The Long Way Home

by Phoenix Hays

  “Go ahead,” Ayrin said, looking at Joe.

  “You can roll first, Joe,” Victor said.

  Joe rolled the dice to begin the game and the family spent the evening right up until bedtime playing Zeroed.

  CHAPTER 75

  Patrick looked at the sign on the wall.

  Bunker M-7.

  He climbed the ladder into the concrete room.

  “Got everything under control here?” He asked.

  “Patrick,” Victor said. “Nice to see you. And yes, I’m just finishing up.”

  Victor snapped a curved rifle magazine into a holder on the wall next to three others.

  Patrick looked around the room. There were backpacks hanging on the wall, drab green motorcycle helmets on the bench, and grenades held by clips next to the magazines Victor had just put into place.

  “This place is ready for a war to break out.”

  “Well, we figure it’s better to have all this and not need it than the other way around,” Victor said.

  “You’ll get no argument from me.”

  A red light started flashing on the bunker COM.

  “Victor, here,” he said after pushing the button.

  Adam’s voice echoed in the small room. “There has been an incursion on the south side of the property. We have sent a SecTeam member to check it out. Duke is asking you to join us in security.”

  Victor and Patrick locked eyes for a moment.

  “I’ll be right there,” Victor said to Adam.

  “I’m coming with you,” Patrick said.

  ***

  Victor flew through the door to the security monitoring room with Patrick right behind him.

  “What’s going on?” Victor asked.

  Richard stood up from a chair off to the right. “The intruder crossed our fence about 10 minutes ago. They didn’t move in quickly, so we sent Thompson to check it out. He should be reaching the pill any moment.”

  “As a matter of fact,” Adam flew over to the group, “he’s there. I’m patching him in now.”

  “—n you all hear me?” Thompson asked.

  “We can now,” Richard said. “What do you have?”

  “The pill has just finished raising,” Thompson said. “I’m looking for signs of the intruder now.”

  “The heat signature is faint,” Adam said. “They are probably wearing a suit that masks their thermal footprint. I’m showing the intruder almost due south of your position.”

  “I don’t see anything yet,” Thompson said. “Wait, I do see something. It looks like someone kneeling...”

  “What are they doing?” Victor asked.

  “I’m not sure. They aren’t moving. Permission to fire a warning shot?”

  “No,” Richard said back. “Do not escalate unless absolutely necessary.”

  Victor gave a puzzled look to the security chief and then to Patrick.

  “I just saw a flash!” Thompson yelled. “No! They have—”

  The COM fell silent.

  “Adam!” Richard yelled. “What happened?”

  “Scans indicate that the intruder had a rocket launcher,” Adam said, with sadness in his voice. “Pill L-5 is a complete loss.”

  “Deploy countermeasures!” Duke yelled from behind them.

  Everyone turned quickly to see Duke standing just inside the door.

  “Already in process,” Adam said. “Sentry cannons have taken down the intruder.”

  Victor turned to Richard. “What was that about? You know it’s normal policy to fire warning shots to scare off intruders.”

  “Oh, wake up,” Richard said. “The man had a rocket launcher. He wasn’t going to run—”

  “Alert!” Adam interrupted. “I have multiple incursions on the north and east sides of the property.”

  “This is it!” Duke said. “Call all staff to arms. They started on one side and are hitting us from two others. This is the coordination that we were expecting for a larger attack.”

  “Sir,” Adam said. “I recommend we push the offensive back with a full deployment of our defensive measures in the areas of note.”

  “Do it,” Duke said. “Richard, scramble all available personnel to the north and east pills. Adam, alert all launch staff that we are finishing ATS tonight. Get every rocket in the air ASAP and prep the personnel ships for takeoff.”

  “Yes, sir,” Adam said.

  Victor stood up and headed toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” Patrick asked.

  Victor stopped halfway out of the door when the question hit him. He turned back.

  “The only place they haven’t hit is from the west. I’m going there.”

  “But why?” Richard asked.

  “If this is a coordinated attack,” Victor said, “then they will hold the main force back until our defenses have been put in place.”

  Victor headed out the door, and Patrick moved to follow him.

  “Where are you going?” Duke asked.

  “If he’s right, he’s going to need help,” Patrick said before heading out.

  CHAPTER 76

  Alarms sounded off in the Bayham’s quarters.

  Ayrin sighed. “Another one?”

  “Another lockdown?” Joe whined.

  “Hold on,” Mary said. She walked over to the COM on the wall. “The alert is saying for all non-security personnel to head to the gym. Get your things and let’s go.”

  Everyone headed to their own rooms to start packing bags of necessity. Minutes later, they were back in the living room.

  “Ready?” Mary asked.

  The kids both nodded.

  “OK. Here we go.”

  She pushed the call button for the smart-vator.

  ***

  From inside the bunker, Patrick watched Victor scan the horizon. The view through the window was limited, but it seemed like the man was convinced something was out there. Patrick squinted, trying to see anything other than a grassy field.

  “Do you see anything?” Patrick asked.

  “Nothing yet,” Victor said.

  They stood there, listening to the calls coming in over the radio.

  “I’ve got one but he’s out of range,” a man said.

  “Intruder fired on my position,” a woman said. “He’s down now.”

  “Help!” A frantic voice yelled. “We are being—”

  “Support teams to that northern position,” Richard said.

  Patrick caught Victor’s eyes.

  “I know we could help them,” Victor said. “But this all feels wrong.”

  “I have to go help,” Patrick said, turning to the ladder.

  “I don’t blame you. Good luck.”

  ***

  Patrick walked through the door to the monitoring room. Various radio transmissions from the security teams filled the air. Sharp pops of gunfire were mixed in among the voices. It was a cacophony of sound that was impossible to make sense of from the back of the room.

  “What can I help with?” Patrick asked.

  Duke looked up. His eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was a thin straight line.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “The terrorists have pushed past the outer sentries,” Duke said. “Our teams are barely holding them off.”

  Patrick scanned the numerous screens in the security room. The images flashed from gunfire. If a feed dropped another quickly took its place.

  “All, teams,” Richard barked into the COM, “report to the northern defenses.”

  He stood up and turned to Duke.

  “This is their push,” Richard said. “I’m going to help defend.”

  Duke nodded.

  Patrick moved to position himself next to Duke and continued to scan the wall of monitors.

  “It looks like we are keeping them outside the pill bunker perimeter, at least,” Patrick said.

  “Barely, but yes,” Duke said. “Mr. Burman, when is the next round of launches?”

  “Momentarily, sir,” Sanjeed
said. “We are beginning the countdown sequence now.”

  “How many more rockets to get ATS fully off the ground?”

  “Five, sir.”

  “Good,” Duke said. “Keep me informed of any issues.”

  “Absolutely,” Sanjeed said. “For now, everything is running like clockwork.”

  “Mr. Johnston,” Duke turned to Clarence. “How soon will the passenger shuttles be ready to take off?”

  “I’ll find out,” Clarence said. He turned to his console and keyed a channel. “Captain Thatcher, how are the preparations of the shuttles?”

  “We’re getting fueled up and beginning final pre-flight checks,” Thatcher said. “We are probably a couple of hours away from being ready to go.”

  “We may not have that kind of time, Captain,” Clarence said. “Things are getting hairy out here.”

  “Understood. We’ll do everything we can to speed it up.”

  A burst of static interrupted the conversation.

  “We lost another pill bunker,” Patrick said.

  “Adam,” Duke said, standing up. “Where are you?”

  “I’m on the north side of the complex,” the robot replied. “I’m trying to support the teams out here.”

  “Understood,” Duke said. “I’m on my way.”

  Patrick’s eyes flicked wide open. “But Duke!”

  Duke ignored Patrick’s concern. “Is it possible that you can meet me at the shack entrance?”

  “Affirmative,” Adam said.

  “Good,” Duke said. He turned to Patrick. “They need all the help they can get.”

  “Then I’m going with you.”

  The remaining staff exchanged stunned looks as two of the most important men in Space Vision left the room and headed for the battle

  CHAPTER 77

  The inside of the shack at the entrance to Site B looked the same as when Patrick first walked into the room. The stainless metal walls, organized desk, and polished floor still created a clinical feel. Sounds coming from outside the walls made the surreal difference. Muffled popping noises caused by bursts of gunfire sounded off from the north. Hearing the sounds of war while standing inside an orderly office confused the senses. Patrick heard the clang of a panel shutting and looked over at Duke to see him holding two black rifles with curved magazines extending out from the bottom. Patrick caught the rifle Duke tossed to him.

  “Adam,” Duke said, “where are you?”

  “I’m right outside the door,” Adam said. “You can come on out. I’ll be able to shield you.”

  Duke raised his rifle, opened the door, and crept out. Patrick followed him.

  Patrick’s jaw dropped when he saw Adam. The robot had equipped himself with a hulking battle rig. Large tank treads that were shielded with heavy metal plating anchored the frame. Sturdy legs connected to the rectangular body in rounded joints. Adam’s drone form could be seen through a clear panel in the middle of the rig’s body. Six arms were attached with similar but smaller rounded joints in a ring near the top of the body. Three of the arms ended in a gun of some type. Another ended in a shield shaped appendage. The other two looked like human hands.

  Adam shifted his legs in a very human way and put one hand on his hip and held one on the other side out. “Does this suit make me look fat?”

  “Now’s not the time,” Duke said. “Get us to the rear of the northern security measures.”

  “Fair enough,” Adam said turning around. “Hop on.”

  Two large plates folded down from behind the treads. Duke stepped onto one and gripped a bar on the back of the robot. Patrick did the same. Adam’s tank treads dug into the ground and he sped toward the confrontation.

  Patrick leaned over to look past Adam’s imposing presence. Every pill bunker and defensive measure had been activated and raised from their hidden spots below ground. The defensive network’s complexity was now on full display. Pill bunkers and turrets ringed the exterior of Site B for as far as the eye could see.

  Leaning further, Patrick tried to get a view of the area ahead of them. The outermost bunkers in the distance were still small. Beyond them he could see several places where dark smoke rose from the horizon. The distant pops of gunfire grew louder and a cracking noise joined the explosion of each shot as they neared the fighting. Patrick caught a whiff of the acrid smell of something burning. A loud crack of gunfire startled Patrick, and he ducked behind Adam once again.

  “How far away are we?” Duke asked.

  “We’re about 50 meters out,” Adam said. “I’ve told Security Chief Carter that you are on your way. I don’t think you would like his response.”

  Duke turned to Patrick. “When we get to the bunker, go ahead and put your helmet on. We need to get to Richard and find out what his status is. Stay low and out of sight on the way.”

  Patrick nodded in understanding.

  “I’m activating the emergency door on the bunker,” Adam said. “It should be open for you as soon as we get there.”

  Adam pulled up alongside the bunker’s exterior door, swung his shield arm around, and took a position to provide cover for the two men.

  Duke jumped down and headed to the door. Patrick was right behind him. They walked into the bunker, shut the door behind them, and pulled their helmets over their heads. Patrick moved to the bench on one side while Duke shouldered his rifle and leaned against the opposite wall.

  “Richard, are you there?”

  “Duke, what the hell are you doing out here?!” Richard barked through the COM.

  “I’m in a rear pill,” Duke said. “If the fight gets back this far, you’re going to need me anyway.”

  “Stevens! Check your six!” A woman yelled over the radio.

  Patrick could hear the crack of gunfire from beyond the bunker window.

  “That was close, thanks,” another voice said.

  “Duke, go to two,” Richard said.

  Patrick saw Duke reach up with his right hand and do something but didn’t see what.

  “Davis, there’s one coming at you on the right!” A man yelled over the COM.

  Patrick looked away from the view port in the bunker to see Duke moving his head as if he was talking, but he didn’t hear anything. He reached up and tapped Duke on the shoulder. Duke looked back to him. Patrick pointed at the side of his own helmet and then shrugged. Duke grabbed Patrick’s hand and placed it on a knob on the right side of his helmet. He forced Patrick’s fingers to turn it. He heard the knob click through the helmet.

  “—and we’ve been holding them off ever since,” Richard’s voice flowed from the helmet speaker.

  “OK,” Duke said. “Is there any pattern to how they are attacking?”

  “We’ve seen multiple types of weapons used. It seems less likely that they are a coordinated force and more like a band of fanatics that grabbed whatever they had and showed up,” Richard explained. “The attacks have come in bursts where they charge from one angle and then try to move up from another.”

  Duke stood up and looked out of the viewing port. “I’m seeing a handful of bunkers have been damaged or destroyed. How did that happen?”

  Boom! An explosion roared from the area in front of the bunker.

  Both Duke and Patrick ducked reflexively.

  “Push them back!” Richard yelled.

  Duke loaded a round in his rifle and lifted it. Standing beside the window, Patrick watched him scan the field in front of him. Duke tensed and fired a series of short bursts. Even with the helmet on, the sounds of gunfire echoed inside the bunker.

  After the last shot, Patrick heard nothing. Silence.

  Duke relaxed his stance.

  “They might be regrouping,” Richard said. “Some of these attacks have started with a thrown grenade. Most of them miss but a few have hit their marks. One of the attacks started with an RPG. It’s been a mixed bag of things to deal with.”

  “Understood,” Duke said. He removed the magazine from his rifle and set it on the shelf
next to him. Duke pulled a replacement from the clip holding it on the wall, and snapped it into place. He smacked the bottom of it to make sure it had seated properly and moved so that he couldn’t be seen through the viewing port from outside of the pill bunker.

  It was quiet. Patrick noticed that the light coming through the viewing port was fading. Night was coming.

  “Victor,” Richard said. “If you are done with your little experiment, we could use you where the fight actually is.”

  “I was so certain this was going to be the secondary offensive,” Victor said. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  CHAPTER 78

  Joe and Ayrin looked around at the sea of people in the gym. It appeared that almost every relative of the Space Vision staff waited here for word on the attacks happening above them. Murmurs of rumors spread through the crowd. Some spoke of incoming asteroids while others whispered of Fatalists attacking the complex. Some of those in the crowd had tears in their eyes while others told jokes followed by nervous laughter.

  “Race car,” a familiar voice called from behind the Bayhams.

  Joe and Ayrin looked around.

  “Dad?!” Joe called out.

  “Race car,” the voice repeated.

  “Green flag,” the kids yelled back.

  Victor Bayham appeared from behind some people in the crowd. He smiled in the direction of the kids and his eyes seemed to brighten. He closed the distance with long legged strides.

  “Dad!” Joe ran up and grabbed the man in a hug. Ayrin jogged up to them.

  “Hey,” Victor said. “I can’t stay long. Where’s your mother?”

  Joe pointed back to the cot that Mary was sitting on. She stood up when she saw her husband.

  Victor walked over to his wife and wrapped her in his arms. He kissed her and stepped back to look at his family.

  “I love you guys. I have to get to my assignment, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Victor smiled, turned, and disappeared back into the crowd.

  The Bayhams sat back down on the cot and exchanged worried glances.

  CHAPTER 79