by JN Chaney
She felt John suddenly flinch and rise a little in his seat. “What is it?” she asked.
He was slow to respond. “I thought I heard something, but…” he paused. “No. Nevermind.”
“You’re sure?” she asked.
He nodded, smiling, then nuzzled her head with his nose. She relaxed and squeezed his arm, letting her eyes wander around the room. John was a soldier, so he was always on high alert, she reminded herself. He was constantly searching for danger.
He turned to look somewhere to the left side of the auditorium, his eyes lingering on one of the doors. John’s senses were far more acute than Mei’s, not because she didn’t have the natural inclination, but because she’d spent less time honing them. While Mei spent the bulk of her days in a lab, sequencing DNA and solving complex problems, John’s time in the field had pushed his Variant abilities to their absolute limit. That wasn’t to say Mei couldn’t spot something coming down the road six kilometers away or hear a whisper in another room, but John could filter the rest of the noise out. He could listen for a single voice in a crowded room of hundreds.
He was never caught off guard.
John stood up, his gaze steady on the doors. “There’s someone coming. They’re—”
The entrance doors shattered in a spray of metal and smoke, deafening the crowd. For several moments, Mei could hear nothing. The pressure from the blast hit and for a second it was like she was in someone else’s body. Everything was different.
Her heartbeat was so strong, she could feel it. Every breath she took was quicker and lighter. It was harder to breathe, like no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t grasp the air. It felt like her organs retracted and shifted, almost like she was falling in a plane, but worse. All of this in only a moment.
And her eyes hurt. It felt like she had two fingers tapping against them, pushing them deeper into her skull.
“What the shit?!” snapped Short, shielding her ears and face. The words bled through the haze, and Mei blinked.
“What’s it look like?” asked Hughes.
A figure, dressed in a full suit of thin, charcoal armor, stepped into the room, unfurling an automatic weapon the length of his arm, taking aim at the stage.
******
John didn’t know what to do. If only he had his rifle, he might be able to shoot this asshole terrorist where he stood. If only the Leadership had allowed him to keep it. No matter. He’d have to do this the old-fashioned way.
He jumped down the seats and started toward this new enemy. The rest of the Blacks followed far behind, trying to keep up.
Despite his speed, however, John couldn’t stop a bullet from hitting its target. Several members of the Leadership fell to the floor in a moment’s breath. By the time he reached the terrorist, hitting him with what must have felt like the full force of a bull, several of the Leadership were already dead.
John gripped the weapon, still in the man’s hands, and struck him in the neck, knocking him to the floor. As he did, the weapon flew free, sliding across the auditorium. Mickey swooped in to pick it up.
Taking the stranger by the throat, John pinned him down. “We good?” asked John. “Someone check the Leadership and see if they’re okay!”
A shot fired from somewhere in the back of the auditorium. John looked to see another armored individual, perched on an elevated platform, reloading the gun. Master Lao, who had already been shot, was struggling to get off the stage, blood all over him, when the assailant fired again, striking him in the chest. He collapsed onto the floor.
“Mickey!” shouted John.
Mickey took aim at the assassin and started firing his newly acquired weapon, but the terrorist was already moving, heading out the upper stairwell.
If John hurried, he could cut them off at the exit. They just had to get out of this auditorium and make it to the lobby. They could—
A bullet flew through the nearby exit, hitting Hughes in the chest. He yelped, diving to the floor, and rolling.
“Contact front!” cried Short.
Being the only one with a weapon, Mickey returned fire. On the other side of the doorway, a few enemy soldiers had taken cover, sending a barrage of firepower at the Blacks.
“Get out of their line of sight!” ordered John, gripping the enemy soldier’s neck. “You’re coming with me!”
But before John could move his new prisoner, a bullet blew struck the man’s head. His mask shattered and his face poured onto the stone-tiled floor. The man hung heavy in John’s hand.
He let the body go, stepping back, stunned.
At the same time, Mickey was tagged in the stomach. He screamed, collapsing, with blood pooling out of him. He rolled to the side and continued to return fire. John shook his head, trying to snap himself out it. “Mickey, toss it!” He let out his hand.
Mickey threw the rifle to him.
With a slow, deep breath, John focused, aiming through the opening at the oncoming fighters. He could see two of them lodged behind a small desk, using it for cover.
Gripping the gun, he fired.
One. Two. Three. Squeeze.
The bullet blew through the piece of office furniture, and someone screamed on the other side.
One. Two. Three. Squeeze.
A body hit the floor.
He waited, aimed and ready, but there was no movement. He listened, concentrating, but heard nothing. Was that all of them?
Hughes lay near him, hand over his chest wound. “We good, boss?” he asked.
Track ran over to Mickey and opened his pack. He took out a clump of QuickHeal and placed it in the wound to stop the bleeding “He’s okay. H-He’s good. You’re good, Mick.”
Mickey squeezed his friend’s hand. “Easy, Track. I ain’t going nowhere. Bullet went clean through.”
Track nodded. “Right, right. Yeah.”
Short went to the edge of the doorway, peering through what remained of the smoke. “Looks clear.”
“We need to evac,” said John.
“Not sure that’s gonna happen,” said Short. “The Leadership’s down. I’m thinking it’ll be hard for us to get out of here.”
“You might be right. Mei, are any of them still alive?” John turned to look at the stage behind him. “Mei?”
No answer.
He couldn’t see her anywhere. “Mei?”
“Where’d she go?” asked Short.
John ran to the edge of the stage. It was covered in blood. None of the fallen Masters were moving. He scanned the stadium seats across the auditorium, but didn’t see her. “Mei!” he shouted. “Say something if you hear me!”
Nothing.
He felt a panic in his chest. His heart raced faster and faster, even more than it had in battle. Where was she? Why didn’t she answer? Could they have taken her? It wasn’t like her to run, not even under fire. What was going on? What was—
No, no, no. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t see. He couldn’t think. This wasn’t happening. It had to be a dream. None of this was real. It couldn’t be.
“Mei!” John screamed, his voice cracking as it boomed through the auditorium. “Mei, where are you!!!”
******
Garden Headquarters
March 25, 2351
Lena Sol sat behind the uplink console, sorting through files and images hidden deep within the archives of Everlasting’s network. She gathered some helpful information which was certain to please Jinel Din and Vivia June. Then she began her real work: searching for Johnathan Finn and the other humans.
Having procured several aliases during her last session, she now had access to the Rosenthal Satellite’s recordings and image database. She couldn’t directly control the satellite like she could if she were inside the Citadel, because that was a closed system. But the images and feeds were stored on the network itself in order to be further analyzed, which meant she could sneak a glance after the fact.
Lena sorted through by type, cataloguing and saving any unusual sightings
or strange occurrences beyond the city’s walls. This included tribal conflicts, incoming and departing air traffic from Everlasting, and especially human activity near the portal site. Not surprisingly, the Rosenthal Satellite had been set to monitor the camp as often as possible, recording movement, layout, personnel changes, and so on. Many of the images and recordings had notes attached, detailing any changes taking place, such as the recent increase to personnel. Apparently, Doctor Curie’s team had tripled over the last few weeks—something the Leadership seemed to be concerned about.
An alert from the Citadel. Another batch of files from the Rosenthal Satellite.
Lena scanned through them, swiping her hand to sort the newly downloaded files. Over two hundred images from across the eastern side of the continent, most of which pertained to activity around the border. Nothing too unusual, except—
Except for the part where an unknown ship had sailed behind the ocean wall.
Lena examined the craft as it appeared. A foreign ship from Tharosa, judging by the elaborate designs. A trading vessel, perhaps? What could it be doing here? There were no villages within the outer walls, no reason to risk life and limb to sail to such a place. What could they be after?
The images tracked the path the vessel had taken as it made its way through Everlasting’s territory over the course of several days. The ship eventually settled near the shore, anchoring itself inside a crescent rock formation, where it had stayed until—
Well, Lena had no idea. The latest timestamp indicated the image was from this morning. She wouldn’t be able to see anything more until the Citadel released another batch of files to the network, which could take some time.
She decided to look a bit closer. Maybe there was something on the surface of the ship to indicate what exactly it was doing there.
The crew, which seemed to consist of a dozen or more individuals, shuffled around the deck through the various images, often moving to and from the cabin interior. Most looked typical of sailors, dressed to fit the sea and its weathered occupations.
All except for two, which Lena found somewhat out of place. The first was a broad chested man with long, braided hair. Next to him, a bald individual with blue tattoos. A woman. Yes, a priestess, in fact. Could it be—
Lena sorted through the pictures until she found one where the man’s face was more visible. There, she thought, pausing on the image.
She focused and zoomed in on the stranger’s face. It is, she thought at once. It’s him!
It was the same tribesman who’d been with Terry during his time in the little house near the wall, back when Lena had first found him. Ludo, Terry had called him. A monk and farmer. Somehow, this man had found his way through the border and into Everlasting territory.
Had he come looking for Terry? Had he come to seek revenge on the sentries?
I have to tell Terry about this, she thought. His friend. This entire crew of people. They’re in danger if the sentries spot them.
She started to get up, but stopped. She wouldn’t be able to show him the scans, since he didn’t have an implant, so she’d have to transfer the files to a display. The analysts had to have a few sitting around here somewhere.
Lena found one on a nearby console, already packed with files. She transferred its contents onto one of the local drives, then added the images and some video feed. There, she thought as it finished loading, and left quickly into the hall.
CHAPTER 5
Leadership Report 226755.424
Recorded 03.25.884
Subtitled: Retribution
KAI: How severe was the attack?
GEL: Very. It would seem most of the Leadership has fallen. You and I are all that remain. Master Quin is missing, but it is believed he was either slain or taken hostage.
KAI: What of the Master at Arms? Tell me he at least survived.
GEL: Dead. Everyone is gone.
KAI: This is outrageous. Without Master Lao, we cannot hope to—
GEL: Rest easy, Master Kai. I have already transferred authority to my department. Law enforcement personnel are standing by.
KAI: Already? What do you mean? The line of succession is to fall to someone in the Master at Arms’ department.
GEL: In such chaotic times, we cannot entrust the full strength of the department to someone who is not a Master. I placed protocols in the system some time ago to self-activate in case of such an event. When the system detected the death of Master Lao, it transferred his authority to Master Trin. However, since both are now deceased, the line of succession has fallen to me.
KAI: You? Don’t be absurd. If such responsibilities are to be transferred, they should fall to me. My authority is second to none.
GEL: Which is why the system has granted you dominion over the remaining departments. Rest assured, I have only taken the Master at Arms’ department, along with my own. You have received the breadth of other responsibilities.
KAI: I see, so you would control both the Citadel and the armed forces.
GEL: While you manage all other operations pertaining to the city and its infrastructure.
KAI: Fine, but we should transfer responsibility back to the associated departments as quickly as possible, once new Masters have been assigned.
GEL: I agree, certainly. However, I believe I have sufficient evidence to retaliate against the enemy, should we see fit to do so.
KAI: You know their location?
GEL: One of several, but specifically their primary base of operations. I can have our forces there in—
KAI: Do it. Whatever it takes to stomp them out. They must pay for what they’ve done today.
GEL: By our combined will, Master Kai, I shall see it done.
End Audio File
Garden Headquarters
March 25, 2351
Jinel Din returned from the mission unharmed, along with only a few others. The rest had been completely wiped out. Terry watched as they arrived, shocked at how few returned.
She collapsed on the floor and removed her visor, still out of breath from the fight and subsequent escape.
“What the hell happened out there?” asked Terry, standing over her.
She smirked through heavy breaths. “Killed them,” she said, raising her gun to the others. “We killed them all!”
The soldiers cheered.
“Killed who?” he asked, afraid of what the answer might be.
“The Leadership. The Masters. One of my men shot them all down in a single burst. I saw it through his eyes.”
“His eyes?”
She tapped the place where the implant was, near the temple. “We all saw it through him. I’ve never felt so alive, Terry, or so justified.”
He said nothing. Part of him wanted to argue that it was murder, but he knew better. This was war, and everything was justified, according to those who waged it, no matter how horrible the atrocity.
“You’re wondering about civilians, aren’t you,” she said, though it wasn’t so much a question as an observation.
“And?” he asked.
She leaned against the wall, staring at the ceiling. “No casualties from us. A few soldiers, maybe, but I don’t know. As soon as my man fired his weapon, the defense system activated and all our coms went down. Most of the team engaged outside the building, but none of them made it back. I didn’t see what else happened, but since only six of us are here, I’m guessing the rest are dead.”
“You left with fifteen people,” said Terry. “I only count six survivors.”
“That’s right,” she said, nodding. “Sacrifices, each of them. They will not be forgotten.”
“What happens now? You took the Masters out, but what about the military? What about the Guardians?”
“That comes next,” she said, reaching out her hand to him.
He grabbed it and helped her up.
“For now, we stay quiet and out of sight,” she said, patting his shoulder. “There are still a few members of the Leadership in service. No
t everyone was there today. They’ll be looking for us, but we’ll already be gone.”
“Gone?”
“We can’t stay here. First thing tomorrow, we’re leaving and heading to another bunker near the outskirts of the city.”
“You think they’ll come for you? I thought you people were good at covering your tracks,” he said.
“We are, but we didn’t have enough time to prepare. It was sloppy, I admit, but the cost was worth it.”
“I hope you’re right,” he said, watching the surviving soldiers disperse into their living quarters. “If this doesn’t end soon, you people aren’t going to last.”
******
After checking his bedroom and a few other frequently visited spots around the bunker, Lena found Terry sitting alone in the dining area. He had some fruit on his plate, but wasn’t eating. The look on his face suggested he was lost in thought, a look she’d grown accustomed to. “I’ve found you,” she said, taking a seat across from him. “I’ve been searching everywhere.”
“Sorry about that,” he said, smiling a little.
She thumbed the pad in her hand. Maybe if she showed him this, it would help clear his mind. “I have something for you.”
He sat up. “Oh?”
She activated the screen, which already had the picture of the man on the boat loaded and ready, and then placed it in front of him.
He stared curiously at the image for a second before he realized what it was. “What is…” He dropped his mouth. “This is Ludo! Where did you find this? What is he…why is he on a ship?”
“I was browsing through some of the satellite images when I found these. The system flagged them for security purposes.”
“Security?” he asked.
“This ship is inside Everlasting’s borders. Normally, the sentries would have been summoned to this location once analysts in the Citadel received the feed. However, this has not yet occurred.”
“Why not?”
“It could be one of several reasons, but I suspect the recent storm shielded them. The satellite has some difficulty with recognizing anything during such an event. Now that the weather has cleared, however, operations have resumed.”
