A squat creature that was almost wider than it was tall stood at the entrance.

Lana inhaled sharply. “It’s an alien!”

The alien looked indifferently at the charging Warped and his hand moved upward, holding a silver item.

Three blue rays shot out of the item, each striking a charging monster and reducing it to a heap of smoldering meat and metal. The alien moved toward the bodies and lightly tapped each with his foot. Lana gasped as a faint light streamed out of the dead Warped into the squat alien.

Leaving the bodies behind, the creature approached the downed ship.

“The Warped aren’t healing,” Nori whispered, her eyes narrowing at the silvery weapon. “If we had that guy’s gun, we could make the streets safe again.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to try and take it from him,” Lana whispered back. “He might not like it.”

“We might not have to, look behind the ship.”

Lana followed Nori's finger, and her eyes widened as she spotted the human-like Warped. It was quietly making its way around the ship, putting it between the alien and himself.

“It’s trying to sneak up on him!”

“Looks like it,” Nori said grimly. “It's much smarter than the dogs. And it probably weighs four times more than the alien. If the little guy doesn’t see it in time, he’s going to have a really bad day.”

“We’ve got to do something!” Lana said.

Nathan shook his head firmly.

“He’s right,” Nori said. “Everything that’s going on is way out of our league. All we can do is watch.”

They continued watching as the alien got closer to the ship. The Warped was meters away from him when the alien tapped the hull.

A platform extended outward, revealing a doorway, and the alien promptly went inside.

A moment later, the Warped reached the entrance and looked hesitantly at it. After several seconds, it seemed to decide that going in was a bad idea and settled on hiding behind the open platform.

Nori and Lana exchanged knowing glances but remained silent.

A few moments later a loud series of metallic noises sounded.

“What’s that?” Lana asked.

Nori frowned as she surveyed the ship. “Just watch.”

The alien appeared at the doorway again. He had managed only a few steps before the human-shaped Warped charged him.

The alien wasn’t holding his gun and there was no way he could take it out in time. Lana’s mouth opened in horror at the imminent carnage, and Nathan's face became deathly pale.

But things didn’t unfold as they expected.

Just as the monster was about to grab him, the alien whirled around holding a short club. There was a flash of light and the Warped was sent flying, crashing against the ship’s heated hull. It fell to the ground and stayed down, its skin smoking.