Wasting no time, Aeryn began to shinny down the tree. Sliding from one branch to another, the silky smoothness of the leaves brushed against her arms and face, tickling her chin with each touch. Still scared and angry, she batted the branches out of her way as she continued her trek down the tree. The branches were not cooperating, though. Each time she would push one out of the way, it would swing back and brush her face and neck, tickling her again. Aeryn stopped and scratched her face. Something wasn’t right. She surveyed her surroundings.
Trees.
Forest.
She blinked hard.
“Is that?” Aeryn rubbed her eyes. “A tree house?”
She blinked hard again. Trying to focus through the distance, she narrowed her gaze.
Black hair, huge limbs, could it be?
“No. Not possible. They don’t exist. Bigfoot isn’t real.”
She turned back to her own predicament.
Back down the tree she descended, and was tickled again.
Tickled? These leaves are awfully soft.
With a single finger, she reached out and stroked the closest green leaf in front of her. The silken threads separated rhythmically with her touch, and deftly slid back into place after her finger had gone.
It’s not a leaf. It’s a feather!
Aeryn twisted her head in all directions. Feathers covered the tree on every branch. Fluttering ever so slightly in the wind, it looked to her as though the branches were floating in the air, soaring almost.
A single green arrow descended to the neighboring tree, level with her, its many eyes staying focused on her every second. Aeryn snapped out of her amazement, and continued her downward spiral. Round and round the trunk, she descended, branch by soft fluffy branch, reaching the bottom.
Aeryn froze.
She stared at the ground under her tree, then at the ground under the other trees around her.
How?
What?
This doesn’t make any sense.
Still a good five to six feet up in the air, the tree trunks did not touch the ground. They actually were floating—soaring, all on their own. The branches fluttered ever so slightly in the faint breeze; the movement so slight and so graceful, she had barely noticed.
How am I gonna get down?
She looked again at the feathery leaves apparently keeping them in the air. Aeryn reached out and plucked one.
The branch she sat on jerked, knocking her off balance. A shriek pierced the air, with the surrounding trees joining in. The entire tree began to shudder and shake like a flapping of wings. Aeryn’s branch jerked up, then down, back up, and back down. The movements were so violent, that she held on for dear life, wanting only to cover her ears from the painful shrieking from the tree’s trunk. The flapping branches jerked more and more angrily, flopping Aeryn around the tree bottom as though she were a feather herself.
She screamed. Losing grip of the branch, Aeryn slipped. The branch flapped again, and she was hurled once more through the air, landing hard on her back six feet down on the hard ground. When air found her lungs, she sucked in to bellow out a big scream, but stopped. The entire forest flapped their branches, elevating even higher, and flew away; leaving her once again facing the bat-spiders, now crawling toward her over the barren ground.
The clacking of their mandibles grew louder. Inching closer, this time the bat-spiders chose to stalk her rather than a full on frontal assault. Aeryn sucked in a deep breath. She scooted up onto all fours and faced them. The oncoming hoard split, surrounding her. Keeping their distance, their red eyes scanning the horizon for signs of their own predators, the fiends cautiously moved forward, encircling her. Keeping a conservative margin between them, the pitch black beasts circled, spinning around, watching from all directions; above, behind, and below. Moving around, but not advancing, they circled until Aeryn felt dizzy, nausea beginning to rise in the back of her throat. Wings appeared, yet they did not take flight. They simply stretched out their legs, primed and ready for any attack that may occur.
The clacking grew louder. Aeryn spun, and spun again, making sure she was not being attacked from the rear. Her mind raced and her head spun. Around and around she turned on her hands and knees, keeping an eye on all the creatures, or as many of them as she could at any one time. Still, the clacking intensified.
Under her, the ground began to shake and roll. She swallowed hard to keep her growing sobs down.
Another earthquake.
She didn’t think she could take any more. Where were Hunter and Ian? Why hadn’t they rescued her? Where was her father?
“Help! Someone, please!” she screamed.
The earth shook harder. Spider-bats backed away, enlarging the circle. Dirt rumbled and fell away, a large mound arising in front of her. Taller and taller it grew, bursting upwards like the beginnings of a new volcano. Reaching its peak, the top blew off in an explosion of dirt and rocks. Aeryn crouched down, covering her head, trying to deflect the debris that now showered her at the base of the mound. When the dust settled, she raised her head, staring.
The huge iron vehicle balanced precariously atop the shifting mound of dirt. Giant drill bit spinning on the front, its tip still dropped fresh bits of the earth it had just tunneled through. On the side was an emblem, a medieval metal shield with iron aircraft wings jutting out both sides. Next to the picture, a motto. Smeared with fresh dirt, dented and scraped by the rocks beneath the earth’s surface, the words were slightly marred, but still clearly readable: Iron Lightning, Thunder of Doom.
The door opened up and a helmet popped out. “You coming?”
Aeryn stared, fear so deep she could not move. The clacking of the bats intensified. They rushed her from all sides. A siren blared from the military machine. A loud click unlocked side panels. Two wings shot out like a switchblade, piercing the air sharply. They sounded like a sword being unsheathed.
“Now!” the helmet yelled.
Aeryn rolled up onto her feet and ran up the small hill, clacking close behind. At the top of the heap, an iron-covered hand shot out, grabbing the back of her clothing and pulling her inside the metal caged cockpit. The door slammed behind her. Spider-bats slammed into the door behind her, covering the vehicle, their mandibles tapping against the glass of the windshield. Small cracks appeared and chips of glass began to fall away.
“They’re getting in!” she screamed.
“Get your seatbelt on!”
Aeryn sat down and grabbed the belt. Hands shaking badly, she was not able to click the ends together. Afraid not to have it on, she took the two pieces and tied them in a knot around her waist. Once secured, the pilot engaged the controls, lifted the vehicle, hovered over the ground, and lurched forward at lightning speed. Spider-bats flew from the winged fuselage, littering the ground below. She watched with a mix of both relief and rising panic as they ascended higher and higher into the air, above the floating trees and the volcano top.
Reaching one gloved hand to his head, the pilot clicked the latch, releasing his visor. It hissed loudly, released, and flipped up, revealing a smiling face underneath.
“Ryder, ma’am, Iron, Corporal. Pleased to meet you.”
Chapter 30: Rescue
res·cue [res-kyoo] verb, to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil
“Command Base, Eagle One Rescue—over.”
“Copy, Eagle One. Status?”
“Package onboard. Inbound. ETA five minutes. Over.”
“Roger that. Good work, son. Base, out.”
“Eagle One, out.”
Aeryn sat frozen to her seat, heart racing, watching everything. The pilot’s skills were more than apparent as he maneuvered the flying machinery over the trees, through the clouds, above the volcano, and off to—wherever they were off to. The thought jolted Aeryn like a lightning strike. This man is a stranger, and she had no idea where she was.
Never get in a car with strangers. But then, this isn’t a car, either.
&n
bsp; “Where are we going?” she asked.
No response.
“Excuse me, but where are you taking me?” she demanded.
Silence.
Aeryn’s hands began to shake. Fear crept down her spine and grabbed hold of her stomach like a wrench. She felt like throwing up. Scanning the cockpit, she reached out, looking for anything resembling a door handle.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
She froze, trapped like a caged animal. Aeryn thought her heart would explode right out of her chest.
“We’re almost there. Just hold on a few more minutes.”
“Almost where?” she managed to choke out.
“What?”
“Almost where?” she blurted out a second time.
The gloved hand pointed toward a button on the side of his helmet. “Turn on your mic so I can hear you.” The same hand pointed underneath the seat she was strapped in. Aeryn reached down and felt under the seat. Pulling out a helmet, she slid it over her head. Trembling fingers fumbled up the side for the button. Feeling across the side, and up onto the top, she tried to find it, but could not. Ryder reached over and gently touched the button on the far side.
“There,” he said, “that’s better. Did you say something?”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to Rescue Base.”
“There’s a Rescue Base down here?”
“Yes, ma’am, there sure is.” Ryder kept his eyes focused forward, hands on the controls at all times. “Every now and again, when folks fall through from above, some get into a little trouble and need help. That’s what we’re here for.”
“You rescue others?”
“Just the ones assigned to me.”
“My brother? And Dad—”
“I can’t help them. I can only help you.”
The fears that had eased somewhat clamped down on her insides again. “Why?”
“This is a military operation, Miss. We follow orders. And right now my orders are to—”
“I order you to stop this machine.”
“I beg your pardon?” he asked.
“I want out,” Aeryn demanded. “If you won’t help me find them, I’ll do it myself.”
“I can’t let you out.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll get killed, that’s why.” His hands tightened on the controls.
Aeryn tore the helmet from her head and tried the door handle. “I will not get killed! I can handle myself.”
“Like you handled yourself back there?”
Her eyes lit up with a fire that burned inside like a torch. “I was doing just fine until you came along.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What about the Spatz?”
“The what?”
“Spatz. You know, the spider-bats, those evil black things with the glowing red eyes that were going to eat you alive.”
“I could have gotten away.”
“How? They have eight legs and eight wings. They can run faster than any human, and fly with lightning speed. And those clacking jaws weren’t there just for show. They can tear you apart.”
“I said I can handle myself,” her angry eyes glaring.
“They start with your arms or your legs. They always go for the joints. It’s the easiest place to disable you. Then they—”
“Stop trying to scare me.”
“I’m not trying to scare you, Aeryn.” Ryder took a deep breath. “I’m trying to get you to understand the danger down here. This is not like your world.”
“What do you know about my world?” She slid as far away from Ryder as the seatbelt would allow. Eyeing him from afar, she took the defensive. “And how did you know my name?”
“I’ve been there. My last charge lives not far from your home.”
“How do you know where I live?”
“I told you, I was assigned to take care of you.”
“Assigned by who?”
“Um, that’s whom, and it’s not important. Right now I just have to get you back to base.” Ryder clicked the mic again. “Command Base, Eagle One. Over.”
“Eagle One, go ahead.”
“Eagle One on approach. Two miles out.”
“Roger that, Eagle One. You are cleared to land.”
“Take me back,” Aeryn demanded.
“What?”
“Take me back where you got me. I don’t want your help.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I’ll just escape.”
“Look, Aeryn. This world can be a very dangerous place. Bad decisions will get you sent to the prison. Very few, if any, ever come back out again.”
“But my father’s there! I have to get him out.” She grabbed the door handle again and jerked.
“It’s locked for your safety, Miss.”
“Unlock it. I want out.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You said you follow orders. Well, follow this one. LET ME OUT!”
“No, ma’am.”
“You suck!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ryder’s expression never flinched.
“And quit calling me ma’am!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter 31: Recruit
re·cruit [ri-kroot] noun; a newly-enlisted or drafted member of the armed forces.
The speed and the force of the aircraft’s landing pulled Aeryn down hard into her seat. The weight of her body kept her pinned down as the machine rolled to a stop. The runway appeared out of nowhere, trees parting for the plane to glide under, and quickly drifting back overhead. They were completely hidden from view.
“Where are we?”
“Command base.”
“Yes, but where is it? Where are we?” A severe uneasiness took over her senses. What was I thinking going with him?
“You’ll see.” Ryder hit a button on the console in front of him, both doors shot open with a loud hiss. The rush of cold air from outside was sobering. She sat still as Ryder leapt out and ran around the vehicle. Jumping up onto the wing on her side, he held out a gloved hand to help her. She did not respond.
“Come on, Aeryn. Let’s get out of this big bird.”
“Not until you answer my questions.”
“We have to report to the commander. He can answer any questions that you have.”
“I’m not moving.” She stared, eyes front, arms folded across her chest, seat belt still tied around her waist.
“Fine. Have it your way.” Ryder jumped back down and strolled off to the side of the runway.
“So, what? You’re gonna just leave me here?”
Ryder stopped and turned back to his charge.
“Some protector you are.” Aeryn untied the seat belt and slid out of the cockpit. By the time Ryder got back to the plane, she’d jumped off the wing and stood facing him. “Well?”
“Well, what, ma’am?”
“Are we just gonna stand here?”
“No, ma’am.” Ryder turned back toward the fluttering, feathered, tree line.
“And stop calling me ma’am!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ryder was the first to emerge from the dense coverings. Aeryn charged straight past him to the first person she saw.
“Who’s in charge?” Her voice squeaked out the words.
“Ten-hut!” he boomed. Behind her, she heard uniform clicking of heels, hundreds of them it seemed, together with a rhythmic marching sound. Her head swung back to Ryder, but he was gone. The panic inside her flashed again, but she fought the urge to flee. Planting her feet, she stood firm on the outside, trembling on the inside.
“Hut, two, three, four… Hut, two, three, four…”
The chanting marched closer and closer, louder and louder. With each stomp of a foot, her fear grew and her trembling increased. Aeryn’s breath was short and ragged by the time they stopped, lined up level with her on the open field.
“Whose charge is this?�
��
“Mine, sir,” Ryder responded.
Aeryn’s head whirled around to where the voice had come from, but Ryder was nowhere to be seen.
“Front and center, soldier.”
“Yes, sir!” Ryder snapped to attention, his rigid, firm stance the mark of a finely-tuned machine. With perfect rhythm, he marched forward, each foot in time with the other.
Aeryn’s eyes continued to scan the horizon. She could hear him, but not see him. He had to be invisible. No, there - wow!
Ryder’s shiny silver metal gear had changed to green and brown camouflage. He so perfectly blended in with the tree line behind him that he was impossible to see until he moved; he and all the others just like him. There were hundreds of soldiers all dressed in camouflage. Even his helmet had changed, like a chameleon. Ryder marched straight up to Aeryn’s side and stopped.
“At ease,” the sergeant commanded.
“How did you do that?” she whispered.
“Quiet!” the commander barked, stepping up to Aeryn’s face. “You will train your recruit in the appropriate manner, Corporal. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir!” Ryder’s response was immediate and firm.
Aeryn’s trembling burst out from inside her, and was clearly visible now to all who looked at her. No one moved. Not even her so-called protector standing just inches from her. “Excuse me,” she managed to squeak out. “There must be some mistake.”
“And what is that, missy?” The sergeant stood toe-to-toe, nose-to-nose with her.
Aeryn bristled. She hated that name. Her mother had called her that for years when she was younger. Tears came to her eyes.
“Awww, look everyone,” he stepped back. “The new recruit misses her mommy.”
Aeryn stared straight ahead. How could he possibly know that?
“Oh, we know everything.” He smiled at her, frightening her even more.
Stunned surprise slammed her heart again. She looked at Ryder, standing right next to her. Sharp, rigid, eyes front, with just the twinkle of a tear brimming at the corner of his eye. He made no move to help her.
“I want to leave,” she heard herself blurt out. It was like she was outside her body, watching a movie now. She had no control over what she had just said. “I’m not a recruit. There must be some mistake.”
The PriZin of Zin Page 16
