“He’s a scavenger?” Kaiden asked.
“That’s one of his professions. But he’s also a murderer who’s wanted in several countries, colonies, and stations. No clan, gang, or mercenary group backing. The last time he was in a merc group was the Starkillers, and he eliminated them.”
“I’ve never heard of them. Did he kill their leader or something?” Lazar asked.
“Yes, along with the remaining fifty-six members of the group,” Magellan revealed. “They almost lost a battle with a small team from the Omega Horde. He personally killed most of them in that fight. Apparently, he thought his mercenary group wasn’t up to snuff, and instead of simply leaving, he felt the need to eliminate the entire gang. He killed those present and hunted down the others who weren’t even there.”
“So he’s cold-blooded. A kind of guy who won’t accept the weak?” Lazar questioned.
“Actually, he’s a fairly nice guy and has a good sense of humor.” Kaiden and Lazar gave him questioning looks. “He’s certainly vile and tops my personal list of people who need a bullet in them, but he’s not exactly the silent or chest-pounding type.”
“A man who would kill off all his buddies for a single mistake doesn’t strike me as a Mr. Personality,” Kaiden retorted.
“Most serial killers don’t think with the kind of logic we can necessarily understand,” Magellan countered. “I don’t agree with what he spouts, but I almost admire his commitment to his way of thinking. He’s killed cops, guards, gang members, mercs, and other bounty hunters and even a couple of other killers and slavers. He has a ‘live by the sword, die by the sword’ mentality. If you pick up a weapon, your life is fair game. If you fail, it’s forfeit.”
“It sounds like he would be a bounty hunter for sport instead of creds,” Lazar commented.
“He could have made a good hunter, in all honesty,” Magellan agreed thoughtfully. “But I’ve trailed him for almost a year now. Like I said, he’s damn slippery when he wants to be. At other times, he makes a scene and I can get to him in time, but he’s been able to escape all four times.” Magellan tapped his chest armor. “He uses a long-shot pistol he calls Whistle. My best guess is that it’s a modified Specter, but he prefers a jagged blade he carries with him at all times. That blade of his has left me a few scars.”
“You make him sound like some sort of phantom. Does he have a name?” Lazar asked.
Magellan nodded. “Gin Sonny.”
The merc’s eyes widened, and a cold chill chased up Kaiden’s spine. He had heard the name in the news and on the lips of the people in rogue ports. He carried a bounty of almost sixty-five million credits and a body count in the hundreds and was known to mostly attack colonies and traveling vessels. Recently, he had slaughtered a dozen members of a gang and twenty guards, both on the Hughes Station.
“And you think he’s here on Earth?” Lazar asked, his rumbling, serious tone sharpened by surprise. “Do you think he’s here?” He gestured vaguely toward their destination.
Magellan nodded. “That’s why I took this mission. It’s easier to hide as a member of a chain team for a simple retrieval mission than to announce my presence by coming alone. If I took my own ship or even a commercial flight, that could potentially give me away.” He palmed his pistol, a small silver weapon with a brighter sheen than his rifle. “This fires disrupter kinetic rounds and punches clean through armor and shields while barriers can’t touch them,” he explained. “Despite the fact that he seems to prefer more…visceral weapons, he has a talent for tech. Part of the reason he keeps getting away is all the tech he scavenges and repurposes.”
“That’s a hell of a thing to keep hidden from us. It could mean our necks if he runs across us while trying to get to you,” Lazar fumed.
“Or you could have taken this mission knowing nothing at all if I hadn’t come,” Magellan countered as he stowed his gun. “Besides, he has no vendetta with me, so it’s not like he’s stalking me and you’re caught up in it. He may not be here, but it’s a potential target. I searched every corner and tunnel of Hughes station and found no trace other than the pod ship he used to get there hiding in a bay. My guess is he boarded a supply ship to Earth, and the only ships that came through between his massacre and the time I arrived both came from South America—one from Chile and one from Brazil. The Brazilian one was larger and therefore provided more places to hide. Add this to the fact that the dome over there was abandoned by its team when it was attacked by mutants, and it seems the tastiest target for him. Unless, of course, he found another batch of victims, but I would have heard of that by now. He likes to show the corpses off.”
Kaiden’s heart raced and a prickle of something he hadn’t felt in a long time left him oddly uneasy. Fear, he realized, but shrugged it off. He drew a deep breath and calmed himself while he checked his gear, grenades, salves, guns, blade, and armor. The routine activity restored his focus, and he reminded himself that everything was in place. Mutants were a bitch but weren’t unconquerable. Essentially, they were only animals with enhanced capabilities and bloodlust, but they could still be defeated if you knew what you were doing—like mercs or most droids.
The enemies he had faced were more like an obstacle, not a threat. But potentially facing a killer like Gin Sonny—one who took joy in hunting you down and whose expertise was ending your life—somehow seemed immensely more potent.
Something infinitely more terrifying.
“Hey, boss, are we going? It’s been more than five minutes,” Hodder called.
Lazar looked at Magellan one last time before he turned to his lackeys. “Yeah, we’re going, but I need to fill you two in on something first.” He walked away from Kaiden and the bounty hunter.
“Don’t worry about it, kid. If he is here, I’ll take care of him,” Magellan avowed and placed a hand briefly on Kaiden’s shoulder before he walked away. The ace nodded, held up his weapon, and looked at the dome.
It was time to see if the Nexus training had paid off. If he fell on this trip, there were no lives to spare. This death would be final.
Chapter Three
The group approached the doors of the biodome’s entrance. One had been ripped off its hinges and laid damaged and rusting on the jungle floor. Hodder and Lazar took point, peered into the entrance, and signaled the others to move in. Kaiden entered first, his machine gun at the ready. They hadn’t encountered anything thus far, but cries and growls echoed in the air and metallic crashes and thumps from within signaled that this wouldn’t be a simple jaunt.
They proceeded into the building and a long passageway with a number of doors on either side that provided innumerable options.
“Should we split up?” Kaiden asked.
“Fuck that,” Kane declared. The man clutched a cannon—smaller than Hodder’s, but Kaiden was more worried about his than the big one, as Kane’s finger’s drummed nervously on the trigger. “We move as a group. I ain’t walking around here alone, not with the possibility of running into that crazy killer. When we get through this, I’m demanding a raise in the pay.”
“I’m beginning to miss all that bluster you had on the dropship.” Kaiden activated the flashlight on his helmet. “Would you stop fidgeting with that thing? It makes me feel anxious because it seems more likely that you’ll blow us apart than death by mutants.”
“You’ll hear him charge it up before he fires, remember?” Hodder sneered. He stepped up beside Kaiden and with a cocky smirk. “Besides, look at it like this. It’ll be a quick death compared to having your limbs torn apart and eaten by shriekers.”
Kaiden swung his gaze to the merc who raised a hand to block the light from his eyes. “If we run into any of them, they’ll hopefully drown out his welching.”
“How can you guys be so calm about this?” Kane hissed. “Dealing with a killer with a sixty-five million credit bounty? That’s over the line.”
“Quiet, Kane,” Lazar instructed and pushed past the trio to peer down the hall. “If you�
�re too chickenshit to continue, go back to the rendezvous point and wait there. We’ll take care of this, and Hodder and I will split your cut.”
Kane stiffened and a frown crossed his features. His breathing still hitched but the finger stopped tapping the trigger. “Fuck that too. I want my share.”
“Good. Focus on that. We aren’t here for anyone’s head. We’re here to retrieve that storage container and get out of here,” Lazar reminded them. “This bastard might not even be here, and if he is, he’s Magellan’s problem, not ours.”
“Let’s get moving, boss,” Hodder requested as he raised his cannon over his head and rolled his shoulders. “I want to find something to shoot. If there isn’t anything here, then I wanna get back and get some liquor. There’s too much blood in my alcohol stream.”
“Is the Jolt finally kicking in?” Kaiden asked and earned a toothy smile from the grunt.
“Kane’s still got some if you’re looking for a lift,” he offered.
Kaiden released a single sarcastic laugh. “Nah, I’m good. I’ll drink like a fish, but I need my shooting hand to remain solid. It won’t do any good if my shots keep spasming.”
“Lightweight.” The merc chuckled and continued down the hall.
“Where are you going? Do you know where this thing is?”
“I’ll start kicking doors in. I’m bound to find it sooner or later,” he called back and poised at the first door to do exactly that.
“Hodder, calm down,” Lazar demanded. “You’ll get your fix, but it’s better to not bring this whole jungle down on top of us.”
“Bring on whatever,” the mouthy merc retorted. “I can take it. Maybe I’ll even haul a few of the mutant carcasses back and earn some creds from the labs back home.” He shrugged. “You’re the boss, but make sure we find something. I gotta fever, you know?”
“No kidding,” his leader grumbled.
Kaiden shifted his machine gun into a more comfortable grip. “At least he seems in better spirits than before.”
“He’s got a party going on in his head, only no brain cells were invited,” Lazar muttered which prompted a snicker from Kaiden. “Hey, kid, so you think you can use that fancy EI of yours to get us a map?”
“I can, but I’ll need a system to plug him into. I doubt Axiom has the layouts of their facilities on the extranet. Chief, do you have any ideas?”
“Check around. Fancy places like this usually have a directory or kiosk in the front. If it’s still functional, I can download the map or schematics and get us a course,” the EI suggested.
Kaiden nodded and exchanged a nod with Magellan. The bounty hunter walked past him and Kane and took his place beside Lazar. “The details said that it would be kept in some sort of storage unit in the cryo-bay,” the merc leader informed them. “This place is running on minimal power, which makes me wonder if whatever they are looking for is even good anymore.”
“The container itself is temperature-sealed and insulated, with coatings and protection well above what we’re used to. I’ll give Axiom and their ilk this—they’re thorough.” Magellan studied the cracked and dilapidated corridor. “Perhaps not wise, though. But I’m sure one of their suits is learning that hindsight comes at a high cost, even fiscally.”
Lazar chuckled and fumbled for another cigarette. He offered one to Magellan, who nodded appreciatively. They lit up using Lazar’s flame and watched as Kane walked past them to Hodder, who now did a little jig in place as his excitement built and the drugs coursed through his veins.
“You seemed to be stuck with rather interesting company,” Magellan observed as Kane and Hodder jested with one another. “But you have their respect. It must have cost you a lot.”
“Fire Riders are a simple bunch. I’ll stay with them to the bitter end, but we’re basically barbarians with laser guns and explosives,” Lazar confessed. “The strongest comes out on top. I got my position through battle and killing a couple of my superiors. As for the cost…” He lifted the gauntlet on his arm “Let’s just say that this isn’t an accessory.”
Magellan nodded and took a quick puff. “I noticed the attachment stitching along the rim. I figure you can at least make enough from this to get a regrowth treatment or perhaps nano-repair. I don’t need the credits so I can throw some your way at the end of this. Think of it as hazard pay for getting caught up in my troubles.”
“Nice of you,” Lazar acknowledged and took a long drag, “I’ll take you up on that. We’ll discuss the incidentals on the ride back. But, from your tone, I’m guessing you really do think your target is here?”
Magellan placed the cigarette back to his lips. “There are still no guarantees, and my EI hasn’t picked anything up but the scents and markings of mutants but… Call it a gut feeling.”
“Then I’ll keep watch. Gut feelings can be more useful than any radar or scanner,” Lazar stated.
“Hey, I got a map.” Magellan and Lazar stepped forward as Kaiden returned. “Good news and bad news. The cryo-bay is a straight shot from here.” Kaiden had Chief bring up a large display of the biodome’s interior. Seeing it, Hodder and Kane walked over to join them. “The bad news is that it crosses right through this area.” Kaiden pointed to a circular room at the end of the hall, “There are enough sensors left in this place to show life signs, and we have a fair number all in this room. The rest of the place is virtually clear, except for the occasional lifeform along the far side.”
“They must have set up systems to repel the mutants, although they didn’t do much good,” Magellan mused.
“They still have a few emitters blasting those high-frequency sounds that drive away most mutants, along with others emitting smells,” Chief explained. He assumed the form of a smaller version of himself on top of the map and looked at Kane and Hodder. “I’m surprised the two of you can stand being in here.”
This earned the EI annoyed looks from the mercs as Kaiden smiled under his helmet. “Anyway,” he continued as Kane leaned over and flicked the holographic sphere. “You can either push straight through or try to go around. There isn’t a back entrance or anything, but there might be a damaged wall on the sides that you can blast through. But that would probably attract all the mutants in the dome to you anyway, not to mention anything else outside that can withstand the repellents— Would you quit that?” Chief yelled, and his brow furrowed angrily as he looked at Kane.
“It seems the mutants are adapting, as they are wont to do.” Magellan sighed and flicked his finished cigarette away. “I agree that we should head straight there. There’s little point in luring more potential problems here. Do we know what is waiting for us or is it merely vague lifeforms?”
“Shriekers, like we guessed. A small colony of them,” Kaiden answered.
“Oh, they are gonna shriek all right,” Hodder declared with a smile. “Come on, Kane. Let’s go run out the squatters of this fine facility.”
“But what about…you know?” Kane sounded worried, but Hodder waved his concerns aside.
“Pop another jolt or something, man. You’re ruining my wave. Let’s get a ruckus going.”
Kane was still for a moment before he shook his head and ran off, clasping his cannon. Kaiden turned the map off as Lazar walked ahead. “You’re with me, kid. The two jitter brothers will blow them up as soon as we open the doors, you and I will take out as many as we can while they charge, and Magellan… Watch our backs.”
“Sounds good to me,” the bounty hunter agreed and followed with his rifle at the ready.
Kaiden could feel his excitement build again. Mutant-slaying was a badge he had earned, and he was happy to be able to put it to use.
Hodder and Kane stood on either side of the doors to the lab. The larger man settled his finger on the trigger as he looked at Kane, his face grim but steady. They glanced at Lazar, who held his heavy machine gun beside Kaiden who held a thermal ready in his hand. The merc leader nodded at Kaiden and Magellan, who responded in the affirmative before he gave
Hodder the go ahead.
The merc grinned broadly and pressed the trigger to charge his cannon as he and Kane turned and kicked the doors open “Wakey, plasma bakey,” he hollered as he and his partner fired two volleys of plasma charges from their cannons. A loud, piercing, carnal cry resounded as the charges connected and massive explosions scattered through the room.
Kaiden waited for the blowback to die down before he activated his thermal and threw it in. Lazar fired as Hodder and Kane moved in while their cannons charged again. Kaiden raised his machine gun and strafed the room as he and the merc leader followed. Magellan’s rifle pounded from behind.
The room was dark, and if it weren’t for the bright flashes of the cannon fire, he would have upped the light sensitivity in his visor. Instead, he traced along the floor and halls with the flashlight on his helmet as another shot of cannon fire erupted on the other side of the room. He spotted their targets. The shriekers stood between five and six feet tall and were covered in black fur tinged red with the dried blood of their prey. Long tails whipped behind them, and deep yellow eyes surrounded black irises. Two of them stared at Kaiden and bared their long, curved teeth. They emitted a high-pitched cry—the piercing shriek for which they were named—in an effort to frighten or stun them.
“Chief, activate sound dampeners,” Kaiden ordered. Their cries were immediately muted, as were the shots from his gun. He eliminated the one on the left with ease as the other charged. Kaiden was able to fire two shots, one to the arm and the other to the shoulder. It swerved to the side and dashed along the ground before it leapt at the wall and used it to bounce off and tackle him. He landed and yanked out his blade quickly as the shrieker bit into his opposite shoulder. The armor cracked as it tried to sink its teeth into his flesh.
Animus Boxed Set 1 (Books 1-4): Initiate, Co-Op, Death Match, Advance Page 94
