by Alex Archer
“How many of them have you made?” Annja asked.
“About half a dozen, but the one you killed was the only one that survived for any length of time. That’s why we were understandably upset to find out she’d been killed. Anyway, we’ve got very high hopes for Gregor. His physical stature alone should be enough to ensure his survivability.”
“It’s not all about the body,” Annja said.
“True enough. That is why we hope he does well. Gregor has a very interesting background. He has a sharp mind, and we think his cunning might just make him an exceptional talent.”
“But first you have to make sure he’ll kill—is that it?” Annja said.
“Something like that.”
Annja nodded. “Well, let’s get this over with.”
“You’ll use your sword, right?”
“Yes. I will.”
“Fascinating,” Dzerchenko said. “I wish you’d indulge me a little bit and tell me how it is that you came by it.”
Annja looked at him. “It’s a long story. And you wouldn’t believe me if I told you anyway.”
“How many people would believe this? It’s one of the things that keep us safe here. No one in their wildest imagination would think that a couple of old fogeys are trying to develop a cannibalistic soldier. It’s stuff out of cheap movies and science fiction. But the truth is real enough.”
“I’m not interested in revealing myself to you, Dzerchenko.”
“Very well. But I fear we might not have this chance ever again.”
“Because I’m going to kill you?”
Dzerchenko smiled. “No. Because Gregor is most likely going to kill you.”
“And that saddens you, huh? You big softie.”
“I’m inquisitive and curious by nature,” Dzerchenko said. “That’s how I came to be involved in this experiment. I’d very much like to know as much as possible before I shuffle off this mortal coil.”
Annja looked at him. “As soon as I go in, you wheel Bob out. You make sure he’s okay. That his sutures haven’t come out.”
“I will check. It did look like he was getting a bit frantic in there, didn’t it?”
“Of course he was.”
“I hope you enjoy yourself, Annja.”
Dzerchenko spun the wheel lock on the door. Annja heard the hydraulic hiss as it opened. She heard Bob’s screams instantly.
“Bob!”
He turned, his head and face all sweaty. “Annja! Thank God!”
Annja ran to him. Being down here with Gregor so close, it was no wonder that Bob was terrified. She was starting to get scared, as well.
“It’s going to be okay.”
“How the hell is it going to be all right? They’re going to let him eat me!”
Annja shook her head. “You’re safe. Dzerchenko is going to look after you.” Annja spotted some blood on the sheets. “And he’ll make sure you didn’t do anything to injure yourself. Okay?”
“What about you?”
Annja smiled. “I’ve got some business to attend to.”
“What kind of business?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Annja.”
“Bob.” Annja shook her head. “I’ve got to fight Gregor. They want to see how well he does against someone like me.”
“You mean someone who knows how to fight?”
Dzerchenko put his hands under the back of Bob’s gurney. “It’s time for us to go, Bob.”
Annja gave him a hug. “Take care of yourself. They said they’d let you go if things don’t work out for me.”
Bob sniffed. “Like they’d keep their word.”
Dzerchenko cleared his throat. “Now, now, you don’t know that.”
Bob glanced up at him and then back at Annja. “I know this won’t be easy for you. But trust me, I don’t think there’s anything of Gregor left in that thing. I’ve stared into his eyes for the last twenty minutes. And it terrified me.”
Annja nodded. “I’ll be okay.”
Dzerchenko pushed the gurney out.
Bob raised his hand. “See you soon.”
“See you soon,” she said.
At the door, Dzerchenko looked at Annja and smiled. “Best of luck. I think you’ll need it.”
Annja glared at him. “When I’m done with Gregor, I’m coming for you and Tupolov. If you’ve got any last-minute things to do, I suggest you take care of them now. I won’t grant you any quarter.”
Dzerchenko slammed the door shut. Annja heard the wheel lock engage.
She turned.
Gregor grunted across the arena. His feet scraped the dirt floor, sending up whorls of dust. Annja stared at him, but saw no recognition in his eyes.
So this is it, she thought. It comes down to this.
She knelt in the center of the arena. And closed her eyes. The sword hung there in front of her. Annja wrapped her hands around it, felt the warmth of it seep into her body.
I don’t want to do this, she thought.
Annja opened her eyes. The sword was in her hands. Ahead of her Gregor roared when he saw the brilliant blade. He pawed at the ground like some kind of human bull. Annja could see sweat and spittle shooting out of his mouth.
Annja stood.
Above her, Annja saw Dzerchenko and Tupolov at the window. Tupolov had a video camera. Dzerchenko held a notebook and the remote control for Gregor’s force field.
He looked at Annja and smiled. Annja stared back at him. Just wait, she thought. Your turn is coming soon.
She heard a fizzle and saw the lights go out on the poles that marked the containment area Gregor stood in. The force field was off. Gregor emerged.
Annja circled as he stalked her. She could see the long claws that his hands had become. His toes had similar claws.
I’ll need to stay clear of those if I have any hope of ending this fast, she thought. Otherwise, if he gets a clean shot at me, I’ll be sliced open. And this time, it’ll be worse than Khosadam. She didn’t have toe claws.
Gregor’s mouth parted and Annja could see the long teeth that Dzerchenko had given him. They looked sharp.
I’ll bet he’d like to sink those things into me, she thought.
Gregor continued to circle her. He’s being wary because I have the sword, Annja thought. Well, good. At least he’ll keep his distance for a bit.
But even as she thought that, Gregor lashed out with a high roundhouse kick aimed right at her head. She barely had time to duck as the limb sailed over her. She heard the swish as the toe claws cleaved through the air.
That was too close, Annja thought as her heart pounded in her chest. He’s already using the limbs that give him the most distance. Gregor wasn’t wasting time trying to punch at her because he knew the sword would give Annja added reach.
Smart. Just as Dzerchenko predicted.
Annja wanted to look up at the window to see what they were doing, but she knew Gregor would never forgive her. The moment he sensed an opening, he’d be all over her.
I’ve got to end this fast, she told herself.
Annja dipped low and cut up at a diagonal angle as Gregor shifted to his left. He lifted his left hand and deflected the blade. Annja heard the sharp clang of metal on metal and knew that Gregor had used his claws to thwart the attack.
Gregor launched another kick at her right side, coming up and in with a lifting front kick. Annja backed away as his toes cut through the bottom part of her pants.
She shook her head. Gregor continued to circle. She could see mucus running from his nose. He really did not look anything like the man she’d almost gone to bed with. He’d been replaced by something else—something that seemed culled from the pages of science fiction.
But this was real. And Annja was in real danger.
Gregor launched another attack, coming at her with a front kick and then driving down with a straight slash with his right hand. Annja pivoted and then ducked under the slash. She came up and cut left to right, swinging down a
t Gregor’s leg. Her blade cut into the top of his thigh muscle, drawing blood.
Gregor didn’t roar in pain. Instead he started laughing.
Annja winced. It sounded like a raspy cough. Drool flowed from Gregor’s mouth and he put one of his hands on the wound. It came away bright red. He licked his hand clean and then smiled at Annja.
With one hand, he reached out. His fingers curled into a fist except one. Pointing at her, he whispered, “I’ll taste you next.”
He talks? Annja’s mind swam. Gregor was definitely an improvement on the Khosadam that she’d fought before.
Gregor came flying at her in the next instant, raining his claws down on her. Annja brought the sword up again and again, deflecting each strike. She backed up, and Gregor kept driving her back.
Annja knew she was running out of room.
And then Gregor jumped into the air and lashed out with both of his legs. They caught her square in the chest, and Annja braced herself, expecting to feel his toe claws bite into her at any moment.
But instead, the jolt of the kick sent her flying backward right into the wall. Annja crashed to the ground and the wind was knocked out of her.
Her sword lay nearby. Annja grabbed it and tried to get back to her feet.
Across the arena, Gregor laughed again.
He’s having fun with this, Annja thought. I mean nothing to him. I’m just a toy.
Gregor prowled around the arena. He would start to come for her and then he’d back away. His face bore a wide grin, and drool dripped from his jaws.
The next time he comes in, he’ll try to kill me, Annja thought. This is just the foreplay.
Gregor pawed the ground and put his head down as if he were a bull. Whorls of dust jumped into the air. Annja could hear the breaths coming out of Gregor’s nose. More snot and drool dripped to the ground.
He’s getting ready, she thought.
She held her sword up in front of her and took a deep breath. I’ve got to end this thing.
Here and now.
34
The beast that had once been Gregor roared long and loud at Annja. She winced at the noise but kept her sword up in front of her for protection.
There’s nothing left of Gregor in there, she thought. Dzerchenko and Tupolov have killed every last bit of him. She eyed him as he circled, drawing down the distance between them.
Gregor’s eyes flashed from side to side as if trying to figure out a weakness in Annja’s defense. His toes dug up dirt and dust and his hands snapped together like pincers.
In the next instant, he was airborne again, driving down at Annja’s head with his hands and feet fully splayed. Four sets of wicked claws streaked toward Annja with terrifying speed.
She brought up the sword. She dropped and stabbed upward.
She heard a shriek in the next instant as her blade punctured Gregor’s sternum and drove all the way through. Gregor’s momentum finished the job, and he landed on top of Annja with a sickening crash.
She could feel his final breaths coming out hot and sticky. She felt the sudden rush of blood drenching her.
Gregor’s voice sounded far away. “Thank…you…”
Annja’s eyes felt hot and wet. “I’m so sorry,” she cried.
She pushed him off her, and Gregor’s body slumped to the side. His eyes rolled back.
Gregor was dead.
Annja looked at his claws and found they looked almost like toys rather than lethal killing tools. But she’d come close to feeling them and wouldn’t trade places for anything.
She drew her sword into the air. The blade had a thick, slick coating of crimson. Annja wiped it on the ground, watching as the dirt absorbed much of the blood.
Annja wiped her brow and turned to look up at the window. She was sure that Dzerchenko and Tupolov would be watching in horror.
But there was no one there.
Annja frowned. She wanted to put the sword away, but she didn’t know what might be waiting for her. Dzerchenko and Tupolov might be planning to double-cross her.
She couldn’t take the chance. Not with Bob in desperate need of medical evacuation.
Annja walked to the door and waited. Nothing happened. She placed the sword against the wall close by and tried turning the wheel lock. It was stuck. She looked back at the window.
Dzerchenko and Tupolov were back.
Uh-oh, Annja thought. This can’t be good.
Dzerchenko waved to Annja and then pointed to a grille near the door. Annja looked and then heard a buzz of static. “Congratulations.”
Annja frowned. “I did what you asked. Now let me get Bob out of here.”
“Ah yes, well, I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible. We can’t trust you not to tell anyone about our experiments here.”
“I’m not interested in blowing the whistle on you guys. I just want to get Bob out of here and to a hospital in one piece,” Annja said.
“You did quite well with Gregor. We were very impressed.”
Annja looked over at Gregor’s corpse. She felt horror at what she’d done. And a measure of relief that it was finally over. “I’m thrilled you enjoyed the show. Now let me out of here,” Annja said angrily.
“What would you say if we told you that we were so impressed that we’d like you to stay here with us for a while.”
Annja frowned. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
Dzerchenko grinned. “Deals are made to be broken, my dear Annja.”
“Not this one. Now let me out.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Annja gritted her teeth. “Dzerchenko, you are really doing your best to make me mad, aren’t you?”
“Not at all. I’m simply asking you to understand our position.”
“Which is what, exactly?”
Dzerchenko held up a clipboard. “We have several instruments located throughout the arena that measure all sorts of things, including reaction speed, power, endurance, that sort of thing.”
“So?”
“So, you were off the chart on all of them. It was quite amazing. We wonder if it has something to do with your special sword there.”
Annja shook her head. It always amazed her that people said she moved fast. To her, it felt as if she were moving through quicksand most of the time. “I don’t know what the sword can and cannot do,” she said honestly.
“Exactly,” Dzerchenko said. “That’s why we’d like you to stay around for a little bit. Humor us by showing us how it all works. And once we’re done, we’ll let you go.”
“Why should I believe you? You were supposed to let me go when this was all over.”
Tupolov laughed. “Well, honestly, Annja, we didn’t think you would be able to survive a fight with Gregor. That’s why we made that promise. Your odds simply were not good.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“We had a lot of faith in our creation.”
“So you lied.”
“See it from our perspective, Annja. We’re scientists. We want to study things that are incredible to us. And you were certainly incredible. You defeated something that should have been undefeatable.”
Annja smiled. “I guess you guys weren’t as good as you thought you were, huh?”
Tupolov frowned. “We think the problem was with Gregor and not with our research.”
“Always the way,” Annja said. “It’s never about the people in charge. It’s always the little guys that get the blame.” She pointed at Gregor. “For what it’s worth, I think he was pretty damned impressive.”
“It’s worth nothing,” said Dzerchenko. “You killed him and made our experiment worthless. Now we’ve got to come up with something new.”
“Something new?” Annja asked, frightened by the thought.
He smiled. “You, my dear.”
I’m really getting tired of him calling me “my dear,” Annja thought. She shook her head. “I’m not going to be your guinea pig.”
Dzerchenko shrugged. “Then Bob will die.
”
“Bob’s got nothing to do with this!” Annja grabbed her sword. “I did what you asked and you’re supposed to let us go!”
“Bob has everything to do with this,” Dzerchenko said. “After all, he seems to motivate you in some way. Are you in love with him?”
“No. He’s a dear friend.”
“And naturally you’d like to see him live out his life with many more happy years. Wouldn’t you?”
“Of course,” Annja said.
“Then the choice is, once again, yours.”
Annja leaned on her sword. Somewhere up there Bob lay on a gurney, probably completely unaware of what was going on. Maybe they’d stashed him in the other room again so he couldn’t hear. If he could hear, he would have shouted something about Annja refusing to do it and to not worry about him.
But she couldn’t do that. She’d lost Bob once on this trip, and the thought of losing him again made her heart ache. Worse, knowing those two crazy loons, they’d probably make some big spectacle out of it.
And that might be the worst thing of all.
Annja bit her lip and felt the tang of blood as she tore off some skin. “What do you want from me?”
“Just a chance to ask you some questions.”
“That’s it?”
“Of course.”
Annja frowned. “You’ll forgive me if I’m not exactly a trusting soul when it comes to your declarations. After all, you just admitted that you lied to me in order to get me to fight Gregor.”
“True enough, but we have nothing to gain from lying to you this time.”
Annja looked at Dzerchenko and Tupolov. Both of them wore such sweet smiles it made her stomach churn in disgust.
I don’t trust either of those two idiots any farther than I can throw them. But what choice do I have?
“All right,” she said.
“You agree?”
She looked up. “I said yes.”
Dzerchenko clapped his hands. “Excellent. That is really good news, Annja. And we’ll make sure Bob is taken care of straightaway.”
“What do you mean?”
“We were about to remove him from life support when it looked like you weren’t going to play ball with us.”
“Well, get him back on it!” Annja shouted.
Tupolov disappeared and returned a moment later. Dzerchenko pointed at his clipboard. “This will be so enthralling, I assure you. Once we get our questions answered, that will be all there is.”
