by M. R. Forbes
Benhil shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
“What’s done is done,” Olus said. “We still have a chance to fix this mess.”
“How?” Abbey asked.
“It’s possible that PD doesn’t know you came for me. For all they know, you’re one of the bastards that took the Fire and Brimstone, and you circled back to finish the job with Mars.”
“Mars isn’t dead. At least, we didn’t kill her.”
Olus sighed. Sometimes he hated his job. “I don't like it, but we may have no choice but to change that.”
“Are you serious?” Airi said. “We can’t just kill an innocent woman. Especially if Emily Eagan was abusing her.”
“Better her than us,” Pik said.
“Captain, we have five minutes until Ruby brings the Faust back to Feru,” Abbey said. “We’re running out of time and options.”
Olus stared at her for a moment, working out the problem. “Emily’s terminal is right beside their bedroom upstairs. I can reach Ruby from there and tell her to hold off while you take care of Mars.”
“Take care of her?” Airi said. “We can’t kill her. I won’t, and I won’t let any of you.”
“You can’t stop us,” Benhil said. “You especially can’t stop Queenie.”
“Queenie, you can’t,” Airi said. “It’s not her fault. Captain, it doesn’t matter if you get discredited. We can stop this from the outside. How much have you been able to accomplish, anyway?”
“Thraven’s pawns have control of the Committee,” Olus said. “I don’t think they control the Council yet, but it would only be a matter of time. I need to get back to Earth, to find out who's loyal to the Republic and who's loyal to the Gloritant. I need to see if I can shift the balance of power back in the right direction.”
“We’ll make the call when we get up there,” Abbey said. “We need to keep Ruby away from Feru, or we’re going to lose our ride.”
“Agreed,” Olus said.
“Let’s move, Rejects,” Abbey said, backing out into the hallway.
She took point, moving confidently ahead, while Olus remained behind the others. He was impressed with how well she had taken control of the fugitive misfits, bringing them in line through - he wasn’t sure what. Respect? Fear? Most likely a bit of both. She had the Gift that Emily used to paralyze him, and he could see the difference in her demeanor, even compared to their first meeting. She was becoming more used to it, instead of trying to ignore it or fight it.
Whether that was a good thing or not would make itself apparent sooner or later.
For now, he needed to guide her to his ends, the one where the Rejects headed back onto the path of the Fire and Brimstone, and he made his way back to Earth, his purpose and presence here remaining secret and circumventing Thraven’s trap. Hopefully, he could grab some data from Emily Eagan’s terminal first. Data about the Covenant and the Nephilim, about what the ships were really made of and what they could really do. Ancient blueprints? Old technology somehow derived from God? The idea of it made his head spin.
Then again, he wasn’t ready to believe any of it. Not without more proof. The Gift was compelling evidence, but it was also somewhat circumstantial.
“Jester, Fury, head toward the exit and see if you can get a bead on incoming PD forces,” Abbey said when they reached the top of the steps. “And don’t give me any shit about it, Fury. I’ll do what needs to be done, and you’ll like it.”
Airi had opened her mouth to speak. Olus watched her shut it and nod.
“Yes, Queenie,” she said.
“Lucifer, see if you can get on the rooftop and help them monitor the situation. Where’d you leave the Imp, anyway?”
“In the pool,” Bastion replied.
“I didn’t see a pool,” Pik said.
“I ditched her in the lake,” Bastion said. “May she rest in peace.”
“Captain Mann, ideas on getting out of here after we deal with Mars?” Abbey said.
“The good thing about jungles is that they’re easy to hide in.”
“Even against sensor sweeps?”
“My jamming bot is still up in the office. It should come in handy for that. Unless there’s another blood-sucking Gifter wandering around out there, I suppose.”
“Roger,” Abbey said.
“The bad thing about jungles is the spiders,” Pik said. “I fragging hate spiders. There aren’t any on Tro.”
“Lucky,” Benhil said.
“And unlucky,” Pik said. “Have you ever seen a female Trover?”
“Come to think of it, no.”
Pik laughed. “I'll take the spiders.”
Olus followed Abbey, Pik, and Bastion up from the ground floor, while Benhil and Airi headed for the front of the mansion. There was no obvious sign of interference anywhere nearby, and he was sure it was because Abbey killed Emily Eagan. If the guards were all Thraven’s, they knew better than to tangle with someone who could take out their boss.
Unfortunately, Planetary Defense wouldn’t be as smart. He was hoping he could get them out without having to kill any of Feru’s local militia or destroy any more of the Republic’s assets. At least the Republic wouldn’t drop any Marines unless things got really out of hand. It was his job to make sure they didn’t.
Bastion split from them when they reached Emily’s office, heading down the hallway in search of an access stairwell up to the roof. Abbey and Pik entered the office with Olus, and he immediately went over and grabbed his helmet from the floor, slipping it on and re-initializing his TCU. Then he picked up the jamming bot from where it had fallen, reconnecting with it and restarting its systems from the softsuit. When he tossed it into the air, it remained stationary there, active once more.
“Queenie,” he said. “What’s your identifier?”
She rattled it off to him, allowing him to connect to their short-range comm.
“Queenie, we’ve marked a dozen tangos incoming,” Jester said. “Three squads of four. They’re being pretty careful.”
“Roger,” Abbey said. “Secure the entrance. Don’t engage with them unless they engage with you.”
“Roger.”
Olus turned his attention to Emily’s terminal. It had locked itself when she had brought him down to the cells, but he stuck another extender to it and hacked in easily. A few seconds later, he groaned out loud. "Damn."
“What is it?” Abbey asked.
“It’s been wiped. I was hopeful.” He leaned back in the chair for a moment. “We need to make a decision on Mars.” He looked at her.
“Are you asking my opinion?” Abbey said.
He nodded. “You have a lot of the same training I do. What do you think?”
“I hate to say anyone's life is less important than anything else,” she said. "But in this case, I think we have to say it. She let the Venerant in; she's not completely innocent. I’ll take care of it."
“Queenie, wait,” Pik said. “I’ll do it.”
“No. I’m not going to ask you to do something I won’t do myself.”
“You aren’t. I’m volunteering.” He paused, introspective. “Won’t be the first time I killed someone while they were sleeping.”
The statement sent a shiver down Olus’ spine, even though he already knew why Pik had been in the deepest pits of Hell.
Abbey responded by turning toward Olus. Pik grunted and headed for the door adjacent to the bedroom.
“Queenie, it looks like the skies are opening up,” Bastion said. “But ground forces are heavy, heavy. Two more personnel carriers are en route, and it looks like they’ve got a Springer.”
The Springer was a light mech, designed to maneuver through rough terrain. It wasn’t common for planetary militias to have any, but the machine was manufactured by Eagan Heavyworks, making its presence less surprising.
“It doesn’t matter what they have once we get away from the compound,” Olus said. “I’m contacting Ruby now.”
He switched comm channels,
using the terminal’s connection to send a long-range ping.
“Ruby,” he said.
“Captain Mann?” the synth replied a moment later. “Are you well?”
“I’ve been better. I’m here with Lieutenant Cage and her team. We need to delay pickup.”
“Roger,” Ruby said. “How long?”
Olus considered. “We’ll let you know. Is your position secure?”
“For now. I don’t expect that to stay true forever.”
“Neither do I. If you have to move, move. Just keep your comm lines clear.”
“Roger.”
Olus closed the link, turning as Pik re-entered the room. He looked confused.
“She was already dead,” he said.
“What?” Abbey replied, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “Are you trying to make me feel better?”
“I swear, Queenie. No pulse. No movement. If I had to guess, I’d say she died the same time you popped the head off the bitch downstairs.”
Olus and Abbey locked eyes. Emily had been drinking Mars’ blood with regularity. It was an interesting outcome.
“At least I don’t have to feel guilty,” Abbey said.
“There’s nothing to get here,” Olus said, giving up on the terminal. If he had a few hours, he could try to restore something, but he didn’t even have minutes. He would have to be satisfied with his memory of his first view of the so-called Covenant.
“Then it’s time to evac,” Abbey said.
“Agreed. We head into the jungle; we try to steal a ride back to Feru City. I’ll get you on a transport hush-hush, and then I’ll return to the Driver. Commander Usiari doesn’t know I was here, or if he does, I'll make sure he won’t be able to prove it. I just have to figure out what bullshit to feed General Omsala.” He paused. “Actually, I can use that as a reason to go back to Earth.”
Abbey nodded but looked concerned. “How do you plan to let us have our freedom once the whole fragging Republic is hunting us? It’s one thing to escape from Hell. It’s another thing to murder the Director of Eagan Heavyworks.”
“I know. I’ll figure it out. You had enough faith in me to come break me out. Trust that I’ll do you right.”
“I’ve heard that bullshit line before,” Pik said. “What about the timer? You die, we die? That isn’t going to work.”
“You’re right,” Olus agreed. “Queenie, I’m going to give you the codes.”
“What?” Abbey said.
“I’m assuming the virus wouldn’t be able to kill you, anyway. I’m sure you considered the same.”
“I did. I got shot at least a hundred times on Drune and came back. I don’t think a superbug can knock me down. Not now.”
“What?” Pik said. “If he can't off you, then why the frag are you still here? You could be on your way to Earth to get your kid.”
Abbey turned toward him, but she sent her words over the team channel.
“Because this is bigger than me, Okay. Bigger than all of us. I swore an oath to defend the Republic, and it doesn’t matter if I wound up in Hell. It doesn’t matter that it wasn’t my fault. Whoever Thraven is, whoever the Nephilim are, they threaten everything I’ve always believed in protecting. The same things you all believed in protecting at one time or another. If this asshole gets his way, there isn’t going to be anywhere to go. There isn’t going to be anywhere to hide. We’ll be as much a prisoner to his will as we are the Republic’s. I want my daughter to live free.”
“But you’ll let us go, won’t you Queenie?” Benhil asked. “You’ll let us decide for ourselves?”
“Why the frag would I do that?” she replied. “You were in Hell the same as me. You’re going to earn your freedom, just like I am.”
Benhil was silent. Olus could imagine him cursing off the comm link.
“I’m with you, Queenie,” Bastion said.
“You don’t have a choice,” Airi said. “None of us do.”
“Then I’m choosing to pretend I have a choice,” Bastion said. “This is still a lot more fun than Hell ever was. You can’t deny that.”
“Nope,” Pik said. “I’m having a fragging blast. Except for that part where I got slammed into the wall and held there with magic. That kind of sucked.”
“Lucifer, clear the rooftop, meet Okay and Killshot at the entrance.”
"Killshot?"
"That's me," Olus said.
“Cool nick. Roger.”
“What are you going to do?” Olus asked.
“I’m going to create a diversion.” She looked at him, a devilish smile playing across her face. “I’ve got an idea.”
13
Abbey moved out onto the rooftop of the Eagan mansion, quickly scanning the skies before making her way from the emergency access stairwell to the edge of the building. She didn’t try to stay low or hide as she looked down at the area around them. Planetary Defense had taken a defensive position around the cleared area beyond the compound, a collection of vehicles lining the area, soldiers hiding behind them with rifles up and ready.
There were more soldiers closer in, hanging near the walls in the foliage that surrounded the property, waiting for the signal to close and engage. Just beyond the front gate, three squads of soldiers in battlesuits had lined the walls, prepared to go in hard and fast. They were the first and best line of offense the Feru defense forces could produce, not including the Springer.
The mech was hidden somewhere out of sight, ready to bounce into the fray at a moment's notice. Abbey had been on missions with Springers before. The mechs weren’t that tough, but they could stand up to small arms fire and battlesuits just fine, and they were quick and powerful, their normal ordnance including a pair of light railguns, a heavy laser, and a handful of fragment munitions. Standard operating procedure was to hang back and catch enemy units by surprise, using their powerful jump jets to make high, fast arcs along the battlefield, firing down on targets from above. She had no doubt the pilot of the PD’s Springer was hoping to do the same.
“This is Queenie,” she said. “I’m in position. Prepare to engage on my mark.”
“Roger,” the other members of the Rejects, plus Olus, replied.
Abbey closed her hand into a fist. She could feel the Gift throbbing beneath her skin, still hyperactive after her fight against the Venerant. She had tasted the woman’s blood, thick and metallic and gritty, taking it and swallowing before she could reconsider, and then questioning the decision when she felt the change in her system. It reminded her of a warrior’s high, only more crisp and defined.
She knew she had made a mistake because she wanted more.
Emily had warned her that a taste would break her. She had laughed about it right before she died.
Then why had she tried it? Why had she been unable to resist? Did the individual control the Gift, or did the Gift control the individual?
She had to get her team out of here, away from the mansion, away from Feru. She needed to find the Fire and the Brimstone, and stop Thraven. Was it a mistake if it saved lives? She hadn’t bitten Airi, as Emily suggested. She had taken the blood of a woman who was already dead. It was disgusting. Immoral. Reprehensible. It was also logical given the circumstances.
Wasn’t it?
She looked down at the enemy forces again. She didn’t want to kill them. Not if it could be avoided. Too many people were dying around her, enough that she was beginning to feel like a real demon. A real monster. Still, they needed the Gift. They needed the power. All of them would have been dead three times over without it.
She found the three squads near the front of the compound. The Gift was still active, but it wasn’t as strong as before. She didn’t hate those soldiers. She didn’t hate what they were trying to do. She had a feeling that Emily’s blood was the only thing keeping it awake.
She stepped back from the edge, took a few quick breaths, and then sprinted forward. She could feel the strength in her feet, enhanced by the Gift. Her steps were quick and light, and
she reached the edge in no time, bouncing off as though she were in a battlesuit and letting the low arc carry her forward, from the sixth-floor rooftop of the mansion, over the front gates, and into the midst of the soldiers beyond.
She rolled when she hit the ground, tucking her shoulder and absorbing the impact, coming up and darting toward the first squad as its members turned to face her. They were hesitant, rattled by her sudden appearance within them, surprised by her bald head, her Hell brand, her deep red suit and the blood that marred her face.
She hit the first one quickly, batting his rifle aside and punching him in the helmet, hard enough that he spun and fell. She pivoted, swinging her leg up and out and kicking another under the chin, lifting him up and dropping him, turning again and punching a third soldier, hitting the armored chest with enough force that it cracked beneath her fist, pushing the man back and down. The last soldier caught up and tried to punch her, a suit-enhanced blow that would have crushed her if it connected. She ducked away from it, grabbing the outstretched hand in both of hers and pulling, tugging the soldier up and over and onto his back. He tried to get up, but she slammed her foot into his helmet. He fell back and didn’t move again.
The other two squads had adjusted for her, and they swung their weapons her way. She bounced back and into the front line of foliage. One of the squads decided to follow.
“Mark,” she said, calling the Rejects out. “Squad One is down. Two is giving chase. Squad Three is still manning the gate. Non-lethal if possible.”
“What if it isn’t possible?” Pik asked.
“Don’t kill them unless they’re about to kill you.”
She moved deeper into the jungle, ducking behind a large tree. She could hear the motion of the soldiers entering the brush, their boots stomping heavily on the greenery around them. She could hear other motion in the trees further away, the defense forces already deployed around the perimeter being called back to find her.
She smiled. It was just what she wanted.
She stepped out from behind the tree, making sure the soldiers saw her, ducking back as they opened fire, their bullets striking the wood. Then she ran, racing ahead of them, leading them away, their attack at her back, bullets whizzing through the air around her. She felt something hit her leg, stumbled but stayed up, kept going as it healed. She felt another sting in her arm, brushed it off and kept going.
