Blade of Vengeance (Max Mars Book 2)

by Tripp Ellis

  "So who's the lucky one going to be?" Zero asked. "Want to flip for it?”

  Water was beginning to pool around their feet. It wouldn't be long before the electronics would short out, and the interior lighting would vanish, leaving them in total darkness. Barely a trace of natural light filtered down to this depth.

  Max was faced with a difficult decision. Zero would certainly die without the pressurized suit. But if she let him take it, she might die, and that would severely hinder Riley’s chances of survival.

  “Why don't you take the suit?" Zero said before Max could really process the decision. “There's more at stake for you than there is for me. I don't have a family. Nobody's depending on me. Hell, it's been a good run so far. I can't complain. I never thought I'd make it this far."

  Max grimaced. "Take the suit. I've got a better chance of surviving this than you do.”

  Exposure to water of this temperature and pressure might likely cause cardiac arrest. It would certainly compress any oxygen that remained in the lungs. At this depth, limbs would constrict in an attempt to push blood into the heart and brain. Unprotected, the risk of lungs collapsing completely was high. The galactic record for free-diving was 1092 feet, set by Preston Porter. 586 feet seemed like a breeze compared to that. But Preston Porter had trained his whole life, and was the product of extreme conditioning. In all the many tactical scenarios that Max had found herself in over the years, free diving to this depth wasn't one of them.

  “Hurry up, before I change my mind," Max said.

  Zero shrugged. A wave of relief washed over his face. "Okay. If you insist.” He sprang from his seat and crawled aft. He grabbed the pressurized EVA suit and slipped it on. He put on the helmet and secured it to the metal ring around the collar. It locked with a click.

  There was a control panel on the wrist gauntlet. Zero activated the device, and the suit pressurized with atmosphere, puffing out a bit. “This thing is going to be incredibly buoyant. Hang on to me, and this will rocket us to the top.”

  Max nodded. She shivered as the frigid water filled the cabin. It crept up at a disconcerting pace, causing her to second-guess the decision to let Zero have the suit. She clung to the roof breathing in the last bit of remaining atmosphere. Waiting until the compartment was full would allow internal and external pressure to equalize. It was a better option than letting thousands of gallons of seawater rush in all at once. But there was one slight problem with that plan.

  Max took her last deep breath of air, filling her lungs to capacity. The water level rose over her head and filled the cabin completely. She swam to the side hatch and pressed the access button on the bulkhead, but nothing happened. The electronics had shorted out from the influx of water.

  Both of them were going to die if they didn't get the hatch open.

  29

  Preston Porter also held galactic record for the longest static breath-hold at 11 minutes. Most people show markers for brain damage within as little as four minutes of oxygen deprivation.

  Breath-holds were a common part of Basic Space Combat Training at the Naval Special Warfare Center. BSCT, known affectionately as Biscuit, was generally considered the most difficult military training in the galaxy. It was where all Navy Reapers were forged. Less than 80% of recruits graduated, and of those who did, most wouldn't live to see their 30th birthday. Every member of project SW Ultra completed BSCT, as well as a host of other special forces training. During Biscuit, Max had routinely accomplished static breath falls upwards of five minutes. But that was in a pool on a naval base—not 586 feet below the surface of the ocean. She had no idea how long it would take to reach the surface, or what her lung capacity would be under these conditions. But it was all going to be a moot point if she couldn't get this goddamn hatch open.

  She grabbed the manual release lever and heaved with all her might. It didn't budge an inch. She tried again and the hatch slid open barely enough for her to wedge her fingers in between. She used her feet as leverage against the bulkhead and pried the hatch open just far enough to squeeze through. She had already burned a precious amount of oxygen.

  Max clung onto Zero’s utility belt as he pulled himself out of the cabin. The increased buoyancy of the suit allowed him to float toward the surface like a rocket. Max clung on for dear life. But she had one problem. With every foot that she ascended, the pressure decreased, causing the air in her lungs to expand. She had to exhale constantly, trying to blow out more volume than was created by the lack of pressure. Failure to do so would rupture her lungs. A constant stream of bubbles floated from her nose and mouth as she exhaled.

  The water went from near black, to midnight blue, to a deep royal color as they ascended. The light from above cascaded down, illuminating the turquoise water above.

  Max couldn't feel her extremities. Fingers and toes were numb. She tried to hold on tight, but she had lost all sensation. Her vision was growing dim from oxygen deprivation. The surface of the water kept drawing closer, yet it seemed impossibly far away.

  Max’s chest burned, and she could hear her pulse pounding in her ears. She wanted to suck in a breath, but that wasn't an option, and wouldn't be for quite some time.

  The water grew lighter and warmer as they neared the surface, but it was still cold enough to cause hypothermia. Max felt dull and foggy. There was a hibernation instinct that made her want to pass out and die. She could feel her grip slipping as they ascended. She just needed to hang on for a few more minutes. But those would be the longest of her life.

  To make matters worse, Max caught a glimpse of a slerak circling the waters near the surface. They were vicious creatures with rows upon rows of razor like teeth. They resembled a cross between a shark and an eel. They had a nose for blood, and could sense a struggling fish or animal from miles away. It was like they preyed upon fear. Highly aggressive and fast as lightning. They were plentiful in the waters around Nepulto.

  This one was gray with black spots and black tipped fins. Soulless eyes like lumps of coal scanned the waters for its next meal.

  Max and Zero were so close to the surface now. The light shining down from above was almost blinding. Just as Max felt she was about to fade away, they broke through the surface. She gasped for breath, filling her lungs, trying not to swallow a mouthful of water in the process.

  It was almost impossible to tread water with her arms and legs so numb from the cold. Zero clung on to her, keeping her from sinking back down into the murky depths. Max caught her breath and struggled to stay afloat. She watched the dorsal fin of the slerak emerge from the water, circling its prey. Max and Zero would make a tasty morsel for the bloodthirsty creature.

  Max unsheathed her tactical knife, gripping it as tight as she could. She could barely feel it and worried it would slip from her grasp. It wasn't much, but the 6 inch blade might offer some degree of deterrent should the swimming meat-grinder venture too close.

  She watched the dorsal fin slice through the choppy water, edging closer and closer, spiraling inward.

  30

  Max saw a flash of sharp teeth and cold evil eyes as the creature lurched for her. She punched the slithering thing in the nose, and the beast abruptly changed direction.

  Max's heartbeat skyrocketed. The surge of adrenaline made her forget about the cold.

  The slerak was only merely deterred. It wasn't going to let Max's fist get in between it and a tasty dinner. It circled around again then sliced through the water like a torpedo rocketing toward Max. It's wide mouth and strong jaws opened wide, preparing to clamp down.

  Max squared off against the beast and put another fist into its nose. It darted aside. Max stabbed her knife into its side, slicing the slerak from its pectoral fin to its tail. The water filled with a cloud of crimson blood. The fish’s guts bulged out of its belly. The creature thrashed and twisted, writhing in agony for a few moments. Then it bled out and plummeted to the dark depths.

  A wave of relief washed over Max. But the victory was only momenta
ry. It wasn't long before two more sleraks swam into the area and began circling Max and Zero.

  “Did I mention I hate the ocean,” Zero said. “I mean, don't get me wrong. I love it, if I'm on a beach or a cruise liner. But swimming in slerak infested waters… I think I'll pass."

  "Oh, come on. Don't be a wuss. There's only two of them," Max joked. It wasn't the two circling that concerned her the most. It was the two dozen others that would soon join them.

  The two creatures seemed to work as a team. They circled ever closer, then one decided to strike, testing Max. She batted the beast away, but another attacked from her blindside. She spun around in the water and stabbed the blade into the underside of its belly. She ripped through its blubber as it tried to dart away.

  More blood filled the water.

  Soon there were three more sleraks. Then five. Then 10. Then 20. They ruthlessly attacked the wounded slerak, spewing even more blood into the water. Every slerak in a 20 mile radius would be heading this way.

  The swarm of hunters circled, fighting as they each vied for the optimal strike position.

  Max might be able to handle a few of these beasts. But not dozens upon dozens. Her face was grim with the eventual inevitability. But if she was going to become fish food, she was going to make them earn it.

  Another slerak attacked, and Max slashed at it with the blade. The beast sulked away, leaving a cloud of blood in the water that was only going to draw even more of the flesh hungry beasts.

  The crazed creatures lashed out at one another. A feeding frenzy was about to ensue. Dorsal fins sliced the surface. Max could see their slithering trunks dart through the clear cold water. There must have been close to 50 of them circling by now.

  A burst of warm air blew down from above, rippling across the surface water. Max glanced up to see a dropship descending. It was the Omnivore that had shot them down. This couldn't be a good thing, she thought.

  It hovered a few meters above the water. A black fast-rope dropped down, splashing into the water. Zero grabbed onto it and hoisted himself up. He was no stranger to fast-rope extractions. He climbed into the open side hatch of the Omnivore. Max clung onto the rope and pulled herself out of the water as a slerak swam toward her. Its massive tail propelled it through the water at a blistering pace.

  Max's feet cleared the surface just in time, and she shimmied up the rope. Her teeth were chattering, and the color had vanished from her skin. It took everything she had to maintain her grip on the rope. It didn't make sense that the same people who had shot her down were now coming to her aid. But she didn't care. Anything was better than being in that water.

  Max's biceps burned as she pulled herself up the rope. But a slerak launched out of the water like a diabolical swordfish. It's massive jaws opened, and its razor-sharp teeth sparkled. Then, like a vice, the jaws clamped down on Max's thigh. The serrated teeth punctured her flesh, slicing down to the bone. The heavy fish yanked her from the rope, pulling her back into the water.

  Pain shot up her leg and into her torso. Water filled her lungs as the creature dragged her under. Her vision was blurred underwater—all she could see was a chaotic mix of bubbles, blood, and slithering sleraks, all moving in for the kill.

  Max fumbled for her tactical knife. She pulled it from its scabbard affixed to her belt and stabbed the composite steel blade into the slerak clamped onto her thigh. Multiple punctures finally got the beast to release its bite. It jerked away, ripping the knife from Max’s grip. Blood streamed from the holes on its dorsal side as it swam away, the knife embedded in its flesh.

  Plumes of blood billowed from Max's thigh from dozens of bite marks. The pain was unimaginable, but Max pushed it into that special place where it became a dull uncomfortable sensation.

  Evil eyes and grizzly teeth surrounded her. The swarm of sleraks looked famished. They were like drug addicts needing a fix. They were singular of purpose. It was time to feed, and Max was the main course.

  31

  A large slerak spliced through the water, heading straight for Max. Max unholstered her plasma pistol and took aim at the beast. She had no idea if this weapon would fire underwater. The military spec König-Hass X89s were rated for wet/dry performance. But this was a Bösch-Hauer P277. The magazine, receiver, and plasma charge generator all had to be sealed in order for the weapon to fire underwater.

  Max said a silent prayer to the Universe and squeezed the trigger.

  The weapon discharged, and a plasma bolt sizzled through the water, vaporizing everything in its path. It left a streak of bubbles in its wake. The bolt slammed into the approaching slerak and damn near split the thing in two. Its carcass fell to the depths as other creatures tore it to shreds, fighting over every last morsel.

  Another brave, or stupid, creature angled toward Max. She fired another shot, incinerating the nose of the creature. It served as dinner for a half dozen more sleraks.

  Max continued to blast at the swarming creatures while she swam to the surface. She grabbed the rope and pulled herself out of the water. Zero, and another man, helped hoist her up from above. As she reached the skids, Zero leaned over and grabbed her by the collar, pulling her into the dropship. Within seconds, the pilot throttled up and whisked them away from the surface of the ocean. He angled the craft skyward.

  A team of goons surrounded Max and Zero. Xavier sat in a chair against the bulkhead with a slight smirk on his face.

  Max's thigh oozed blood onto the deck. It mixed with the water dripping from her body into a pinkish slurry. She gripped the wounds, putting pressure, trying to stop the bleeding.

  Xavier tossed her a medical kit.

  She fumbled through it and found some GS gel. It was a biopolymer expandable foam that contained an antibiotic and a regenerative compound. It was excellent at plugging gunshots and other puncture wounds. It would stop the bleeding in the field and would hold until it could be addressed properly in a medical facility. The regenerative compound would speed healing. It saved countless lives in the combat zone, and Max had been no stranger to its use. She used the applicator tip to fill each of the lacerations from the slerak’s razor-like teeth. Then she fumbled through the kit and popped a few tabs of an oral medication that would speed the healing process. Her own bio enhanced genetics allowed her to heal at a phenomenal rate, unlike any other human. But it couldn't hurt to have a little extra help as well. She was lucky the femoral artery in her leg hadn’t been severed by one of the teeth. She would have been dead in the water, shredded to pieces by the hungry mob.

  “I gave your message to Mr. Raymond," Xavier said.

  "How did he take it?" Max asked.

  "I'm supposed to bring you back alive, so he can kill you himself."

  Max didn't seem fazed. At this point, death by Mr. Raymond didn't seem near as bad as death by a horde of sleraks. Max continued to tremble uncontrollably from the cold. She had been designed to endure extreme environments. And she had been able to somewhat regulate her temperature while in the water. It almost seemed harder to do now that the threat was gone. She was out of immediate danger, now it was a matter of comfort. She focused her mind and imagined a wave of warmth covering her body. She fantasized about a nice warm Jacuzzi. It may not have had the same effect of sitting in a real Jacuzzi, but it was better than dwelling on the cold.

  She leaned against the bulkhead and took slow deep breaths, trying to relax. There was nothing else she could do. The pilot angled the vehicle toward the clouds and blasted his way to the upper atmosphere. Soon, Max lifted from the deck as the craft entered the weightlessness of space. The droplets of water and blood on the deck pooled together and formed orbs that floated around the cabin. They looked like clear marbles with a crimson swirl in the middle.

  “How are you feeling?" Zero asked.

  “How does it look like I'm feeling?" Max responded dryly.

  “Crappy.”

  “That would be an understatement.”

  Zero paused for a moment. He had a solemn lo
ok on his face. “I'd be dead if you hadn't let me take the suit."

  “I know."

  “I’m trying to say thank you."

  "Well, you're welcome. But don't get any ideas that I like you or anything.”

  “Not at all.”

  “I tolerate you, at best,” she said with a slight grin. Zero was growing on her.

  The GS gel was going to hold for a little while, but Max needed proper medical attention. Unfortunately, her health was the least of Mr. Raymond's concerns.

  The bulkheads rippled and warbled as the Omnivore entered slide-space. Max's stomach twisted in knots as they made the transition. “Where are you taking us?"

  "Mr. Raymond is waiting for you."

  “I'm kind of in a rush, so if we can get this over with as soon as possible." She said it in a casual, optimistic tone. But she knew there might not be much of a future after her meeting with Mr. Raymond.

  Xavier chuckled. "Honey, Mr. Raymond is the end of the line for you. You'll have to cancel any of your future plans."

  32

  Mr. Raymond made Zero look tall. But what he lacked in size he made up for in temper. He was part Scrovanian and had pinkish rosy skin and resembled a wild boar. He had a long snout and large lower fangs that protruded even when his mouth was closed.

  Despite his feral looks, he was impeccably tailored. He wore a Bullioni Vanguard suit made from the finest thread in the galaxy, Royal Tuvik—sourced from Reticuli Theta Minor. His leather shoes were designed by the famed Nangucca Tolos. He wore a Selosion silk tie, and a traditional cotton broadcloth shirt. His fingers were lined with gaudy tivontium rings. The whole get up cost more than Max owed him. And he never wore the same suit twice.

  Mr. Raymond owned several space stations throughout the galaxy. The one Max currently found herself on was orbiting around Loka 5. It was a smaller station that served as a port of call for weary travelers. Mostly interstellar cargo ships. There were bars, restaurants, and the requisite brothels on board. There was a plethora of temporary housing, as well as permanent residences. It wasn’t the kind of place you'd want to spend a lifetime, though some people did.