Unbreakable Storm

by Patrick Dugan

  Warden jerked open the far door leading to the truck.

  And just like that, conversation over, and we were all running.

  35

  Everyone dove into the truck. Waxenby, still unconscious, laid out in the bed with the four of us. Boulder drove a lot faster than Salvo had on the way in. We reached the enormous metal doors in minutes. The alarm blared out its warning as we got out of the truck.

  Warden jumped out of the passenger seat and made a run for the door, but Dad restrained her. “Have Specter check out the situation; we need to know what we’re facing.”

  She tried to pull her arm away, but Dad’s grip didn’t budge.

  “If we lose the translocator, everyone in the Underground dies. I’m not going to let that happen.”

  “Neither are we, but if we are all killed walking into an ambush, we can’t help anyone else.”

  “Fine.” Warden snapped. In the backseat of the truck, Specter had already dropped into a trance.

  After a few seconds, she climbed out of the truck. “The Reclaimers haven’t breached the far doorway yet, but they are close. They are evacuating all the non-Gifted.”

  Warden’s grim smile answered her. “Excellent, they are executing the plan.”

  Specter wasn’t finished. “Warden, they have some mechanical monstrosity outside the door. We need to get out of here.”

  “I’m not abandoning my people to die here.” She ripped her arm from Dad’s hand. “I’m going to fight.”

  “You aren’t thinking.” Specter straightened herself before she got in her face. “We aren’t outside. You are powerless down here. You need to get the people out and destroy the translocator before it falls into the Reclaimer’s hands. If they get control of a working translocator, they can access every Underground base we have.”

  Warden nodded curtly, but she stopped arguing.

  Dad agreed. “I’ll take Tommy, Boulder, Izanami, and Abby. We’ll hold the door while you get your people out of here. Get Susan, Molly, and Waxenby back to Atlanta. We’ll hold until you signal us everyone is clear. Susan, you’ve got the rear-guard action, just like Blaze laid out in training. Sound the horns, and we’ll get out and blow the translocator.”

  Warden’s face reddened as if she’d explode soon. “I don’t like it, but it makes sense. Let’s go.”

  Abby threw Waxenby over her shoulder, and we got through the outer door. A golf cart sat there with a terrified teen at the wheel. “Warden, they told me to wait here in case you returned.”

  Abby got to the cart and strapped Waxenby into a seat before joining us. She cracked her knuckles, spoiling for a fight.

  Mom finished hugging each of us and said, “Be safe.” She climbed into the back next to a strapped in Waxenby, unslinging her rifle and readying it for action.

  Warden jumped in the passenger seat. “Thank you, Gerome. You did well.” Molly perched on the footboard as Warden told Gerome, “Get us to the munitions dump.”

  Dad motioned us into a circle. “I’ll take the lead. Tommy and Abby on my right, Izanami and Boulder on the left. No heroes, we hold the door until the rest are safe. We’ll get revenge when it’s on our terms.”

  He directed the last at Boulder, who nodded back.

  Izanami led us through the streets making up the base, past people carrying what they could as they ran to the translocator. The boom of the Reclaimers battering the door could be easily heard now. We turned a corner, stopping as we saw the thirty-foot metal door, the only thing standing between the Reclaimers and us. We spread out, giving each other enough room to maneuver.

  The area around the door was clear back to the walls, allowing the doors to be swung open without striking a building. At about forty feet back stood low buildings that had the look of homes. A basketball hoop here, roller skates sitting next to the front door over there. Each building had been painted in lively colors to brighten the confines of living underground.

  You did good back there. Pepper’s cheerful voice seemed out of place considering the situation.

  Thanks. I’m not very good at speaking to people.

  Get outta here. She laughed, giving me the equivalent of a mental hug. You think they could make any more noise out there? It’s like sitting on a jackhammer.

  I shook my head, but it was giving me a headache. With a rapid boom, boom, boom, boom, the door creaked before it toppled over, crashing to the ground. Dust billowed out, covering us with grime. I wished I’d had my helmet, but as far as I knew, Turk was still fused to it.

  Reclaimers fired as they ran in. Boulder went to one knee, arm up and expanding to protect himself from the gunfire. His free hand threw chunks of rock at the oncoming army. I saw a head burst from the impact of his projectiles.

  Dad launched into the air, fanning lightning across the front row of soldiers. Nothing happened. They ran through the arcs of electricity unharmed. I could see why. The Reclaimers were encased in a non-metal armor than left no skin exposed.

  Abby roared as she charged, growing over seven feet. One of the troops dropped to one knee, firing a disrupter band at her, but the arcing electricity Dad laid down destroyed it mid-flight. Abby and Izanami crashed against the advancing troops. I ran behind them, using my energy to enhance my punches. Armor and bones cracked under the assault. Boulder slammed his colossal arm into anyone that got too close, shattering whatever it hit. Dad swooped around and destroyed the disruptors before they could be launched against us. A few minutes later, we stood in the middle of a junkyard of broken men and armor.

  Dad landed next to us. “Specter said they had a mechanical monstrosity, but all they sent in were foot soldiers.”

  Is the ground supposed to look like that?

  Like what? But then I saw it. A faint green haze slithered across the ground. Too late, I knew what it was. “Turk is here.” I promptly vomited as the poison seeped into my system. Dad tried to take off, but he fell to the ground, spewing the contents of his stomach as well.

  From the shadows of the door came Turk, green miasma spreading out in front of him. “You thought you’d killed me, didn’t you, Ward?” I noticed the charred remains of his hands minus a few fingers from each. “I cut a deal with the Protectorate. I help them take out the Underground once and for all, and I go free.”

  Tommy, you’ve got to get up. They’ll kill us if they capture you. Panic laced Pepper’s voice. The sickness continued making me retch even though there was nothing left.

  I’m trying, but I can’t feel my power.

  Forget your powers. Just get up.

  I pushed myself up from the ground. “Make sure they give you a ring for your service. It will look great with your new manicure.”

  “Funny, asshole,” Turk said as he kicked me in the ribs, flipping me over. Shadows of Brunner’s beating raced through my mind. If I could get out of the green mist, I could fight back.

  “I guess you’ll need a hand taking a piss from now on, huh?” Another kick in the stomach. Just a bit farther.

  “The Protectorate wants you alive, but the Reclaimers are okay with a couple of fatalities, so shut it before I shift to poison and off your sorry, murdering ass.”

  “I’ve got to hand it to you, never thought you’d lick the Protectorate’s balls for him. Always thought you were more of a hand job kind of guy.”

  Turk pulled back to kick again, but then he noticed he’d stopped pumping out toxins since he lost his temper. A thicker stream poured off his ruined hands, bubbling across the floor. “Nice try, Ward. It almost worked, but I’ll have the last laugh.”

  The sickness returned full force. The sounds of retching came from all around me. I’d tried and failed.

  Keep trying; you almost had it.

  I knew, and so did Pepper, it wouldn’t work a second time.

  Turk barked a bitter laugh. “I’m going to enjoy watching you pay for what you did to Uncle Jack.”

  I heard a shrill noise from above Turk. He’d been talking, so he didn’t hear it. I
needed to distract him, so I flipped him off.

  “That’s the best you can do, I’m so disapp—” He heard the sound I had noticed far too late.

  As a falcon dove from the ceiling straight at Turk, it shifted, becoming an albino panther. Its claws took him fully in the face, muffling his screams as the weight of the big cat drove him to the ground. Turk tried in vain to get away, but the vicious claws raked across him, tearing deep grooves into him, blood spraying in all directions. The screams lessened as the panther finished its work.

  With the miasma gone and my healing ability kicking in, I could get to my knees. Molly ran over, still covered in blood and gore from Turk. She helped me stand and steadied me. “What are you doing here?” I mumbled.

  She punched me lightly in the arm. “So much for a thank you. Mom sent me to tell you they need twenty more minutes and the evacuation will be done.”

  Straightening up sounded like a good idea but one it would have to wait. “I’m thrilled you came when you did, but why didn’t you just radio Ranger?”

  She rolled her eyes at me.

  Seriously? Pepper echoed the same in my head.

  “They are jamming our communications gear.” She looked everywhere but at me. “And maybe she doesn’t know I wanted to help.”

  And there it is. Pepper laughed. I knew she was up to no good.

  “Oh, I see.” I attempted a grin, but I don’t think it worked overly well.

  Molly grimaced and held her nose. “Um, you should clean up when you get a chance. You don’t look any better than you smell.” A noise from the entrance caught our attention. A loud whine of engines followed by a dull thud. Over and over. Everyone had climbed to their feet, in various stages of health. Boulder and Izanami had taken the least amount of damage, so they appeared ready to go. Abby started growing as she prepared for another battle. Dad was worse for wear, his helmet gone, but he stood tall as we waited for whatever approached.

  “Molly, head back. Specter said this thing is bad news.” I strained my eyes, trying to see into the darkness beyond the door. The thuds grew louder, and I felt a tremor through the floor as it came.

  She shook her head in defiance. “These are my people, and I will protect them. You’d all be dead if it wasn’t for me.”

  “Molly!” Izanami snapped at her. “Get yourself back to the translocator. We will delay this thing, but you need to let us know when we can leave.”

  “But...”

  “GO!”

  “Fine.” Molly shimmered, returning to falcon form, and beat her wings to gain altitude and speed. I watched her go for a moment.

  Now that is one cool Gift. Did you see her tear up Turk? Oh, of course you did, we share the same eyes.

  I had seen it and silently added him to my list. Another death that hadn’t been necessary. In another time, Turk and I could have been friends, but someone had turned him against me with lies and deceit. Everyone that encountered me ended up dead.

  Pepper didn’t respond. How much of what I thought could she “hear?” I thought tacos and promptly got a response.

  Are you freakin’ kidding me? Of course, you’re thinking of food at a time like this. Once again, I’m glad I’m a woman.

  As we watched the doorway, lights illuminated it, causing us to guard our eyes. The ground bounced at the weight of the mech as it entered the base. At least twenty feet tall, it had the appearance of a giant bug. Six legs propelled it forward as the articulated head swung back and forth. Giant mandibles had been attached to the head; each had a chainsaw blade embedded in it. Along the top, arms with spinning blades swung back and forth. At the far back, a giant missile launcher turned as it aimed.

  “Move!” Dad yelled seconds ahead of the first missile launch. Everyone scattered. Well, everyone but me.

  WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Pepper’s fear hit me like a tsunami.

  Watch. The first of the small rockets crashed into my chest, exploding. The impact threw me across the street, flinging me into a bright blue door with yellow daisies painted on it. The rush of energy flowed through me. My combat suit didn’t fare as well, but I could get another one if we made it out alive.

  I watched as the rockets destroyed most of the homes around the entrance in a vain attempt to kill one of us. Dad soared overhead. Boulder imitated his namesake by hiding under a massive outcrop of rock he’d created. Izanami rolled out from under it as the firing stopped. Abby had leapt up to the rooftop and run out of harm’s way but now sped back to the fight.

  Power surged through me to levels I’d never reached before. The hairs on my arms danced like they were water on a hot pan. I gathered my power and fired a bolt of lightning across the intervening space, striking the head as it turned my way. The electricity arced across the armor plating, leaving scorch marks but nothing else.

  Boulder heaved a massive chunk of what looked like granite to smash against the mechanical beetle but, other than scratching the paint, it did no damage. Abby and Izanami couldn’t do anything since they couldn’t get to the people driving the mech. Another barrage of missiles launched, but a massive updraft from Dad hurled the rockets over our team. The damage to the buildings further in the base would be terrible, but we were abandoning it anyway.

  We moved back. Power thundered through me screaming to be used, but I didn’t have a target I could damage. Buildings crashed to the ground as the beetle chased us deeper into the base. Rubble cascaded everywhere as the massive mech crashed through anything in its way. More missiles launched, striking buildings and the walls of the base. Dust and dirt dropped from the ceiling.

  I stopped to rest for a second, watching as the beetle had slowed to crush another of the larger buildings. The top floors had fallen on the back of the beast, stopping the rockets for the moment.

  Dad flew down. “No word from Molly. We have to make a stand soon, or they’ll be at the munition dump in minutes.”

  I stood next to a two-story building that had a sign saying Supply Depot. The rumble of the beetle freeing itself on the other side was deafening. Pieces of stone fell from the ceiling as I examined the roof. I had an idea. “Get everyone back to the dump. If this works, we can get everyone out of here.”

  Dad looked at me like I was insane. “No. I’m not leaving you.”

  “You just said we have to make a stand, and I know how. But you have to get everyone to the translocator now.”

  “Your mother is going to kill me.” He launched into the air. I only had a minute to get in position.

  Are you crazy, or do you have a death wish?

  Neither. This will work.

  It had better, or I’ll hate you for rest of eternity.

  I knew I probably wouldn’t live through this, but I had to save the others. Time to roll the dice.

  36

  I ran into the supply depot as fast as my feet could carry me. I went through the door and past the front desk that guarded a room full of shelving. On the far side of the room, a stairwell ran to the second floor. I tore up the stairs, orienting myself to where the back of the building was.

  At the top of the stairs, hallways branched in either direction. I turned left, heading for the end of the hall. I found a door and threw it open, revealing a huge office with two large windows overlooking the destruction of its next-door neighbor.

  Extricating itself of the rubble and various items that had, until recently, resided in the destroyed building, the mechanized armor beetle turned to follow the fleeing members of my team.

  Time to see if my crazy plan will work, I thought

  You know we could make it to the translocator and get out with everyone else.

  No, they still need more time to get everyone out. This is the only way they get out of here alive.

  But not us.

  I knew this was my last stand, but if it saved everyone else, it would be worth the cost.

  No, we don’t get out.

  Well, it’s been nice riding shotgun with you, partner.

  There wasn�
��t anything else to say, and time was running out.

  I shot an arc of electricity at the beetle, putting nothing into it. I needed to save my power.

  The head swung ponderously toward me. I sent a second light show and then ran back into the hall. The outer wall exploded as the barrage of missiles impacted it.

  I ran back in, firing a third and fourth electric arc at the mech. The beetle turned slowly, bearing down on the building. I shot a couple more harmless bolts to keep its attention. When the head reached the building, I ran, fighting for balance as the structure rocked. At the end of the hallway, I threw open the window and stepped out onto the fire escape. The building lurched as the beetle tore away at the foundation. I pulled myself up the ladder to the roof. I heard part of the wall collapse and braced for the jolt. The building listed, throwing me into a wall hard enough for my power to increase.

  I swung up to the roof. This had better work, I thought as I gathered the swirling power I contained, focusing it into one solid flow of pure energy. The base’s roof was under twenty feet from where I now stood.

  Good luck, Tommy.

  I unleashed a blast rivaling the one that tore a hole in the Megadrome. Instead of a single, sustained burst I’d used to get rid of the energy Powell forced into me, I focused the power to cut a square directly over us. The Underground’s bases had been carved under the city by a Gifted of enormous power. The ceiling of the base was the foundation of the buildings above. Marcel might have been able to figure out the physics of it, but all I knew is the weight above us would come down if the support under them disappeared.

  I finished connecting the square, but nothing happened. The building jerked as the beetle crashed through the main floor, removing the supports from under me. I steadied myself on a piece of machinery. Dirt and dust covered me. I’d tapped my power to the point I couldn’t have fired again if I’d wanted to.

  The noise from the mech grew as it tore the building apart. All I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and wait for the end, but Mom hadn’t raised a quitter. Across a small alley sat another building, its roof slightly lower than I was, at least for the time being. I got a running start and jumped. Unfortunately, at that moment, most of the backside of the building decided to crumble. My graceful jump became a flailing fall. Pepper screamed in my head. I reached out and caught the lip of the roof. The momentum of my fall slammed me into the brick exterior, forcing the breath out of my lungs. I held on with my arms burning, and my fingers complaining loudly that the blisters hadn’t quite healed yet. I found a foothold and forced myself to pull up and over the edge.