Molly of Mars and the Alien Creatures

By Wyatt Davenport

Molly has moved on from the torment and worry of the Syndicate. She is making new friends but she has an empty spot in her heart. Her mother has stopped at nothing to uncover the remaining Syndicate members in a desperate attempt to right the wrong done to Pirra. Molly wants nothing else but her family back together and happy again. She could care less about the Syndicate.

But when clues surface to their whereabouts, Molly can't resist taking on a new adventure. In the final showdown with the Syndicate, she must resist the urges of betrayal, wrath, and deceit to come out victorious and rid them from her life forever.

For ages 10+, same reading level as Harry Potter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wyatt Davenport
• Release date: Aug 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310612022

Wyatt Davenport

Wyatt Davenport was born in 1977 in Kingston, Ontario, and grew up in London, Ontario, and Atlanta, Georgia. He currently lives in Seattle with his wife Colleen and their two Siberian Huskies. An avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, Wyatt is inspired by authors like Timothy Zahn, Michael Crichton, Robert Aspirin, and J. R. R. Tolkien.

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MOLLY OF MARS AND THE ALIEN CREATURES

by Wyatt Davenport

Copyright © 2014 Wyatt Davenport

Smashwords Edition.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Get to the Top

Chapter 2 - You Make Me . . . Promises, Promises

Chapter 3 - Interest Piqued

Chapter 4 - Old Acadia City

Chapter 5 - Cat of Nine Tails

Chapter 6 - Burden of Proof

Chapter 7 - Cabin in the Woods

Chapter 8 - Chewed Out

Chapter 9 - Missing Parts

Chapter 10 - Mr. Donner’s Party

Chapter 11 - Great Escapes

Chapter 12 - Now That’s a Big One

Chapter 13 - The Needs of the Many . . .

Chapter 14 - Planning and Control

Chapter 15 - Final Showdown

Chapter 16 - Like an Eagle

Chapter 17 - The Legend of Molly of Mars

Chapter 1

Get to the Top

I hate when you do that Molly of Mars thing, Vicky Valentine complained as I pushed myself against a huge Martian boulder. The famous red dust of the planet was all over my shirt and pants. Vicky and I had been running, diving, and shooting for the past twenty minutes. We were closing in on the enemy’s base, a hilltop located just outside of Acadia City.

How many rounds do you have left? I snapped at her as I checked my half-charged gun. I peered over the rock and saw the enemy taking up a position above us. I can make it.

Vicky knelt beside me. Her breathing was heavy. Her normally beautiful face and long blond hair weren’t looking so perfect right now. She was exhausted, but I was just getting my second wind. I could smell victory only minutes away.

Vicky was my best friend, but she wasn’t really the adventurous type. She much preferred to go shopping or dress up for a party. But lately, she’d been hanging out with me more than my sister, Pirra. I could always coax her into an adventure. Her sharp mind always helped tremendously.

Several shots whizzed over our heads. I pulled Vicky in close behind the rock. I leaned to the left, but the shots came in left. I leaned to the right, and again the enemy trapped us back behind the rock.

Nowhere to go! I shouted, cursing myself for our luck.

Stay there, Jonny Knight said from several feet behind us and down the hill. He used his rifle to send several shots toward the enemy at the top. I’ll loosen them up.

The petite Roxanne Larson jumped through the grouping of rocks to our left, firing several shots up the hill. Eventually, she was pinned as well. I hated being in the weaker position. It frustrated me.

We have you, Pirra called from the top of the hill. No escaping now.

I could feel my sister’s hawkish green eyes scanning the entire field.

We’re getting that flag! I yelled. I’ve got a few tricks.

Luke has Roxanne pinned, Pirra said. Jonny is too far away. And you and Vicky are sitting ducks. It’s a matter of moments.

She’s right, Vicky said. We’ve got nothing. They have the high ground.

Nonsense, I said. They also have Pirra and Aiden. Their arrogance will be their undoing.

Vicky shook her head. And Heidi and Luke. The Paglio sisters. Numbers, too.

I twisted my face. Vicky did have a point. Luke Lautner had been my friend for years, and he was extremely brilliant. There was no way I could trick him into coming out with insults or baiting comments. The sisters would follow his lead. They were smart enough to know that numbers meant victory. I planned something brilliant.

I’m going to get you, Molly, Heidi said in her teasing tone.

And Heidi Hollister was no dummy. She had been going to our school since my last adventure had ousted her parents as the leaders of the Syndicate. I didn’t entirely trust her after she’d tried to trap me against her parents, but the girl with the reddish-brown hair had become quick friends with Pirra.

My sister felt sorry for her, and I rather did, too. Her parents had used her. She’d been nothing but kind and friendly to us ever since. Yet I knew that my doubts might always remain. It was complicated, and it was why I’d spent more time with Vicky since Pirra lost her baby.

Watch your back, Heidi, I called. Aiden has been known to turn sides for a candy bar.

I have a Mars bar in my pocket, Vicky called up the hill.

I laughed so Aiden could hear it.

He’ll hate that, Vicky whispered.

Shut up, Moley, Aiden rasped back. "No chance if it means shooting you . . . and Vicky."

I had already killed his sister Aubrey at the start of the game. When I surprised them, Aiden turned and ran. This left his sister completely vulnerable. Typical Aiden.

Kneeling, I brushed back my wild blondish-red hair and opened my jacket. I pulled several firework sticks out, placed them on my skirt-covered knees, and showed them to Vicky.

Poppers? Vicky said. That’s cheating.

No, that’s a distraction. I handed the fireworks to Vicky. Plus, they have Pirra. Isn’t it cheating to have a former alien child warrior?

I thought she taught you everything she knew, Vicky replied. It’s why we split you up.

I figure she’s held back. One of her warrior rules is to not let the enemy know everything you’re capable of—just make them think they do.

Vicky nodded. But fireworks aren’t allowed.

If they aren’t, why’s your family selling them at the gift shop?

Okay, Vicky replied. I’m a Valentine, so I guess I can bend the rules without cheating.

That’s the idea. Plus, I hate losing. I pointed toward the windowed sky-deck above. Especially with my mom watching from the gallery. I told her I’d beat Pirra. She said she’d grade my tactical performance.

Tactical performance? Vicky looked skeptical.

Starship captain stuff. Captain Viro told me it isn’t enough to have the grades. You need some guile or craftiness.

I dusted off my thigh-high pink, green, and black skirt. I need to look good in victory. I was ready to move. I shot three stun bullets up toward the sisters as they tried to creep closer.

Vicky fired three shots. You have plenty of guile. Don’t worry about that.

Still, I said, looking at her with pleading eyes, not enough in front of my mom. Let’s try it.

Vicky knew I wouldn’t let her quit, and she dug the fireworks into the ground. I positioned myself to run up the other side of the hill. I’d hit them all in the back. It would be six or seven shots to victory.

I signaled to Jonny, and he nodded. Roxanne nodded as well, seeing my signal. Everyone was ready, and there was no way Pirra would see me go around. Not with the flashes in the sky.

But just then, Roxanne cried out in pain as Luke shot her in the shoulder. She put her hand up, and she was out of the game. The plan was shaky enough, but now we were down a girl.

The Martian wind howled on cue, and the warm day wasn’t soothing my nerves. The dry air hit my lungs and tensed my shoulders. Even if we lost, at least I was outside again. For the past six months, Paranoia had trapped me in our apartment or at Vicky’s. The Syndicate’s downfall wasn’t the relief I’d thought it would be. My mom put extra security on us, and Pirra’s lost baby was devastating to her. I felt the grief, too, but Pirra needed extra care. It seemed everything I tried to cheer her up ended up being awkward or stupid. Eventually, I left her to herself.

In the end, Vicky and I forged a deeper friendship out of our guilt about leaving Pirra at the party. But last week, after six months of being shuttled from home to school and back, my mom finally felt comfortable letting us out. The leaders of the Syndicate had hit the wind. I doubted we’d ever see them again.

Still try it? Vicky asked, watching Roxanne track down the hillside.

Let’s do it, I said. No rewards for the timid.

Five . . . four . . . three . . . Vicky counted down. She held her hand up in anticipation. Two . . . one.

She dropped her hand. The fireworks popped out of their casing in under a second. Bright blasts of blue and green rained over the top of the hill.

I sprinted around the back side of the hill. The snaps and crackles of the stun pistols echoed between the large booms of the fireworks. My mind focused on my footing and getting around the other side of the hill. I stayed between the boulders and the top of the hill, out of sight if anyone were to look.

If Vicky and Jonny were doing their jobs, they’d have the top occupied. The crunch of the stones under my sneakers caught my ears and focused my concentration. I had them. I just knew it. The flank would work, and Mom would be proud.

I turned the corner around a group of rocks. The soil was loose. I stumbled. My toe caught on a sandy hole.

Oof! I tripped and landed on my elbows. Dirt filled my face and mouth. I spit out the dry, chalky soot, and my elbows throbbed. I shook off the stinging pain and scrambled to my feet. I could still get to the top.

As I ran, I rubbed the dirt and blood from my hands. I climbed to nearly the top. Aiden and Luke squatted on a far-off rock. I’d have to get them last. I shot the sisters with two quick rounds, and they threw their hands up. Heidi was leaning against a rock to the side, and I could get her easily enough with three or four more strides. But Pirra wasn’t anywhere . . .

Oh no, I muttered as I realized I should’ve looked for my sister first.

My back stung with quick pain, and I dropped to my knees, throwing my hands up. Pirra!