by Dean M. Cole
Richard fired into the Zoxyth's side, spinning him backward, toward Captain Giard.
Jake brought his freshly cocked shotgun to bear, but the Zoxyth dived through the open elevator doors, bending and racking them farther apart. He quickly disappeared down the shaft, a trail of green blood droplets left floating in his wake.
After a sorrowful glance at his fallen wingman, Jake lunged headfirst through the opening. As he passed into the zero-G shaft, he shot toward the far end, kicking off the same structural member as had the Zoxyth. At the bottom, the demon disappeared into the lower hallway.
Jake's anger erupted like a volcano. The brutal death of his young friend coupled with the day's loss of so many people had Jake's blood boiling. "You're dead, fucker!"
Near the bottom, he grabbed a structural member, flipped around and aimed feet first for the open elevator doors. Hitting it perfectly, he flew through the opening and landed on his feet, shotgun extended, ready for battle.
The beast ran into the cathedral.
Chasing it, Jake ran through the opening.
Heading for the altar, the monster was halfway down the center aisle.
With a primal roar, Jake ran up the passage firing his shotgun.
Scales, flesh, and fresh green blood erupted from its back. The beast stumbled and then continued inexorably toward the altar.
"Die, fucker! Die!" Jake screamed. He closed the gap to ten feet.
As the Zoxyth reached the steps, Jake saw a stone block the same width as the tile covering it, rising under the altar. The tile slid back to expose a concave Zoxyth palm print.
Jake aimed at his spine and squeezed the trigger. Fire belched from the muzzle. The blast's roar echoed off the cavernous room's damp walls as green tissue and blood geysered from the wound.
With a yowl of agony, the Zoxyth fell to his knees. Still struggling for the altar, it crawled up the steps, extending an arm toward the elevated block.
Jake realized it must be a self-destruct button. Crossing the last few feet and pumping the shotgun, he placed its muzzle against the back of the beast's head.
He screamed, "Die!" and pulled the trigger.
Click.
The monster roared with something that might have been laughter. Its arm flashed backward, striking Jake center of mass. The breath exploded from his chest as he flew halfway down the aisle, landing hard on his back.
Forgetting the self-destruct mechanism, the beast climbed back to its feet and advanced on Jake.
Sprawled on his back and struggling to pull air into his seized chest, Captain Giard tried to scramble from the monster. In a moment, it was on him. Bending over, the Zox lowered its scaled face, stopping mere inches from Jake's. Its putrid hot breath spilled over him. Then it roared, spraying Jake's face with a mix of spittle and green blood.
"Hey!"
The monster looked up.
Dragging his eyes from the beast, Jake tilted his head back. Richard stood in the entrance, aiming the shotgun over the demon.
"Get the fuck off him!" Fire spewed from the weapon.
The Zox flinched.
Jake covered his face against the anticipated spray of green gore, but none came. Instead, he heard the rattle of stone chips rain down behind the altar.
Had Richard missed?
The monster spun toward the sound.
Still struggling for breath, Jake lifted his head, seeking the source of the falling gravel. A portion of the Zoxyth statue's mid-section was blasted away.
Richard had shot it.
The Zox's head snapped back, eyes flaring with insane rage.
"Come get me, you son of a bitch!" Richard screamed. He pumped another round into the chamber.
Forgetting Jake, the beast charged with renewed energy.
Richard fired point-blank into the monster's chest. It didn't slow.
Head tilted back, watching the scene upside-down, Jake saw the Zoxyth snatch the shotgun from his hands with his left claw while a blow from its right launched Richard backward. Flying through the entrance like a rag doll, he crashed against the hall's far wall, his limp, unconscious body crumpling to the floor.
With a victory roar, the Zoxyth snapped the shotgun in half, throwing the two pieces against the cathedral walls.
Jake struggled to his side, finally rolling onto his belly, he still fought to breathe.
Richard moaned.
With both fists raised, the sickle-shaped appendages slid from the brute's forearms. Head tilted back and launching into another rant, the monster closed on Captain Allison's limp body.
He's going to kill Richard too.
Jake pulled the nine-millimeter from his hip. Futilely aiming the pistol at the back of the Zox, he fired, the weapon jumping in his hand.
The demon continued undeterred.
Something over the Zox's head drew Jake's attention. Shifting his aim, he pulled the trigger. The weapon leapt again as another shot rang out.
The sconce over the Cathedral's entrance exploded.
No longer supported, the tilted massive stone Argonian body fell toward the Zox. The monster leaned back. As if trying to catch the tons of falling rock, he raised his hands. However, unimpeded, the human statue slammed across the beast's body. Crushing the Zoxyth's abdomen under its bulk and pinning his arms, it launched an arcing spray of black and green entrails across the far wall of the cathedral.
Dust and debris rained down. As his arms gave out, Jake's face dropped to the floor. Blood trickled from his lips, mingling with the dust under his left cheek. As quiet settled over the room, he watched as a lone shell from Richard's ruptured shotgun bounced and rolled to a stop against his hand.
Fighting to hold onto consciousness, he groped for the shell, finally gripping it on the third attempt. Sliding a knee under his belly and pushing off with his hands, he struggled to stand. Leaning against a toppled stone pew, he began to catch his breath.
The mortally wounded Zoxyth writhed under the human sculpture.
Dazed, Jake limped toward him. Almost tripping over something, he looked down to find his empty shotgun lying in the middle of the aisle. Fighting not to pass out, he bent over and picked it up. Fending off vertigo, he stood and started limping toward the monster.
Finally reaching the entrance, he turned to face the beast while leaning against the prone statue. Jake was certain this was the enemy commander, the catalyst for the day's death and destruction.
Loading the lone round into the shotgun's empty magazine, he pumped it into the chamber and pointed into the demon's face.
Seeing him, the Zoxyth unleashed a fresh screeching roar.
Jake jammed the muzzle into its gaping maw.
"This is for Victor!"
He pulled the trigger.
The roar of the shotgun silenced the beast's howl. An explosion of green brain matter sprayed the floor, finally ending the monster's reign.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Bone-weary, Jake struggled to stand. The shotgun's recoil had knocked him back into the prone statue, buckling his knees and dropping him hard on his ass. A final shove brought him back to his feet. Working his way around the sculpture, he limped to Richard's side.
Coughing and pulling himself to a seated position, Richard looked up at him. "Nice finale."
"Hey, somebody had to do the work. You were just lying around," Jake said, plopping down next to him.
Jake's chuckle died as his thoughts returned to Victor.
Apparently reading his face, Richard said, "There's nothing you could have done to prevent it. It's not your fault."
"There's always another way. Maybe I could have—"
"You can maybe yourself to death," Richard interrupted. "Or, you can know you did the best anyone ever could, in such an insane situation. Hell, I'm the one that was an asshole to him." Somberly shaking his head he added, "If it weren't for that crazy little fucker, I'd be dead." He stopped and checked his watch. "Not that it matters much. We'll be joining him in another sixty seconds
."
Jake nodded. "Guess we both knew this would be a one-way trip."
"Yeah, once that door slid shut, I figured we'd never find a way back out before time was up. Too bad we don't have a handheld radio. If we had a way to tell Newcastle it's our ship, we could wave him off."
"Yeah, it's our ship, all right." Jake looked around. Spreading his arms he sang, "And, you could have it all…"
"My empire of dirt," Richard finished with a wry smile. "Love me some Nine Inch Nails."
Jake shook his head and looked down. Then, rocked by an epiphany, he sat bolt upright. "Holy shit!"
***
As he checked his watch again, Colonel Newcastle's heart sank. He couldn't wait any longer.
"Commander Yaakov, we have the last two bunker busters."
"Da comrade."
"I think the forcefields protecting the bridge and lasers will provide sufficient resistance to detonate our missiles."
"The thought occurred to me also, comrade."
"I'm sending your fire control computer the coordinates. I want you to hit the left laser's forcefield. I've programmed your attack vector so that if it breaks through, but doesn't detonate, it'll still take out both lasers."
"Understood."
Colonel Newcastle continued, responsibility weighing heavily on his words. "I'll hit the bridge."
Hearing the strain in his voice, Vlad said, "Comrade, we have done all that can be done. They understood the risk. Now we must do our duty."
Zach shook his head with frustration, but knowing he had no choice, he called back. "Thank you, my friend. Now let's be done with it."
"Da."
Colonel Newcastle actuated his flight controller. The ship rocketed toward the initialization point. For the first time, Zach found himself lamenting its extraordinary speed. Turning inbound from the IP, he armed the weapon. The tactical computer showed Commander Yaakov's fighter doing the same.
The ship-remnant expanded, his finger hovered over the trigger. Closing his eyes, he whispered, "God, forgive me." He fired the missile.
Opening his eyes, he saw it accelerating toward the ship's bridge. Through one of its portals, Zach saw a white light cycling between short and long flashes.
"Oh shit!"
***
In the over-the-shoulder point of view provided by the new satellite, the back end of Colonel Newcastle's fighter floated superimposed over the alien ship.
Sandy clenched her fists. Come on, Jake!
The radio crackled to life. "I can't wait any longer, sir."
After a forlorn glance at Sandy, the general closed his eyes and lifted the mic. "Roger, Vampire Six…" The microphone drooped as he struggled with his next words. After a moment, he shook his head. "Fuck!" The handset rose to his mouth again. "Colonel Newcastle, this is General Pearson. You are cleared to engage the target with nuclear munitions."
"No!" Sandy screamed.
The aide placed a sympathetic but firm hand on her shoulder, trying to gently guide Sandy toward the door.
She shoved the senior officer's hand away. "No! I'm staying."
The major cast a questioning look at the general. He nodded, and the aide relented.
Blinking furiously, Sandy stared at the display through tear-filled eyes. She stifled another scream when a golden-tailed black rod flew from the fighter. Instantly, a blue icon popped into existence. Labeled BB32, it raced toward the target. Sandy knew another missile, blocked from view, was burning its way inward from the opposite direction.
She focused on the area they'd identified as the alien ship's bridge. Holding her left hand to her abdomen, Sandy extended her right. I love you, baby. I— A flashing white light broke her thoughts. In an instant, she recognized the pattern.
Sandy spun on General Pearson. "Abort the missiles! Abort the fucking missiles!"
"I can't—"
Cutting him off, Sandy pointed at the flashing white light. "That's an SOS!"
***
"Oh god!" Jake screamed. He quickened the rhythmic tapping on his suit's spotlight. "They've launched!"
"I've got one on this side too!"
"Keep signaling them!" Watching in horror as the missile, a black dot in the center of a budding flower of fire, accelerated directly at the bridge, he added "It's been an honor, Richard."
"Same here, friend."
Jake looked toward the western horizon. "I love you Sandy."
Closing his eyes, he braced for the end.
A brilliant light shone through his eyelids.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
"Abort, abort, abort!" Colonel Newcastle screamed. He hammered his missile's self-destruct button.
"Commander Yaakov, abort your missile!" It was useless. The asteroid was blocking his radio's line of site.
Newcastle's weapon flashed. Horror shifted to hope as the non-nuclear detonation of its explosives shredded the missile's components.
"Commander Yaakov, please reply—"
Just as the shattered remnants of his bunker buster splashed across the alien bridge, a brilliant flash blossomed from the ship-remnant's far side, casting the profile of the beast's visage in a macabre silhouette. To Zach's immense relief, the conflagration faded just as quickly.
Striking both sides simultaneously, burning missile debris splashed ineffectually across the ship-remnant's small forcefields.
A moment later, Yaakov's fighter darted from behind the asteroid and Zach's radio sparked to life. The Russian Commander's voice was full of dread. "We failed, comrade."
Confused, Colonel Newcastle stared at his radio.
Before he could reply, Yaakov continued. "This time, our missiles didn't punch through. The aliens found some way to activate its self-destruct."
Now Zach was truly confused. "I thought you self-destructed it."
"Me? No, Colonel. Why would I do that?"
A new voice joined the discussion. "No, Colonel. That was me," said an unfamiliar female voice. "Now, sir, if you don't mind. Could you please go get my boyfriend off that goddamned rock."
***
A roar followed the bright light. I shouldn't have heard that. It should've been flash, then blaring trumpets and pearly gates.
Jake opened his eyes. He and Richard faced each other, wide-eyed.
"Holy shit!" Richard said.
"We're alive!" Jake screamed. He grabbed Rich, crushing him in a bear hug.
"Easy there," he said grimacing, a hand to his ribs.
"Sorry." Jake set him back down. "I can't believe it worked."
"You're a genius," Richard said, clapping him on the shoulder.
"You're the one that gave me the idea."
"Huh?"
"I was actually singing the Johnny Cash version of Hurt."
Richard looked more confused. "How hard did that fucker hit you?"
Jake shook his head and smiled. "When you mentioned Nine Inch Nails, I pictured their famous acronym. It's my favorite three letter palindrome."
"Palindrome?"
"Yeah, it's the same forward or backward."
Comprehension blossomed on his face. Nodding, he said, "Just like SOS."
"I just added Save. You called it Our Ship."
"Still, the idea to use our suit lights to send an SOS was a stroke of genius."
Both captains jumped as something flashed in Jake's portal. Seeing its source, they erupted into relieved laughter.
Two sleek Vampire Attack fighters floated outside, one rhythmically flashing its landing lights.
Jake read the code: S-T-A-T-U-S.
He tapped out a quick reply on his suit lamp: Ship secure. All enemy KIA. After a brief pause, he added: Croft KIA. Will find exit and report from Turtle. Over.
After a moment, Newcastle's fighter started flashing again.
Jake read it out loud: "GOOD JOB MEN. STANDING BY."
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
"Vampire Six, this is Turtle One, over."
A relieved voice greeted them. "Turtle One, thank god. I
was starting to wonder if you'd ever find a way out. What's your status?"
Physically and mentally exhausted, Jake dropped into the chair rising from the ship's floor. "Mission complete, sir. There was only one alien left alive. He's been … terminated."
"Outstanding work, gentlemen! I'm proud of you."
Jake shook his head. "No, sir. I lost a man in there. I should've—"
"Son, we've all lost friends today. I know it's especially hard when it's someone under your command."
"Yes, sir. I just keep thinking that if I would've done things a little different, maybe Lieutenant Croft would still be alive."
"We are our own worst critics—it's a commander's burden—but you'll be the only voice of doubt. In the face of impossible odds, you and your team prevailed. Had you done anything different, that outcome could've been jeopardized."
"Thank you, sir," Jake said. Looking at Victor's shrouded corpse, he silently hoped the colonel's words might one day allow a measure of self-forgiveness.
"The world owes you all a great debt of gratitude. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait a while to cash it in."
Jake and Richard exchanged confused glances.
"I'm placing both of you under my command. Welcome to the First Space Fighter Squadron, or as we're called by the few that know of us, Vampire Attack."
"Yes, sir," they replied in unison.
"I have assignments for both of you. What's your physical condition? Did you sustain injuries during your engagement?"
Jake looked at Richard and received a thumbs-up.
Aside from a couple of cracked ribs, bumps and bruises, they had emerged from the battle relatively unscathed.
Jake nodded and keyed the mic. "Nothing we can't work through, sir."
"Okay, here's what we're looking at. As I see it, our first two priorities are securing the Argonian fleet and gathering sufficient pilots and commanders to staff it."
"Yes, sir," Jake agreed.
"The fleet is still drifting apart. Some of the ships are getting dangerously close to entering the atmosphere. They won't burn up. They're not at orbital velocity, but before they start getting scattered by the four winds, we have to find a way onto that main ship."
