It was nearly an hour before the caravan’s group left. He was not going to make a move until they left. He needed any advantage he could get. Alex had to bury himself two more times, suggesting it took around thirty minutes for the patrol to make their loop. Alex began formulating a plan.

His plan was simple—kill everyone so that they couldn’t sound the alarm. Obviously, easier said than done. He first needed to take care of the scouts. If they were left alone, there was no way for him to get out of this alive. They would raise the alarm, and he would surely die as a result. The best opportunity to get all four of them would be to attack them when they met up. He needed to do it without any of them making sound. If they so much as screamed out, the entire camp would be on high alert.

Alex wished that he had some shots saved up. It had been too long since his last fight and all of his P.E. had long since drained. He was currently only able to fight as an enhanced human. How unfortunate. Alex laughed as he thought of having to tackle all of this as he was before. He imagined himself, riding down the dunes on his wheelchair, kicking up a cloud of dust, only to be immediately shot down by one blast of their shields. It was easy for him to forget just how strong he had become even without a store of P.E.. Alex was able to quickly dispatch most Zotari he came across, whereas any of the Zotari warriors would be able to slay a regular human with even more ease. Alex realized he needed to keep that in mind, especially when he was around the people back on Earth. If he wasn’t careful he would crush the very people he was aiming to save. He would need to work on his finesse.

Without any shots saved up, Alex needed to come up with another way to dispatch four enemies at the same time. He had an idea, he wasn’t sure if it would work, but there was only one way to find out. He waited for the scouts to make their way back to his location. When they were close he prepared by burying himself and putting all the pieces he could in place. He waited for the sound of muffled footsteps and conversation and then sprung his trap.

Alex hadn’t played too much with his Eonsteel. He didn’t want it to distract him while fighting and therefore used it mostly as added armor to his already durable suit. It had worked wonderfully, but Alex realized that he wasn’t until using it to its full potential. The kind in his vision had used it in a variety of ways, whether that be a sword, a spear, armor, or even just as a crown. This was perhaps the greatest strength of the Eonsteel.

It was fluid.

Alex could form the Eonsteel however he liked. It was the most versatile tool anybody could ever ask for. If he needed more armor, he could have it. If he wanted a weapon, it was made. If he wanted to make a distraction, well that was even easier.

He willed the Eonsteel into a long cord. It extended out to Alex’s right and then up out of the sand. When he felt, through the living metal, it had left the sand he willed it to look like a scorpion’s stinger. He didn’t know if there were any such creatures on Saxar IV, but did it really matter? Alex was sure that if anybody saw a giant tail sticking out of the ground, it would give them pause. Alex heard the conversation stop above him. They had seen the tail. Faint footsteps could be heard, and Alex knew his time was limited. He had to move quickly to maintain the initiative, but also silently. Alex stuck his head up above the sand. That was all he needed. All four scouts were standing in a row.

This is going to be too easy. I did not expect this to go exactly to plan. I guess things are looking up for me.

The stinger instantly shifted forms. It was now in the shape of a swooping scimitar. It swung incredibly fast. So fast that the only sound that could be heard was eight thuds. Four heads followed by their bodies, fell to the ground.

“Yes! I can’t believe that worked!” Alex yelled out. Sudden realization crossed his face. “What is wrong with me?”

Alex went to peek over the ridge to see the damage he had caused. He hoped that nobody had heard him, that he could still do this with some amount of stealth. The second he peered over the crest of the sand dune, a laser connected with his face. He was launched back, partly from the blast but also from the surprise of the sudden attack.

So much for the easy way.

With his clandestine operation blown, he opted to handle this the best way he knew how. With a direct fight.

Alex charged forward, creating a riot shield out of his Eonsteel. So many lasers were fired at him that he had a hard time knowing where they were all coming from. He wanted to get a feel for each assailant’s relative location, that way he could systematically dispatch each of them. Alex was unable to glean the means they had to communicate with the nearby camps. For all he knew, they had the space equivalent to a cellphone and reinforcements were already on their way. He hoped that since he was alone, they would underestimate him. It wasn’t likely, but either way he needed to end this fight as quickly as he could.

In his riot shield, Alex made a sort of meshing to allow him to see forward. The holes were small enough that the lasers couldn’t make their way through, but large enough that they could, in concert with the holes nearby, give a mostly clear picture. He inched his way forward, every step bringing him closer to the cache. After a few minutes, he was finally in range of the first of the Zotari. Alex turned to the closest marksman, pointed his finger gun at him, and blasted him in the face. The surprise on the Zotari’s face made Alex chuckle.

Alex remembered one time making finger guns to his grandpa. His grandpa had dementia and therefore didn’t grasp everything going on around him. When Alex pointed his finger guns at his grandpa, he was shocked at his reaction. His grandpa was furious. Alex didn’t know if his grandpa thought he was actually pointing a gun at him, or if he just didn’t like the sentiment behind it. Either way, this was a memory Alex had always had of his grandpa. A funny memory from a happy time in his life.

Alex dispatched three more Zotari following the same tactic before they changed their own tactics. The Zotari now hid behind the many crates and containers to break up his line of sight. Alex did the same, accepting the small reprieve he was offered.

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Nineteen left if I counted them correctly.

He glanced around the crate he was hiding behind in an attempt to discern the location of the nearest enemy. A searing projectile landed inches in front of his face, leaving a black starburst at the point of impact. Alex returned fire, not really able to see anything. He mostly did it to deter another shot coming his way. While he was focused on the ranged attacks, a gnarled staff swung at his midsection. He hadn’t seen it coming and it actually knocked the wind out of him. He whipped his head around to find the culprit. Two more Zotari were hot on their companion’s heels, both having the same idea. When they met Alex’s eyes, they quickly dove behind cover. Fortunate for them because Alex blasted off a couple projectiles, each landing directly where their heads had been moments before.

The Zotari that had landed the blow in Alex’s midsection had already cocked back his staff for another blow. Alex, not wanting a repeat, swiped his hand at the warriors head. The Zotari ducked underneath, its own blow striking Alex in the side. Growing tired of the agile attacker, Alex went in for a bear hug. The warrior attempted to sidestep, but Alex was prepared. He quickly moved in the same direction, effectively cutting the Zotari off. He clasped his prey, squeezing it hard. Alex felt bones pop under the force of his embrace. The Zotari squirmed until its eyes popped out of their sockets from the pressure, at which point Alex unceremoniously dumped the body to the side.

Alex made his way over to the two hiding behind the crates. They hadn’t so much as made a peep since diving behind cover. Alex kicked the container to his left. It slid fast into the crate behind it before crashing to the side. No Zotari to be seen. Alex looked to his right finding the other Zotari hadn’t moved from its location. They met eyes and all Alex saw was terror. The soldier began to flee. Alex, not wanting to give chase, aimed both finger guns directly at the warrior and released the built up tension. The projectiles collided, leaving a lifeless body in its wake.

A sudden barrage of shots left Alex unable to make another move. Both of his flanks were as bright as a rave with the flashing lights looking like the DJ had just dropped the bass. He raised a shield in each hand. With the mass of the Eonsteel split, both shields were much smaller than his initial riot shield had been. The two groups of shooters marched forward to take the initiative while their enemy was overwhelmed. Alex made no move against them, he wanted them closer. The second the six Zotari were in range, Alex made his move.

Thin tendrils shot out of his shields, one for each foe. Four of them were able to dodge the sudden strike, but two were not so lucky. The metallic strands punched through their skulls with little resistance. The remaining Zotari pressed their advantage, closing the distance between them and Alex in an instant. Alex was quickly overwhelmed, powerful strikes landing on him from all directions as four enemies assailed him. Alex lashed out, enraged by the sudden onslaught. His fist flew through the air, connecting with nothing. The missed punch threw Alex off balance, only increasing his defenselessness. They took advantage of the opening continuing their barrage.

Alex needed to create some space. He couldn’t do much when he was surrounded like this. He tried to minimize the attacks he was receiving, but was unable to launch a counter strike. He created a familiar shape with his Eonsteel. A black scimitar formed in his hand and Alex spun in a circle. The Zotari were all cut off at the waist, ending their bombardment. Alex tried to count down in his head to know how many were left standing.

That leaves eleven I believe.

Alex cruised through the makeshift camp, hunting down the remaining Zotari. He went a long while before finding any. He suspected that they had decided to hunker down and wait for the reinforcements that were likely already on their way. He needed to end this fight before the backup arrived. If he didn’t, he would need to disengage and retreat. Not run away, Alex would never run away. It was a tactical retreat.

He finally encountered a Zotari that looked like it was trying to move hiding spots so as to not be seen. It had failed miserably and was only able to come the realization of its demise before it was abruptly struck down by a powerful overhand strike by Alex. The Zotari’s head was caved in, leaking blood everywhere.

With their numbers steadily decreasing, Alex felt more and more confident that he would be able to weed them all out before more troops arrived. He didn’t know how close the nearest camp was, but felt like he would have at least fifteen more minutes without interruption.

A loud crash sounded behind him as a Zotari stumbled into a bunch of metal boxes. Alex turned, spotting the clumsy alien, and rushing forward. He jumped, pulling back his fist to land a flying punch. A staff suddenly swung out from behind a larger crate, smashing into Alex’s head, knocking him down to the ground. Dazed, Alex tried to get back up. He stumbled and another onslaught commenced. This time he noticed more urgency from the Zotari. They attacked with a fervor the others hadn’t. More hits landed in quicker succession. He found that this group in particular enjoyed hitting him in the face and head. It was becoming more difficult for him to think.

Alex tried to swing his scimitar again, but the Zotari stepped onto his arm to stop the strike before he could get any momentum. Alex was enraged by this. He urged the Eonsteel to climb up his captor’s leg. Once it had reached high enough up, Alex wrenched the metal to the side, obliterating the alien’s leg in the process. It rolled on the ground in agony and Alex quickly struck out to end its suffering. He was benevolent like that. He felt a familiar presence begin to surge up in his mind.

Not again!

It took everything Alex had to combat the sudden assault on his mind. He pushed back against the snake king, desperately hoping he would be able to retain control. He didn’t wish to be a puppet ever again. He didn’t know why, but he felt like every time he lost control, it would be harder for him to fight back. He wouldn’t allow the king to take over his body, his life. It was hectic and insane right now, but it was his. The king had already squandered his life, Alex wouldn’t let Nagaar do it to his as well. He wasn’t sure what was different this time, but he was able to defend himself and retain command of his body.

Feeling empowered, Alex made short work of the remaining Zotari flocking around him currently. There were only three left. He hadn’t seen any running away in the large bowl, so he had to assume they were still there, hiding. He would find them, he had to.

Alex began blasting away the crates in an attempt to remove any and all hiding spots. After a couple of minutes, the entire cache had been scattered all along the basin. During his rampage, Alex had unintentionally killed one of the remaining Zotari, leaving only two. They positioned themselves at his flanks. Alex looked from one to the other and back again. He wasn’t sure what they had planned, but was not going to wait for them to make the first move. He fired a couple shots from his finger guns which the Zotari blocked with their shields.

Alex chose one of the aliens to target while they were preoccupied dodging. He nearly flew forward, colliding with the Zotari in the blink of an eye. Alex rained down his fury. Punch after punch landed, burying the alien deep into the desert sand. When he finally stopped, the alien was an unrecognizable lump of flesh. Alex turned back to see his final enemy running away. Instead of giving chase, Alex opted to destroy the supplies he could. He would not be able to claim this supply cache for the Saxans, but he would make sure it couldn’t be used against them.