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Her banty was keeping up, leaping through the trees and making ear-splitting chirps and whistles.

Every time a blast was fired her way, Georgia counted it off. The way they were firing, the Siblet would soon be running on empty. That was when they’d strike.

A movement from the corner of her eye had her turning. She ducked a second before a Siblet blaster stick almost smashed into her head.

She ducked and kicked out, the impact against the Siblet’s thigh so hard it sent a shudder through her bones.

The Siblet grunted and aimed the blaster stick at her.

Georgia grabbed the stick and twisted it out of his hands. She broke it over her leg and held the two pieces.

The Siblet took a step back.

“You didn’t see that coming, did you?” she snarled at him. “Payback’s a bitch, especially when that bitch has been captured and tortured.” Georgia kicked out as the Siblet tried to find a way to take her down.

He was out of luck.

She landed a punishing blow to his head, and he staggered back and sank to the ground.

Her stomach tightened as her gaze flashed around the trees. More Siblet had appeared. At least twenty, and they were dragging mutant beasts with them. Damn! This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down.

“They keep coming,” Ash yelled. “We can’t take them all on.”

“Don’t tell me you’re giving up.” Georgia wiped stinging sweat out of her eyes. “I thought you were supposed to be the big bad warrior around here.”

“Even big bad warriors know when they’re outnumbered.”

The smile fell from Georgia’s face as she saw six more mutant beasts appear, along with another line of armed Siblet. She may have Apexian energy flooding her veins, but no one was unstoppable, no matter what Ash said.

All thoughts of victory vanished as she scrambled over to him, wincing as she saw how bloody he was.

“They’re trying to drive us back to the water,” he said.

“It must be really toxic if they want us in there.” Her survival instincts flared at her to run, but that wasn’t happening. She’d stand by Ash, and they’d fight until the end.

“We can’t get around them. They’ve closed us in. There’s no way out of this.”

“I’m not giving up. We’ll take down as many as possible so they remember this battle. One human, one alien, and a ton of dead Siblet.” Georgia grabbed him, and they kissed. If this was the end, she was going out fighting beside her man.

“Damn, I love you,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“Right back at you. This has been one hell of a ride. And I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

A shout of alarm went up from the Siblet, and they scattered, just as a blast of fire rained down on their heads.

Georgia ducked, pulling Ash down with her. She scanned the sky and then grinned before letting out a whoop of pure delight.

Their transport ship flew above them, blasting the Siblet and their beasts to pieces.

“Talk about cutting it fine,” Ash said.

Joy sailed through Georgia as she watched the Siblet troop descend into chaos. “They must have figured we could handle things on our own.”

The attack was brief and bloody, and not a single Siblet or mutant animal was left standing.

The ship landed outside the trees, and they raced over to meet it. The docking ramp lowered, and Hunter appeared.

“Your timing was perfect.” Georgia grinned.