Project Exodus (Biotech Wars Book 2)

by Justin Sloan

  He had rolled back and was trying to come up with some other strategy when the door behind Nightshade opened.

  “No,” he muttered, feeling hope deflate as he saw Alicia standing there.

  Nightshade had noticed the new arrival, too, and he could imagine the woman’s wicked grin under that mask. Time froze as he saw her approaching his wife, and then it all whipped back into hyper motion.

  With a thrust forward, he swiped up on his device screen and over, putting a shield directly in Nightshade’s path, then came at her with a barrage of attacks. She was fast, blocking him, but at least she was distracted from Alicia. She landed more blows and more cuts, and took a couple as well.

  “You’ll both suffer, and I’ll laugh as I watch,” she said, voice booming from her mask, and then turned back to pull a blaster on Alicia.

  Marick threw himself into the air, realizing he was right in the path of the blaster, and felt Alicia grab him. She was going to try to pull him out of the way, to take the bullet! No way in hell was that happening.

  Only she wasn’t pulling him. She was leveraging him to swing herself around. Nightshade saw this too late, and when Alicia had spun and then come to a stop on the other side of her, she’d managed to get to the mask and implant a small, concealed blade. Blood was flowing onto Nightshade’s armor, but not enough.

  The blade was partially sticking into Nightshade’s neck when she turned, and Marick, feeling close to death, put everything into his lunge. He caught the knife handle, pushing Nightshade back and onto the ground, and then leaned into it.

  With all of his weight on it, the blade slowly sank in. Nightshade twitched and reached up for him, only to have Alicia kick her hand away and then stomp on it.

  “That’s my man. Hands off.”

  Marick turned toward her, smiling and loving his wife so much at that moment, and then he felt Nightshade’s last twitch as life left her once and for all. Alicia knelt beside him, cradling him, kissing him, asking if he was okay.

  “I will be,” he said and then pulled back to look at her. “I told you to stay away. You could’ve died.”

  “And you would’ve for sure, if I hadn’t come.”

  He laughed, leaned in so that his forehead was against hers, and then took two deep breaths. “It’s not over,” he said, hearing footsteps approaching and the creak of the door.

  Two more Taipans, Bloodhound and Pete, were walking toward the spot where Marick knelt, holding his wife.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Marick said, reaching for one of his concealed blades, body filled with shooting pain from the movement. “We can all just walk away.”

  “We stick by our commitments,” Bloodhound said and lifted his rifle to shoot.

  “Not when they mean to kill innocents! And not when we can use our minds to know the difference!”

  Bloodhound simply scoffed, finger moving to the trigger.

  BAM!

  He fell, a point-blank shot having torn through his helmet and brain, splattering the inside of his faceplate. Pete stood there, staring down at the corpse of the man, and dropped the rifle he’d just used to kill him.

  “Thank you,” Marick said.

  “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for my sister. Way I see it, if all this is true I can’t be on the wrong side, and growing up I was always there for her, to help her see right from wrong. What kind of role model would I be if I let her fight on the side of New Origins, with me at her side?”

  “We’ll get to her, don’t worry.”

  Pete nodded, confused, and then stepped forward. He clasped hands with Marick, then Alicia. “All I can say is that I’m sorry, and I look forward to being on the right side again.”

  “And all we can say is, welcome to the team,” Alicia said.

  “It’ll be great to have you,” Marick added.

  They both spun around to see Shrina and Triston running up, out of breath. “The ambassador,” Triston said, pointing back the way they’d come. “He’s waiting to hear you out. He’s ready.”

  Marick tried to stand, but his wounds weren’t healing fast enough. Alicia took a spot under his shoulder and helped him up, and together they made their way with the others. Triston didn’t even bother to ask but ran forward and helped right away.

  “Thank you,” Marick said, nodding to the guy. “You the boyfriend?”

  “I am now,” he said. “You the husband?”

  “Proud to say I am.” He turned to his wife, grinning, and she rolled her eyes.

  “Not the time to get sappy on me, Marick. It’s time to heal so I can get your heavy body off of me.”

  “It’s the exoskeleton, I swear,” he said with a laugh. Apparently, the pain was making him giddy. It tended to do that. He was also happy to feel the tingling of the healing process because he’d begun to wonder if he’d been wounded too deeply, so much that he wouldn’t be able to recover.

  Not today.

  26

  Intrepid: Space Station Horus

  The new members of Os Dragoes had broken for sleep and rest but had stayed in select houses chosen by Veles among the elite sympathizers. This facilitated them being able to get back at it soon and avoid drawing attention to themselves during the journey back and forth.

  Intrepid woke from a dream of men and women dying, and him reaching to help one as a shot took out half of the guy’s head. He sat up, shaken and hating the fact that he had dreams. They were rarely good, and none were of his life before becoming a mindless soldier for Project Destiny. Awake, he could focus on the good memories—ones he had kept because he’d gotten out before the PD had a chance to do real damage.

  The false lighting was off outside, meaning it was still their nighttime. He couldn’t sleep, so he made his way downstairs to the dining area, poured himself a glass of water, and turned to the table. The water almost fell from his hands as he jumped, caught off-guard by a figure sitting at the table.

  “Well done yesterday,” Scorpio said with a nod. “Got you in this house, too, huh?”

  “Couldn’t sleep?”

  Scorpio turned away. “Nah, never can anymore.”

  “I hear that.”

  Intrepid paused, not sure if he should sit with the man. They’d never completely gotten along, and he had a feeling Scorpio didn’t think too highly of him. With a sigh, he sat and figured he’d have a go at changing that.

  “Thanks. About yesterday, I mean.” He took a sip of water, letting the silence seep in. “We all know we couldn’t have gotten in without you and Swinger.”

  “Swinger,” Scorpio said with a chuckle. “How do you think he’s holding up?”

  Intrepid frowned, not liking the change in topic. At least the guy was talking, though. “You mean, after Norwal—”

  “Betrayed him. Yeah.” Scorpio said and turned, leaning forward. “I was in there, man. She kept trying to get me to talk, get me to say stuff that just didn’t make sense at the time, so I went mute. Pissed her off, but I wasn’t following, and then, about fifteen minutes into it, I got the hint. I wasn’t sure, you know, thought she might just be nervous. But when she turned on us and stabbed Swinger in the back? Yeah, not a big surprise.”

  “You’re kinda cold about the whole thing.”

  Scorpio’s brow furrowed, and then he laughed. “Oh, damn.”

  “It’s not meant to be funny.”

  “No, no, it’s just that, when Intrepid tells you you’re being cold, you know there’s a problem.” Scorpio held up his hands in surrender. “I don’t mean any offense. It’s just that I always took you to be the cold, heartless one.”

  “Reserved,” Intrepid said. “Ever since Alice—I mean Alicia and Marick—made it though, I don’t know… I feel like something’s kinda clicked inside. Like now it’s all real, and we could end this.”

  Scorpio seemed to look at him in a new light, then nodded. “And before you were just doing it to pass the time?”

  “I’ll fight the fight regardless of my chances,” Intre
pid replied, “if it’s the right fight.”

  “I can respect that.”

  “Given how long you’ve been involved here, I don’t doubt it,” Intrepid said and stuck out a hand. “As much as we’ve never been close, I want to change that. From now on, it’s all about the team, all about each member of the team.”

  “Yeah?” Scorpio said and eyed the hand.

  “I want you to know that I’d die for you, for each of these people on the team, especially if it means getting us one step closer to taking down New Origins and putting a stop to PD.”

  Scorpio grinned, took the hand, and shook. “Now you’re speaking my language. Watch ‘em all burn, right?”

  “Um, something like that.”

  “I’m messing with you.” Scorpio stood, stretched and said, “Game of Shadows?”

  “Game of… what?”

  Scorpio held up his wrist, swiped his hand across it, and a three-dimensional screen projected onto the table. It displayed various characters, almost like Viking chess but with actual outfits, and they moved as if alive. One wore body armor with a lightning sword in one hand and a gun in the other, a cloth flowing from her waist and a hood on her head. Others wore traditional space-soldier outfits, and one floated about like death.

  “This looks overwhelming…” Intrepid said and shook his head. “Seriously, when do you have time for this?”

  Scorpio held out his hands, looking around. “Hello, space station? It’s been awhile since I actually worked, and trying to take down New Origins doesn’t exactly eat up my whole day. Besides, I thought everyone in the guild was a pro at this. I just upgraded to the Shadow Fleet expansion, where—”

  “Okay, I get the point.” Just looking at it was already starting to hurt his head, and it was too much when a space dragon appeared in the center of the map, swirling around the other armies. “I’m sure it’s amazing, but this fantasy stuff isn’t my thing.”

  “Your loss,” Scorpio said with a shrug. “Was going to say we could try the Mech Command expansion if you don’t want the dragons, but…”

  “No. Just, I think I should get some sleep, or try.”

  He stood, hesitating, hating to end it like that, but then a creak sounded from the other room and a second later Worm was there, huffing to catch his breath. “Oh, damn, Game of Shadows? I have the books on my—”

  “Don’t care,” Intrepid said, getting annoyed at being the only one who didn’t know about this stuff and wanting not to care more than he did. “What’s going on?”

  “Right! We have company. Veles wants everyone up and at the docks, now. Armed, but not looking like you’re too armed, if you get my drift.”

  “We’re awake. Let me get dressed.”

  “Yeah, meet us there,” Worm said, turning for the door already. “I have a couple more houses to hit up.”

  “Next time,” Scorpio said, swiping the game image back into his wrist computer.

  Since Worm was already out the door, Intrepid glanced back and said, “Maybe. Sure. When we’re really, really bored.”

  Scorpio laughed. “I’ll take it.”

  After a few minutes, the two were ready and sneaking out into the night, cautious of any patrols or monitoring drones. They were met by a few others but kept their distance to avoid looking conspicuous. Two guards were waiting at the loading bay but waved them in quickly.

  Swinger was there, getting to know Trish and standing too close as evidenced by her expression. Swinger was oblivious, as always.

  “What’s the deal?” Intrepid asked, glancing over to see that Beetle was at the far side, standing by a transport ship with three fighter crafts nearby. They didn’t seem to belong, and flight control was also nearby, making checks on their screens. Veles, looking like he’d woken on the wrong side of bed, came around the corner of the ship and had words with them, and a moment later they took off. Set was there, too, and none were in their exoskeletons, though Beetle held a large bag that looked bulky enough to contain them.

  “Sounds like someone who seems to think Veles answers to him, though I’m not so sure Veles feels the same way,” Swinger replied. “You two know Trish yet?”

  “We’ve met,” Trish answered for them.

  Swinger seemed to be trying to come up with something clever to say when a large man exited the transport ship. Tall and spindly, he wore the flowing robes of a religious leader. The corners of his mouth were purple and his eyes were full of rage, framed by the black bags that were his eyelids.

  Intrepid instantly recognized him from the legends—the man who was supposed to be dead, the space pirate, the mass murderer, and the man who’d helped Veles escape that prison station on Ramiel. No wonder he thought he owned Veles now.

  “Which of you knows where that rat-bastard is?” Gulch said, his voice almost calm but full of malice. As he turned, the light above exposed a new set of wounds on the man, wounds that, like the Heel, the enhancement drugs weren’t able to fully heal. Something bad had gone down, and recently.

  “Welcome to Space Station Horus,” Veles said, bowing just enough not to be rude.

  “Skip all the formalities, son,” Gulch said, glaring down his nose at the man. He was at least a foot and a half taller. “You sent him to me. He betrayed me. Now I want that son of a bitch tied up by the intestines and dangling from my ship. You hear me?”

  Veles turned away from his people, likely to avoid them seeing his reaction. Then again, it might have been to better send the hand signals he was now sending, with Beetle and Set responding. The two had moved out of Gulch’s line of sight, preparing the bags of exoskeletons in case they needed to make a move.

  Others had hands going to their guns.

  Intrepid felt himself tense, his fingers ready to shoot, and shared a concerned look with Scorpio.

  “Since Marick left our station, we’ve not heard from him,” Veles insisted. “And how, exactly, did he betray you when the idea was for you to help him get down to Earth ASAP?”

  “I do nothing without a price,” Gulch said. “And now it’s time you remember that. You will be paying for his betrayal.”

  “That so?” Veles said, defiance clear in his voice.

  Gulch sneered. “Watch yourself, boy.” At those words, the weapons of the fighters aimed in on Veles since the troops within hadn’t exited yet. Others appeared from the transport, armed and ready. “I’ve already put a bounty on his head—on Earth. All manner of bounty hunters will be after him. That’s on me. But for you, it’s simple. You find a way to bring Marick to me within the week or you’re back in your cell, and all you’ve built here is forfeit. My hunters find him first? Again, forfeit.”

  “You think you have that power here?” Veles spat back.

  Gulch scoffed, then turned to assess the small array of ships in the bay. “What, exactly, do you think it is I’ve been doing with myself while you were gone—building up an armada right under New Hope’s nose, mostly with their funds, some pilfered from New Origins. You think you’d stand a chance when I bring my full power against you? Think again.

  “Do as I say or I come at you with everything I’ve got. Let’s be very clear about who runs these space stations now. Me. PD soldiers can be bought, trust me. You? You’re a speck of space dust—one I’ll gladly flick off of my shoulder if necessary.”

  Veles’s silence seemed to fill the bay, and then he made a waving hand gesture, causing Beetle and Set to back off.

  “One. Week. Do it.” Gulch turned back to his ship, the guns not retreating until he was safely within.

  Veles spun, storming past his people and waving for them to follow to the outer room where they gathered to watch the ships depart. Silence followed, interrupted only by the loud ships starting back up and flying out. It had been purely a show of force, a reminder of who was in charge, and Intrepid waited anxiously to see how this would affect their situation. When Gulch’s ships were gone, Veles let the silence sit one moment longer, then turned to his men and smiled.

>   Still, the silence permeated.

  “Something funny, boss?” Beetle asked.

  “Yes, actually,” Veles said, his voice calm. “That willowy wisp of a man is about to learn a very important lesson—one he won’t be alive long enough to appreciate, but a lesson nonetheless. Marick is on our side. Let’s set that straight right now. We’re relying on him, and he on us. He’ll need us to have the forces ready here to take the station back and help ensure it’s taken when the time comes. Not by ourselves but, we hope, with the help of whoever he can bring with him from Earth.”

  “And Gulch?”

  “That bottom-feeder is a thug. He gave us a week? Great. In that week I plan on setting this place up to finally teach him to know when his power is gone. And when we see Marick again, I want each of us to thank him personally for showing that bastard that he’s not invincible.”

  “I recognized those wounds, too,” Set said in his creepy way.

  “Only one way that could’ve happened,” Veles agreed, glancing over at the exoskeleton bags with their teleportation devices. “And that’s one reason I’m liking Marick more and more. Get some rest, team. We won’t be needing you tonight, but the training doubles up from here. It looks like we don’t just have one war, but two.”

  27

  Alicia: Italian Embassy

  The ambassador was seated in a reception room but stood as they entered. Now that the chaos had calmed, he’d had a chance to pull himself together and looked every bit the man of dignity they recognized from seeing him on the news.

  “I understand you all are to blame for this mess,” he said, and then offered a half-hearted smile. “But also that you saved my life.”

  “And we have very important information for you, Mr. Ambassador,” Alicia said, first checking to be sure Marick could stand and then stepping forward.

  “Go on.”

  She told him everything she had told Triston, watching for signs that he might be anything but trustworthy. None. He leaned forward, eyes wide, and when it was over, he rubbed his freshly-shaven chin, processing everything he’d just heard.