by Brian Dorsey
Her feet hit the ground and her nostril’s instantly flared, taking in a powerful scent. Her hair bristled and she felt her canines extend in her mouth. “No,” she snarled as she activated her comms. “Magnus…they are here…the Xen dogs.”
“I can smell them too,” came his reply.
Katalya lifted her head in the air and inhaled, closing her eyes. He eyes popped open and she spun around just as someone slammed into her. The two tumbled to the walkway, Katalya’s heart pounding and a rage born of instinct coursing through her body. Letting out a growl, she rolled on top of her attacker.
The man looked up with his mouth open and teeth dripping with saliva.
He lunged upward, snapping at Katalya’s face but she landed a fist against his temple. His head bounced off the walkway and Katalya shoved it back onto the metallic grating, pinning him. She let out a howl and sank her teeth into the man’s neck. She bit down hard and then twisted her head upward, tearing a chunk of the man’s flesh from his body. “Fucking Xen animals,” she cursed as she spat meat from her mouth. Katalya grabbed her rifle and leveled it on two more attackers rushing toward her. Her rifle recoiled as she sent a burst into the attackers. She moved forward and fired another burst into the chest of one of the men when he tried to rise from the walkway. At the bodies, she placed the barrel of her rifle against the forehead of the first man and fired. Then the second.
She sniffed the air. “Walkway is clear,” she reported.
***
“Bravo team is inside,” reported Thay.
“Roger,” replied Orion through the comms link. “Headed to the west side to provide cover for Alpha.”
“Moving into the Hall,” Thay replied as his team began to move forward. In a few meters, they reached the corner. Thay held his rifle to his shoulder and pivoted into the passageway. As he did, his sights fell on two enemy soldiers facing the opposite direction.
Thay slowly lowered his rifle and drew his tomahawks.
Letting out a grunt, Thay hurled the tomahawk in his right hand toward one of the soldiers and quickly shifted his body, sending the second flying toward the other. The first tomahawk sank into the back of the soldier’s skull, his body crumpling to the ground.
Just as the second tomahawk was about the hit the remaining soldier, he spun around, curving his body backwards as the blade passed over his body.
Thay grabbed his rifle and swung it toward the soldier but Littledove had already reacted. The Akota leapt forward into a roll, drawing his sword as he did. Rising to his feet just as the enemy soldier regained his balance, Littledove drove his sword into the soldier’s gut.
The enemy soldier let out a growl and landed a hard right hand against Littledove’s jaw sending him to his knees. The soldier, with Littledove’s sword protruding from his torso, leveled his pistol toward the Scout Ranger.
Before he could pull the trigger, Magnus slammed into his body. Driving the soldier against the wall, Magnus wrenched his enemies hand away from his body. He let out a growl and lunged for the soldier’s neck. He bit down hard but released with a howl of pain as the soldier drove a knife into his thigh.
As Magnus stumbled backwards, Thay pulled the tomahawk from the wall. He pivoted and drove the tomahawk into his opponent’s neck, nearly decapitating him.
“Damn it,” cursed Littledove as he pulled his sword from the soldier’s body. “He wouldn’t fucking die.”
“Most will be like that,” grumbled Magnus as he pulled the knife from his thigh. “Instinct—and rage—will take over.” He paused to apply coagulate gel to his leg. “Treat them like rabid dogs.”
“Rabid dogs with automatic rifles,” added Littledove.
“They bleed, so they will die,” said Thay. “We need to keep moving.”
Chapter 9
Stone exhaled heavily, his back pressed against the exterior wall of the Council Hall as bullets whizzed past him.
He looked at his watch. “Damn it,” he cursed as he looked up to Martin who was leaning against the opposite side of the entrance. “Get Orion.”
“Roger,” replied Martin, activating her link. “Orion, get your ass over to this side,” she ordered as bullets ricocheted off the brick wall behind her. She pivoted and fired a burst into the entrance to the Hall. “We need—” She swung her rifle toward the walkway above her and fired. “Shara, the walkway,” she ordered as an enemy soldier fell to the ground. She activated the comms link again. “We can’t make entry. We need your guns.”
‘On the way,’ came Orion’s reply.
“I’m in route too,” added Katalya. ‘”My team is in.”
Martin looked toward Stone. “We’ve got to get in there; our timeline’s already fucked.”
‘Get clear and get your head’s down,’ came Orion’s voice.
“Back over the wall!” ordered Stone, pushing himself from the exterior wall and leaping over the brick wall a few meters from the main building.
Hitting the ground with a grunt, he looked up to see Martin and Shara on his side of the wall. “We’re—”
Stone’s voice was cut short as the gatling guns from Hydra II erupted.
Stone curled his body as the heavy baritone brrrrrrt of the guns drowned out everything. He looked up to see his companions doing the same as debris landed all around them.
After a few seconds, the rumble of the guns shifted to a high whine as the rotary guns began to spin down after Orion stopped firing.
‘Door’s open,’ reported Orion. ‘Really open.’
Stone peered over the wall.
Where the entrance to the Hall had been, there was now a hole large enough to drive a main hover tank through. Bodies of Humani were strewn through the debris.
‘You’re welcome,’ said Orion.
Stone saw Katalya leap from the elevated walkway onto the ground.
“They’ll all modified. The Dog Soldiers from the Venato.”
“How many?” asked Stone, his stomach tightening.
“A lot.”
Stone exhaled heavily. “Let’s go!” ordered Stone. “We’ve got some time to make up.”
***
On the other end of the building, Thay, Magnus, and Littledove moved quickly through the passageway toward the center of the Hall. Thay shifted his rifle from left to center, then right as the group crept toward the end of the passageway. As he reached the end, he saw a stairwell. “I’ll cover up,” he said to the others. “You two move to the first floor.”
Magnus and Littledove acknowledged with a nod.
Thay stepped into the vestibule and Magnus and Littledove rushed past him to the next level. He saw a flash of movement and fired.
A soldier fell from the platform above, landing at Thay’s feet as he centered his rifle on another rushing down the stairway and fired. “Go!” he shouted to Magnus and Littledove, noticing they had paused halfway down the stairway to the first floor. “I’ll cover you!” Thay shifted his body and fired again as another soldier leaned over the ledge above and fired. His aim was true and the man fell backwards out of sight. Another soldier leapt from the platform above. Thay swung his rifle toward the threat but the soldier crashed into him, knocking him to the ground.
The soldier pressed down on Thay’s chest, his fangs flashing bright as he drove his head toward Thay’s neck. Thay shoved his hand against the neck of his attacker and pushed the snapping jaws clear. As the enemy’s head shifted to his left, Thay wrapped his left arm around the soldier and quickly locked in his choke hold with his right, squeezing hard.
Thay felt his body lifted off the ground as the soldier swung his body forward into a squat and pushed upward. In response, he wrapped his legs around the attacker’s torso and arched his back to prevent his opponent from flipping him into the air.
Thay tightened his body, letting out a grunt as the soldier slammed him into the wall. Recovering from the impact, he released his right hand and grabbed a knife from his vest. In doing so, his hold weakened and his opponent pulled
his head from Thay’s grip.
Pain shot through Thay’s shoulder as the soldier sank its teeth into his flesh but he remained focused, driving his blade into his opponent’s back.
The soldier released his bite and stumbled backwards.
Thay pulled a tomahawk from his belt and lunged forward but quickly dropped to his knees and arched his back as the soldier slashed at him with a sword. The air from the blade washed over the bare skin on his scalp just before he pushed his torso erect and drove the blade of his tomahawk into the soldier’s thigh. Thay’s opponent let out a howl and brought the handle of his sword down against Thay’s temple. Dazed, Thay swung his pistol upward as the soldier raised his hands above his head.
Thay fired three rounds into the man’s chest, knocking him to the ground.
Rising to his feet, he looked down the barrel at the man’s head and fired a final shot.
Grimacing from the pain now radiating down his left arm, he reached down and picked up his rifle with his right. Trying to ignore the pain, he rushed down the stairs to catch up to Magnus and Littledove.
At the bottom of the stairs Thay heard the sounds of a struggle and brought his rifle to the ready. Stepping into a large oval room he saw Magnus falling backwards as Littledove lunged toward a female officer with shoulder-length black hair.
The officer blocked Littledove’s thrust with the sword in her left hand and slammed the handle of the sword in her right into his temple.
Thay centered his sights on the officer but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Magnus flashed into his view as he crashed into the officer. “Damn it,” cursed Thay as he let his rifle fall to the side and grabbed a tomahawk with each hand and rushed toward the melee.
The officer hit the floor face-first but swung her elbow upward, connecting with Magnus’ jaw. As he recoiled, she flipped onto her back and grabbed the sword that had been jarred from her left hand. Magnus rolled backwards from atop her as the officer slashed at his torso.
Magnus leapt to his feet but stumbled.
Blood began to seep through his torn vest as Littledove and Thay converged on the officer.
A sword in each hand, the officer stepped back, blocking Thay’s tomahawk as he slashed at her chest and driving her boot into Littledove’s knee as he thrust with his sword. Littledove dropped to one knee and the officer leapt over him pivoting mid-air. As she landed she drove the sword in her right hand through Littledove’s back.
The Akota warrior let out a groan and arched his back as the sword exploded through his chest. The enemy officer raised her other sword above her head but as she swung downward a round from Magnus’ pistol tore into her thigh.
Falling to her knees, she let out a deep growl and drove the other sword into Littledove’s back. She drew her pistol from it holster as she rolled to her right away from Magnus. Magnus’ next shots missed and she turned back toward him from the ground and fired two shots into his abdomen.
Thay dropped his tomahawk and grabbed his rifle, bringing it to his shoulder.
Hot, burning pain raced through his arm as a round from the officer’s pistol bore into his arm just below the wound the other Dog Soldier had given him.
He raised his rifle again.
“Ah-ah,” said the officer as she held her pistol on Thay.
She drew another pistol from her vest, holding it on Magnus as he struggled to push himself up from the floor. “You too…brother,” she spat.
Thay stared defiantly into her green eyes, panting as he tried to push the pain from his consciousness. He watched as she walked back to the body of Littledove. He was on his knees, leaning forward with two swords protruding through his chest, holding him off the floor.
“Drop the rifle,” she ordered. “Let’s finish this like warriors. Your tomahawks and its fangs,” she added without looking at Magnus, “against my swords and fangs.”
Despite the pain in his arm, a smile came to Thay’s face as he unclipped the lanyard from his rifle and let it fall to the ground. “So be it.” He drew his tomahawk.
“Good,” she replied as she holstered her pistols and yanked the swords from Littledove’s corpse. “If you tell me where the traitors Stone and Martin are, I promise to kill you quickly,” she added before turning toward Magnus. “You…animal…will die slowly if I have my way.”
“Then let us see if you can,” grumbled Magnus as he pulled the damaged vest off his body and dropped his combat belt.
Thay stepped toward her.
“No!” grunted Magnus. “She is mine.”
Thay feared Magnus was too injured but nodded in acknowledgement.
“Cute,” said the officer as she sheathed her swords. “Let’s get primal,” she growled as she showed her fangs.
Magnus rushed toward the officer but she closed the ground quickly and leapt into the air as the two collided. She latched onto Magnus torso and neck and spun her body behind his, wrapping her legs around his neck and twisting his body to the ground. He was rising when she slammed her fist into his face, knocking him to the ground again. She pinned his head to the floor with one hand and grabbed his left arm and slammed it to the floor.
Magnus eyes opened wide as his nostrils flared. “You’re her—”
“No!” shouted Thay as he rushed toward Magnus.
But he was too late.
Sierra opened her mouth wide and sank her teeth into Magnus’ neck. He let out a howl as she jerked her head upward violently, sending blood and flesh flying from Magnus’ body.
Sierra spun around and jumped to her feet to face Thay.
Thay stopped a few meters away from her. Her lower jaw was covered in Magnus’ blood as it dripped onto her uniform.
“Guess I had to settle for killing it quick,” said Sierra, her mouth still full of flesh and blood.
“What are you?” asked Thay.
“I’m the ProConsul’s angel of death, you Terillian trash.”
“The ProConsul seems to have a lot of those,” replied Thay as he heard muffled gunfire from somewhere in the building. “One of her former ‘angels’ will be here soon.”
Sierra glanced toward the far entrance as a smile came to her face. “Martin?”
“But don’t worry about her,” replied Thay. “Because I am going to take your life before she gets here.”
Sierra pulled her swords from their sheaths. “Then come take it,” she said with a blood-soaked smile.
Thay rushed forward as the officer readied herself.
Feigning a strike with his tomahawk, Thay dropped to the ground and slammed his boot into Sierra’s injured leg.
She dropped to one knee but drove the sword in her right hand toward Thay’s torso. He directed the sword away from his body with his tomahawk but when he tried to push himself up, his injured left arm failed him and he rolled away to make space between him and his opponent.
Thay pushed himself to his knees and swung downward with his tomahawk, driving the slashing sword of Sierra to floor. As the metallic clang of the tomahawk’s blade sliding off the sword echoed across the room, he exploded from his position and slammed into Sierra’s torso, lifting her into the air. Thay grunted through the pain as she slammed the handle of her sword into his injured shoulder and pivoted to slam her onto the floor. He heard the air leave her lungs and rose up to his knees, cocking his tomahawk above his head.
A powerful blow to his exposed side caused him to pause and a second caused him to curl his body to his right. He raised his tomahawk again but his body spasmed and his weapon fell to the floor as the searing pain of a blade sliding into his left side shot through his body. He let out a gasp as his left lung collapsed.
Another blow to Thay’s jaw knocked him off the officer and he fell onto his back, still trying to bring in enough air. Looking up he saw the officer standing above him.
“You’re not bad, Terillian,” she said as Thay felt the tip of a sword press against his chest. “Too bad you were already injured.”
“Wh—who�
��are…you?” he huffed, slowly wrapping his hand around the tomahawk lying beside him.
“I am Commander Sierra Skye,” she said.
He gasped again as she slowly sank the sword into his abdomen.
“Where are they?” she asked. “Tell me and I will end it quickly.”
Thay let out a raspy groan as the sword sank deeper into his body.
He looked up toward her.
“Where? I promise—”
Thay jerked the tomahawk off the floor and drove the spiked end into the officer’s foot.
A howl escaped the officer as she drove the sword deep into his abdomen.
Gasping for air, Thay pulled a pistol from his vest and swung it toward the officer but stopped as his eyes focused on the barrel of rifle pointed at his head.
“Enough!” grumbled the officer. “Time to say hello to your ancestors.”
Thay shifted his gaze to the deep green eyes of his opponent. “So be it.”
Sierra lowered her head to line up her shot.
Thay’s eyes were still focused on his opponent’s when her attention shifted and she spun to her right just as a bullet slammed into her shoulder.
***
“Damn it,” cursed Martin as she saw Sierra disappear from her sights. “She moved at the last minute…winged her.”
“Thay, come in,” ordered Stone into the comms circuit as he stood next to Martin at the opposite entrance to the hall. “Magnus? Littledove?” He looked toward Martin and shook his head.
“Magnus!” shouted Katalya across the hall. “Magnus!”
Stone could see Katalya’s eyes were screaming with anxiety. He looked across the large hall. Thay was at best severely injured on the other side. He exhaled heavily. “Shara, you cover the right. Katalya…Katalya!” shouted Stone to get her attention.
He saw the look in her eyes.
“No!” he Stone as Katalya rushed forward. “Shit,” he cursed as he swung his rifle back toward the hall. “Everyone move up.”
Stone shifted his rifle from left to right and then back as he moved forward. “Katalya, stop!” he yelled across the hall to no avail.
