Impulse, page 22
part #12 of First Colony Series
Connor twisted the dial on the AR-74, increasing the power to maximum, and set the configuration to plasma lance.
“Where the hell are they?” Diaz asked. “We’re running out of ground.”
Connor peered ahead. A few hundred meters away, the ground disappeared in a sea of clouds.
“Anytime now, Sergeant,” Connor said.
“On your six,” Tui replied.
The C-cat flew above the distant fog and began to descend, but the damn snow beasts leaped into the air, trying to grab the ship. The pilot banked to the side, avoiding the thick claws. The Hercules class C-cat wasn’t an agile ship. It flew like it was dragging its ass behind it.
The ship closed the distance and flew ahead of them, slowing down and allowing them to catch up as the loading ramp lowered. Connor saw one of the snow beasts slithering ahead. Plasma bolts from Urret’s rifle bounced harmlessly off the thick hide. He couldn’t get a clear shot at the creature’s vulnerable underbelly.
The snow beast increased its speed, moving toward the ship. It carried enough mass to pull the ship out of the sky, and Connor couldn’t let that happen.
With Diaz gunning the accelerator, the rover closed in on the loading ramp and lurched forward as the front tires bounced off the ramp.
The snow beast bawled another unworldly howl and leaped into the air. Connor aimed his weapon and fired a bar of blue-white fire. The plasma lance slammed into the creature with such force that it sloughed off its bottom jaw and then sliced into its neck. The creature went limp like a flying sack of meat.
The ship turned away from the creature and slowed down enough for the rover to get on the ramp. Diaz jerked the wheel to the side to keep them from flying off, and the ramp began to close. The ship rose, and Connor watched as the creatures chased them to the edge and dove beneath the low-lying clouds, disappearing.
22
Connor dropped his rifle. Shuno had his eyes squeezed shut and still clutched Connor’s waist.
“It’s over,” Connor said.
Shuno opened his eyes and let Connor go. Connor sat down to take a few deep breaths and exchanged looks with Urret and Shuno. The rover’s doors opened, and Diaz climbed out, along with several Mekaal and Konus soldiers.
Connor looked at Urret. “What the hell were those things?”
“I don’t know,” Urret replied.
Connor looked at Shuno.
“I don’t know what they are either,” The Konus soldier said.
Connor puffed out a breath and looked at Diaz. “Nice driving.”
Diaz barked out a laugh. “Leave it to us to find some new creature no one has ever heard of before.”
Lenora ran over to them, her eyes wide.
“I’m all right,” Connor said. He still sat on the roof, not wanting to move.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
Connor looked down at his legs. “I’m pretty sure,” he said and looked around. “We’re missing some people.”
“The pilot is making another pass, but not everyone made it,” Lenora said.
Connor climbed down from the roof of the rover, and they were checked for injuries. The survivors had managed to escape with a few bumps and bruises. They’d lost two rovers. Three of Urret’s soldiers hadn’t made it, and two Konus soldiers also died at the hands of the snow beasts. As quickly as the fog had rolled in, it left, and only small remnants could be seen on the icy plains. The area around the bunker looked as if it had been bombarded.
Sepal confirmed that there were no records of those creatures but said he’d need to search the historical archives in Shetrian to be sure.
“Why did those things attack us?” Noah asked.
“Could be territorial,” Lenora replied.
Connor frowned. “They could have been protecting the bunker. It was clear they didn’t want us anywhere near there.”
The others became quiet.
“That’s a long time for any creature to guard something,” Noah said.
“They probably made a home there,” Lenora said.
Connor looked at Noah. “The two rovers we lost—were they carrying the data modules?”
Noah nodded. “We lost half of them, but the uplink is still working.”
Lenora looked at Connor. “Maybe we should see if there’s anything to salvage from the wreckage.”
The pilot flew the ship over the bunker, making several passes, but the creatures had dragged the rovers under the ice as if they were erasing all evidence near the bunker.
“That answers that,” Connor said.
They separated to get cleaned up and regroup. Connor was alone with Lenora.
He looked at her. “Thanks.”
Lenora frowned. “For what?”
“For going back to the ship.”
A flicker of annoyance showed in her gaze. “Noah convinced me it was for the best.”
“He was right.”
Lenora closed her eyes. “I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Connor hugged her and she squeezed him tightly. A soft moan escaped her lips.
She stepped back. “You’d think I’d be used to it by now.”
“Heck, I’m not used to it. You think I expected giant snow beasts to break through the ice and attack us?”
Lenora rolled her eyes. “Snow beasts,” she said.
Connor chuckled. “Until the biologists come up with a better name, I prefer to keep it simple.”
Diaz walked over to them. “We need to talk.”
Connor nodded. “All of us.”
Diaz looked at Lenora. “Give us a second.”
Lenora nodded and patted Diaz’s arm as she walked past him.
Diaz smiled a little and then lifted his gaze toward Connor. “I know what you were doing.”
Connor arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
Diaz shook his head and sighed heavily. “I was out of line. I’m sorry.”
Connor reached out and squeezed Diaz’s shoulder. “We’ll find him.”
Diaz nodded and his eyes became tight. “We better.”
“Come on,” Connor said.
They returned to the common area where the surviving members of the expedition had gathered.
“We’re cutting the expedition short,” Connor said. “There’s been an attack on the colonial embassy in Shetrian. The latest intelligence shows that the attack may have been a distraction to kidnap a group of scientists who were working to improve fertility among the Mekaal.”
He paused for a moment and looked at the two groups of Ovarrow in the room.
“The Mekaal and CDF are searching for them while investigating how the attack managed to breach so many security measures. The latest update I’ve just gotten suggests that there was both Konus and Mekaal involvement in the attack. The Konus government is denying responsibility in this matter.” He looked at Diaz for a moment before continuing. “If we get wrapped up in blaming people for the attack, we’ll never get to what’s important. We need to find those scientists. Whoever took them executed a well-planned operation.”
“Why would anyone do this?” Noah asked.
“The method for increasing fertility among Ovarrow females requires genetic manipulation that will lead to behavior changes. That’s as much as I know about it. It’s a controversial topic. Perhaps there were those among the Konus who saw this as an advantage that they wanted for themselves,” he said and looked at Shuno. The Konus soldier stared at him. “However, since there was also Mekaal involvement, indications are that maybe there were some who thought this type of solution had gone too far. We’ll find out eventually, but what concerns me are the innocent lives who’ve been caught in the crossfire. Diaz’s son is among those who’ve been kidnapped.” Several Mekaal and Konus looked at Diaz for a moment. “On this ship we have representatives from all parties involved. Shuno has been ordered to return home. And Urret, I’ve just received similar orders for you.”
“So, we’re heading to Shetrian then?” Noah asked.
Connor inhaled deeply and sighed. “That’s what we’re here to decide. I’m not going to hold anyone here against their will. However, I am going to do everything I can to rescue those scientists. I think there’s help to be had here.”
Urret leaned forward. “We will assist in any way we can.”
Shuno looked at Connor for a few moments. “You’d let us go?”
Connor nodded. “I would.”
“What are you proposing?”
“That we work together to find Diaz’s son and the rest of the scientists.”
“I don’t know how I can help with that,” Shuno said.
“We can get to that, but first, are you willing to help us find the scientists?”
Shuno looked at the other Konus soldiers. Then he looked at Connor. “Disobeying orders could lead to exile.”
Connor wasn’t surprised. Both the Mekaal and Konus lived by a much stricter code, with sometimes harsh repercussions.
“We’ve had to contend with rogue groups in the colony, which the Mekaal have had to deal with. And I’d be surprised if the Konus were immune to this, whatever the current Warlord says.”
“I still don’t know what you expect from us,” Shuno replied.
“Help us with the search. I don’t think they’re in the city anymore, but searching the surrounding countryside is going to take too long. If we work together, perhaps we can narrow the search grid.”
Shuno considered this for a few moments. “If I agree to this, it must be kept secret. Our cooperation cannot be known to anyone outside of those on this ship.”
Connor had hoped to share their findings with the search efforts, but he recognized that Shuno was taking on a significant risk to help him. “Okay, we’ll keep this between us. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Shuno said.
“Agreed,” Urret said.
Connor looked at Diaz, and his friend gave a single approving nod. Connor brought up a holoscreen with a map of the region where Shetrian was located. “Okay, first I’ll take you through how the attack occurred and we can go from there.”
23
For days, Koukax had marched them at a relentless pace. Isaac and the other prisoners had hardly been allowed to rest. They eventually made it to another camp where they collapsed from exhaustion. The harrowing days since they’d been kidnapped stretched out in his memory like a nightmare he would never be able to forget. He couldn’t figure out how far away from Shetrian they’d gone. He hadn’t seen or heard anyone searching for them. Koukax and his soldiers ensured that they kept moving. Anyone who couldn’t go on was beaten until they started walking again. If they failed to do that, they would be shot. Isaac had helped Jordan as much as he could. She was devastated by Julian’s murder. Even Curtis had helped, lending his shoulder to keep her upright and moving. Their captors didn’t care if they helped one another as long as they kept going.
Over time, Isaac caught Curtis staring at him with a scowl and then nodding to himself as if he were having a private conversation. Ella had tried to speak to him, but he just withdrew as though trying to separate himself from the others.
The entire trek was conducted under a forest canopy, and Isaac thought this was done to keep them ignorant of where they were going, as well as hiding them from potential rescuers.
Koukax had brought their lab equipment. After letting the prisoners rest for a few hours, they were ordered to set up the lab to reproduce the cure for Ovarrow infertility. After Koukax’s previous demonstrations, no one put up much resistance and began setting up a mobile lab. The message was clear to all of them. The lab assistants would be put to death for any delays by the scientists.
Agent Franklin had regained consciousness during their journey and managed to convince Koukax that he was also a scientist. Dr. Rostova had vouched for his claim. Franklin walked with slumped shoulders, favoring one side. He did this so well that even Isaac believed he’d been defeated.
Isaac threw himself into his duties, helping the scientists with whatever they needed. None of the interns wanted to be seen standing idly by, and the scientists kept them as busy as possible. They needed time for the CDF to find them, but Isaac was losing hope that it was ever going to happen. He was tired and frustrated.
Koukax wanted a working version of the infertility cure, but they only had the equipment they’d taken from the embassy as part of the presentation at the Capitol. They also had a limited amount of time to recreate the compounds that still needed to be tested in an Ovarrow female, but Koukax wasn’t concerned with any of that. He wanted what he referred to as ‘the serum,’ and if they didn’t deliver it, they were as good as dead.
Isaac searched through a storage container for empty sample trays. Curtis stood nearby as if in a daze. Isaac looked around to see if the soldiers on duty were watching them, but they weren’t.
“Curtis, are you all right?”
Curtis’s head twitched to the side.
“Come on, you’ve got to keep moving.”
Curtis turned toward Isaac. His blond hair hung over his eyes in a greasy mess, and he lifted his chin and scowled. “This is your fault,” he hissed.
Isaac frowned.
“You could have gotten us out of there, but you had to be a hero,” Curtis said, softly.
Isaac gritted his teeth, ignoring Curtis as he retrieved a small bag of sample trays, but Curtis grabbed his arm as he was passing.
“It should have been you.”
Isaac tried to pull his arm away, but Curtis wouldn’t let go.
“Julian is dead because of you,” he said in a deadly soft whisper.
Rage like hot plasma seared through Isaac, and he punched Curtis in the face. Curtis fell backward, letting go of Isaac’s arm, and Isaac charged toward him, growling. Blood leaked from Curtis’s nose and lips. Isaac hunched over him, fist raised. Curtis glared up at him, and for a moment, all Isaac saw was Julian being shot by Koukax and Julian’s lifeless body falling to the ground.
Someone grabbed Isaac from behind and pulled him away. Isaac growled, reaching toward Curtis, but someone else had rushed toward him, blocking Isaac’s view.
“That’s enough!” Agent Franklin said.
Isaac struggled against the CIB agent, but he was much stronger than he’d been acting. Franklin grabbed Isaac’s arms and leaned toward his ear. “They’ll kill you. They will kill you. Stop now.”
Isaac looked toward where the Konus soldiers were standing guard, watching with their weapons half raised. Isaac raised his hands a little and stopped struggling.
As if summoned by the commotion, Koukax approached the soldiers and swung his cold gaze toward Isaac. Then, he strode over to them.
Agent Franklin released Isaac.
“What is the meaning of this?” Koukax asked.
Isaac stared at the ground for a moment.
“It was just a disagreement about the size of sample trays to be retrieved,” Agent Franklin said.
Koukax narrowed his gaze and leaned toward Isaac, peering at him intently. Isaac raised his gaze, and the cold, vertical pupils seemed to freeze Isaac’s guts. “Get back to work. Your life is worth little as it is.”
Isaac swallowed and his mind went numb. He stood up and retrieved the fallen sample trays.
“We’ve got it from here,” Agent Franklin said.
Koukax stared at him for a few moments. Agent Franklin gestured toward one of the tables with the lab equipment.
“Get those over there, now,” he said to Isaac.
Isaac carried two trays over to the table. A few seconds later, Agent Franklin joined him and they began preparing the empty trays. A few minutes passed before Isaac glanced behind him. Koukax had gone, but the soldiers watched him.
“Stay focused,” Agent Franklin said quietly. Isaac turned back around. “Don’t give them a reason to hurt you.”
Isaac nodded.
“Listen to me. Curtis is barely keeping it together. Don’t let him get to you.”
“Why hasn’t anyone come for us yet?” Isaac asked while lining up small containers in the slots on the sample trays.
“They’re looking for us, but it takes time.”
“We should try to escape.”
Agent Franklin picked up one of the test tubes and peered at it. “The ryklars would pick us off before we got very far.”
Isaac almost turned to look at him.
“I heard one of the soldiers talking,” Agent Franklin said.
“I can’t just do nothing and wait to be rescued.”
Agent Franklin nodded and placed the clear tube back onto the tray. “If you want to help, then pay attention.”
Isaac frowned and waited a few moments. “To what?”
“Everything,” Agent Franklin said. “Watch. Listen. Remember. Look for the kink in their armor.”
Isaac nodded a little. “I can do that.”
“Good. Also, I think there are some old buildings nearby. The suppressor field generator is there.”
“How do you know?”
“They’re using portable suppressor generators and they have a limited range. I think there’s a small comms tower. If they link off of it, they can extend the range without depleting the power supply.”
Isaac sighed. All this time, he could have been doing something useful, gathering intelligence like Agent Franklin had.
“Hey,” Agent Franklin said. “Stop beating yourself up. I’m trained for this. You’re doing fine.”
Isaac exhaled through his nose. “If that were true, they never would have kidnapped us.”
Agent Franklin looked at him. His shoulders were slumped and he looked as if he were exhausted, but his eyes were alert. “I heard what happened. You can’t do anything about it now.”
He picked up a tray and started to walk away but stopped. “Remember, you’re still here because of what you did. That’s gotta count for something,” he said and then added in a louder voice, “Those are all wrong. Go back to the storage containers and get the right ones.”
Agent Franklin walked over to where Dr. Rostova and Dr. Townsend were hunched over a workstation attached to some lab equipment.
