Galileo (Battle of the Species) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Kia, blocking blasts, Aranea, and Eminites from coming anywhere near him.
    “Are you crazy?” Rye yelled. “You’re going to pass out!  Desh, I’m going to need you to run!”
    But Desh kept the stream steady, while Aranea opened their mouths, snapping at the Toran boy they couldn’t reach.
    Kia detached the communicator from Tig’s wrist and jumped, flying into the air, back towards Desh. “Go!” Kia yelled.
    Rye, Desh, and Kia took off running in the trees, flying, jumping, and swinging, in an attempt to create distance. Desh heard a loud roar and glanced back to see an Eminite pointing towards them. The Aranea dismissed the few remaining Toran soldiers and took off after them.
    “They’re gaining on us!” Kia yelled.
    Aranea crawled up trees and ran, shortening the distance with each second.
    Kia yelled into the communicator, “Tig’s down! Where’s the exit portal?”
    “The Aranea are too close,” the voice replied. “You have to create more distance between them or they’ll follow you through.”
    “Drop a portal twenty yards ahead of us! Do it now!” Kia yelled.
    “Dropping a portal,” confirmed the voice.
    Desh, Rye, and Kia ran towards a square sheet of glimmering silver that descended at the end of the next tree. Desh’s muscles shook from weakness while the screeching gained on them and he felt the darkness creeping into his vision. I’m not going to make it! Kia, I’m blacking out! Desh projected.
    Desh heard Rye’s scream when the Toran was violently yanked from the branch behind him.
            Kia dove for Desh when the Mindeerian began to fall. They held onto each other tightly, letting the momentum push them through the silver sheet. The sheet ascended as an Aranea stuck its head through the silver. The silver vanished, causing the headless Aranea to fall to the ground in the cold Toran forest.     
     

CHAPTER 4
    Camden, Maine
    Planet: Earth
Galaxy: Milky Way
Federation Date: 7.11.7266
Earth Date: 5.20.5181 A.D.
    Max jumped off the foot of Renn’s bed, pacing briskly. The dog released soft whimpers and barks, with his eyes focused on the palms of his master’s hands, as they crackled and snapped with electricity. He sat in the corner of the room, watching the boy, while the blue light intensified. Max lowered himself to the ground, until his furry chin rested on the cold, hardwood floor.
    Renn’s eyes were still closed, clenching and fluttering from a dream. In the boy's mind he was awake, walking through a dark cave with lit torches lining damp stone walls. He saw flashes of yellow eyes, green skin, and sharp teeth, making his heart pound faster in his chest.
    He had another flash of a dark, domed room with water cascading down the walls while the sound of swords colliding and guttural roars reverberated in his ears. Another flash and he was staring into the eyes of a Mindeerian boy his age, with dark brown hair and diamond eyes. The boy’s eyes turned black and he sent a strange curved blade in the shape of an “S,” flying through the air towards Renn’s throat. Renn felt the blade penetrate and the visions abruptly stopped.
    He jerked his eyes open when he heard the shattering of glass. He saw that his palms were pointing towards the window he had just demolished, and now felt the cold morning air gusting into the room. “Great,” Renn cringed. He clenched his fists, feeling his hands tingle like they always did once he released electricity.
    Max barked louder and louder at the window, as if the window itself had been to blame for the trouble that night.
    Renn rubbed his eyes, trying to separate the dream from reality. “It's okay, Max. Come here.”  He patted the bed beside him and the dog jumped up, listening to Renn’s soothing voice.
    Max wagged his tail and licked the boy’s face over and over.
    “Max, stop,” Renn laughed. He rubbed the dog's ears and scratched his neck. “It's all right.”
    The door burst open and Adam, still in his