Aftermath, p.10
Aftermath, page 10
part #12 of Remnants Series
"Don't lie to me," Mo'Steel roared. Then, in a more normal voice, he added, "It wouldn't be smart."
Mo'Steel noticed for the first time a craven look on the Marauder's face and realized that for all his posturing and bullying, Newton wasn't in the least bit brave. Smart, maybe. Big, yes. But a hero? No.
I am the hero of this tale, Mo'Steel told himself, and with that realization came a surge of magnanimous feeling.
Mo'Steel withdrew the point of the knife slowly and took a step back from Newton's prone form. "Get up," he commanded,
Newton lay still, eyes wide and unblinking, uncomprehending. "I said, get up."
"What j'ou do to me?" Newton gasped, and Mo'Steel heard a sudden panicky fear in the man's voice.
"I'm letting you live, you moron. It's called I win and you lose so I can do whatever I want. And what I want is to let your sorry butt live. So, get up. Before I change my mind."
Newton crawled to his feet and immediately swayed. Mo'Steel stuck out his arm and balanced the man.
"Let Aga get you fixed up," he said neutrally. "I'm going to need you to fight again soon. Oh, yeah. And I'm gonna need that poison you took off Hawk."
"How did j'ou —"
Mo'Steel cut Newton off. "It's a leader's job to know things. Now, go with Aga."
Aga came forward. Mo'Steel picked up Newton's poisoned blade and gave it to the woman. "Use it if you have to," he told her.
Aga peered warily at Newton before taking his arm and leading him aside.
"Mo'Steel!"
Mo'Steel turned toward Noyze.
"Do you see what I see, with the Savagers? Look!"
Mo'Steel squinted through the dark. No doubt. Unmistakable, the two hideous heads and the hoverboards.
"Oh, yeah." Mo'Steel almost laughed. "Looks like we just found our two remaining Riders. Figures they'd side with the enemy."
Nesia cried out. "Them Savagers, they's got some more Beasts! We going to die!"
A ripple of wonder and fear ran through the Marauders at the sight of the Riders. Grost covered her eyes. Curia yelped. Prota gripped Croce's arm and even the macho little boy looked scared. "Calm down," Mo'Steel ordered.
2Face grinned. "Listen to him," she said. "Those things aren't Beasts. They're just aliens. You know, from outer space. Evil aliens, come to eat you up and spit out your bones."
"Shut up, 2Face," Mo'Steel commanded. "Nesia, get a grip. Yorka, you take the little kids and stand behind. Everyone else, get armed. Jobs?"
Jobs stepped up to Mo'Steel. Mo'Steel looked at him inquisitively.
"You okay. Duck?" he said quietly.
Jobs nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay And boy, am I glad you won."
Mo'Steel grinned and turned back to the group.
"The Marauders are going to fight and we're going to win." He looked to Newton, who stood with Aga, bent double, panting. "Am I right, Newton?" he said, finding that his voice held a new tone of authority and self-assurance.
"J'ou's right," Newton replied, standing taller, though clearly it was an effort.
Mo'Steel looked at each of the fighting group in turn, met everyone's eyes, and gathered them in this way.
"Okay," he said then, just as a fierce, wild Savager cry came hurtling through the air. "Time to kick some bad-guy butt."
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K.A. Applegate, Aftermath
