by Peter Hoole
Darcy looked in the direction Murphy pointed and saw the trio.
“You know them?”
“The men, I’m not sure, but the woman… I know her.”
Darcy focused on the young brunette, “Who is she?”
“Her name is Jane, and she’s just the person that can help us.”
***
The screen was blank. Even though he had received the full file from John, Zach still tried to delay the inevitable.
He still held out some small hope that John was wrong, or at the very least misinterpreted what he saw.
Maybe he was wrong. Maybe it was one of the other colonists, Zach thought.
He knew there was only one way to find out. As he hovered over the play button on his screen, he thought of Helen.
The day she was born, the day she took her first steps.
Zach had missed it all.
They were all moments he felt great pride, and now he firmly regretted not having been there to witness it. But all he had were photographs.
He had always assumed that Helen would live forever, once the serum was perfected.
After all, Helen was born nearly half a century ago. Fifty years they had spent as father and daughter.
And those fifty years were supposed to be just the start.
As he thought about it more, Zach’s regret slowly morphed into anger. He knew he could wait no longer, and he pressed play.
The image he saw was familiar. The room in which he, James and John had had their final injections of the serum.
The room where they finally became permanently young again.
His fondness for the room was fleeting, as he saw what he had dreaded. The static camera showed an injection table and a desk.
Into the shot, Helen appeared. But she was not alone.
She walked backwards into view, her blonde hair tied up in a ponytail.
What he saw next confused him slightly. Helen was obviously in a struggle, and she seemed to have the upper hand. As she back further into the picture, she had a woman locked under her arm, and she was dragging her back. It was a choke hold they had all learned, and it had always proved effective when Zach had employed it.
As he looked closer, he could see Helen was doing the hold perfectly, and the prisoner slumped in her arms.
What was John talking about, Zach thought, still confused.
Then it became apparent.
The brunette Helen was struggling with suddenly sprung to life and swept back her right arm. While it was not immediately obvious what she was holding, the reaction of Helen illustrated the damage.
A knife had been driven into Helens side. His daughter let out a violent scream, a sound that seemed do disturb her attacker.
Helen slumped to the floor, in obvious agony.
Zach knew this was not enough, as the serum would kick in. He knew the stabbing was not enough to kill his daughter.
Then, Zach saw something horrific.
The brunette walked up to his daughter and looked down at her wound. Then the woman pulled out her gun and fired.
Helen’s body jumped with the impact, a small spasm that cause her torso to leave the ground.
After a few seconds, the brunette turned and ran out of the sights of the camera.
Zach kept his focus on Helen. Within moments, a horrific image appeared on screen.
A small pool of blood had formed around Helen’s head.
Zach let out an audible gasp. He knew that a clean bullet through the head was one of the few things that could kill someone who had the serum.
He knew Helen was dead.
Zach slumped back in his chair and let out a sigh. Fighting back tears, he then leant forward, and cupped his face in his hands.
His only child was dead, and there was nothing he could do to change it.
He continued to fight the tears. He was not accustomed to remorse, not accustomed to sadness. He had never felt real loss for a long time. Not since before they discovered the Source.
He was so out of practise in dealing with such emotion, that he barely knew where to start.
Normally, he would talk to Helen’s mother, the one person he allowed to see his emotional side. On this occasion, the news of their daughter’s death would be as much a burden on her as it had been on him.
But, rather than fall deeper in to his sorrow, Zach sat up in his chair. He knew that there would be plenty of time for remorse.
He knew he had to think about his next move, one that would help the cause.
So much was about to happen in the next few days - the attacks scheduled around the world were just beginning.
But the most important was the release of the virus.
Nothing could get in the way of that. It had been all they had worked towards for all these years.
After some time in contemplation, Zach knew what he had to do.
He looked back at the screen and played back the video. Not in its entirety, but just enough to see the last few frames.
As he got to the point he wanted, he paused the image.
Manipulating the image, he zoomed in on the area he was looking for.
Just before he saw the blood flowing from his daughter’s head, Zach saw the other woman turn around. As he zoomed in, the woman’s face became pixelated.
He pressed several buttons on the screen to clean up the image.
As he had done the task on many occasions, the image adjustment worked, and he was able to get a clear image.
Zach instantly recognised her - the reporter.
How she was able to infiltrate the base, and far enough that she could kill his daughter were questions for another day.
Zach immediately brought up the communication program, and recalled John.
His friend answered almost immediately.
“John. I’ve watched the recording.” Zach said, still fighting his emotion.
John didn’t say anything. Zach appreciated that there were no words that his friend could say to improve his mood.
“I saw her… and I saw who killed her.”
“As did I,” replied John, almost matter-of-factly, “What do you want to do?”
Zach anticipated the question, and already knew his answer.
“I’m going to Haven.”
Chapter Six
The thumping base of the club continued. It was a little disorienting for Darcy, particularly when combined with the strobing lights and dancing bodies.
By Murphy’s suggestion they had decided to wait until there were more people in the club. It was hoped the additional bodies would assist with their movements going undetected.
As the waited an extra fifteen minutes, they carefully observed the trio of people in the back corner of the lower level.
“I thought you said this was a hideout for the Colonials?” Darcy asked when given the information.
“It is… but they aren’t all going to come here. Remember, they were sent all over the country… They’re told not to all go to the same place…”
Darcy while uncomfortable, accepted Murphy’s explanation.
After time, Murphy motioned for Darcy to follow.
“Wait a second,” Darcy said, “What’s the plan?”
“We’ve got a small window of surprise to work with. “Murphy began, “We only want Jane. She’s the one with the most information that we can use. She worked closely with Helen – the doctor – and she would have knowledge of my father’s plans. If we can take her with us, then we can use her for the information.”
“What about the other two?” Darcy asked.
“We’ll have to be quick, but I think we can immobilise them enough to take out the nurse.”
Darcy knew the plan was vague, but as with most of the happening in the past day or so, she realised they really didn’t have much choice.
Darcy nodded, and Murphy made her way back to the stairs.
Taking the steps down was as problematic as walking up. It was a slow process, with Darcy
and Murphy both being bumped by several young people as they made their way down.
They reached the bottom and made their way through the dance floor.
With both women around average height, keeping their eyes on the target was problematic. Even the women on the dance floor impeded their view, as many of them were in high-heels.
They didn’t let it affect their walk across the floor. They knew which direction to go and made their way as quick as they could.
As they were close to the edge, Darcy felt her hand get grabbed. She was pulled back into the crowd. Fear swept over her as she wondered who had grabbed her.
Was it a Colonist?
She swung around and found a young man she didn’t recognise. The image brought her no respite, as she worried if she was being attacked.
Her fears were quickly assuaged, as the young man started dancing against her. To say it was with her was a stretch.
He brought her in close and started grinding his hips against hers. Her complete lack of interest seemed to have no effect on the boy, as he continued the teenage mating ritual.
All Darcy could think was how to get this uninvited proposal away from her. She didn’t worry long, as she felt Murphy’s arm on her shoulder.
“She’s just not into you…” Murphy said to the man lurching on Darcy.
“Oh… come on girls… Lighten up…” the young Australian said in response, as he continued to grind.
Darcy tried to walk away, but the young man only became more aggressive.
“Don’t you sluts want a good time?” he asked, clearly believing he was more charismatic than he was.
Darcy pushed him back, and he lurched into the crowd. In the process he knocked back several others on the dance floor. This caused a small commotion, and the man was pushed back towards Darcy and Murphy.
Darcy quickly looked over at where Jane and the others were sitting. The commotion on the dance floor had attracted the Colonial’s attention. Jane looked straight at Darcy, and then at Murphy.
As soon as she looked at Murphy, Jane’s expression changed.
Shit, Darcy thought.
The element of surprise, however small it was, was no more.
Jane and her colleagues quickly stood up from their booth and made their way towards the side of the club.
The dancing man had grabbed onto Darcy and she was unable to follow.
Murphy delivered a quick right hook to the man’s face. The force from her diminutive frame was enough to send him back into the crowd behind him. The crowd enveloped him, commencing to punch and shove him in various directions. The commotion on the dancefloor quickly spread until there were a dozen or so people, primarily young testosterone-fuelled men, involved in what was fast becoming a melee.
With Darcy’s would-be suitor now busy, she and Murphy began chasing the escaping Colonials.
They first made their way to the table, and then along the side of the club wall. After a few steps, they reached a door.
As Jane and her associates had disappeared, the door was the only obviously exit point they could have utilised.
Darcy and Murphy quickly exited through the door.
They were led into a dark hallway, the only illumination coming from the lights along the floor.
The hallway was only a matter of a few metres long and they quickly made it to another door, a door that was closing on them rapidly.
Murphy ran through the door, with little regard for her safety. Darcy followed almost immediately behind.
As she exited, she was struck by the sight in front of her.
The three colonials were waiting, and had their weapons pointed at the women.
Shit, Darcy thought for the second time in less than a minute.
They were now the ones in the precarious position.
The three Colonials stood in place, the two men on each side of Jane in the middle.
“Stop right there,” said the taller man to the right of the trio.
Darcy and Murphy did as they were told.
Then Darcy remembered she was on radio, and that Casey could hear everything they were saying.
“Fine… just don’t shoot,” she said. Knowing Casey could hear, she was able to tell him exactly what kind of predicament they were in.
She hoped it would be enough to save them.
***
“Get back there now!” Casey exclaimed from the back seat.
Dunleavy had already put his foot down. They had done several laps of the main street in Kings Cross.
And they didn’t look out of place. They saw several cars all doing the same thing. While the other cars intentions were to attract attention, it was the exact opposite of Dunleavy’s intent.
He also had a radio on, and he heard Darcy’s call for help.
“I’m doing what I can. All these showboating fuckers in front of us are doing about ten miles an hour.”
Casey was obviously frustrated in the back. He knew they had to move. He also knew William needed to be watched.
“Dunleavy… you’re gonna have to jump out and get the girls.
“What?” Dunleavy asked, although he’d heard the question.
“I can’t… I’m stuck with this guy.” Casey said, referring to William.
Dunleavy knew he didn’t have an option. The club was about a hundred yards up the road.
“Fine…” Dunleavy declared, “Where the fuck can I park?”
“Does it matter?” Casey shouted from the back of the car, “Just get out and go get them!”
Dunleavy brought the car to a stop and undid his belt.
He popped open the door.
“Wait!”
A voice they had not expected sounded from the middle seat of the ‘Bat.
“Jackson!” exclaimed Dunleavy.
“Cap!!!”
Caleb had woken from his injury, fuelled by the Source inside him.
“Dunleavy, you wait right there.” Caleb ordered, “Casey, keep an eye on him.”
Casey smiled, “Yes Sir.”
Caleb opened the door.
“I’ll be back soon. Go to the end of the strip and wait there. We’ll need a clear road out of here.”
With that, the resurrected Captain left the car, and began sprinting towards the club.
Chapter Seven
Darcy and Murphy had raised their hands.
They faced three Colonials, in an alley behind the club. With no one else in the immediate vicinity, aside from people passing by the alley along the main road. That was more than twenty yards away. Right at that moment, Darcy thought the worst.
Jane seemed to sense the situation, as she lowered her weapon. She had no reason to worry, as her two minders were pointing their guns at Darcy and Murphy.
As she lowered her weapon, Jane stepped forward.
“I know you, don’t I?” Jane asked, referring to Murphy.
Murphy didn’t answer.
“Yeah… I do. You’re her. You’re his daughter, aren’t you?”
Again, Murphy didn’t respond.
“No need to say anything, sweetheart,” Jane said condescendingly, “I know, and they know. What I don’t know is how you are here? We thought you were dead.”
Again, Murphy refused to speak.
“Fine…” Jane said, irritation evident in her voice.
Jane then turned her attention to Darcy, “You I don’t know.”
Darcy thought of her options. She could speak, and let Jane in, or she could follow Murphy’s lead.
She was unsure of which option was the best one.
But she knew she needed to buy some time for Casey to arrive.
Darcy said the first thing that came to her mind, “We’re so glad we found you!” she exclaimed.
Jane tensed. It was the reaction Darcy was looking for.
“What? You found us?”
Darcy tried to promote a façade of confidence, “Yeah. We were looking for you. Like you said, you know who this is.”
; Darcy motioned with her head towards Murphy, “This is his daughter. She was trying to make her way back to him.”
“Back to him? She’s supposed to be dead.” Jane asked.
“Yeah. She was on a secret mission.” Darcy was quickly thinking on her feet, hoping her stalling tactics would be sufficient, “A secret mission from James.”
Jane appeared agitated, “What secret mission.”
Murphy spoke, switching to her English accent, “Yeah… it was from my father. It’s still a secret. It’s not for you to know.”
“If we told you it would no longer be a secret, right?” Darcy said.
Jane raised her hands to her head, in apparent disbelief.
“No, no, no. You were killed. We went to the service. You were dead.”
“Well, that can’t be true, can it? Here I am.” Murphy replied.
“We can’t take the risk,” said the man to Jane’s right, his thick Russian accent betraying his heritage, “We should just deal with them now!”
Not wanting to lose control of the conversation, and to try buy some more time, Darcy spoke up, “Deal with us? I’m pretty sure that would upset him.”
Jane nodded, seeming to agree.
“Just keep your guns on them,” she said to the two men, “I need to think.”
Jane stepped back.
She only got a step away, when she lurched forward towards the two women.
Before Darcy knew what was happening, the Russian was wrenched backwards, and arm reaching around his neck. With a quick pull, the Russians head jerked to the side.
Darcy heard a loud snap, and the Russians lifeless body slumped to the ground in a heap.
The other man, who had not said a word, swung his weapon to where the Russian stood.
But it was already too late for him. The attacker had grabbed the Russians weapon, and fired. Darcy only saw the Colonial’s head fly backwards, and an explosion pulsed out the back. A wisp of blood was discernible, and within an instant, the man fell just as his comrade had.
He was dead before he hit the ground.
Their saviour stood, his back towards the women.
“Casey… Good timing,” Darcy exclaimed.
The man had his weapon trained on Jane, who was still recovering from her knock.