Ozzy’s eyes about burst out of his head. He had never seen armor technology do anything remotely like that.
Gragas was being electrocuted and was jerking left and right. He fell on his back, and Ozzy could hear him panting.
Quad turned and ran toward Ozzy.
“Yeah, we gotta go.” Ozzy pulled his brother to his feet, guiding him to Relic’s rear ramp.
Jozi stopped halfway up the ramp, unstrapped her rifle, and twirled around. She aimed at Quad and pulled the trigger. The weapon recoiled against her shoulder, expelling a photon charge, and smoke swirled out of the muzzle.
Quad leaped out of the way and rushed onward. Ozzy pushed his brother up the ramp and inside the storage bay.
“Get a rifle,” Ozzy ordered.
His brother hurried to the rifle rack. Ozzy went to one knee, waiting for the perfect shot. Jozi backed up and sent multiple photon blasts at Quad.
The guy was fast and moved out of the way of each fired shot.
But Gragas was just as fast and running after Quad.
Ozzy sent a shot, which Quad ducked out of the way for the umpteenth time.
Gragas leaped, wrapping his arms around Quad’s neck, and pulled him to the ground. He swiftly pulled off a black, metallic device from his leg, dropped it on Quad’s stomach, and rolled away.
The device expanded, cracked open, and dug into the ground, clamping Quad in a vice grip.
Gragas rushed up Relic’s ramp. “Shut the door.”
Ozzy slapped the button, and the ramp hissed and began lifting.
Quad grasped the device around him and pushed, grunting loudly. A loud clank sounded. The device broke free from the cement, and he threw it to the side and got to his feet.
Relic’s ramp was still in the process of shutting.
Ozzy backed up while pointing his gun. “Oh boy, here he comes.”
8
Pollack Mine, Mars
Quad leaped, sending a loud pang against the door. He was a second too late, successfully meeting the ship’s exterior.
Lou bolted toward the ramp door. “Let me out. My people need me.”
Gragas slammed the butt of his gun against the grated floor. The sound startled Lou and shut him up for a moment.“ Unless your miners attack Quad, he’ll have no interest in them. Does your mine carry weapons?”
Lou shook his head, holding up his fist. “My workers have their hands.”
Gragas nodded. “That won’t faze him. Don’t worry. Your miners will be fine. He isn’t paid to kill them. He is paid to secure or kill Ozzy. He wouldn’t waste his energy on your workers. He is focused on using family members to lure Ozzy in and grab him.”
“Aren’t I the lucky one?” Ozzy raced up the ladder with Jozi closely behind. “Open the outside door, Lou.”
“It won’t open until you close the inside door,” yelled Lou, running into the cockpit after Ozzy. “I’ll patch into my computer using—”
“Just do it,” Ozzy said as he rushed to the pilot’s seat and plopped in the chair.
Jozi sat next to him, and Lou leaned against the flight console, panting through his EVA suit. He brought up his credentials and tapped a few key commands. The inside doors of the mine began to close.
Lou crossed his arms. “The outside door will open when that inside door closes. Got it?”
Ozzy gave his brother a curt nod. “Got it, now find a seat in the storage bay.”
Gragas entered, crowding the cockpit. “You need to get more seats up here.”
“No can do. I’m a one-person operation. I didn’t think I’d have a random family wanting to move in.”
“You’ll thank us later,” Gragas said.
“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
“Okay, let me off, Ozzy. I’ll be fine outside in my EVA suit until you exit the premises and I can re-enter.” Lou stood tall, adamant at getting as far away from his brother as possible.
Ozzy powered on the engines. “The inside door is closed, and the outside door is opening.” He gave Lou a hard look. “Like I said, find a seat. There’s no telling what Quad will do to you. I’m saving your ass.”
“No,” growled his brother. “For once in your life, understand that criminal activity and hostiles follow whenever you are around. You are not saving me, Ozzy. Your very existence is endangering me.”
A ball of fire rose in Ozzy’s belly. He wanted to stand and knock his brother off his feet. This was an old pattern between the two of them rearing its ugly head, and Ozzy wasn’t having any more of it. This had everything to do with their parents and the day they were purposely blown up in their hovercar.
All because of the High Judge, not because of Ozzy.
“How many times do I have to tell you that I was set up? I didn’t kill mom and dad. The damn High Judge did. I didn’t abandon my daughter, either. The High Judge threatened to kill her if I was even a city stop away from her.”
“Bullshit, Ozzy. You were always a deviant growing up, and you still haven’t changed.”
Jozi cleared her throat to get their attention. She pointed at the mine’s outside open door. “Get going.”
Quad came into view, holding a large cannon against his hip.
Where the hell did he get that?
Ozzy initiated thrusters. “Everyone, sit. We’re heading to the Face on Mars.” He lifted Relic into the air then blasted her forward. Gragas stood and held the back of Ozzy’s seat, and Lou sat with his back against the wall.
“Mars’s flames, we’re going to Ares Monument?” Lou swore. “You get me back on the ground this instant.”
“Nope, Brother. Take over the controls, Jozi.” Ozzy stood. “I’m going to rip my brother’s helmet off and shut his ass up.”
Jozi put her hand out, stopping Ozzy from moving forward. “Don’t you dare.”
Ozzy huffed and gave his brother an ominous stare before dropping back into his seat. “This is the gratitude I get for saving his ass? He’s been a spoiled brat his entire life. It must be nice when everything is given to you.”
Gragas helped Lou to his feet. He stepped around him and paused, staring at something on Lou’s back. “We have a challenge, Ozzy. There is a reason Quad had them wear EVA’s other than helping disguise himself. They are bugged.” He pulled a round device off of Lou’s EVA and dropped it on the floor. He stomped on it and smashed it to pieces. “Quad is probably in his ship right now and heard you say we’re going to the Face on Mars. Change your destination, quickly.”
Ozzy quieted. “Get down into the storage bay.” He typed in coordinates on his flight console and veered his ship in a tight turn, flying low to the ground and sending crimson dust into the air.
Jozi grabbed Ozzy’s arm. “You just set the coordinates to Ares Monument. You can’t be serious.”
“I have a job to do and ain’t no bounty hunter going to stop me.” It was his only way to get enough money to get him and his family, including Lou, off of this red rock.
Lou placed his hands on his hips. “Wait, you have a job to do? What job?”
“I have a dig. All of you are joining me. This will guarantee me enough auric credits to get us off Mars and to a safer place.”
Lou stared out of the cockpit window, pounding his fist into his thigh and using a controlled tone, “I’m confused. You’re taking us to an archaeological dig, a place that Quad knows we’re going, and then you’re going to sell your find for money?”
Ozzy shrugged, doing his best to show his brother it wasn’t that big of a deal. “Yeah, and lots of money too.”
“You little…” Lou reached for Ozzy.
Gragas grabbed Lou around the chest and lifted him off his feet, moving him several meters away from Ozzy.
Ozzy leveled Relic then stood. “Trust me, Louey. I know what I’m doing.”
“You know how to get us killed…is what you’re doing,” Lou said, his voice raised. He was trying to grab at Ozzy, but Gragas held him at bay.
A beep sounded across the coc
kpit. Jozi pounded her head with her fist. “We have inbound, six o’clock. It’s Quad.”
Ozzy sat in his chair. “Does he have weapons lock?”
“No,” Gragas said. “He doesn’t charge his weapon’s array on his ship. He prefers to do things by hand. You’ll have no problem with him in the air. It’ll be a fight when we land.”
“And if the techbots didn’t disarm Relic,” said Ozzy under his breath. “We’d blast him out of the sky.”
“Turn around, Ozzy,” Lou said as spittle built up in the corners of his mouth. “Drop me off at my house and be on your way. The last thing I need is for Gloria to become a widow. She wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
Ozzy bit his lower lip. “No. You’re coming with us.” The pit of his stomach sank lower. He had to tell his brother sooner rather than later.
Your wife is dead.
The thought was terrifying, and it would rip his brother apart.
“Tell him, Ozzy,” said Jozi.
Ozzy shot her a look. He couldn’t believe she just said that.
Gragas continued to hold Lou back.
Ozzy briefly closed his eyes. “Not yet.” The Face on Mars was in the distance but in view. It was in Outlaw Zone Seven covered with sand but still visible to the naked eye. It wasn’t as pristine as it was when the Ancients engraved it all those thousands of years ago out of the mountain it sat upon, but it was still immaculate, to say the least.
“Then I’ll tell him,” she said. “You owe him that much.” She swiveled around in her chair, ready to open her mouth and spill the truth.
“Don’t you dare,” said Ozzy, his brows furrowing.
The cockpit dinged again. Quad’s ship was getting closer.
“Tell me what?” Lou said, his voice low. He clearly knew something was wrong, and Ozzy could tell his brother didn’t want to hear it but had to.
“Nothing,” said Ozzy, keeping his eyes forward and steering the ship to the coordinates on the map.
Jozi stood. Her eyes sad and her tone gentle, she said, “That your wife—”
“Shut it!”
“That my wife, what?” asked Lou, his arms dangling at his sides and his shoulder’s drooped. A tinge of worry clouded his eyes. “Don’t tell me.”
Ozzy eyed his lap. He blinked several times and took a shallow breath. “I came upon Gloria this morning. She…uh…she—”
A loud gasp shot out of Lou’s mouth, and he stepped back. “No, no, no.” He shook his head. “You’re lying. Please, please, tell me you’re lying?”
Ozzy turned and gazed at his brother. “I’m sorry. I went to your house to warn you and Gloria, but Quad had already been there.”
Lou’s lower lip trembled, his chin wavered, and his eyes welled up. “What the Mars are you doing to me, Brother? Why have you been so hell-bent on ruining your family’s lives? My life?” He curled his fingers into a fist. “I can’t—” He went to take a step forward but instead fell to the floor, sobbing.
Ozzy stood and slowly walked toward Lou. Gragas stepped out of the way. Ozzy lowered into a crouch and placed his hand on Lou’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Lou reared back, bringing his arm into a punching position.
Ozzy deserved it, and he’d take it and a hundred more. He just ruined his brother’s life. It was probably true: he was a disease to his family.
Lou dropped his arm onto his leg and wailed in pain. “I can’t believe it. I can’t—”
The ship shook and slowed. Jozi pressed several buttons on the holodisplay then pressed the hovering lever down, wiping away a tear. The landing skids whined as they extended.
The ship jostled when it touched the ground.
They had landed and were parked next to Ares Monument—the Face on Mars.
And his brother’s heart was broken.
This was the shittiest situation Ozzy had ever been in, but as shitty as it was, business was business and, right now, Ozzy’s business was to keep his family safe.
He placed his hands on both sides of Lou’s visor and looked him dead in the eyes. “I love you. I’m doing this for you and my daughter.”
Lou’s expression was full of pain and tears cascaded down his cheeks. Deep sobs escaped from Lou, and he lowered his head into his hands. “She was the love of my life, Ozzy,” he whispered.
“I know.”
“No! No, you don’t know. She was all I had. The only family left. And now she’s. . .gone.”
“You have Lily and…you still have me.”
Lou dropped his head and didn’t respond.
“Lou, I know you hate me right now and want to be as far away from me as possible. I wish things were different, and I wish you could understand why I do the things I do. Maybe by you being here, you will understand me a little better."
Again, Lou didn’t respond.
Ozzy stood and walked to the ladder, feeling empty and soulless. He was doing this for his family, but he knew Lou would never understand.
He eyed his weapon’s rack next to his workbench. The rack was full, and he’d need all he could carry.
9
Ares Monument, Mars
Ozzy clipped on his helmet, and the airtight suction fizzed in his ears. He activated the oxygen tanks and took a breath.
With Gragas and Jozi by his side, Ozzy walked toward the ramp. He and Jozi both had two rifles and two photon pistols, and, most importantly, Ozzy had his satchel around his belt line for the crystal sphere.
Ozzy touched the ramp button.
Heavy footsteps clanked across the storage bay. “I’m coming along.”
Ozzy slowly turned around and saw his brother standing there with a rifle. “I’m sorry, Lou, but no. I’ve done enough—”
“Try to stop me.” He chin trembled, and his eyes were full of tears. “This man killed Gloria. And I’m going to kill him.”
Ozzy couldn’t allow it. Quad would kill Lou, especially in the condition Lou was in. Ozzy straightened his lips, doing his best to hold in a cry. “Gragas, use one of those full-body cuff devices on my brother. You know, like the one that held Quad down in the mine.”
Gragas didn’t move. “I’m sorry, Ozzy, but no. I will not go against your brother’s will. This is not the same situation as Quad, who was invading your space and trying to harm you.”
Ozzy folded his hands across his midsection. He didn’t have anything to say to his brother, and if he did, he’d be wrong no matter what it was. That’s how sorrow went. When someone was sad and lost a loved one, there was nothing you could do or say to get them to think right or to brighten their spirits. At least, that’s how it was with him and his brother.
“Alright,” said Ozzy, “then let’s go.” He touched the ramp button again, and it began to open. “Jozi, how much time until Quad gets here and lands?”
“Three minutes at most.”
Not good. Ozzy took a deep breath. “Nothing like a tight time limit to get your ass moving.”
The door shook when it hit the crimson sand, and for the first time in a long time, Mars was helping Ozzy out. “Dirt devils dead ahead. Two of them.”
Dirt devils, along with sandstorms, were the worst natural disasters that Mars could throw at its inhabitants. A sandstorm could last months on end, but a dirt devil which was like a mini tornado, hit Mars more often and sent sand into a twirling mess throughout the air, and here were two now. It would hinder Quad’s landing and slow his movements once he got out of his craft.
“Let’s go,” Ozzy shouted as he ran down the ramp.
When his feet hit the sand, they sank in and slowed him down. He pumped his legs and bounced in the thin gravity, landing one boot after another, while trudging toward Ares Monument.
The monument was gigantic. They were near its chin, but from where they were standing, it was a mountain and looked similar to all the others around them. From space, the appearance would be of a man’s face. Luckily, they didn’t have to climb it and crawl through its ears or mouth, o
r worse, its nostrils. The entrance, according to the myths and legends, was at the chin.
The dirt devils moved closer, sending sand across Ozzy’s radiation visor. He pulled down his dust visor and trekked closer to Ares Monument.
“Quad is coming into view,” said Jozi.
Ozzy glanced over his shoulder and into the dusty air. “I see him.”
The oval ship gleamed like a perfectly polished Earth silver coin. It had propulsion technology Ozzy hadn’t seen before. On Mars, ships needed long, boomerang-style wings to keep flight in this atmosphere.
Quad’s craft didn’t have wings. The technology on that thing must be remarkable.
“I’ll be at the rear covering you,” Gragas said.
Lou grunted while following behind Ozzy. “I should have stayed in the rig.” His voice cracked and sounded full of pain.
“I’m sorry, Lou, but we can’t turn back now,” Ozzy said. “I’d have to go back with you and let you in.”
Ozzy rounded a large boulder and was under the chin’s shadow. He turned on his EVA suit lights.
Hieroglyphs were everywhere, which showed how Martians did things—label, instruct, and explain. It was as if they were getting ready to die off any minute during their civilization’s rise, and they needed to leave information for any ETs flying over Mars that needed guidance in some way or another.
The humans happened to be those ETs.
Gragas spoke over the com line, “Quad has landed. Jozi and Lou, find a place to get low. We’ll be shooting at him the moment we see him, but we won’t hit him. He’s too fast. What we will do is distract him so Ozzy can find a way in.”
“Got it,” Jozi said.
“Sure,” Lou said in a low voice.
Ozzy looked over the glyphs that were in a line directly above him. It wasn’t much, but usually, and he hoped beyond hope, the Martians left clues how to get into places.
The dust from the storm picked up and swirled around him.
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