The Survival Chronicles (Book 7): Hard Mercy

by Nally, Fergal F.

  “The NSA will do a sweep in the tunnel. They might have thermal imaging goggles. If you pull that around you it’ll hide your heat signature. Just a precaution—” Barnes tapped his BoPET-lined ghillie suit, “Me, I’m OK, I’ve got this.”

  Mercy nodded, “Good call Barnes, thanks.”

  Mercy and Rose sat in silence for a few minutes, lost in thought. The captive tropes shuffled and moaned in the stairwell below. Outside, birds chattered in the early morning sun. Mercy shut her eyes and tried to empty her mind.

  A lot can happen in twenty-four hours. I wonder where we’ll be in twenty-four hours—

  She stiffened.

  There is no past, there is no future. There is only this moment, this now, this breath, this heartbeat. Do it. Live as long as you can… and when it’s your time, it’s time—

  “OK, ladies, saddle up. I reckon we need to get the show on the road,” Barnes picked up his pack and stepped out into the light.

  Mercy helped Rose with the captured tropes and together they emerged from the shelter into the sunshine. Mercy looked at Barnes, striding ahead, and at Rose beside her. Doubts grew in her mind. She slowed down, almost stopping.

  Rose noticed and halted, “What’s up Mercy? Something wrong?”

  If it’s stupid, but it works, it isn’t stupid—

  Mercy blinked, her resolve returning. “No, I’m good. We’re good. It’s just… such a beautiful day—”

  Rose smiled, “Yeah, I know what you mean. I was just thinking that myself—”

  Such a beautiful day—

  Chapter 3

  Infiltration

  They used the fire department access hatch as before and fifty minutes later they were underground, approaching Eastern Market Metro Station. Mercy raised a hand and crouched beside the wall. She turned to the others.

  “Lights out from now on. We’re a few minutes away from the laser wall. It gives off just enough light to see by. There’s a slight curve in the tunnel coming up soon.” Mercy paused and rubbed her face. “Does everyone know what they’re doing? Are there any last minute questions?”

  Barnes grunted, “We breach the laser wall, activate the alarm, leave these stiffs for the NSA to find… then we find us a place to hide.” He shrugged, “It’s all good, what could possibly go wrong?”

  “That’s about it. Just don’t forget; keep away from the third rail. You’ll be no use to us if you’re electrocuted,” Rose said, gripping Mercy’s shoulder. “Otherwise it’ll be fine, see you the other side of this shit.” Rose held up a fist.

  Mercy returned the fist bump and turned to Barnes. “Let’s do it, keep those tropes on a short leash,” Mercy said, jerking her head at the two bound tropes.

  They switched off their torches and moved on in the dark, feeling their way. The tunnel curved and soon the red laser lattice became visible thirty yards away. Mercy advanced, her eyes glued to the laser barrier ahead. A distant booming reverberated from the side tunnel a few yards beyond the laser wall.

  That’s the NSA’s sonic tower in Lincoln Park. Fine, situation normal, as it should be. Just ignore us, nothing to see here you bastards—

  Mercy approached the red lattice and examined the laser apparatus surrounding the tunnel.

  Yeah, this was the only call we could’ve made. There’s no way we could’ve hacked these electronics. We have to walk through it, set it off on purpose—

  Mercy turned to the others, “Ready?”

  Barnes nodded. Rose gave a thumbs up. Mercy waved Barnes forwards. He stood up and shoved the two captive tropes through the laser wall. Its red light fragmented, flickering across their shuffling bodies. Yellow flashing lights lit up the metro tunnel ahead and a shrill alarm sounded in the distance. Barnes followed his charges through the laser wall, leading them on with the rope. Mercy checked her watch and followed with Rose.

  Two to four minutes until the NSA comes to investigate—

  They made it to the side tunnel and started searching. Barnes stopped just inside the entrance and pointed to an air duct recess running along the ceiling. “I’ll hide up there and cut the stiffs free when I’m out of reach. They’ve got my scent so they’ll stay below me. You’re OK with your biotech… they won’t follow you—”

  Mercy looked back at the main metro tunnel, her heart racing. She checked the space blanket under her jacket. “Do it—”

  Rose had gone further up the side passage and was just visible beyond the reach of the main tunnel’s flashing yellow light.

  Rose has found somewhere to hide. It’s everyone for themselves—

  Barnes began climbing a stanchion under the air duct apparatus. Mercy watched as he concealed himself in the recess behind the air ducts.

  He’s in. Find somewhere—

  Mercy frowned.

  Alarm’s gone silent—

  She glanced at the metro tunnel ten yards away. Green laser lights were dancing on the tunnel wall.

  Shit, they’re here—

  Mercy moved further up the side passage, her eyes darting ahead to where Rose had ducked down. Her right foot stepped into dead air and she stumbled forwards. She threw out a hand and caught hold of the side wall, managing to steady herself.

  Jesus. What the hell—?

  She stooped down and looked into a hole between the tracks.

  What the hell is this? Some sort of maintenance pit for the carts?

  Voices reached her from behind.

  In, get in—

  Mercy held onto the sides of the pit and lowered herself. Her feet scrabbled on loose earth, she dropped down and crawled to the far end of the pit. A large oily tarpaulin lay over a stack of wooden planks. She crawled under the tarp, squeezing herself in between two massive beams.

  Goddammit. It’s like a coffin—

  Mercy curled up, just managing to conceal herself. Her cheek and forehead pressed against the damp ground. She swore and closed her eyes.

  Damn, if they decide to put a few rounds in here I’m fucked. I can’t even fire back. No wonder Rose gave this a miss. Just breathe—

  Mercy’s heart pounded. Voices reached her from above.

  “Contact—”

  Shouts. A burst of suppressed gunfire in the passage above. A heavy thump near Mercy’s feet. Scraping, groaning in the pit, nearby.

  Shit—

  Footsteps. Torchlight. Voices, closer now.

  “That one’s wearing a helmet, it’s still squirming. Give it another couple of rounds—”

  Two shots from the rim of the pit.

  “Nice. They really do have shit for brains, don’t they?”

  A spitting sound from above.

  More footsteps. A new voice, “Where the fuck did those two tropes come from?”

  “There must be a breach east of here, sir.”

  “Hell, that’s all we need. You two, check down there, make sure there’s no more of the fuckers. I’ll radio this back to base. The rest of the squad will do a sweep down the main tunnel. Catch up with us when you’ve covered this section. Lincoln Park are sending down a crew so you should meet them half way, so no blue on blue fire got it? Use your comms.”

  “Roger that sir, on our way—”

  Footsteps. Torchlight.

  Mercy held her breath and closed her eyes. Her hand tightened around her HK45. She fought the urge to shoot through the tarpaulin.

  They’ll see me. They’ll see me. They’ll see me—

  Voices. Distant booming. A rumble in the passageway.

  “Carts coming. Stand aside.”

  The torchlight pulled back and danced across the ceiling as the NSA men stepped away from the rail tracks. Seconds later the ground shook as six heavily laden mining carts trundled overhead. Mercy swore to herself.

  Fuck. Carts full of body bags. Body bags full of dead alphas. NSA above me. You couldn’t dream this shit up—

  The carts moved into the main metro tunnel and turned west, their sound receding into the distance. Silence returned to the passage. A t
rickle of sweat ran down Mercy’s neck, she let out her breath.

  Wait for them to make the first move—

  Footsteps. Torchlight.

  “Come on Lopez, the sooner we get this job done the sooner we get some chow. I can’t stand that guy, someone’s gonna frag his ass one day. Just sayin’…”

  “I hear that. The fucker had Sherman up on a charge last week for too much facial hair. What is it with that shit—?”

  “His trouble is he thinks he’s back in the old world—”

  The voices receded up the passage and disappeared. Mercy’s right leg stiffened, she swore and gritted her teeth.

  Cramp. Hold on a minute longer just in case—

  “It’s alright Mercy, you can come out now. They’ve gone,” Rose’s voice came from above.

  Mercy straightened her leg and stretched.

  Thank Christ—

  Mercy pushed back the tarpaulin and clambered out from between the planks of wood. She looked up at Rose.

  “Jesus, you’re covered in dirt,” Rose grinned. She extended a hand, “It was worth it though. I think we pulled it off—”

  If it’s stupid, but it works, it isn’t stupid—

  Chapter 4

  Deeper

  They moved cautiously down the metro tunnel and came to an empty guard post in a recess.

  “This is where those soldiers are stationed,” Barnes said, searching the area.

  Mercy tapped her map, “We’ve got three metro stations to go before we reach the Smithsonian. Come on, let’s go. Keep your eyes open for any hiding places. We need to stay sharp, they’ll send more men sooner or later—”

  They continued down the metro tunnel. The flashing emergency lights had been replaced by dim LED strip lights, loosely attached to the walls. The tunnel was straight and they made good progress, reaching Capitol South Metro Station twenty minutes later. The platform was littered with broken crates and trash. Water dripped from the high vaulted concrete ceiling and part of the tracks were submerged. They pressed on through the ghostly space and followed the strip lighting into the far tunnel. The next twenty minutes passed in a blur as they moved on to the next station. Mercy wiped sweat from her forehead, her eyes following the lights ahead.

  It’s like a treadmill. No real point of reference, no horizon. Focus, the next station is Federal Center Southwest. There could be more soldiers there, take it easy—

  A draft from behind, followed by a low rumble.

  More carts coming, pull in—

  Mercy pointed out a maintenance recess on the left and they piled in. Two minutes later six mining carts trundled by, filled with body bags.

  What was I thinking? There’s no way to catch a ride on those things. We’d easily be spotted—

  They watched as the carts receded into the distance. Mercy stuck her head out of the recess and looked up and down the tunnel.

  Clear—

  “Come on guys, next stop Federal Center Station—” Mercy stepped out and moved on, quickening her pace with each step.

  “Hey Mercy, slow it down girl, we’ll get there soon enough. Now’s not the time to make mistakes—” Rose said, catching up.

  Mercy gritted her teeth and reduced her speed, “Yeah, you’re right. I just want to get there and get it on.”

  Get it over. One way or another. End it—

  They staked out Federal Center Station, watching the platform from the relative safety of the tunnel.

  It looks deserted, same crap as before—

  Mercy stood up. Rose touched her on the shoulder and raised a hand. Barnes loomed in the rear. Mercy raised her eyebrows at Rose. Rose picked up some gravel from the ground and threw it at the station platform, five yards away. The small stones skittered across the platform creating tiny echoes across the station. Mercy crouched down, her eyes darting across the area ahead.

  Nothing. Nice touch Rose—

  They passed through Federal Center Station and continued along the damp tunnel to the much larger L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station. Here, the platforms were littered with desiccated corpses. Bullet holes pockmarked the station’s concrete walls. The smell of old death lingered in the air. Some of the bodies were half-eaten. Something scuttled past Mercy’s feet, she looked down bringing her HK45 to bear. She raised her eyes in surprise.

  Rats? Rats? But how come?

  Rose sidled up, “Rats, we’re in a no-trope zone, so the rats have survived here.”

  Wherever the living are, there’s rats. We’re getting closer, next station is the Smithsonian—

  They picked their way over the tracks and were out of L’Enfant Plaza Station a few minutes later. Mercy pushed ahead then stopped twenty yards into the new section of tunnel.

  What’s that—?

  A breeze and metallic rumble filled the confined space.

  Shit. It’s coming from ahead—

  Two bright lights materialized around a corner in the distance. A hand grabbed Mercy’s shoulder pulling her back.

  “Back this way,” Rose hissed in Mercy’s ear.

  They backtracked to the tunnel entrance and out into L’Enfant Plaza Station. Barnes jumped onto the platform and reached down to help Rose up. The rumbling grew louder. Mercy climbed onto the platform and ran after Barnes and Rose.

  Shit, there’s nowhere to hide—

  Rose dropped to the platform. The rumbling reached a crescendo. Mercy and Barnes fell to the ground. Light shone from the tunnel behind. Mercy landed face down on the polished concrete floor beside a dry corpse. The rumbling continued for a few seconds then diminished as the rail car disappeared into the far tunnel.

  They didn’t see us—

  Movement caught Mercy’s eye, she focused on the corpse’s fingers. A cockroach emerged from the dead woman’s sleeve and advanced towards Mercy. A heavy boot appeared, crushing the insect.

  Barnes reached down to Mercy, “You do a pretty good stiff. Even had me fooled for a minute—”

  Mercy grimaced and ignored his hand, “Thanks Barnes. It’ll take more than that to get a rise out of me. Let’s get back to it—”

  Too close to the bone Barnes—

  Barnes winked at Rose who was dusting herself off. “We’re all good here. They missed us. We blended in with the skinnies, there’s just so many of them. We were lucky—”

  Barnes stood up, “Yeah, reckon we were. There were about twenty soldiers in that carriage. They’re obviously gonna do a thorough search of the area. Looks like we’ve got the jump on them though.”

  Mercy stood up and checked her M16. “Come on then, no more delay. Let’s get this job done—”

  Mercy turned and jumped back onto the tracks. The tunnel beckoned.

  Our next stop: the Smithsonian—

  Chapter 5

  Smithsonian

  Thirty minutes later they arrived at the tunnel entrance to the Smithsonian Metro Station. Mercy raised a hand. They crouched down and waited, listening. A row of stationary carts extended along the platform and into the far tunnel. Muffled voices and the sound of machinery came from the station. Mercy glanced back at Rose and Barnes. She pointed to her eyes and signalled ahead.

  This is on me. It’s funny how Barnes is the Navy SEAL and yet he’s taking my directions. Guess I’ve earned my stripes—

  Mercy’s eyes narrowed.

  Yeah, it’s all on me. Don’t think about it—

  She crept forwards, keeping line of sight with Rose and Barnes. The mining carts provided effective cover. She reached a gap between the last two carts and peered through to the well-lit platform. She spotted a security camera at the end of the platform and changed her position. Keeping low, she crept another fifteen yards along the track and peered between the carts.

  A conveyor belt was running from the carts to an open steel hatch in the station wall. Black body bags were moving slowly along the conveyor. The smell of rotting flesh filled the air. Six technicians in yellow Hazmat suits were opening the body bags, checking on the motionless alph
as within. Mercy wrinkled her nose.

  That stench—

  Her eyes strayed to the platform floor. The polished concrete was stained with bodily fluids.

  How long have they been doing this… processing?

  Mercy looked at the five armed guards standing in blue Hazmat suits behind the technicians.

  Automatic weapons, gas masks, gauntlets. They’re taking no chances—

  Her gaze returned to the technicians.

  Hang on, there’s something different about those yellow suits. The hands and sleeves… looks like butcher’s chainmail. Shit, maybe they’ve had incidents with these alphas… maybe they’re just stunned or sedated. But why on earth would they take such a risk in the first place?

  Her eyes went to a separate set of double doors behind the armed guards.

  That’s the way in. It’s either that way in or inside one of those body bags, but they’re checking each and every one of them. Shit… and the platform is covered by CCTV, goddammit. We’re sure as hell not getting in here, not without giving ourselves away. Think, think—

  Mercy glanced back at Rose and Barnes and shook her head. Rose waved at her and pointed to the distant tunnel. Mercy turned around and looked down the tracks. She nodded at Rose and crept forwards behind the row of carts. She reached the open tunnel entrance and stared into darkness beyond.

  OK, no strip lighting in there. So… they don’t use the tunnel beyond this point or what? Well, at least we could hide in there until they’ve finished processing those body bags—

  Mercy looked at the platform on her right. A second camera was facing up the platform, covering the technicians and armed guards.

  That makes two cameras up there. They’re focused on the processing operation and the platform. No cameras down here, not that I can see anyway—

  Mercy turned around and stared at Rose and Barnes in the distance. She bit her lip and frowned.

  Yeah, OK. Come on you guys—

  Mercy raised her arm and beckoned at Rose and Barnes to join her. Five minutes later they were together in the mouth of the dark tunnel. The processing was still under way behind them on the platform. Mercy nodded at Rose and began to edge forwards into the new tunnel. There was just enough light from the platform for her to see the first twenty feet of the rail track. Beyond that lay darkness. Mercy moved forwards, one hand touching the wall on her left, her other hand held out in front, searching dead air. The noise of the platform machinery receded as she went deeper into the tunnel.