by AM Scott
“Captain Ruhger?” she said in a faintly incredulous tone.
He grinned, aware she couldn’t see his face behind the helmet. “Yes. Are you okay, Scholar?” He cut the last cuffs tying her wrists together and to the head of the bed.
She smiled at him, incredulous happiness clear on her face. The Scholar sat up and rubbed her wrists. “Just fine. Thanks for the save.”
“You’re welcome. Can you give me a situation report?” He held out his arm, activating the external mike. “Lashtar, Alpha Shuttle, Fortuna Lucia. Scholar secured, one tango dead. SITREP to follow.”
The Scholar sobered. “This room is at the top of a long spiral tunnel. It meets another tunnel at the bottom. To the left, the tunnel goes to a dark, possibly unused cavern. To the right, there are many smaller tunnels that branch off. Most are marked and I think they’re sleeping quarters or storage. The main tunnel ends in a very large cavern, at least one hundred meters wide by two hundred meters long, with sani-stations along the back wall, then a row of beds, then the kitchen with some tables and seating. That area takes up approximately ten meters of the cavern’s length. The rest of the cavern is stacked with crates and boxes, probably with supplies. There are many paths winding in and out of the boxes. At the front of the cavern, there are lift bikes, and two tunnels, presumably exiting to the ravine. I came in a tunnel up high on the wall at the midpoint of the cavern. Steps are carved into the cavern wall, probably for an emergency egress. I personally saw about ten men.” The Scholar swallowed hard, fear shadowing her face. “I found Ferra leashed to one of the beds and cut her loose. We were discovered on our way out of the cavern and she ran back into it. I do not know her status at this time.”
Ruhger stared at the Scholar in surprise. That was a very succinct and complete SITREP for a civilian. “Lashtar, come down.” He turned back to the cavern ‘window’ to make sure the force screen was off. Blast and rad. Ferra was still alive. Ruhger didn’t want her on Lightwave, but he couldn’t leave her here. Not with these animals.
“Captain, we can’t leave Ferra here,” the Scholar said, the plea clear in her voice and face. “If you’ll give me a weapon, I’ll go get her.”
“Stand by, Scholar. We’ll make a plan.” He had three more warriors suited up, ready to go, and the Scholar’s shuttle. Lashtar came into view, suspended from rope and harness, dangling in the blackness. Ruhger reached out and pulled her into the room. He must have pulled too hard, because Lashtar stumbled, and ended up sprawled across the bed. “Sorry, Lashtar.”
Lashtar snorted. “I’m fine. It’s a soft landing, if stinky.”
The Scholar’s lip curled. “Try being face down on it for a while.” She shuddered. “Nasty.”
Lashtar crawled to the edge of the bed, got to her feet and scanned the Scholar. “How are you, Scholar? I apologize for your treatment at the hands of one of my people. It is unforgivable.”
“I’ll live, Sister.” She smiled ruefully. “I’m beat up and sore, but I’ll live.” Her smile died. “But we need to make sure Ferra lives too.”
Lashtar looked at her, head tilted, then she spoke. “Generous of you, Scholar.”
She shivered. “I wouldn’t leave a… tunnel worm in the hands of these people, let alone a sentient.”
What? “Tunnel worm?”
The Scholar shivered again, echoes of terror on her face. “Yes, these tunnels aren’t water-carved. I found a skeleton down below. These tunnels were made, eaten, by some sort of giant worm.”
Ruhger looked up and around the room. “By all the seven suns of Saga, that’s one big worm.”
“I know. Try being down there, with no idea where you’re going, wondering if you’re going to run into one.”
Horror swept through Ruhger and he shuddered. His respect for the Scholar grew. But no time to think about that right now. They were in enemy territory and could be discovered at any time. “Scholar, after you escaped the Inquisitors, you entered the ravines then found a tunnel into the Inquisitors’ cavern, right? That’s how you got here?
The Scholar looked at him inquisitively. “Yes, that’s correct. I found steps up the ravine wall and into a tunnel, then there are steps down the storage cavern wall. There is a sensor beam to avoid.”
Ruhger asked, “How long did it take to get through that tunnel to the storage cavern? And could you see Ferra from that entrance?”
She grimaced. “It took me almost an hour to go down that tunnel. Granted, I was exhausted, dehydrated and starving, but I think even at decent speed, it would be a thirty- or forty-minute walk.”
Blast. Too long. Landing the Sisters would alert the Inquisitors and they’d kill Ferra.
“Ruhger, Grant.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’m ten minutes out from you. If the Scholar’s shuttle can distract the enemy by coming in near the cavern entrance, I could land the Sisters where Lashtar came down.”
The Scholar jumped, a wide-eyed look of surprise on her face, and Ruhger stared, diverted. She noticed his look and stared back at him, her face smoothing into a neutral expression. She was surprised by her own shuttle’s actions. Interesting.
Grant continued talking and Ruhger brought his attention back to the problem at hand, the one that could get them killed. “If we stay in close formation until we split up near you, they might think there’s only one shuttle. Once I offload, I take top cover. Fortuna Lucia does a few tactical passes, then flies away. You rescue Ferra while they’re distracted, I pick you up from the plateau. We all get out of here before their shuttles arrive.”
Ruhger nodded thoughtfully. “Good general plan, Grant. We’ll modify it slightly. Lashtar and I will head down right now. Scholar, how long will it take us to get to the cavern, assuming no interruptions and reasonable stealth?”
She shrugged. “It took me five minutes to get from the bottom to this room, but I was moving very cautiously. Three for us to go down?”
“Us? Scholar, you’re staying here.”
She glared at him, hands on her hips. “No, I’m not. You don’t know the layout. It would be stupid not to have me in the lead. I’ll lead you to the cavern, then you can take point on the actual rescue. If his—” she pointed toward the dead guy “—rifle works, I’ll provide you cover.”
Suns. It was too good an offer to pass up. “Scholar, you don’t have armor.”
She snorted derisively and continued glaring at him. “No kidding. I haven’t had armor or a weapon the entire time, but I’ve made it this far. I’m pretty sure I’ll make it the rest of the way.”
He gritted his teeth but nodded respectfully at her. Even if his heart was telling him to sweep her off her feet and back up the rope to safety. “Okay. Grant, Fortuna Lucia, follow Grant’s plan, coming in together. Grant, you land the Sisters, then jet back up to top cover. Fortuna Lucia, you do those distraction sweeps at the cavern entrances. Don’t get shot down. Both of you, report your position and status in the tactical display. Sister Troop, you land, rope down here and run down the tunnel, fast. Take out anyone you find until you get to the cavern. Stay in a group at the tunnel entrance to the cavern, make sure someone’s got your six covered. Lashtar, the Scholar and myself head down now, stealth mode. We get to the cavern—taking out enemies as we go with knife and stunner work only.”
He leveled an inquiring look at Lashtar, who nodded back grimly. “We work our way toward Ferra, using the sani-boxes as shields. Scholar, you find a high spot where you can see Ferra and the tunnel entrance. You provide us top cover and secure the back tunnel for our escape route. If we can get Ferra loose without anyone noticing, we’ll do that. Otherwise, we’ll wait for Fortuna Lucia to make the distraction runs, which should draw off most of the enemy. If the three of us are discovered, we’ll do our best to continue the mission, but our lives are priority one, Ferra’s priority two. Any objections?”
He waited, but no one said anything. “On my mark…” Ruhger noted the time. “Execute.”
The Scho
lar gathered weapons while he talked. She found a decent laser rifle under the bed, a pellet pistol with fancy engraving, a stunner and a big knife. He grinned at the sight of her strapping weapons over her torn and tattered clothes. A graphic novel warrior, beaten and battered, but ready to fight. The sudden surge of sheer want, along with the desire to protect her from further harm, took him by surprise. Ruhger shook the emotion away again—no time for such nonsense. He checked the draw of his pistol, switching it to stunner, and his favorite knife—smooth as usual. He left his rifle on laser—if he had time to use the stunner, he’d have time to switch to that mode.
Ruhger nodded sharply at the Scholar and she took off at a trot for the tunnel. He pushed in front of her—he was armored, she wasn’t—and walked down the spiraling tunnel, careful to keep his steps quiet. The lack of nasty chemical smell was a relief. A tap on his shoulder clued him in that the tunnel was ending. Too bad they didn’t have a comm link for her. He turned off his external speaker. While they were in a group, he could communicate via touch and gesture. Stealth was key right now. Next time, he’d plan better, accounting for her determination. Ruhger’s lips twisted. Better if there wasn’t a next time.
Ruhger slowed and stepped toe-heel toward the tunnel exit, staying along the wall closest to the cavern. He assumed most of the traffic in this tunnel would come from the occupied cavern, not from the unused one behind them. If so, it was less likely someone would spot him along this wall. He crouched and stuck his off-hand out, around the corner, using the vid on his pinkie finger to look back and forth down the tunnel. No one. He looked out, quickly, then waved to the women behind him to follow. Treading lightly down the big tunnel, he was all too aware of the sand and gravel under his feet. Even walking softly, they made noise. As they walked, he heard noise from the cavern, getting louder. Music of some sort. Ruhger sped up, knowing their steps would be covered.
“Company,” Lashtar’s voice whispered in his ear. He ducked into the nearest tunnel, aware of the Scholar on his six. A muffled thud. “Clear.”
He came back out and saw a man crumpled on the tunnel floor. Grabbing the man’s feet, Ruhger dragged him a few feet into a side tunnel and left him there. Lashtar must have stunned him, since there wasn’t any blood. Probably smarter—no need to leave evidence of their passing.
They continued down the tunnel, the music getting louder and clearer and the light brighter. The reek of overused sani-boxes was gag-inducing. Ruhger had to swallow heavily, and regretted it each time, the stench coating his mouth and nose. The sounds of men’s voices became clearer—it sounded like a typical mercenary chow hall; loud, harsh music, lots of bragging and bets, the clink of weapons on tables.
Edging along the wall toward the cavern entrance, Ruhger again used the camera on his finger to look out into the cavern. Should have brought some remotes, but he hadn’t anticipated this kind of action. He looked carefully at the vid. As the Scholar said, there were sani-boxes right there, with a little gap between them and the rough cavern wall. It would be a tight squeeze, but he could do it. He started into the gap, sliding along sideways, aware of the Scholar running for the other side of the tunnel and Lashtar following him. The stench was literally eye-watering, so he put his helmet into air-filtering mode and pointed out the setting to Lashtar over text. Ruhger could feel the relief in her stance behind him.
Moving into the small gap between two sani-boxes, he peered into the cavern. Men were eating some sort of slop at tables. How could they eat with this pong hanging over them? Even nutrapaste tasted better without the stink of chemicals, urine and rotting waste. He’d clean the boxes out of pure self-interest.
Edging behind the next sani-box, Ruhger wrinkled his nose when his foot slipped a little. Great, this one was leaking. Good thing his boots were chem-resistant. The box ended just before another tunnel. Crossing this opening would be tricky—there were too many eyes out there. He checked the tactical report—four minutes to Fortuna Lucia’s distraction. He looked back toward Lashtar and up, but he couldn’t see past the tops of the sani-boxes. There was no way to know if the Scholar was in place or not. He hoped she had found cover and concealment. She’d been very resourceful so far; he’d have to trust she knew enough to stay safe.
Turning back, Ruhger used his hand vid again, looking in every direction he could see—the box blocked some of the chow hall floor. They’d have to pick a moment and trust speed. Watching the vid, he waited until no one was obviously looking his way and sprinted across to the next box. Ruhger turned back and watched again, then motioned for Lashtar. They slowly made their way across the cavern, until they could see the beds the Scholar spoke of. Two minutes to shuttle distraction. He looked out again.
The beds were empty.
Chapter 24
Squeezing behind the sani-station, Saree blinked, trying to clear her watering eyes. Her nose wrinkled in a futile attempt to prevent the stench from penetrating, but she pressed on despite the failure. If there were steps carved into the wall she originally came down, there’d be some on this wall too. At least she hoped so. She came to the next tunnel entrance and crouched down to peek around the corner, hoping staying low would help her avoid notice. Too bad she didn’t have some of Captain Ruhger’s gear. Or some armor, at least. Suns, while she was wishing, she could wish them all safely away from here. Mind back on the battle, or you’ll be dead as a meteor.
Saree didn’t see anyone, so she scooted across the entrance, and behind the next sani-station. The reek was still horrible, but it also reminded her of Dalm, dead and covered in waste. A fitting end for a piece of trash.
Scooting along the back of the boxes, Saree reached the end of the row and peered out. Men sat at the tables in the kitchen area, most staring at their food or blankly at holos in front of them. A cluster yelled and shouted, evidently watching some sort of sporting event together. Another group were playing a card game, a pile of markers in front of them. She kept scanning. To her left, another tunnel mouth. In front of her, five meters of all-too-open sand- and gravel-covered cavern floor until the cover of crates and boxes started. The pipe supplying water to the auto-kitchen ran across the open cavern floor and into the tunnel to her left. That explained the slight thrumming noise coming from the tunnel—the water pump. Saree scanned again. She’d be far too obvious crossing the cavern here, but she hadn’t seen any steps carved into the wall so far. She could climb to the top of the sani-station, but she’d be dead as an out-of-fuel satellite.
So, what could she do? If they were executing on plan, Saree had four minutes before Hal made his distraction runs in front of the cavern. She had to be up, high above the cavern floor before that. Oh, wait. She could duck into this tunnel, walk back into the darkness a few meters, cross, then slide out the other side. She’d have three meters of open ground to cover, rather than five. It was a safer alternative, although still not perfect. There could be men back there in the water tunnel or someone could come into it from the cavern. And she could be spotted going into the tunnel; there was no way to hide her entrance.
She scanned the group of men in the mess area. They were all still staring blankly at a holo or engrossed in their activities. Saree walked ahead, turned and strode into the tunnel, keeping her hips straight to mimic a man’s walk. If anyone actually saw her, hopefully they’d think she was one of them. Their clothes were almost as beat up as hers, and some of them were shorter than she was, so it was possible. The tunnel grew darker—no lights down here. Turning around, she headed back, striding slowly but confidently. Before the light from the cavern reached her, she scanned the kitchen and dining area. Nothing changed—no one had noticed her or Ruhger and Lashtar. Her gaze arrowed in on the beds and her heart sank. The beds were all empty. Blast it all into a sun!
A hand covered her mouth and an arm latched around her waist, yanking her back and trapping her arms. She stumbled back into something yielding, but hard. Suns!
“Gotcha. Now who are you, and what are you doing her
e?” The hand at her waist pulled her pistol and dropped it at her feet, then clamped on her wrist, hard, making her drop the rifle.
By the egg of Zarar, do something, you idiot! She bit the hand across her mouth and slammed her foot down on the instep of the man holding her. He yelped and let go. Spinning, she pulled her stunner and hit him with it, watching as he crumpled. Saree spun back and grabbed her weapons. Had anyone heard him yell? She ran toward the cavern, crouching as she neared the edge. Men stood, looking around or checking weapons, so Saree faded back into the tunnel again, shaking, heart pounding. Blast, blast, blast. Still two minutes before Hal’s distraction. Eventually, they’d start actively searching—they had to know shuttles were incoming now, even if they weren’t on the defense team.
Trotting back into the darkness, Saree found a side tunnel and slid into it. It went up. She could take one minute and follow it up, see where it went. What did she have to lose? If she was lucky, she’d have her top cover spot. At worst, she’d be momentarily hidden in an easy-to-defend spot. Walking quickly but quietly, she travelled gradually upward around a single big, sweeping curve away from the cavern, what little light there was fading into darkness. Why hadn’t she taken a flashlight or headlamp from Dalm’s room?
Saree grimaced. Because she hadn’t expected to end up back in the tunnels again, which was stupid in hindsight. But wait… she reached into her thigh pocket and pulled out her glow stick. There wasn’t much glow left, but she shook it vigorously and got enough to cut the darkness a little.
The tunnel split into two. One was nearer the Inquisitors’ cavern than the other, so she took that one. It bored straight ahead, the light increasing dramatically. Saree slowed, putting her glowstick back in her pocket, and edged her way to the cavern wall. She was three meters up, a perfect height. But she was too far toward the Badlands exit side of the cavern; she couldn’t see the kitchen area well. Blast it all anyway, she had to get closer or higher, or both.
