by John Walker
“Keep trying to reach them.” Zem paused as Biggun crawled to his feet. The man scowled at him, wearing a dangerous expression. “Sit your ass back down. Right now.” He secured the man to the chair. “Until we’re done with this, you can be locked down. I don’t need you causing trouble.”
“What if I get shot? Move me to some cover, man!”
“No one’s coming in here so be quiet.” Zem moved to the hall. “Keep an eye out for him, Torrence! I’ll be right back.” He stepped out, finding McCully and Nostros leaning out to lay down heavy fire in the hallway. They faded back to cover as a barrage of at least five guns blasted the wall, turning the air into sparks. “How many can there possibly be?”
“A lot,” McCully said. Off in the distance, turrets opened up again. This time, they had to be shooting at the vehicles approaching the front gate. Unlike the regular small arms, they let off a high-pitched sound when they deployed, echoing all around the area. These added to the ones shooting at the yacht, plunging the compound into a real state of conflict.
“Nostros,” Zem said, “loop around. Flank them. McCully, keep firing even if you just poke your gun around. We’ll make them think there are two of us still.” He replaced the lieutenant at the position, blind firing a couple times. “Make it fast though. They should’ve charged by now. Eventually, they’ll figure that out.”
“Got it.” Nostros hustled away.
“You sure that was the right choice?” McCully joined him in providing suppressive fire. “I haven’t worked with him before to know whether or not he should be off on his own.”
“He’s a marine lieutenant,” Zem said, jerking back as one of the enemies nearly got his gun. “If he can’t do this, he should’ve bowed out when I invited him along. But I’ve seen him operate. He’s not bad at this.”
“The yacht’s coming down,” Torrence shouted. “It’ll hit… oh, probably a hundred yards from the wall. Just north of the nearest landing pad. I’m amazed they came back this way.”
I’m shocked it won’t crash into this building. Zem felt like they were experiencing some bad luck. The return of the ground vehicles, all the men they didn’t know about. I’d like to know why the scans weren’t accurate. He had several items to go over in a postmortem… if they made it that far.
They started with the initiative, but he felt like they lost at some point. Standing at the end of the hall, blindly firing in hopes they’d hold back the tide of pirates contributed to the sensation. It would only get worse if Nostros’s flanking attack didn’t work. It has to work. Or we’re hiding in the damn control room.
Their opponents started aiming better, blasting the wall where they’d taken cover. They littered the corner with so much fire, it became hazardous to even stand close to it. Zem drew out a couple grenades. “If they start moving, when we see, we’ll be chucking these. Nostros, how close are you? They’re taking the advantage.”
“I’m almost there,” Nostros said, “opening fire!”
“Flank!” A pirate shouted. Three started charging down the hall. Zem tossed the first grenade. McCully prepped one, cooking it for a couple seconds before tossing it. The resulting explosions went off, likely before the targets got too close but it gave them pause… one long enough to take a risk.
Zem peeked around with his weapon at the ready. He shot at a man about midway down the way leaning against the wall. The blast struck the ground inches from the man’s foot. I wanted the leg. He redirected but the target threw himself to the opposite side of the hall before returning fire.
As Zem fell back, McCully tossed two more grenades. A scream followed the pop, the kind of agonizing sound that accompanied every battle eventually. Heavy footsteps barreled down on them.
McCully grabbed Zem, dragging him to the ground as a man spun around the corner, firing high. She put two in his gut. Zem finished him off with a blast to the face. They backed away, moving toward the control center. They had seconds to get there before their position was overrun.
“Nostros,” Zem said, “you’re about to be on your own for a minute. I hope you’ve got this. We’ll catch up ASAP.” He tapped McCully. “Come on, we need to regroup.”
***
Torrence checked Biggun before turning back to the screen. The yacht would touch down in less than a minute. She wondered whether it would survive or explode. It all depended on luck for the people aboard.
How would the generators react to the impact? Or the ether, for that matter?
She tried to reach out to them again, another quick communication telling them to hit their maneuvering thrusters… anything to slow their descent. As she watched, orange flames burst from the bottom, a quick, boost that may have saved some lives. When they hit, it wouldn’t quite be as catastrophic.
Hopefully.
Strong hands grabbed her shoulders, tossing her away from the console. She slammed into the railing of the dais, pain dancing up her back.
Biggun came after her, throwing a kick. Torrence rolled away as he slammed his foot into the stair. She retaliated with a quick backhand, connecting with his cheek. The man smiled, spat blood on the floor, then barreled into her.
He struggled to get his hands around her throat. She fended him off with her left hand, reaching for her pistol with the right. It wasn’t close enough with the way he pressed against her but as her fingers kissed her combat blade, she gripped the handle tightly. Sliding it out proved difficult, especially with him pressed against her.
“What… the hell…?” Torrence grunted, hoping she might get him talking, gloating, anything to allow her a moment to breathe. “We had… a… deal you… piece… of shit!”
“Shut up and die already, bitch.” Biggun looked her in the eye, smiling as he used all his weight to keep her pinned. His fingers touched the sides of her neck. The blade came free. She turned it, pressing it against his side. “What?!”
Biggun’s eyes widened, the perverted look of glee melted. He shifted himself away from being stabbed even as she poked him. Shoving her away, he tried to withdraw. As Torrence stumbled, she threw a wild swing with the blade in his direction. It met some resistance, a temporary state before coming free again.
The cut accompanied a scream. Torrence came back around. Blood soaked the man’s face from a nasty cut just above his eyes. He pressed a hand against it, moaning like an injured animal. As he came toward her, she tossed the knife and drew her pistol. He proved much faster than anticipated, knocking the barrel aside just as she fired.
Biggun threw a punch. Torrence dropped below it, coming up with a quick jab from the left. She smacked him right in the wound, making him let out a gurgled cry. He didn’t give in, didn’t even move back but rather threw a series of punches she had to block, going fully defensive.
“I’m going to eat your body!” Biggun screamed hysterically, laughing as he continued his wild assault.
The sheer brutality of it, the insanity made it difficult to fend him off. Every time Torrence clocked him, he rewarded her with three or more blows all tossed at random. He pressed her, making her walk backward. If she touched the wall, she figured it would be over. Tensing up, she charged, slamming her shoulder into him.
With only two steps to gain momentum, Torrence didn’t even make him move but at least he couldn’t punch her directly in the face or body anymore. She thought he might pound her sides or even go for her back but instead, he grabbed her, lifting her off the ground. He grunted, screaming in total madness before throwing her a good ten feet.
As she hit the ground, she rolled away. Her rifle bit into her side until she found herself on her back. She had to be inches from the door. Part of her thought she might escape by darting outside but instead, she went for the rifle. Lifting it, she took a shot in Biggun’s direction.
He wasn’t there. A heavy kick knocked her over. She bent at the waist, narrowly avoiding the next blow that would’ve hit her in the head.
Hands grabbed her back, hoisting her to her feet. Torrence to
ssed an elbow back, catching Biggun in the gut. He huffed but held her tight, squeezing as if he might crush her to death in a great bear hug.
Another three strikes to his gut didn’t pay off. She stomped his foot with her heel, threw a back kick into his shin but the maniac continued to squeeze.
Torrence leaned her head forward then whipped it back. Pain danced through her neck as her helmet slammed into his mouth. That got him moving and he let her go, grunting and gurgling. She spun, watching as he cupped his mouth. When he pulled his hands away, several teeth were missing. She lifted her weapon…
“Don’t…” Biggun grunted, shaking his head. “Don’t you do it!”
“Fuck you.” Torrence pulled the trigger, blasting him once in the gut then again in the face. He collapsed dead on the floor in an instant. She stumbled forward, leaning on the console to catch her breath.
“You okay?” Zem asked as he walked in. “What happened? Did he…”
“I don’t know how he got away from his bindings,” Torrence interrupted, “but it doesn’t matter right now. How many guys are out there?”
“Not sure. We have to lock this area down.” Zem motioned for McCully to take the left. “You’re on the right. I’ll hold the center.” He took up position behind a console, aiming at the door. “You know if that ship crashed yet?”
The ground shook as the vessel impacted the ground. It made the walls shake and dust fall from the ceiling, but no explosion followed, not right away at least. That doesn’t mean it won’t go up soon.
Torrence glanced at Zem. “Yeah, it crashed.”
Zem huffed. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” Torrence took aim at the door, readying herself for whatever came next.
***
Rita woke with a start. Her body stiffened… she groaned. Moving seemed like a bad idea. Had she been unconscious or simply dazed for a few moments? Her ears rang from the sound of twisting metal when they crashed into the ground. Contact convinced her she was on the verge of death; a grim acceptance seized her guts.
Then she moved. The ship didn’t explode. There’s still a chance. Providing she didn’t break anything and could still move. Flexing her hands didn’t hurt. Wiggling her toes, rolling her ankles, even moving her neck proved she couldn’t be all that bad off. She took the risk of rolling on her back.
Dizziness made her senses swim. She gritted her teeth as she forced herself to a sitting position. The bridge was in shambles. Sparks burst from the different panels with bits of glass littering the floor and seats. Loch was nowhere to be seen. Turning to the viewscreen, she expected to see a massive hole there where he may have been ejected from.
But it remained intact.
Crawling to her feet, Rita used the wall to maintain her balance. The ship landed in an angle, putting the floor off just enough to make it annoying. She stepped through the door into the passenger section. Loch wasn’t in there either. The cargo bay was dead ahead and with it, the ramp out.
I doubt I’ll be getting out that way. Rita figured it had to be sealed, crushed by the landing. Emergency exits might be in there too though. Hopefully, Loch left the door open if he slithered out.
An explosion off in the distance caught her attention. She had no idea what it might’ve been. The crash completely disoriented her. As far as she’d known, they went up at such an angle, she might be a hundred miles or more from the compound. All that was academic as long as she remained aboard the yacht.
The reactor might go up at any moment.
The cargo bay was a disaster. Crates that hadn’t been properly lashed down were scattered all about, gathered in the lowest part near the back. As expected, the loading ramp wasn’t accessible, but it had been pierced by a rock which touched the ceiling. She looked over the area from the door, pausing at a ray of sunlight glinting off a canister.
Following it back, an opening near the back led to the roof. Rita took a breath before venturing away from the support of the wall, half stumbling to her destination. When she arrived, she grabbed the edge of the exit, peeking out. A strong hand grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt, dragging her out.
Loch let her go, stepping back. “I didn’t think you survived.” He held his fists up defensively. “You won’t escape this place alive though. That much I promise.”
The compound was nearby, less than a quarter mile certainly. Black smoke rose from the front, probably some kind of vehicle. That was new carnage since they fled, and Loch dragged her aboard the ship.
Zem’s pretty damn serious about this. I’m shocked he had to go this far.
“What’re you hoping is going to happen?” Rita asked. “We have to get away before the reactor explodes.”
“You’re not escaping,” Loch said, “whoever these people are, they came for you. I’m…”
Rita punched him in the face mid-sentence, knocking him off the ship. He dropped to the ground, his landing sending dust high into the air. She followed, hopping after him. As she landed, she intentionally fell forward, rolling on her shoulder before dashing away. There wasn’t time to brawl with the idiot, much as she wanted to finish him off.
A series of clicks came from the yacht, rhythmic and quick. Rita had no idea what she might be hearing. A prelude to the explosion. She risked a glance over her shoulder. I’m not far enough away, dammit! Breaking into a sprint, she pushed herself until her lungs ached which made it clear she hadn’t made it entirely out of the crash unscathed.
The clicking stopped. Half a moment later, a concussive force picked her up from behind, throwing her into the air. She pulled her arms in tight to her body, bending her knees. The landing came a second later and she rolled in the grass then slid at least a hundred feet. When she came to a halt, she groaned, struggling to rise.
Wasn’t I just in this position? Heat from the explosion made her instantly sweat. She crawled, buying a little more distance. Loch moaned to her left. Jesus Christ, he’s a cockroach! How’d he make it through this? She regained her feet, coughing several times as she took in the area.
The ship became a burning hulk. The reactor sent the top into the air though the sides and bow remained intact. Fire raged all around, on the hill, the dirt… melting metal at the epicenter of the explosion. Loch rose, rubbing his eyes. They were roughly thirty yards apart though he came out worse than she did.
Dirt covered his face, matted his hair. One of his sleeves was torn off. He turned to her, glaring.
“You want to continue our conversation?” Rita shouted. “Come over here, bastard!”
“Another time, Peck.” Loch turned away, running toward the compound. Rita thought about giving chase… paused… thought better of it.
Screw him. Rita checked her computer. The screen was cracked but it still seemed operational. The bars at the bottom showed she had a signal again. Cranking up the volume, she sent a message back to the compound.
“Zem? Anyone? Can you hear me? This is Rita, please respond.”
“Welcome back,” Zem said. She heard gunfire on the other end of the line, a constant vibration from multiple weapons. “You okay?”
“Are you? What’s going on in there? And did you shoot down that yacht?”
“Um… yeah, that was us. You were aboard, huh?”
“We’ll talk about it later.” Rita picked up the pace, heading back to the compound. “What’re you dealing with?”
“A dozen guys, maybe more. We’re hunkered down in the command center. Should have them taken care of soon enough. What about Loch?”
“He’s running around here somewhere,” Rita said. “I didn’t have it in me to chase his stupid ass down, but he can’t get far. Not if you’ve got the automated turrets working.”
“Yeah, about that… I think they’re kind of done. Managed to take out the vehicle but they’ve done something to the generators. The yacht was the only one these can take out. Dora’s here though.”
“Anyone leaving here that isn’t us…” Rita hummed. �
��Shit. I might have an idea. Wrap that nonsense up, Zem. Meet me outside. I’ll get in touch with Dora. We may just come out ahead… in a way that helps the cause.”
With everyone gearing up for war with the ervas, every little bit will help.
***
Dora fidgeted on the bridge of the ship while staring at the scanner. Ronnie had them running in low power mode, meaning they could jump into action at any moment but would be practically impossible to detect. They parked in a forest, using the natural foliage to help mask their presence while waiting to take action.
Ronnie sat beside her in the copilot seat. She flew through different menus, manually managing the various systems. She muttered to herself, whispering the whole time. That had gone on for the better part of an hour. The woman became accustomed to working by herself in the engine room.
Didn’t take her long. Dora asked her to come up to the bridge in the event something bizarre happened… like a person finding the ship. Infiltration seemed highly unlikely, but she wasn’t about to take a chance. Besides, everything could be run from the cockpit providing the person knew what they were doing. Now I wish I would’ve left her down there.
“What’re you on about?” Dora muttered. “Don’t you have an internal monologue?”
“Most of the time,” Ronnie said. “Right now, I’m doing complex equations. I’d rather not get them wrong. It’s easier for me to put the information out into the world to ensure I don’t forget.”
“That makes absolutely no sense but okay. More power to you, I guess.” Dora shook her head. She sat forward when the yacht took off. “Look at this!” She gestured to the scanner. “That ship…”
“They’re not getting far,” Ronnie replied. “Look.”
Weapons fired from the compound. The first couple missed but the next blasted the hell out of them. It didn’t take much to put the thing down. As it spun toward the surface, the maneuvering thrusters burst some two hundred feet above the ground… just before it slammed home.
