The Book of Zar, Part 8

I waited patiently in the motor vehicle as it sat on the street. The plaza of this city was somewhat chaotic, filled with the normal business of urban life. The Humans of this planet broke free from their homeworld’s control. I did not know nor care why they chose to do this, but this gave many organizations new opportunities to expand, including our own.
I continued sitting in the rear compartment of the vehicle, with enough seating to accommodate a family. There were two benches and we sat facing one another. I was in the middle of a trio of Sangheili. To my right was Icoros ‘Thirasai. To my left, Nadak ‘Mondok. In front of us were two Unggoy and a Kig-Yar whose names escape me.
“The truck is late,” a voice commented over the comms, the voice of another teammate of ours, a Sangheili by the name of Darsar ‘Thozon.
“Affirmative,” responded another voice, that of our commander, Karad ‘Krathan. “We must be patient. We shall wait a half-hour more, then we will withdraw and abort mission.”
“Understood, sir,” responded Darsar.
From the corner of my eye I saw Nadak glance at his timepiece, and thus I myself stole a look. It was ten minutes past the time I assumed there would be a firefight. Ten more passed. Then ten more. After twenty-five minutes of inactivity, I began to feel crestfallen, disappointed in the absence of action. But thankfully I was saved by circumstance and the restoration of productive sensibilities on the part of the Humans.
“I have the target in sights,” Darsar suddenly said, with slight excitement. “Target confirmed, repeat, target confirmed and approaching Ground Zero.”
“Affirmative,” responded Karad. “Platinum Team, prepare to engage.”
I checked my Erdellian shotgun one last time. All six chambers were loaded and live. Then, a loud boom rattled the vehicle we were in. The Unggoy jumped while Nadak flinched Icoros and I looked at one another, and we nodded almost at the same time.
“Attack!” proclaimed Karad. As the vehicle’s rear doors flung open, I heard the rapport of a beam rifle echo across the plaza as the Humans scrambled for cover in panic. I saw Human police struck down by beam rifle and plasma rifle fire while I turned and rushed towards a formidable Human vehicle of sturdy metallic construction. It was upturned and laying on its roof, having been forced into this position by a kinetic mine. Icoros and I rushed the vehicle, with my comrade’s sword drawn. A Human opened the driver’s side door and crawled out with a pistol in her hands. I shot her, aiming for her head, but as I was dashing forward my aim drifted and it struck her upper back. She was dead nevertheless, blood splattering all over the inner window shield, a massive gaping hole left in her lifeless body. A police officer came round from the front of the upturned truck and I fired upon him. My aim was truer with this target, for the officer’s head exploded into various pieces, the superheated plasma shot pummeling his skull apart. More Humans fled in terror and panic.
I took a keycard from the dead truck guard and used it to open the rear doors of the Human vehicle. There we found our true prize: several hundred pounds of gold. Yes, sometimes our organization made profits the old-fashioned way. And no, I had no qualms whatsoever about this. This was us surviving. It was that simple. Well, in our particular situation, perhaps not so, for the gold was upside-down and beneath large, heavy carts meant to carry them. Nevertheless, the Unggoy managed to get the job done at a brisk pace, while I took the time to set an explosive charge inside the vehicle.
“Wait, you signed off on that with the Boss, right?” asked one of the Unggoy.
“Tch, yes, he did,” tersely responded Icoros. I had the strangest feeling that Icoros did not appreciate the freedom En’Geddon was affording me on this first mission since my fall from grace.
As more Human police, and soon local militia appeared, we completed our appropriation of this Human wealth and departed from the city, picking up Karad and Darsar, who were together on a nearby roof. As we pulled away from the scene of the crime, I pulled a detonator from my coat. Then I took the protective latch off, revealing a small button. I paused to look at the plaza one more time, watching to see if the Humans were starting to crowd around the vehicle. But as the Phantom went further and further, the pilot desired to escape the atmosphere. I accepted his demands, and squeezed the button. I saw an explosion of significant size, but could not admire it more, for we had to leave that Human world and our work behind. For the time being.
I enjoyed the rush of the mission, but… there was something missing. I needed to go on another operation, once more.
Category:The Weekly