by Isaac Hooke
“I’m not sure if that was a compliment, or an insult,” Rhea told him. “It sounds almost like you’re saying I make more mistakes than an ordinary human would.”
“I meant it as a compliment,” Brinks said slowly. “In that, you display more human emotion, more heart, than most of us with organic bodies do.”
She smiled. She thought he had definitely backtracked, but he did in such a way that she couldn’t be the least bit upset with him. “I appreciate that.”
The SUV jerked rather harshly, ruining the moment.
“Are we under attack?” Rhea spun and scanned the horizons.
“No, just a bad bump,” Will said, rubbing his head.
She nodded.
After a moment, Will added: “You know, you probably should have just let the mayor send in a strike team. He wants Veil dead just as much as you do.”
“And risk scaring him off?” Rhea said. “I don’t think so. Don’t you remember what DragonHunter told us?” DragonHunter was a hacker who had helped them track a transmission from Veil to the Aradne city hall. “The Black Hands, and thus Veil, always seem to be one step ahead of the security forces. If we had the mayor dispatch a strike team, they’d arrive to find Veil long gone. Veil wants me to come in person? Fine, I’ll come.”
“So,” Miles said after a time. “I was thinking about what you told us about Ganymede.”
Rhea glanced expectantly over her shoulder at him.
“About how all the original domes have been shattered,” he continued. “And I can’t help but think, they deserved it. For what they did to Earth.”
He stared at her, as if expecting her to agree, but when she didn’t say anything, he nodded slowly.
“I don’t blame you for what happened,” he said. “You know that, right?”
He had switched off his comm node, so that his words were heard only by the current occupants of the vehicle, all of whom knew that Rhea was a Ganymedean.
“Sometimes I’m not sure,” she said.
“You were obviously taken prisoner on Ganymede,” Miles said. “And brought to Earth as a slave of some kind. It’s a miracle you survived all these years. You have no memories of the Great Calming.”
She exchanged a guilty glance with Will at that latter comment.
“So, I can understand why you don’t blame your people,” Miles continued. “But if you saw the cities melting, heard the screams of the dying, you would feel as I do. The Ganymedeans deserved to die, every last man, woman and child.”
“Surely not the children,” she said quietly.
“Yes, the children,” Miles spat. “Do you know how many baby skeletons they recovered from the ruins of New York city? Los Angeles? Philadelphia? There were millions. Ganymede got what it deserved. Have you ever heard the phrase; you reap what you sow? The Ganymedeans definitely reaped the bountiful crop of death they had sown.”
“Don’t mind him,” Brinks said. “We’re all in a bit of a grim mood… traveling into the Outlands, in search of a deadly crime lord, uncertain if we’re going to survive this day.”
“I will protect you,” Rhea insisted.
“So you keep saying,” Miles commented. “But you weren’t able to help Chuck, were you?”
Rhea stared at him. Those words cut her to the core. “Why are you here?” she asked crossly. “You volunteered for this. Would you like to transfer to one of the technicals? I can have it take you back.”
“Sorry,” Miles said. “I didn’t mean it. Like Brinks said, I’m in a bit of a grim mood. I get this way before a fight. It happens.”
“No actually, I think you should get the hell off this SUV.” Will was staring at the man. He was obviously pissed. “You’re talking to the Warden here, you know that right?”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” Miles said.
“Chuck was the one who messed up,” Will continued. “She can’t help it when you have idiots standing up from cover when they’re supposed to be staying down.”
“He wasn’t an idiot,” Rhea said softly. “He did it on purpose, to help me.”
“That’s what you keep telling yourself,” Will said. “And it’s probably wrong. You do it, I think, just to let the guilt fester.”
“That’s because guilt is good,” she said. “It reminds me of what happened and keeps me on my toes. I won’t let any of you die on me again.”
The men were quiet for a time.
“I just wanted to apologize again,” Miles told her, breaking the silence. “About everything I said earlier. I overstepped. Should have kept my mouth shut. I’m just anxious about what’s coming. I was never good at keeping emotions bottled in. They just blurt out and offend the people who are closest to me. People I respect more than anything, such as yourself. You’re my Warden, and, well, you used to be my friend. I hope my words haven’t jeopardized that friendship.”
Rhea gazed at him and smiled. “No, Miles. You’re my friend. And always will be. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind around me, just because you’re worried you might offend me, or those with me. I need you guys to keep me grounded. And do remind me of what the Ganymedeans did. I need to hear it, I think. Just as I need to keep hearing about Chuck’s death.”
Will was shaking his head. “You don’t need to hear that crap.”
“But I do, Will,” she told him. She patted him on the shoulder, then reached out toward Miles, who extended a hand. She grabbed it. “You are all my brothers, those of you who travel with me today. You are my most loyal and dedicated companions. And I will protect you. You have my word.”
Miles nodded, and she released him.
The journey through the Outlands continued uneventfully. They sighted no bioweapons all the way to the highlands. She was definitely starting to believe the Black Hands had spread misinformation to keep people away.
When the foothills that marked the start of the highlands came into view on the horizon, she turned toward Will. “Send the drones in.”
“You got it,” Will replied.
She glanced at the overhead map, and watched the blue dots representing the drones advance. The airborne machines spread out, and swooped down, moving among the hills. Gizmo held its current altitude, maintaining the “eye in the sky” position.
A flashing waypoint appeared on the map.
“We’ve got a cave entrance,” Will announced. A moment later he added: “Another.”
Over the next several minutes, the drones marked off another three entrances, for a total of five.
“There’s no others in the immediate vicinity,” Will said. “I’m sending three scouts forward to continue the search.”
Three of the drone scouts buzzed over the horizon, while the others ascended to join Gizmo.
The SUVs and their autonomous escorts reached the highlands shortly thereafter. The latter machines broke away, racing ahead to assume guard positions in front of each of the five entrances.
“Caves are secured,” Will announced. “The autos aren’t picking up any targets inside.”
“Bring us to within fifty meters of the closest cave,” Rhea ordered.
The two SUVs halted the aforementioned distance from the first cave. Three technicals stood guard in a semicircle before it, plasma turrets pointing into the darkness. She tapped into the LIDAR feed from one of the technicals, and the murk beyond the entrance became overlaid with white polygons, silhouetting the walls, ceiling and floor of the tunnel. She quickly realized that it wasn’t big enough to fit the pickup trucks, nor the SUVs.
She similarly tapped into the LIDAR feeds of technicals placed before the other caves and came to the same conclusions on each of them. If she wanted to explore any of these tunnels, she and her companions would have to leave the vehicles behind.
After five minutes the drone scouts returned.
“There are no obvious cave entrances for the next seven kilometers,” Will said. “However, the foothills extend for another fifteen kilometers beyond that. There could very well be more tunnels
further north.”
“Send one of the drones further north,” Rhea said. “I want a map of the entire highlands. In the meantime, have the rest explore these five caves. Starting with the first.”
Will nodded. “One drone north, and the remainder to the first cave.”
Gizmo maintained its holding pattern overhead as the remaining drones swooped downward. In moments they were piling into the entrance beside her.
When they vanished from view, Rhea glanced at the overhead map, and watched as the cave was mapped out in realtime. So far, there was nothing in that tunnel except bare rock.
One of the drones halted as it neared the maximum extents of signal range. Meanwhile, the others pressed on. They occasionally sidetracked to explore smaller side passages, only to return to the main tunnel when the aforementioned passage ended.
Meanwhile, drones continued to drop out, one at a time, stringing out in a long line as the maximum range of each was attained. They did this so as to act as repeaters, allowing the party waiting on the surface to watch in realtime.
Eventually, though, there weren’t enough drones to act as repeaters, and the lead scout proceeded alone. Its indicator froze as it passed beyond maximum range, and the map stopped updating.
After a tense ten minutes, the unmapped sections abruptly filled out—the drone had returned.
“Look at that,” Miles said. “There was definitely some sort of a camp in that one. Recently abandoned. Seems almost like they just got up and left everything.”
Rhea zoomed in on the newly mapped section, which harbored an extensive cavern. Near the entrance to that chamber, several supply crates were stacked in one corner. Further on were alcoves, partitioned off from one another by 3D-printed walls. Some of these alcoves contained articles of clothing and other personal belongings.
There was a fire pit in the center of the cavern, with a high-tech air filter squatting next to it. On the chamber’s far side was yet another 3D-printed alcove, though this one was filled with a suspicious looking liquid—the drone had marked it as exuding high concentrations of methane. Likely the communal latrine.
“Guess we scared them off,” Will said. “And to think, you were worried the mayor’s strike force would have that effect. They probably hightailed it as soon as they detected our drones. I’ve dealt with a few of these Black Hands before… not the most courageous people you’ll meet.”
“Yes, but there are still four more caves,” Rhea patiently told her friend.
The drones proceeded to map the second and third caves in a similar manner, and while harboring extensive tunnel systems in their own right, these caves otherwise proved empty. There were no signs of habitation.
At the fourth cave, the drones spread out as usual to act as repeaters. The lead drone passed beyond the maximum range, and stopped transmitting, as expected, with its icon freezing on the overhead map.
Rhea waited expectantly for the map to update.
Ten minutes passed. No update.
Twenty. Still nothing.
A half hour.
“You think this cave is really big enough to warrant such a delay?” Will asked impatiently. “Or something else happened?”
“I’m leaning toward the latter,” Rhea said.
“Up until the time the lead drone stopped transmitting, no signs of habitation were found,” Horatio said. “This tends to imply no bioweapons reside within.”
“I agree,” Rhea said. “But it doesn’t rule out Veil or the Black Hands.” She paused, then made up her mind: “Let’s recall the remaining drones and get the fifth cave mapped out. If the missing drone emerges from the fourth within that time, great. If not, we’re going to have to go in and check it ourselves.” She paused. “By the way, has the drone we sent north reported back yet?”
“Nope,” Will replied.
He sent the drones into the fifth tunnel, however it proved just as empty as caves two and three.
“Well then, that’s that,” Rhea said. “Take us to the fourth cave.”
Will took control of the SUV and drove it toward the fourth cave, where four technicals stood watch. The other SUV joined them.
“You really want to do this?” Will asked. “It’s obviously a trap.”
“Of course I don’t,” Rhea told him.
“We could stay here,” Horatio said. “Wait out Veil. He or his men will have to leave to fetch supplies and rations eventually.”
“Except we don’t know how many rations he’s got stocked up,” Rhea said. “He could have a hundred days’ worth.”
“Or there might be a back way out,” Will said. “One we don’t know about. An exit on the plains somewhere, several kilometers out. He could use that to resupply. Or flee at his leisure, while we sit here, waiting.”
Rhea nodded. “We have to go in now if we want to find him.”
Will stopped the vehicle next to the waiting technicals.
“You know, Veil’s probably not even present,” Will said. “Oh, I’m sure there’s a welcoming party of some sort waiting for us inside, but I doubt it involves Veil.”
Rhea nodded. “We’ve been through this.”
“I know,” Will said. “Just figured, it never hurts to remind you.”
Rhea opened the door and stepped out. Her companions likewise emerged.
Across from her, the remaining Wardenites exited the second SUV. Jairlin stood at their forefront. He wore the same stealth camos as everyone else. As usual, the designer stubble on his face was grown out just the right amount to be fashionable, and he somehow managed to find the time to brush his hair into a quiff.
Miles and Jairlin passed out headlamps retrieved from the storage compartments of the SUVs. The Wardenites slid the straps over their temples, securing the lamps. Rhea didn’t bother to take one. She preferred her built-in LIDAR; the Wardenites had LIDAR capabilities too, built into their AR goggles.
“So?” Jairlin said. “Are we going inside?”
Rhea didn’t answer. Instead, she turned her head to stare into the darkness of the tunnel entrance. The LIDAR from the technicals and drones still silhouetted the walls and floor. “I hate caves.”
“We all do,” Will said. “You’re thinking of when those Hydras chased us into the mountain tunnel? When we thought Monkey Boy was on our side?”
“Pretty much,” Rhea said. “Wasn’t the funnest time of my life.” She continued to gaze at that entrance ahead and couldn’t help the mounting dread she felt. “Still nothing on the drone we dispatched north?”
“Nope,” Will said. “It should have reported back by now.”
“Another mystery,” Rhea commented.
“Veil might have forces spread throughout the highlands…” Will suggested.
“Maybe so,” Rhea agreed.
She swallowed, then glanced at the Ban’Shar strapped to her hands. The sight of the weaponry helped her steel herself.
“Well, nothing for it,” she said. “Send the drones in.”
The small machines flew into the opening, leading the way.
Will had Gizmo remain outside, with instructions to enter the cave and alert them if any enemies were sighted. Meanwhile, the technicals would guard their backs.
Rhea took a step toward the opening.
“Dude,” Will said. “You don’t get to go first.”
“This is my operation,” she said. “I’m calling the shots.”
“He’s right,” Jairlin said. “Our purpose here is to protect you.”
She shook her head. “I knew I should have come alone.” She hesitated. “I’m the Warden. I’m the one who’s supposed to be doing the protecting.”
She was tempted to activate her Ban’Shar, if only to prove how powerful she’d become, but she didn’t want to tip Veil, who might be watching via hidden camera.
“Let my team go first,” Jairlin pleaded.
She realized there was little point in arguing. They weren’t going to let her go first, even if the mission was hers. She was
n’t sure how she could protect people who didn’t want to be protected.
I should have refused the lot of them and commissioned a team of combat robots instead.
But combat robots were sentient, she reminded herself. The death of a robot was little different from the death of a human in this day and age, especially if that robot was under her command and protection.
She sighed. “Jairlin, after your team.”
The man nodded and took his group inside.
Rhea exchanged a nervous glance with Will, and then the two of them stepped into the cave together.
14
The drones traveled in single file, and spread out, separating so that they were each fifty meters apart. Jairlin and the three Wardenites with him followed another fifty meters after the trailing unit, with Rhea and the others coming twenty-five meters after that.
She proceeded across that cold, dank stone, the air feeling heavy around her. Their boots thudded repetitively upon the rock. In the darkness, the monotonous polygons of the LIDAR passed by, demarcating the walls, floor and ceiling. Ahead, Jairlin and the other Wardenites were outlined like blue ghosts on her HUD, courtesy of their active positional sharing. Will was similarly silhouetted beside her, as were Horatio, Brinks and Miles when she glanced over one shoulder.
While that LIDAR data had been mapped previously, thanks to the earlier drone flight through the cave, she instructed Will to have the scouts transmit the occasional photonic burst to update said data, mostly to confirm nothing was lurking in wait since the last run through.
“Should we activate our headlamps?” Jairlin transmitted.
“Negative,” Rhea said. “I don’t want you to draw attention to yourselves just yet. Use the drones as yours eyes. Let the darkness be your shield.”
She just wished they would allow her to be their shield.
If they start taking fire, I’m going to dash ahead and leap in front of them, no matter what they say. I will protect them.
Eventually the lead drone reached the cave section where the previous machine had passed out of range and never returned. New map data began to fill out on her HUD.