Strangers

Ryan jumped down and immediately gave help to Yuma. He tried to lift the chameleon's body that was on top of his friend's leg. Likewise, with Cinnong, she approached Yuan Xi and Xian.

Before Ryan and Cinnong could help Yuma along with Yuan Xi and Xian, four chameleons had surrounded them.

Although fire assistance from Boris and Naomi, including Luka from the stern of the plane. But that didn't mean much, even with the help of Fraya and Guntur. Because of their standing position, it was quite difficult to target the robots that surrounded Ryan and the others.

"Ryan, what happened!?" through the monitor in front of him, Dharma can see what's going on back there. "Ryan…?!"

The robots aimed at Ryan, Cinnong, Yuma, Yuan Xi, and Xian. Three robots jump down, they surround Ryan and his comrades.

"Ryan? God damn it, answer me!" Dharma's screams into Ryan's earphones could not be ignored by the man. Other things are more critical for him to think about at this moment.

Blarrr!

A chameleon ridden by the robots exploded to pieces, three meters in front of Ryan. Suddenly it made Ryan have to bend down to protect his face and body. Likewise with Yuma and the others.

In succession, three other Pangandaran Lord chameleons crashed to the ground. Some were hit by blue lasers from someone's PSG gun, others were pierced by large bullets from shotguns.

A strange chameleon approaches them at high speed, distracting the three robots who are trying to finish off Ryan and his comrades.

Just as the three robots turned their heads to the approaching chameleon, two shotgun shots slashed the heads of the two robots in between. The other one bounced off, crashed, and rolled on the ground, being hit by the muzzle of the strange chameleon.

The strange chameleon stopped abruptly in front of Ryan and his friends.

"You guys need help?" said the driver.

Aldi got out of his vehicle, without waiting for an answer he immediately helped lift the chameleon that was pressing on Yuma's leg.

Although a little suspicious but Ryan did not pay attention to it. After all, saving Yuma was a priority. Together with Aldi, they were able to lift the chameleon so Yuma could quickly pull his leg.

"Go!" Ryan said while Cinnong with Yuan Xi and Xian had entered the space behind the spacecraft.

Enduring the pain in his leg, Yuma simply jumped onto the chameleon's backseat. Followed by Ryan who acted as the driver. Not waiting for the next attack to come, Ryan immediately stepped on the gas. Chameleon roared, the front half lifted, and shot into the stern of the plane.

Likewise with the chameleon rode by Aldi and Ely who followed into the plane. As soon as Aldi's chameleon entered the plane, the aft door move to closed.

"Ryan?!" Dharma felt compelled to reward the man with a hard slap on his cheek. "Ryan, you-mother—"

"Just start the launch, Cap!" Ryan snorted as he caught his breath. "All safe, with the addition of two strangers—well, four. I guess."

"All of you!" shouted Dharma. "Hold on to something!"

Hearing the order, those in the room at the back rushed to find a handle. Some headed for the emergency seats on the right wall, others on the left side. They fastened themselves with seat belts and oxygen masks.

"Are you all ready?"

"Aye, Captain!"

The fat ruler had just reached the Dharma residence, escorted by at least four humanoid robots with different colors from the other robots.

Unfortunately, not even five seconds later when he was there, the spacecraft's engines roared louder and louder, including the two main engines on either side of the fuselage. And the next second, the plane that the fat ruler had previously prepared for his and his family's safety, flying higher. Leaving a trail of flying dust covering the view.

"Damn you, Dharma…!" he shouted with unimaginable anger.

"Goodbye," Dharma muttered half inaudibly as he addressed the lord who was shrouded in the dust below. "Fat pig!"

Then, suddenly Hyker shouted. His screams represented his feelings, as well as the feelings of all those inside spacecraft 45. A joy.

The screams finally continued from one mouth to another, even to the stern of the plane where Ryan and the others were.

Aldi smirked as he winked at Ely, confirming his previous promise to the little girl. Two tickets, they have got.

Dharma could only chuckle in response to the screams of his men. He turned to Oryza. "Leakage?"

The young woman smiled brightly, "Negative."

"Can you stabilize the fuselage?" Dharma patted Hyker's shoulder. The man nodded. "I don't want those below to be roasted," he said. "Listen to all of you...!" he shouted, to all the passengers in every room.

In the logistics room, Indra removed his arms from Jennie, and they focused on listening to the captain's orders. So did their other three female colleagues.

"The plane will be stabilized for the next fifteen minutes," the captain's voice echoed over the intercom in every room on the spacecraft.

"Hey-hey-hey!" shouted Boris at the stern of the ship to the gleeful kids. Also, some adults. "Listen to what the Captain said first. Damn it!"

Cinnong laughed at the sight of Boris' annoyance.

"Those of you who are still downstairs, engine room, logistics, infirmary room... just go to the passenger cabin in the middle hull immediately. Make sure no one is left behind!"

As soon as the fuselage went straight horizontally to the north, everyone moved into the room the captain had intended.

Ryan, Boris, and Aldi moved their chameleons. Assemble and tie the vehicle on the forward side of the space at the stern.

Ely was a little troubled because a snow leopard cub was running away from her, Aldi had to intervene to catch the rare animal.

"We're still at high altitude," Dharma watched the monitor in front of Oryza. "Fifty kilometers above sea level. Stratosphere. I don't want you guys to overheat because we'll be using hypersonic in a little while. But first, I also don't want you to freeze to death entering the mesosphere!"

Almost everyone was already in the passenger cabin. Those who are not familiar with space-related things get help from Captain Dharma's men. Each sat in dismay, some of whom had locked themselves in X-shaped seat belts.

TO BE CONTINUED ...