by JN Chaney
“Does that mean Everlasting will go after them?”
“It is difficult to say. After I left my post to find you, I heard from one of the soldiers that the attack on the Leadership had been a success. Such an event is unprecedented and could very well alter protocol. As it is, they could be found at any moment.”
“How far are they from the city?”
“I might be able to find the exact distance, should we require it. However, without a means of leaving the city, I’m afraid contacting them is highly improbable. The domeguard is impenetrable.”
Terry stared at the image on the display. “I have to get to them. He’s my friend, Lena. I can’t let anything happen to him.”
“I know, Terry, and I will help you do it,” she said. “I promise you, we will find a way.”
******
Terry stared at the image of Ludo. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
Sitting there with Lena, he was overcome with both joy and fear. Joy, because it meant his friend was alive and well, or at least appeared to be; fear, because now his friend was in danger, probably because of Terry. That was the only reason Ludo could have come here.
Ysa was with him, Terry quickly noticed, and the ship had to be the Waveguard, Hux’s vessel. Each of his friends had banded together in the hope of finding him. This much he knew, almost instantly.
“Thank you,” he told Lena for the second time.
He’d have to talk to Jinel about this, see if she had a way to reach them. Maybe she knew a way to bring down the city’s shield long enough for him to slip through. There had to be a way. He just needed to get to them and—
He paused, hearing something in the distance. Tapping from beyond the outer walls.
He concentrated, listening, and—
A loud scream, followed by gunfire. terry got to his feet, opening his mouth to say something, to warn Lena about—
An explosion shook the walls and floor, shaking him where he stood. Dust fell from the ceiling, and several cries erupted through the facility.
“What was that?” asked Lena, holding the table with both her hands to steady herself.
“We’re under attack,” he said.
Another boom that shook the foundation. They looked at one another.
“We should go to the tunnels,” said Lena, referring to the opposite exit.
More screams coming from the entrance. “I need to see if I can help. You go.” He ran to the side of the door. Several people were fleeing down the hall.
“Terry, we must leave together, you—”
“Get there and wait for me,” he said, cutting her off. “I promise I’ll be there soon.”
Lena started to say something, but he didn’t give her the chance. Instead, he dashed out of the room and bounded through the hall. He could hear the soldiers engaging up ahead, gunfire breaking loose.
A crowd gathered in the foyer near the outer door. Their faces filled confusion and fear. No one here knew what was going on, only that trouble had come knocking.
Inside the crowd of troops, Terry spotted Vivia June, struggling with a device in her hands as she ran in the opposite direction the crowd. “Hey!” he shouted, forcing his way through the surging mass of people. He grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Who?” she snapped, turning quickly to see him. “Terry?”
“How many of them are there?”
“I don’t know. I’m getting out of here. This facility is about to be overrun. Follow me, plea—”
An explosion blew through the outer hall, blasting the doors open and sending everyone to the floor. The flak from the blast flew apart, hitting the other soldiers like bullets, and the room filled with enormous heat, consuming everything.
Terry felt time slow as the flash heat bit into his back, searing his flesh in the brief moment before he could focus his thoughts.
He wrapped his arms around Vivia June, burying her face in his chest as they fell together. The flameless heat melted clothes and nearby supply, and the stink of charred flesh filled the room in seconds.
“Vivia?” muttered Terry, staring down at the motionless figure beneath him.
Her eyes were closed.
He felt terror as he placed his hand on her chest, then a swell of relief as he found her heartbeat. He turned to the source of the explosion. Several heavily armed men ran through the opening. “There!” yelled one of them. “Everyone inside!”
Terry looked at the unconscious woman in his arms. He could either save her or fight the invaders.
He lifted Vivia in his arms, getting to his feet. The choice was clear.
Two dozen bodies, charred and motionless, littered the room. Terry could sense a few of them still breathing, still clinging to life. Maybe if he was fast enough, he could come back for them.
But he knew, even as he thought it, that there would be no coming back. All of these people were going to die.
******
Terry arrived with Vivia at the tunnels, met by a crowd of survivors, including Lena and Jinel Din. It looked like half the population of the base, if not a little more. Maybe about a hundred altogether, which might have been good news if it didn’t also mean the other half was missing.
“You’re alive!” called Jinel, heading to him. “And you’ve brought Vivia. I feared the worst.”
He carefully placed the unconscious strategist on the tunnel floor. “I’m fine, which is more than I can say for her.”
Vivia moved, but didn’t wake. She was lucky to make it out of there, unlike the rest of those soldiers.
“I suggest waiting before we move,” said Lena, checking Vivia’s pulse. “This woman needs to rest.”
“Where can we go from here?” asked Terry.
“There’s another location, if you’ll recall,” said Jinel.
Terry had little interest in heading to another hole in the ground. He had other priorities, like a ship full of friends that could use him. “I’ll help you get there,” he said. “But then I’m leaving.”
Jinel was wearing a breathing mask, and he couldn’t make out her reaction. “What do you mean, you’re leaving?”
“My friends are looking for me. I need to get to where they are before Everlasting decides to send a couple of Guardians after them.”
“I told you already. The other humans can’t be reached. They’re too far away.”
He shook his head. “Not them. I’m talking about someone else.”
“Who?”
Lena pulled out the device she’d been carrying with all the pictures on it and presented it to Jinel. The soldier looked it over. “Who is this?” she asked, staring at the screen.
“His name is Ludo and he saved my life,” said Terry.
“And he has access to a ship?”
“The Waveguard belongs to another friend. A captain from Tharosa named Hux.”
Jinel stared quietly at the screen. “Tharosa?”
He nodded. “If they don’t get out of there, the Guardians will—”
“Of course,” muttered Jinel. “I understand.”
Her reaction surprised him. “Can you help me get there?”
“I’ll do more than that. I’m going with you.”
“What are you talking about? Why would you—”
“If what you’ve said is true, I’d like to have a word with the man who owns that ship. If he truly is from Tharosa, like you say, then he could help us.”
Terry recalled the meeting they’d had about Tharosa. About his sword and the special metal. She didn’t have to explain what she meant, because he already knew. “I can’t say what Hux will do to help you. He might not care about your war.”
“He’ll care,” she told him. “Because what happens to Everlasting affects the entire world.”
Lena raised her finger. “We need to go there now, if you plan to find them. The images on this device are from this morning. The crew could already be under attack. Moreover, they could have left the area by now.”
Jinel g
ave her agreement. She called the analyst Hob from the crowd. The poor man’s hands were shaking as he approached. “As we’ve planned, escort everyone to the northern base. Follow the route that Vivia June and I outlined previously. Do you remember?”
“I do,” said Hob.
“I’ll return before long, but you must stay out of sight. Seal yourselves inside if you have to. Whatever it takes to stay alive. Above all, protect Garden.”
“We will,” said the man.
“How do we get to that beach?” asked Terry.
“The tunnels,” said Jinel, motioning to the place where they now stood.
“These lead all the way outside? What about the city’s shield?”
“The domeguard keeps things out, but it doesn’t do a very good job of keeping us inside. There are several exits.”
“I thought the Leadership closed all of those,” said Lena.
“Only on the surface,” explained Jinel. “It’s too difficult to update the lower sections. These tunnels, for example.”
“Lucky thing,” said Terry. “Now we can get outside. I can’t wait to leave this city.”
Jinel scoffed, then tossed a breathing device to Lena. “Speak for yourself. The rest of us don’t do so well outside.”
CHAPTER 6
Ortego Outpost File Logs
Play Audio File 1405
Recorded: March 25, 2351
MITCHELL: It seems the worst has happened. After taking a call from Sergeant Finn, I have learned that Doctor Curie has gone missing.
No, I believe I should say kidnapped. That’s the word for what this is. Curie has been stolen from me.
How this could have happened is beyond my understanding. I’ve been trying to work through it in my head, one step at a time, but the entire ordeal defies belief.
Did Garden know we were working on a drug? How would they possibly have that kind of information? Did they have someone feeding it to them? If so, did they believe Curie could replicate the medication on her own? Without the base formula from Central, such a thing would be impossible, even for her, brilliant as she is.
Which means she will likely be killed.
No, I mustn’t think such thoughts. Not if I am to keep my mind about. I need to focus on solving what I can, on finding a solution to the task I was given. Doctor Curie asked me to continue our research on extending the drug’s life, so that is what I am going to do.
That, and nothing else.
End Audio File
An Unknown Room
March 26, 2351
Mei opened her eyes to a blinding, white haze. She shut them immediately, wincing.
When she tried a second time, she found it easier, but couldn’t see much of anything.
No, that wasn’t right. She could see shapes, figures, objects. She just couldn’t make out the details. The lines were blurred and fuzzy, like she was viewing the world through a pool of water.
Her head throbbed in pain, so much it hurt to think. She tried to open her mouth to say something, maybe ask for help, but she couldn’t find the words. She groaned.
A voice echoed from somewhere in the room, but it sounded like gibberish.
A small prick in her neck.
No, she tried to say. Where am I? What’s going on?
But her lips barely moved and the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she fell away. Far from the room with the voice. Far from the blurred colors and the watered down world. Far, far away, deeper into the void.
And she slept.
******
Tower of the Cartographer
March 26, 2351
John sat before Master Gel, not knowing what to do. Not knowing how to fix what had happened, how to get back what was taken.
“I’m certain you must be upset, Sergeant Finn,” said the Master Analyst. “But I assure you we are still trying to piece together what happened in that building.”
“You have to know something,” said John.
“Sergeant Finn, you must understand. The city is in disarray. I am doing everything I can to help you, but I find myself overwhelmed. With the loss of the other Masters, the task of managing Everlasting has fallen to a select few. Namely, myself and Master Kai.”
“Just give me a direction to point my gun. I can take it from there,” said John. He didn’t give a damn about the chaos in the city or the workload Gel might have on his desk. All that mattered was finding Mei. Nothing else came close.
“That’s the problem, Sergeant. I don’t know where to send you. We’ve searched the location where the enemy fled but found no sign of Doctor Curie. Most have escaped into the tunnels beneath the city, likely to some undisclosed location. I have most of the military out looking for them, but I don’t know anything yet.”
“Then send me to someone who does!” barked John.
Gel didn’t flinch. “There is no such person, Sergeant Finn.”
“There’s always someone else,” said John, getting to his feet. He started for the door.
“I receive intelligence reports every day. Should I find something of value, you’ll be the first to know. I understand you must feel overwhelmed, even helpless, but understand the situation. The enemy is scattered and broken. They are desperate. Should you act on your own, they may retaliate against Doctor Curie. Is that what you want?”
He held the door open, squeezing the handle so hard his knuckles went pale from the strain. His anger nearly consumed him. He’d give anything to fix the situation. If only he could go back in time, he’d tell Mei to stay at the camp and wait for him. Anything but this. “I just want to get her back,” he finally said.
“I’ll make you a deal, Sergeant,” said Gel.
“A deal?” John asked.
“Close the door first, if you don’t mind.”
He did as the head analyst asked.
“What I am about to tell you is highly sensitive, so please use your discretion. Should it leak, Doctor Curie’s life could be in danger. Do you understand?”
John nodded. What was this guy talking about?
“I have a contact working for me who has recently infiltrated Garden. Someone who has begun funneling information to me.”
“You’ve got a spy?” asked John.
Gel nodded. “She has been assisting us with locating Garden for several weeks now.”
“If that’s true, why didn’t you stop the attack?” asked John.
“The information did not arrive in time. It seems the attack on the Leadership was hastily planned, which is clear, given the obvious lack of precautions they’ve taken. Nonetheless, my contact managed to leak the coordinates of the facility shortly afterwards, which allowed us to respond to precisely.”
“Where is this person now? Are they still sending reports?”
“I’m afraid not. Our attack on the enemy stronghold has disrupted the flow of information for the time being. I suspect my informant, much like the rest of the survivors, has fled to another location. I expect to hear from her as soon as she has the capability, however, so I remain optimistic.”
John didn’t know what to say. A mole inside Garden? If that was true, then they might know something about Mei’s condition, even her location. The smart thing to do would be to wait for a message. Information he could use to make an informed decision. That’s what Mei would do.
“You must see the benefit of this,” continued Gel. “If Doctor Curie truly is being held captive—”
“I get it,” interrupted John.
Gel nodded. “Very well, then I trust you will be patient and speak of this to no one. We must handle this delicately if we are to secure a victory and rescue Doctor Curie.”
“Fine, okay. Whatever it takes to get her back, but I’m not leaving the city.”
“You are welcome to stay in Everlasting as long as you wish, Sergeant Finn,” said Gel. “I’ll inform you the moment I learn something. However, I do hope you’ll have the medical specimen delivered to your research team. I had intended to meet with Doctor
Curie to deliver it myself, but—”
“Where is it?” John asked.
“Waiting in one of the laboratories. I can have it brought to you as soon as you’re ready for it.”
“One of my guys can take it back,” said John. He had no intention of going anywhere.
Gel smiled, politely. “As you wish.”
John left the office and headed to his room. He didn’t do well with sitting around. Better to be out there and on the hunt, not stuck in a bedroom with nothing but his nerves to keep him company. If only he had another alternative, another way to take action.
But instead he had to wait for answers from someone else.
I’m as useless as a child, he thought. A soldier who can’t even fight.
******
An Unknown Room
March 26, 2351
Mei woke up, her head spinning and her skin tingling. “Ugh,” she managed to groan, licking her chapped lips.
It took a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the light, but once they did, she found herself sitting up in a chair. A strap stretched across her forehead, locking it in.
Both of her hands were tied to the chair. She couldn’t move. Where was she? What was going on?
She could see a cart with some syringes and cloth. Countertops, covered in medical supplies. Was she in a Garden lab?
The scene in the auditorium suddenly flashed in her mind. An intruder in armor slaughtered the entire Leadership on that stage, all while Mei looked on in disbelief.
John had stopped the invader, but not soon enough. The victims had already been claimed, lying in a pool of their own blood. Mei had gone to them in an effort to help, but it was no use. The life drained out of them in seconds.
That was when she felt the hand around her mouth, followed by the piece of metal against her neck. An injection to make her sleep, no doubt.
No memory after that. Only the light of this room.
How long had she slept? How far had they taken her?
She tugged on the straps around her wrists, but they were tight and snug. The same was true of all the rest. She wasn’t going anywhere.
Mei heard a man’s voice coming from somewhere close.
