“All citizens please evacuate to the nearest safe zone.” A voice pre-recorded announcement constantly blared over and over. Sometimes being muffled by the sounds of screaming and gunshots.

Gabe was sitting on top of a street barricade, he swung his feet rhythmically as he recalled Keller’s desire to protect the people of his city.

“Can you please help rescue some of the citizens? then bring them to the dock.”

He sighed. “Old man, you’re lucky I don’t want to be the only Human around anymore.” He pulled the blaster from his holster. He took aim and fired. The Locust that was approaching slumped and had fallen to the ground. The use of an energy-based weapon against a Locust was as efficient as one could get.

Waves of humans ran into the “protected” safe zone. “protected zones” were nothing more than fortified parking lots. Metal linked fences and concrete road barricades secured a perimeter.

“Zara, how are you doing?” Gabe spoke over his shoulder.

“When we met, you were not afraid of me. Why are they afraid?” She peered over at the closest family towards her. A mother was holding her children close to her.

“That's because they didn’t see a space orc’s dick or make a crater on the side of a mountain”

“How do I talk with them?”

“Just smile.”

There was a moment of silence between the two. After a couple seconds. Anyone in the area heard children screaming.

“This is why your race is weak, your children are scared of everything!”

Gabe laughed in retaliation, a few more Locust turned up, they were swiftly dealt with by the superheated projectiles. They couldn’t even get close to the parking lot, at least not when Gabe was on watch.

That’s when the luck began to run out. An Earth-shaking rumble had commenced, the usual one or two Locust that showed up turned to four or five. They would enter the scene from alternating sides, shop windows and from manholes. Gabe could handle a few but not every single one, Zara wasn't fairing too well either. Her strength still wasn't one hundred percent. They were forced to make a retreat to the top of the garage that was connected. The narrow ramps made it a little easier to contain the stream of Locust, doing so only bought them a minuscule amount of time.

Gabe stood amidst a handful of families, it wasn’t the biggest group of survivors, but some Humans are better than no Humans.

He had looked over the edge of the building. Locust, everywhere. If you saw one there would be at least five to ten more clawing at the edge of your vision to reach the trapped people.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Jumping would probably be a good idea. But the objective was to keep everyone alive. He glanced over at Zara, she was making light work of the few that funneled to the top ramp. The corpses were a great source of keeping them within containable numbers. Her swordsmanship was no joke, must’ve been because she was the chieftain’s daughter.

He continued to scan the ground for a way. 10 feet away he could see a school bus. The only problem was that the distance from the top floor to the roof of the bus was far too great for anyone but Zara, even for her it was unlikely she’d come out uninjured.

But if he managed to reach the bus, he could hotwire the vehicle and go on from there. The only problem was that he still needed to reach the bus without being swarmed by the Locust or having everyone break a limb.

He looked around for anything that could be used as a means. He stopped his search when his view was filled with a yellow and white truck, the colors of a utility vehicle.

“Yes!” Gabe exclaimed. “Zara! Cover me.” He tossed the blaster into her hands and sprinted past the corpse barricade, vaulted, landing on the other side before could react.

Once she did see him she immediately turned her priority from protecting the citizens to just clearing a way for Gabe.

He sprinted as hard and as fast as he could. Two Locusts blocked his path. Zara was able to pick off one of them creating a wide gaping hole where the mandibles should have been. The other one was much luckier as her proficiency with a blaster wasn’t as trained as her bladework.

He ducked under the swipe and rolled forward. If he slows down he’d most likely be swarmed in seconds. The second swipe was accompanied by a missed blaster shot. The Locust had almost lost a claw and Gabe an arm.

The albino creature chased after Gabe, drooling and snarling.

He let it follow, in fact, he ran towards another that was about to cut him off. He dropped to the floor and slid.a good portion of the distance. The Locust was now just a foot from him, he stood motionless. The creature readied a swing. He stuck his tongue out taunting the creature. At the last moment, he dodged out of the way for the attack causing the claw to spear the Locust that was chasing after him. It struggled to release its weapon buried deep within its comrade’s flesh.

“Nice going, fucko.” he ran off towards the truck.

Zara’s protection continued, it wasn't the best but it still did some work. The ones that lived were easy to avoid, they weren't the brightest. The run wasn't very long, the truck was just 30 feet from the survivors. But it was also out of the range for the blaster. After 25 feet the energy would dissipate, a safeguard so that a stray shot did not continue on forever until it accidentally killed something.

Reaching the truck his initial reaction was to try the door, if it was unlocked he’d be able to have more resources to his arsenal. Unfortunately, it was locked. Adding to the misfortune two more Locust found him.

“Shit.” the creatures were approaching from both sides of the vehicle. He back himself over to the hood. The Locust that was on the right jumped to the roof, the one on the left charged forward. Gabe rolled under the vehicle and came out from the side. He emerged from the side. Giving them the slip, he opened the side compartments on the bed of the truck. Thankfully these things were never locked.

The first compartment had nothing, the second, ...a pair of socks? the third… A claw slammed into the opening. The locust that was on the hood went for an impaling downward attack. Gabe went back underneath the truck and emerged on the opposite side. The other that was approaching him was clawing its way underneath.

“Not today.” He kicked the creature right in the face. Launching himself further out the other side. He opened the closest compartment finding a cable. Before he could search any further the truck began to tilt.

“Uh oh.” He backstepped, the truck was flipped. The Locust that was on top ended up on its back. The one that flipped it climbed over top the truck.