by Charles Case
Dozens of stone golems were tearing into a smaller group of human soldiers. These were not the ones clad in power armor, but regular field gear, and they were being torn apart faster than they could set up a defense. The soldiers were putting up a good fight as they tried to retreat; every once in a while an explosive round found the controller module at the golem’s core and the stone crumbled into a haphazard heap, but it was replaced by another hulking figure from further back.
The battle was intense but the relentless fury of the golems won out in the end. The last soldier was slashed nearly in two by the eight-inch talons that raked across the man’s chest, sending him spinning to the ground. The street was littered with the dead and dying, but now that the golems had no more targets they began to spread out in search of new prey.
With a crackling roar, the sky lit up with chain-gun fire from behind. The soldiers quickly ducked and looked behind them. The entire contingent they had been marching with had come around the corner and opened fire.
The five mechs towered over the soldiers in power armor arrayed in formation in front of them, and their huge shoulder-mounted auto-cannons were sending hundreds of twenty-millimeter sabots down-range with frightening accuracy.
Each of the power armors held a chain-gun exactly like the one Lawrence had used, but unlike Lawrence, they used controlled bursts and picked their targets wisely. The entire line steadily advanced while laying waste to the golems before they even knew what had hit them.
A few of the enemy, either through luck or skill, managed to escape the initial hail of bullets and threw themselves forward like ravenous animals. Each one could leap two dozen yards in one bound, and they dodged left and right, making themselves difficult targets.
Despite their efforts, only a few of the golems made it to the line of power armor, and a flurry of close combat began. The golems were quickly cut down but not before ripping two of the power-armored soldiers to bits.
The gunfire stopped and the quiet that replaced the continual roar of only a second before was odd and out of place. The camera swung back over the side of the loader as the soldier checked the battlefield. Piles of stone dotted the street and sidewalk, surrounded by smoking craters where the auto-cannon fire had blown holes in the pavement. The façade of the buildings was in no better shape. Some of the storefronts had been blown away or crumbled from stray shots, exposing their contents like a dollhouse that had been opened up.
Just when it seemed the soldiers had everything under control, the ground began to rumble. At first, it was only a slight vibration, but it quickly became an earthquake. The piles of loose stone vibrated outward, their stones leveling under the constant movement.
It didn't take long to determine the cause.
Pouring out of every street came hundreds of the heavy stone golems, running at full speed. Their combined footfalls shook the earth, and their wails and battle cries filled the air with a deafening cacophony.
The camera swung around back to the line, and they saw see hundreds more of the golems closing in behind them.
They were surrounded.
The soldiers raised their guns, but the golems stopped advancing as one unit. A strange truce developed, but one where a single sound could set the whole thing off like a bomb.
A few of the soldiers in power armor pointed at something behind the camera. Soon enough, the soldier peeked back over their cover. It was hard to see at first, but there was a figure floating down out of the sky. After a few seconds, they were able to make out details. Seena gasped at what she saw and reflexively squeezed Corbin's hand.
The figure, obviously a female by her shape, was adorned in a skintight, silver and blood red version of the armor Seena and Corbin wore. But, it was the helmet and mask that had made Seena suck in a breath, just as it had for Corbin when he first watched the video.
Adorning the woman’s head was a mask that resembled a dragon from myth. Its glassy eyes surveyed her assembled troops and floated ever closer to the line of soldiers, finally stopping a dozen yards from the overturned loader and hovering twenty feet off the ground.
“Fair warning.” Corbin whispered, leaning toward Seena. “This is the part that will be hardest for you.”
Seena gave him a questioning look but turned her attention back to the screen without comment.
The woman raised her arms as if offering something to the soldiers. “We need not fight this day.” Her voice was melodic but firm, and carried across the assembled.
“We don't even know who the fuck you are, lady!” a soldier, with captain’s bars on his shoulder, boomed back.
The mask melted away, revealing an Asian woman who smiled with thin lips.
At the sight of her, Corbin heard Seena gasp and she clamped down on his hand with surprising strength. Her eyes were wide and glistened slightly as she leaned forward, not wanting to miss a thing.
“You do know me, though,” the woman said. “I was once called Gwen. Gwen Lieu. I was one of your founders, all those years ago.”
“And now you lead an army against us?” the captain roared, stepping forward and shaking his fist in anger. “Why attack your own people?”
“You are simply in the way.” She acted as if it was a perfectly acceptable answer. “There is evil coming, and I plan to stop it, for the sake of the rest of the galaxy. You and everyone here are expendable if the outcome is victory over the Kubla threat.”
Suddenly, the background chatter amongst the army was loud enough to hear on the video. A trick of editing, Corbin thought.
“This is Overwatch,” a calm male voice said over the chatter. “I have a shot.”
“Take it,” came the order from the captain.
A split second later Gwen’s face exploded, making Seena scream and cover her mouth with a fist, tears springing from the corners of her eyes.
Gwen, however, did not fall from the sky. She didn't even seem to move at all from the impact. And when the smoke cleared they saw that her mask had reformed, and taken the bullet intended for her head.
“Very well,” Gwen’s quiet voice boomed. “I see you have made your choice.”
All at once, the golems attacked. The battle was intense but the superior number of golems made it clear who the victor was before the first shots were even fired. In seconds, the main line was in tatters as golems pounced across the field and into their ranks. Two of the mechs were covered in golems that tore them apart one handful of armor at a time. Before too long, the soldier whose camera they were watching was found, and the feed froze as a huge taloned hand swiped across his face.
The final image of the video was of a roaring golem, its eight-inch talons coming down, and in the background Gwen hovering and watching the whole thing, her mask placid and calm amid the slaughter.
23
Corbin kept hold of Seena's hand as she processed what she had just seen. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if he found out that his parents hadn’t actually died and were leading an attack on his homeworld.
But, that was different. Corbin knew his parents were dead. He even had the file from Mara with all the details laid out for him, if he so desired. He had thought about reading it, but when he had opened it, he realized it didn't matter who had caused their deaths. In the end, it was the system that was at fault. Naming one cog in it as murderer wouldn’t make his parents any less dead, so he had closed the file and decided he didn’t want to know the details.
Seena’s situation was different, though. As far as she knew, her mother had left them. Run off to make her own way in the world. The only side of the story she ever got was from her father, who was at best unreliable and at worst trying to manipulate her. To know that her mother was not off in some other system living a new life, but here right under her nose, had to be incredibly hard to process.
Seena’s eyes were wide as she stared at the carpet and continued to squeeze his hand. After a minute or two, she let go and sipped from the glass of whiskey.
“A
re you going to be all right?” Corbin asked quietly.
She nodded and smiled before downing the rest of the drink. “I’ll be okay. But, I wouldn't mind another of these.” She jingled the ice cube and got up, heading to the bar to make herself another.
“I know the circumstances are not the best for us to continue,” Brast leaned forward at his desk, a compassionate look on his face, “but if I don't show my face soon, people will begin to wonder.”
Corbin gave Seena another look, but she was off in her own world for the time being. “I assume with you having this video, you understand the greater scope of what we are trying to accomplish.”
“I am well aware. Although I must admit, I am still in the dark on who these Kubla are that Gwen spoke of, besides the fact that she seems to think they are a great enough threat to destroy her own people over.”
Corbin sighed. This was going to take some time to explain. “There is a lot to unpack, here. First, we are not the first people to call the VRC home. Second, the Kubla are the ones that killed them. And third, the Kubla are still here but they’re trapped in a slower section of time-space that surrounds Nih.”
Brast stared at him, obviously trying to process Corbin's words. “You’re going to have to do better than that. How do you even know all this?”
Up until this point, Corbin had kept Leela a secret. The only other person who knew about her was Seena, and he didn't want to tell one of the most powerful men in the system that there were entities scattered around the three worlds that could grant superpowers. He couldn't imagine how that would be exploited if it fell into the wrong hands, but he needed to come up with something that would convince Brast.
“There is a secret operation my father set up to observe the black hole and its potentially genetic-altering radiation. The operation has been monitoring an unknown group on a planet locked in a close orbit to Nih. ” Seena turned from the bar, her glass forgotten, and a steely look in her eyes. “One of my employees and I uncovered the files when we did some deep digging into the black servers.”
Brast’s expression changed from one of doubt to reserved acceptance. Corbin could kiss Seena for saving his bacon. “The files describe a group that is marshaling for war and uses golems of similar design to the ones Gwen is using.”
Brast furrowed his brow in concentration. “She must have gotten hold of these Kublas’ tech and raised an army of her own. But, that doesn't answer why she is attacking her own people. She also seems to have gained power beyond anything we have ever seen, which is troubling. I know that William has been working on a serum, but last I checked, his methods were crude at best and a danger to the user at worst.”
“We need to talk to my mother.” Seena set her jaw. “She obviously has a plan, and we can't fight a war on two fronts. If the Kubla attack while she’s still tearing Rush apart then we don't stand a chance. Rush is where most of the army is, not to mention where the fleet is stationed. We need to resolve things with her, first.”
“I agree that the situation with Gwen needs to end,” Brast eyed Seena knowingly, “but I don't know that you are the best person for the job. We are going to need military support, and the conflict is more than likely to end in bloodshed. Are you willing to take your mother out?”
Seena’s hard exterior cracked for a second but she set her jaw. “I’ll do what’s necessary to protect the people of the VRC. But, I think she would be willing to talk. If it weren’t for that happy sniper in the video, they could have come to an agreement of some kind. She had stopped her attack. That is going to be our first objective. A peaceful resolution benefits everyone.”
“I agree,” Corbin jumped in, sliding to the edge of his seat. “It was obvious that she was willing to work with the military. If we can get Seena close enough, she might have a huge advantage due to their relationship.”
“Perhaps,” Brast mused. “I remember Gwen as much more amenable than William ever has been. Hopefully, some of that levelheadedness has survived her change into this super we saw today. However, I can't send the heir to the Lieu Corporation in there without some kind of support. I have already diverted a large shipment of power armor and weapons, along with a few of my best private security personnel to help you. I simply need to know where to send them.”
Corbin looked over at Seena, asking with his eyes if she thought it was a good idea to give their bunker’s location. She nodded, and he had to trust that she knew this man better than anyone here.
He began working his tablet. “I’m sending you the coordinates.” After a second thought, he sent another file as well. “I’m also sending you a list of people that Shasa identified as potential allies in the fight for equality, but I would be willing to bet that a lot of them would want to help with the invasion as well. You have much better resources to contact and convince these people than we do.”
Brast perused the list for a second, his brow raising at a few of the names. “She has talked with these people personally?”
“That was the impression we got.” Seena leaned against the bar built into the bookshelf and folded her arms. “I would do it myself, but I have a feeling we are going to be busy dealing with mother.”
“About that.” Brast switched his tablet off and leaned back in his chair. “You need to be careful. The law is very clear that if your father and mother die, you take possession of the Corp. You could do a lot of good with that kind of power, but it needs to be legitimate. I’ll back you, and I have a feeling the military will as well, but there will be push-back from the board. A lot of those individuals are already trying to take control with your father not showing his face for the last week or so. All I’m saying is, be careful. We can't replace you, and if you die, there will be a civil war over who takes the reins. And we both know that a corporate war can be just as bloody as the real thing.”
“I understand that but I’m not going to hold back if I think I can make a difference.” Seena crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not that little girl you knew years ago. I know what’s at stake better than anyone and I’m still willing to fight.”
Brast smiled. “I know you are. You have the best parts of both your mother and father. I honestly feel sorry for anyone who stands in your way.” He turned back to Corbin. “I will begin the process of contacting the list Shasa has provided. The security personnel and hardware are already en route, and will probably make it there before you return. You should probably let Mara know so there are no accidental attacks.”
“You know about Mara?” Corbin was actually surprised at the news. The older woman was very careful to keep her identity secret.
Brast chuckled. “You would be surprised at how much I know. Money and power buy a lot of information. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a ball, and several tiny meatballs calling me.”
Brast stood and escorted them out of his office, waving a hand over a security panel beside the door and engaging the lock. They walked in silence until they were almost back to the ballroom.
“Will you be staying for the rest of the party?” Brast asked.
“I think we have had enough partying for now,” Corbin smirked. “There’s a bit much going on to take a full night off.”
“Very well.” Brast gave them a half-bow. “Then, may you have a good flight home. If you leave through the front you can take a tram to the landing pads.” He indicated another hall that led to the grand foyer at the front of the house.
They thanked him and said their goodbyes before heading down the hall. Halfway to the door, Seena slipped her arm into his and rested her head on his arm as they walked. Corbin could tell she didn't really want to talk, so he simply patted her hand and led the way.
24
Corbin and Seena walked down the back cargo ramp of the dropship after landing in the bunker. They were carrying Dianna between them, her arms and legs restrained despite the fact that she was still out from whatever cocktail had been in the injector. A couple of rebels met them and took the woman t
o a sectioned-off part of the bunker that had been hastily prepared to hold prisoners after Corbin informed Mara they had a passenger.
“Where’s Lawrence?” Corbin asked one of the men.
“He returned to the city on the last dropship. Said he needed to be at work in the morning.”
Corbin nodded, and took in the changes made to the bunker during their time away. He was surprised to see how many people had come along with the supplies. At least fifty people were in evidence, most of whom were still setting up tents or defenses. The large array of computer equipment had already been set up and was in full use by Ren and two others. Mara stood close by Ren as they talked to one another and leaned over a monitor.
Corbin pointed to Mara and Ren. “I’m going to go check in and see how they want to proceed with Dianna’s questioning. You want to come, or do you still need a little time?” Corbin wanted to give her some space after what she had seen, but he also didn't want to exclude her. The ride back had been quiet, with Seena starting the flight in silence then deciding to meditate and train with Gert. Corbin had done some meditating as well during the couple of hours it took to come back from Vale, but he didn't last long. His mind was racing with unanswered questions.
“I’m going to go change out of these clothes and freshen up.” She gave him a sad smile and a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll catch up in a bit.”
“No problem. Take your time.”
She squeezed his hand and headed toward the OVAL. Corbin watched her go, wondering what this all must be like for her, and how he would handle it.
“You would push forward and do the right thing.” Leela was gentle, but the message was clear.
“You’re right.” He turned, and with a new determination marched toward Mara and Ren. “Ladies, how go things in our absence?”
