by JN Chaney
HARPER: You’ve just cured Variant, Sophie. The board isn’t going to throw you away for taking a few risks, even if they were stupid ones. The rest of Central would lose its mind.
MITCHELL: I only did this because time was a factor. Everlasting is in the middle of a war and they need this medicine.
HARPER: Then give it to them. Test the formula on one of their own first, but go ahead and begin full production.
MITCHELL: Titus Vin and his crew are on their way as we speak. Master Gel has agreed to let us test the cure on a volunteer. I’ll take proper safety procedures this time, but I believe the vaccine will hold.
HARPER: We’ll need thousands of doses, and soon, should this actually work. Inform me as soon as you know the results of the test. I’ll have our labs stop everything to focus on replicating more inoculations.
MITCHELL: Thank you, Dr. Harper.
HARPER: If all of this works out, Sophie, believe me, I’ll be the one thanking you.
End Audio File
Ashby Harbor, Tharosa
April 3, 2351
Terry and his friends ran through Ashby like their lives depended on it, and perhaps they did. The Everlastian troops were coming, bringing conflict with them. There would be no respite today. No chance to flee or hide.
Terry and Ysa ran together at the head of the group, with Ludo and Jinel following behind. Hux remained at the docks with Lena, preparing the ship for departure.
They came to the edge of the town just before the gate, kicking snow as they arrived. Already, Terry could see the ship in the distant field, a squad of soldiers gathering around. Each of them wore a mask or a helmet, blocking their faces.
“Not as many as I thought,” observed Ysa, rather calmly.
“They’re tougher than they look,” said Terry.
“Do they fly?” she asked.
Jinel and Ludo slid to a stop beside them. “Everlastians don’t fly,” said Jinel, hoisting her rifle from her side, readying it. “But they have guns and armor, and that makes them tough to kill.”
Terry raised his brow at the soldier beside him. “Don’t count us out yet. We’ve got a priestess, an Everlastian field commander, a farmer, and a mutant kid from Central. What’s an army to that?”
“Don’t forget the wavemaster and the analyst,” said a female voice from behind. Terry turned to see Lena standing there with Hux at her side. “You didn’t think we’d leave you to it, did you?”
“What about the ship?” asked Terry.
Hux beat his chest. “My crew is here and needs its captain.”
“I can’t do much without a weapon, but I’m here if you need me,” said Lena.
“Any ideas?” asked Jinel.
“We can’t let them near the city,” said Ludo.
“We could engage them in the field,” said Jinel. “Flank them if we can.”
Terry nodded. “Okay. Let’s split into two groups, then meet in the middle.”
“Wait,” said Ludo. “Are you certain we should fight them?”
“If we take the ship, the satellite will track our movement,” explained Lena. “They’ll follow and sink the Waveguard before we’re halfway there.”
“Sink the Waveguard?” asked Hux, appalled.
“It won’t come to that,” said Terry.
“Here,” said Jinel, looking at Lena. She handed her the rifle. “Stay here and fire from a distance. Use the guided scope like I showed you the other day.”
“I-I remember,” said Lena, taking the weapon.
Jinel took a pistol from her waist and switched off the safety. “We’ll hit them hard and quick, before any of them have a chance to react. Are you ready?”
******
John watched as the Everlastian soldiers unloaded from the Red Door, their boots hitting the snow, flattening the mound until it was nothing but hard ice.
They gathered together in a circle around him, waiting for orders, prepared to move ahead.
Once the ship had unloaded, the door raised and locked back into place.
John lowered his goggles to cover his face. “We’re going to the docks first. I want everyone behind me!”
The soldiers raised their fists, acknowledging the command.
John jogged through the field, each of the twelve behind him. The wind was picking up, pushing snow along the ground. With any luck, the villagers would be indoors and out of sight. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if a civilian was injured…or worse. If only he had his team with him. People he could trust. People he knew. Not these aliens with their unknown procedures.
Gel had assured him that the troops were more than capable. He claimed they were fully trained to avoid such situations, but John couldn’t know for certain…not until he was in the middle of a firefight with them. That was the true test of a man’s character, the only way to know his soul.
******
Terry and Ysa crept between the trees on the side of the field, watching the soldiers as they trotted toward the village. On the other side, Ludo, Jinel, and Hux were doing the same, preparing to attack.
Jinel reached the opposite end, crouched behind one of the thicker trees. She couldn’t see Terry, but he had assured her that he would be watching, and it was true. With a slight raise of her hand, she formed a fist, then brought it down, signaling the attack.
Terry tapped Ysa’s wrist, and together they burst through the tree line and straight into the field.
On the other side, Jinel’s team did the same, setting their sights on the enemy troops. The commander of Garden fired with perfect precision, blasting two of the soldiers in the head, ending them.
The other soldiers reacted instantly, opening fire on the rest. One of the shots hit Ludo, causing him to fall into the snow.
“They’re using the toxin!” shouted Jinel. “Don’t let them hit you!”
Ysa slid beneath the firepower, knocking one of the men to the ground, throwing snow into the air around the crowd. With a series of quick hits, the man’s body broke in several places, and he screamed.
She grabbed his weapon and tossed it into the clearing, then turned on another one.
“Stop her!” shouted one of the soldiers, but his voice was strange, not muffled from a breathing mask, but clear and distinct.
Familiar, too.
He wore a separate uniform from the rest, a strange mask on his head with goggles. The design wasn’t Everlastian, but still familiar.
Hux charged like a bull into the field, stampeding into two soldiers and grabbing both their heads, one in each hand, and burying them in the ground.
Another set of troops took aim at the wavemaster, preparing to stop him. Seeing this, Jinel tried to draw their attention, shooting one in the leg. The other soldier unloaded his weapon onto her, but she was already back behind the tree.
A shot hit one of the men in the side of his shoulder. It came from the city walls. There, Lena Sol was crouched with Jinel’s rifle, aiming at the crowd. She pulled the trigger, taking a slow and steady breath, and fired, tagging another in the arm.
Terry kept his eye on the man who appeared to be their leader, the one without the mask. “Hit them quick!” the stranger cried, then fired his own pistol, tagging Hux in the foot.
The wavemaster stumbled, pausing momentarily, and then collapsed.
“They’re using the toxin!” shouted Jinel.
Can’t give them time to get the rest, thought Terry.
He dashed at the soldiers, his weapon extended. One of the men fired at him, but he deflected the shot with his blade, and continued forward.
Terry drew in close, disarming the nearest soldier. He raised his sword to him, aiming to stab him in the leg. He didn’t want to take anyone’s life today, only injure them.
But before the blade could make its mark, the leader of the squad came upon him, knocking Terry back. The leader stood between them now, his pistol drawn and aimed. “Back off!”
But Terry wouldn’t have it. He readied himself t
o begin again, steadying his stance.
“I’m warning you,” said the man with the mask. His words didn’t match his lips. He had to be using a translator, the same one Lena had told him about…but what was a foreigner doing with Everlastian soldiers? Unless…
“Who are you?” Terry asked in English.
The man hesitated at the change in language. He pressed his hand to his collar, and there was a click. “You speak English?”
“My name is Terry and I’m from Earth,” he said. “Now, who the hell are you?”
******
John stared at the wild man before him, the one speaking the language of his home world. The savage with the mad, unkempt hair and unusual clothes. The man who had just called himself Terry. “What did you just say?”
“I said my name is Terry. Who the hell are you?”
John lowered his weapon. “Terry?”
“Yeah…do I know you?”
John removed his mask, revealing his tired face. Terry’s eyes widened, a shocked expression overcoming him. They both stood motionless for what felt like a long moment, saying nothing.
“Oh, my God,” Terry finally muttered, his mouth hanging open. “John?”
John nodded, uncertain of what to do or say. He’d spent so much time looking for the person in front of him, never knowing if his hopes were wasted, never knowing if the friend he knew was even still alive. “I can’t believe it’s you,” he answered, almost choking on the words. “How…what are you doing here?”
“I’m—”
A sudden burst of weapon fire sounded from behind him, bringing John out of his daze. “Everyone, stop firing. Stop!”
The Everlastian squad came to a halt, but didn’t lower their weapons. Instead, they kept their sights fixed on the enemy. One in the tree line, one behind the city wall, and three others immobilized in the snow. Two large men and a bald woman with tattoos.
“Why are you helping Everlasting, John?” asked Terry.
“Mei’s been taken hostage. I need to find the one responsible. A terrorist who knows where she’s being kept.”
“Terrorist?”
“Garden. They abducted her,” explained John.
“But I’ve been with them. I didn’t hear anything about that.”
“Then you’ve been lied to,” said John. His eyes fell to the snow. “I know it’s true. I’ve seen the intel.”
Terry looked at the person in the woods. A female wearing a breathing mask and armor. “Is this true?” he asked, yelling across the field. “Did Garden kidnap Mei?”
“Leadership lies!” she returned. “Garden would never do anything to you or your people! We have one goal: to overthrow the dictatorship in our city and bring peace to our people!”
“Who is that?” asked John. “Is that Jinel Din?”
“How did you know her name? Is she the person you’re after?” asked Terry.
Finally, thought John. Now he could finish this and return to the city. He’d save Mei and then they could all go home. “Terry, listen to me. That woman knows where Mei is. We have to bring her in!”
Terry looked at Jinel, blinking curiously. He shook his head. “Jinel saved my life. She wouldn’t—”
“Whatever she’s telling you, it’s not true. She’s just using you. These people are terrorists. They need to be stopped.”
“But—”
John started toward the trees. “Don’t worry, Terry. I’ll handle this right now. You’ll see.” He raised his pistol, aiming at his new target. “Come out, Jinel Din! You’re coming with me!”
“John, stop!” begged Terry. “You’re making a mistake!”
“Sorry, but we don’t have a choice,” he answered. He didn’t like going against his friend’s wishes, but given the current stakes, he couldn’t take the risk. He had to ensure Mei’s safety, no matter what.
John stared at the woman in armor, this terrorist commander who had plagued Everlasting for so long. He would have to be quick to outgun her, but given his reflexes and speed, he knew it wouldn’t be a problem. Just slide to the left and tag her with the toxin. It would only take one shot. Maybe two.
He stopped a few meters from her, staring her in the eyes.
John took a deep breath, clearing his mind. He could do this. He could save Mei. Save Terry. All he had to do was breathe.
One.
Two.
Three.
And go.
******
Terry didn’t know what to do. He was finally reuniting with his oldest friend, but it came at the cost of another’s freedom. No doubt, John believed what he was saying, but there was no way Jinel could be responsible for Mei’s kidnapping. Yes, the woman had committed acts of violence against the Leadership, but she’d never done anything to suggest she was capable of such a betrayal.
Or would she? He had to admit he’d only known her for just over a month, which wasn’t long enough to truly understand a person, but…
Still, he’d spent time with Jinel, fought alongside her. He understood her motives and what she was after, and he knew that all she really wanted was to save her people. Whether or not she was right in this, he couldn’t say, but he had no doubts that she believed it. She’d also saved his life, brought him out of that lab and taken him to freedom. He’d trusted her enough to cross an ocean, to come all the way to Tharosa to find a way to stop the war. She had always looked out for him. She’d always told him the truth.
The Everlastian soldiers stood between Terry and John, their attention divided. If he could get around them, somehow, he might be able to stop his friends from fighting. It could be possible to talk this whole thing out. If he could just—
John broke into a mad dash in an instant, opening fire on Jinel Din. He slid in the snow, letting loose a barrage of shots, nearly hitting her. She managed to move behind the massive trunk, keeping it between them, unable to return fire.
The move opened her to an attack from the other soldiers, who now observed her clearly. They raised their weapons, preparing to strike her down with the nerve suppressor. “Stop!” demanded Terry, but a few of them raised their guns to him, warning him to stay put, but that simply wouldn’t do.
Terry focused his mind and cleared himself of all thought, all distractions, and in that single moment of tranquility, released his inner calm.
He raised his blade and attacked the squad, dodging their shots as he moved across the glade. He cut the first rifle down, splitting it in half, taking the man’s trigger finger with it. The soldier screamed in shock as Terry continued to the next.
With a quick parry, Terry struck the second rifle to the side, nearly throwing it from the man’s hand. He moved in and stabbed him in the leg, forcing him to drop the weapon.
He pushed his way through each of the soldiers, disarming them as he cut through the crowd. A pool of warm blood pooled in the middle of the white field. The men ran in terror, back towards their ship, while others passed out where they had collapsed.
“Terry, stop!” ordered John.
“They’ve brainwashed him Don’t listen!” yelled Jinel.
“Both of you need to stop!” demanded Terry.
John aimed his pistol at the Garden soldier. “Not until I have her. Not until I get Mei back!”
Terry lunged at his old friend, going for the weapon in his hand. Terry pressed him back against the nearest tree, pinning him to the bark as John refused to let go of the pistol, continuing to fire into the leaves. “Stop it!” yelled Terry.
“Let me go!” barked John, and he kicked Terry suddenly in the belly, knocking him back.
Terry staggered, surprised at John’s strength.
John raised his weapon. “I don’t want to hurt you, but—”
“Neither do I!” snapped Terry, taking one of Ludo’s daggers from his waist and hitting the pistol and damaging it. John glanced at the weapon, a stunned look on his face.
Terry took the chance to attack. He ran straight at him, but John reacted quickly, ra
ising his leg into Terry’s stomach, grabbing him by the arms. John fell on his back, bringing Terry above and behind him, forcing him into the snow.
The two rose to their feet and attacked. As John threw a fist, Terry took his wrist and turned, pressing his back to John’s chest, elbowing him in the stomach with so much force it sent him sliding backwards, kicking snow into the air.
John returned immediately, without pause, and slide towards him, sending snow into Terry’s face. From behind the white cloud, John sprang forth at him, knocking him in the chest with his head like a battering ram while grabbing both his sides. John lifted Terry and pushed him back into the nearest tree, cracking the wood.
Terry brought both his hands down on John’s neck, striking him repeatedly. John let him go, and Terry caught himself on a nearby branch. He reengaged, sprinting forward. A few meters from his target, he leapt high into the air, releasing a series of swift kicks, aimed at John’s chest.
John braced for the assault, blocking with his arms crossed and his head down, his feet planted where he stood.
As Terry began to land, John grabbed hold of his ankle and swung him to the ground.
Terry hit the earth with a deep thud, snow billowing into the air.
He staggered to his feet, unsteady and nearly falling.
John reached for the rifle on his back, the one he’d ignored until now, and aimed it squarely at Terry’s face. “Don’t move!”
But Terry didn’t listen, and attacked. John’s finger brushed the trigger, nearly firing, but he paused. Instead, he slammed the butt of his rifle into Terry’s shoulder, deflecting him.
Terry spun around, recovering quickly. When the rifle came again, he dodged, using John’s own momentum to catch the gun and disarm him.
In that same instance, Terry raised his foot, and with a single, perfect strike, slammed it into the soldier’s chest.
The impact sent John flying, snapping low-hanging branches and scattering dead leaves. A splash of blood exploded from his mouth as he landed and slid into a tree trunk.
“John!” called Terry, once he saw the blood.
The seasoned soldier didn’t seem to be moving.
******
John sat with his hands crossed, smiling a big, bright smile, and laughing. Today was the day he went to school. Today was the day he got to grow up.
