Worth Fighting For (Little Blue Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

his face. “Thank you, sir.”
    “I’d like to introduce you to one more person at this time. He is our ship’s head physician.” Tasid motioned for Yebiri, who smiled at the humans as he eagerly approached.
    “I am Yebiri. My people are called Larent, and we originate from the planet Vettesh. My people are aquatic. We can breathe in water, but we live on land.”
    “Your skin, are those scales? They look more like snake scales,” one male said curiously.
    “They’re iridescent. Amazing,” another male said excitedly.
    “And beautiful,” one female said.
    “Are all Larent as beautiful as you?” the other female asked.
    Yebiri seemed to preen under their admiration. The humans asked several questions, and in turn, Yebiri asked several of his own. Tasid smiled as he watched and learned. These were an interesting species.
    ****
    Three hours after she had left for work, Juno now held back a sob, while desperately holding to the handrail, as the crowded bus was being rocked by the mob. Black smoke billowed from other vehicles surrounding them, which were on fire. Screams and shouts surrounded her. A window shattered, raining glass down on the people in the seat under it.
    The bus honked at the rioters, but looking around, Juno saw that people had lost all reason. There was no talking to them. Damn it! I should have stayed home. I hope the other girls are safe.
    A scream rose above the sound of the chaos. Juno turned to see angry young men climbing through the windows and waving guns. The doors to the bus suddenly opened, and Juno was swept out of the bus by the tide of people exiting, just as she heard shots fired. Looking back to see the men randomly shooting passengers and grabbing their wallets, caused her to trip, and Juno suddenly found herself on the ground, being trampled by the panicked crowds.
    Juno repeatedly tried to get up, but trampling feet beat at her legs, her pelvis, her shoulders, and her head. Stars exploded in her vision as a massive boot landed on her head like a sledge hammer, causing her forehead to connect heavily with the pavement. One woman tripped over her, kicking her in the ribs as she did. Juno would have felt sorry for the woman who was now also getting trampled, but her pain took up all of her thoughts.
    A loud voice dominated the sounds around them. “Everyone back the fuck off!”
    I know that voice. Jeri?
    She heard thumps and pained howls. The pounding on her body quickly stopped, and she felt hands help lift her up. Juno’s right eye was slightly blinded with blood, but she was still able to see Benny supporting her, and Jeri holding a baseball bat, swinging it at the mobs, who thinned out and changed direction, leaving Juno free to get up.
    Jeri wrapped an arm around her waist, and Benny reached down to help the other woman who had fallen over her. She appeared to be about their age and looked as pathetic as Juno felt. Her bloody and soot covered face was scrunched up while she was crying, and her clothes were torn and filthy.
    “C’mon, we gotta get back home,” Jeri urged, as she pulled her through the chaos.
    Juno nodded. They moved closer to a wall of a building and started making their way towards home. They were still several blocks away.
    “How ‘bout you, honey? You close to home?” Juno heard Benny asking the stranger.
    The girl shook her head. “It was burned down. I’ve got nowhere to go.”
    “You can come with us, if you’d like.” Juno offered her a slight smile. It had to have looked ridiculous, but in spite of her own pain, she felt sorry for the girl.
    “Even though I kicked you?”
    Juno swore the girl’s eyes looked just like the ones on those Precious Moments’ figurines. She didn’t want her to know just how bad her ribs hurt. “That wasn’t on purpose, so you’re already forgiven. What’s your name?” Jeri had an arm around her waist, aiding her, as she limped heavily. They dodged people at a hurried pace down the littered