The Enhanced Series Box Set

by T. C. Edge

  I get little chance to muse on it, though, as Zander is soon returning with Colonel Hatcher in tow. The latter’s face looks rather pallid, more so than usual, the darkest of circles beneath his intense eyes. He may have had some rest, but it can’t have been much.

  “Right then, what’s this plan?” he questions gruffly as he enters the inner circle.

  We share a quick round of looks, hesitating. Then Zander takes up the mantle and cogently explains just what we’ve been talking about. All the while, I inspect the colonel’s face and find my attempts to read him futile. Either he really does know nothing, or he’s a fantastic liar and actor.

  He listens without interruption as Zander speaks. Once the rather basic skeleton of the plan has been laid out, he grinds open his stubbly jaw and immediately says, “I like it.”

  He then looks at me.

  “One of yours again, Brie?” he asks.

  I nod.

  “Well, sometimes it needs a less experienced mind to consider a riskier course. It’s brash but worth a shot. Blitzkrieg has been around for a long time as a battle tactic, but is still difficult to counter when used right. We won’t have too many men to strike with, but if we put our better ones to the task, it could prove highly profitable for us.”

  “And you’re happy to use your Stalkers?” queries Lady Orlando.

  “Of course. They aren’t mine. I merely manage them. They will be put to whatever use best serves their talents. Stalkers don’t tend to enjoy defence. Attack is more in line with their programming.”

  Zander raises an eyebrow.

  “Yes, we’re well aware of that,” he says with a hint of a knowing smile.

  Colonel Hatcher doesn’t react. Instead, his brow crinkles, and he looks directly at Lady Orlando.

  “You hold rank here, Lady Orlando. This is yours to green light.”

  She bows respectfully.

  “Thank you, Colonel. I sanction this plan, but will leave it to you and Commander Burns to thrash out the details. I have no mind for military matters on this scale.”

  “Ah, you do yourself a disservice, my Lady. You have proven quite capable over the years.”

  She nods her head again, and the colonel scans the group before landing his eyes on my brother and me.

  “How are you two feeling? Refreshed?”

  We both nod.

  “Good, you’ll need to be. As much as I’d like to get back out there with you, I feel I’d only slow you down. I shall speak with my men and inform them of the plan.”

  I feel a slight clench in my chest at the idea of Hatcher staying here. I just can’t shed the thought that he may still be here under Cromwell’s orders.

  “And we shall do the same with ours,” says Commander Burns. “It will be important to operate together on this task, and we’ll need to balance our units correctly. Too large and they will run the risk of being spotted before they strike. Too small and they may not make an impact. Then there’s the defence to think about. We can only spare so many men. Ideally, we’ll wait for a lull and then attack.”

  “A lull?” I say.

  “Yes, Brie,” says Burns. “By that I mean a period when the fighting calms…”

  I nod hurriedly.

  “Yes, sorry…I know what you meant. I’m just wondering whether that’s the best time to attack?”

  I look around the group. They await further explanation.

  “Go ahead, Brie,” says Burns. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Well, during these lulls, aren’t they looking for other ways to attack us? You know, trying to find holes in our defence? That would mean they’d be more likely to see us sneaking through our flanks, right? Again, I’m new at all this, but I just think that the best time to strike will be when they’re busy fighting at the blockades. Their attention won’t be on us then, and they won’t see or hear us coming in the commotion. Less likely to, at least.”

  “Well, you really are full of surprises, young lady,” remarks Hatcher approvingly. “You have a natural mind for this. I agree with you completely. What say you, Leyton?”

  “She speaks perfect sense,” Burns admits. “It is typically brazen, and that’s something that we’ve all come to expect of you.” A smile graces his lips. “Right, well let’s get to it, shall we?”

  He looks specifically to Hatcher and Zander, who all nod to each other. Then they set off into the centre of the hall, presumably to pass on orders to all radio technicians and information officers to spread the word to all units. Burns and Zander sweep off first. Hatcher begins to as well, before stopping and turning back.

  “Ah, one more thing, Lady Orlando.”

  “Yes?”

  “Just a piece of information I picked up from one of my Stalkers. He told me he heard a whispered conversation between two of your men regarding the fate of Director Cromwell. Apparently, he’s alive and well at the REEF. Have you heard anything about this?”

  I feel my heart constrict, and do my best to not react. Hatcher glances at me, then turns his eyes back to my grandmother. She remains composed as always, unflinching. She takes a moment before handling the query.

  “I was informed of this rumour, yes,” she says smoothly. “It’s quite possible, don’t you think?”

  She turns the tables, switching things back to Hatcher. I watch him close, and see no deceit in him. If anything, him drawing attention to this rumour only serves to confirm that he hasn’t been in contact with Cromwell at all. Otherwise, why on earth would he bring it up?

  He begins to nod.

  “Possible,” he murmurs. “Though, unusual. I don’t quite see how Director Cromwell would have made it to the REEF without significant aid. His last known whereabouts was in the central western quarter.” Suddenly, his gaze swings to me. “Do you know anything of this, Brie?”

  I gulp and my eyes fall momentarily. I can’t hold my form like my grandmother can. I’m fully aware that my expression is telling and body language awkward.

  I choose to merely shake my head and shrug. Hatcher looks at me for a time and then draws a breath, wincing slightly and clutching his side.

  “Well, good news anyhow. I’m sure the director will be able to fill us all in when he gets a chance. I have tried contacting the REEF, but their comms seem to be down. It’s possible the compound suffered some fire damage during the inferno, disabling such capabilities.”

  “Indeed, that sounds quite likely,” says Lady Orlando. “Let’s hope the rumour turns out to be true.”

  She smiles. Falsely.

  Hatcher bows his head.

  “Well, I’ll keep my ear out for more…whispers,” he says, glancing at me again. “Right, I’d best get to it. No time to waste.”

  He sweeps off again, and I release a long breath. I look to my grandmother, the two of us alone for the first time since I returned.

  “That was tense,” I say, watching the colonel march back across the room. “Maybe we should have just told him.”

  “Perhaps. Hard, though, after lying to him initially. I’m more worried about this Stalker overhearing something. That won’t do at all. We need to make sure our men are incredibly discreet about this.”

  I nod, the reality of how difficult all of this is beginning to set in. We can’t have any of Hatcher’s people getting wind of our little retreat plan. That could cause serious problems of trust, whether they’re under orders or programmed by Cromwell or not.

  “And, what about this contacting the REEF stuff?” I ask. “Has anyone actually tried that yet? On our side, I mean.”

  “I don’t believe so,” she says, shaking her head.

  “Then perhaps we should? Just to see if we get through?”

  “Quite. Go and talk to Adryan. He’ll see to it.”

  “OK.”

  I begin to set off, but my grandmother’s voice holds me back. I turn and see her looking at me affectionately, but with a growing worry in her eyes.

  “Brie…I’m so very proud of everything you’ve done.
For you and your brother to have saved Artemis…I know how hard that must have been.”

  “It was…just instinct really. We couldn’t let him die. Not with the risk of his men turning on us.”

  “I know, I know. But still, well done. I hate to keep asking this of you, or expecting it. You’ve done more than enough. Much more than enough. You don’t have to go back out there. You can stay here with me…and Adryan.”

  The thought appeals greatly. But I don’t let it settle or take hold, not even for a second. I grit my teeth and shake my head.

  “No. I can’t stay here. I’m needed out there…grandma.”

  She lets out a little breath and blinks at the title, as if any time I say it she gets a jolt of rare joy. I consider, in that moment, telling her that Zander now knows. That there’s no need for subterfuge anymore. That, before he goes back out there, she can speak with him, hug him as her grandson. Tell him what she told me. Tell him she loves him. Take the chance that may never come again.

  I consider it in that moment, but the moment is brief. It comes and goes, forming and then dissipating, fading off into my head before it can take a firm grip. I keep my mouth shut, and my mind quickly turns to other things.

  “I should get back to it,” I say quickly.

  She lowers her smile, my grandma morphing back into this great leader. Those moments of softness are brief, but special to me. They’re private moments, for no one but us. The leader, the figure of Lady Orlando, is for everyone.

  My grandmother is just for me.

  273

  The first thing I do upon leaving my grandmother is hunt down Adryan. I find him amid the bustle, overseeing a bunch of military analysts and comms officers as they continue to gather intel from all units involved in the fighting. It’s a constantly changing landscape, with updates continually being sent from Outer Haven to help us paint a detailed picture of the battle at large.

  That picture isn’t currently a pretty one from everything I’ve heard.

  As I step towards him, he completes a conversation with an officer before turning to me.

  “What’s up, Brie?” he asks. “I hear you came up with this new strategy we’re implementing. Impressive.”

  “Nothing new, really. I just think it’s time we attacked. Give the Cure a taste of their own medicine, you know.”

  “Offence is the best form of defence,” remarks Adryan. “It’s an old phrase people used to use.”

  “Yeah. Heard that one before.”

  “Right. So I’m pretty busy here trying to spread word of your plan…”

  The hint is clear - leave me alone.

  “Yeah, course. I just need you to do something real quick.”

  “Um, sure. What is it?”

  “Try to get in contact with the REEF.” I step a little closer and lower my voice, making sure Hatcher’s suitably far away across the hall. “Hatcher heard a rumour from a Stalker that Cromwell’s alive. His guy overheard a couple of our men whispering about it.”

  “Hmmm, that’s not good.”

  “Yeah, well our people need to be more discreet when discussing Cromwell. Anyway, the colonel mentioned how he’d been trying to get in touch with the REEF since, but couldn’t. No comms he said. Could you try? Just to make sure he’s telling the truth. If so, it helps support the idea that he’s not in cahoots with Cromwell.”

  “No problem at all. I’ll get right on it. Follow me.”

  He leads me over to a comms officer at the end of the bench. The man’s currently occupied, spreading a message down the line about the new plan to some commander out in the city. Once he’s done, Adryan snatches his attention. His orders to contact the REEF are greeted by a raised eyebrow but no queries. The technician gets right to it, dialling into several frequencies and channels and coming up with the same result each time.

  “Nothing, sir. Comms are down.”

  Adryan looks at me.

  “That’s what the colonel said,” I nod.

  “So, what does that mean?” Adryan asks the man. “Could their tech over there be malfunctioning?”

  “Damaged, or manually shut down,” says the technician. “Either or, really.”

  “Thank you,” says Adryan. “Continue with what you were doing.”

  We step away from him.

  “Possibly fire damage from the blaze in the woods,” says Adryan. “That, or Cromwell’s had comms shuts down to prevent contact. Leaves me a bit uneasy, that second one.”

  “Hmmm. Me too,” I say. “And, thinking about it, the first one makes no sense. I mean, Zander and I didn’t see the entire compound or anything, but it didn’t seem to have been touched by the flames from what we did see. Either way, nothing we can do about it, right?”

  “Nope. Though, we could send someone out there to keep watch with a functioning radio. A Hawker, ideally, so they can get out there quick and watch from afar. It would be nice to have some warning if something does happen.”

  “Definitely. Good idea. Dangerous sending a single man out there now, but we could send him out with the strike team. He could then go off and keep watch, scout from outside the city walls.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Your plan this time,” I say, smiling.

  He returns the look.

  “We make a good team, don’t we?”

  I sneak a kiss.

  “Not bad,” I grin.

  I leave Adryan at that, and quickly update my grandmother on what I’ve heard. She considers the idea of sending a scout a good one.

  “He can go with the strike team in the western quarter. You said last night that you encountered no enemy soldiers at the breach in the wall, or anywhere nearby? Correct?”

  “Yeah,” I say. “The outer districts were deserted. All the action was at the centre of the quarter. I guess it’s closer in now, so a scout shouldn’t have any problems getting beyond the wall unseen.”

  “Right. We need someone well rested.” She thinks a moment, then looks to Marler, still standing like a statue just behind her, ever vigilant. “Come here, Marler,” she says.

  The hybrid steps over.

  “Yes, my Lady?”

  “How do you feel? Energised?”

  “Yes, my Lady, very much so.”

  “Good. I have a task for you, a very important one…”

  “No,” comes my voice, cutting in. Both look at me. “It can’t be him. He’s got a job here, and a damn important one.”

  “I don’t consider it so, Brie,” says Lady Orlando. “I’m perfectly well protected here. Marler has Dasher and Hawk blood. He is rested and one of our finest soldiers. We won’t find a better man to head out there and keep watch for us. You heard our conversation, yes?” she asks, looking at Marler. “We need a scout in the outerlands, overlooking the REEF.”

  “I heard, my Lady.”

  “And you’re up for the challenge?”

  “Whatever you command…”

  “No,” I say again. “There are plenty of Hawkers out there. Lady Orlando, you’re too important to be left unattended.”

  “I’m not unattended. We have some soldiers still here. And Colonel Hatcher is no threat, as has become clear.”

  “Nothing is clear,” I grumble. “I’m sorry, but no. I’m putting my foot down on this one. I’m sure Commander Burns and Zander will agree with me. I’ll fetch them if I have to. I will.”

  My grandmother smirks, a rare expression for her.

  “More and more, Brie, you come out of your shell. I wonder sometimes whether it’s you in charge around here, and not me.”

  “I don’t mean to be disrespectful or anything…”

  She lifts a calming hand and shakes her head.

  “Not at all. I fully understand that you wish to ensure I’m safe and protected. That’s something I can relate to, my dear. I’d rather, of course, that you didn’t have to go out there again, or Zander. But, alas, that’s where you’re better served. The same is true of Marler. He is wasted here, watching
over me.”

  “Well, not if someone attacks you. It only takes one time.”

  “And who’s going to do that, darling? No one. Not here.”

  “It just takes one,” I say again, slower this time. “I’m going to speak with Commander Burns. We’ll find a better option.”

  I escape before she can offer a retort, wondering just why she’s so adamant that Marler leave her side. I assume it’s based off of some misplaced pride at requiring such personal attention, hour after hour, as if she needs babysitting. She probably looks upon all the mayhem out there, and wonders just why she’s got such a gifted bodyguard here in the safest place in the city. He may never be put to use. But again, I repeat…it just takes one time.

  I make sure to put the issue to bed, however, by getting both Commander Burns and Zander onside. The fact that Burns would rather prefer to have Marler around for his own protection, should something go awry, certainly helps my cause. Eventually, my grandmother concedes, always judicious enough to see the logic in our collective opinion on the matter.

  I win the battle and can breathe a little easier. And now, I can do little but wait.

  The morning hurries forward, the fighting around the inner ring of Outer Haven going through several phases as the Cure attempt to press forward. Reports come in that they’re making headway in the north, pressing us back even further. We send reinforcements from the east to bolster our lines. The Cure notice and press harder in the east instead, forcing us to continually ferry more soldiers to areas most under threat.

  With our numbers dwindling, and theirs augmented by the new battalion that arrived overnight, we have little opportunity to allow our men to rest. So far, the system has worked, our army sufficiently large to allow groups of men to take rest while others hold the line. Now, however, all available forces are called to action, many of those manning the wall and gates to Inner Haven required to join. The only trump card we have left are the cannons and large guns affixed to the ramparts. Though, there are far fewer around the inner walls than there were the perimeter walls, and with so many buildings acting as cover for the enemy, they’re likely to be far less effective.