.
Several aliens were still firing into the woods. They had her only escape blocked. The ammo shed exploded with an enormous, planet-shattering echo. The ground rumbled and several aliens were thrown through the air from the blast. Whitney was thrown to the ground along with several aliens who had been closing in on her. Whitney scrambled to her feet while grabbing her laser gun. The alien guards were fairly quick to recover also. The radio control tower exploded with a little less of an impact then the ammo shed. The fuel tank erupted in a fountain of fire. The second explosion startled the alien guards. Whitney ran for the front gate. It was her only other chance to escape.
Alien ships exploded one after another straight down the line. Flames and debris filled the entire compound. Whitney heard the laser blasts behind her. She spun around and fired at the alien guards. She hit one, but she could see several others. Whitney dove to the ground and continued to fire. There was no escape.
The high pitched, squealing neigh of a horse was heard. Whitney half looked behind her from where she lie on the ground. A masked man in black rode at a gallop on an incredible black horse through the front gate and across the compound. Half of the aliens turned and fired at the man on the horse. He fired back at them with a laser gun in each hand. The rebels within the woods fired at the aliens along with the help of Whitney within the compound. The man on the black horse rode toward Whitney, slowed, and helped pull her onto the horse behind him.
The masked man removed a rope with grenades attached to it. He slung it above his head and threw it toward several aliens. The aliens scattered and ran for cover. The grenades exploded on impact. A thick smoke rapidly filled the compound from his special grenades. Whitney clung to the man with one arm and fired at the few aliens she could see as they raced toward the front gate. Just as they passed through, there was another series of explosions.
The man ran the horse down a path then slowed down to cross a stream. The horse jumped up the small bank. Whitney almost fell off. He finally stopped the horse in a small clearing by the stream. Whitney slid off of the horse and glanced at the man in the half mask that covered his eyes, forehead, nose, and his entire head. He had a long mane of hair down his back under the mask. His hair in the back was almost as long as Whitney's.
�Thank you. I owe you my life,� she announced gently. She stared at him in silence a moment. �Who are you?�
�Call me Zach,� he announced in an unusual accent. She couldn�t place it. He looked toward the woods then back at her while the horse danced around excitedly. �Your friends are coming. I�d better go.�
�No, wait, we need you,� Whitney announced. �Join us.�
�I can't,� he replied simply.
She didn't understand why he couldn't, but she wouldn't pressure him right now. �Thank you for saving my life, Zach,� she said gently. �I would like to repay you one day.�
Zach leaned down from where he sat on his horse and kissed her quickly on the lips. He straightened with a grin. �Now we're even.� He kicked the horse and raced into the woods.
Denny ran across the small stream and stopped beside Whitney. �Are you okay?� he asked while attempting to catch his breath.
�Yeah, I'm fine,� she replied and stared in the direction Zach had gone. She then spun to face Denny. �Are the others alright?�
He nodded then tilted his head. �What went wrong?� Denny asked.
She shook her head. �For something spontaneous, it sure didn't seem as if they were totally surprised,� Whitney remarked lowly.
�At least everyone is okay,� Denny remarked. �I saw the others running away with the crate.� Denny smiled brightly with some satisfaction. �That was some major explosion! We�d better keep moving, in case they�re following us.�
�I have to get back home before Brent realizes I�m gone,� Whitney informed him as they began to walk.
Denny laughed lowly. �Then I�m certain you�re in trouble. That explosion of yours probably woke the people on the next planet.�
�Maybe I should reconsider and not go back at all,� she muttered softly.
