Winter Dread, page 31
I’ll cope, I replied. Thanks.
We sat waiting for the right moment to dive in and hit the cogs, instead of the deathly sharp slicing knives. They spun and spun, mesmerised and terrified.
“You ready?” Tyto slapped the metal at my side and I jumped.
I nodded and watched him as he leapt away. I hadn’t thought parkour training should be a thing. Now I wish I’d done at least some. There was nothing below me but empty space. My heart raced.
I trusted him though, and with one jump, I followed.
My feet clunked down hard, mag boots clinging for life as I almost fell over the edge of the cog I’d landed on. Tyto grabbed for me and yanked me inside. There were huge whirring parts, and we ran for it. The sounds above my head dissipated somewhat as we got further in.
By the time Tyto stopped before me and held up a hand, my legs burned and my head spun.
He tapped the side of my head, and I felt the heal come from him. “Thanks,” I said.
“I expected the noise. I guess you didn’t. You damaged your drums.”
I pointed further inside. “We should be able to go in further. There’s no one down this far, just machines. There’s even a couple of security rooms we have access to before we head in anywhere else.”
Zaki’s words came through to me from the ether. “I’m sending you locations of Abi and the others. They’re clumped together, at least.”
The map of the station came to me then, how vast it really was.
“We have quite the trek to get to Abi,” I said and flicked him their location and the map.
“Better get going then.” And we both started toward the flag.
There was some walking to do. Once inside, at least the face shields and O2 dissipated, leaving me feeling a little freer to move around, unencumbered. There was no monorail here, and everything around us was automated. It meant at least for now we’d not be found.
The security rooms were plain, one station and easy access for me to make sure we’d time to get to the next one.
As we made our way in, I started to track heat signatures moving around. There weren’t many, and none of them were even near us, but it was good to be cautious.
“How close can we get to our fighters?” Tyto asked.
I double checked. “There’s a station underneath their area I think we can wait in. There’s been no activity according to Zaki’s research, and no one is anywhere near it. We can wait there till we get the go ahead from Jai.”
“How will we know they’ve even started their assault?”
I smiled at him. “I would imagine there’s still ‘general quarters’ here too. But there’s lights, and even the nites would be able to pass us information. As soon as the ships out there start firing up, we’ll know.”
Up ahead of us as we crested a corridor heading to the next security station and there were several heat signatures. I eased Tyto back, and we hid inside another room to wait for them to pass.
Tyto pulled out some fluids and food for us, and we sat and ate, recuperating some strength from the exertions and filling me at least back up in kenosi as well.
I rested my head back and we waited. “Remind me when we get out of here to run the team through parkour training. Those jumps . . . man.”
32
Zaki’s voice came to me as I think I drifted off slightly. We have incoming to Abi’s position.
I stirred and within a second had the image up from above us. There were several blips coming in towards her and the others.
I shook Tyto. “We’re in trouble. There are several heat sigs coming in.”
“Any idea what they’re doing?” Tyto asked.
“No, but we need to watch them.” I replied. “We’re getting close now to the fleet coming in.”
I saw his eyes mist over slightly, and he nodded.
“Agreed.” I said. “Let’s head in closer if we can. Avoid them. But we’re going to have to be ready if things go to shit.”
“If?” he asked.
I sighed. “Let’s be ready. If we have to pull them out and fight for the next few hours, we’re going to run out of everything we have, and maybe all our lives.”
Tyto shook his head. “We go in only” —he grabbed for my arm— “only if there’s no other option. They will respawn, you know that.”
I did, but somehow it seemed much worse to just let them die. “Okay. I’m not going to risk the whole plan for them, if that’s what you think.”
“Good.”
We made our way out of the security room and into the corridor. Then out and hopefully up towards their room.
Ahead, Asht said.
There was a set of heat sigs coming our way. Tyto pulled us in a different direction and we avoided them, making our way back and then around so we could go up. It was tough, but we needed to also get inside the conduits and into the air vents. Doing that, we could get in and watch the room where our fighters were being held hostage.
Once settled into the vents, we made our way through and above them. There were four guards and two other men in there with them. Our six fighters looked terrible, and Tyto glanced to me. “They’re not doing so good,” he said in a low whisper.
I glanced to all their stats, health and kenosi drained. “I’m not even sure how much longer they will survive.”
“No,” he said. “Can we check the respawn facilities here? Maybe they’d be better with a respawn?”
“They’ve picked the best of our team because they don’t want to respawn them, that’s the point.”
I saw Tyto cringe at my words, close his eyes, and nod. “You’re right. They don’t want to kill them. They want compliance, all the way.”
I didn’t think I could sit there and watch anyone be tortured.
One of the men approached Abi. She was barely dressed, and the device he held in his hand was something I didn’t know.
The macrop, Asht said.
He moved closer to her, brandishing it in front of him, laughing.
“You’re going to spill everything I’m asking,” he said. “I saved this for last.”
It was the hardest thing I ever did watching him put that to her bare skin, but it forced my resolve into something else.
I met Tyto’s gaze with mine, and he put his hand on mine as we heard her screams.
Abi was strong. Fuck, I have no idea how she put up the fight she did. I couldn’t watch.
Asht numbed my hearing, and I closed my eyes.
Tyto shook me a little while later. “They stopped.”
“What’s wrong?”
“We lost two. They couldn’t take it.”
I saw the pain in his eyes. I had no doubt whatsoever he didn’t look away. “If I watch for them, will you go to them?”
It was the way he asked. I nodded. “Help me get these grates open without setting off anything else undetected.”
We both worked at the space before us and then I could drop in. I was careful and eased over the drop. Then, lowering myself gently, I let go. I plopped to the ground with the slightest sound. The four remaining hostages were all out for the count. I moved towards Abi. Her health was doing okay. Low, but okay. The other three were much worse. I picked the lowest of them and stepped closer. Badly beaten, worse than anything I had endured on the training base. I scanned over them. There was break on break. For fuck’s sake.
I couldn’t even cast Intensive Heal. They needed much more than that.
I looked up to Tyto. He shook his head, and he mouthed, “Do it.”
I swallowed and drew my gun. These were my friends, people I knew.
Kyle, Asht said. They will respawn here. They’ll have another chance, and we will own the base.
I know. I know.
My hand shook, but I steadied it with my other. Finger on the trigger. “See you on the other side, my brothers and sisters.” I felt each clunk as I ended their lives.
I couldn’t look back, moving to Abi’s side once more. Taking a knee, I took her head in my hands and cradled her gently. I wiped at the blood dripping down her chin. Her eyes flickered.
“I knew you’d come, Kyle,” she said, then passed out once more. I was quick to cast Intensive Healing as many times as I could, and her health climbed. I hoped it would be enough to get her out of here. My only option with the others was a bullet.
I felt something ripple through the nites. Glancing to Tyto once more, he moved to the opening and dropped down with me. “It’s time.”
“I’m not sure she can walk yet,” I replied. “Ty . . .”
“Do whatever you have to get her on her feet,” Tyto said. “If we don’t move now, we’re not getting out of here with her or the nites.”
I didn’t think I had much else to give, but I could focus and pass her some life energy. Concentrating, I formed the tiny kenosi ball and handed it to her.
She didn’t come around right away, but I did see her eyes move again.
“We’ve got incoming heat sigs,” Tyto said. “We have leave. Now.”
“Come on,” I begged. “You gotta get up. If you don’t get up right now, Tyto will pull that trigger on you as well.”
He nodded, and I knew he would. He didn’t have to tell me. I knew it. We couldn’t have her with us if she couldn’t get up and walk, or even push it and run.
She stirred.
“Abi. You have to stand.” Her eyes flickered and opened wide. “That’s it. Focus, you have to move. Now.”
I was amazed as she pushed herself up, and though moments before her bones and body had been smashed, she was steady.
“Kyle.” Her bottom lip quivered. “Get me the fuck out of here.”
I didn’t need any other direction, and neither did Tyto. He was at the door and out.
I reached in and pulled out a weapon for her. Abi took it and then was out following Tyto. I glanced to the other fighters and, lowering my head, left them.
The corridors we followed were empty, and we made quick headway back to the choppers.
“You know where you’re going?” Abi asked.
“The same way we came in,” I replied. “We’re hoping to meet a shuttle that way, and your nites will be shutting down weapons and vital systems as we pass them.”
“That’s awesome. Where is Zaki?”
“He said he would meet us back at the choppers with the others to get out of here.”
Abi nodded. “Good. I didn’t know any of them would survive.”
“Neither did we. I’m glad there are many.”
It was seconds later when the whole area around us lit up with red. “What?”
Jai’s voice came through to me then, and I could hear his frustration. “We’re hitting them with everything we have, Kyle. There’s no shuttle incoming. I’m not sure we’re going to take the base. If you can get the hell off it without us . . .”
Fuck.
I stopped. “Ty, we need another plan. Shuttle can’t get in.”
Abi spoke. “Get me to their hangars and we’ll take anything we can to get out of here.”
“Two floors down, but there’s so many of them . . .” Internally, I called for her nite. Zaki, we’re heading in a different direction. Get to the hangar bay two decks down. Follow us.
We’re not getting off here, but we will get you out, came his reply. Just blag Abi for me. She won’t take this right now.
I looked her way as Tyto was quick to start rerouting us down with his nites and those in the ship. I will, I replied. Hit my comms to Jai. “We’ll get off the station. If you have to take it out, do it. We’re not saving anything here.”
“Got it, we will.”
“You can’t destroy it,” Abi said. “All the . . .” Her voice broke and her gun hand shook.
I stepped towards her. “We will do whatever it takes. Those who need to we will see on the other side, but these men will not be allowed back. Understand?” I put my hand on hers and stopped the shaking.
“Re-routed,” Tyto said. “We have a mostly green route, but it won’t last. Soon as they know we’re here, they’ll start to track us in.”
“They won’t,” I said. “We’ve incoming help and they’ll blow everything they can on the way past.”
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s go then.”
Zaki came to me minutes later as we reached the hangar level. We’ve got a ship secured. There’re nites already taking it over. All you need to do is get on it. They won’t know anything as we’ll cover your tracks digitally. But any visuals you’ll have to take out as you enter the bay.
Got it.
“Shuttle flag listing up.” I said. “Head for it and take down any enemies or even friendlies you have to on the way.”
“We’re gonna be shooting our way out.” Abi said.
“Yes, don’t leave anyone. If word gets out, they might nuke our escape.”
“Done.” Abi agreed.
The hangar doors opened into chaos, which was normal for a station under extreme fire. No one even looked our way. Engineers and techs literally ran everywhere. There wasn’t a single gun pointed in our direction. As soon as Tyto realised this, his weapon was away, and he was in just walking. Pretending like nothing was happening.
The ship and our flag lay ahead of us. It seemed too easy. Far too easy . . .
Abi palmed to get on, and we watched everyone around us still go about their business as if we weren’t there.
“In,” she said, and we turned to jump aboard as quick as possible. The door closing behind us. Thoughts of the nites out there flashing in my mind.
We’ve got this, Zaki said. Trust us. Get her the hell out!
Abi was in the pilot seat and Tyto next to her. Hands flew over the console. Engines sparked. The ship underneath us hummed. “We’re all green,” Abi said. “We’re going to follow all the others out into the battlefield. Just a ship doing nothing but good. Well, evil.”
My nerves were shot, my hands shaking. When the hangar bay doors opened, and we got our first glimpse of the carnage going on out there . . . holy crap. There were no words for what we could see. Tyto looked at me, and so did Abi. “Who is that?”
“Cinna’s Protection Fleet out in force.”
“Just for us?”
“They were already here waiting,” I said.
She turned back to the console and was programming and getting the ship up and following the others out in seconds.
The line of ships and fighters was frightening, and they were all heading for our fleet.
Lasers and missile trails lit up everywhere as they were all fighting for what they wanted. Life, power. I couldn’t see a way out of this. I focussed on Future Insight. There was no way out of it. Nothing but . . . death and more death.
“Tyto,” I said. “I have to do it. I have to cripple them.”
Abi didn’t know what I was talking about. Her questions I left unanswered and locked eyes with Tyto. “Get us out of here,” I said. “I’ll do the rest.”
Watching them for a minute as they negotiated us out of the line and off in a slightly different but not stupid direction, I waited, then moved back into the small holding section I had as a kind of medical area. I sat down and buckled myself in. Pulling the console there towards me, I lay my hands on it and focussed. First looking for what I needed to address the fleet over full comms.
“This is Kyle Ranz of the Metal Titans. You will not stop firing. What’s coming is one chance. Don’t miss it.”
I cut the comms and started my last-ditch attempt. I didn’t know how far I’d be able to reach. What I’d done in previous fights was nowhere near this large. I spoke clear to Zaki on the station. “You can hit the station the same time as I do this. Together we have a chance.”
We’re ready. Just say the word.
I wish I knew what word to say, but he knew, and I knew. I wouldn’t speak.
As the surrounding energy began to draw in, I felt it was different. Something about being out in space. Or maybe it was the darkness. It did feel different.
Then I heard the voice coming to me at a whisper . . .
“Kyle, it is good to see you again. Why do we keep meeting in these circumstances?”
“You aren’t here,” I answered. “Not now.”
“Why not now? What’s so different about what you want to do here than any other place or time?”
“I need to do this. You can’t.”
“But I can, because you owe me.”
I struggled to think of anything I could counter him with. I knew he was right. I did. I’d asked him the utmost and given him my word.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“You know what I want, my debt paid.”
“They can’t lose.”
“Oh, but why not? What would it mean to you if they did win?”
I couldn’t give him anything else, I had nothing else in me to give.
“You don’t know that, Kyle. You have no idea what you have inside you.”
My kenosi reached out, and all the nites in this system, in the enemy fighters started to respond to me. They were mine to control. He had nothing, nothing on me. I didn’t need him.
“No, maybe you don’t right now. But you will. You will not always have what it takes to do the right thing, and you know it.”
His voice faded, and my reach dipped slightly, but I was strong enough. I had everything outside this station poised. All I had to do was stop them. Stop them just like I had Quill, and the enemy ships going against my friends. These here were all my friends. Fighting for me, for us.
I was ready.
With a thought, every enemy vessel stopped dead, and ours continued to fire.
It was glorious.
The station itself was in pure turmoil. I saw power flicker out. Then there were several explosions. Their shields failed. The Imperator, in full swing, launched all missiles, and they struck hard. I hated to see it, such destruction. But one side exploded in several directions, and I could see one of their weapons coming back online.
The Imperator was in its sights. I didn’t know if they could take that kind of energy weapon.
“Ivanov,” I shouted.
