Soul Taker

by John Garforth

  CHAPTER 10

  She moved on all fours, avoiding the lights and cameras. She had committed the whole area to memory, everything felt familiar. She’d completed this assignment in Hong Kong more times than she could remember. With a virtual reality headset clamped on her face, she’d moved through the virtual night.

  Now it felt strange, hearing the traffic and smelling the night, the sound of people’s voices distracted her, interrupting her concentration. She pressed on, hugging the shadows, making her way towards the Passenger and Goods walkway, behind Terminal A. This was the position of an automated delivery arm that sloped upwards from the concrete apron, giving her access to the roof. Piper turned the corner just as a lorry arrived and began to discharge its cargo. She stepped back into the shadows, checking her watch, it was 5.10 pm, she had to be back at the Time pod in just over an hour, it wasn’t looking good.

  When the lorry moved off, she double checked the area for any movement. She had to get herself on the roof of the delivery arm and use it as a footpath to the roof of Terminal B, just behind the Air Traffic control tower. There was a hundred yards of brightly lit concrete to cover, culminating in a huge leap that she couldn’t afford to miss-judge.

  Taking deep breaths and filling her lungs, she set off at a sprint. Her speed was incredible as she approached her target. At the last moment, she altered her pace, maximising the kinetic energy that she’d acquired to lift her to the walkway roof. Once more her training kicked in, she judged the leap perfectly, landing on both feet as quietly as she could. Sprinting up the slope towards the Terminal B roof, she felt exposed and vulnerable, with nowhere to take cover, she knew that speed was of the essence.

  Reaching the welcome shadow of the Air Traffic control tower, she let herself relax for a moment. Dropping to her knees, she pulled the rucksack off her back and began to assemble the rocket launcher. When the final piece of the long barrel clicked into place, she inserted one of the three rockets that she carried.

  Wiping the sweat from her eyes, she inched her way across the roof, using the shadows for cover, until finally, she reached the plastic guttering. A quick glance over the edge, told her that the target was where it was supposed to be, sat there, gleaming in the airport lights was flight BTA 635 to Tokyo Japan, waiting for boarding. Piper carefully scanned the area, determined to avoid any causalities, everything was quiet, there were no other aircraft boarding, the concrete was deserted, now was the time to take the shot. Nervously, she checked her watch, it was 5.30 pm, that gave her an hour to get across Berlin and back to the Pod, her heart sank, there simply wasn’t enough time.

  Going through the motions was all she had left, failure was an anathema to her, giving up now, when everyone was counting on her, was inconceivable. Angrily, she wiped the tears from her eyes, Piper raised herself onto one knee and pulled the rocket launcher into her shoulder, the two spare rockets were at her feet. Initiating the electronic targeting system, she carefully trained the laser guided missile to a point just under the wing. Her intention was, to not only blow a large hole in the fuselage, but also to ignite the fuel tanks, that, according to the internet records, had just been filled. She fired. The rocket fulfilled its mission and the aircraft exploded in a ball of flame, Piper felt the heat on her face.

  This moment should have been the climax of her career, filled with pride and satisfaction at a job well done. Instead it was turning into a nightmare, full of frustration and failure. Unless she could make it back to the Pod in time for retrieval, then all the years of work and sacrifice would be for nothing. She would die here alone tonight, along with the rest of Berlin, her mission back home would be recorded as failed and aborted.

  She dug deep within herself for a small grain of optimism and the will to keep going. “What have you got to lose old girl”, she asked herself, “might as well die trying, you’re gonna’ die anyway.” She straightened her shoulders, re-loaded and fired the second missile at a nearby petrol tanker parked on the tarmac. Piper’s escape had been well planned in training, creating as much panic and mayhem as possible was the key. The blast from the tanker rocked her, the air was full of the sound sirens, police and para-military, armed to the teeth, were running around the edge of the perimeter. The final rocket hit an empty passenger bus, parked on the apron.

  Abandoning her equipment, Piper quickly retraced her steps, the Airport was in uproar, people were screaming in panic as they tried to force their way out of the Terminal. Dropping from the roof, to the sloping top of the delivery arm, she hesitated a fraction too long before leaping to the concrete. The thunderous noise of Helicopter rotors drowned out every other sound. Daylight bright spotlights picked her out on the delivery arm, she was exposed like a rabbit in headlights. The high decibel loudspeaker was screaming for her to stand still, threatening death if she moved.

  She’d already made up her mind that she had nothing to lose and that capture would mean death within hours anyway, so she leapt into the dark. Landing on the concrete, at full tilt, she began to sprint towards car park D, behind her the Helicopter began to follow. As Piper turned the corner she ran into crowds of hysterical passengers. There was absolute pandemonium and confusion at the airport entrance, people were streaming from the exits. Police were helping with the evacuation, encouraging the passengers to run until they were well clear.

  Delighted with the cover, Piper joined the throng, using the guise of fear, to cover her face with her hands. The Helicopter was above her as she mingled, its searchlight combing the crowds. Someone called her name. She ignored it, head down she kept running in the middle of the throng. Again, she heard her voice being called, this time it was closer, she turned recognizing the voice, it was Tom. He was stood on the bonnet of the car, waving her over towards him. She was amazed how her heart leapt at the sight of him, closely followed by the feeling of anger, he’d ignored everything she’d told him and was still here.

  “Get moving you bastard,” she screamed, throwing herself into the passenger seat, “drive”

  The thunder of the rotors was deafening, almost drowning out the chatter of the machine gun, as it ripped up the tarmac where she’d been standing a moment ago. Tom reversed, throwing the steering wheel into full left lock. The Helicopter had overshot, but was already turning. The car bounced over the pavement, narrowly missing pedestrians spread-eagled on the ground. The Helicopter searchlights picked them out as Tom gunned the engine, keeping to the side roads, returning the way they’d come. Piper checked her watch, it was 5.55 pm, she had three quarters of an hour to reach the Time Pod. Now she was with Tom, there was a chance, what had seemed hopeless only half an hour ago, now felt like a possibility.

  “I need to get to the Berlin-Tempelhof Tom.” She shouted, “the old world war11 airport that they turned into a park, you know where it is?”

  Tom glanced at her quickly, nodding and grinning as he tried to weave the car up the narrow road. Because of the Terrace houses on each side of the road, the Helicopter couldn’t get close to them, nor could it fire at them for fear of harming residents. Piper wound down the passenger window, then turned in her seat so that her back was to the windshield. She pulled out the Glock, leant out of the window and fired two shots at the Helicopter above her, punching holes in its glass dome. The aircraft dropped back, Tom was pulling on her arm, trying to get her attention.

  “There’s another one coming,” he yelled.

  Piper swivelled in her seat just in time to see a bright red Helicopter racing towards them. Tom swung the car to the right, down a side street, barely wide enough for the little car. At the bottom of the alley he turned left onto a duel carriageway.

  Piper broke into a cold sweat.

  “They’ll use their rockets on us,” she screamed, “get of this road.”

  “I am doing,” he yelled back.

  Driving the bouncing car across the central reservation, he turned right, straight into the oncoming traffic. There was the loud whoosh of a rocket being fired overhea
d, it detonated twenty yards down the road, blowing a four by four onto its side. Panic erupted on the road, some drivers jumped out of their cars and ran for it, others continued to mindlessly blow their horns as the little Fiat hurtled towards them.

  Tom swung the car left into another narrow lane, both Helicopters were hovering, each one juggling the other to get a clear shot. Piper leaned out and fired at the two of them, they elevated quickly.

  “Not too far now,” said Tom, jamming his foot down on the accelerator, making the little car scream. Piper checked her watch again, it was 6.10pm, she had a burst of optimism, she was starting to think she might make it. She looked across at the young man sat at the side of her, she couldn’t believe this was the same Tom from the apartment. Put him behind the wheel of a car and he was a changed man, she was impressed.

  The little Fiat slewed out of the bicycle walkway, smashing its rear light against the wall. Rear wheels smoking, it shot straight across another duel carriageway, to the accompaniment of screeching brakes and blaring horns. The Helicopters moved in for the kill, machine gun bullets ripped through the tarmac at the side of them. Piper recognised the area, she could see the St Matthias graveyard.

  “Drive onto the pavement and get under those trees,” she shouted.

  Tom drove straight into the kerb, bounced onto the pavement and screeched to a halt

  “Run Tom, get over the wall.”

  They both dived out of the car and threw themselves over the wall, they hit the ground and rolled, listening to the roar of the rockets. The little car was blown apart in a ball of flame. The two Helicopters were hovering, their lights searching for a target, waiting for either of them to show themselves. Piper gingerly raised her head above the wall, then emptied her clip into the nearest aircraft. Its engine began to whine loudly as it dipped forward and plunged to the ground, the pilot dead in his seat. The spinning rotors ripped into the road, then the aircraft exploded. The surviving Helicopter quickly gained altitude, pulling away to get out of range.

  “Run,” said Piper.

  They both ran, stumbling their way through the gravestones, bushes and overhanging trees. The Helicopter was moving away from them, its searchlights stabbing the night. Keeping the aircraft to their right, they stumbled on through the undergrowth, Tom tripped and rolled, crashing through some bushes and into a small clearing. Piper suddenly recognised the group of trees ahead of her and knew she was on familiar ground. The Time Pod was ten yards ahead, still completely camouflaged, nervously she checked her watch, it was 6.15 pm, she’d made it. There was no feeling of celebration though, she looked at Tom, hands on his hips, bent double, gasping for breath, the moment was bitter sweet.

  He wasn’t handsome, he wasn’t brave, he wasn’t tall, he wasn’t strong, he wasn’t thin, truth to tell, he was overweight and in need of some workouts. But he was there and he always would be there, grinning from ear to ear, doing whatever was needed, not complaining, helping as much as he could, whenever he could. He followed her like a puppy and had put himself in harm’s way to help her, to tell the truth she couldn’t have done it without him. So, here she was, on the eve of Armageddon, worrying about a man, who was kind and possessed a generous soul, but irritated her more than anyone she’d ever known.

  She cleared her throat.

  “Tom, you need a car, we’ll have to take one from down there.”

  She pointed to the car park below them.

  “Steal one?” He sounded surprised, “what about the owner?”

  “He or she won’t know it’s gone ‘till morning and by then it won’t matter anymore. You must go Tom, right now, get out of the city and out of the country. You’ve only got about six hours to get as far south as you can before the bombs start falling. You’ll have to drive like the wind.”

  “Ok, Piper, I’ve come to terms with all that, but what about you? Where are you going and how are you getting out? For Gad’s sake, tell the truth this time Piper, your ‘neat and tidy’ story about being airlifted out is just pure fantasy, isn’t it? I know that what you’ve told me doesn’t add up, so, if you think I’m stupid enough to believe you, then you’ve….”

  “Come with me Tom,” she said, cutting him off, “you’re right, I owe you the truth, quickly we haven’t much time, up this hill, it’s not far.”

  They jogged for a short distance until Piper stopped and began to walk slowly forward, not trusting the Sphere, she held up her hands, stretched out in front of her. Tom watched her, it looked like she was stroking the air, unable to understand and out of his depth, he held back and let her get on with it. The puzzled look on his face suddenly changed to one of disbelief, as the sphere suddenly uncloaked and materialised in front of him. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped, as the hatch opened automatically, and light flooded the area around them. He blurted out the first thing that came into his head.

  “Is this an Alien Ship Piper, are you not of this earth?”

  He looked so bewildered that Piper couldn’t help herself, she laughed out loud. A flash of embarrassment flickered in his eyes at the sound of her laughter.

  “Sorry Tom, no, it’s not an Alien Ship, it’s a Time Sphere,” she said, “I’m not from outer Space, I’m a time traveller.”

  He stood quietly for a little while, staring at her, trying to absorb what she’d just said.

  “So, if you’re a time traveller,” he said, slowly, putting the words together carefully, “what time are you from?”

  “Not too far away, 2080.”

  “So, now I know how you already know what’s going to happen and how you can be so sure that there’ll be a war tonight. It hasn’t happened for me, but it’s all history for you. Was everything you told me about working for the USA true, or was that all made up as well?”

  “No, I was telling the truth, I do work for America, this is a joint mission by the USA and China. When I told you that I’ve worked and trained for years so that I would get picked for this mission, it was all true. The technology that I’m using, has just been discovered, it’s brand new. This is mankind’s first experiment with time travel.”

  “So, what’s the mission Piper, why did you come, what’s the point of it all?

  “Russia and most of Europe will be reduced to radioactive rubble in a few hours Tom. Northern Italy will be an accidental casualty.”

  “So, where do you come in Piper?”

  “The plane that I destroyed at the airport a short while ago, well that was the reason for the Italian accident. It would have collided with two missiles over Russia tomorrow morning about 1.00 am. The guidance systems on the rockets were destroyed and the missiles headed for Italy instead of the UK. Hopefully, by destroying that aircraft, I’ve restored the Northern cities.”

  “I get it,” he said brightly, “I understand, you’ve stopped that aircraft from taking off, therefore, the Italian accident can’t possibly happen.

  “That’s what we’re hoping, this mission is linked to a much bigger project though, it’s hoped that eventually, we’ll be able to restore the rest of Europe this way. The Northern Italy accident was thought to be the easiest to correct, so that’s why it was chosen to be the first,”

  “I always had this feeling that you were out to change the world Piper? I was right, wasn’t I?”

  Piper felt that he was trying to ingratiate himself so she ignored the question, when she spoke again, there was a note of urgency in her voice.

  “Tom, I’ve told you it all now, because I wanted to share it with you, but I’m afraid that there’s nothing else to say, we’ve both got to go.”

  “For one last time Piper, are you absolutely sure that there’s no way that we couldn’t travel together, no way that I could simply come with you? I just find it so dreadfully sad that this is the end of us as a team.”

  “The sphere can only carry one,” she said through clenched teeth, “any more weight and it won’t work. The system, including the retrieval, is automatic, I have no control.” She paused, ta
king a deep breath before continuing, “come on now Tom, let’s get you a car, the police will be combing this area anytime now.”

  “Piper, if I can’t come with you, why don’t you come with me? You know that we make a great team, you’ve done your job now, mission accomplished,”

  Although Piper could see the agony on his face and she knew that this wasn’t just goodbye to him, this was a bereavement, she felt angry enough to punch him.

  “Tom, I have to return with the Pod, it’s part of the deal. If I don’t, then certain laws of Physics come into play and the timeline won’t change, I’ve got to go back to my own time for it to work. I can’t explain it all, but I believe it’s to do with the wormhole we use for the travel and that is it Tom, don’t say another word, you’ve pushed me to breaking point.”

  She saw the disappointment on his face and she knew that she owed him big time for the ride, but she was past caring, all she wanted to do now was go home. She pushed him away from the pod to the path, then down the steps to the car park below. There were three cars to choose, an old VW, a Renault and an Audi. Piper picked the latter, using one of the special apps on her phone, she had the door open and the engine running in no time.

  “Here,” she said, unbuckling the money belt round her waist, “take this, that’s everything that I’ve got, there’s a few thousand dollars in there, you’ll probably need it.”

  Tom was starting to feel Piper’s anxiety and her need to hurry, he took the money and threw it into the passenger foot well.

  “I’ve never had many friends Piper and never one as beautiful as you, but we are friends now, aren’t we?”

  Piper forced a smiled and nodded.

  “You did say that you’d come looking for me after all this was over, but that’s not going to happen is it? Is there any chance at all, that I might see you again Piper?” His eyes were pleading.

  “Look Tom, if there is a way, I will come back and I will find you.” The words almost stuck in her throat as she spoke them.