By the time Alden made his way upstairs, he found Kira in one of the bedrooms, staring at the closet door. Without looking up, she said, “They’re sealed.”
“Why?” Alden asked.
“My guess is that it’s less about security and more about convenience, probably voice activated. I imagine you haven’t slept in a while.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
“Suit yourself.” She shrugged off his response. Sitting beside the closet doors she began working on her wrist deck, it looked like she was attempting to hack the home system. They would need those clothes to get to the spaceport unnoticed. Every officer in the German territory would be looking for them by morning.
Alden walked out of the room, “Let me know if you need anything, I’m going to keep watch.”
“You should think about taking a shower,” she hollered after him. “You smell like livestock.”
Alden smiled at the comment as he reached the bottom of the stairs. She was right; a fresh pair of clothes could only do so much. He sat on the last step and rested his head against the wall. He was actually more tired than he let on. It felt like days since he’d slept. This was hostile territory, but something about Kira made him feel comfortable. He’d just rest his eyelids for a few minutes.
Chapter 4
Alden was back on the island, deep beneath the school, inside a cavernous room. It was where student teams fought for rankings and bragging rights. He was on a massive platform that was easily a hundred meters across and suspended from the ceiling. He stepped uncomfortably from side to side as he adjusted his combat suit.
The opposing team would be waiting for them on the other end, but their views were obscured by the battlefield walls between them. Neon lights ran along the edges and provided the only light in the arena. Alden looked over the side of the platform but there was only darkness beneath them.
It had been several years since the selection night when he and Gabriel, Mary and Daniel had hiked to the top of the island’s mountain and formed their enduring team. They were more than that now, they were family. Mary walked out behind him holding two assault rifles with a sniper rifle hung over her shoulder. “Here, take yours.” She threw one of the guns at him. Alden snatched the weapon out of the air. Gabriel emerged carrying his signature shotgun, followed by Daniel with two small automatic pistols strapped to his side.
Random chatter, laughter and cheering could be heard from beyond the game area. “How many people do you think are out there tonight?” Daniel asked.
Staring at the inky blackness that surrounded them, Gabriel said, “My guess would be two thirds of the campus, minimum. Why? You’re not getting sick on us again, are you?”
“Shut up. You know I get nervous in front of crowds,” Daniel shot back. “Besides, I only got sick that one time.”
Mary snorted. “Maybe, but we were the ones forced to clean it up while you recovered in the infirmary.”
“Alright, settle down, we’ve been out there a hundred times,” Alden said, calming the nervous chatter amongst his group. “Just stick to the plan and we’ll get through this. Delta is a good team—”
“The first place team,” Mary said, cutting him off.
“We can still beat them, we’re better than they are.”
“Visors down,” Gabriel said.
They each pressed a button on their suit collar and the metallic helmet base formed around their head, and then a visor came down to rest in front of their eyes. A holographic map appeared and Alden could see the battlefield and each team member’s transponder on the map. It would help them coordinate.
They were all attached to a thin, translucent, nano-carbon bungee cord secured to the ceiling. In the middle of the arena, dozens of oddly-shaped walls provided the only protection from the other team. Several walkways stretched between various parts of the battlefield. In the middle of it all stood a raised platform with a glistening holographic bomb atop a pedestal. On either end, identical areas rose above the field and then leveled off. In the middle of these areas was a half circle wall with two platforms on either side. This was their base and the enemy’s target.
“Omega team, are you ready?” a voice boomed over the loudspeaker.
“Yes,” Alden responded as his team nodded in agreement. “May the Council be appeased in our win.”
“Omega is a go, Delta is a go.”
“We can do this…” Mary clicked the safety off her gun, the rest followed suit.
Familiar icons appeared on Alden’s visor, denoting the amount of ammo he had and the level of heat in his gun.
“Everybody remember the plan?” Gabriel asked.
“I’ve already told you this, I don’t know if it’s going to work!” Daniel responded.
“It’ll work, trust me,” Gabriel responded.
Above, a large red globe hovered over the arena field. Every muscle in his body tensed, waiting for it to change colors.
“Game on!” the announcer yelled as the globe turned green. Everyone in the audience broke into a deafening cheer. This is what they had been waiting all year to see.
Alden took several quick steps forward before jumping off the base. He landed with a thud on the level below and sprinted forward. He had to get as far into the base as possible before the other team laid down cover fire. After sprinting over a myriad of small obstacles and flying around several corners, Alden slammed into one of the interior walls.
“I’ve got contacts!” Mary yelled.
Moments later sniper shots rang out, echoing above their heads. Mary had pinpoint accuracy, but the bullets left a thin smoke trail that betrayed her position.
Return fire was immediate. Muzzles flashed in the distance as automatic rifle fire was leveled at their base and Mary’s position.
“Rookie mistake,” Gabriel muttered over the communication wire. Alden looked up just in time to see a grenade sailing through the air. It landed somewhere in the distance and exploded into the most vibrant display of holographic light and colors. Alden watched the air above the space where the grenade went off, but nothing happened.
“I’ve got nothing,” Mary said.
“Yeah, me either,” Alden added.
“Just give me one second,” Daniel said.
A moment later, four red dots appeared on Alden’s battle map—they knew exactly where the other team was. It was almost too easy.
“Daniel! That’s amazing!”
It was an unwritten rule in the arena that if you could invent a tech that gave you an advantage it was fair game. Daniel had somehow managed to hack in and reverse-engineer one of the hovering security cameras. It had the ability to detect enemy combatants; all it needed was for them to move quickly in order to lock on to their signatures.
“Now watch this,” Mary whispered. This time the crack of her sniper rifle was met with the whirring sound of the bungee cord being wound up. One of the players from the other team was lifted out of the game, disappearing into the abyss above.
A clock appeared on Alden’s visor counting down from two minutes.
“Now it’s game time,” Daniel added.
Sweat rolled down his face. He took deep breaths attempting to slow his heart rate. Gabriel dove over the cover as neon tracers whizzed past. He scooted towards Alden and joined him against the wall. “Score’s tied. We’ve only got 90 seconds left to win. What should we do?”
“Mary is covering the base and laying down cover fire and Daniel has the right side locked down.”
“Good!”
“Stay here. Once you see me pick up the bomb, advance up the left flank and draw their fire.”
“Why don’t you cover me, I’m faster,” Gabriel responded.
“Because you’re a bigger target, trust me, I’ve got this.”
Gabriel spoke into his encrypted communicator. “Mary, on my order I want you to unload on their base and sniper. Keep him pinned down and provide Alden cover as he works his way up the middle.”
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��Copy that.”
“Daniel, I want you to advance as well, but once you get to the end of the raised platform, hold your position and lob grenades to get their attention. That will give Alden and I the chance to pop up and start picking them off.”
“Done!”
“You ready for this?” Gabriel asked.
“Always.”
With that Gabriel yelled, “Now!”
At once his team members unloaded their weapons on the enemy base. Return fire blasted off against the walls around them. Alden didn’t waste any time jumping to his feet and sprinting through the obstacles to the podium that held the bomb. He pushed off a lower platform and vaulted through the air. Alden grabbed hold of the edge of the pedestal. Dangling from the top by one hand, he used his momentum to swing up and grab the holographic bomb. Distant cheers. Adrenaline surged through his veins as he tucked the bomb into his side and let go.
Landing with a thud, he scrambled behind cover. Fire erupted against the walls around him. Ducking he began racing between the various walls, platforms and bridges.
There was a high-pitched scream and someone else from Omega disappeared into the rafters.
“Okay, we have sixty seconds until they’re back in the game. We have to—” Alden’s communications were cut off as a small grenade went off to his left.
“Argh…” was all Daniel had time to say before he disappeared above them. Muted clapping could be heard in the distance.
The red dots on Alden’s map disappeared. The feed and ability to track the other players was looped through Daniel’s equipment and he was now offline.
“I can’t see anything,” Mary yelled over the communication device.
“Quiet,” Gabriel shouted. “We can still win this! Alden, drive that bomb in there! Mary, open up on them!”
Alden weaved through the barricades working his way towards the other end of the base with the bomb in tow. A sniper rifle round streaked past his head. A second later, Mary fired from her position and the Omega sniper was snapped up into the darkness of the rafters.
“Nice shot!” Alden yelled.
The thirty-second warning flashed across Alden’s visor.
“Alden, one of the Omega players is just in front of you!” Gabriel hollered. “Be careful!”
“Thanks for the heads up!” With that he ducked and weaved through two of the barricades and then, with as much speed as he could muster, scaled the ten-foot wall and pushed off just in time to grab the top. Swinging up and over, he unloaded half a clip on the unsuspecting player and then watched as he was snapped up by his cord.
“Got ‘em. One left!” Alden yelled over their communicator. Just then something flashed between the barricades up ahead.
“Gabriel, he’s between me and you. I’m going to run past and draw his attention. You have to make this shot.”
Alden sprinted towards the remaining member of Omega. It was only then he realized he was being chased. Several holographic bullets slammed into the nearby walls and sparked off before dissipating.
“Duck!” was all Alden heard. He dove, covering his head as he landed.
Gabriel stood just in front of him. Heput a full holographic slug into the Omega player who had been chasing him. The player wriggled and fought as he was pulled from the battlefield.
“That’s twice today.” Gabriel extended his hand out to Alden.
Alden grabbed it and jumped to his feet. “The way I see it, you’re just working off the debt you owe me from all the times I saved you.”
“Whatever. Let’s light their base up and win this!”
Alden raised the bomb and flipped the detonator switch.
“What are you doing?” Gabriel asked.
“What’s going on up there?” Mary chimed in.
Alden looked up to the sky smiling. A small alarm went off on his wristwatch: ten seconds left in the game.
“Alden, hurry up, let’s win this!” Gabriel said.
“Wait just another second.”
The Omega team members descended back behind their base. Alden waved and then chucked the bomb into their area.
Alden grabbed Gabriel and they dove out of the way. The Omega base blew up in a spectacular display of holographic debris and effects. The other team had just touched down and they were all immediately swept back up into the rafters.
Gabriel let out a scream of excitement and threw his fists out for Alden to tap. The crowd was hollering and cheering in the background. The lights came on, illuminating the ring of spectators surrounding the arena. It was packed and everyone was on their feet making as much noise as they could. The entire Island had to be here: instructors, cooks, guards, staff, and all of the other students.
Mary sprinted down the plank and jumped into Gabriel’s arms. Displays of affection were strictly forbidden, but as they separated Alden saw the briefest caress as Mary’s face passed Gabriel’s—a kiss. It was over in an instant. All four of them raised their hands, waving at the crowd in celebration. Alden smiled to himself; Gabriel and Mary’s sporadic disappearances were making more sense.
“Time to get up. Try these on.” A set of clothes sailed through the air and landed on him. Alden was still sitting on the staircase, leaning against the wall in the abandoned house they had been hiding out in. Had he fallen asleep? He could still hear the cheering crowd but the sound was quickly disappearing.
Kira stood at the top of the stairs; she’d changed from the biker outfit into civilian clothes. She wore a pair of tight black leggings with a brown overcoat that went halfway down her legs, and several scarves wrapped around her neck.
“Really it’s flattering, but would you stop staring and get dressed?” she responded.
Alden shrugged the comment off. Standing, he grabbed the clothes and walked upstairs. He took a quick shower and then stripped out of the borrowed clothes and put on a pair of tight black slacks and another black shirt. It came with a thin strip of white cloth.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” Alden held it out as he walked into the main bedroom. The closet door was now wide open, along with the door of a small safe that had been hidden in the back of the closet. “What the…”
“Here let me help you out.” Kira motioned for him to turn. She pulled the cloth down over his head and then tucked it under the lapels.
“Really, you’re dressing me as a priest in order to sneak onto a government ship? That has got to be the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Don’t worry, it makes you look cute. I took the liberty of removing the remaining credits from their bank account and transferred them to our decks. It’s not much, but it’s something.”
“Are we going to bribe our way onto the transport ship?” Alden asked.
Kira smiled and shook her head. “I thought it might be easier to just buy tickets, instead of the whole secret agent routine.”
“They’re going to know we’re wanted fugitives, or at least I am…”
“Don’t worry, I’ve hacked the system and downloaded our fingerprints and identifications into the national registry.”
“What happened to not being a secret agent? Besides, it’s next to impossible to hack the Alliance network. It would have taken the Federation or Islamic Empire a year to insert one name into that database, let alone two.”
“Imagine that, me a little old girl, hacking the big Alliance network.”
“Whatever. I’m not saying that you couldn’t do it, just that I’m…impressed.”
“The cab should be outside any minute.”
“You called a cab, but what about your bike?”
She just shrugged. “I don’t own a bike.”
Alden smiled. “Of course you don’t.”
The room was flooded with light as a small cab pulled up out front.
As they walked down the stairs Alden asked, “So how did you hack their network so fast?”
She gave him a quick wink before walking outside like she owned the place.
He ope
ned the cab door, helping Kira inside. The inside of the cab was hollow, with two bench seats that faced each other. They were well worn and had a dusty smell.
“Please enter destination and deposit required funds.” The computer asked over a speaker in the arm rest.
Alden held his breath and pressed a button on his wrist deck. Kira just looked on as if she had no cares in the world. He had to stabilize himself as the car lurched into motion. Guess it worked. As they crested the ramp onto the highway the sun burst out over the horizon and illuminated the sky in the most brilliant display of orange and red. The distant skyscrapers lit up under the glow of the sun and appeared to be on fire. For a brief moment he wished he could have stayed just a little longer.
They hadn’t traveled very far before the spaceport started to take shape in the distance. It was a large structure and the top half of the shuttle launcher could be seen jutting up from the ground towards the sky. They finally pulled up outside a large gate, which swung open as they approached. The cab took them all the way to the runway, where a sleek aircraft, outfitted with an X57 engine, rested in anticipation.
Didn’t they stop producing those things back in the seventies? The outside was dented in several places from micro-meteorite damage.
Alden furrowed his brow. “I’m surprised we’re able to get so close.”
“No one really flies commercial anymore. It’s only the politicians, corporations and militaries that make the trip. It’s a dying industry. Honestly, most don’t even think about it—oh God.”
Alden turned. Several large military transports had stopped behind the plane. Dozens of fully armed soldiers dressed in combat fatigues spilled out on to the runway. It felt like cold water had just been splashed into his face. Where was his gun? Maybe he could hotwire the cab. As his mind raced, a set of stairs descended from the back of the ship and the soldiers began to board one at a time.
“We’re okay.” Kira put her hand on his leg. “They’re not here for us, follow my lead.”
The computerized voice came over the cab speaker once more. “Please vacate the vehicle.”
The Last Revolution Page 11
