Heavenfall: Genviants Book 1

by Franklin, TG

  "Can you tell if Jonah's in the system yet?" She stopped her rummaging, stood behind him, and watched over his shoulder.

  "No. He'll be in total stealth mode, and even if I had a primo system, I wouldn't be able to tell."

  "But he can see you?"

  "If he's in the system, yeah. But I don't think he's hooked in yet."

  "You can't know for sure, so don't take any chances or waste a lot of time playing around in there."

  "Yes, ma'am. I'm just going to leave him a message." He slid into the system along the same path as the virus, treading lightly, and using a few subcommands he'd hidden in the virus' coding, made his way into the prison controls. His fingers itched to keep exploring, but he resisted the temptation, coded in the message, and backed out. "Done."

  She pulled the band out of her hair and shook it loose. "Now what?"

  "We wait."

  "How much time?" She walked into the front room.

  "Could be minutes. Could be hours. No way to tell." He grabbed the remote off the television and stretched out on the couch. "Let's check out the news. See what's happening out there."

  Ursula took the remote from him. "I'll check out the news. You need to change the code on the door." She clicked through the channels. "I doubt any of the guards will make it back here, but I don't want any surprises."

  "Sure. Only take a minute." He walked to the door and worked the panel off the lock. "What do you want me to change it to?"

  "Nothing as obvious as four ones."

  "How about Seven, three, nine, two?"

  "Works for me."

  He replaced the panel and went back to the couch. "Any updates? Has the president or Hadrian made any more announcements?"

  "Not that I can tell. They're doing reports real time from all over the world. Lots of looting and destruction. The interstates around Knoxville look like hell. Wrecks and fires everywhere. People are scared, and no one's following the president's instructions."

  "Television signals probably won't last much longer. Even if the network stations manage to stay on the air, the civil defense system broadcast will supersede them, and you can bet it won't show what's really happening."

  Ursula pulled her leg up under her and settled into the corner of the couch. "So, what made you decide to write a virus to infect Hadrian's system?"

  "Are you kidding? After I hacked in and got a feel for his system, it was the next step. The next high. Took me months. Spent every waking moment on it." He rubbed his eyes, an automatic reflex from remembering all those hours spent staring at the comp screen, and continued. "When I finished, I didn't know what to do with it. I knew somebody had to be working to take Hadrian down, so, I advertised it on the black market." He stretched and propped his feet on the coffee table. "A few days later, I had one suitcase full of money and another packed, ready to blow this town for greener pastures."

  "Are you nuts? Why would you leave the most protected place on the planet?"

  "Coding is kinda like a fingerprint. I knew if someone used the virus, it'd trace back to me, and hey, I didn't know about the deficiencies in the energy web at the time. Besides, I never got out the door. Stran showed up like five minutes before I was ready to leave."

  "Convenient."

  "I didn't think so then. I'd worked with the mech gangs before, supplying A mostly, but other stuff, too. Figured he was there with a requisition request."

  Ursula clicked to the next channel. "But he wasn't."

  "Oh, he had a proposition for me. Just not the one I expected." He kept his gaze on the screen, refusing to think about the way her thigh brushed against his, or how she looked utterly adorable, and just a little vulnerable, with her hair down. "Told me about the problem with the energy web, that he knew I'd created the virus, and that the plan to take Hadrian down was in place, but didn't give me any particulars. Figured they wanted me on tap in case they had glitches with the upload or whatever. Up until you pulled me from the diner, I'd thought only the gangs were involved."

  "Don't feel bad about being kept out of the loop. I don't know everyone who's involved, either."

  "Well, maybe you should have gone to more meetings."

  He never saw it coming.

  One second, he was grinning, and the next, Ursula had him pinned underneath her on couch with her forearm across his throat.

  Despite the pressure, he managed to take a shallow breath. "More foreplay?" he croaked.

  She lifted her arm and stroked her fingers over his cheek. "No." She grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled. "This is." Her lips crushed against his. Hot and wet and in total control.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Jonah rushed past Dex and through the door. He burst into the hallway, but stopped short when he saw one of the nurses floating mid-air in front of Corene. "What? How?" The shock left him unable to voice his thoughts.

  The nurse fell limp to the floor, and Michael stepped around her. "I'll explain later. Is David here?"

  "Yeah. Doc Ernst was working on David's arms. Should be done by now." Jonah couldn't take his gaze off Corene. "You were dead. I saw you, and you were dead."

  Stran stepped up and took hold of Corene's hand. "Tell him, Corrie."

  She nodded. "I asked Dex to let everyone think that I'd died. Don't blame him, though, he knew I'd be back. Anyway, I've got a little brother, Grady, and he's showing the first signs of brainwave transformation. My parents are totally into Brother Samuel's cult. Kept trying to exorcise the psychic ability out of me, then tried to beat it out of me. They took off on a pilgrimage to Samuel's compound ten days ago and took Grady with them. I had to try to save him. If he blasts, I know they'll kill him."

  Jonah turned to Dex, not Stran, for confirmation.

  "I knew she'd change her mind. I wouldn't have let her go, otherwise."

  She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I was on my way out of town when I heard Hadrian's speech, and I turned around. I realized the Dragons are my family, too, and I couldn't leave. At least not until I made sure you guys were safe."

  Michael added to Corene's defense. "She caught up with us on Norris Freeway. We were surrounded, by the military, the locals. Everybody wanted a piece of us thanks to Hadrian's little speech, but Corene used her telekinesis to get us out. I've never seen anything like it. Bodies, vehicles, even trees, flying everywhere. That's some freaky shit, right there. And, we managed to snag some weapons. We picked up some rifles and side arms, plus enough ammo to take out more than a few of Hadrian's security forces."

  "Good deal." Jonah smiled. "Odds are getting better by the minute. Now, all we need is to find David and get out of here."

  Dex reached down and helped the nurse stand. "Where's your break room? Vending machines?"

  The crowd closed in around them, and Jonah took a step back. "We don't have time for a snack."

  "Corene has to have the carbs." Dex glanced at the clock. "We've got roughly eight hours until the wave hits, and Corene's ability uses a lot of energy. She needs to recharge."

  She did look a little pale. A little shaky, and from Dex's pointed look, Jonah knew he'd end up the same way. "Okay. You guys grab whatever we can carry. I'll find David, and we'll meet out front."

  The nurse still had hold of Dex's hand. "Is it true?" she asked. "Do we really only have eight hours?"

  "Afraid so." He addressed the crowd. "Look, some of you know me. Know I worked for Hadrian. Believe me, the Dragons aren't the enemy here. Despite Hadrian's accusations, we didn't sabotage the energy web. It's never been fully functional."

  Still trembling, she pointed to his face. "We? But you don't have the tattoo."

  "Haven't earned it, yet."

  She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. "Follow me. I'll show you where the break room is, and a bank of vending machines." She let out a nervous laugh. "Go ahead and trash them. I've lost a lot of quarters in the candy machine."

  Jonah watched them walk away, knowing Dex would make sure she got all the money from the machi
nes. "Anybody with saddlebags on their bikes, go with Dex. Mike and Ella, you're with me. The rest of you, get out front and make sure nobody bothers the bikes until we get out of here."

  The crowd scattered, not bothering to follow any of the Dragons. Now that they'd learned their prep time was cut in half, it didn't look like any of them were interested in collecting the reward.

  Jonah turned to Ella. "We need to find David. You check the rooms down that hallway." He pointed left and turned in the opposite direction. "I'll check this one." Once Ella walked out of earshot, he pulled David to the side. "How was Mary when you left her?"

  "She blasted while we were running from Hadrian's goons. By the time we got out of there, she'd passed out and was still out cold when I left her with John. Sorry, man. Wish I could tell you more."

  "It's enough."

  Another crash echoed through the clinic. The noise brought more medical personnel out of their rooms, including Dr. Ernst with David a step behind him.

  "Looks like they found the vending machines." Jonah grinned. "Help them load up the food and get everyone out front as quickly as possible. We ride in ten."

  "What the hell is going on out here?" Dr. Ernst yelled.

  Jonah sprinted down the hall to them. "Shortened version, Doc. The Dragons are here. The wave's gonna hit in about eight hours. From here, we're heading to Palisade. Look, I hate to ask, but it's probably going to get messy, and we could use a doctor. Will you come with us?"

  "Field doctor? I don't have any experience."

  "None of us have experience, Doc." Jonah pointed to David's arms. "But we need more than a hot knife and gauze if we're going to get through this. Corene's already showing signs of fatigue from using her abilities. Right now, I'm the only person who can get the web to full power, and that scares the shit out of me. If I'm going to do this, I need your help."

  The doctor shoved his hands in the pockets of his lab coat and looked at the ceiling. "Damn it! I should go home to my family. Make sure they're safe. Then I can meet you at Palisade."

  "Don't you get it, Doc?" David grabbed the man's shoulder and forced eye contact. "Nobody will be safe if Jonah fails. Besides, six hours ago, it was like a war zone out there. Now? You'll be lucky to get a mile away from this place. You'll never make through to your family."

  "You've got three choices, Doc," Jonah added. "You can try traveling on your own, you can go with us, or you can stay here and watch the world end knowing you could've helped."

  Doctor Ernst went nose to nose with Jonah. "You should know I don't respond well to emotional blackmail."

  "How well do you respond to death?"

  "Damn it!" He stepped back, scrubbed a hand over his face. "Okay. Give me a few minutes to get a med kit together."

  "Great, and make sure to grab some energy boosters. We'll stow the stuff in David's saddle bags, and you'll ride with him."

  "David." Jonah stopped him from following the doctor to get the supplies. "How are your arms?"

  "Good to go, man."

  "Glad to hear it." He stepped a little closer. "I hate to do this, but I gotta give you the short version, too. Dex is with us. All the way. If he gives an order, you follow it. No argument."

  David bristled, muttered something under his breath, but finally nodded in agreement.

  "Corene's alive and here. She's got some freaky telekinetic power, so she'll be riding on Stran's bike up front with Dex, Michael, and some of the other guys. I know you'll want to be up there with them, but you've got to stay back and keep the doc safe. I wasn't blowing smoke when I said I needed him."

  "I think I'd be more useful on the front line. Let the doc ride with somebody else."

  "Don't you think I want to be up there with them, too? You think I want to ride protected while my friends, hell, even the squids, take damage for me?" He got in David's face. Let the full force of his frustration out. "But you know what? I can't. I've got to stay back. Let them clear the way so I can get to the comps. And if my new hardware goes bad, or I start to fry? Doctor Ernst is the only backup I've got."

  David held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Okay, man. I get it. I'll protect the doc."

  "Thanks. When you get the med supplies loaded, meet us out front."

  ***

  Jonah decided on the most direct route, straight down Oak Ridge Highway. Michael took point with Dex on one side and Stran and Corene on the other. They rode hard and fast down the four-lane, and the roar of over thirty motorcycles was sufficient to send the other vehicles traveling the road to the shoulder, or into oncoming traffic. Didn't matter. With Corene's help, the Dragons didn't need to slow down or stop.

  Until they reached Bethel Valley Road. All the street lights were out, but searchlights illuminated the intersection and swept perimeter. One armored vehicle with a machine gun mount guarded the road with sixteen or so soldiers flanking it. One of Hadrian's elite security guards stood front line with nothing more than a bull horn. "Persons unidentified, this is a restricted area. Turn around and continue to the nearest safe haven. This is the only warning you will receive."

  Michael leaned in to Corene, but Jonah couldn't hear their conversation. Corene pointed to the machine gun, nodded, and stood on the back pegs of Stran's bike.

  "Hold your fire," Michael yelled back. "Let us through. This is the only warning you will receive."

  The guy manning the machine gun smirked.

  The sneer lasted about five seconds, replaced by a surprise yelp. He pulled his hands away from the gun, shook them, and took a cautious step back.

  Jonah watched pandemonium break out through the formation as guns fell to the ground amid cursing and yelling. A blast from underneath the armored vehicle sent a shock wave through the soldiers, knocking them to the pavement. Shrapnel and glass erupted and embedded their sharp edges in flesh. Blood bloomed over the green fatigues. A grotesque rose garden where the thorns not only pricked, but killed. At first, he thought it was a grenade launch gone wrong. Even so, against the MRAP, a single grenade, or a dozen grenades, shouldn't have caused any damage. Those armored vehicles were built to repel blasts. But Michael nodded to Corene, a signal for her to stop, and Jonah realized she was responsible for everything, including the blast.

  Corene cleared a path, and the Dragons rode through the destruction. None of the surviving soldiers tried to stop them. Jonah slowed when he reached the vehicle and realized the blast hadn't come from ordinance. All four tires had exploded, and what metal remained had melted and looked like some kind of surreal sculpture. Curious, he sped up until he was rolling beside Corene. "I thought telekinesis was your deal. What the hell was that back there?"

  "An experiment. Telekinesis on a molecular level. Stran figured it out." She wrapped her arms around his waist. Gave him a hard squeeze. "Excite the molecules so it heats the metal, maybe melts it, and makes it so they can't use the guns—period. Even their side arms, bullets, belt buckles. Whatever. With the added bonus of a nasty burn, so less danger of hand-to-hand." She gave him a cheeky grin. "The tires were my idea, though."

  "Good one. The tires. Wow."

  "I know, right? My mom worked at a trucking company, and I remembered this time when I was there after school one day. The vending machines were in the bay, which probably held like six or so eighteen wheelers. I was about to go out there and get a Coke when this shop dude came into the offices and told everyone to stay put. They had a truck coming in, tires hot. I had a hissy fit, but mom wouldn't let me go. A few minutes later, I heard the explosion. And man, I did not expect the damage. I figured it'd be more like a blowout, you know? It rattled the whole building."

  "Yeah." He swerved to avoid a disoriented soldier. Poor guy. "Fantastic job. How do you feel?"

  "A little tired, but it's mostly from the ride here and having to direct the kinetic flow forward without it affecting the Dragons. Don't know if I'll be able to work the molecular every time, but it doesn't use as much psychic energy as making people and machinery fly." />
  "Grab some jerky, or a candy bar, or something. Charge back up. Those guys were the first line defense. Won't get any easier from here."

  Stran reached behind him with his left hand, rubbed Corene's calf. "All the more reason for you to get back there with David. We're getting close to the gate. Corene tries to melt that monster, it'll coat the road with hot metal and nobody will be able to get through."

  "More fire power, too." Michael added. "Bound to take some hits, but we'll make it."

  "What's the plan?"

  "Get through it alive."

  "That's not a plan."

  Michael shrugged. "It's the best we've got."

  Jonah let off the throttle and let the other riders pass him, but it still chaffed, staying back while everybody else took the risk.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Mary awoke in total darkness, with the scent of verdant earth filling her nostrils. The woods around her were too quiet. No sounds of nocturnal animals rustling through the underbrush. No birds chirping in the trees. No crickets. John leaned against a tree a couple of feet away from her feet. A glow stick illuminated the area around him, but she didn't see the other men who were supposed to lead them through the Devil's Footsteps.

  She licked her chapped lips and sat up. "How long have I been out, and where are our escorts?"

  "They're scouting ahead. Apparently, some survivalists are living in up here, and our guides are spreading word to everyone up here that we're coming through. Said people in these parts are real itchy about uninvited visitors. They should be back in a few. Said to wait." John pushed away from the tree. "You've been out about seven hours. Leaves us a little over eight hours to make it to Brushy Mountain, get in, get the codes, and then somehow get them to Jonah."