by Alex Fall
* * *
“I've got an idea,” I said.
“For what exactly?” Wyatt asked.
“I've been having someone on the Little One watch my location from time to time. I think the Greaters are waiting for me to get discharged before they try anything again. I think they're watching me.”
“That's more of a statement than an idea if you ask me.”
“Wyatt…” I muttered out of irritation.
“How come you never call me Gar?”
“Look, I'm going to make a big deal about leaving the hospital tomorrow. I need you to be there when I get out. And I need you to make sure no one knows you're there.”
“Are you telling me you can move after all that?!” Wyatt exclaimed. “What are they feeding you?”
“I can move enough. That's just how I am. Try and get here tonight.”
“Tonight? What?”
“You better be there…and you better be ready with those shields. I'm not stepping foot outside this building without them.” I ended the call before Wyatt could complain again. I can move enough. Truthfully I'm still having trouble breathing, but I can at least move around. And if it all goes according to plan, I won't need to move that much. I contacted Nicolette and discussed my ambush with her. She wanted to be there for it personally. Now all I have to do is wait.
The next day however, the staff were insistent that I continue to heal. It certainly made the big deal bigger. With much fussing, I was discharged with orders to return soon thereafter so they could monitor my healing and attempt to control my sleep medicine intake. As I stepped outside, the sunshine that was once blockaded by windows now danced across my face. The wind brought a fresh mixture of smells, and Wyatt was waiting by my ship to pick me up. I scoffed that he was standing out in the open, but before I moved to fuss at him, I scanned the horizon. Wyatt sighed and nodded that he was ready. How was he going to shield me if his shields are stationary? He better not let another bullet through. I don't have my chestplate this time. I began my slow approach to the ship.
But something strange happened. No one fired upon me. I made it back to my ship. My ship made it back to Little One. I spent two days moving back and forth from Little One to my care providers at the clinic. I ventured out and collected more white paneling from the warehouse room my armor originated from. I was even allowed enough time to have my chestplate reforged. The whole time, I had Wyatt follow me, shielding me whenever I ventured outside. The Little One often detected unmarked citizens around me. But nothing ever happened.
This may be more dangerous of a situation than I realized. Are they waiting for a most opportune time? Are they pursuing another method of assassination? Do they know what Wyatt is capable of? Maybe they are waiting for Wyatt to drop his guard. He does seem to be slacking in his concentration. This is bad. And to top it all off, reports are still regularly rolling in of the Reds messing with my stuff!
After several days, I resumed the act of checking into Lori and Tetsuro’s findings with Keegan's experimental drug. They were digging up some interesting finds, but of course not what I am searching for.
But the strangest reports of all were the resurgence of burning buildings. Always tall ones, always burning on the lower levels. It didn't matter who, but it always seemed to be an ambush for them when checked upon. It was him. He's trying to reenact my greatest show of power. He's taunting me.
I decided to bring Wyatt to my brick building that Sharon found, the one with the refrigerators. I commissioned him to make them airtight, reinforced, and to customize a locking mechanism on the main door. We had to gather up some materials for him to do so, and he didn't like having to escort me to and from these trips to gather materials, but it was for my own safety. Life in Lenburg seemed to resume to normal. Wyatt's commission proceeded until the finish.
“Your doors are done.”
I stirred from staring at the dusty ground. Sitting here has been boring. “What was that?” I asked since I was only half listening.
Wyatt looked at me curiously. “Your doors are done…captain.” He added.
I stood and stretched. “Your shields are down, aren't they?
Wyatt sighed. “This is exasperating. You're paranoid.”
“Of course I'm paranoid. Someone tried to snipe me!”
“How about you get some shield units and try keeping them on someone? It's not easy!”
“If only there wasn't a shortage of-”
The quick sound of splintering bricks sounded off at the same moment a super bullet stopped with an extremely loud and foreign scraping sound against Wyatt's shield. Wyatt immediately reached for his head as if to relieve a headache, while my hand shot up to my comm.
“Sapphire Eyes to Little One, second assassination attempt was just averted. Find that *cuss* for me.”
“Little One to Sapphire Eyes, we read you...Three quarters of a kilometer North by Northeast, there are two unmarked humans. Shall we assign a cleansing team?”
“Absolutely. And cleansing team? Is that what we're calling them now?”
The crewman chuckled. “We're dispatching now. We won't let them get away.”
“You better not!”
“Ow…” Wyatt voiced.
“See?” I shouted as I turned to my crew member.
“Please don't shout…”
“You didn't want to shield me! I'm paranoid, I'm overreacting, they won't try again! See what happened?! I know you saw what happened!” I fumed.
Wyatt sunk to sitting. “...my head…”
Within the hour, the sniper was apprehended, cured, and thrown into custody along with all those with him. With him out of the way, I can focus on the only one in my way; that crazy burn. It is time to start my plan.
Days moved by slowly as I healed and cooped myself in the Little One's labs. I tinkered within unknown chemicals and sifted through all the finds that my crew brought me from the city. Nothing worked for Keegan's mystery drug. I couldn't find what I was looking for, and neither could my crew. After some time, I began making my own solo journeys into the city to find it myself.
Reports trickled in of continued attacks. There was no order to it, it made no sense. Just chaos. Sometimes it was so rough that Nicolette requested me to come help. I knew better. My Directorate training tingled. I shouldn't go out, not yet. It's a trap and he's waiting for me. I have to finish my work first. Just you wait, I'll be the one laughing in the end. I'll finish this decisively, for Lenburg and for Keegan.
Part 34
Is this it? Could it be?
At last, I found you. Finally, I win!
I stood up from the pile junk that had collected on the ground. Boxes, bottles, even broken glass littered the floor of the storage deck of the massive freighter I found myself in. I had no idea that there would be an air vessel yard this far out from Lenburg. It only makes sense I would find what I was looking for out here. I turned around to spot my exit. You would be surprised how easy to get turned around it is in this big freight ship.
I climbing over the mess of tumped cargo and began plucking tools and interesting finds of the floor. The spacious, dark cargo hold I was in echoed my every move. It felt eerie in here, like something could be hiding in the many meters of half packed space around me. The fact that I only had a headlamp and flashlight added to stalker feeling I felt. To remind myself that it's all OK, I contacted Little One.
“Sapphire Eyes to Little One, I found our secret! The mystery drug has been located.”
Little One's response was slightly delayed and staticy. “Little One to Sapphire Eyes, you're coming in fuzzy. We read you, but you must be in deep. We still have a fix on your ship, please contact once you have made it back.”
“Got it. I'm on my way.”
I began stuffing everything I needed into a satchel. I climbed back out over the containers and through the monotonous access hatches. The trek would be much easier if the whole ship wasn't on an incline. It must have suffered a docking clamp fai
lure, or perhaps even a crack in its frame or hull. Either way, the going was slow and occasionally tricky. It warmed up considerably quick in the stagnant air as well. I moved through the remains of the vessel by the light of my lamp, following my mental map until I caught the glimpse of daylight. I clamored out of a deck hatch onto the top of the body, above the bridge of the massive whale of an airship. Gray, overcast light greeted me along with a breeze. It was fairly flat on top here, though why was beyond me. I was just thankful there were rails and odd and end bits to grab onto. I slid down until I was walking along a lip towards the tail of this vessel where my airship awaited me. I kept looking down to make sure my footing was correct but also to keep my hair out of my face, yet that motion of turning my head allowed me to notice something. I stopped moving.
A tapping? Scraping? Thumping? It was a muted noise, and irregular. Am I being followed? I retrieved my helmet and put it on.
The noise repeated a few more times and ceased again. The air became still. Does he know I'm listening? What is anyone even doing this far out? I fingered at my pistol. Movement in my peripheral vision caused my to face the threat. It was not a man. My eyes met with a hunched Leftover.
Ah, my old enemy.
It was hard to tell how this one was formed. Being hunched over hid its features. Also, it crested the top of the deck, so it was above me and a tad far for me to see. But there was no hiding. The creature was looking right at me. It's glassed over eyes were beginning to creep me. How can it even see with that? What an inconvenience. I will not let this thing keep me from my goal, not when I'm so close.
“Don't get in my way…” I uttered. I doubt the creature heard me. I pulled my revolver and broke out running for my ship. The footing was bad. This is so risky.
The creature tensed and kept repositioning itself on all fours to watch me. After several moments, it leapt with incredible speed at me. It moved in like some kind of feline hunter, but without all the “cute” fur. I fan fired two shots and landed one. I cursed at myself for missing, but the creature still tripped on its injury and slid down until it hit the lip I was running along. I bolted as fast as I could without tripping. It would be so easy to twist an ankle here, even through my armor. Besides that, I have to get away from this thing because I doubt it came alone.
The monster collected itself and began chasing me. It sounded like it was catching up way faster than I hoped. I turned to shoot. The creature was already leaping through the air by the time I fired. My heart rate pulsed. This is bad. The shot landed again, but the creature knocked me over. I reached out and grabbed the railing to keep myself from falling, but the Leftover had other plans. It bit my leg and went overboard. Together we hung off the edge of the surface deck, and I became aware just how far down the ground was. Armor would not save me if we fell. I clung tight with both arms.
When the creature dug into my back with its talons, it was too much. My armor may have stopped it, but OUCH! This hurts! My options are limited here, how do I get this thing off? Feeling my hands slip off my hold put me in a bit of a panic. I turned to the guaranteed solution. I burned it off.
A burst of fire had the creature reel and eventually fall. Meanwhile, I clung to the rail out pain and fear of falling to my death, but in burning the creature of, I melted part of the railing. The rail detached and bent until it was pointed straight down, leaving me dangling. My back hurt from the burn and my leg cramped from the combined pain of the bite and burn. Yet, now is not the time for nurturing my wounds. I'm so close to victory.
I pulled myself back up to the deck with much effort, even managing to retrieve my revolver. I hobbled as fast as I could towards my ship. The monster's howls echoed around me. Apparently it didn't die from that fall. If it gets in my way again, I will certainly put it to death. Come on, why did I park my ship so far away? I have to hurry!
Eventually I made it back to my ship. The creature went eerily silent, but once I made it into the air, I finally started to ease up. That's when I realized how much I was hurting. I've taken so much pain over the last couple of months. Most people would just go ahead and die. I can't do that yet, I'm too close to my goal. I will win. I will win for Keegan.
I docked my ship into the Little One and spent the next thirty hours working on my find; a special chemical, very hard to produce. I worked with it restlessly. People kept coming and trying to distract me, trying to get me to eat, or sleep, or treat my wounds. Shut up, all of you! You don't understand what's happening! I'm so close!
I'm so close to winning!
* * *
I sat back in my chair and swallowed a dry swallow. The answer...is in the palm of my hand. It's the wonder drug. I lifted a syringe full of orangey-clear liquid with hands shaking from exhaustion and excitement. It looks so ordinary. To think the city was ripping itself apart to look for this drug is somewhat amazing. I leaned back and felt a smirk creep on my face.
Shortly thereafter, pain ate at my concentration, and the basic human needs began screaming their alerts at me. I haven't eaten since I've been back. I'm so tired I feel like I can't stand safely. I don't even remember the last time I used the bathroom. I touched my comm to hail the crewmen.
“Sapphire Eyes to Little One…” I paused and thought about my actions.
“This is Little One, please repeat. I believe we lost connection.”
I need to physically go up there. Just a little longer, I need to push myself.
“Sapphire Eyes?” the crewmen tried again.
“I'm coming up. I want maximum security.”
“Understood.”
I stood and hobbled out of my ship. It hurt to move. My body demanded rest. But I will not be deterred. I moved through the docking access. I moved through the access tunnels. I moved to the elevators. I made my way to the bridge. People, whenever they saw me, would ask what was happening or if I was alright. I answered simply.
“I found it.”
When I made it to the bridge, I announced that I won. My announcement was that I finally found the Seeker’s mystery drug. It actually exists, and I found it. Then without hesitation, I ordered it to be stored at way point two; the refrigerator building made of bricks. Maximum security was set on the building. I personally watched as Lori seales the drug in the now sealed, almost impenetrable vault refrigerator room. Everything was set to my liking, down to the shifts of guards left in the building. There were to be eight guards at all times, four sets of two, and two sets were to be moving patrols at all time. The refrigerator door was locked with a card key and passcode, only whom the lead guard kept. We were kept in comm contact every fifteen minutes. Besides that, there were several silent alarms linked to the Little One. There were no chances...or so it seemed.
When all was said and done, I went back to my ship and collapsed. I finally earned a chance to rest. It was nice to rejuvenate in a shower and get a full night's sleep. I even ate a good meal the next day. But the day felt slow. I was waiting. I want the burn to make his move.
He can't stand it, I'm sure. As soon as word gets out, he'll find a way to steal my discovery. I know he will. And when he does...well, it'll be too late for him.
I spent my time pestering Wyatt to fix or lend me another cryokinesis unit. I need that Templar unit for an edge. He was reluctant after how I treated the last one.
However, it took much less time than I expected for the Burn to show up. Only fifteen hours later after I locked the drug up, we started receiving calls for help. This is it, this is my victory battle!
Every fighter we had suited up and prepped to move. Everyone was given ample cure, and all were ordered to administer it freely. I finally threatened Wyatt into giving up a Templar unit, so I wore the ice machine into battle. I was fully armored along with everyone in my crew. Even Tetsuro, who was to stay and pilot my ship, was given a gun and cure, just in case. He didn't like that idea.
We moved out in three ships, mine and two others that were refitted. In good time, we made it to the vault. The s
cene was about what I expected. Remnants of power usage were left outside, things like charred and smoking bits or frozen patches. Two of Nicolette's guards were laid out, either injured or dead. Noise filtered from inside the building. I relayed quick instructions on how to reach the vault room from we landed, and all of us hopped out at once. I rushed ahead of everyone into the building, however I turned aside, breaking route from the directions I just gave everyone. Quietly, I ordered Wyatt and Lori to stay outside and watch for stragglers. The rest of the fighters moved in quickly. I crept in the darkness where I could, and shot out the lights where needed. Only a couple of rooms ahead, the sound of battle intensified. Brute's were causing booms, the crackle of ice and electricity trickled around me, and numerous gun shots sounded off. However, I stayed behind. I'm here for only one thing;
To teach that Burn a lesson.
The fighting seemed unnecessarily fierce. It wasn't as if this would be the last battle, but I don't think everyone knew that. I finally crept into the main room where the refrigerator vault was. The middle of the room was lit up with light bulbs, but the outer fringes were dark, just as I had Wyatt arrange. The refrigerator vault door was on the second floor, up a quick flight of stairs and along a catwalk. It was still closed, just as I had Wyatt arrange. People tussled and hid behind cover everywhere, but I climbed onto the catwalks above and stayed hidden. No one seemed to want to be up here. But in all this, I couldn't find my guy. Where is he?
An automatic rifle fired haphazardly and a bullet ricocheted uncomfortably close to me. I paused and crouched, watching as my allies “cured” two potential enemies. Yet, I also watched something else interesting. The enemy was plucking the cure off of fallen comrades and using it against us. While underhanded, it solved a problem I have long been pondering. I was worried how those who helped me would feel when it came time to get the cure for themselves, but this way seems to be handling itself.
