"Everyone here?" he asked.
He looked around. They were missing three. It was obvious to all, but no one wanted to say it. The look Jones was giving him was ice cold, but he wouldn't criticise any of what they were doing in front of the others. A response finally came over his radio.
"Colonel, we are unable to reach you at this time. You are on your own."
"Don't tell me that. We need assistance, now!"
"We.."
The signal crackled and finally died as they went deeper below the surface. Taylor didn't need to pass on what was said, as it was clear to all from his tone.
"Is there another way out, Colonel?" Lorenzo asked.
"No, there is nowhere to run, so we’ll get to the strongest point that we can defend and hold out till help arrives."
"Will it?"
"Will it what?"
"Will help come?"
"Of course. Plenty of people know where we are. We just have to hold tight, and we'll get through this."
The elevator opened, and they burst out into the lobby.
"Is there any way to lock the elevator?" Taylor asked.
But nobody had any answers. The door began to shut after them. Bailey snatched the key out and slipped through the gap as they sealed shut. She lifted up the key with a smile. Taylor could see the lights above the elevator, and it was already rising to the surface.
"If anyone can hack a lock, it's them. Come on, we don't have much time."
"Find whatever you can to set up a barrier. We'll take them here. Anyone unable to fight, get them to a safe room down the hallway there, but if you can still hold a rifle, you're staying put."
A few of them helped Lorenzo with the wounded. One was bleeding profusely and left a trail of blood on the floor as the medic carried him away.
"Jones, with me," he said.
The two of them split off from the others as they began their search of the facilities. It was clear he wanted to have words, too.
"I told you what I feel about being underground. I made it quite clear, and where did you bring us? We are going to die down her," stated Jones coldly.
Taylor stopped and pointed his finger accusingly at Jones.
"Fuck off, I didn't bring us down here to die. I need you, so get over this phobia and pull yourself together."
He looked surprised by his tone.
"You think it's easy living with this fear?"
"I never said it would be easy. Do you think it's living, my life? I woke up in this world to find everything and every human I had ever known was gone. So don't talk to me about how difficult it is to put this shit behind you. I know. And don't think I don't see Bolormaa when I go to sleep. You think I keep taking stims just to stay awake? I'd just rather be exhausted than have to re-live those nightmares."
"I had no idea."
Jones’ attitude had changed completely. His defensive tone had been wiped away.
"How do you do it, keep going on with all that inside you?"
"Because I have to, just like you do, right now."
Taylor turned and went on. Jones followed a few paces later, Taylor's words echoing in his head. He took a bend. Taylor was standing still and looking into a room.
"What is it?"
"The first bit of luck we have had so far, Jones."
The room was an armoury, and the cages were open. Half of the weapons were missing from the racks, and ammunition lay loose on the floor where someone had been careless in a rush, but there were box loads left.
"Maybe this wasn't such a bad plan, after all, Colonel."
Taylor smiled, seeing Jones was starting to come around.
* * *
Alita was wandering the corridors of the Indy, desperately trying to put together some plan in her head. She wanted nothing more than to jump into the cockpit and go down and get them, but she couldn't figure a way of doing it without being killed before she was anywhere close.
"Lieutenant Hariz," a voice called on her comm.
She took a deep breath to try and calm down before answering.
"Speaking."
"It’s Lisa Caron here. I need a word."
"Sure."
"At the Colonel's room, now."
She rushed on quickly in the hope that there might be some good news. When she arrived, the two agents were already standing guard and waiting. They showed her through.
"What is it?" she asked, as she could see the dire look on Caron's face.
"Lieutenant, your Colonel has retreated below the surface."
"Below?"
"They are surrounded."
"There must be a way out."
"I’m sorry, but no. I heard the last message he relayed to this ship. Unless help is sent, he and the others won't make it out alive."
"How long have they got?"
Caron shrugged. "I have no way of knowing. I’m so sorry."
"Taylor won't give up easily."
"No, I am sure."
Alita paced back and forth across the small room, trying to find a miracle solution to the problem.
"I don't know what to say, Lieutenant."
"We have to launch a rescue effort. I won't leave them down there."
"With what? We have no resources available. Every soldier that can be spared is already on the surface, and from what I hear; they are under increasing pressure as time goes by. It would take an army to get that platoon out alive, an army that we just don't have."
Alita suddenly stopped. An idea had popped into her head.
"What is it?"
"We may not have an army, but we have something as strong as one."
"What do you mean?"
"It’s best you don't know, Madam President. The Captain will not sign off on what I am about to do. All that I would ask is that you keep him busy, and make sure he doesn't shoot me out of the sky when the time comes."
"What are you going to do?" she asked suspiciously as Alita climbed into her armour.
"You'll see soon enough. Thank you, Ma'am. I can't thank you enough," she added and rushed to the door.
"Good luck, Lieutenant."
She stopped and looked back for a moment.
"Alita," she said with a smile.
She ran down the corridor as fast as she could. It wasn't long before she reached her intended destination. The guards recognised her and let her through without any fuss. She took a deep breath and stepped inside. The doors shut behind her.
"Alita, is it not?"
His voice was deep and inquisitive, and more than a little intimidating.
"You know who I am?"
"I do," he replied. She stepped closer and quietly said his name, "Zaya."
"You want something from me? I can see it in your eyes, but let me save you some time. The answer is no."
"You haven't heard what I have to offer yet."
"There is nothing you can offer. All I want is my freedom, and you cannot give me that."
"You're wrong. I shouldn't, but I can."
His eyes widened, as he realised she was being serious. She couldn't believe what she was about to do, but they were desperate times, and she could think of nothing else. He looked into her eyes as if studying her to discern the truth in her words.
"Right now, Colonel Taylor and some of the best fighters we have are ensnared in a trap that could cost them their lives. Those are losses we cannot afford in this war."
"And why is that my problem?"
"You weren't able to beat Bolormaa by yourself. You know you can't. But with Taylor by your side, you might just have a chance. He needs help, and we have nothing left to give. But you, you might just make the difference."
"Why would you do this? He is just one man."
"No, he is not. He is the Dusmus Kahraman."
Zaya began to laugh.
"I thought your people had advanced beyond the primitive belief in mythical fairy tales?"
"So did I, until one presented itself before my very eyes. Taylor has taken on more in th
is universe than you can ever imagine."
"Then he can surely get himself out of this situation, too, without my help."
"Like you can get yourself out of this one?" she snapped back.
He appreciated her point and was silenced.
"Us mere mortals. You are at our mercy. You see; the greatest warrior can be slain by sheer weight of numbers."
There was utter silence. He seemed to be considering the potential offer.
"Why would you trust me to do this?"
"Because I don't have a choice. Taylor is going to die down there, and if he does, our hope of winning this war dies with him. Don't you understand? Without him, we have no chance, and neither do you. Help us. Help Taylor, and we can fight Bolormaa together."
She felt that she was making a deal with the Devil. She thought back to how he had led Bolormaa's forces to Earth, and of the things Taylor had said of him, but she chose to ignore it all in light of the chance of saving Mitch.
"Please, do it for yourself. You want to kill that bitch of a mother, don't you?"
Fire seemed to burn brightly in his eyes at the prospect.
"If you set me free, I will be free. I will not be your pet to command."
"Yes," she replied bluntly.
"You do whatever you want, just so long as you help me get Taylor out of there alive first. Do we have a deal?"
He nodded firmly, and that was enough for her. She stepped into the booth beside the cell and powered down all the locks and restraints. He stood up as tall as he could, though his head was already brushing the ceiling. He reached across and took hold of his personal weapons that had been sealed beside him.
"Don't let me regret this," said Alita.
"You know I could kill you where you stand, and everybody aboard this ship?"
"I do, but where would that get you?"
He simply growled in response.
"I am going to my ship, and I am going to help the Colonel, are you coming?"
He just nodded. He was an intimidating sight, but she kept telling herself that it was the only way to save her beloved Mitch Taylor and all those she cared for.
"It's not far to my ship, so try not to kill anyone."
There was silence.
"Stay here a moment."
She drew out her Assegai, but kept it powered down as she stepped out of the room. She thought to beat the guards unconscious, but they both wore helmets.
"I'll take it from here," she said.
"Sorry, Lieutenant, our orders are to stay put until relieved in one hour’s time," said one of them.
"Well, I am relieving you now."
"Sorry, Sir, but those orders are direct from the Captain."
"Well.." she began.
The doors opened behind them. They turned and lifted their rifles, but it was too late. Zaya grabbed one of them in each of his hands and smashed them against the far wall with such force they were knocked out cold. They didn't wear the exoskeleton suits like Alita, and she wouldn't be surprised if they had broken some bones on impact.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"They are not dead."
Alita gritted her teeth. She felt the anger brewing, and yet Zaya looked so calm.
"Come on, follow me."
They went along the corridor for twenty metres when she stopped at a console.
"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously.
"Clearing us a path."
She keyed in a few buttons, and a moment later a fire alarm began to ring.
"That will keep things clear. All crews will come from back the way we came. At least, that's the way I remember it, so I hope so. Come on."
She rushed onwards and was relieved to find a clear route all the way to the docking bay. She kept looking over her shoulder to check Zaya was still following her, and he was with her all the way. She was concerned he might be going along with her plan just to get off the ship, but that was a chance she had to take.
"There’s no way to get across that space without being seen, so we're just gonna have to run."
"This isn't much of a plan."
"That's because I don't really have one. I'm doing all this on the fly."
He seemed to appreciate her honesty.
"Let’s go, no time like the now."
She rushed out at a sprinting pace, and he easily matched her. Cries of panic rang out from the ground crews as they scattered. It must have looked like she was being chased, but she didn't have any way to explain it. They stormed into the craft and sealed the door. Alita leapt into the cockpit. She could see marines pouring into the bay.
"That was fast," she said, "but not fast enough."
She powered up the engines and put down full power. They didn't know whether to shoot or not, so just watched in amazement as they rocketed out of view.
* * *
"Sir, we have an unauthorised takeoff confirmed from docking bay 4. I am receiving reports that...a Morohtan is aboard. They are saying it is Zaya."
"What the hell is going on?" Fortier demanded.
No one answered him.
"Target that ship, and prepare to fire!"
"Aye, aye, Sir."
"Captain!"
Caron was trying to address him.
"Not now," he snapped, turning back to the viewscreens of the craft as it soared towards the atmosphere.
"Captain Fortier, I must speak with you!" she demanded.
He scowled at her with an angry expression.
"I have a prisoner loose and an unexplained departure..."
"It is not unexplained, Captain."
He was silenced.
"What the hell do you know about that ship?"
"That is Lieutenant Hariz, and she is acting on my authority. You will not fire on her."
He looked conflicted.
"Sir, much longer and we will not have a shot."
Caron was shaking her head.
"Stand down!" he finally ordered.
He walked over to the future President's side.
"Ma’am, you and I need to have words about how this ship is run," he said, gesturing for her to follow him, but she wouldn't. She stood her ground.
"Perhaps we do, but there are bigger issues at hand, and I intend to see them through."
"You've set free the most dangerous prisoner in the Alliance. Do you know what you have done?"
She said nothing.
"All we can do now is hope."
Fortier looked furious, but he knew there was nothing more he could do or say.
Chapter 11
The automatic gunfire was unrelenting as another wave of drones poured out from the elevator and collapsed over the wreckage and bodies before them. Taylor's platoon had built a sizeable defensive line from office desks, tables, and ammunition crates. The corridor led to the lobby where the elevator was situated. It was narrow enough that they stood shoulder to shoulder and were still two ranks deep. All of the crates of ammunition lay behind them, but most of the boxes were empty. Magazines littered the floor where they had rushed reloads to stay in the fight.
The last of them dropped, and there seemed another brief, but welcome hiatus as the elevator once again shut. Taylor loaded a new magazine in and then looked across to see several of them smiling back. Despite everything, their morale remained strong. Even Jones seemed relaxed, but that began to worry Taylor.
Has he accepted our fate, that we going to die here?
They each made their final preparations as the lights of the elevator flashed, and the next wave began their descent. They were just throwing drones at them now, wave after wave. It was exhausting both their energy and ammunition. Taylor lifted his rifle onto the barricade ready to engage the enemy once again. He looked either side of him at the determination on their faces. Four were still bleeding from various wounds, and yet kept fighting. Another only had the use of one arm, but he had his weapon propped on the barricade to support it.
“You know nobody is coming, don’t you?” Jon
es whispered.
“All I know is that we’re in here, the enemy is out there, and that we’re still alive,” replied Taylor defiantly.
Jones wasn’t convinced. The elevator was drawing near, but a loud echo rang out as if something was shaking violently.
“What the hell?” Taylor asked.
As the elevator doors opened, a doorway in the wall beside it was flung open. It revealed a hidden stairway, and from it came dozens of drones. Taylor didn’t need to say a word as they all opened fire. Shots landed all around them. They were cutting down the drones in ridiculous numbers, but there seemed no stopping them. Babacan lifted his Hydra onto the defences and opened fire. It was deafening in the confined space and louder than everything else they were firing combined. He didn’t even ease the pressure off the trigger as he panned back and forth, mowing them down. After almost twenty seconds of unbroken firing, the gun finally ran empty and spun to a halt, with smoke pouring from the barrels.
It cleared the way, and no more came from the open doorway, but there was a glimmer of movement as one drone tried to get back up. Babacan took the empty gun in both hands and launched it at the enemy soldier, crushing its head on impact. He looked around and located a rifle lying next to the defence. The woman carrying it had dropped dead, and so he claimed it as his own.
“The next wave isn’t going to be so easy,” said Jones.
He looked at the open doorway leading to the stairs and could already hear the echoes of feet hammering down the stairs.
“You were right to bring us down here,” said Jones as he put in a new magazine.
Taylor was taken aback and wondered if he had really heard what he thought he had.
“That’s right. I’d never choose to come into a place like this, never. But I was wrong. We’d long be dead by now if you hadn’t made that call.”
Taylor leaned in close to whisper more quietly.
“I don’t think dead is how they want us, and that’s what worries me.”
Jones squinted as if trying to understand what he meant.
“Notice how little fire has come our way. Me and you, I mean?”
Battle Beyond Earth: Revenge Page 16
