"What do we bet they stole our blasters?" Daly brought up.
"I've got nothing to bet," Darrion said.
Gasps and sputters sounded from around the corner. Hunley and Brade dragged their feet and turned the corner. Daly crouched to their eye level. Hunley filled her arms, and she wrapped him in a tight embrace.
"Mama," he whispered.
Darrion stayed upright. Relda took her side.
"Danger is coming," Darrion warned. "Not sure when, but it'll be here."
Brade studied Anthem's face.
"I'm Brade," he said.
"I know," she replied. "I'm Anthem Tenner."
With her arms widespread, Relda blockaded her daughters and the three children.
"Dialorians," she said.
Brade whimpered and leaned against Anthem. She shielded him.
"I'll keep you safe," she promised.
A collective clicking sound heralded the Dialorians' arrival.
"Hands in the air," a chalk white, floating creature ordered.
Relda choked back a chuckle. She was taking orders from a floating, legless creature who didn't have the physique to be a commander. But her daughters and three children were under her protection, so up her hands went. Dread filled a pause. Relda's heart thumped. Her breaths were shallow and rapid.
"Take me," she said. "Leave the others."
"There's enough of us to kill all of you," Floating Dialorian said.
"Not so fast!" A nasally voice defied.
Three ten-year-olds lowered their blasters.