“What?”
A brilliant flash of white light blinded him.
“My eyes are burning...” He struggled to open them but couldn’t. When the aching abated he opened one eye and the other. His sight was hazy, but he could see Vern and Xoe had vanished. “What the hell?!”
“Gone, gone, gone! Half-breeds are gone,” Suchi said over the radio.
“Really? Tell me something I don’t know, like where they are! Idiots. Use your long-range scanners to track them. They’ll be with a third half-breed, one with an unusual signature,” he said, remembering what he saw when the missiles failed to hit the building earlier.
“Rightooo!” Suchi said.
Peter stretched his muscles. They won’t get away, if I can get rid of those two maybe I can save myself from the mayor. I’ll tell him my men killed them before I recognized them. He knows how my memory is.
“Got ’em!” Suchi said. “Gonzalez is headed due west on Main Street. They’re movin’ fast!”
“Well get on it.” He turned to the half-breed headquarters. “At least with them gone we can exterminate... No way. I don’t believe it!”
“Sir?”
“They’re all gone!” the Executor exclaimed. “All the half-breeds in that building are gone!”
“We were distracted. So sorry! So sorry, sir!” Suchi said.
“I know that! I just don’t understand how we didn’t notice...” the Executor fumed.
That flash earlier… it was him. He snuck them out right in front of me.
“Our guns are runnin’ out of demon juice, sir, sir! Time to refuel, yes?”
“No! Councilor, I’m ordering you to pursue them and kill them. They’re highly dangerous and cannot be left alive.”
“I might be speedin’ myself right now, but we should refuel, sir, sir! It’s too risky!”
“The next thing I want to see are my men flying after those half-breeds per your orders, or you will find a bullet in your head,” the Executor said between clenched teeth.
The men sailed off to the west.
“We’ll get those bastards,” the Executor followed.
Chapter 46
Drean was a white blur as he bounded over traffic and pedestrians. In his right arm he held Xoe. Vern was slung over his back.
They’re catching up. They’re too fast for me. Drean huffed. Or maybe I’m just slowing down. His body ached from fatigue. I had no idea that teleporting those half-breeds to the mansion would be so taxing.
Xoe stirred under his arm.
“Hey! Where do you think you’re taking me?!” She squirmed to free herself and looked up at Drean. “Oh! Hi, Drean,” she smiled broadly at him, “I didn’t realize it was you.”
“It’s fine. Stay still,” Drean said. “I’m tiring.”
“Can’t you fly, or teleport? Or something?” she asked.
“I would but my Inner is nearly depleted!”
He leapt over an incoming eighteen-wheeler.
Xoe shrieked at the unexpected ascent into the air.
“Wow! Nice jump,” Xoe said, when they landed.
“I really hate those large trucks,” he said. He glanced over his shoulder. Soldiers flew overhead. “They’ve caught up.”
“Fight them! You can take them!” Xoe said.
“No,” Drean breathed. “Not all of them and not in this state.”
“I wonder why they’re not firing yet,” Xoe said.
“The people. They don’t want to endanger them,” Drean said.
“Oh right! You’re smart,” Xoe said with a smile. A crowd of pedestrians crossed the street in front of them. “Watch out!”
Drean made a quick dodge to his right and knocked a few over instead of the whole group.
“You really are getting tired aren’t you?” Xoe asked.
“Yeah. I didn’t even see those humans ahead of me,” Drean admitted. “What about you? Do you have any Inner left?”
“Not enough to make a difference,” Xoe said.
“Rest then,” Drean told her. “You may be needed soon. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”
“I’ll try, Thanks for saving us, Drean.” Xoe closed her eyes and tried to meditate.
We’re not in a safe haven yet, Drean frowned at the men above him.
“This coyote’s caught his roadrunner, sir!” Suchi said.
“Take them out,” the Executor replied. “I’ll be at the front soon.”
“We can’t, sir, sir!” Suchi said.
“Why not?!”
“Bystanders.”
“Use homing bullets then!” the Executor said. “Just be careful.”
“They use much energy!” Suchi protested.
“Just do it,” the Executor ordered. “I’m aware we’re runnin’ on empty.”
“Yes, sir! Our executor wants our bullets to taste the rainbow. Use homers! Fire at will!” Suchi said.
Arrows on his screen pointed to the left, right and above him.
“What the hell, more of them?” Peter said.
“Herrero! Surrender and I may let you live!” He recognized Feit’s voice above him, but he could not see her.
He glanced to his left and right and saw skia jump from building to building. He looked above and while he could not see the skia physically, his screen showed numerous dark blue auras. They were completely surrounded.
Several of his men had already turned to fire on them. Homing bullets tore through skia after skia.
“Soldiers 2 through 27 attack these new threats. The rest of us will pursue the angel.”
He watched the soldiers engage them. Skia on the rooftops took flight to aid their comrades and caught some of the soldiers off guard. The homing bullets made quick work of them though. Peter smiled and focused on Drean.
Drean heard gunshots and moved Vern from his back to beneath his right arm. He cried out when the volley of bullets struck his back.
Drean caught sight of a highway I-70 sign in the distance.
I’ll have to get on the highway soon, Drean thought, half elated and half terrified. Then they’ll start using those rockets.
He glanced at Xoe.
“How are you doing down there?”
She didn’t answer.
I hope that means she’s gathering up some Inner, he looked at Vern. She’s been out for a while too. I wonder if she’s meditating as well.
“Drean,” Vern breathed.
“Yes? You’re her mother?” Drean asked.
“Yes, but we’ll talk formally later,” she said in a raspy voice. “I have a gift for you.”
“A what?” He felt Vern’s weight get heavier.
“No! Stay with me!” He felt a great surge of energy enter him. Wounds on his back closed up and healed. The next volley of bullets bounced off of him. He transferred a small portion of Inner back to Vern. She felt him move under his arm.
“No. Keep all of it.” She struggled with her words. “I’m finished.”
“No you’re not,” Drean told her. “I’m getting you back, alive.”
“Thank you, Drean,” she said.
“Try to relax.” Drean glanced behind him and saw the Executor and his pack of soldiers.
“Yes. I’ll get you. Whoever you are,” the Executor said to Drean when he saw him look back. “Captain,” the Executor said.
“Sir, sir!” the captain answered.
“Take half of the men several miles ahead on the highway,” the Executor ordered. Set up a trap for our friend here.”
“A gooood idea, sir, sir!”
Suchi did what he was told.
“How are they still moving faster than me?” Drean stared at them as they flew off into the distance. “No matter, I have more than enough Inner to protect myself.” Drean realized he was out on open highway.
“Oh no.”
“Fire phase rockets,” the Executor said.
Rockets zoned in on Drean’s Inner signature.
Drean threw Vern back over his s
houlder. He looked over it at the cloud of rockets coming for him and took aim at one in the middle. He concentrated Inner into his right hand, which burned with a white flame as it gathered. He fired a blast of energy behind him into the cluster of missiles but missed his intended target.
“I’ve failed them...”
Some of the rockets near the cluster’s rear turned and followed his bolt of Inner into the sky.
“No. I haven’t failed yet.”
He fired bolts at the rockets and more of them pulled away to follow the decoy Inner signatures.
“Brace yourselves,” he told Vern and Xoe, even though he was unsure they were even listening.
The remaining rockets closed in.
Drean closed his eyes and prepared himself for the explosion.
“We’ve got them,” the Executor grinned. “Surround them when they stop moving, men,” he said as the rockets collided with Drean and exploded.
Drean went deaf.
Am I dead? Drean stopped running and opened his eyes. All he saw was green.
“Keep moving!” Xoe yelled at his side. “The shield won’t last long!”
“Right!” Drean sprinted down the highway. A few moments later the shield went down.
“Son of a bitch! Fire more! Don’t unphase them until they’re touching their skin!” the Executor ordered.
None of the men complied.
“Why are none of you firing?!” the Executor screamed.
“Sir,” one said, “our computers are deeming our rockets ineffective against that shield. It’s preventing us from using them to conserve energy.”
“Damn this technology!” the Executor said. “Men continue pursuit until I think of something.”
“New Inner application available,” his helmet’s computer said.
“Description.” The Executor smirked.
An animation of a featureless humanoid appeared on the screen with one of its hands pointed straight out. A ball of energy gathered in its hand. The energy was released in a beam.
“Prisma wave,” the computer said. “The rifle will converge different Inner frequencies to release a single penetrating blast of energy. Highly damaging and energy consuming. Effective against energy shields.”
The Executor laughed with glee. “Men when I give the word fire prisma waves at the runner.” Peter magnified the road ahead of them and saw the captain and his men blockade it.
“You’re mine now,” he said.
Drean spotted Suchi and the soldiers as well.
Drean glanced down the south side of the highway.
“We’ve still got a long run ahead of us,” Drean said.
“What?” Xoe asked.
“We have to make it to the white desert.”
“You mean the monument? Is that where we will be safe?”
“I hope.”
“Suchi,” Peter said.
“Sir, sir!”
“They’re going to the White Sand National Monument. Head that way and set your trap there.”
“Wily will be proud, sir, sir! Today we roast the roadrunner! Today we make history!”
Peter grinned.
“Second most intelligent thing the man has ever said. Maybe there’s hope for him yet.”
In minutes they reached the monument’s turn. Drean tried his best to remember where the mansion was. Drean stared into the space where he thought the house should be and cleared his mind. “It has to be there...” He squinted against the glare of the sunlight.
Gri’s enormous mansion came into view on the horizon.
“Yes!” Drean laughed and ran off the road in the direction of the house.
“Suchi, he’s left the road,” Peter said. “I’m sending his new trajectory to you now.”
“Got it, sir,” Suchi answered. “Rockets are intercepting Mr. Gonzalez underground.”
“Good work,” Peter said. “Remind me to suggest a mobile phase mine idea to our techs after this. Also, remind me to increase your salary.”
“Sir, sir!”
“Stop calling me that...” Peter shook his head.
On his screen the Executor could see the position of Drean, his men and the phase rockets.
“The soldiers with me, listen up,” he said. “Stop here for a moment. Cease all movement. Draw a bead on the runner and wait for my mark.” The Executor and his men hovered in the air.
Drean looked over his shoulder at them. “They’re giving up!” He laughed and ran with renewed vigor.
He looked ahead and saw Suchi and the soldiers. He moved Vern underneath his arm.
“They can’t stop me now. The mansion is ahead.”
Suchi watched Drean on his screen and paid close attention to his speed to estimate a detonation time for the rockets.
“Prepare for unphasing!” he said.
“I’m shielding us,” Xoe said. “They’re up to something. Keep running.” The familiar green of the shield obscured Drean’s vision.
“Fire now,” the Executor said as he took aim and fired himself.
After a few beam impacts the shield protecting Drean dissolved and the rest seared Drean’s back. He lost grip of Vern and Xoe before he tumbled through the sand and came to a halt.
Xoe managed to roll on the sand instead of hitting it directly but her unconscious mother fell heavily.
“Blow ’em! Blow ’em!” Suchi whispered.
Drean was consumed in an explosion of sand and fire.
Chapter 47
Drean’s aura faded on Peter’s computer screen.
He cheered. His men echoed him. The Executor’s face darkened when a red arrow on his screen directed his attention back to the cloud of debris.
Drean’s aura had returned. It was dim but indicated he had survived.
Peter held up a hand. His men quieted. The cloud of dust cleared.
The angel’s clothes were tattered, and his hair was all but singed away. Blisters covered his back. Blood seeped out of unseen wounds on the front of his body and pooled around him. With ragged labored breaths he dug into the sand, as if in search of something.
Peter saw all of this and felt a small pang of regret but only momentarily.
“Captain, take those other two half-breeds and set up a firing squad to dispose of them. The rest of you set up a perimeter around this area.”
“Right away, sir, sir!” Suchi said.
The men closest to Vern and Xoe picked them up and carried them some distance away to set up the firing line.
“Mom! Mom! Wake up!” Xoe yelled. She struggled to free herself. “Let me go!”
She concentrated the minute amount of Inner she had left and threw her arms outward. Sand rose up and buried those that held them. Xoe grabbed her mom and tried to drag her to her feet before the soldiers could recover.
“Suchi!” Peter yelled into his helmet.
The councilor was already on his feet. “Don’t worry, sir,” he said as he took aim. “She’s not getting away.”
He fired a prisma beam at her legs. Xoe saw the beam coming and shielded herself. The white-hot beam shattered her shield, and she crumpled to the ground. Suchi flew over and collected her from the sand.
“No,” Drean said. He struggled to get up but couldn’t even begin to stand.
Peter walked over to him and knelt down beside his face.
“Who are you? You’re no ordinary half-breed, that’s for sure.”
“I’m no half-breed,” Drean tried to lift his head to make eye contact with the Executor.
“You’re respectful and courteous. I’ll give you that.” The Executor roughly turned Drean over and gasped at his charred body. Pieces of bone were visible in several places. Blood flowed freely.
“How, how are you still alive?” The Executor gathered himself. “What are you?”
“Angel,” Drean managed.
“Ahh. The angel that everyone has been buzzing about. So, why are you here? To lead the half-breeds to a decisive victory over us inferior humans?” the Exe
cutor asked. “With God behind you?” Peter said with contempt.
“No,” Drean wheezed.
The Executor leaned toward him. “I will never bow down to anything that resembles a half-breed. No demon, angel or anything in-between!”
“No, save... save,” Drean cried.
“Save? Who?” The Executor guffawed. “You’re in no position to save anyone.”
“Save, save... save,”
High above him dark clouded the clear blue sky in seconds. It drizzled. Cold wind buffeted the sand, lifting it into the air around them.
“Are you sure you’re an angel?” The Executor scrutinized him with every scanner his system possessed. “You have no wings that I can see on any of these frequencies.”
“Wings. My wings?” Drean asked.
“Yes,” Peter said. “Why don’t you have any wings?”
“Father, where are my wings?” Drean asked.
“A wingless angel.” The Executor laughed at his own joke. “Even fallen angels have wings. What does that make you?”
“Where are my wings?” Drean asked. His voice gained strength.
Lightning struck the ground behind the perimeter of the soldiers. Peter jumped.
What the hell? He looked around. Where did this weather come from?
“Sir, his aura. Check it out,” Suchi asked.
The Executor switched to his aura scanner. Drean’s aura was no longer prismatic. It was an opaque black.
“It’s completely changed.”
“And, sir...” the councilor said, “I didn’t recognize these two until now. But, now that I’ve sobered up... It’s Michael’s family, Peter.”
“His family?”
“Yes sir. We can’t kill them. He’ll put us away forever for this.”
The Executor glanced up at the firing line. Xoe and Vern were conscious. Vern held her daughter, who sobbed. She looked from the men, to Drean and finally at Peter.
She hates me so much. Good. They deserve what’s coming to them. Still they both look so familiar.
“It can’t be them, Suchi. I would recognize them.”
“Sir, it is them. I have to advise against this.”
“Suchi. Do it. Or join them.”
“Yes sir.”
“Are you ready to watch your friends die?” Peter asked.
A low growl came from Drean’s throat. The air’s temperature dropped drastically. Snow fell from the sky. Sand around Drean’s body froze.
From Heaven To Earth (The Faith of the Fallen) Page 35
