by Chris Hechtl
Jo ripped the tape off her mouth and then spat the grease-covered rag out. “Where the hell,” she coughed, doubled over, “were you!?” She managed to get out weakly.
“On my way back,” he said, knowing it was no excuse. His baby sister … gone, just like that. He opened his eyes and turned to his brother-in-law's body, then away. “Gods Jo, I'm so …”
“Later,” Jo spat, handing him his pen back. “We've … we've got to do something. Get rid of them and then get out of here—fast.”
“Right,” Dom said.
>}@^@{<
They dumped the bodies in the oil waste pit. With luck it would mask the odor and no one would want to go looking for them in there. They stripped the bodies and then weighed them down with scrap before tossing each in.
Jo was reluctant, but Dom insisted on doing the same with her parents. It hurt; gods of space how it hurt, he had to admit that. But it had to be done. Somehow he thought they would understand. “I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe,” he said softly before he let Belle's body go. It sank quickly into the black muck. Then it was gone with only a couple bubbles to mark her ever being there.
“Come on,” Jo urged.
They went back inside and found a small group of people waiting. Their friends, employees, some of their families, and people who worked and lived on the spaceport.
“We're going. This is just death to anyone who stays,” Dom said. “We know a way out of the perimeter. From there we can hit the roads and get to shelter. If you are with us, grab your gear. You've got ten minutes.”
“Where will we go, Dom? This is our home!” Lumus said, shaking his lupine head.
“Anywhere is better than here,” Boots said. The black and white Neocat patted a bag. “I'm ready, just give me the word.”
Dom nodded to him.
“Yeah, but where? There is nowhere to go!” Lumus said, shaking his head as he wrapped his arm around his wife. “We know this place. I know we can hide here.”
“We've got a place,” Dom said. “Some of you know my family has holdings all over the area. I know people out there, people willing to help. Let's leave it at that. I'm not telling you where, not unless you are going with us. I don't want you selling us out. You stay here, then sorry, you are on your own. So choose,” he growled, dabbing at the cuts to his lip and nose.
Some lined up to go; others shook their heads and refused. Those who refused faded into the darkness and were gone.
A battered Jo tried to convince Naki, Lumus, and others to go with them, but they quietly declined. Naki was heavily pregnant and fearful of going out into the bush without medical support around her for the birth. “For heaven's sake, Naki! Women like you have been doing it for ages!” Jo snarled. “We can find a midwife or nurse or someone. We can't find someone to replace you or your pups or Lumus if the pirates come and put a bullet in your stupid head!”
“I'm staying. This will blow over,” Naki said. She left without a backwards glance.
Jo tried to follow her, but a hand on her arm stopped her cold. She looked back to see Dom. He shook his head silently as he released the grip on her arm. She shivered, then nodded and turned to those she could save. Those who wanted to be saved.
>}@^@{<
Colonel Paulings heard the report of four missing soldiers at the spaceport and snarled. “Can't those incompetents do anything right?”
“Apparently not, sir,” Captain Lan said, wrinkling her nose. “They were off duty. We're searching the base now, but we haven't found them.”
“Damn it,” the colonel growled, shaking his head.
“Corporal Kadhasov knew better, but he took three uninitiated and got them hammered. Last report was they were going door-to-door looking for fun. Unfortunately, it's a lot of ground to cover.”
“Damn.”
“They could be AWOL still, sleeping it off, but it's been three days. Somehow I doubt it.”
“Tighten the guard. Find out if they got off, if the gate guard let them through. Run a check on the video at the gates. I want them found,” the colonel growled. The captain nodded.
2
Dom and Jo took turns leading the refugees in small groups to holdings they knew about. They managed to stay the night once in an old mine on Edna and Orin's place. The pair of elderly Neocats were mostly retired. They hunted for the group and gave them some of their older, worn-out blankets to use to keep the autumn chill at bay.
“You best get to that cabin or some other shelter soon like,” Orin warned.
Dom nodded. Edna had fixed his arm up, but it still hurt like hell whenever he moved it. But he had to do it. “We will. It sucks going on foot though,” he said.
“Go find Ed. He's got a jeep and some gear. If that coyote gives you some guff, let me know. Tell him he owes me for trapping on my claim,” Orin growled. He rubbed a leg. “Damn near lost my leg last year.”
“Gotcha,” Dom said, nodding.
“Yeah, it did. I'll get him if he leaves a trap on my claim again. Let him know that too,” the old Neocat growled. Dom nodded, sobered.
>}@^@{<
Dom was surprised when he found Ed's hunting cabin but no Neocoyote. He turned about, unsure of what to do. It wasn't like he could leave a note. He frowned, peering into a window before he shrugged.
He took his hat off and waved it to Jo. Jo had kept the others back just in case of trouble. She let the others go to walk ahead of her; she was still a bit touchy about letting any of the males, even her uncle, behind her. But she got them to the cabin safe.
That was when the bushes rustled, and the Neos in the group oriented on the sound and smell. Ed came out, carrying a hunting rifle. “Seems you've got your hands full, Dom?”
“Yeah. We could use a lift.”
“Only if I can come too,” Ed said, brushing past him to get into the cabin.
“Um …”
“This is too damn close to the pirates for comfort. And since you're chewed up, I'd say you got into it with them. I can smell blood, not just yours, so you got some.”
“Yeah, we did,” Dom admitted.
“Good. I want to help,” Ed said simply, “but let me get my gear. Something tells me we'll need it,” he said, lifting up the floorboards to expose his hunting gear. Dom nodded simply. He knew better than to look a gift horse, or in this case a gift Neocoyote, in the mouth.
Ed was a trapper, hunter, occasional rogue, and occasional guide. He was good, damn good. He loved to shoot. He worked for the rangers from time to time and tended to scare the bejeezers out of anyone they had to track down in the bush.
“Is it bad as they say it is?” Ed asked as they packed.
“Worse and getting worse by the moment,” Jo growled.
He turned to her, seemed to take in her stance and attitude, and then nodded slowly. He handed her one of his spare rifles. She checked it instinctively, just as she'd been taught. “Good to know and glad you are ready to do something about it, gal,” he said.
“Oh, most definitely,” she growled, hefting the rifle. She turned her stolen rifle over to Boots. The Neocat could barely handle the rifle, but he wasn't ready to give it up.
“Right, let's lock and load people,” Ed said to the group. “Jeep’s around back,” he said.
>}@^@{<
The gravel road was poorly maintained and it showed. But they got to the Hawk cabin in one piece. They stayed the night and then went further to Dom's old hunting grounds the following day. A storm nearly flooded out the road, but they splashed the last home stretch and got in before the worst of it hit.
Once they were settled in, Dom, Ed and many of the other survivors made it clear that they wanted payback. Dom and Ed had talked a bit on the way out and at the Hawk cabin while taking watch.
The following morning they called a meeting after breakfast. They had Jo chafe at the fear the others showed. “We have to hit back, but we have got to fight smart,” Ed said. “We can't do it alone, though I've been tempted to do it.�
��
“You were?” Jo asked, crossing her arms.
“I was. Still am. I can snipe the bastards when they come calling. Anyone who pokes their nose near my claim will get it shot off. That was the plan. But eventually I'd run out of ammo or something or other and have to go to town. So, I figured it's safer with you. You can get in and out of town now that I can't,” he said.
Jo glanced at Dom. Dom nodded in agreement. “He's right,” Dom rumbled. “He's also damn good with that rifle and setting traps. I bet we could set up all sorts of traps for them.”
“I never did get a chance to play with explosives. Now I'm wishing I had,” Ed rumbled. “Orin and Edna did some explosive work to get rid of some stumps a time or two …,” he frowned and scratched his long neck.
“I know. I flew the explosives out to them,” Dom rumbled.
Jo gasped and stared at him. He shrugged. “The first time I used a really long line,” he admitted. That earned a chuckle from the assembled group. “Seriously people, we can't just let them roll over us nor can we hide forever. They are just going to keep coming. They are spreading out and taking each town. You know what they are doing, rounding people up and either shooting them or sticking them in a ghetto and letting them starve.”
“So, we have to fight. The question is, how?” Boots asked.
“Some like you can get in and out of small tight areas that the rest of us can't,” Dom said.
“Small, feline …,” Jo murmured. “Night vision,” she nodded.
Boots glanced at her and then nodded. “Guess I qualify. Lucky me,” he muttered.
“You don't have to risk your neck if you don't want to,” Kiyagi said, shaking her head.
“Yes, I do. We need to get in there. We need parts. I might be able to lead others out,” the Neocat said.
“The elves disappeared into the sewers and crawl spaces,” Jo said thoughtfully. “So did a few of the smaller Gashg.”
“I'll keep an eye out for them,” Boots acknowledged with an ear flick.
“So we're in agreement?” Dom asked. The group looked around to each other, gauging their level of commitment before Jo stepped up and nodded firmly.
“Okay then,” Dom said as one by one the others nodded as well. “I guess we've got some planning to do.”
“That we do,” Ed said, crossing his arms again before he stopped and used his back paw to scratch at an itch.
“And some of us need a bath,” Jo said, wrinkling her nose.
“What?” Ed asked, stopping midmotion.
“I wasn't going to say anything,” Boots agreed, licking his own shoulder.
>}@^@{<
A series of storms kept them stranded at the bases. That meant they had time to plan and heal. For Dom and Jo, it was important time. Dom had Shi San Li and Kiyagi lead a candle light memorial vigil on the second night to start the healing process on another front. It felt good, a means to bond and heal a bit. To put the losses well, not necessarily behind them, but to not let them fester. For some it seemed to help; for others like Jo, it seemed to wash off her.
Ed took the lead to contact various outfits in the area. All of them pledged their support. Many were cussed and independent, but they all agreed the pirates had to go.
“The problem is they don't think they need to sign on with anyone. They aren't ready to march to anyone's tune,” Ed said dubiously.
“Because we need to prove we can fight,” Dom growled. “Prove we can win.”
“Yes,” Ed said, eying the human. “And with all due respect, Dom, they all know and trust you, but you are human. Since a human group is after them, it's hard to line up behind you.”
“I can't help or change who I am,” Dom growled, hands apart in supplication. “You know me. I'm not going to help the bastards except to walk them off a short plank to a long drop.”
Ed's ears flicked, and he smiled. “Good enough for me. The others will fall in line or not,” he said with an ear flick and shrug. “Now what?”
“Jo is organizing the group. She's using the radio to contact the groups she set up in the area, but we've got to be careful. They can listen in and track it,” he said. Both of them were well aware of who the “they” he was referring to was.
“Agreed. When do we see this plane of yours? I mean, for the second time for me,” Ed said with an ear flick. Dom snorted. “You scared the bejeezers out of me when you flew by me with it. It's dark!”
“That's the idea,” Dom agreed. He rubbed his chin. “We're going to have to run her almost exclusively at night to keep her under wraps for as long as possible.”
“They'll anticipate that,” Ed warned.
“Eventually, yes. And yeah, the night cuts both ways. We can figure something out,” Dom said. “Tomorrow we'll lead a team to the gear cache, then to the lair and get started. Good enough for you?” Dom challenged.
The Neocoyote's ears flicked and then he nodded. “Good enough. It's out in the badlands,” he smiled slyly at Dom's sharp look. “So I think I can take a side trip and pick up some road runner for road runner stew,” he said.
“Right,” Dom drawled. For some reason, all Neocoyotes had a thing for road runners. Wherever they went, they brought the fowl with them and introduced them to the environment. They'd let them breed for a while and then hunt them down. “Just don't go running off any cliffs or dropping rocks on yourself,” he said.
“Wouldn't dream of it. Did that once with my foot and it smarted,” Ed said, flicking his ears in humor again. Dom snorted.
>}@^@{<
They made their way to the cache. Dom felt like his shoulders were itching, like someone was watching. Ed wasn't the only one who kept a wary eye on their surroundings and the sky.
The problem was if the enemy had drones up they'd never know it. He'd never see the damn things, not from the ground. If they were armed …
Such things couldn't be thought about for now. He … they had to take the risk. He planned to do something about any potential drones just as soon as they got The Lady up and flying.
But as he thought about it, another problem presented itself. He might be able to take out the eyes in the sky around him, but what about the eyes in orbit? Did the enemy put satellites up there? Or leave ships there? A ship or hell, even a satellite, could drop a rock on top of their heads, ruining his whole day. Why they hadn't up until this point remained a mystery.
Ed whistled once he got over the rise and saw the cache. Dom grunted, panting to catch up. “You weren't kidding,” Ed said. “How the hell are we going to move all that?” Ed demanded. “I know a few caves but nothing this big!” he said.
“We're going to have to move them a little at a time. Small groups,” Dom panted. He took out his canteen and took a sip of water. Jo looked at him with concern, but he waved her look off. “The problem is, the more we break it down the more times we have to go back and forth, the more we establish a pattern and a trail—one that can lead back to us.”
“And bite us in the ass,” Ed said nodding. He went over to the nearest container. “And this was here the whole damn time … damn!” he said, shaking his head in wonder.
“This is, oh, about half of what the contents were. The biggest parts really, the two damaged birds and some of the parts we couldn't get out easily,” Dom said. “I didn't want to take the containers apart since they were heavy and provided shelter. But now, we don't have a choice.”
“You're saying take them apart, get everything we can?”
“I'm saying take them apart and take everything. Every nut, every bolt, even the container walls themselves if we can manage it. I don't want to leave anything for those bastards to find,” Dom growled.
Ed thumped the container walls, making them echo with a metallic sound. “Good stuff here. It'd make a great shelter. Nice roofs,” he murmured. “Heavy though,” he observed.
“I've got a helicopter that can do lifts. That's how we moved some of the parts. I'm thinking if we can get Boots or someone to jig
gle the radar feed, I can get the helicopter to move the big parts.”
“That's a lot of fuel and risk, Dom,” Jo warned.
“I know. Can't be helped. No way can we move these birds on foot,” Dom said, shaking his head vehemently no.
“True,” Jo said quietly.
“He can chew through some of the wires. If he does it right, he can make it look like a rat or something did it. It might take them days to run down the problem,” Dom said with a grin. That earned a chuckle from Ed.
Jo nodded grimly. Something had died in her eyes, the sense of … of being a child. She'd gone through a bitter initiation to adulthood, one of horror and violence he wished he could have spared her. But what was done was done; they couldn't change the past. All they could do was try to live through it and it's aftereffects.
He'd tried to talk to her about grief, but she'd shut him down. The brief attempt at holding a memorial for those that had been lost may not have helped. He wasn't sure what would help, if anything.
She wasn't quite in a funk; she just had a cold clarity of purpose about her. He saw her practicing martial arts with the elderly Shi San Li each morning. It was a bit heartbreaking to see the other kids copying her.
But it had to be done. They had to learn to defend themselves, and they had to fight.
When Ed cleared his throat, he realized he'd been woolgathering. “Sorry,” Dom muttered. “Come on, we've got an inventory. We can dig through this and grab the small stuff. I left some food caches here too. MRE packs, nothing to write home about, but it's something. Since we've got so many mouths to feed, every little bit helps.”
“True,” Ed said. “Let's get started.
>}@^@{<
They moved the first loads in stages, using the vehicles and even pack animals sparingly. It was a long march though, 150 kilometers to the lair. Everything that hadn't been nailed down had already been moved beforehand, so Corgi worked on disassembling the birds and digging out the crates of parts and materials. Each part was lovingly wrapped in packing material and then sent on its way or set aside for a more important part.
