“He did, actually. It ain’t much, but it’s stowed in Valawn’s hangar.”
“What do we have?”
“Two crates of Firestorms, three of the JXR-14 assault rifles, a small case of micro-explosives, and a half dozen Hemming long guns.”
Taylor considered that last one. “You know your way around a sniper rifle?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods?”
Taylor took that as a yes. “How about Stan? How’s he at long distances?”
“Not as good as me, but better than most,” Jack said. “Why? What are you thinkin’?”
Taylor recalled the lack of distance between the Nyo refueling depot and the Krulig landing field. After that, his thoughts turned to a stunt he’d seen in one of those old movies they’d shown during throwback night at the Hell House. Oh, that’s so very thin. He thought hard for alternatives. None came. “Get Valawn on the line. Tell him I’m gonna need to make some arrangements.”
* * * * *
Chapter 24: The Runaround
“You can’t be serious,” Valawn said once Taylor had explained his plan.
“I know it ain’t perfect,” Taylor said, “and there’s plenty that can go wrong. However, given the resources we have as weighed against those we don’t, I still say it’s our best option.”
Valawn paused, doubtless considering. “Many of our people in Nyo Colony won’t be pleased with this. Setting aside that it’ll completely destroy one of our biggest assets, it’ll also put them squarely in conflict with the Krulig. They won’t like that.”
Taylor briefly considered sharing his thought from earlier. It’s just a theory until you’ve got proof. He decided to stick with the facts. “I know a lot of Rukori don’t want to jeopardize their standin’ with Sadeed. That makes sense. Look at it this way, though. If my plan works, your people will have regained their freedom. If it don’t, they can always pin the mess on a handful of renegade kin and a pack of dumbass rednecks from Earth. That ain’t an insurrection. It’s a nuisance. The Krulig won’t sacrifice their investment here over a nuisance, not with all they can still milk from it goin’ forward.”
Valawn went off comm to think, then returned a second later with his answer. “Very well. What will you require of me?”
The call ended with Taylor relaying his condolences to Valawn for the loss of his sister. After that, Taylor pulled the pinlink from behind his ear and hid it away under a rock near the back of his cage. One way or another, this whole thing ends in twelve hours.
“Van Zant,” Japhara called from across the hall. “You sound very busy over there.”
“Nothin’ you need to concern yourself with, Hoss. Just sit back, relax, and know that, soon enough, you’ll have your solitude back.”
The Sumatozou stepped forward and clasped his cell bars. “You have a plan to escape.”
“Nope. Just thinkin’ about the future is all.”
Japhara’s expression twisted. “Don’t lie to me, Human. I know such behavior is commonplace among your people, but it’s both offensive and dishonorable to mine. You can at least show me that most basic of respects.”
Taylor stretched out in the corner and cradled his head on his arm. “Take it easy, Japhara. I didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers.”
“I have no feathers.”
“Thanks for clearin’ that up,” Taylor said. “Now get some rest. Tomorrow’s gonna be a busy day.”
* * *
Much to Taylor’s delight, his captors never came for him that evening. This left him to sleep a whole four hours—by far the most he’d gotten in one sitting since his confinement. All of that changed, of course, when his friends with the batons returned the next day and took him away for a refresher course on Zuul interrogations. As it happened, that morning’s session proved particularly vicious, so much so that Taylor feared he might not have been able to hold out had he not known what was coming. He screamed through vice-clenched teeth as wave after wave of electricity tore through his body, igniting his nerve endings as if on fire, and reducing his muscles to useless jelly. It was an agony transcendent of any Taylor could’ve imagined. Even still, he held it together by filling his thoughts with anything he could to pass the time. He thought of his sisters, Rita and Jo, and how much he missed them—how much he missed all of his family, even his mom, who’d never forgiven him for going merc. He thought of his best friend, Rex, and their arguments over baseball. He thought of Billy and the other Eagles, and how much they’d come to mean to him in the last year.
Mostly, though, Taylor thought of the man responsible for setting this entire thing in motion six years ago—the man whose shadow Taylor Joseph Van Zant had spent most of his life trying to outrun.
Hang in there, little brother. The voice was as crisp and clear in Taylor’s mind as the last time he’d heard it in person. What a spectacular day that had been, filled with sunshine and surf, ice-cold beer, blackened mahi sandwiches grilled to perfection, and throngs of beautiful girls wearing bikinis deemed illegal in some countries. Just hang in a little while longer. Help is on the way.
Terry…
A splash of muck water in Taylor’s face jolted him awake. He sat up, every inch of him throbbing like hell, and looked around. “Where the—”
“You’re back in your cell,” Japhara said. “You’ve been there, lying sideways in that filth, for almost three hours.”
Three hours? Taylor fought to recall the sun’s position in the sky when the Zuul had dragged him back. Just slightly west. Tack on three more hours, and—
“Shit!” Taylor jumped to his feet, muscles quaking in protest, and stumbled to retrieve his pinlink. “Jack, it’s me. You there?”
“Right here, Chief. I was startin’ to get worried. You all right?”
“I’ll manage,” Taylor said via thought. “Valawn fill you in on the op?”
“He sure did,” Jack said. “I’ve gotta hand it to you. This plan of yours? It’s bold; real bold. Your brother would’ve been proud.”
Taylor’s eyes flicked skyward. “Thanks. What’s our status?”
“Locked and loaded across the board,” Jack said. “Valawn and his people are holed up in Nyo Colony, waitin’ on our signal. Me, Stan, and the others are roughly two miles west of your position near the foot of the mesa.”
Taylor nodded.
“Chief, can I put forth one suggestion?”
“Go ahead.”
“Let me and Stan go after Commander Smith. You’re gonna have your hands full as it is gettin’ out of that hornet’s nest you’re about to kick up. We can get to Smitty.”
Taylor shook his head. “Negative. I need the two of you on those long guns, layin’ down cover fire while we egress.”
Jack exhaled over the line. “Copy that. What else?”
“What’s the status on our mouse trap?” Taylor asked.
“Laid down last night while it was dark. We lucked out, too, in that we got no sandstorms to screw up the work. We can light her up when ready.”
“Good deal.” Taylor retraced the route to Cell Block One in his head. If Valawn’s people did their job, the majority of the Zuul would head southeast back into Nyo Colony. With any luck, that would leave a skeleton crew at the compound, which Taylor could evade long enough to grab Smitty, then head west toward the mesa. That just left one last issue, the lone Zuul guard that always stood watch over Cell Block Two from the stairwell.
Shift’s over, pooch. Taylor keyed his comm. “Tell the others to get ready. This party’s about to get started.”
Jack’s response was as singular as it was resolute. “Ayew.”
“Van Zant!” Japhara called. “Talk to me! What’s happening?”
Taylor didn’t answer. Instead, he scooped up the stone he’d been filing down for just this occasion, palmed it in his right hand, and marched to his cell bars. “Hey, room service! Get your bitch-ass down here! I’m hungry!”
A feral snarl preceded the wham of a slamming door, followed by the
pitter-patter of quadruped footfalls down the stairs.
“What did you call me?” The angry Zuul stalked into the torchlight.
“You heard me,” Taylor said. “I want some food. Let’s go with pizza this time—extra cheese with everything on it, but skip the green peppers. Those things ruin a pie.”
The guard peeled back its lips for another growl.
“You gonna snap to it or do I have to say fetch?” Taylor stood back smiling as the enraged alien lunged for his cell. Come get some, shorty.
The access panel glared green, and the Zuul bounded in. It was the last move the alien would ever make.
Thwack!
The wet crunch of rock meeting bone pierced the air when Taylor’s arm slammed down onto the Zuul’s head, splitting its skull and pushing straight through to the brain. The alien twitched, blood and gray matter spewing from its wound, then it collapsed dead to the cavern floor.
Happy trails, asshole.
“Van Zant!” Japhara said. “Please! Take me with you!”
Taylor rifled through the Zuul’s hip pouch, taking its stun baton and battle blade for good measure, then used the latter to slice off the alien’s hand.
“Van Zant!” Japhara persisted. “Don’t be a fool! I can be of use to you! I can help you retrieve your comrade!”
His pillaging complete, Taylor whirled to face the Sumatozou. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll let you out of this cell and get you free of this compound in exchange for one favor.”
“Name it,” Japhara said.
“No.”
The Sumatozou did a double-take. “What? Why not?”
“Because I don’t know what that favor is yet,” Taylor said. “I just don’t see any way that havin’ a free marker with a grand latura can be a bad thing. Hell, I might not live long enough to call the damn thing in. But if I do, you will pay it, no questions asked. Those are my terms. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.”
The alien began pacing his cell.
“Tick tock, Japhara.”
The Sumatozou barked a curse. “Fine. I’ll pay your marker when the time comes.”
“I’ve got your word on that, right?”
“Yes, yes. Just let me out already so we can get moving.”
* * * * *
Chapter 25: Squeeze Play
Once outside the cavern, Taylor and Japhara moved quietly through a series of stone corridors before arriving at the security junction just down from the main entrance. They were in luck. There were only two Zuul working the section.
Taylor raised his baton but thought better of the noise. He pulled his battle blade instead and turned to Japhara, whispering, “I can’t do this alone. You with me?”
The Sumatozou nodded.
I sure hope so. Taylor watched the Zuul come closer, then raised his hand to signal the move. Take ‘em!
In a single, fluid motion, Taylor slipped from his corner, caught Zuul one by the head, and slid the blade past its throat. The alien never made a sound.
The same couldn’t be said for its companion.
Snap!
Taylor spun to see the other Zuul drop like a ragdoll to the floor, its head having been twisted 270 degrees.
“Don’t look so surprised.” Japhara wiped his hands. “The Sumatozou are among the mercenary races, you know. Just because we choose not to fight at times doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of doing so.”
Taylor was impressed. “Good on ya.”
The coast momentarily clear, the duo proceeded onward up another set of corridors, halting every few corners to bypass the other guards. From there, they worked their way to the structure’s main entrance, where they halted at a patch of sunlight being cast onto the floor from the outside.
“How does it look?” Japhara mumbled.
Taylor peered forward onto the open ground. “Sadeed’s residence is roughly twenty yards straight ahead. The entrance to Cell Block One is on the far side of that.”
“How about security?” Japhara asked.
“Way more than we can take with a blade and a stun baton.” Taylor was just about to lead them back in search of an alternate route when Japhara caught his arm.
“Wait,” the alien said. “Look there.”
A hauler approached from the main barracks and eased to a stop directly in their path to Cell Block One. It was piloted by two Krulig and met by several Zuul, who began boarding the cargo bed with supplies.
“Let us be patient,” the Sumatozou said.
Taylor bit his lip. “Ya know, Japhara, between my childhood and my tenure with the Eagles, I’ve been at this merc thing for most of my life. In all that time, I still can’t believe I’ve never once heard of these guys.”
“The Krulig?” Japhara asked. “That’s not surprising. Their species has been circling the proverbial void of extinction for millennia.”
“Yeah, Sadeed mentioned that in our first meetin’,” Taylor said. “He told me a series of unfortunate events about five thousand years ago that led to his race’s banishment from their solar system. They’ve been nomads ever since.”
“A series of unfortunate events.” Japhara scoffed. “Take my word on this, Van Zant. The Krulig have no one to blame but themselves for what happened to their people. My lords, the Guild Heads, had little choice but to act as they did.”
Taylor snapped back to his companion. “Wait. It was the Cartography Guild who drove the Krulig out? Why?”
“Plainly put,” Japhara said, “the Krulig stole from us and were caught.”
Taylor hadn’t a clue what that meant.
“As should be clear by now, the Krulig are an exceptionally resilient race,” Japhara said. “They are also, coincidentally, among the greediest beings to ever step foot in Union territory. Their treachery started small, when a handful of their officers began siphoning funds from our daily stargate transactions. In time, that betrayal grew to the full-fledged theft of Guild property for sale on the underground markets. When my lords learned of this, it was decided that a message needed to be sent, and sent it was. Such began the Krulig species’ march toward oblivion.”
Taylor narrowed his gaze. “How would the Krulig have access to Cartography Guild funds and property?”
“Simple.” Japhara shrugged. “The Krulig are the original gate masters.”
Taylor’s jaw dropped. “Bull shit.”
“Such crude language.” Japhara pointed back outside. “Look.”
The final few Zuul climbed onto the hauler with their crates. The craft then re-fired its engines and took off across the compound.
“I believe now would be an opportune time to summon your friends,” Japhara said.
Taylor applied his pinlink and keyed his comm. “Jack, you all set?”
“Ready when you are, Chief,” the old merc said. “Just say the word.”
Taylor didn’t miss a beat. “The word is given, Sergeant.”
A booming thunderclap shook the earth, sending a thick pillar of black smoke billowing skyward to the south. A high-pitched klaxon responded.
“All squads!” a Zuul voice barked through speakers across the compound. “Proceed at once to the Nyo Colony fuel depot! Transports are standing by!”
The swarm of Zuul who’d filled the compound scattered on cue, many heading south on foot while others scrambled to the transport haulers waiting to take them to the explosion site.
Thanks, Valawn. Taylor clutched his baton. “Let’s roll.”
Sticking to the perimeter, which offered the most cover, Taylor and Japhara weaved their way across the facility, pausing briefly to scoop up real weapons, until they reached the stairwell down to Cell Block One. There, Taylor cut across right to clear the opening, while Japhara button-hooked left to do the same. Once inside, the duo proceeded down to the confinement area.
Pop, pop.
One Zuul fell at the first junction.
Pop, pop. Pop, pop, pop.
Three more followed around the bend.
Spotting the entranc
e to Smitty’s cell ahead, Taylor picked off a final Zuul, then produced his confiscated hand for use on the access panel.
“Chief?” Smitty blurted in surprise. Her eyes went even wider upon seeing the Sumatozou. “Where in the bloody hell did he come from?”
“Long story,” Taylor said. “I’ll explain later. For now, we gotta go.”
Smitty stepped back as Taylor opened her cage.
“Can you move?” Taylor asked.
“Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting two weeks for someone to ask me that.” Smitty snatched a rifle from one of the dead Zuul and ran through its operations. “You’re on point. I’ve got your six. Call the play.”
Together, the group slipped out of the cell block and back up toward the entrance. They’d just cleared the exit into daylight when a voice shouted from behind, “Intruders!”
Ah, hell.
Taylor’s rifle rocketed to his shoulder as Smitty did the same from a knee. A spray of laser fire erupted from their weapons, scattering the Zuul brood before it could advance.
“Run!” Smitty shouted.
Taylor chattered off another barrage while Japhara sprinted for cover behind a nearby warehouse. Next went Smitty, then Taylor once the others had taken position to lay down covering fire.
“Please tell me you’ve got a plan for getting us back to the Sanctuary,” Smitty said, panting.
A laser bolt smashed the corner near their position, causing all three beings to lunge backward.
“We don’t have to make it back that far,” Taylor said through a shower of debris. “We just have to make it past the fence and back out into the open.”
“Then what?” Smitty asked.
“Then we hitch a ride.” Taylor keyed his comm while the others kept the Zuul pinned down across the yard. “Jack, it’s Taylor. We’ve got Smitty and are headed for the western gate.”
“Copy that,” Jack answered. “Your limo’s inbound!”
Another laser blast pelted their location, prompting Smitty to return fire. She pulled back a second later when her chem mag went dark. “I’m out.”
Free Bird Rising Page 23
