I narrowed my eyes stubbornly. “I wouldn't know. As I said, painkillers mess me up.”
“Faker,” she mouthed at me. “We’ll get the truth out of you yet. Ah, there’s the kit.”
I’m not sure where it came from, but it seemed to pop out of thin air. Then I saw a conveyor-like system built into the wall to deliver orders. Argon tossed it to her and she unfolded it. She tucked her hair back and pulled on rubber gloves. “So there’s the leg wound, and is there anything else? Where are the burns?”
“Where aren't they?” I muttered. I held up my hands and rolled the other pant leg up so my feet and knee caps were accessible. Argon leaned over with an incredulous expression. McRattin studied me like one would a prized horse that may or may not need to be shot.
I ground my teeth together when she poured the solution over the scalded skin. It stung like hell and then it was over. The new skin was tinged ever so slightly blue, but I didn’t care. I looked at them astoundedly. “Now I know where all the drug companies send their best inventions. The underground rarely sees this kind of stuff it’s so closely guarded. Then again with Antigo infiltrating every bloody institution-”
“So you do know him?”
I looked at Rig and he seemed sorry to have asked at all. I answered, “He’s a nasty piece of work, but he has his uses.”
“You worked with him?”
“Once upon a time,” I snorted. “But I was too good for him to effectively control. He tried to take me out. He wasn't happy when he had to fish three of his best out of the river.”
I eyed the enormous magnet Ray was calibrating. This was going to hurt big time. But I refused to show weakness. I wouldn't make a sound or even make a whisper of an expression.
“Hey, Sierrenna,” Argon called, distracting me. “You’re a hottie. Did you know that?”
I was stunned. “Come again?”
Too late I realized what he was trying to do. The second I looked at him, Ray activated the magnets. I clamped my teeth together as the metal began to move. But even that wasn’t enough. Cutting it out with a pocket knife would have been less painful. I barely kept from crying out. I stared straight ahead of me which unfortunately made me stare at McRattin. All of my muscles locked in place so tight that I could hardly breathe. I couldn't stop my eyes from watering.
Then it was over and Ray was pouring more of the magic stuff over the wounds. Stinging was better than the flesh-tearing agony. I took a deep breath and looked down, now fully out of pain. My leg was tinged bright blue. “I’m not going to be a smurf forever, am I?”
“No, that wears off,” Rig said, looking impressed. “Otherwise Cain would be a shoe in with the Blue Man Group. He has a bad habit of getting himself shot up for other’s expense.”
“This repairs the muscle?” Ray nodded in reply. “That solves the walking problem. Though if we can manage to find some, camels are the best way to travel out in the desert-”
“We dug up some old gasoline and diesel engine motorcycles,” Rig said. “It’s the GPS navigation and hydrators that will stop working.”
I wrinkled my nose in distaste. “Oh.”
“Is that a problem?” McRattin intoned grouchily.
“No, I just hate transport vehicles and for the same reason I hate guns.” Everyone shot me a confused glance. “There’s room to malfunction. But with a horse or blade work, you have to have skill. If you lose control, you have somehow failed.”
“And guns don’t take skill?”
I heard the menace in that question. It was loaded. “Of course. But it doesn't take nearly as long as becoming proficient in Kenjutsu blade work. You’re not presented with your weapons until you are fully trained. Then we become full members of the order-”
“Which you were cast out of.”
“I left. I was not cast out,” I snarled back at Cain. “There’s a big difference.”
They didn’t need to know that I was still part of the order on a discrete basis. I was the one who had started the rumor I had been cast out. If I was ever caught, that would make sure my people were not put under scrutiny. Argon broke the awkward pause as McRattin and I glared at each other. “So how long does it take to train?”
“It depends on the person, but for me it was twelve years because I chose the twin blade forms over the other combat styles. Speaking of which, you’d better have those for me. Without those, no deal.”
“You’re in no position to bargain.”
“No deal,” I snapped irately, launching to my feet and coming nose to nose with the general. “I take to being swindled just as well as I do being shot at it!”
“Chill, woman,” Argon said, sounding bored. “Can't you just get another set?”
“No,” I growled, not breaking my eye contact with McRattin. “Those were forged especially for me; tailor made for my fighting styles and measurements. If I don’t get those, there will be hell to pay…”
Cain stared down at me coldly, impassive. I mirrored his posture, just a tad more aggressive. I stood just about as tall as he did, so it wasn't hard. Finally he shrugged. “Whatever. If you become trouble, they won’t shield you from a bullet to the head, so I’m not fussed.”
The unnamed nasty one laughed. “That’s right.”
“And I wouldn’t suggest you threaten me,” McRattin drawled. “You’re under my orders, so get used to standing down-”
“Just give me my stuff and I’ll get out of your face. I like you just about as much as you like me, McRatty,” I said, turning away. ”We’re just about even anyway. I let you live. You let me live. Let bygones be bygones.”
“So we’re onto pet names now, eh princess?”
“Hardly. If I were to give you a name it would be-” I chuckled and then hissed something so very inflammatory in my native language that my master back in MoiRai would have thrown a fit if he’d overheard it. As it was, I won't translate it. His eyebrows rose and he opened his mouth with another insult waiting on his lips. So imagine our surprise when Argon roared laughing.
“Oh, that is too good,” he chortled. “Wow. I’m impressed, Sierrenna. I would never have guessed you had it in you.”
I stared. He clearly knew that I had just called McRattin an explicit male genitalia.
“You speak it?” I asked skeptically in my native tongue.
“Yes,” he replied back, too in the tongue. “My mother’s aunt taught me. Anyway, I would lay off Cain. He doesn't do well with being challenged, and you don't want him to be an enemy. Plus, if I am correct, in the MoiRaine custom, age is an important factor in deciding who leads. He does outrank you.”
“No he doesn’t.”
He cocked his head. “You cannot possibly be over age twenty two.”
“I outstrip him by four years if not more. But,” I said switching back to English and turning back to the party in question. “We need to settle this. With mutual respect between-”
“I have no respect for you,” McRattin sneered. “You sneak around in the dead of night doing your dirty deeds. If you weren’t a coward, you would come out and face these people on the streets or on the field of battle like we do on a daily basis.”
I took a step back. He had no idea what he was talking about, but that one still hurt. I steeled myself and poked him in the chest. “I don’t need your respect. I have been to battle with nothing more than the blades on my back to protect my people. I marched against men like you who have more firepower and bigger weapons with nothing but my own wits to protect me. And you know what? I still came out alive. I win; they lose. What does that tell you about me?”
I turned away. “I don't want your respect. But in all truthfulness, I do respect you.”
This shocked him. “You do?”
“You went into a burning building to save a young girl a few weeks ago with nothing other than your hands. I respect you,” I repeated. “But you should know that the insurance money that came out of that building's collapse was paid in full to your dear Senator Jennings. And the arsonist
he paid to set the blaze, who was prepared to shoot you in the back to make his own escape, is lying dead in the ashes… by my hand.”
I snatched my clothes and blades from the bench next to him with a snap and stared him straight in the eyes. “Think about that.”
Chapter Seven: 06:18:37:43 to potential nuclear explosion
It had been twenty four hours since our argument.
We were still rolling across the desert in the tank, trying to cover as much ground as we could before we hit the dead zone from the nuke. They had yet to seek my counsel so I stayed in a meditative state. When I wasn’t doing that, I was sharpening my swords. Staying around such a large group of people was setting me on edge. I needed to be ready. I knew the sounds of the grating metal traveling through the door. Anyone outside would hear and knew just what would be waiting for them if they made a move on me.
I hadn't spoken to anyone since leaving McRattin to stew. I had found a forgotten utility room and stayed in it. Only Argon periodically peeked in to drop off my rations and make sure I hadn’t run off. I imagined his arrogant boss had sent him.
I hated the way the floor continually jolted and whined, giving in from the dunes we were now going up and down. Every creak and bang had me jumping. I felt like a sardine in a metal can. The ‘can’ was somewhat akin to a barrack, complete with a small kitchen and rows of bunk beds in a few rooms for the soldiers. It reminded me unpleasantly of the inside of a submarine but much larger.
I felt the floor beneath me jolt and groan about twelve seconds into the twenty fourth-hour. My eyes flashed open as the lights flickered and died. I shook my head. Fifty mile radius from the bomb reached. The vehicle was now subject to the nuke’s energy-draining EMP abilities and could go no further.
People clearly weren't used to the darkness as I padded soundlessly through the narrow halls. Their voices were higher pitched and unnerved sounding. Kerosene lanterns were slowly flickering to life. Nobody noticed me as I travelled. I was used to darkness. Gloom was more comfortable for me anyway.
When I reached the exit, I jumped out the back and strode toward the bizarre-looking piece of equipment the ‘hierarchy’ stood huddled around. I realized a few seconds it was sonar. The eerie sound it radiated pierced the desert calm. Dusk wasn’t far off. The sky was starting to turn a milky shade of pink with the sunset. Looking back the way we had come, I had to guess that we were about a hundred miles outside of Nacin.
McRattin eyed me up and down and then went back to what he was doing. I ignored him and went to stand on the edge of the dune we were perched on. It was over twenty feet high.
“General,” I called, looking back. He ignored me, but I knew he could hear my call. Argon’s head turned to look at me. “This dune will sink the vehicle down by the dawn. We need to move it.”
“The power is dead,” the general said, still not looking up. “No way to move it.”
“Obviously! But you can roll it down if you undo the emergency brakes,” I said, fighting to remain calm against his pigheadedness. “No one will ever find it if it sinks down. Maybe in a hundred years someone’ll dig it up and junk it.”
“Point taken,” Argon said, casting his friend a dirty look. “I’ll pass it on to the driver. Now as for-”
The sonar stopped and beeped. Rat-puss pointed at an unknown blip on the screen. “It’s to the northwest. We’ll depart in the morning.”
I rolled my eyes. At least he had some sense. Night was when all of the worst predators came out. Not to mention the temperatures would plummet quickly.
“Won't we lose time?” Argon asked.
I opened my mouth to speak, but McRattin got to it first. “We’re not prepared for the terrain out here at night. As tootsie lou was probably going to point out,” he said, casting me a bored, sidelong glance, “All the fun things like scorpions, rattlers, and coyotes come out at night.”
“You forgot the sand lions,” I added. “They won’t hesitate to attack if they think they’ll get an easy meal. The coyotes are harmless unless you wander out alone. They don't go near large groups, especially if they smell fire.”
“Damn. If the radiation doesn't kill us, the creatures will,” Argon said, shuddering. “Why did you talk me into going on this one, Cain? You’re the suicidal idiot, not me! I could be home in bed with a good woman.”
“Aw, I’m sorry. Would you like me to tuck you in and sing you a lullaby? Cuddle up to you real good tonight?” he snorted with a roguish grin.
“If I had the choice, I’d rather the sword-wielding draga. I’ll take my chances with her,” he replied, winking at me. “Then again you are so very pretty, Cain. Make love to me. I’m ready.”
I rolled my eyes. The brotherly bond between these two was nauseating. I decided to interrupt before things got ugly to listen to. “What are our coordinates?”
Both set of eyes swiveled toward me. Cain replied, the frost returning to his eyes. “41.5000° north, 73.4600° west.”
That was a good omen. I was familiar with this area. In fact, there was an oasis to get water less than a mile away. ”I know a place not far from here. We can store up our reserves if we go-”
“Thank you. Your opinions will be sought later when they are needed,” he replied.
I could read between the lines. I could hear the words ‘and not before’ intoned. I crossed my arms. “I think it would be wise to consider-”
Cain shot me a glare that clearly told me to go drop dead. I shook my head angrily. “Arrogant jackass,” I snapped under my breath. “Fools!”
Well, he could make the stupid decision but I didn't need to. I jumped down, slid to the bottom of the dune and kept walking. If I wanted fresh water, there wasn't much they could do to stop me. I could hear them shouting something after me but I didn’t care. They wouldn’t shoot me. They needed me too much. And if they had any sense, they’d find out where I was going and partake themselves. I ran among the shadows of the dunes, heading east. Within ten minutes, I was there.
Hidden behind a thick cover of vines covering an abandoned stone wall lay the hidden oasis. It was as pure as the day I had discovered it fifteen years ago. The sparkling aquamarine water was cool from the underground spring. I dipped my hands in and took a drink. Delicious. The others didn’t know what they were missing.
I made a snap decision to cool off. Who knew the next time I would have opportunity to bathe? I was eager to wash the dried blood from my limbs. I stripped off my clothes, lay them on the edge and waded in. I sighed as I floated to the center and dove under.
This was paradise. I laughed as I broke the surface. I hated the city. Being back in nature away from the evils of civilization felt right. The warm desert wind blowing over my shoulders was a greeting from an old friend. It contrasted sharply with the cool, peaceful wind from the mountains of MoiRai, but it was still better than the dead, flat air of the city.
I dove under again, enjoying the weightless feel of the liquid. I swam several laps before floating in the very center, looking up at the changing sky. It was so close that I felt like I could reach up and touch the colors of the sky. I had always loved nature’s paintings just the way they were. Humanity didn't need to build structures to touch the sky.
The people of this planet were fools. If they hadn’t been so cocky and sure of themselves, earth would have remained as God had created it. A mile back, right where the vehicle was, there had once been a giant lake. It dried up long ago. Much like it, the oceans had almost disappeared and most land mammals that had been saved were in zoos. In this day anf age, the water the cities drank came from aquifers deep within the earth.
Nacin sat on the ruins of New York City. The twenty or so other bubbles with other cities around the world lay on the major cities from the past as well. Only we desert people had remained outside of the force fields. The mountains that sheltered the MoiRai sanctuary had remained the same. We hadn’t been forced to change. We remained sequestered from the rest of the globe just as we always had b
een, keeping an ear out to assist those in need.
I had been one of those in need when I was seven. I had broken free from the shackles Tiranshyck had placed on me and I fled. Master had found me hiding under a cart in a town at the base of the mountains. I had been running for days and was basically no more than a walking corpse. He had kindly brought me to the shelter. And, in time, I chose to stay, learned the sacred arts, and earned my blades.
Most people knew little of our nation. We weren’t even so much a nation as most people considered it. There was no one given nationality or race prevailing. The few founders of the village had been merely seeking to preserve the ancient arts two hundred years ago when they built the temple. They had never intended to build a town. People had come to join them and then settled around the monastery, opting to move to the mountains instead of the city when the great ozone crisis of the sun came. And as the people multiplied, our traditions became as they are today.
I had to worry now, thinking of them. I had to get to the nuke and get rid of it fast. My home was at risk in this every bit as much as the city of Nacin considering how large the blast radius was. I just hoped that the bomb didn’t explode before they had projected. We were running on a tight deadline here that might have been overshooting just how much time we really had. And if we failed, everything held dear to my heart would be gone.
“Well… this is quite the view.”
I sank beneath the water quickly as Argon’s voice floated across the pool. I nearly dunked beneath the surface in shock. He was standing on the edge at the entrance. I glared at him as I knew exactly what he had meant by the view. Nudity normally wasn't a bother for me. I never had an audience. But I now felt my cheeks burning, though he wouldn't see it across my tawny skin.
He smirked. “Nice place. Not very charitable keeping it all to yourself.”
“I tried to tell you,” I replied, treading water. “But ‘general quack head’ wouldn't listen!”
“Yes, ‘ol’ quackers’ sent me to find you. He wasn't happy when you trotted off. You’re on his watch, so he was pretty infuriated.”
War Machine: Book One in the Destiny In the Shadows Series Page 8
