Nemesis: A Near Future Thriller (Forsaken Mercenary Book 6)

by Jonathan Yanez

  I found myself admiring her once more, not for her beauty or fighting prowess this time, but for her intellect and ingenuity.

  “Ma’am,” Sergeant Toy asked quietly. “A word if I may?”

  “I’ll help watch over Rival,” Laine answered. She pressed the barrel of her sniper rifle against the back of Rival’s skull.

  “Oh, like a scalp massage,” Rival said, rubbing the back of his head gently against the weapon. “Mmmm, Daddy like.”

  “If I never hear you say those words again, it would be too soon,” Cassie answered without taking her eyes off her work.

  Sergeant Toy and Major Valentine took a step to the left. The major jerked her head over, indicating I should join them.

  “I’m a soldier first,” Sergeant Toy started. “If you tell me to shut my mouth and do as told I will, no more questions. However, it seems like we may be doing more here than hunting for Aleron Jacobs.”

  Major Valentine paused for a moment.

  “That’s because we are,” the major finally answered. “Yes, we are hunting for Aleron Jacobs. We have intel that leads us to believe he is on his way here. We’re also here to make contact with an ex Immortal Corp technician hiding out here. This technician has information both we and Aleron want. It is imperative that we get to him before Aleron does.”

  Sergeant Toy nodded slowly. It was obvious he wanted more answers to the list of questions burning inside, but he held his tongue.

  “Understood. Thank you, ma’am,” Sergeant Toy said instead of asking another question. “If I may relay that information to my unit, I think it would help us ensure the mission’s success.”

  “You may,” Major Valentine answered.

  The sergeant saluted and moved off down the line to talk to his Titans.

  “What are we getting ourselves into here, Daniel?” the major asked with a sigh. “The further we go down the jackrabbit hole, the deeper it gets.”

  “Never a dull moment,” I answered. “You holding up all right?”

  “Always.” Major Valentine eyed me with a smile. “When I met you on the moon, I should have known you were trouble. Just a space-sick mercenary on his way to Earth.”

  “Got it,” Cassie said before I could answer. “And he’s close.”

  We all turned to look over at Cassie, whose blue holographic display floated above her left forearm.

  “Four blocks west,” I said, squinting at the map. “Let’s go.”

  Major Valentine gave Sergeant Toy his new heading and we moved out in that direction.

  Laine was about to place the helmet on Rival’s head once more.

  “Please, I’ve been a good boy,” Rival pleaded. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked. Please, not the helmet again. You already have my hands magnetically cuffed and the explosive around my neck. What am I going to do?”

  Laine looked over at the major for direction.

  “Helmet goes on, Mercer,” Major Valentine insisted. “I’ve seen images of what you do to your victims once you’ve earned their trust. I like my head where it’s at.”

  Right before Laine placed the helmet on Rival’s head, I saw a sneer cross his usually jovial lips. A darkness touched him from the eyes down. In that split second, I saw Rival for the devil he really was.

  With clear direction in place, everyone seemed eager to be on the move again. We headed west further into the city. The fog was still heavy here, but not as soupy or dense. Walking in the middle of the ancient road, I was able to see the ruined stone structures of what had once been a city.

  Moss and lichen grew on the stone walls that remained. Nearly every roof was gone, caved in or completely deteriorated.

  With the recession of the fog also came the insects. Flying bugs drifted through the air, not afraid to land on our armor or even weapons. Swarms of the insects left us alone for the most part but flew together around our perimeter as if they were eyeing us to see if we exposed any kind of flesh for them to land on.

  We pressed further on, now hearing the distinct sounds of wild life in the Swamp Lands. Laine was right, there was plenty of life all around us. Once we made the change in direction from heading north and whatever animal lay in wait there, it seemed a new part of the swamps opened up to us.

  The Titans used lights mounted on their ends of their barrels and helmets to cut through what darkness they were able.

  Shadows shifted and morphed in the fog unlike anything I had ever seen before.

  “We should hold here,” Cassie suggested over an open line we shared with Sergeant Toy. “Marker is indicating our target is a block up on the right. No movement from the target.”

  “Understood,” Major Valentine answered. “Sergeant, we should assume nothing here. I wouldn’t put it past Rival to have led us on a wild goose chase for his own amusement. There could be a trap waiting for us.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sergeant Toy answered.

  “Wait,” I interjected. “I’ll go. I didn’t come to let others do the fighting and dying for me. If this could be a trap. I should be first in for multiple reasons.”

  I let that last part hang in the air. Major Valentine had seen me heal. Where others might be met with death or permanent damage, what made me different would protect me.

  “I agree,” Major Valentine answered before Sergeant Toy could argue. “Daniel will take point with your Titans backing him up.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sergeant Toy said with a bite in his words.

  I nodded to the major and Cassie and slowly jogged to the front with my Hyperion Mark Seven. Cassie fell in step beside me as we trotted to the front.

  “No way I’m letting you go in alone. Have you even met you?” Cassie teased. “You’re about as careful as a wild mutated boar in the Hole.”

  I knew arguing with her was useless.

  We reached Sergeant Toy a few meters up. He conferred with a six-man team from his Titans.

  “Do you have a map of the building we’ll be securing?” Sergeant Toy asked Cassie.

  “Yes.” Cassie pulled it up for everyone to see.

  The blue holographic screen popped to life in the air. We all huddled around to see a corner building up ahead on our right and a small red dot inside.

  “Target is to be taken alive, weapons ready,” Sergeant Toy explained. “Daniel and Cassie will be going in first. We’ll surround the building and provide backup where needed.”

  Head nods and words of affirmative met his orders.

  Cassie and I headed down the street, moving from the center of the road to the relative shelter of the dilapidated building on the right. The Titans switched off the lights on the barrels of their weapons as well as lights on their shoulders and helmets. These secondary lights seemed to have been optional for the unit of Galactic Government Shadow Praetorians. Some of them had them, others did not.

  I took the lead with Cassie close behind. Sergeant Toy linked us into a channel along with him and his chosen Titans going on the raid.

  A tingle of excitement hit me when I knew I should be scared or nervous. Adrenaline heightened my senses, sending my heart hammering in my chest. Cassie was right. There was something about adding fog to the scenario that sent one on edge.

  Most of us leaned so heavily on our sense of sight. When that was taken away, we were useless. Instead of focusing on what I couldn’t see at the moment, I used my other senses to probe my surroundings and understand what I could see.

  The chirps and clicks of insects permeated the fog around us. Every so often, a rush of wings that singled out some kind of bird or bat maybe. A distinct rustic smell of a fire wafted through the ventilators in my helmet.

  I crouched at the corner, thinking of the best way to approach the building. If this was in fact where the technician was hiding, I assumed there were traps set up around the perimeter. Living here, it was clear he did not want to be found.

  “If you take point, I’ll cover your back,” Cassie said, crouching next to me. “Watch your step; something d
oesn’t feel right.”

  “I know what you mean,” I answered. “This whole thing has been way too easy so far.”

  Cassie nodded. “Eyes open, weapon ready.”

  Twenty-Four

  I checked my Hyperion Mark Seven one more time before pressing the butt of the weapon against my right shoulder. Bent at the knees, I walked across the street.

  Out of my peripheral vision, I could see Sergeant Toy and his Titans taking up positions, forming a circle around the corner building.

  As I got closer to the building, I could begin to see differences that set this one apart from all the rest. Yes, the rock walls were still covered in green lichen and moss, but this structure had a roof, and although half broken and caved in, the other half still held.

  There was a window on my side of the street covered with a curtain of vines. The smell of a burning fire came stronger now, stinging my nostrils.

  Quietly, I walked over to the window.

  I was about to reach for the curtain of vines to push them back and peer inside, when Cassie caught my arm.

  I looked over to her for direction.

  She eyed me then started at the vines I was about to push aside. At the bottom of the vines near the sill of the window, an ever-so-faint red light showed through. I missed it before because the vines hovered just in front of the light. If I had moved the vines, no doubt one of them would have broken the light and triggered some kind of warning or trap.

  I nodded my thanks instead of risking words being used.

  Cassie brought out a single blade from the metal prosthetic on her right forearm. The weapon emerged with a wet sound as it was unsheathed from her arm. Ever so gently, she cut the tops of a pair of the vines, careful not to allow the lower parts to touch the red light.

  We both peered inside the building.

  A single room made up the interior of the house with the remains of a small fire smoldering in the middle. There was a desk with a broken leg against one wall and a chair in no better condition beside it.

  Along with the sight, a new smell infiltrated my helmet. Something like stale alcohol hit me full in the face. Against the far wall was some kind of contraption I took as a distillery.

  Near the fire, a figure lay prostrate and unmoving. It was too dark to see details, but it looked like a man.

  I miss that night vision, X, I thought to myself. We’ll see you soon.

  “Can you disable the trip beam?” I breathed barely loud enough for Cassie to hear me.

  Cassie nodded an affirmative.

  The Cyber Hunter went to work analyzing the trap. It was simple: two small metal cylinders stuck to the lower half of the window with a red light running between the pair. Anything that disrupted the light would trigger the trap.

  While Cassie worked, I took the time to loop Sergeant Toy in on the situation.

  “Sergeant,” I whispered. “We have eyes on the target. We’re going in through the window. Have your team close the perimeter and watch for trip beams and anything else that might be waiting for us.”

  “Understood,” Sergeant Toy answered.

  I turned back to see Cassie work. Her deft fingers examined the metal cylinder on the left that shared the responsibility of holding the red light with its counterpart.

  Carefully, Cassie removed the rest of the vines, completely opening the window.

  I kept my eyes on the sleeping form of the man near the fire. He didn’t move.

  Cassie was quiet and efficient as she worked.

  “I can’t disable it, but we can get in if we skirt the trip beam,” she said so low, I barely understood her.

  I nodded.

  Leaning down and providing a step for her by interlocking my fingers, I gave her a boost.

  Cassie placed a boot in the impromptu step and ventured up through the window. A second later, she was inside. Reaching back, she pressed her left arm outside and against the building, her hand cupped to provide a foothold.

  Her super human strength as a Cyber Hunter apparently came in handy for climbing rock walls as well. Without question, I placed my left boot in her hand.

  I used the frame of the window itself to pull myself up and inside. I came down without a sound, the Hyperion Mark Seven aimed at the slumbering man by the fire.

  Inside, the smell of whatever kind of swamp alcohol being created and consumed was overwhelming. It made me want to gag and throw up in my helmet at once. The cringe on Cassie’s face told me she felt the same way.

  Along with the odor was the smell of excrement. I assumed it was human waste, but I had no desire to investigate that further.

  Weapons on the sleeping figure, we moved toward the fire that was now nothing more than a few embers.

  Snoring drifted from the filthy man, who lay on his left side toward the fire. His hair was unkempt and matted like layers of spider webs. He wore tattered clothing and hugged a stained blanket as he continued to snore.

  I searched the room for anything else I could be missing. No other traps, no one else.

  I looked up at Cassie for consensus. She nodded, sheathing the blade on her right forearm. A half-circled barrel rose from her right forearm as she prepared to fire on the man if he tried anything.

  “Hey, rise and shine, buddy,” I said, nudging the man with the barrel of my weapon. “Come on; you need to wake up and take a bath.”

  The man mumbled something, his eyes drifted open then closed again. He continued to snore.

  “Hey,” I said, louder this time, rolling him over with my boot. “Wake up. We need to talk to you.”

  This time, the man rolled over on his back, looking up at us with bloodshot eyes.

  “So you’ve finally come for me.” The man took a heavy breath. “Go ahead, kill me.”

  “Not so fast,” I answered, lowering my weapon. “We’re not here to answer your death wish. We need your help.”

  The man yawned, showing rows of stained teeth. He looked at me, then Cassie, as if he were deciding if we were real or not. He reached inside his filthy blanket.

  Both Cassie and I snapped our weapons, aiming them at his skull.

  That didn’t seem to bother the man. He squinted at us, taking time to examine me, then Cassie, and back and forth again.

  He removed his hand from the insides of his blanket holding a fist-sized brown glass bottle. He unplugged the cork, lifting the liquid to his lips, and drained the bottle.

  “You should really lay off the sauce,” Cassie told him. “Doesn’t look like you’re making the best life choices around here.”

  The man smacked his lips before placing the empty bottle beside the fire. He moved as if he were just going to go back to sleep.

  I had enough.

  “Listen,” I told him, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and dragging him to his feet. “We’ve come a long way to speak with you. I have a friend who’s in trouble. Now I’m going to get my answers the easy way or the hard way. It’ll be better for both of us if it’s the easy way.”

  The man rose on unsteady feet, slapping away at my hand.

  I released him.

  “You’re not going to kill me,” the man mumbled, half walking half falling as he made his way toward the back wall of his living space. “But how do I know you’re not my imagination?”

  As he talked, he went to his home-made distillery and grabbed another dusty bottle from the contraption.

  I lifted my weapon as he lifted the bottle to his lips.

  I let a round free, shattering the lower half of the bottle in his hand.

  The noise of the blast echoed in the small room.

  Cassie spoke on the comm channel, informing everyone that things were okay and what was going on.

  “Does your imagination do that?” I asked.

  The drunk looked at the half bottle in his hand and still tried to upend the bottle into his gullet to get a few drops of alcohol that remained. When he couldn’t, he threw it over his shoulder.

  Finally, he looked at
me. He really took his time looking at me. Although I had no doubt he was drunk, the wheels behind his dead eyes were beginning to turn.

  “Whoever you are, just leave me alone.” The drunk turned back to grab another bottle on a shelf on his distillery. He began tinkering with some of the gauges and switched on the contraption. It sputtered then began to steam and whistle as he prepared to brew another serving.

  I was running out of time and options. The last thing I could do now was wait and try to convince some crazy drunk to help us. I needed to expedite the process.

  I opened up with the Hyperion Mark Seven, peppering the machine with enough rounds to ensure it never worked again.

  The drunk stepped back, cringing, and shouted as he held his hands over his ears.

  I couldn’t really tell what he was saying, but I could tell he was pissed. Good, so was I.

  A few seconds later, the distillery was nothing more than scrap metal on the floor.

  “What are you doing!?” the drunk screamed. “Are you crazy!”

  “Definitely,” I answered.

  Cassie gave me a disapproving stare as she went back onto the comm channel to explain what that outburst was everyone just heard.

  “We’re going to get you sobered up, cleaned up, and we’re going to get some answers,” I told him. “I don’t want to hurt you. We’re just here to get some information.”

  The drunk fell to his knees, still crying about his lost stash of alcohol.

  “I’m done,” he mumbled. “I’m done with that life. I’m done working for corporations. I don’t want any part of it. Just kill me now. I won’t go back.”

  “No one’s taking you back.” Cassie tried a different approach of reassuring the man. She even knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We just need a few answers. That’s it.”

  The drunk looked back at us through hair so greasy and matted, it was a wonder it was still held together on his head.

  “I know what you want. Don’t make me speak of it.” The drunk shuddered. “The things I’ve done. The things I’ve seen. You don’t understand. How could you?”