by J. N. Chaney
Mark led us through a series of passages, some empty and clean and others in various stages of disrepair, until we came to what looked like a mess hall.
“Through there,” said Mark, gesturing at a door at the other end after consulting his pad.
“You guys ready?” I asked.
After they acknowledged that they were, we crossed the room together. The door wasn’t coded shut so it slid open noiselessly as we approached. I went through first, letting the other two file in behind me.
What I saw stopped me in my tracks and had me backpedaling as fast as my feet would carry me.
“Hey!” said Mark when he ran into me.
I whipped around and pressed a finger to my lips, cutting him off. He must have seen the look on my face because he turned and waved off Karin, who hadn’t quite made it into the room.
Once we were outside again, Karin looked at me quizzically. “What was that all about?”
“Wolves,” gulped Mark, speaking for me. “Three of them. I saw when Lucia turned around.”
“There shouldn’t be any wolves,” said Alma from my side. I had actually forgotten about her and almost jumped at her sudden appearance.
“I thought you weren’t here,” I said with a slight smirk.
“Don’t play games with me, girl.” Her tone didn’t quite bite, but it had a serious ring that told me something wasn’t right.
“They aren’t part of the test?” I asked, sobering.
“No,” she replied, looking worried.
“I’m pretty sure all three are asleep,” offered Mark. “It looked like the fusion core container was against the far wall.”
“That’s where we put it. How the hell did those vermin get in there? The doors shouldn’t have opened for them. They don’t have the markings.”
I knew the answer but hesitated to say. I didn’t want to risk Alma ending the test and sending us back. But if I didn’t, and something bad happened, it would be my fault.
“There’s an opening in the far-left wall,” I supplied.
Alma looked at me sharply. “A hole?”
I nodded reluctantly. “Yes. Like the one in Quadrant D.”
“You lot stay here. I’m going to try and make contact with the compound.”
“Sorry,” whispered Karin when Alma had moved out of earshot. “They’re probably going to make us go back. I know how bad you want to finish.”
“We’re so close too,” I said, unable to hide my disappointment.
“Do you really think there are Boneclaws here?” asked Mark.
“No. The wolves wouldn’t be there if a Boneclaw was close by,” I answered with a shake of my head.
Alma came back a few seconds later looking grim. She didn’t appear to be happy with whatever she learned.
“The Primes want you to go ahead with the test,” she announced.
“I thought comms were down this far out?” said Mark.
The older woman just gave him a withering look. “It’s the Selection, boy. You think we wouldn’t have taken steps to maintain communication? Six of our best and brightest are out here.”
“Oh, of course,” Mark replied.
“You each have weapons,” she said, regarding us. “And I’m to go in with you.”
It was irritating to hear that the Primes thought we needed help. “But we can handle—”
“That’s non-negotiable, Prospus Visaro.” Alma fixed me with a stare that brooked no argument.
“Alright,” I said reluctantly. “I don’t think we woke them. At least not that I could tell. Mark, can the sensors pick them up?”
He pulled out his pad and started working it again. “No, sorry,” he said after a few seconds.
“What’s the plan?” asked Karin. “Just go in shooting or are we going to try and get the cores without waking them up?”
“Not sure that last part is possible,” muttered Mark.
I agreed with him on that point. “I’ve got an idea,” I declared. “Two of us should attack while one grabs the cores. Then when the cores are out, we can back out and shut the door. Can you program it to shut from the pad?”
The last question was directed at Mark and he grinned. “Yeah, that’s easy.” The prospus tapped on his pad then gave me a nod. “Done. It’ll open and close on command now.”
“Okay, then. I guess the only question is who wants to attack with me and who wants to grab the cores.”
“Mark should grab the cores so he can deal with the door,” said Karin. “I’ll attack with you.”
“Sounds good. Let’s get it done, the clock’s still ticking,” I said, pulling my rifle from my back and going to the entrance. “Open it.”
The door slid smoothly open, revealing the interior of the room. A few machines still connected to power blinked weakly and our lights cast a glow over the sleeping animals.
Just as we’d been taught, I fanned left and Karin went right to approach from the sides, then we opened fire. The room erupted into chaos. The wolves awoke and immediately hopped up into hunched, aggressive stances. Our initial volley of fire seemed to do little to slow them. They screamed, high-pitched and painfully loud, before attacking in return.
One came at me, mouth open and tongue dripping venom. I continued to fire, but it was on me in an instant. Its mouth closed down on my arm and I felt something give way. Unable to stop a scream from the pain, I felt panic in the moment. Helplessness. Then I remembered my father, my mother, why I was here, and what I was going to do for the colony in the future. Just as quickly as it had flared, my fear was replaced with clarity and intent.
I brought my gun hand up, pressed the weapon to the side of the wolf’s head, and fired. I felt the pressure against my arm of the bullet’s path through the wolf’s head, then relief as its jaw went slack. I rolled with the body as it fell to the ground and pried the dead animal’s teeth free from my arm.
I rose to my feet, my arm burning like fire, and saw that the fighting wasn’t even close to done. Across the room, Karin was cornered in a struggle with her own wolf. Alma had stepped into the fray, taking on the last animal, which was substantially larger than the other two. Likely an Alpha.
I’d seen Alma participate in hunts and train prospus and hunters, but I’d never seen her like this. Her glaive was alight with blue, same as the markings on her skin. She bared her teeth at the Alpha and let out a battle cry that seemed to give it pause, then she attacked in a blur of movement.
Mark had the box and was moving for the door. He paused when he saw me and flicked a glance at my injured arm.
“Go!” I yelled, sprinting for Karin.
Her gun lay just out of her reach and she was fending off the wolf with a broken pipe. Her hair had slipped out of its bindings and fell into her eyes.
“Get out of here!” She swung the pipe in an arcing motion, and it whistled through the air, cracking across the wolf’s snout. It whimpered in pain, but the blow didn’t seem to do much and the wolf recovered almost immediately. It bared its fangs and growled.
Finally in position for a clear shot, I raised the gun, aimed, and fired. The first shot tagged the animal in the shoulder, drawing its attention to me. I kicked Karin’s gun back to her and squeezed the trigger again. The rifle clicked. I was empty.
The wolf tensed and readied to jump me, venomous tongue lolling from its mouth. Suddenly, a blast sounded, and the wolf’s face split open. It slumped to the ground with an audible thud.
Karin stood behind it, arm raised and gun in hand, a ferocious look on her face. She fired three more shots into the back of the downed animal’s head.
I turned to check on Mark and Alma to find him gone and her still embroiled in combat, grinning of all things. A smear of blood crossed one cheek and she circled the wolf, glaive steady in both hands.
My left arm was pretty much useless, so I fumbled to release the spent magazine and put a fresh one in. Karin was at my side now and we moved in to help our trainer, only to be waved back.
/> “Stay back!” she commanded. “This one’s mine.”
The wolf surged forward, low and fast. It was going for her legs, like it would with any other prey, but Alma pivoted and kicked her foot high behind her. The wolf slipped beneath her and snapped at empty space. In the same graceful movement, Alma brought her glaive down into the beast’s side. Her blade slipped into the flesh of its middle shoulder and found purchase in the socket. The wolf howled in shock and agony as she placed a foot on its back and twisted the glaive.
The wet, grinding snap as the joint came out of socket could be heard even over the raucous screams and flailing as the wolf tried desperately to free itself. Alma planted both feet on its back and braced herself with the weapon buried in its side as it tried to stand upright.
It stumbled forward, managing only to raise itself into an awkward hunch, before falling onto its face. Seizing her opportunity, Alma ripped her weapon from the wolf’s shoulder and plunged it higher into its back. Her glowing blade slipped between the creature’s ribs and the room fell silent. The animal let out a hoarse, watery breath, and then was no more.
With the wolf crumpled on the ground in a heap, Alma looked down in satisfaction. She dug a heel into the fatal wound to loosen her blade before pulling it free with one hand, then she stepped off of the body, barely breathing hard at all. I didn’t think I’d ever seen anything more fearsome or awe-inspiring.
8
Back at the compound, Mark and I had to get first aid before the ceremony could begin. The Alpha had gotten hold of his leg, which had been what prompted Alma to step in. Thankfully, nothing was broken and we would get back without any more problems. My arm had a strong brace and I wasn’t feeling anything but a dull ache from the injury.
We’d arrived after the three-hour time limit, but I wondered if any concessions would be made for the unusual circumstances. Nero and his team had returned long before us, not having encountered wolves or any major problems.
Now the six of us walked into the hangar with our final projects to climb the makeshift stage and stand in front of the five Primes and my father, our parents, and the rest of the community.
My mother had a spot in the front, and I was surprised to see Mario next to her. He had returned with some of the missing hunters sometime after we’d headed to the caves. Details were sparse since prospus weren’t allowed to talk with anyone but each other until after the choosing was completed.
“Prime Doyle will distribute the fusion cores to your weapons,” my father announced when we were all assembled, “then fire at a target to ensure they are in working order.”
He gestured at the training dummies, fashioned to look like crude Boneclaws, that had been built to withstand our weapons and were standing behind us at the back of the stage.
Doyle stepped forward, flanked by Josef, who carried a case that I assumed contained the cores. They worked their way down the line, inserting them into the power housings of each weapon.
Nero was first in line and produced a rifle. It looked like he’d spent some time on upgrades and painted it white. When the core settled inside it, he wrapped a hand around the grip, and the weapon glowed with energy. Then he offered it to the Prime. Elias removed it from his hands and took aim at one of the six targets. A round erupted and struck home, then he nodded and moved on to Karin.
Her spear reminded me of Alma’s glaive, but the blade and shaft were much shorter. It hummed with the fusion core’s power, and when she lifted it, a second blade extended from the bottom, crackling with energy.
I couldn’t help but smile. It was impressive.
Allan had made a shotgun that reflected his personality. Big and powerful, no frills. I liked it.
Mark had gone for something less traditional but effective nonetheless. It looked like a handheld scanner, barely big enough to put the core in. Doyle nodded at him and Mark closed his hand around the base so that just the top was exposed, lit by a blue ring.
A high-pitched screech emitted from the small device and we all jerked. It shut off a few seconds later and Elias turned to the crowd.
“This device will repel a Boneclaw by assaulting their sensitive eardrums. Impressive indeed.”
A collective ooh came from the crowd, but they quieted when Elias and Josef moved on to Nell. At first, I thought she had something like Mark because it was about the size of a baton. When the core went inside, Nell closed her hand around it in a firm grip and held it away from her body.
The baton extended out from itself until it took the form of a bow. Not the most powerful of the projects, but it got major points for awesome.
Then it was my turn and I presented my staff. The familiar thrill rolled through me again as it lit up with the core I had retrieved. It seemed more brilliant than when I tested it with the practice core in the lab and I had to force myself not to grin like an idiot.
The energy glow dissipated when Doyle took it from my grasp, and he gave me an inquiring look. The crowd went still, unsure what was happening.
I smiled and gave a little bow. “Prime Doyle, as part of my project, the weapon has been encoded to react only to me.”
“Interesting,” he said, handing it to me. Then he stepped back and gestured at the last remaining target. “If you’ll please demonstrate.”
Nodding, I turned and stood in fighting stance, squaring my shoulders, then leveled it at the target and cleared my mind of everything else. The end of the staff began to pulse, and a ball of light formed. I released it with a loud boom and the dummy disappeared in a cloud of dust.
The hangar was completely silent for a beat before breaking into applause. Even Nero looked impressed. I returned to the line to stand with the others and waited for it to quiet again.
“You have all finished your prospus training and stand before us as proven warriors, all fit for leadership,” my father said. “But only one can be the next Director. The scores have been tallied and the Primes have made their decision. Janus?”
The crowd was nearly silent but for a few murmurs and the odd cry of a child that was quickly hushed.
Janus stepped forward. I couldn’t see his face, but I imagined he was smiling genially at the onlookers.
“The Primes have chosen Nero Costas as leader when the time comes.”
The expected cheers and handclapping followed but were drowned out by the dull roar of blood rushing in my ears. I nodded and joined the rest of the prospus in congratulating him, but inside I was reeling.
I hadn’t realized just how important succeeding my father as Director had become to me. It also stung that they’d chosen Nero, even with his hot-headedness and impulsive behavior.
Someone squeezed my shoulder and I looked over expecting to see my father, but it was Karin.
“Should’ve been you,” she whispered as we exited down the steps to give Nero the stage.
“Thanks,” I said, checking to make sure no one could hear us.
We stood off to the side, a group of five. Nell only looked mildly disappointed, while Allan looked downright pleased, neither of which surprised me. Mark just looked relieved.
Mario walked by us, smiling, to join his son and our eyes met for the briefest of moments. I couldn’t quite explain it, but something in his expression unsettled me. It spoke of the kind of smug satisfaction that came from a plan going off without a hitch.
I brushed that thought away as fast as it came, though. That wasn’t fair to Nero. The Primes had made their decision and I had to live with it.
Movement from the side of the hangar caught my attention and I turned to watch as a handful of hunters entered. Karin noticed my gaze had wandered and turned to look.
They were dressed for a hunt in armor and weapons. It didn’t take long for me to recognize a few of them as among the missing. Or previously missing. I stared curiously as they crossed to the crowd.
Other people began to notice as well, and I saw some of the happiness fade into confusion.
“As you can see,”
said Mario from the stage, “I found a number of our missing people and brought them home. Something the current Director was unable to do.”
“If you have a problem with my leadership, Costas, you should bring it up at a more appropriate time,” said my father, democratic as usual.
Mario scoffed. “That’s part of the problem, Cyril. Some problems can’t be cast aside. There are times when action is needed now.”
My gut tightened at the words and uneasiness settled over me again. It was becoming an all-too-familiar feeling and I didn’t like it. What was going on?
The hunters reached the stage and stood looking up at Mario and the Primes.
“I believe they have something to say,” Mario announced. “Will you hear it?” He directed the question at the Primes, who nodded and moved forward.
“We don’t want Director Visaro as our leader anymore. His constant inaction has led to unnecessary death. We brought the Boneclaw concern to his attention and were ignored.”
A few people in the audience made noises of approval.
“Wait just a godsdamn minute!” My father’s tone had turned colder than the valley outside and the hangar went dead quiet.
Mario smirked at his word choice. “No, I don’t think we will.”
Jacob Abbot, the Sustainability Prime, walked up to him and placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
I couldn’t quite catch what he said, but I could have sworn it was something like “this wasn’t the plan” or something like that, but it was impossible to tell.
Mario ignored the Prime. “I, Mario Costas, challenge you here and now for the title of Director.”
Anger flared on my father’s face at the absurd timing of Mario's proposal, and he flicked a glance at the Primes.
They held up a hand and conferred together for a few moments before breaking apart. I could tell immediately from the look in Prime Doyle’s eyes and his grim expression what they had decided.
