Spore Series | Book 5 | Torch

by Soward, Kenny

  Every minute that ticked by, his people grew sicker. Soon, many would be on the verge of death. And because they’d had to take the shortwave radio with them in the chopper, Moe couldn’t even call home to see how they were doing.

  He’d left them in the canyon, cut off from the world, caught between disease and a lunatic named Carver.

  The aircraft finally leveled off, hovering briefly before drifting north. The treeline broke, and he stared down at an open courtyard two hundred feet below. It was cut out of the mountain, surrounded by stone walls. Around the top ran a concrete walkway with a metal rail. Hicks spotted a pair of guards beneath them, and she pointed her gun in their direction, sending them flying for cover.

  Another pair of guards stood on the opposite side, crouching against the churning wind kicked up by the rotors.

  And then they were descending, slowly rotating as they floated downward. Moe peered over Trainor’s shoulder at a confusing situation below. A half dozen soldiers wearing fatigues were arrayed in a semi-circle, protecting a pair of massive double doors that served as an entrance into the mountainside.

  An older soldier, probably the captain, stood in the front with a pistol at his side, glaring stoically up at the helicopter. He was steady in the howling winds even as his soldiers shielded their eyes or threw their backs against the stony walls.

  A woman stood behind him, strands of dark hair flying free of her ponytail and whipping around her face.

  The group surrounded two of the biggest men Moe had ever seen. They wore white outfits, like escapees from a jail or mental institution. One man had ashen skin with a tousle of brown hair on his head. Wide-chested, he gripped a pistol in powerful hands, feet spread and staring at the captain.

  The other man was even bigger, rounder but no less intimidating. His smoky skin contrasted the standard white outfit that seemed stretched over his wide shoulders. He held his gun one-handed, aimed down as he squinted and turned half away from the assaulting wind.

  Melissa spun the helicopter so Trainor’s side faced the double doors. The soldier swept the barrel of his gun across the uncertain men below. Their captain must have understood what he was up against. With nowhere to run but inside, he motioned for his soldiers to lower their guns, and they pointed them to the concrete.

  The helicopter skids set down, and Melissa leapt out of the cockpit, came around the nose, and sprinted toward the first man in whites. The pair stood shoulder-to-shoulder, weapons drawn but pointed upward.

  “That’s got to be her husband,” Moe said with a nod.

  He patted Trainor’s shoulder and jumped from the chopper. He landed hard but ignored the flaring pain in his ankle. He unslung his rifle, pivoted, and handed it to the soldier. Then he turned back to the tense display, crouch-walking from beneath the spinning rotors.

  Hands up, he waved at the soldiers and the captain. He stepped around the Bryants, putting himself between them and the others.

  He lifted his eyes to the taller man. “You must be Lieutenant Colonel Scott Bryant.”

  The man nodded, still glaring at the captain and Lexi. Moe craned his neck, looking over his shoulder at the grinning woman. At first, her expression seemed contemptuous, but when her gaze fell to Moe, a chill ran down his spine. He saw something else behind her eyes. A mixture of ruthlessness, resentment, and even a little hatred.

  He turned back to Bryant and raised his voice over the rotor noise. “I’m Moe Tsosie. Look, I don’t know what kind of bad blood is happening here, but I need this cure for my people. So, how about you hold off killing each other until I have a chance to get it.”

  The soldier’s eyes dropped to Moe. Understanding crept across his features, and his face slackened. He gave a brief nod and lowered his weapon.

  “Thanks.” Moe turned toward the captain and strode over, hands raised as he approached. “My name is Moe Tsosie,” he said, pronouncing each word loudly and carefully. “I’m a former staff sergeant with the US military. I’m in charge of the defense of Chinle, Arizona.”

  “That’s a long way from there.” The man spoke with a thick accent he couldn’t recognize. Something Slavic.

  “Right. We contacted Kim Shields late last week about getting our hands on some serum and vaccine.” Moe looked over his shoulder to see Melissa and Scott standing shoulder to shoulder. He smiled despite himself. “And we wanted to reunite those two. They’ve been separated since the outbreak.”

  The captain shifted slightly, still holding his pistol stiff at his side. “This is an intrusion on our facility. The second one in a week.”

  “I understand that,” Moe said. “But think about this. These folks are active with the US military. That man there is a lieutenant colonel under General Miller out of Washington. They’re still a viable fighting force, and they know about this place. It might be smart to stay on their good side. If you folks are working on a cure, you’ll be protected.”

  The captain’s jaw ground back and forth as he stared at the helicopter and watched Trainor and Hicks step out with rifles slung on their shoulders.

  “What do you say we disarm ourselves and go inside?” Moe suggested, a plaintive look on his face.

  The man finally gave an exasperated sigh and holstered his weapon. Then he reached to take Moe’s hand. “I’m Captain Jens Mueller. Welcome to Redpine.”

  “Thank you, Captain. Oh, I have an injured man in the chopper.”

  He jerked his head toward the massive double doors. “Bring him in. We’ll have our doctors take a look.”

  The man marched back inside with his soldiers following him. Only the woman remained behind, rifle resting easy in the crook her arm, eyes locked on Moe like she’d just added him to some secret list along with Scott Bryant.

  Chapter 28

  Kim, Redpine Facility, Little Rock, Arkansas

  Kim stood in front of Room 30 and stared at the touchscreen on the wall. She hadn’t spoken to the man since she’d left for Washington weeks ago. Her heart beat large in her chest, and her jaw ground as emotions battled inside her.

  Jessie had wisely tempered Kim’s anger and resentment earlier in Memphis when she’d wanted to confront Burke. It had worked then, but she still worried about losing her cool. He might say something to set her off, ruining the thinning veil of diplomacy between her people and the Redpine folks.

  She glanced to her right where Nancy, Bonnie, and Mueller stood, waiting to be let in. The two women seemed apprehensive, but the captain wore his usual stoic expression.

  “We’re ready when you are,” he said.

  Kim allowed her face to go slack, smoothing her emotion into a cold layer of ice. Then she hit the call button for the guard on the other side.

  “Who is it?” Dex asked.

  “It’s Kim. I’m here with the Redpine delegation to see Burke.”

  “All right.”

  The door slid open, and Kim stepped inside, followed by the others. She kept her face stoic as she nodded at Dex and walked to the opposite side of the room, giving the Redpine folks plenty of space.

  The soldier sat in a rolling office chair, his rifle in his lap and a tablet on the desk next to him. He nodded back at Kim and studied the people filing in.

  Kim turned to Burke, fully expecting to feel anger surge up inside her, but all that was dashed by his appearance.

  He sat on the twin bed with his back resting in the corner. He wore his Redpine whites but without slippers. Chains bound his hands and feet, gathered heavily in his lap, and Kim noticed the angry red chafe marks around his wrists and ankles.

  The Redpine people had witnessed Burke being brought into the facility, but he’d grown significantly sicker with each passing day. His face was stretched and thin, his skin pale. The telltale black spots dotted his upper lip and nostril area, though he had yet to get the spores in his eyes.

  Bonnie stiffened, face grimacing for a moment before it straightened out. Nancy looked horrified at Asphyxia’s progression. Mueller stood staring stoicall
y down at his employer.

  “We removed the tape from his mouth,” Dex explained, “so he could cough.” The soldier indicated a cup sitting nearby.

  “Is he contagious?” Nancy asked, backing up a step.

  “He’s not breathing spores into the air, if that’s what you mean,” Kim said. “We’ve confirmed the air quality in the room is fine.”

  “Have you treated him with serum?” Bonnie asked.

  “He’s had two small doses from our supply, but we’re waiting on Max to fulfil the first order.” Kim glanced at the woman. “Burke will get a dose from that batch.”

  Bonnie nodded. “I had no idea you were out. I’ll have Max expedite the order.”

  The truth was that they weren’t out of serum, though they had little enough remaining. They just wanted the Redpine folks to understand the man’s survival was directly tied to their efforts. Judging by the dawning fear in Bonnie’s eyes, the tactic worked.

  Kim stood back, waiting for someone to speak. She expected the man to address his employees, but Burke stared at Kim with his pale gray eyes.

  “I hear you killed Josh Richtman,” he said.

  Kim nodded grimly.

  “Congratulations. That was no easy feat. The man was an animal.”

  She bit her tongue, holding back who she really thought was the animal. Instead, she gestured to the others in the room. “As you can see, Burke is alive and well-fed. His treatment plan depends on Max completing the first batch of serum.”

  “We’re so sorry about this, Burke,” Nancy started, reaching out her hand to comfort the man. “We’ll help them with their vaccine and get you out of these chains.”

  “They’ll never let me go.” Burke’s eyes slid across his employees. “You know that, right? They’ll take me to General Miller to go before whatever kangaroo court they’ve assembled in the wasteland. They’ll find me guilty and either put me in a deep, dark hole or have me executed.” Burke tried to smile, but it came off as grotesque.

  Nancy shot Kim a dubious look, and a scowl grew on Mueller’s face.

  “You said you’d let him go once you had your vaccine,” the facilitator accused her.

  “That’s partially true,” Kim replied with a sharp intake of breath, keeping her tone from sounding too defensive. “The original plan was to deliver Burke, and this facility, to General Miller. Then we saw how well you’re running the place. Taking into consideration your incredible support, we’ve agreed to allow Redpine to remain independent.”

  “And Burke?”

  “We’ll deliver him to General Miller.” Kim spread her hands wide and played her card. “We figured you’d be happy to take over the facility. You agree he deserves to be punished for his misdeeds.”

  “Of course,” the captain scoffed, then offered a puttering explanation. “But Burke is our employer, and he has intricate knowledge of how Redpine operates. It would undoubtedly fall into disrepair if you remove him from the premises. Perhaps you could ask the general if he can remain here, unshackled...” Mueller stammered, “at least until he can transfer his knowledge to myself or the Brewers before he’s taken away.”

  “I’ll talk to Miller,” Kim promised with a nod as she watched the trio carefully. “I’m sure that can be worked out.”

  “Good.” Mueller stiffened with satisfaction, turning his attention back to Burke. “We’re operating at low capacity, but everyone is staying busy. We completed repairs on the power grids in sections B through L. The guards are in good spirits.”

  “Is the facility secure?” Burke asked.

  “It is as you see it, sir. Lexi is here.”

  The prisoner noticeably brightened at the mention of her name. “Well, that’s good news. I’m surprised you let her in.”

  “It’s very difficult to keep her out of any place she wants into,” the captain chuckled with dry humor.

  “True.” Burke turned his attention to the women. “The facility?”

  “We were stocked on raw chemicals before the disaster,” Bonnie said. “And, as the captain mentioned, we’re taking the time to catch up on repairs. Bio Reactor 4 is in perfect working order.”

  “That one was giving us some trouble.” Burke gave them a satisfied smile. “Good job. You should also do a full diagnostic on Bio Reactor 6. I noted some errors in the latest log readings back when I had control over my bus. Things may have gotten worse since then.”

  “I’ll tell Anthony,” Bonnie replied with a stiff nod.

  Burke turned his eyes to the Redpine facilitator. “Anything to report?”

  “Everything is going great,” Nancy smiled. “The workers are happy, and with the influx of children--”

  “Kids?” Burke’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “They brought them,” Nancy nodded toward Kim. “Thirty little darlings. They’ve lifted everyone’s spirits.”

  “I didn’t know we hosted children.” Burke glanced at Kim, the corners of his mouth tilted in a smile. “But it doesn’t surprise me that Mrs. Shields has created her own orphanage. She’s quite a saint.”

  Kim turned to the trio. “Time’s about up, folks.”

  Nancy stepped to the foot of the bed, looking at Burke with a hope-filled expression. “Any message you want to give to the workers?”

  The man raised his chin. “Tell my employees this. The end may be near but take heart. We shall deliver each other unto Eden, or perish together, arm-in-arm.”

  *

  “What did he mean by that?” Jessie asked as she watched Nancy, Bonnie, and Mueller speak briefly near the elevators before walking to their separate wings.

  Kim stared at them, too. She would have called the meeting a moral victory if not for Burke’s last words. “We were focused on him overriding the system, but we didn’t think he might communicate something in code to his people.”

  The seven stood around a table in the rec room. Kim, Jessie, Bryant, Bishop, Savannah, and the two newcomers from the helicopter.

  Bryant shook his head where he sat in a chair with his arms wrapped around his wife. Melissa sat in his lap, looking thinner than Kim remembered from her picture. It could be the Redpine whites that clung to her shoulders, or her dark wet hair.

  “He wants his people to take us out and free him,” Bryant said. “They’ve got the serum and vaccine formulas now, so all they need is him.”

  Jessie raised her handheld device. “They’re not trying anything tricky so far. I’ve got alarms set up to alert me if they mess with the air supply or security systems. I’ll override it quick if they do.” She shook her head. “We should keep the kids from going to the other wings.”

  “Have they been wandering over?” Kim’s eyes darted to Savannah.

  “I can’t keep an eye on them twenty-four hours a day,” she shrugged defensively. “They’ve been visiting with the folks in Wing 2.” She waved her hand absently. “Just in their rec room to play board games and stuff. Was I wrong to let them go?”

  “No, it wasn’t a bad idea,” Kim said, though her stomach flipped realizing how easily they could lose track of things. “But I may have been too hasty about trying to build trust with them. Let’s keep the kids in our area, for now. No leaving Wing 3. The Redpine folks can come here where we can keep an eye on everyone.”

  “Agreed,” Bryant nodded.

  “Agreed,” Jessie said.

  Kim turned away from the elevators and smiled at Melissa. The woman seemed perplexed, wearing an overwhelming mix of emotions on her face.

  “It’s good to finally get to meet you,” Kim said, coming over and holding out her arms. “Scott showed me your picture back in Yellow Springs, and I kept thinking how pretty you were.”

  Melissa rose from Bryant’s lap, tears rising in her eyes. She threw her arms around Kim and squeezed hard, forcing air from her lungs. The woman was more wiry and strong than she’d expected.

  “Thank you so much for helping Scott,” she said. “You have no idea how much it means to me.”

  “Uh
, me, too.” Jessie raised her hand with mock incredulity. “I saved Bryant’s butt at least three times that I remember.”

  “They actually took turns for a while there,” the soldier said with a sheepish grin.

  Chuckles filled the room, topped off by Bishop’s chesty laugh.

  Melissa released Kim and turned to Jessie, hugging her warmly. Then she faced Bishop, who leaned against a table with one foot crossed over the other. “And you must be Kim’s husband.”

  “I am,” the big man spread his hands and returned the captain’s embrace. “They call me Bishop.”

  Kim turned to the short, dark man standing off to the side with his arms folded across his chest and his fingers rubbing the black-gray beard growth on his chin. He only stood two inches taller than Kim, yet his wide stout frame gave him the impression of strength.

  The man’s forearms were thick and muscled like she might see on a mechanic. His longish hair matched the color of his beard, and he’d pushed it back from his forehead to hang just past his shoulders.

  “You’re Moe.” Kim stated, flatly.

  The man turned with a slight limp on his right side. His eyes roamed over the assembled group with calculating ease, reading them without malice or contempt. His face bore a brushing of cuts and scars, like he’d been through a war.

  “I’m Moe,” he confirmed in a gruff, halting voice.

  He approached Kim and offered his hand. She clasped it, feeling the calluses on his finger pads. His grip was surprisingly gentle, but far from weak.

  “You’re Kim.”

  “Yes.”

  His accent might have sounded strange to her if she didn’t know he was a full-blooded Navajo. He shook Jessie’s hand, then Savannah’s and Bishop’s in turn. When he came to Bryant, he stopped and clasped his hands in front of him, bowing slightly.

  “It is an honor to meet you, Lieutenant Colonel Bryant,” he said. “I want to tell you how good your wife has been to me and my people. She swooped in at the last minute in her helicopter and saved me from an enemy attack. Then she helped with reconnaissance of the surrounding canyons, also under our enemy’s watchful eye. When we needed supplies, Melissa volunteered to go on a raid to Las Vegas where, under heavy enemy fire, we secured weeks of food for my people. She lost one of her soldiers that fateful day. Without those sacrifices, many would be starving right now.”