Battle Beyond Reality

by Nick S. Thomas

  "You all right?"

  "Still breathing."

  But there was blood in his mouth, and he was clearly in tremendous pain. Juan pulled him forward. Several pieces of shrapnel were embedded in his left side and back, and the seat was covered in blood. Juan simply shook his head. This was far beyond anything he could handle with basic field medicine. He couldn't even risk taking the shrapnel out for risk of increased blood loss.

  He looked back to find Axel by his side.

  "He needs help, and fast."

  "We've got company!"

  Axel leapt up to peer through the driver’s screen. A column of vehicles was approaching, three of them armoured, and the rest soft skin. But as they turned to create a roadblock, he saw the markings on them. There was no road to speak of, but they were well armed enough that they could stop them if they had to.

  "UN?" Ava asked.

  "I guess they're not too happy about us breaching the peace."

  Their vehicle shook violently. They’d lost another wheel, and the engine was sounding rougher by the second.

  "What do we do?"

  "There's nothing we can do. We aren't fighting our way through this."

  "We had orders to bring the hostages back to Newton."

  "Fuck him. All that matters is that they get back to safety, and that we get medical treatment for Victor."

  "How is he?"

  He didn't reply, but she learned all that she needed to from the concerned expression on his face.

  "Everyone put your weapons down."

  "What?"

  "We're in friendly territory now, Juan, and a UN roadblock is ahead. Our work is done."

  "They'll arrest us for this," coughed Victor.

  "Yeah, maybe, but we have bigger things to worry about right now."

  "Look!" Ava yelled.

  To the South another convoy of vehicles was approaching. It was their company.

  "You know what to do," said Axel.

  She turned the wheel and brought them on course, but Axel watched as the UN vehicles launched forward to intercept. There was a ringing noise coming from one of the front wheels now, and it was growing ever louder until it snapped from the axle. The front of their vehicle plunged into the sand. They were all rocked violently as they slid to a halt, engulfed in a cloud of sand and dust. Axel climbed out and helped Victor out, supporting him, as he couldn't stand on his own. The dust began to settle as they heard vehicles slide to a halt all around them. They were surrounded. On the one side Newton and his team, and the other by UN officials and their soldiers. Juan came out from the stricken vehicle with a pistol in hand.

  "Put it down," snapped Axel.

  Troops from both GIS and the UN had stayed in their vehicles, manning weapons or taking cover behind them; dozens of well-armed troops facing off against one another. The door to one of the GIS vehicles opened, and Newton himself stepped out. He was wearing body armour and a helmet, and carried a pistol on his belt. It was the only time any of them had seen him get actively involved in any mission. He came forward into the open ground, near to the wreckage.

  "These are our operatives. We are here under contract!"

  But the door of one of the soft skin SUV's opened, and a woman stepped out. She was wearing a casual suit with practical shoes. No armour of any kind. She was in her forties, in good shape, and held herself like a politician. But as her jacket swayed in the wind, they could see a holstered pistol beneath it. She strolled over to the no man's land created by the two sides. Before saying a word, she looked to Axel and the wounded man he was carrying, and then past them to Ava and Juan, standing guard around the hostages they had rescued.

  "Stand down and let us do our job. These are our people," insisted Newton.

  The woman didn't look phased by his attempt at intimidation.

  "If this was your operation, then you are all under arrest. GIS will be shut down immediately, and you will face charges in an international court."

  Newton looked horrified, and he was lost for words.

  "I see no company identification on the people. Either they are operatives of your company, in which case you and your organisation will be held to account. Or, they were acting independently, and will be dealt with accordingly."

  Newton looked sheepish. He was desperate to get the hostages, and yet obviously had no care for Axel and his team, but that was no surprise to any of them.

  "I heard about these hostages when in the field. My team went in. It was our choice," declared Axel.

  "And you are?"

  "Serge.. Axel Ward."

  "Then Mr Ward, you and your team are under arrest."

  She signalled for several of her soldiers to come forward.

  "This man needs urgent medical attention."

  "And he will get it." Two medics were already approaching.

  "You have no further business here. I suggest you leave us to our work," the woman said to Newton.

  He looked furious and also helpless. He sighed as he climbed back into his vehicle, before his convoy stormed off in to the distance.

  "My name is Dia Voight. Officially, what you have done here must be condemned, but unofficially, we know what you did. You risked your lives for those kids, and that will not be forgotten."

  Axel's attention was still on Victor as he was loaded on to a stretcher on his side, as they could not lay him flat.

  "Don't worry. He will get the best of medical attention. Now, if you will join me."

  She ushered him towards her vehicle. None of them were placed in cuffs, but the rest of the team was led to the back of one of the armoured cars.

  "Your team will be fine. We are the UN, not pirates trying to take what is yours."

  Axel could see her men were recovering their weapons from the wreckage of the vehicle, and all other signs that they had been there. He was ushered into her vehicle, and she stepped in afterwards to sit opposite him.

  "I never wanted this mission, but we had no choice, and without us, those kids would be dead."

  "But did you do it to save your jobs, or their lives?"

  "Both."

  She smiled in appreciation of his honesty.

  "Off the record, I would have done exactly what you did, if I could have."

  "Yeah, but you didn't, did you?"

  "We live in different worlds, you and I. But you know, I always thought mercs like you were here for nothing but the money. Maybe I was wrong. I am at least a little sympathetic to your cause. But the moment the courts get a hand on you, you are finished. There is no legal justification for what you did."

  "I guess doing the right thing doesn't count for shit anymore?"

  "To people, yes, and maybe that is what can save you, the will of the people. Emotion can force the hand of many. So tell me, Sergeant, do you have anything that could make people sympathetic to your cause?"

  "Why are you trying to help us?" he asked with suspicion.

  She looked away as if he had hit a nerve.

  "You've been here before?"

  "I am here because my sister was kidnapped by ILAN, but she wasn't so lucky to have someone like you to go in after her. My job says you are a criminal, but in my heart I disagree with that assessment. Give me something. Tell me you have something that would get the public on your side?"

  "What the hell would that be?"

  "Some proof that you did this for the right reasons."

  He shrugged.

  "You must know how GIS works. There is no way they'd be stupid enough to let info like that get out."

  "Then I am truly sorry."

  Chapter 11

  24th July, 2071

  Portland, Oregon, United American Nations

  There was a heavy bang on the door. It shook Luna, but she didn't move from her sofa. A few moments later there were several more knocks.

  "Hey, Luna, are you in there?"

  It was Vex, but still she did not move. She looked distraught and had clearly been crying for a long time. She was
huddled up in blankets, unable to move.

  "Luna, it's Vex. You gotta let me in!"

  Still she did not move.

  "Luna!"

  "Open!" She threw off the blanket and sat up, trying to look a little more normal as she wiped the tears from her face with the sleeve of her gown, but she couldn't hide her feelings from her best friend.

  "Hey, we haven't seen you for days. You aren't answering calls."

  Vex stormed in. She slowed down as she realised the state Luna was in. Luna could find no words.

  "Is this about the duel?"

  "I...I killed a man..."

  "He knew the risks he was taking, same as you."

  "No, Zenner promised the chances of something like this happening were so slim," she sobbed.

  "But there was a chance. We all knew that."

  "He's dead because of me, and because of a stupid game."

  "Hey, it's not stupid. People love the game, and they love you. I was sorry to see him die, but people die every day. You can walk out into the street and die tomorrow, that's if nukes don't fry us all. Locke died doing what he loved. We should all be so lucky."

  It was clear that Vex had no sympathy for her at all, and that at least got her thinking.

  Am I overreacting?

  "Come on. We need to get you back to the real world. You should see this morning’s story."

  She called for the news to come on. The projection flashed to life. A politician was addressing a crowd, his named displayed on a banner overlay. Senator Miles Renner.

  "I want to once again thank the team that rescued by niece, and to relay the thanks of her parents, and those of her friends, too. Axel Ward and his team went above and beyond the call of duty to do what was right. In spite of laws and borders, politicians or consequences. They did what nobody else had the courage to do.

  My niece was taken hostage and held within territory that is supposedly friendly to our great nation. Yet they harbour terrorists who would execute innocent civilians on TV for the world to see. Let me be clear. My niece was not a threat. She was not a soldier. Edra and her friends have the kindest of hearts. They went out there to help, and who are we if we will not support and protect such good people as them? The President was unwilling to act on this matter, and yet he continues to incite war. Maybe if he is so keen for a war, he should go and fight it himself?"

  The crowd began to whistle and clap in support as the screen went back to a news anchor.

  "Strong words from the Senator there. Let's look back at that incredible footage of the moment Axel Ward and his three comrades rescued the hostages."

  The video transitioned to the helmet cam of Axel during the operation, as they entered the house where the hostages were being taken. It cut and changed perspective to the others, all neatly edited so that it was almost a scene from a movie.

  "You see this team? Three guys and a gal went into ILAN territory. Look at them, bad asses," said Vex.

  They watched Axel enter the room where Edra was being held, and gasped as they saw the brutal fight ensue. Luna had fought many battles like this, and yet to know that everything they were seeing was real was a shock to her. She’d had her first taste for what real combat could be like, and this brought it home to her.

  "Look at this guy move. He took on a whole room of bad guys. It's like watching one of your fights."

  "Off!" she yelled, and the screen faded away. She leapt off the sofa and stood angrily over her friend, "It's nothing like one of my fights. Look at it. That is real. Real people in a real warzone, real blood."

  "And what do you think your fight with Locke was? I saw you out there. When it came down to it, you weren't fighting for money or fame. You were fighting for survival."

  "And why? What for? That guy on the news was rescuing people from captivity and death? What was I doing? Putting on a damn show!"

  "And it was a damn good show. People need some excitement in their life. You are giving people something that not many can. We may not live for long, so why not enjoy it all while we are able to?"

  "Because I don't want die, and I don't want to be the reason anyone else does, okay? Did you know Rex came to see my fight?"

  "Who?"

  "Rex, one of my students. He's just a fourteen-year-old kid. What kind of example do you think I am setting for him? This isn't about playing a game anymore. We might as well be fighting for real!"

  "What example is it setting? That if you work hard enough at something you can become great at it. That you can make a ton of money and success from it? I bet you are a hero to that boy."

  "Yes, and that's the problem," she said as she slumped back down.

  "Death is not going to be new to him. People die all the time."

  "But they don't need to."

  "Sounds like you want to change the world."

  "Maybe."

  "Then do it. You want to change the world. You need power. That is what you have right now. Millions of people who love you and want to see and hear from you. This could lead to anything in life that you could want. Embrace it, and use it however you want to."

  * * *

  12.27pm

  A F Gardner & Associates Building, New York

  Carter was watching the clock as he always was. It was almost time for their lunchtime game. But as he looked over to Mason, he could tell something was different. There was not just anticipation in his face, but worry, too.

  "What's up?"

  "I...I..."

  "Come on. Spit it out."

  "I can't fight you this time."

  "What, why not?"

  "I've..."

  "What have you done?" Carter sighed.

  "Terminal were looking for fighters, and I..."

  "You have signed up to that? Why?"

  "You saw Luna's fight. It was epic. I want a part of that."

  "Yeah, and did you see what happened to the other guy? Locke, one of the best fighters we have ever known, and now he's dead."

  "That was tragic, but it is a small risk that I am willing to take."

  "This is crazy. You can't do it."

  "Why?"

  "Because you're gonna get hurt."

  Mason looked furious. "Why? Because you don't think I can win, because I'm not as good as you? Well, this isn't a game anymore. It's not just a sport. I bet if we fought for real things would go a little differently."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I am talking about the fear of a real fight. Duel has always been a game to you. Now I am going to do it for real."

  "Please don't do this."

  The clock struck 12.30, and Mason shot up from his chair.

  "You don't think I can do this?"

  "I don't want to see you get hurt."

  Mason rolled his eyes. That was all he needed to hear, but Carter ran on after him to the elevator, managing to get inside before the doors closed. Mason looked ready to boil over with anger.

  "You're a good fighter. We both know that. But Locke was the best, and look at where he is now. Please don’t do this," insisted Carter.

  "Locke was fighting a champion. You've seen Luna fight. She was incredible. I won't be fighting someone of her calibre. That was an international phenomenon, a world spectacle. This is a small time fight. They are setting up everywhere."

  "Who are?"

  "Terminal. They're setting up their booths in every town and city for more games to take place. I hear we're gonna see dozens of fights this week."

  "But you don't need to be in them. Take a back seat and see how it goes. No need to be a test dummy."

  The elevator opened. Mason stormed out with Carter trying to catch up.

  "You're just pissed that I got to do this before you did."

  "No, I don't want this. If you asked to fight me in Terminal, I'd say no. The pain module stuff we got lately was great, but actually dying for real because of a game? That is crazy."

  Mason stopped and pointed his finger angrily at Carter.

  "
Maybe to you, but I am doing this. You can either come with me and support me, or leave me alone."

  Carter thought about it for a moment. He hated the way this was going, but he didn't want to leave his friend without support. He finally nodded in agreement. They rushed up a flight of steps and straight in to an H car that was waiting for them. The six-seat taxi like shuttle ran inside the zero gravity tunnels that allowed rapid travel all across the city, and even the country. Propelling people faster than jet planes could travel. The doors shut, and Mason hit the button on the location list. They soared forward and were at their location within minutes. Despite his feelings about what his friend was doing, he knew he had to drop his agenda, and simply be a friend.

  "Do you know who you are fighting?"

  "No clue. Zenner has asked for volunteers to take part."

  "Like when Luna did?"

  "Exactly like that. I put in my application probably the same day she did. Do you know how exciting a prospect this is? Luna's fight was just the beginning. All sorts of fighters are being paired up now for what will be the greatest game the world has ever known.

  Carter held his tongue, for he knew this blood lust in sport had existed well before any of them. Mason was running, both out of excitement and because time was tight. They finally reached a small shop that had the Terminal logo on it and stepped inside.

  "Mason Price?" asked a woman at the front desk.

  "Yes."

  "You're late. Please sign this documentation. Your fight will begin soon."

  He hurried through the documents displayed on a screen at the desk, signing each without reading a word. Carter didn't like it one bit, but he was in no place to question it. This was Mason's decision to make. He looked about the room that was five metres wide and square. In the middle was the chair, just as Luna had sat in. Large screens were displaying highlights from Luna's fight and others on either side. Everything was in plain view for passersby to watch. Two medical practitioners were waiting in the corner of the room beside plenty of equipment. Mason got into the chair as they came forward and strapped him down, plugging him into the hardware.

  "You sure you want to go through with this? It's Terminal. It can actually be terminal, you get that, right?"