Take Back the Skies

by Lucy Saxon

  Fox had no such qualms and glanced over his shoulder, grimacing.

  ‘No, it’s not,’ he agreed. ‘We need to get out of here before someone comes back for the girl.’

  Grabbing her audio and video recorders, her eyes landed on Nathaniel’s prone body, and she saw something silver glinting on his hand. ‘Wait.’ Hesitantly, she approached the dead man, kneeling down on a patch of floor that wasn’t covered in blood, taking his hand and slipping the ornate Hunter family ring from the man’s finger. It was much too big for her, but it was hers now. She was the head of the Hunter family, whether she liked it or not. Stowing the ring away safely in the inside pocket of her waistcoat, she turned back to Fox, both recorders in her hand.

  They had all the incriminating evidence they needed.

  ‘Here, let me,’ Fox urged, helping her attach her recorders. She smiled at him, and he grinned back, squeezing her hand when he was finished.

  ‘Let’s get moving, then. It looks like we’ve got even more work to do than before, if there’s a skyship out there with more of these kids aboard.’

  Cat nodded. She didn’t let go of his hand, needing something to concentrate on other than the mental image of her dead and bloodied father, and the two of them rushed back to the staircase. Cat was amazed no one had responded to the gunshot, but reasoned that the workers were probably all too used to strange explosion noises from the workshops.

  Once downstairs, Cat had to let go of Fox’s hand to let him get the lock, and within two minutes the door was flung wide open, startling Mary and James.

  ‘Grab your things, we need to go,’ Fox said, urgency in his tone. The pair didn’t even hesitate, seizing their satchels from where they’d hidden them behind the sofa. They’d changed into dark clothing, and Mary wore a scarf over her hair to cast her face into shadow.

  ‘Nathaniel is dead,’ Cat told them hurriedly, voice hollow. ‘They’ll know they have intruders as soon as someone finds his body, so the alarm could be raised any minute. We need to get out of here and meet our crew at the gate so we can get the sprogs, blow up the building and commandeer the newscast centre.’

  James gaped like a fish for several moments, then shook his head.

  ‘You don’t do things by halves, do you?’ he muttered. Fox smirked, reaching into his satchel to pull out one of the canisters Ben had given him to scatter inside the building. Ben had told them to put some on the lower levels, or only the building above ground would be damaged.

  Leaving the canister in the middle of the room, right beside the lamp on the coffee table, Fox turned to eye the monarchs seriously, though he was clearly speaking to the younger of the two. ‘Be careful and do everything I tell you. I won’t risk us getting caught because you’re being an idiot.’

  Cat couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the offended look on James’s face.

  ‘Cat,’ Fox said to her, ‘bring up the rear.’

  Cat nodded, letting the other three leave ahead of her. She shut the door and waited for Fox to give the all clear before following the small procession silently up the stairs. At the top, Fox stuck his head out into the corridor, ushering Mary and James into the nearest alcove. They were about ten feet from the window they knew would lead them to the area outside the gate.

  ‘Where to now?’ Mary asked, and Fox jerked a thumb to the left.

  ‘Window up that way,’ he replied under his breath, checking the coast was clear. They followed him up the corridor, Cat at the back of the group, and reached the window without any trouble.

  ‘How on Tellus are we going to fit through there?’ James asked in an incredulous whisper.

  Fox raised an amused eyebrow at him.

  ‘You’re scrawny – you’ll fit. Hang on.’ Climbing once again with spread legs up the walls of the alcove, Fox reached for the window latch and shoved the glass pane open. Peering over the edge, he held out a hand.

  ‘Mary, you first,’ he urged.

  With a hesitant look, Mary gripped Fox’s hand tightly, gasping in alarm as he hoisted her on to the window sill.

  ‘Just drop down and wait a little to the left,’ he instructed, helping her shuffle round to slide out of the window. When she was safely on the ground and out of the way, Fox gestured to James to follow.

  The young prince shook his head.

  ‘That doesn’t look safe,’ he complained.

  ‘For storms’ sake, your mother just did it!’ Cat hissed. ‘Fox and I have done it, so stop being such a bloody wuss and take his hand.’

  James’s ascent was a lot shakier than his mother’s, with far more flailing and squirming involved, but Fox kept his grip and with a little help from Cat, managed to get James up and out of the window.

  Fox grinned proudly at Cat as she ignored his hand and climbed up by herself, the same way he did. He laid a hand on her back securely as she scrambled up on to the sill, then leaped down on the other side when he saw she was up. She followed, and Fox peered around the corner, looking towards East Gate.

  ‘Looks like Harry and Alice aren’t back yet,’ he murmured. ‘And storms only know where Matt and Ben are. They’ll turn up soon, then we can get moving.’

  ‘Should we go where we waited before?’ Cat suggested.

  Fox nodded; it was as good a place as any, so they herded the two monarchs round the side of the building to the gallery where they could wait with an eye on the gate. It wasn’t particularly cold, and yet Cat couldn’t stop shaking.

  ‘So what happened?’ asked James.

  Cat blinked at him in confusion, then realised what he was referring to.

  ‘We followed Nathaniel, and he caught us. We … talked.’ She wouldn’t tell them what had been said in that room. That was for her and Fox to know – at least, until the conversation had to be broadcast.

  ‘No more secrets,’ Mary insisted. ‘We’re out now so there’s no chance of guards forcing us to reveal what we know. Tell us what you’ve been hiding.’

  Sharing a glance with Cat, Fox’s expression turned serious as he told the monarchs the truth about the children. Tears of sorrow and horror filled Mary’s eyes and her lips trembled as Fox spoke, while James went ashen.

  ‘I knew it would be awful, what they were doing, but to go so far as to warp humanity in such a way … Nathaniel is more of a monster than I thought,’ Mary breathed, disgusted.

  ‘He started bragging about how we could do whatever we liked to this building, because the completed experiments are in a skyship somewhere,’ Cat told her, voice hollow. ‘He said they were nearly ready for a real war. I told him that we were recording the conversation and all Anglya would hear it. He said … he said that we couldn’t expose them if we didn’t leave the room alive.’ She began to shake harder, and Fox held her tighter.

  ‘Nathaniel pulled a gun on me, and Fox stopped him. He threw Fox off, but lost the gun and tried to … tried to strangle me instead. Fox shot him,’ she said with a lump in her throat. Fox stroked her arm gently.

  ‘Oh, Cat, dear, I’m so sorry,’ Mary breathed.

  Cat shook her head.

  ‘Why? Wasn’t your fault,’ she pointed out.

  Mary grimaced.

  ‘It might as well be. We wouldn’t be in this mess if I had protected my country better.’

  Fox looked at her incredulously.

  ‘You were kidnapped and your husband was murdered – what else were you supposed to do?’ he retorted, turning back to Cat. ‘Are you OK?’

  Cat considered the question, then shook her head. She felt like crying, but the tears wouldn’t come. Why couldn’t she cry?

  ‘Not really,’ she admitted. ‘But I’ll be fine for now.’ She had to hold it together, at least until they were safe.

  Fox nodded, his arm still around her.

  ‘So how come you two are being so familiar all of a sudden, then?’ James asked, jealousy clear in his voice.

  ‘That’s what people do when they’re together,’ Fox replied simply.

  James’s eye
s widened.

  ‘You’re … together?’ he asked.

  Cat almost felt sorry for him, but not quite.

  ‘I suppose,’ she replied, grinning faintly and squeezing Fox’s hand in hers, probably a little tighter than she needed to.

  ‘Oh,’ the blond boy murmured softly.

  ‘Well, I saw that coming a mile off,’ Mary remarked, though she gave her son a sympathetic look. Evidently she wasn’t as attached to the idea of betrothal as James was.

  The awkward conversation was halted as East Gate began to open, and two familiar figures crept through. Cat and Fox immediately got to their feet, startling their companions.

  ‘Harry and Alice are here,’ Fox said in explanation. ‘Matt and Ben won’t be long after, I’ll bet. Come on.’ Cat led the way, sneaking across the dark walkway towards the gate, and Harry nodded in greeting.

  ‘Good to see you, lass. Where are the boys?’

  ‘No sign of Matt and Benny yet,’ she replied. ‘But we’re ready to go. Nathaniel is dead, and we’ve got plenty of incriminating footage to add to the broadcast. We just need to get the kids out.’

  Harry blinked, then shook his head, astonished.

  ‘Blimey, you have been busy.’

  ‘You can say that again,’ Fox piped up, approaching at a far more sedate pace, a half-smile on his face. ‘I’d like to introduce you to Mary and James Latham, Queen and Prince of Anglya. Mary, James, this is our fine captain, and his wife Alice.’

  Almost in unison, two jaws dropped, and Harry fumbled to make a short bow.

  ‘Your Majesty, Your Highness, it’s an honour,’ he murmured, and Mary laughed.

  ‘None of that, sir, you’re helping us,’ she insisted. Alice seemed too stunned to do much else but stare, and Fox cleared his throat.

  ‘We can do proper introductions later,’ he cut in, ‘but we need to get moving. The alarm could be raised at any minute.’

  They were interrupted by a quiet whistle, and all six heads snapped round to see Matt and Ben approaching from the shadows, Matt with his hand on the gun holstered at his hip, ever vigilant.

  ‘Good to see you,’ Ben greeted softly, then paused, eyes widening when he spotted the two unfamiliar blonds. ‘Storms, you weren’t lying. Your Majesties.’ He gave a shallow bow, and turned to Harry. ‘What’s the plan, Captain?’

  ‘Fox, Cat, go back in and get the kids out. I think at this point we can forgo the secrecy. They’re bound to sound the alarm soon, anyway. You boys have set all the canisters?’ Matt nodded, earning an approving smile. ‘Go in with those two, split up and make sure you get every last child out. I’m going to set up the newscast. The four of you meet me when you’re done.’ He paused, turning hesitantly to Mary.

  ‘Your Majesty, I think it best if you go back with Alice to the ship once we’ve got the sprogs and wait there while we sort this out. Don’t want you and the prince getting hurt, do we?’

  Mary smiled gratefully at him.

  ‘Yes, I think that’s a very good idea, thank you, sir. After all these years confined, this is a little too much at once. James, dear, come on,’ she urged, but the boy shook his head.

  ‘I’m staying. I can help,’ he said.

  Mary’s eyes narrowed. ‘James, this isn’t a game! If you get in the way, you might get hurt!’

  ‘I can help,’ he repeated stubbornly.

  Mary sighed, looking at the crew. Fox looked worried, but Cat tried politely to hide her concern. Matt and Ben just shrugged. ‘Extra hands might be useful,’ conceded Matt.

  ‘Fine,’ Mary conceded. ‘But you do everything they tell you to do, no matter what, all right?’

  James nodded, hugging his mother, and she left with Alice to find somewhere safe to await the children.

  After relieving Cat and Fox of their audio and video recorders, Harry clapped Matt on the shoulder, leaving him in charge and heading away to the newscast centre. Cat looked around at her companions, seeing four equally grim faces. It was show time.

  Chapter 22

  Ben opened his satchel, digging out two holstered guns and passing one to Fox, who didn’t hesitate to strap it around his waist.

  ‘Cat, can you fire a gun?’ Ben asked, and she nodded, surprising the others.

  ‘What?’ she said defensively. ‘My father did teach me a few useful things. He didn’t have a son, remember?’

  Fox stuck a hand in his coat pocket, pulling out his list of room numbers. ‘These are the rooms we know contain sprogs. We’ll take the lower floors, you stick to this one. We know this place better.’ Ripping the list in half, Fox passed one half to Ben, who smiled briefly.

  ‘Will you need any more canisters?’

  Fox shook his head, patting his own satchel.

  ‘No, I’m good. We’ll drop a few on the inside, the building should go down without any problems. We’ll take James with us,’ he added, eyeing the blond boy. James didn’t look too impressed, but thankfully kept quiet.

  ‘Let’s get going,’ Cat interrupted before an argument could break out. She grabbed both Fox and James by the arm, turning around and half dragging them towards the alarmed door.

  Fox abandoned all finesse and stealth in hacking the door lock, purposefully triggering a loud klaxon. Cat laughed nervously, even as three guards came sprinting around the corner, guns raised. She and Fox got there first, firing and hurrying past the slumped forms towards the staircase, Cat refusing to think about the fact that she had probably just killed a man. All that mattered was getting the children out.

  Leaving Matt and Ben to deal with the upper floor, the three teens sprinted for the staircase, rushing down to the floors below. List in hand, Fox called out room numbers, and Cat’s eyes scanned the doors ahead of her.

  The only guards seemed to be coming from the upper levels, and Fox swore under his breath, having come to the same conclusion as Cat; they would end up facing a huge crush of guards on their way back up if they weren’t careful.

  The one good thing about the children being kept in labs was that the locks on their cages were feeble at best. Cat slid the bolts aside to let out four terrified-looking girls. ‘Just follow me and keep your heads down,’ she hissed, already heading back to the corridor. ‘We’re getting you out of here.’

  Fox dropped a canister in the main corridor, James following with a small group of boys behind him. They were all wide-eyed in terror, dressed in grey shirts and trousers. They continued their search for more children, Cat jumping in surprise when a guard came stumbling down the corridor towards her, shooting him quickly in the chest.

  ‘Cat, I’m going to need a hand in here!’ Rushing in the direction of Fox’s voice, Cat’s jaw dropped at the amount of children kept in the room he’d found. They hadn’t seen the room before; it was lucky Fox had checked it.

  There was a crash from the opposite end of the corridor, and Fox swore, head turning between the cages and the door.

  ‘James,’ he called sharply, pushing his gun into the younger boy’s hand. ‘Point it at the bad men, and pull the trigger,’ he instructed slowly. ‘Watch out for the kick, and for storms’ sake, whatever you do, don’t shoot the canister I left in the hallway or you’ll kill us all.’

  Cat heard James gulp audibly as she set to work unlocking some of the cages as quickly as she could, flinching at the first gunshot.

  ‘I hit him!’ James crowed in surprise.

  ‘Fantastic, now keep doing it,’ Fox ordered, working at the other side of the room from Cat.

  ‘Just stay calm, kids, we’re going to take you to safety,’ Cat called out. ‘Wait behind James – the blond boy with the gun – and anyone who’s still feeling strong, please help those who are having trouble standing.’

  Most of the kids didn’t look too much worse for wear. Though some seemed slow to react – and were probably drugged – they were all unharmed as far as she could tell. Cat figured they hadn’t been in the compound long. But there were a few that would definitely need help.

&n
bsp; Cat eventually met Fox in the middle of the room, unlocking the last two cages. They had now gathered quite an impressive group of children – but they were starting to get nervous, several girls and boys having burst into tears.

  ‘Don’t worry, we’re not here to hurt you,’ Fox assured them gently. ‘We’re going to bring you back to your families, but you have to do exactly what we say, all right?’

  The children perked up at the mention of their families.

  ‘I think we’ve done all the rooms on our half of the list. Fox, you go ahead,’ Cat called. ‘And, James, you lead the children.’ Fox nodded, dropping another canister and running ahead, retrieving his gun from James. He held it out in front of him, poised to shoot. James led the huddle of children out into the corridor, and they followed obediently, filing into rows of two and walking with almost military precision. Clearly they’d had some sort of training while out in the Greaves; maybe they’d even believed that they were going to fight a war, until they’d ended up in the compound.

  They reached the staircase without running into any guards, but Cat knew their luck wouldn’t last. Sure enough, as they hurried the children up the narrow staircase, Cat heard gunshots from up ahead. Several of the children screamed and flinched. A waif of a girl with a swollen ankle whimpered, lagging behind.

  ‘It’ll be all right,’ Cat told her with an encouraging smile.

  They carried on up the staircase, reaching the ground floor. Here there were many bodies slumped unmoving in the hallway – and Fox stood over them, gun raised. The children all began to run, some of them stumbling as their tired legs refused to cooperate. There was no way to keep track of all of them, and Cat was somewhat glad they hadn’t done a count at the beginning; she was terrified the numbers wouldn’t match up by the time they reached the ship. Cat picked up the girl with the swollen ankle after she fell for the third time, urging her to climb on to her back. Waiting until the girl’s arms were firmly wrapped around her neck, Cat jogged behind the group, beaming when she saw the outer door in sight. At last, they burst out into the open air.