Rise the Renegade (Rork Sollix Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

spread across its surface, obscuring Rork’s view. He leaned to the right as the world rotated around in the opposite direction.  
    “Is it almost over!” She dug her fingernails into his shoulder.
    The back of the undersized aircraft shuddered and Rork felt himself pushed forward. The rotors above them slowed and made an awful grinding noise before dying completely.
    “Rork!”
    They glided towards a green area pockmarked by pools of water. Beyond it, a series of irregular, corrugated metal roofs meant they would land in a densely packed slum.
    “We’re going to crash but it should be soft. Strap in!” he yelled.
    The engines picked up again and they rose.
    Rork frowned. He pushed the stick forward. Something snapped. Metal met metal and the chopper spun. Metal roofs. Soft green land. Metal roofs. Damn!
    He let go of the controls and pulled her into him. A deafening pop sounded, then nothing. Everything went bright white. Rork bounced into a gentle cushion and lost connection with Lala.  

6
    R ORK WOKE . He lay still and listened, without any urge to remember what had happened or what might take place next. The sound of excited laughter came from far off. He tried to decipher the words but it wouldn’t come.
    He sat up and smacked his head on thick metal. He rolled to one side but was stopped again. He twisted his head the other way and opened his eyes.
    Short, thick metal bars stood between him and the rest of the dusty room. He was in a low, flat cage with a thick floor. His legs were twisted to the left and pushed up in a horizontal crouch. His back was flat to the floor of the cage. His arms were bound together at his gut. He breathed deep and his chest touched the top of the cage. A heavy odor of rot and excrement hung in the air. His stomach heaved.
    Who would think up a cage like this? He started to shake and the panic rose in him. He had to get out of here. Lala. The thought hit him like a laser blast. I’ll kill them. I will rip their—
    A door creaked and a brown-sandaled foot stepped into the room. A fine dust rose from the insistent footfalls. Chickens scratched and squawked.
    “How much?” a boy’s voice asked.
    “Ten-thousand each,” said a girl.
    “Who are they?” the boy asked.
    “No.”
    “It’s too much,” the boy said.
    “We could buy that ship.”
    Rork’s side erupted in a cramp. He bumped his legs against the top of the cage and arched his torso up to align it with his hips. But the muscles cramped. He screamed.
    Feet scuffled over and a brown sandal kicked the bars of his cage next to his nose. Dust lodged in his mouth and he spit it back out but his mouth was dry. It tasted like it smelled — musty, moldy and faintly metallic. He tried to collect the soil matter in his mouth and eject it en masse but it clung to his tongue.
    “Shut up,” the boy yelled.
    Rork moved his body up and down the best he could. “Let me out! Please! It hurts!”
    “No!” the boy kicked the cage bars again.
    Spiked motes of dust lodged in Rork’s eyes. He opened them wide and rolled them around. He blinked uncontrollably. “I have a ship! I can get you whatever you want!”
    “They will pay us ten-thousand dalrots for you,” the girl said. “Be patient. We will take you to the police soon.” Her feet turned and made towards the door.
    “They’ll kill you! It’s a trick!” Rork yelled. The pain in his side peaked but the dust in his eye was more stubborn.
    The boy’s sandal moved into view again and kicked a shower of dust into the cage. Rork turned his head just in time.
    “We’re not that stupid!” The boy walked out, the girl stepping lightly ahead of him in neon yellow rubber boots and a trailing midnight blue skirt. The boy slammed the door behind him.
    “Rork?”
    His heart soared. “Are you alright?” She was here with him, but where? He still had a chance to safeguard her. If only he could escape the cage.  
    “I’m a little uncomfortable,” Lala said.
    “Where are