SHRIKE Collision

As Oreic and Niode prayed for the group, an explosion shook the entire runner.

"Ack! Are we dead?" Niode panicked as Tetsuyin screamed.

They heard people yelling along with gunfire and explosives as the barracuda turned away from the runner's location.

"What's going on?" Rahim looked out the window.

Soldiers dressed in green along with a few tanks fired at the massive hovertank.

"Those are M1 Abrams," Niode observed. "I'm guessing they're US soldiers.

Rahim observed the soldiers' green attire. They all had bird-shaped symbols with the word, SHRIKE.

"What's SHRIKE?" Nashura asked.

"I don't know. Never heard of them."

"Could they help us?"

"I doubt we can trust the US army judging how the civilians have turned against us. We don't know what President Forroway plans to do with us at this point."

The barracuda blared sirens, firing its rotating ball turrets to kill the soldiers. Its main tank cannon blasted the SHRIKE tanks into oblivion. When snipers and rocketeers fired from above, the hovertank lifted its massive warhead launchers, to blow up the buildings.

"This is our opportunity to escape," Rahim advised.

Naphthien nodded, jumping into the cockpit. She swiftly backed up the cloaked runner through the ruined parking lot.

"At least we are out of that mess," Oreic sighed.

"We made it, my dear," Niode hugged Tetsuyin.

"Niode," Rahim looked at the control panel. "You know the map format better than any of us. Can you lead the way?"

"Of course," Niode ran to the control panel.

Naphthien abruptly stopped the invisible vehicle just in time before it could crash into a rushing armored vehicle.

"Ack!" Niode banged his head on the control screen. "What now? I was reading the map!"

"That's an armored personnel carrier," Rahim noted. "SHRIKE again."

Naphthien showed her husband sign language.

"Yeah, doesn't look like it saw us," Rahim nodded.

The vehicle's top machine gun fired at another barracuda hovertank as it unloaded more soldiers wearing SHRIKE outfits. As Naphthien made a U-turn away from the armored vehicle, more SHRIKE soldiers scattered across the streets, firing at the Federation droid forces. Naphthien frantically swiveled the runner about to avoid crashing into the soldiers and their incoming vehicles.

Isrina hugged Shien. "We are caught in a battle!"

"Look out!" Rahim shouted.

A gunship shaped like a hammerhead shark hovered above the road. Swarms of missiles were fired at the SHRIKE forces. Naphthien reversed the vehicle, evading the explosions. The vehicle bumped into something hard.

"What the?" Rahim hit his head on the floor.

"Our stealth is gone!" Niode looked at the control panel.

The group looked in front of them to see a large four-legged walker blasting a SHRIKE tank away with its arm cannons. It stomped towards the runner, staring at the group.

"Brachyura terrortank!" Isrina yelled.

Naphthien swung the steering wheel 360 degrees as fast as she could, but it was too late. The walker's arm cannons shot pink fireballs at the runner, sending the vehicle sliding across the rocky ground in flames. Isrina woke up to see Oreic carrying her and Shien outside.

"O-Oreic?" She coughed as the flame master took the Murhavs outside to safety.

"Go! Go! Go!" Oreic chucked the Shuruukos out. "The terrortank is coming!"

As he threw Lansen out, the brachyura terrortank stomped on top of the runner. It fired at Oreic and sent him flying.

"No! Oreic!" Isrina saw the burnt Oreic land facedown on the hard ground.

Nashura jumped out to save Oreic from being stomped by the brachyura terrortank. Rahim fired at the terrortank that protected itself with its shielded feet.

"I need to tend to him!" Nashura carried Oreic.

"Quickly! I hear another barracuda coming!" Rahim threw smoke bombs to confuse the terrortank.

They frantically ran into the demolished library as they heard a barracuda's electric screeching heading their way.

***

"God, it's a firefight outside," Isrina looked out the window, hugging Shien.

As Nashura and Lansen bandaged Oreic's wounds, the group hid on the tenth story of the enormous library. They watched the droid vehicles battle the SHRIKE forces.

"Is Oreic alright?" Isrina asked.

"Yep! Yep!" Lansen flapped his wings.

"Don't worry!" Nashura smiled. "Oreic is resting now. He will be just fine."

"Thank goodness."

Naphthien signed to Rahim.

"I'm not sure," Rahim wondered. "But we have a dilemma."

"What is it?" Niode questioned.

"How will we ever get to Choro Emplexion now? We have no transportation and no map!"

"Hmmm, could we walk on foot?" Isrina asked.

"Ugh. Do we have to?"

"Doesn't look like we have a choice."

"Not like the Niang Chronicles. It's happening again!"

"R-Rahim?"

"I tried to warn those damn politicians about this invasion, but nobody would listen! Now, the Federation is here, and we have to run around the streets again?"

Naphthien tugged on Rahim's coat, but her husband continued to fume his frustration.

"This is America's fault!" Rahim stomped the ground. "They could have stopped the Middle Eastern Smite of my people a long time ago to prevent all of this. But no, they are too scared to start border disputes, so they let the Federation get their way!"

"Rahim, listen to me," Isrina shook him.

"Isrina, you lost your husband because of America! I swear if this country manned up years ago, Jinhai would be alive!"

"Dad!" Nashura exclaimed.

Isrina clenched her fist, feeling the pain of being widowed by Hernamidos. Napthien clutched onto Rahim's hand.

"Europe made us run and rot on the streets. They chose to bathe in Maika's riches rather than help us!" Rahim swiped Naphthien's hand away. "We ran through garbage-filled streets while the Reaper Squad hunted us!"

"Fanghui is burning the world into Kneapexism and everyone's appeasing the Federation for benefits while we suffer!" Rahim hissed, remembering the civilians praising and cheering for the Federation. "Why are people supporting the Federation and blaming us for the Cybertrap while we're the ones who get persecuted? We lost Cecilius and we have kids for God's sake! It's not fair!"

Naphthien grabbed Rahim's coat and hugged him tightly.

"Rahim," Isrina knelt to him. "Listen, we will make it through together. We have done it before and we can do it again."

"I-I know, but Nashura and Naphthien are too precious for me to lose," Rahim sobbed as Naphthien allowed him to bury his head in her chest. "Niode, you have Mivangeline and Tetsuyin. Isrina, you have Shien. Why does the government do nothing while the Federation persecutes us?"

"We feel your anger too, Rahim. But there are always a few who will help, like Forroway. He was the one who sent Covinski to save us from Europe even when his delegates said no. He gave us refuge in this country when everyone else opposed him. Forroway protected our families no matter how many people wanted us dead. He's one of the few who dared to speak against Fanghui."

"What about now?" Rahim sniffed. "What do you think he will do?"

"I don't know," Isrina rubbed his back. "But I think Forroway will do whatever it takes to do what's right."

"Okay," Rahim wiped his tears with a handkerchief.

Isrina hugged him. "Even if we must experience running about the streets again, we fight for our kids together."

Naphthien leaned her head on Rahim. They looked at Nashura, healing Master Oreic with the best of her medical abilities. She smiled at her parents. The three signed to each other: "Love you so much."

"We still need to find Choro Emplexion though," Isrina scratched her head.

"I can help with that," Niode pointed out. "I studied the map, and I happen to remember it."

"You memorized the map?"

"Yep! First, I know we need to move northeast approximately 22.6 miles from this location. I can be your GPS!"

"You're such a lifesaver, Niode," Rahim smiled.

"So, when should we get going?" Nashura bandaged Oreic's Vulpi ears.

"Not now, obviously," Rahim looked at the barracudas outside shelling the SHRIKE rebellion. "We need to wait until the firefight is over."

"We could use a rest anyway," Isrina checked on her son.

The group sat comfortably near the tattered bookshelves.

"My Little Chickadee," Isrina patted Shien's head. "Please be okay. You are my only family left. I will never let anyone hurt you."