One of the Knights tugged on his shoulder with an iron grip and his mind returned to his attackers, rage boiling inside him.
“Hold still!” the Knight yelled, his armored fingers digging into Spurious’ back.
He blinked again, desperately hoping it was all a dream, but the shattering pain from the armored fist of the Knight was too visceral to be anything but real. He wasn’t stuck in a dream. He was stuck in a nightmare.
Time: 12:05 a.m. February 24, 2071.
Location: Abandoned Apartment Building. Rohania, Tisaia
“That’s it, that’s the place,” Leo said, pointing at a crumbling brick building.
Obi stared at the torn CRK poster hanging loosely in the cold wind.
“Are you sure this is it?” he asked.
“Damn sure, and I’m willing to bet the man you want is up there right now.”
Ajax, Obi and Leo stood at the edge of the street, peering up at the white stone, half expecting to see a face looking down at them from an old broken window, but there were no windows anymore: the CRK made sure of it.
“Show us the way,” Obi requested.
Leo hustled across the street, his scrawny body hunched over like a praying mantis as he slyly made his way into the alley next to the old apartment building. Ajax and Obi followed cautiously, their hands gripping weapons hidden within the confines of their large coats. They were both aware of the possibility of an ambush, something Obi always prepared for.
As the small group made their way into the building, they picked up the faint sound of voices muffled by the thick wood of the buildings walls. Leo stole a glance at Obi, who stood positioned in the exit door of the hallway, his rifle drawn.
“It’s the room half way down the hall on the third floor,” Leo whispered. “I need to leave now, there isn’t anything else I can help you with,” he continued apologetically.
Ajax grabbed Leo’s skinny right arm and pulled him towards the hallway wall, glancing back at Obi.
“Let him go,” Obi said.
Reluctantly Ajax obeyed, scowling at Leo before releasing him.
A scream broke through the silence, prompting Ajax and Obi to point their weapons up the dark staircase simultaneously.
“Get out your night vision,” Obi whispered.
Both soldiers reached into their coats and pulled out their goggles. A cool orange glow warmed the staircase and the two quietly made their way towards the sound.
Another scream rang out above them. Obi halted, changing his night vision to infrared. He wanted to pick up heat signatures so he knew how many people they were dealing with.
“You go in first and I’ll follow; if Spurious is in there with Lana, be careful. I don’t want either of them harmed.” Obi said, nearing the top of the staircase.
“What do we do with her?” Ajax whispered.
“Not sure, just move.”
The two soldiers crept down the hall slowly like hunters, trying to tiptoe over the creaky wood floor. At the end of the passage, underneath one of the doors, a blue glow flowed into the hallway.
“Stop, Ajax.”
“What’s wrong boss?” he whispered.
“Tin Cans. Ahead. I can see the glow from their night vision goggles.”
Obi removed his glasses and knelt, reaching for his knife in a sleeve on his right leg. Ajax hunched down next to him, resting his massive frame against an apartment door. They knelt and strained to hear the conversation coming from down the hall.
“Sounds like someone got to this Spurious before us," Obi said.
“What are you thinking?” Ajax asked.
“We need him. If the Tin Cans want him, then he is obviously valuable.”
Ajax groaned heavily. "I don't like this. We’re gambling with our lives."
Obi checked his clip and put his goggles back on. He was picking up at least four, maybe five heat signatures in the room. With only their pistols, they were going to need some more fire power to take out two or three Knights.
The ringing of heavy footsteps shattered the silence. Quickly Ajax followed Obi into an open apartment, hiding in the shadows. They waited, their chests both heaving in and out their eyes watching the blue glow of a Knight’s goggles flooding the hallway.
Ajax pulled out his knife, revealing it to Obi with a single finger over his mouth. They waited patiently for the light to pass before Ajax peeked into the hallway to confirm the presence of another Knight. The man stood guard at the doorway where Spurious was being interrogated, his armored back facing the hallway.
"He has his back to us. We can get out now," Ajax said, turning.
"Can you take him from behind?" Obi entreated.
"Are you fucking kidding me, boss? There is an entire squad of them in there. It’s suicide."
Obi shot him an angry glance, his orange goggles staring back at him. "You take out the guard, grab his gun, and we’ll kill the other Knights together,” he paused to take in a deep breath. “That's an order, soldier!" Obi hissed.
He pulled a new clip of armor piercing rounds from the bowels of his jacket. They were custom made, tipped with plutonium. The last of their kind, and he had been saving them for a special occasion.
"And make sure Spurious isn't harmed, or his girlfriend, if she’s in there too," he said, inserting the clip into his pistol with a click.
Ajax nodded, clicking off his goggles to examine the hallway one more time before he slyly slipped into the darkness. He crouched, heading towards the guard with his knife drawn.
A minute passed and Obi watched anxiously from behind, waiting for Ajax to make his move. The Knight remained frozen, standing in the entryway of the room, no idea he was about to die.
Ajax stopped less than a yard away from the guard, bringing his knife inches away from the unsuspecting Knight’s armor. He aimed it at the gap between the neck armor and helmet. With a quick jab, he jammed the sharp blade into the back of his neck. Ajax barely flinched, indifferent to the spurt of blood that exploded onto his face. He had the guard’s rifle within seconds, shoving the Knight who clawed vainly at his neck. Obi rushed into the room, his gun spitting hot lead at the other two Knights, who were attempting to drag Spurious’ body out of a bedroom.
The barrage of bullets from Ajax’s assault rifle went high, tearing into the wall, and sending a shower of splinters into the air. Both Knights fumbled with their weapons, but it was too late, Obi's armor piercing rounds ripped through their armor. 30 seconds later it was over. All three Knights lay in pools of their own blood. Ajax checked their vitals, firing a single shot into their goggles to ensure they were dead.
In the center of the room, Spurious lay curled up in a fetal position, moaning in pain.
"Check him!" Obi shouted, rushing over to Lana, who was huddled in the corner.
He pulled the drape of hair out of her face, revealing a frightened set of eyes.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
She rocked back and forth, her knees pulled up to her chest and her wild eyes locked on her feet. She was catatonic, in shock from the gun fire.
"We need to move, boss!" Ajax yelled from across the room. "Reinforcements could be here any minute!"
"How is Spurious?”
"He’s hurt, bad. We need to get him out of here fast."
Obi glanced down at the girl with concern in his eyes, knowing he shouldn’t be wasting time on her. "Are you okay?"
She stared back at him blankly. Her eyes were clouded with fear and she was slipping into shock. Obi left her and ran over to help Ajax who was bending down to pick up Spurious.
"Help me get him on my shoulders."
Obi snagged one of the dead Knight’s rifles on his way, throwing the strap around his shoulder.
The two soldiers rushed out of the room, just as one of the dead Knight’s radios blared to life.
“This is Delta Base. Report. Over.”
“Friede, what’s your status? Do you have the package?”
“Shit. Let’s go!” Obi
yelled, turning one last time to check on Lana. Miraculously, she was standing in the corner staring back at them. “Well, are you coming or what?” he screamed at her. She froze and then reluctantly walked over to Ajax, placing her hand on Spurious’ unconscious head.
“Boss, we aren’t taking her with, are we?” Ajax asked scornfully.
The radio blared back to life again. “Friede, we’re sending another squad to your location. ETA five minutes. Over.”
A chill ran down Obi’s back as he locked eyes with Ajax. No words needed to be exchanged. The two soldiers knew each other well enough to know it was time to move. Within seconds of the radio transmission they were running down the hallway, Spurious’ head bobbing up and down on Ajax’s shoulders.
“We need to find a different exit. This could be another trap.” Obi yelled over the clamor of their footsteps. He could see the bottom of the staircase in the distance, a diminutive yet guiding glow of moonlight illuminating the first floor hallway. He entered cautiously, his rifle drawn. There were no signs of a trap through the door they entered, but he didn’t want to risk it.
“That way,” Obi motioned with a nod of his head. He stood guard at the door, his rifle aimed into darkness while Ajax carried Spurious down the hallway, Lana close behind.
Obi took off to catch up with them and seconds later they were at the end of the hallway staring at a sealed door, closed off with several two by fours.
“Damn, it’s a dead end!” Ajax yelled.
Obi glanced back down the hallway, scanning it for an open apartment door. Every door appeared to be sealed with two by fours as well. “Shit, the reinforcements are going to be here any minute,” he said.
“Help me,” Ajax said, lowering Spurious carefully onto the ground.
The two soldiers clawed at the two by fours, tearing them off quickly while Lana attended to Spurious.
“Where am I?” Spurious moaned. He peered up at Lana, blinking through the fog of stars, his brain still on fire. “Lana, was it a dream?” he asked, her face finally coming into focus.
“Oh Spurious,” she whimpered. “I’m so sorry. The Knights caught me a few months ago. They said if I didn’t help them find traitors, they would have my family deported.”
Spurious rubbed the bloody gash on his head, staring at Lana in shock. “So this was all a lie?” he asked disdainfully.
“No my feelings were real. They are real. I love you,” she whispered, placing his hands in hers.
Spurious pulled away, scooting to rest his back against the wall.
“I can never trust you again,” he said.
“Keep it down!” Ajax exclaimed, looking down at him while he plucked another two by four off the door.
“Who the hell are they?” Spurious asked Lana.
“We’re with the TDU. That’s all I have time to tell you. Now help us get these off,” Obi whispered down to him.
Spurious froze. It was the first time he had ever seen one of the rebels in person. He studied the two men as they continued to pry off the two by fours. Finally he realized this is what his parents had lived like, in constant fear. And now he was trapped in the same building they were killed, betrayed by the woman he loved.
Shocked into motion he rose to his feet, a deep pain racing up his leg. Anger gripped him, filling his body with adrenaline.
“There, stop them!” a muffled voice yelled down the hallway.
The group turned simultaneously to see a glowing set of blue orb-like eyes entering the dark hallway.
“Watch out,” Ajax yelled, taking a step back and kicking the door handle, sending chunks of wood splinters in all directions.
“Go!” he yelled, turning to fire at the approaching soldiers.
The hallway erupted into chaos, the Knights returning fire. Pieces of wood and plaster rained down on Spurious. He covered his ears and huddled against the wall.
“Come with me,” Obi yelled grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the doorway while firing his pistol at the Knights with his free hand.
“Get them out of here, boss!” Ajax yelled, finishing off another clip at the two Knights. He watched three of his rounds tear through the chest plate on one soldier, blood splattering onto the wall behind him. The second Knight wavered for only a moment, glancing down at his fallen comrade before returning fire.
Spurious watched Lana helplessly as Obi continuing to drag him towards the door. “Lana hurry! Run!” Spurious screamed.
She stood, hesitating before she took off towards the doorway. Spurious’ eyes followed her, watching the bullets tear into the floor and walls around her.
And then everything slowed. The pain in Spurious’ leg and head subsided. He watched fire erupt from Obi’s pistol, blank cartridges raining down on him as the bullets zipped towards the Knight. His eyes panned to Lana who was still running for him, now only a few steps away.
She is going to make it, he thought, watching one of Obi’s bullets hit the Knight in the kneecap.
Spurious could hear the man’s muffled scream over the gunfire. He watched the man slowly collapse to the ground, his weapon firing wildly.
His eyes darted back to Lana, who was reaching out for him, her beautiful brown hair flowing behind her. Their eyes locked and Spurious pulled free of Obi’s grip to reach out for her, just as two bullets tore through her stomach. Her eyes burned with terror as she fell, blood splattering onto Spurious’ shirt. She landed in his arms just as Obi finished off the last Knight, a round piercing his goggles and burying deep into his skull.
“No!” Spurious screamed, carefully turning Lana onto her back. She looked up at him, blood gurgling in her throat. She tried to speak, but Spurious put his fingers to her mouth.
“No, you’re going to be okay,” he lied, his eyes quickly panning down to her mortal wounds.
She reached for his face, her fingers smearing warm blood on his skin. “I’m…” She paused, choking on her own blood. “I’m sorry, Spurious.”
He watched the life draining from her deep brown eyes, her last breath escaping from her mouth.
“No, Lana. You can’t die! Lana. Lana. Lana!” he screamed, shaking her fruitlessly.
“You have to leave her,” a voice said from behind him. He felt a strong grip shaking his shoulder. Spurious ignored it, whimpering, tears flowing down his face while he rocked her head back and forth in his lap.
Ajax and Obi towered above, looking down helplessly. “There could be more Tin Cans coming,” Ajax said, looking over at Obi.
“I know. We need to move, but we have to give him a second.”
Obi hesitated, watching Spurious hold Lana’s head tightly to his chest. He saw the anguish and grief, a flashback from the past taking hold of him. The image of his father holding his dying mother crawled into his mind, an image he had long since blocked from his memory.
“Let’s go,” Obi said, quickly shaking the image from his mind. He motioned to Ajax with a nod, and instantly, the giant soldier grabbed Spurious and pulled him screaming towards the door. Obi stopped to close Lana’s eyelids before following Ajax into the darkness.
Time: 2:00 a.m. February 24, 2071.
Location: Tunnels. Lunia, Tisaia
Spurious awoke to the rancid smell of raw sewage, coughing the pungent stench out of his lungs. His hand shot to his throbbing forehead, where a deep gash oozed blood onto his fingers. He felt a stab of horror.
Was it a dream?
“He’s coming to, boss,” said a voice from behind him.
Spurious tried to sit up, gritting his teeth, his eyes blinking as they adjusted to the darkness.
“Stay calm. We aren’t going to hurt you,” another voice said, from the corner.
“Where am I? Who are you? Where is Lana?” Spurious said, turning from side to side, desperate to see the faces belonging to the voices. “LANA!” he screamed, before anyone could silence him.
“God damn it! You have to be quiet,” one of the men said, placing their hands over his mouth.
“Are you going to be quiet?” the larger man asked.
Spurious nodded slowly. The man removed his hand cautiously from his lips. He sat up and scooted a few paces back, coming to rest against the concrete wall.
“I’m Obi,” the older man said, cracking the most sincere smile he could manage. “This here is Ajax,” he said, pointing at the other soldier, who didn’t bother to smile.
Spurious studied the two soldiers. “She’s dead, isn’t she?” he choked.
Obi nodded. “I’m sorry. There wasn’t anything we could do.”
“She betrayed me.” Spurious said quietly. “I was going to leave Lunia with her.”
“It’s better you lost her now then, there is no life for State workers outside the walls,” Ajax said, with a snort.
Spurious wiped a tear from his eye, scanning his surroundings. He took another gasp of the rancid air and coughed.
“We need to get moving,” Obi said.
Spurious stiffened. “Wait, what? Where are we going?”
Obi lit a cigarette as he waded through the knee deep sewage. “We don’t have time to explain, but soon we’ll tell you everything.”
Spurious hesitated, forgetting momentarily about Lana. There was something about Obi that convinced Spurious to trust him; maybe it was the conviction in his voice, the sincerity in his gaze or the fact that Obi had rescued him. Whatever it was, Spurious knew he had little choice but to follow the two soldiers.
“Will I get a chance to fight the CRK?” Spurious asked, a hint of strength present in his voice.
Through the darkness, Spurious could see a smile finally crack on Ajax’s face. “You’ll have a chance to fight them, likely sooner than you think,” he replied.
Obi watched Ajax and Spurious wade through the muck. He took one last drag of his cigarette, blowing the smoke into the cold night air and watching it disappear into the swirling brown sewage below.
Time: 3:05 a.m. February 24, 2071.
Location: Junkyard. Rohania, Tisaia.
A weak moon broke out of the thick clouds, providing just enough light to make out the junkyard below. Nathar sat perched on the rooftop of the abandoned building in which they had taken refuge in days before, staring into the darkness.
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