Resurgence

by Peter Hoole

  When all hope rushed from his mind, Caleb was reminded of the one card he had left to play.

  “Now you’re in trouble,” Zach said from the cabin, a sense of glee in his voice.

  Caleb was shaken to life by hope. He could use the Colonial leader once again.

  In fact, as he was reminded of Zach’s presence, Caleb realised that was why they hadn’t just blown them out of the sky. They wanted their leader back.

  At the very least, Caleb was going to make sure they earned it.

  In a fleeting second, Caleb moved out of his seat, grabbing Darcy as he did so. Not only did this ensure he and Darcy were out of any line of sight, but it also got them into the safest position they could – right by Zach’s side.

  “Oh... not this again.” Zach said, his glee replaced by irritation, “Can’t you see the jig is up, Captain. You’re surrounded.”

  Caleb stood behind Zach and wrapped him arm around his neck.

  “Not while I still have breath.”

  Darcy heard this.

  This was the Caleb she knew.

  So confident.

  So… assured.

  When he spoke with such authority, Darcy also sensed the hope Caleb had felt.

  As Caleb moved Zach down the corridor to the door, Darcy stood out of the way. She knew the first person the Colonials should see should be Zach.

  As Zach and Caleb moved, Adam stood out of his seat.

  When Darcy looked at him, he seemed much more passive that either she or Caleb.

  “You ok?” he asked.

  Darcy couldn’t respond, apart from an unconvincing nod of the head.

  Adam had his weapon raised.

  He looked down toward the cockpit.

  In all the commotion, they had forgotten about the pilot – possibly the only truly innocent one in the entire scenario.

  He was frozen in his seat, seemingly paralysed by the situation.

  It was understandable – it’s not every day a plane gets kidnapped mid-flight.

  “You wanna survive this, brother?” Adam asked the young man, “You stay behind us, and we’ll see what we can do.”

  While less than assured, the pilot stood and did as he was told.

  As his came out of the cockpit area, Darcy put her hand on his shoulder.

  “It’ll be ok. Just do what Caleb and Adam say.”

  Darcy said the words as though to bring herself comfort as well. She was not completely convinced they would make it out of there alive.

  But still... the pilot nodded, and took a step towards the door way of the plane.

  Caleb stood next to the door, Adam holding Zach to the right of the doorway.

  Darcy stood directly behind Caleb, with the pilot directly behind her. It gave her some pride that she was no longer the most-protected of the group. But it was not a feeling she hoped to get used to. All she wanted at that moment was to survive, to move on with her life.

  But, given their current predicament, this scenario looked less and less likely. They were in peril, and they all seemed to know it.

  Caleb looked around.

  He then reached back and grabbed Zach. In one swift motion, the Colonial leader was jerked forward, forming a barrier between Caleb and those outside in the belly of the plane.

  “Come on, Captain.” said William, “You know you’re outnumbered. Just bring him down, and let’s settle this.”

  Caleb, while irritated by the bravado in William’s voice, knew the Englishman was right.

  Caleb moved Zach out the doorway. As he moved, Caleb tried to get a look around the plane, just to see if there was another option. Anything that could assist them.

  Using what he saw and the memory of the previous flight, Caleb’s heart sank a little.

  The only apparent option was surrender.

  Darcy, in a way that only she could, placed her hand on Caleb’s shoulder. It was a simple gesture, but she knew she had to help him. She knew she had to assure him.

  She knew that they needed each other if they were going to survive, and by placing her hand on his shoulder, she was able to remind him of that.

  But, for the first time in as long as he could remember, it did not work. Caleb, normally soothed by Darcy’s touch, was flustered. The situation they were in, he could not recognise an immediate way out, especially if William was a reckless and bloody minded as Caleb had thought.

  He tried to push the negative thoughts from his mind as he tentatively made his way towards the waiting Colonials.

  With only Zach as a barrier, Caleb knew he had only one option – he had to buy some time.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  “I think you know what kind of situation you are in, Captain.” Williams voice again boomed through the fuselage, the weight of numbers contributing to his bravado.

  And then, a thought struck Caleb. While there was no visible way out, he could bluff his way through.

  By this time, only Zach was visible to the Colonial horde outside the door. Caleb knew he could try use it to his advantage.

  “Geez, William…” Caleb began, trying to generate his own confidence, “Have you forgotten the cabin already? What’s to stop me from shooting this prick in the head?”

  William sensed what Caleb was obviously planning.

  “Absolutely nothing, Captain.” William responded.

  But, unlike Caleb, Williams tone was much more assured.

  While the situation seemed the same, judging by Williams response, Caleb felt he was missing something.

  Just to be sure, Caleb pulled the hammer back on his side-arm, to emphasise his position.

  William just laughed.

  “Oh Captain...” he smirked, “This is not like the cabin.”

  With those words, William signalled to the man standing beside him. Within an instant, the soldier fired, a bullet flew through the air towards the plane door.

  Caleb had little time to react, but was immediately comforted by the thought that Zach was in the way, protecting him from the bullets fury.

  However, Caleb’s relative comfort quickly dissipated.

  A loud scream came from his hostage, and the intent of the bullet became clear. The bullet was not intended to harm Caleb or his team, but to remove their protection.

  Caleb had once again underestimated the ruthlessness on William, and he knew that this time it could prove fatal.

  As the Colonial leader fell, screaming in agony, Caleb jumped away from the doorway. As he leapt, he tackled Darcy to the ground. While he would normally be gentler with his love, he felt he had no time for such luxuries, as he was sure gunfire was soon to rain down on the plane and its inhabitants.

  But as he lay there covering Darcy, he heard something he did not expect.

  Rather than the gunfire, he heard something that was even more unnerving – a laugh.

  Outside the plane, William knew. He knew that he had won.

  Caleb, Darcy and Adam were his for the taking. He had all the power, and he didn’t even have to sacrifice Zach to get it.

  Yes, the shot to Zach thigh was unfortunate, but nothing the man couldn’t recover from.

  He had tried to contain himself, but his glee at his victory was hard to hide. He began with a stifled giggle, which in a few moments became a loud guffaw.

  “Now… Captain.” William said though breathless joy, “Now I really have the upper hand.”

  It was a notion Caleb could not help but agree with.

  He lay on top of Darcy, wondering if it would be the last time he would. Darcy was faced up, and Caleb could tell the same thoughts were running through her head.

  “Your only choice, Captain, is to do exactly as we say.” William said.

  Caleb again knew the Englishman was right.

  He was in control.

  Caleb looked at Darcy, trying to show some form of confidence. He smiled at her.

  She did the same, but it was clearly just a façade. As small tear ran out of her eye.

  Caleb mo
tioned for Adam and the pilot to stand up.

  The pilot was white with fear, as though his heart was pumping at a few hundred beats per minute. Caleb felt for the young man, for he knew the pilot was in even more peril as the others.

  At least Caleb, Darcy and Adam could be useful.

  Caleb did all he could to comfort the young man, but it was to little avail. The once pink skin of the pilot was now a more decidedly shade of white.

  But, Caleb knew he could not afford to spend too much time dwelling on the pilot – not if he wanted to try keep Darcy alive.

  “Come on, Captain.” Said William, “Just come out with your hands behind your head. Let’s be civilised about this.”

  Caleb scoffed at the notion. William was part of a group that was, at the very least, intent on wiping out most of the world’s population. Who was he to talk about being civilised?

  But still Caleb did as he was told.

  Motioning to his companions, Caleb, stood up, and put his hands behind his head – just as William had asked. Once the others had done the same, Caleb turned, and led the group out the door. Part of him expected the worst – that they would all be shot as soon as they exited.

  After a brief pause at the doors precipice, Caleb took a step to the unknown. Holding his breath, Caleb braced for the incoming onslaught.

  But it did not come.

  He stood in the doorway, completely whole.

  Unsure as to why he had been spared, Caleb again took another tentative step, hoping Darcy was still in the plane, waiting.

  “Not to fuss, Captain, but if we wanted to kill you, you’d be dead.” William said, seeming to notice Caleb’s trepidation. Indeed, he figured he would probably act the same if he were in Caleb’s situation.

  It was of little reassurance to Caleb, but still, he moved forward, his hands interlocked behind his head. It was not a position he had ever liked, and considered himself lucky he had rarely been required to hold the pose.

  But this time, Caleb felt even more vulnerable as he stepped out. He had absolutely no way to defend himself, and the only way he could defend Darcy was to block her path. And even that defence would be fleeting, and arguably not that effective.

  He walked down the steps of the plane, and he felt Darcy’s presence behind him. Stepping almost in unison, the four prisoners made their way into the cargo bay of the Kite.

  Caleb scanned his surroundings, hoping for some glimmer of hope that he had not seen from inside the smaller plane.

  With over a dozen armed soldiers surrounding them, all with their weapons pointed their way; Caleb knew his scanning was futile.

  It was at that moment he knew his only option.

  He had to hope for the Colonials mercy.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  It was not a hope he held out for long. He figured mercy was not a strong core value for the Colonials. They were willing to wipe out most of humanity – four needles in their side were but a blip on their way to world domination.

  Caleb knew they could easily be shot there and then.

  But still, they had not been, and this made Caleb somewhat curious.

  His curiosity was replaced with caution, as he looked up and saw the two men that would determine his fate.

  Standing on the stairway, William and Zach looked down upon their new captives. Williams face was beaming with pride, while Zach was still wincing in pain from the earlier gunshot wound.

  Caleb could not help be impressed with Zach’s resilience. The gun shot was not the first time he had been injured that day, and he had help up well. This was, no doubt, is a small way due to the serum.

  Not that it changed the situation. Caleb, Darcy, Adam and the pilot were still in deep.

  William reduced his smile and spoke, “Now… I’m sure you can understand the gravity of your situation, Captain?”

  Though phrased as a question, Caleb had no desire to answer the Englishman.

  William continued, “I’m also sure that you realise we cannot afford to take you all with us?”

  This piqued Caleb’s interest. What William said could only mean one thing. While there was a menace about his words, Caleb realised something that indeed brought him the hope he was looking for.

  One of them would survive.

  Caleb’s only thought was how to ensure that person was Darcy.

  Caleb thought hard about what to say.

  Before he could get any words out, William raised his weapon, and pointed it towards the group.

  “We already know which one of you will not be coming with us…”

  And with that, William fired his weapon.

  In an instant, the young man’s body slumped to the ground. As the body hit the floor, the guilt swelled inside the strong marine. He had made a choice, and his choice had killed an innocent young man.

  No more than an hour ago, the dead man had been going about his day, proceeding through the same routine, as he did every day.

  Now, there would be no more routine.

  The pilot was dead, and it was Caleb’s fault.

  The guilt quickly turned to anger, and Caleb took his eyes from the lifeless pilot and focussed them on William.

  Next to Caleb, Darcy jumped a little. The slight movement caused Caleb to get distracted from the William. He moved quickly to grab her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her away from the danger.

  His anger would need to wait. He needed to get back to his primary focus – Darcy.

  However, there was still nowhere for them to go – a point Caleb quickly realised.

  “Captain!” William said with force, “Let her go.”

  William was clearly a man devoid of too much empathy. He saw the Darcy and Caleb trying to look after each other as a hinderance, something that would make it difficult for him to complete his task.

  It was an irritation that he felt he could solve.

  He motioned for his nearby soldiers to separate the lovers.

  Without hesitation, two of Williams men approached Caleb and Darcy. A third made his way towards Adam, who had been standing next to the fallen pilot.

  Each of them grabbed a prisoner, holding them with as much force as they could muster.

  Darcy put up little resistance. Not because she was lighter or smaller than her companions, but she really just didn’t see the point.

  Caleb fought, but it was to little avail. Especially once a second soldier had come over to assist. Caleb’s strength was easily enough to account for one, but not two. Even with his desire to assist Darcy, Caleb quickly was held to a point where he was still.

  He glanced over at Adam. He too had been subdued.

  “Put them on their knees.” William ordered.

  The men kicked Caleb and Adam in the backs of their knees, forcing the burly men down to the cargo bay floor.

  With the trio on the floor and vulnerable, William said some words that sent shivers down Caleb’s spine.

  “Now… which one of you do we need?”

  William turned to his left, and slowly moved his way down the steps. With one arm guiding him down, he kept an eye on the prisoners. It was apparent to all that could see him that he was relishing the power he had over the lives of the three prisoners.

  The Englishman’s walk towards them felt like an eternity. Caleb had no idea if it would be the last moments of his life. But, If Darcy was to die, then he certainly hoped they would be.

  All too soon, eternity ended, and William was within a few feet of the trio.

  William paced in front to the kneeling prisoners, the corpse of the pilot making little distraction. He seemed to be weighing up his decision, apparently caught in a deep contemplation.

  But Caleb figured he had already made up his mind.

  William moved in front of Adam, and with a short burst, he exclaimed, “Take him!”

  With that several of Williams’s people swarmed on Adam, lifting him to his feet. William pointed to the side of the plane, “Hold him there.”

&
nbsp; Adam was bundled towards the side of the plane, held fast by three of Williams men.

  “Now…” he said, turning towards Caleb and Darcy, “We know it won’t be him…”

  Perhaps it was William’s tone, or perhaps the adrenalin coursing through his body, but Caleb couldn’t restrain himself any more. With a swift movement, he rose from his knees, swiftly moving his body towards the Englishman.

  But it was in vain.

  Before he could have any impact on his nemesis, Caleb was flung back toward the ground by his minders.

  William let out a small laugh. Though he did feel some admiration for Caleb.

  “Fighting to the end I see?” he asked, not expecting a response.

  Caleb looked up, an idea coming to his mind.

  He needed to make sure he was the one targeted, and not Darcy. He knew he needed to make himself a liability.

  Making sure he locked eyes with William, Caleb said, “I’ll never stop. You’ll need to kill me.”

  Before William could respond, a voice bellowed from the landing near the cock-pit.

  “He’s right William.”

  Zach had joined to conversation.

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  William spun on his feet, angered by the interruption.

  He was having his moment.

  A moment which was once again being stolen by the hierarchy.

  “We don’t have time for this, William.” Zach continued, “Just keep the woman.”

  Though the news of his impending death should have caused him concern, it brought some comfort to his heart. With those four words, Caleb knew Darcy would live, at least for a while longer.

  Those four words also condemned both Caleb and Adam to death.

  William reluctantly turned around. He motioned for his people to grab Caleb, which they did immediately.

  Not wanting to jeopardize Darcy’s safety, Caleb relented with little resistance. He looked at his beloved, knowing this would likely be the last time he saw her.

  The relief of her living was forgotten as he lamented of the loss, the knowing he would not feel her embrace again.