Alexander stands and pumps his fist. The other Loyalists clap and cheer. Nav nods grimly next to me.
“Everyone, listen up,” says Alexander, standing tall and confident. His vibrant eyes seem to glow with energy.
The room quiets, and everyone turns their attention to Alexander. Americus nods for him to continue.
“I know that some of you will preach caution and patience for the NIA assault,” says Alexander. “But before you do, let me say this. The enemy’s Evo army grows by tens of thousands every day we wait. I say we devise our strategy and attack tomorrow or at most the next day.”
“I agree with Alexander,” says Nav. “We can’t let more people become slaves. This is a humanitarian disaster of epic proportions. These psychopathic scumbags need to die.”
Nav’s anger is likely boosted by the fact that she thinks they killed her husband. They’re both right in a way, but also wrong. Each day does give us more enemies, but they are spread out and not an immediate threat.
And more people will be enslaved each day, but hopefully, they’re freed after we destroy the NIA. The NIA is the real enemy and likely won’t get more powerful if we delay to gather resources, weapons, and information. They’re a mighty foe, and we’ll only get one shot at this.
“I agree with Naveha,” says Brandon. “This can’t go on any longer. We’ll win with our tank and the support of the other brigades.”
Nav gives him a warm look.
“I want revenge,” says Yumi. “They nearly killed Astrid. I also vote we attack tomorrow.”
Astrid looks from Americus to Yumi, then squeezes her hand. “We should plan and attack within two days. We’ve been training for this for years. We will succeed.”
Oh hell. This is getting out of hand. Don’t they see that if we take a little more time, we can make our attack more deadly?
“To ensure we win,” says Yumi, “we should invite Gabriel and his Knights into the attack. He has equipment that we don’t, and we’d have more troops.”
Americus’ eyebrows dip.
At least she’s thinking. It would be beneficial to have him, even though he’s reckless.
Weird Tom cuts a deck of cards with one hand and says, “I agree. He only screwed up once or twice. It would be a calculated risk.”
Americus pounds his fist, looking like he’s about to take Tom’s head off. Tom drops his cards, and they scatter on the floor.
“He’s not welcome here,” says Americus. “He’s more likely to get us killed than help.”
Weird Tom flinches back and puts his hands up. “Just a thought.”
“I agree with my father,” says Nav. “He’s dangerous.”
“And doesn’t follow orders,” says Astrid.
Many of the other Loyalists speak up to agree with them. Sunny twists his head to look at each one as they speak.
Gabriel should never have killed the evolved man, and we’d all still be together.
“Does anyone have more arguments for a swift attack?” asks Americus.
We should at least get more weapons before we strike. I look around the room at all of the angry intimidating people and feel small. I open my mouth and shut it, too nervous to speak. Nav gives me a look and motions her hand for me to speak.
She’s right. This is too important to remain silent. I put my hand on Sunny’s dented head to calm myself. “Sir.”
Everyone looks at me, and Americus inclines his head for me to proceed.
I swallow. “If we spend a week gathering critical information, getting more weapons, and studying their cybersecurity, we’re much more likely to win.”
Several people nod and comment to the people next to them. Others shake their heads.
“I agree with Fae,” says Sunny. “We should secure every advantage to maximize the probability of success.”
Alexander zeros in on Americus. “You know we can do this, Boss. How many times did we plan this very attack? The NIA is an office building, not a military base. Let me lead the charge. I’ll crush them so badly it will be like they never existed.”
“Yite,” I let slip.
Alexander tilts his head. “What is that? Why do you keep saying that?”
“Just a gamer term,” I say.
Sunny steps forward. “It’s a combination of the words yeah and right. She says it when she doesn’t believe people.”
Americus chuckles.
Sunny. What the hell? I laugh nervously. “He’s confused.”
“I’ve proven doubters wrong my entire life,” says Alexander.
“You’re a dominant solider, Alexander,” says Americus. “And there’s no doubt that we’re a deadly fighting force, but we don’t know how advanced the NIA’s defenses are. They’ve proven themselves a crafty, resourceful, and powerful foe. We’re going to take time to prepare as Fae suggests. I’ll be contacting my NIA asset after our discussion to share our discovery and see what he can provide.”
“Navin would be bolder,” says Alexander.
Americus shakes his head. “Remember what he said, ‘Patience and proper planning are the keys to victory.’ He was a great leader because he didn’t rush in. You know more than most how much I hate the NIA, but this is how we have to do it.”
Hell yeah, Americus.
Alexander sits down. “I respect your decision. I’ll pay for whatever weapons you want as long as I have the money left.”
Nav and Yumi nod along, and the other Loyalists give their consent.
“I’ll update you all when I speak with my contact,” says Americus. “For now, everyone rest up.”
The Loyalists separate while Tom picks up his cards. I kneel and help him. He acknowledges me but says nothing.
I build my courage and ask, “I heard you and Sunny talking about aliens creating the ancient Egyptian religion. What do you know about the Eye of Ra?”
He stops collecting cards. “You’re interested in ancient aliens? It’s always nice to talk with another theorist.”
“Sure,” I say, not wanting to burst his bubble.
“The Eye of Ra was the creator god Ra’s attack dog. There’s some evidence that aliens used some drone-like weapon to subdue dissent.”
Weird. “So you think the Egyptian gods were aliens?”
“I do, along with the serpent-like Naga described in the Hindu religion, the Anunnaki in Sumer, and the Hopi’s Ant People. Also, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, and many others were likely aliens.”
Diablo. He sounds crazy.
Nav grabs my hand. “Mind if I borrow her?”
Tom waves a dismissal.
“Let’s go to the room. I want to talk,” she says to me.
We walk down the hall, Sunny following.
“It was good that you spoke up,” says Nav. “I wanted to attack immediately because I hate the NIA, but you’re right. Delaying makes sense.”
I’m glad she sees it my way. “Alexander is going to get us killed one day. We need to make sure to temper his brashness.”
We reach our room and sit on the bed. Sunny walks over to the corner, summons Bean, and dumps out his bag of tech to mess with.
“I want to tell you something,” says Nav.
I glance at Sunny.
“He’s fine. I never told you this, partly because it happened a couple weeks before we met in person.”
A wall of anxiety slams into me. “Yeah?”
She adjusts her headband and looks out the window. “I don’t know if you heard that news story about the NIA blimp crashing into a wedding.” She exhales long and slow. “That was my wedding. My husband, Ty, was killed that day. That’s how I lost my arm, and that’s why I detest the NIA with every fiber of my being.”
I see the blimp crashing into them, followed by screams of horror and pain. Flames burst forth like the fires of hell as Nav crawls from the wreckage, her arm a crushed mess. Warm bile rises in my throat, and I want to hide. I swallow hard. It takes everything I have to appear normal. “That’s horrible. That’s why you
want revenge so much.”
She nods, her eyes flat and lifeless. “I don’t know if they targeted us because my dad was protesting or for some other reason, but I know it wasn’t an accident. I will have my revenge.”
It feels dirty and wrong to lie, but what can I do? Admit it? I want to. I want everything to be in the open and have her forgive me. She never would, though. I’d lose her as surely as she lost her husband. And the Loyalists would be much less likely to take down the NIA without me. “We’ll get them, Nav. The NIA is finished.”
“You look tough. I’ve noticed a change in you lately. You’re still shy, but every once in a while, I get a glimpse of StarFeather. You must be practicing the body language I told you about.”
Hmm. Like StarFeather. I want that, but she’s just being nice. I’m still too shy to say much at meetings and still too pathetic to tell Nav what I did.
☼☼☼
The next day, Nav, Sunny, Astrid, Yumi, and I all sit on the bed in my room. Astrid’s wounds are fully healed thanks to healing patches and concussion recovery medication. At least the huge pharmaceutical company, Bioplex, is good for something. The four of us chatting on beds is a regular thing now. My initial discomfort around them and reluctance to open up is gone, and I consider them my friends. I already know more about Astrid and Yumi than most people in my entire life.
“I can’t believe you programmed all of that,” Astrid says to me. “You’re like a prodigy.”
I look down, feeling warm.
“I need an app made for my business,” she says. “I was going to hire this programmer, but I’ll hire you instead.”
Awww. “I’d love to help. I’ll do it for free.”
“You won’t find anyone better,” says Nav.
Astrid grins at us.
“You should come watch one of Astrid’s powerlifting competitions after we save the country,” says Yumi. “She’s hardcore. Tell them about your injury story.”
Astrid points to a long scar on her forearm. “I was lifting for first place when the weight slipped and broke my arm. Compound fracture,” she says with a wince.
“At least you placed second,” says Yumi, squeezing Astrid’s muscular butt.
Astrid’s eyes widen, and she pushes her hand away. “Not here,” she whispers. Then as if it didn’t happen, she says, “We should all watch one of Yumi’s performances. Her band is so good live. Tell them who you opened for.”
Yumi’s lips turn up, her eyes crinkling. “Twisted Light.”
“Wow,” says Nav. “I saw them once. I love Connor Gray. He has such a resonant voice.”
I nod excitedly, even though I haven’t heard of them.
“Your band can play at one of Astrid’s competitions,” says Sunny. “Then we can see you both at the same time. That would be more efficient.”
Yumi cracks up laughing.
“What?” asks Sunny, tilting his head.
“Oh, that wasn’t one of your jokes? Sorry,” she says, rubbing his head. “But it was funny.”
“It’s like saying she’s not worth seeing alone,” I tell him.
“Oh, I understand.”
“So, we haven’t told anyone else yet, but when the country is safe, Yumi and I decided we’re going to have a baby together,” says Astrid.
“That’s so great to hear,” says Nav.
I beam at them. “Good for you guys.”
“You’ll need sperm,” says Sunny.
Yumi explodes in laughter. Astrid chuckles, then Nav and I join in. Sunny looks between us, then shrugs.
“And I don’t want this to seem too forward,” says Yumi, “but we like your name, Fae. And because you saved Astrid, we want to name our baby after you.”
I’m floored. Hell, I never thought anything like this would happen.
Astrid pats my back. “I still can’t thank you enough. I hope this shows how much it meant to me.”
“I love it,” I say. “I hope we can all live near each other when this is over and keep doing our girl chats.”
The others agree.
“And, Nav. We’ll definitely need to start a new game then. Before this nightmare, I tested out the holographic relaunch of this old MMO called World of War…something. I can’t remember, but it seemed fun.”
“I can’t wait,” says Nav. “This is the longest I’ve gone without gaming.”
“Everyone, report to the command center,” says Americus through our q-links.
We all walk out to the main room. Americus stands in front of a few people while the rest trickle in from different hallways, each involved in their own conversations.
“So you really don’t believe in heaven?” Asher asks Alexander.
Alexander shrugs. “I don’t have to worry about that stuff.”
“Why?”
“I’ll never die.”
Asher shakes his head and pushes Alexander.
Alexander’s eyes land on mine, and he grins at me. I smile and look down. Yumi shoots me a knowing look, and Nav nudges me in the ribs.
I push back at them. “Come on. It’s nothing like that. I just respect him for teaching me how to shoot and for saving Sunny.”
“You should give it a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised,” says Astrid, sharing a look with Yumi.
I glance at Alexander again and then shake my head.
Weird Tom walks by him, shuffling three poker chips in one hand. I didn’t like Tom at first, but he’s been kind to Sunny lately. Maybe I should give him another chance.
A sharp smack on my butt makes me twist around.
“Nav! What are you doing?”
She giggles with Yumi. My face heats, and I scan the room to see if anyone noticed.
“Why did you hit her behind?” asks Sunny.
“It’s just a joke,” says Nav. “Come on, let’s stand closer.”
I roll my eyes.
“I don’t understand this one,” says Sunny.
“Trust me. It’s funny,” says Nav as we move up near Alexander.
“Is everyone here?” asks Americus.
People nod and look around.
Weird Tom scans the crowd. “Seventeen. That’s everyone.”
“Everyone, quiet down,” says Americus, his face serious. “I’ve brokered an arms deal with my black-market supplier.”
The Loyalists chat excitedly.
Americus motions his hands down to quiet the group. “The deal is for two acquisitions. The first is for a tracked drone with a surface-to-surface missile platform. It can fire two RX9 short-range missiles with point-defense countermeasures. They should have enough power to crack open the NIA’s fortress.”
Alexander grins like it’s Christmas. Astrid nods, looking determined, and Yumi beams.
“Second, we’re getting fifty Trexstar autonomous mobile machinegun turrets with armor-piercing explosive ammunition. They’re effective against infantry and light vehicles. We can use them to defend our base until we strike. With those and our troops from the other brigades, we should be able to crush the NIA’s forces.”
His raven caws in excitement. Loyalists clap and cheer, looking upbeat and hopeful.
Americus lowers his hands again. “This should be a routine exchange, but you never know with arms dealers. Everyone bring your weapons and vests. And Thomas, make sure you wear your q-link. I know you don’t like it, but it’s necessary. You got me?”
Weird Tom frowns but nods.
“Alexander and Brandon, take your anti-material snipers,” says Americus.
Alexander and Brandon glance at each other, animosity clear on their faces.
I slide over to Alexander and stand on my tiptoes to whisper, “How come Tom doesn’t like tech?”
He looks down at me as if surprised to see me there. “His mother had one of those early brain implants, the Hamalite Model Y.”
My eyes widen. “Oh.” It’s strange that he likes to hang out with Sunny then.
“She’s still suffering from the brain damage,�
� says Alexander, shaking his head.
I glance at Tom, suddenly identifying with him. His mother went through something similar to my own.
“Zill,” says Americus to his q-link. “Bring up saved map ten.”
A holographic map stretches out in front of him. Trees sprout, and soil domes into hills. “Here’s where we make the buy. I want the snipers here,” he says, pointing to a rocky area. “Silas, you’ll drive the tank, and Yumi, I want you as the gunner. You’ve proven to be the best in the simulator.”
Yumi jumps and pumps her fist, her straight black hair bouncing. Astrid squeezes her hand with a fond smile.
“What?” asks Alexander, sounding incredulous. “Better than me?”
“You did well, Alexander, but Yumi’s accuracy and reaction times were superior.”
Alexander squints at Yumi as if he doesn’t believe it.
“We’ll project a dump truck hologram on the tank so the sellers don’t get alarmed,” says Americus. “We can put the weapons in the trailer behind the SUV. I’ll do the talking. Everyone else, stay calm, stay back, and stay ready. If I call out Gabriel, it means we’re betrayed, and we fight.”
Hell, he’s bitter.
“Alexander. I’ve grown to respect your tactical knowledge and quick thinking. If something happens to me, you’ll take charge. I’m promoting you to Field Sargent.”
Astrid bristles, looking hurt that she was passed over.
Alexander pumps his fist. “Boom. And the legend begins!”
Loyalists smile and clap for him.
“Way to go, Alexander. You deserve it,” says Yumi, patting him on the back while not realizing that Astrid is upset.
Americus sure thinks a lot of him. He has been competent in our fights, but definitely has shortcomings.
Astrid stands up tall, looking even more imposing. “Sir,” she says. “Are you sure he’s ready for this? He’s reckless.”
Alexander shrugs as if it doesn’t matter.
“I’m confident in Alexander,” says Americus. “We discuss tactics and strategy often. I’ve taught him everything I know from my time in the Marines. And he proved himself capable at Xyphotech and the distribution center.”
The Astral Hacker (Cryptopunk Revolution Book 1) Page 25
