Chariot 3: Conception
Chapter 65 – Eridu

As he stepped out of the claustrophobic room, Shoffer nodded his head and so did V-Nus. At that point no words or thoughts were needed to express their satisfaction. All they had to do was to move.

“Hurry, Shon. They have assembled their saw. They are onboard, just outside the lab door. I am uncertain how long the door will resist. Please…hurry…” Sissy was apprehensive.

The four unwelcome visitors run out the same door they had come in from and found their way back into the maze of corridors.

“Almost there!” Captain Shon Shoffer replied trying to figure a way to the hangar. He knew better than anyone that they were running out of time for whatever Sissy`s plan was. “Better be good.”

Cai Yiu Hun then led the way followed by Flumen, Shoffer, and V-Nus right behind them until the Martian heard the wave of bullets passing just a few inches behind his back as they made a sharp turn.

“I thought they wanted us alive.” V-Nus pointed. His voice could barely be heard by the others as the enclosing platoon kept on firing their guns.

“Perhaps they changed their minds.” Shoffer sounded clearly concerned as he spoke.

“What is that saying? Better a dead essuru in your hand than four flying away.” V-Nus found the worst moment to try quoting a Nibirian proverb.

Cai Yiu made a right turn and so did the others. At the end of the long white corridor, he found the double door leading its way to the hangar.

“We made it!” Said Flumen.

“Not quite yet my friend.” Cai Yiu did not mean to be pessimist but rather wanted them all to face the simple truth: a group of armed men would most likely be expecting them in the other side of that door, the last obstacle between them and their ship or whatever had been left of it.

“Stay back…I will clear our path.” Cai Yiu Hun had the expression of a warrior, ready to show his skills, stamped on his face. At the pace he increased the speed of his stride, he raised his fists that firmly wielded the thirsty gisra.

The muscles of his athletic body contracted inside his tight, and still immaculate uniform, at the pace he moved as if they were all synchronized, ready for the fight.

“Cai Yiu! Noooo.” After realizing what the weapons and armory specialist was about to do, Shoffer tried to stop him by raising his arms on a useless attempt to hold him.

Unshaken, Cai Yiu Hun run faster than any of them could ever run.

His right shoulder finally hit the doors that swang opened putting no challenge against him.

Cai Yiu`s eyes immediately located his enemies, strategically positioned just ahead. He jumped while his eyes watched the fingers of each one of the soldiers pulling the triggers of their weapons.

For a fraction of a second, his body reached a fully horizontal position almost as if he was floating within the stuffy air that filled the enclosed hangar.

As he faced the ground with his body lying in the air, a wave of bullets crossed his way, underneath his chest and above his back, miraculously not touching him.

Cai Yiu landed where he wanted. Between the armed men that naturally tried to point their guns at him.

The blade of his gisra made its move towards the smoking rifle of one of the soldiers that kneed on the side. The barrel of the sliced gun started to fall while Cai Yiu`s foot found the chest of a soldier behind him at the same time his gisra kept on moving towards its next target.

Cai Yiu moved his blade cutting the rifles of the second, third, and fourth soldiers with an always seamless move.

The brief silence was broken by the metallic noise of the barrels that bounced on the floor, one after the other, with an almost orchestrated harmony.

Without hesitation, almost at the same time, the men released their useless rifles, and lowered their hand on the direction of their service guns that rested on the holster of their belts.

Raising his gisra on the same direction it had come from, Cai Yiu moved towards the temple of its first target while his blade changed its shape into a club looking weapon.

The club hit the helmet of the first, second, and then the third men on a sublime movement, throwing them all against the floor.

Before he could strike the last man standing across, Cai Yiu and the others who had just run into the hangar, heard an unexpected gun shot.

Cai Yiu felt the unmistaken impact of the projectile on the middle of his chest and watched the smoke coming out of the forty-five caliber Colt pistol, still pointed at him.

His metallic club stopped just before touching the chin of the last man standing around him. Both his hands shaking as he kept s gun aimed towards his so called enemy.

Cai Yiu coughed, feeling the heavy pain on his chest. He look down in search of his wound while Shoffer and his crew run towards their friend.

Cai Yiu`s eyes finally found the compressed bullet still stuck on the surface of his thin, but incredibly resistant uniform. At the pace he contracted his chest, the bullet loosened, making an insignificant sound as it hit the floor.

“We are not your enemies. I hope you shall realize it soon enough, otherwise I am afraid it may be too late for your existence.”

The ashamed soldier and his gaping mouth had nothing to say other than simply lower his handgun and nod his head, indicating he would be an obstacle no longer.

Once it recognized the threat was no longer present, Cai Yiu Hun`s gisra immediately shortened back to its original storing shape. Cai Yiu swiftly returned the blade to the holster that rested in his arm, while Exon watched the demystifying scene, mesmerized.

“All this time…he was armed.” The Lieutenant Colonel did not dare to make a move. For his surprise, the Nibirians were being somehow far more peaceful than he had expected.

Ebe who quietly analyzed how week the Earthians were, stood still as if nothing could ever affect him. His dull eyes carefully followed each one of their movements as the Nibirian crew walked towards their fallen ship.

Captain Shoffer looked right into the eyes of the creature whose trust he would never grant, and spoke out loud. “Lieutenant Colonel…”

Exon turned his eyes from Cai Yiu and looked straight at the Nibirian Captain after he paused.

“I expected you, your country, and the Earthians to be far more selective in regards to who you associate with.” Shoffer continued.

“And I expected you to complete your mission Captain…unless, off course, the Nibirians have no word.” Exon tried to be provocative.

Shoffer stopped walking. His fixed eyes finally moved away from the Grey who stood within the shadows, to the light he walked to, the illuminated Chariot 3.

“My mission was to hand you our ship and its technology.” He took a deep breath. “Consider it accomplished.”

Shoffer continued to walk, followed by V-Nus, Flumen, and Cai Yiu Hun right behind, guarding their back.

As Shoffer finally reached the crack at the bottom of Chariot 3, the palm of his hand touched its external surface that once was smooth like nothing he would ever dare to compare it to. His hand felt the roughness caused by the battle as his palm identified a dented spot.

“And where do you think you are going Captain?” The Lieutenant Colonel persisted.

“Eridu.” Shoffer answered, referring to the word ‘home’ in his own language.