by Justin Sloan
How was it then that they arrived to find this chaos?
“We should turn back,” her mom said, pulling at the braid in her hair, a nervous tic she often displayed in such moments.
“Mom, I’m sorry, but we have ammo. Guns.” Robin went to the rail of the airship and looked out, trying to get a better view of the approaching army. “If we’re right about what this is, I’d say they’ll need our help.”
“I’m not putting my baby in harm’s way,” her dad said. “I won’t, I—”
“Dad.” Robin smiled, showing her fangs and letting her red eyes glow. “I hardly need your protection anymore.”
“Don’t do that.”
She shrugged, but felt a pang of guilt. “I’m just trying to show you I’m not your little baby anymore.”
He scoffed and tried to smile, but then his face crumbled into sorrow-filled love. “Even if you take that whole army all by yourself, even if you’re named empress of the world, you’ll always be my little girl.”
She rolled her eyes, even if she did appreciate it. You didn’t go on a quest to find your parents and worry every second of the day about whether they were alive or not and then not enjoy their cheesiness.
“Do what you need to do, dear,” her mom said, laying a hand on her shoulder and a kiss on her head. “We support you.”
The wrinkles and gray hair showed that her mother had aged beyond her years in her time as a slave for the Toro bandits, but Robin still saw the younger Mom in there, smiling out with a zest for life.
“We’ll turn this world around yet,” Robin replied.
“Off the starboard bow,” one of the men shouted. “Incoming.”
They all rushed over and, sure enough, one Pod was racing toward them, several following in its wake.
“Hostiles?” the man asked.
“No,” Robin replied, as if she could sense Valerie there. “I don’t think so.”
With a swoosh of air the first Pod came alongside the moving airship, slowing to move at the same pace. The door opened to reveal Valerie in the pilot’s seat.
“What in the holy hell brought you all this far south at the worst possible moment?”
Robin raised a hand, shouting back over the wind, “That would be me.”
Valerie laughed and said something to the guy next to her, then hopped up onto the seat and jumped. For a moment the Pod behind her lost control as the passenger leaped to fly it, but then it recovered to head back toward New York. The rest moved up beside the ships, forming an escort into the city.
“Mom, Dad.” Robin gestured to Valerie, who had just landed on the ship and was now standing next to her. “You remember my good friend Valerie.”
Valerie shook their hands and then hugged Robin tightly, lifting her off the deck. “It’s good to see you!”
“You too, as long as you don’t crush my ribs.” Robin laughed as her feet touched down again. “I’ll be honest.” She gestured to the army visible not so far outside the walls now. “This isn’t exactly the reception I was hoping for.”
“Hey, we went all out, just for you.”
Robin laughed, but her parents were frowning, apparently not so amused.
“Are we going to be safe here?” her dad asked.
Valerie nodded. “I won’t allow a single citizen of New York to be hurt. We’re going after these attackers, and we’re going to strike fast. I trust,” she turned to Robin, “you’re in?”
Ignoring the sigh from her mother, Robin nodded. “You bet your ass I am.”
Her dad shook his head. “Language.”
Robin and Valerie chuckled, but quickly hid their smiles. It was a weird feeling, being around her parents and Val. Like they were two school girls being careful not to get into trouble.
That was a sensation she hadn’t had much of a chance to experience. She liked it.
“Let’s bring these ships in and get to work,” Valerie said. Again she shook hands with Robin’s parents, adding, “It was truly great to meet you. I look forward to having a chance to talk more when this is all over.”
“Us too,” Robin’s mom replied, and her dad nodded.
“I have a lot to catch you up on,” Valerie told Robin. “Over wine at Sandra’s?”
Robin considered that, then nodded slowly. “As long as we both agree everything’s as we left it, as we discussed.”
Valerie nodded, her eyes conveying no hint of remorse, even if she was feeling it. Maybe her journey to Europe put her in a different mindset, Robin thought. Maybe she truly was okay with the idea that Robin felt they were better off as just friends and teammates; that all the romance stuff got in the way of their focus.
Or maybe she was just a damn good actress. Either way, Robin smiled and said, “It’s a d-deal.” She caught herself, having almost said “date.” She hoped her friend hadn’t noticed. Old habits were hard to break.
Valerie put her hand on her sword hilt and turned to look at the army. “But first we have ourselves a date with death, and I’ve promised to bring her a mighty large bouquet of souls tonight.”
“If you’ll excuse us,” Robin’s dad said, giving her a smile and Valerie a wary look before departing with his wife at his arm.
“They don’t like me?” Valerie asked.
“You did just talk about death and killing a bunch of people, pretty much.”
Valerie cocked her head, considering that. “Huh. I guess normal people don’t like that.”
“I guess not.” Robin flung the corner of her jacket back to reveal her own sword—a pirate blade left over from their northern adventures. “Good thing I’m not normal.”
“We’re well beyond that,” Valerie replied with a laugh, and they both watched in silence as the army advanced.
***
A chill breeze worked its way through Espinoza’s camouflaged wind jacket, sending goose bumps along his arms and neck. The cold didn’t bother him, and neither did the sight of the army taking up an assault position outside the walls. He was ready for them, and knew that once the fighting started his adrenalin would kick in, his instincts take over.
Fighters were there with him, including the one they called Jackson and the El Diablo guy Arturo.
“We’ll take that position,” Espinoza stated, pointing to a section of wall behind him. It was front and center, but had good cover. A perfect spot to dole out ultimate damage without having to receive too much in return.
“Agreed.” Jackson leaned against the wall considering their situation, then hefted his rifle and aimed at the enemy. “You think we could take out a couple from here?”
“Fuck it,” Arturo replied, moving to a mounted SAW machine gun and motioning to the man behind him. “Feed this beast.”
“We’ll rile them up,” Espinoza countered. “Are we sure we want to do that?”
“Better to fight them on our terms,” Jackson countered, “than sitting around here waiting.”
“You see a kid walking up to you with a stick, hit him in the face with a rock before he’s close enough to strike.” Espinoza lost himself in a moment, memories of blood, adults yelling, him shrugging like it was nothing and walking away from the would-be attacker kid. Even at nine years of age, he’d known fighting was in his blood.
He became aware that while other men and women were chatting and preparing on the wall, the group around him was staring at him.
“Violent past?”
“We were all kids once,” he countered. “My childhood just happened to take place mostly in the Wastelands.”
“What we call the ‘Badlands,’” Jackson offered. “And yeah, I see how that could make a kid do things that might cause them to get creepy-ass looks in their eyes as adults.”
Everyone laughed, including Espinoza.
“Hey, be happy I’m on your side,” he replied.
“I am, you can count on that.” Jackson winked and added, “What’d’ya say we get to work then, huh?”
Espinoza nodded, then turned to one of his
men, the one they called “Duckhole,” or sometimes just “Ducky.” Why? Because he had a nice sniper rifle, the kind that, when paired with him, would send a shot right through a duck’s butthole from nearly two miles away. The enemy was definitely closer than that.
“Ducky,” he said, motioning the man up.
The others made room for him, though that didn’t take much. Despite being badass he was a scrawny guy, standing not much taller than his sniper rifle when set vertically.
“Sup, boss?” Ducky wasn’t much for formalities.
“You want to pop their cherry?”
Duckhole glanced at the men around him, then looked back at Espinoza. “Not particularly.”
“A badass, but not too bright,” Espinoza quipped over his shoulder to the others. “No, you stupid piece of meat, theirs.” This time he motioned to the enemy and Duckhole smiled wide, revealing his lack of a left incisor.
“You want a show, is that it?” Duckhole asked. He hefted the sniper rifle and took his position on the wall, making a few adjustments while they waited. “Watch and learn.”
“Ready?” Espinoza asked the others. “When he hits his target, let loose.”
“Fuckin’ A,” Arturo replied, clamping the ammo belt into the SAW.
“Three, two….” No count of one, just the explosion of the bullet leaving the chamber and the sound of cursing as it met its mark. A figure dropped and Arturo opened up on the rest, casings flying out to the side.
“Get some!” Espinoza shouted, pulling up his rifle to take aim. Only, as he did so, a sound came from behind them.
He turned to see several Pods flying, five by his count, and then saw Valerie open the door. She stood there with an automatic machine gun, smiling as she passed, and then started singing—if you could call it that.
“Na-na-na-na-naaaa, na. Na-na-na-na-naaa, na. Na-na-na-na-naaaaa-na.” Then she joined in the fun, others opening up from the Pods too, riddling the attackers with bullets as they flew past them.
The men and women below were scrambling to form ranks and return fire, but many of them were being plowed down.
“Get some!” Espinoza shouted after them, knowing Garcia was up there and, for a moment, envying him. Charging out into battle like that—was there any better feeling? The rush of the thought sent a new vigor through him and he leaned on the wall now, using it to steady his rifle as he blasted out round after round.
***
Cammie and Royland were at the wall when they saw the Pods fly out, and she turned to Royland with what she was sure must’ve come across as a mischievous smile.
“We’re not gonna let them have all the fun, are we?” Cammie asked.
He rolled his eyes. “Your definition of fun varies vastly from mine at times.”
“Well, we’re just going to have to work on shared interests, I guess.”
“And now’s one of those times?”
She nodded innocently and pulled out two short blades. Once they had been concealed as kali fighting sticks, but not anymore. It was a good thing she had found them after all this time, since she wouldn’t think of running out there with any other weapon. Fighting as a human was sometimes preferable in that she could continue conversing with others on her team and didn’t have to bite her enemies.
As the fusillade continued outside, she took off for the steps and shouted, “Open that gate!”
The guard glared at her. “We’ve been given orders.”
“Open the damned gate!” she repeated. “And then close it again, understood?”
He hesitated, but at a red glow from Royland’s eyes he moved to do as she commanded, shouting at his buddy to get the gate open.
A moment later the two were out, running to join in the fun. Up above the Pods were circling the enemy for a second time, shots traveling in both directions.
“Hold that gate,” another voice called, and Cammie turned to see Arturo and Espinoza and his team following them out.
“Not a fan of the safety of walls?” Espinoza shouted after them—they had already gone a good distance.
“It takes away all the excitement,” she called back. “Try to keep up. I’m not babysitting out here!”
With that she turned with Royland and continued the charge on the enemy, reaching them just as the Pods above were coming in for the third sweep.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Outside New York
Everyone cheered as the Pod came around for a third pass, Valerie leaning out through the open door. She held her position with one hand and the machine gun with the other and opened up on the enemy below.
Bright lights flashed in the night, her enemy falling in their wake. At the edge of the group she saw fighters charging into the enemy ranks and a new front to the fight breaking out. A second glance showed Cammie, Royland, Espinoza, and others moving in from the city.
Those crazy sons of bitches.
She laughed, thinking of the best way to cover them—if they even needed it.
“Best. Night. Ever,” Garcia said, pulling back in from the other side to refill his rifle while Robin switched back in.
A torrent of bullets pinging off the Pod came in reply.
“Put her in dodge mode,” Robin commanded. “RPG!”
“How the hell do they have RPGs?” Garcia shouted, sounding more pissed than curious.
“Doesn’t matter right now,” Valerie said, taking the controls back. She spun the Pod away from the incoming projectile toward the back of the forces, where some had yet to join in the fight. “Don’t shoot. I have an idea.”
She stood, leaning out of the window as Fred held the controls, and, as the RPG flew past, she shouted at the top of her amplified voice, “This doesn’t have to end with your death! Your lives matter. They shouldn’t just be thrown away. In New York, we know that. We know you are a mighty enemy, but you could be an even mightier ally! You will be welcome just like so many who’ve come before you, and—”
As she spoke, a bullet dinged off the Pod inches from her head. Two shots rang out in response; Garcia had taken out the shooter.
Valerie sighed. “Don’t fire on us and we won’t fire on you. Lay down your arms if you can; flee and come back later, or fight those who would force you to fight against your will!”
A moment of silence followed, broken only by the skirmish Royland and Cammie were part of.
“You have to the count of three,” she added. “One… Two… Three.”
On three, chaos broke out below because some actually did listen to her. An outer group started making for the hills, while others turned on the people next to them. One group began chasing the ones who had run, shooting at them.
“Get as many of them as you can,” Valerie commanded, pointing to the shooters. “We want our people to know we have their backs.”
Her Pod maneuvered to defend the ones who had switched sides and the other Pods followed.
“You missed this, didn’t you?” she called to Robin, who was leaning out the back window, rifle up and about to shoot.
“Doling out justice and fighting for freedom?” She laughed as she fired several rounds. “You’re damn right I did.”
“Then you’re gonna love this.” Valerie suddenly jolted the Pod to the side, putting them directly in the line of fire, and leaped out. She hit the ground rolling, and when she landed only spared a second to see that Robin had followed before she took off toward the enemy. Her rifle was up and she took down as many as she could while she ran, but then she slung it over her torso and drew her sword.
The Pod flew over them and most of the fighters directed their fire on it, apparently not realizing what a threat Valerie was. And now that she had Robin at her side? Double whammy.
The two ran through the crowd of those firing at them. Valerie pushed a wave of fear, causing many to stumble or turn in confusion, and then she was upon them.
Spraying blood, bodies in heaps, and Valerie and Robin in the midst of it all like a dance of death.
; For a moment the enemy parted and Valerie caught a glimpse of Cammie. The two smiled and waved as if they had just spotted each other at a shopping mall, and then got back to it.
From the crowd, one large man lumbered forward and unslung a crude ax. He threw it at her and began to run when she dodged, transforming into a bear as he did. Two others came behind up him and transformed into wolves. Now she was excited for the challenge.
She hefted her sword and charged, surprised to see Robin careening around from her right, big ax in hand. Apparently she’d caught it or recovered it, and now meant to place it in its owner’s skull.
Fine by her. Valerie made a sideways pounce that put her in line with one of the wolves just as the bear stumbled past her, ax cleaving one of its legs. One wolf leaped for her, the other cutting across and coming for her legs when she stepped back to brace herself for impact.
Since her weight was already distributed, she couldn’t move before the wolf clamped down on her calf. However, she was able to duck and the other wolf went flying over her. Before it had a chance to recover, she dropped her sword and had managed the grab the closer wolf and pull its jaws apart, forcing it to release her leg. She didn’t stop there, though, and when jaw bones splintered the wolf fell back whimpering. The whimpers became screams as it transformed into a hideous sight.
The second wolf went for her shoulder and she fell back with it, holding it off as it scratched. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Robin deliver the final blow to the large bear, ax plunging halfway through its neck as it fell with a thud onto a pile of corpses.
Not wanting to be outdone, Valerie thrust up with her hips and kicked the wolf off, then spun, grabbed her sword, and tossed it. The blade impaled the wolf right between the eyes.
The enemy around them had watched in stunned silence, and many were now turning to run or get out of harm’s way rather than bending the knee. Everyone who remained, however, began firing at once.
While Valerie might’ve been able to dodge all of the bullets by herself, she knew that Robin wasn’t quite there yet. Instead of protecting herself she ran for Robin and dove, pulling her behind by the bear’s corpse and out of harm’s way.
