I couldn’t answer him if I wanted to.
“Get down!” X yelled at Gavin for me.
I hunched over Gavin, using my body as a shield.
The mutie with the flamethrower opened up, hosing us with a stream of white hot fire.
I was ready. I could take it.
The tongue of heat scorched my back armor, sending stabbing ice-cold pain through my back. The agony was something I had never experienced before.
I couldn’t help it. My jaw wouldn’t let me talk, but I sure as heck could roar. I lifted my head, bellowing my rage to the sky above. I spread my arms over Gavin’s body, trying to protect as much of him as I could for as long as I could.
“X!” I managed to scream somehow despite my jaw. I didn’t know what I expected her to do. It was just the first name that came to my mind. I turned my head to the left. I needed to try and protect X’s data chip implanted behind my right ear from the incoming flames.
“Oh, Daniel! Daniel!” X screamed in my head. “Hold on. Sam’s getting up. You hold on!”
I couldn’t feel my body anymore. I was fading quick. Even I knew the human body can only handle so much pain before it falls into an unconscious state.
Gavin struggled underneath me to get away from the flames, maybe to get up and try to help, I didn’t know.
Images of my Amber raced through my mind. I could see her there smiling, almost welcoming me to come with her.
What was it Sam had said earlier? My addled mind tried to form the coherent thought. Enough fire was a way to kill us?
“Daniel, don’t go!” X yelled in my head. “She’s here! She’s here!”
Suddenly, I was back on the main street of Cecile. I felt numb, but the constant licks of flame serrating my back were gone. I fell backward and onto my left side, unable to move.
I could see the still wounded Sam taking down the mutie with the flamethrower. She ran her knife across both his wrists, severing any way for him to hold the weapon. He dropped it, screaming in pain.
Sam’s helmet had been ripped off or maybe she had taken it off. Her face was red with a sheet of her own blood, but I saw her eyes. Rage was the best way for me to describe them.
Sam lifted her head to the heavens and let out something that sounded more animal than woman. She stuck that mutie with her knife a half dozen times in the side of his head and neck.
Dark blood poured from the mutie in streams. She didn’t stop stabbing him either, even when he fell to his knees. With a few more deep slashes and a sawing motion at the end, she took his head from his lifeless body.
The mutie fell headless to the ground. I could see a few of our surviving attackers helping their own wounded up. A few more reached for weapons as if they were about to mount another assault.
Sam didn’t even say anything. She was past words. Knife in one hand, the head of her most recent enemy in the other, she opened her arms and roared a challenge.
The act was so primal, there were no words needed to understand exactly what she meant. The challenge was something as old as mankind and always pointed to the same thing, a promise of death.
That was enough for that handful of attackers who thought trying to assault Sam’s city was a good idea. Those able to, ran. Those unable crawled in the opposite direction.
I only now realized X was talking to me.
“Can you hear me? Daniel, can you hear me?” X asked over and over again. “Your body has sustained so much damage, you’re going into shock. But you’re going to be okay, do you understand? You’ll heal. I know you will. You have to.”
The last thing I remembered was Sam turning back to see me and Gavin on the ground behind her. That look of primeval wrath in her face melted in a second. Fear for our own wellbeing now lived in her eyes.
Everything went black.
Chapter Nineteen
The thing that woke me was voices. I was in the same room in Sam’s house where I had slept the night before. The door was cracked as two voices I didn’t recognize talked about the battle.
“You hear what they did?” a woman asked someone. “They took out over a hundred and fifty of them by themselves. I can’t even comprehend that. One hundred and fifty.”
“I heard they turn into something else when they fight,” a man’s voice answered. “They’re gods on the battlefield. Nothing can kill them.”
“Well, maybe not kill them, but the one in there looked pretty cooked to me,” the woman said. “I heard Samantha say he would heal just like her. Imagine that? I don’t know what to think.”
“I’m just grateful they’re on our side,” the man said with a shudder in his voice. “I mean, wherever they came from, whatever they are, they might as well be our guardian angels.”
“Oh, don’t go talking about that supernatural stuff again.” The woman sighed.
“What?” The man sounded offended. “You think it’s pure chance Cecile had not one but two of those berserkers here defending us right when we needed them?”
“Here we go,” the woman said as if she were speaking to herself.
“I mean, you don’t have to believe what I believe. You can call it whatever you want—fate, destiny, the universe—but it seems obvious he came right when we needed him,” the man said excitedly like he was speaking about his favorite conspiracy theory. “Samantha wouldn’t have been able to turn back that entire force alone. She’s amazing, but there were just too many. If he hadn’t come, we would have used the city militia, and even then, who knows if we would have won and at what cost?”
“Okay, okay, Dan,” the woman said. “I surrender.”
The two kept on talking, but X spoke inside my head, so I lost track of the two going on about fate versus chance.
“I can’t even imagine the pain you went through,” X said. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Yeah, me too,” I said.
“When—when you were getting burned, you turned your face to the left. That was to protect me,” X stated more than asked. “I mean, the data chip on the side of your neck that activates me.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure how much heat you could have taken,” I answered. “Didn’t seem right for you to have to burn for a choice I made.”
“You saved him,” X said. “You saved Gavin. And next time, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. My exterior is hard-plated with Delvine steel. You don’t have to take care of me. I’m supposed to be the one supporting you.”
“That’s what friends do, we look out for each other,” I said, thinking about my relationship with X. We’d been on a rollercoaster ride ever since we met. “You ever wonder what a normal life would feel like?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” X answered.
“You know,” I said, wincing as I moved to a seated position on the bed. “Haven’t you ever wondered what it would have been like if you were paired with an accountant or stay-at-home parent?”
“Not really,” X answered. “I was created and designed to help my wearer. I want to help you, Daniel.”
“Right, I get that and thank you,” I said. “But what would you do if you had the choice? Maybe not even to help anyone but just do your own thing.”
The silence grew and lengthened to the point where I was about to prompt her again when she finally spoke.
“I don’t know,” X answered quietly. “I mean, I know every weapon ever created, how to listen for threats even when your eyes are closed, how to direct you to the most lethal target to nullify first, but I don’t know what I would do if I were left to find my own way.”
“Just something to think about,” I said, trying to ease her troubled mind. “You’ve got time to figure it out.”
I said those last few words a little too loud. The guards talking outside my room went quiet. A heavyset guy with a beard poked his head into my room a minute later.
“S-sir, are you awake?” he asked.
I was sitting up with my eyes open, looking directly at him. I bit back a sarcastic c
omment.
“Yep, I’m up,” I said. I looked down at my bare chest. I lifted the covers on me to see how naked I really was. I had underwear on but no pants. “Can I get some clothes or something here?”
“Oh right, yes, I mean,” the man fumbled. He opened the door all the way, stepping into the room. “I’m supposed to see if you need anything and then tell Samantha right away once you’ve woken.”
The female guard at the door stuck her head inside the room, letting her eyes rove over my naked torso.
“Riiiiiight,” I said, half annoyed and half amused. “Well, I’m up and I need clothes.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” the woman said, swallowing hard. “I’ll get you some clothes and Samantha right away.”
The woman turned on a heel and left the doorway rather quickly.
The male guard just stood at the side of my bed, grinning at me like I was some kind of celebrity.
“I think he’s going to ask you for your autograph or something,” X said inside my head.
“How’s Gavin and Sam?” I asked the guard.
“Good, good, I mean minor burns on Gavin and Samantha will heal like she always does, but what you did out there, I mean, the entire town is talking about it.” The guard extended a hand. “Sorry, bad manners. I’m Dan, Daniel Wood.”
“Good name,” I said, accepting the offered hand. “Daniel. Daniel Hunt.”
“Oh cool, cool,” Dan said, grinning at me so wide, I thought he was going to hurt himself.
“Dan, you can let go of my hand.” I said.
“Oh right, right, cool, cool,” Dan said, nodding. His eyes grew twice their size as an idea entered his mind. “Hey, I think I have a pen somewhere on me. Can I get your autograph?”
“See, told you,” X said inside my head. “We should have bet something.”
Dan didn’t wait for me to answer. Instead, he started patting himself down looking for a pen. He ended up finding one in a deep back pocket. The way he reached down for it made me wonder how deep it really went. I killed that line of thought as soon as it popped into my mind.
“Here we go,” Dan said, handing me the warm pen. “I don’t have paper, so how about on my hand?”
“Dan, will you please leave him alone,” Sam said, entering the room. She looked as good as new. A slight hitch in her step was the only thing I could see that would have pointed to her injuries that morning.
“Right, sorry, of course,” Dan said, reaching for the pen.
I felt bad for the guy. I maneuvered the pen to the back of his hand and scribbled something that could pass as my signature and then handed him back his pen.
Dan’s face was a picture of pure delight. He actually squealed.
“Oh thank you, thank you,” Dan said, taking the pen and staring down at his hand as he left the room. “I’m never going to wash this hand again.”
“He’s not going to shut up about that,” Sam said, coming over to me with the clothes that I had first arrived wearing. They were clean and pressed. She placed them on the edge of the bed as she took a seat. “You were a mess when we peeled that armor off you. Took those tattoos on your back with it.”
“I’m glad I was unconscious when that happened,” I said, grimacing at what that would even look like. I glanced at the window, looking at the sun’s descent. “I guess a solid eight hours was enough to do me right. I don’t feel anything back there now. Come to think of it, my jaw feels totally fine too.”
“You look as good as new,” Sam said with an admiring shake of her head. “You always healed the fastest out of any of us. Daniel, I don’t know how to thank you for saving Gavin. I mean, those words, ‘thank you,’ don’t seem like enough at all.”
“You would have done the same thing,” I said. “You were out of the fight for a few minutes. I was still able to help.”
“Of course I would have done the same thing, but Gavin is my husband. I love him. You didn’t owe him anything,” Sam said, trying to wrap her mind around the idea that I would risk so much pain and possible death to save him. “Why did you do it?”
“He’s part of your family,” I said, thinking out loud. “You’re part of mine.”
Sam gave me a hard stare. She slowly nodded, understanding it all. A tear glistened in her eye. Instead of letting it fall, she changed the subject.
“And let’s not forget about X,” Sam said, leaning forward to try and get a look at the chip behind my right ear. “What’s with not telling me you had an AI supporting you? I’ve never seen a piece of tech like that before.”
“Courtesy of our friend, Wesley Cage,” I explained. “X has already saved my life more times than I can remember.”
“We’re a good team,” X said via her external speakers. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Samantha.”
“Likewise,” Sam said. “Thanks for looking out for Daniel. He may have lost his memory, but he’s still the same. A magnet for trouble.”
“How’s Gavin?” I asked, changing the subject. “I heard he got burned.”
“Burns to his arm and leg, but nothing that won’t heal,” Sam answered. “He’d be dead without you and Amber would have grown up without a father.”
“Well, we won’t have to worry about that now,” I said. “It’s over. I don’t think either the Skull Bearers or the Krull will be visiting Cecile any time soon.”
“No, I can’t imagine they will,” Sam agreed.
“You should reach out to the Reapers,” I said. “Their leader at the moment is a man named Papa. He owes me a favor or two. He’s kind of a weird guy, but he’s loyal. If you two can agree on some terms, maybe having an ally in the Badlands will be a good thing for you.”
“Phoenix, Mercenary, Reaper friend, and now Savior of Cecile.” Sam clucked her tongue with feigned dismay. “Careful, Daniel, or the same fate that came for me will come for you.”
“And what fate’s that?” I asked.
“A wife and kids,” Sam said with a smile as she rose from her seat. “Get dressed. I know you have to leave tonight, but you need to eat and the town wants to thank you before you go.”
“Count me in for the eating,” I said, rising out of bed and beginning to dress. Outside of being a bit sore, I actually didn’t feel that bad. “I don’t need everybody to feel like they have to thank me.”
“Oh, they don’t feel like they have to,” Sam said over her shoulder as she turned to go. “They want to.”
Chapter Twenty
I had a few hours until I needed to head for the designated drop point where the Phoenix dropship would pick me up. The city looked nothing like the warzone before.
The citizens of Cecile had taken it upon themselves to get the place cleared of bodies and vehicles during the day. The damage done to the buildings on the east side of the town still smoked, but if I knew these citizens like I thought I did, I figured they’d be working on repairing the rest of the damage soon.
Tables had been brought out to the center of the town’s main street piled with food. Men and women set up banners and a band played music that wasn’t half bad.
I wasn’t exactly the smiling chatty type, but the citizens of Cecile were. I was mobbed with pats on the back and smiles. So many thank yous I couldn’t keep track of them all.
Peso’s wife, a pretty young woman with full lips, gave me a kiss on the cheek. She said she knew if Peso had gone out to fight, he would have likely sacrificed himself in some way.
There were many of these interactions from wives and husbands of the fighters. Gavin was even there, high on pain medication.
“I was kind of intimidating when I walked down the street firing that repeater,” Gavin said to me with a goofy drugged-induced grin on his lips. His right shin and left forearm were bandaged up tight.
Do I tell this guy the truth, that he’s as intimidating as a sad puppy, or lie to him and give him a moment of victory? I thought to myself.
I was leaning toward letting him know that even on my worst day, if he
were to blindside me, he still wouldn’t be more than a nuisance, when his daughter interrupted us.
“Daddy! Daddy!” the ball of energy called out, streaking for Gavin.
Gavin winced then smiled as his daughter collided with him. Lucky for him, Amber grabbed on to his non-injured leg to give him a hug.
“Easy, easy.” Gavin laughed, then gave up trying to balance altogether and just sat down. “You’re too strong, you got me.”
“I’m a fighter girl,” Amber squealed.
“Hey, you have to take it easy on Daddy.” Sam came up with a smile as she pried her daughter off her husband. “Daddy got hurt, so he needs some time to rest.”
“Is he hurt too?” Amber asked, pointing at me.
“Not him,” Gavin said getting to a knee. That drug-induced grin fell from his face for a moment. He looked at me as he spoke to his daughter. “He saved Daddy today.”
“He protected Daddy?” Amber asked, pointing a chubby finger in my direction. “Him?”
“That’s right,” Sam said. “I think you should go give him a hug and tell him thank you.”
“She doesn’t have to,” I said as Amber turned from Sam and ran to give me a hug. Instinct told me to kneel. Amber swiped her red hair from her eyes as she ran.
The little girl wrapped me in a hug then kissed my cheek. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome—Amber,” I said, trying not to think about the meaning and symbolism here for too long. I wasn’t the emotional type and I wasn’t trying to convert now. “Your mom helped too. It wasn’t just me.”
Sam was about to open her mouth to protest, when we were all interrupted by someone shouting from one of the tables.
Peso stood on a cleared table, shouting for everyone’s attention.
“Thank you, this won’t take long,” Peso said, raising a cup into the air. “I just want to say that these last few years in Cecile have been some of the best I’ve ever known. A large part of that goes to Samantha, but today, we celebrate a new hero, Daniel Hunt. Thank you, Daniel. I’m a warrior at heart, so it isn’t easy for me to thank you for doing the fighting. But we know you are special and as such carry a certain edge. Without you, many of us would have died today.”
Absolution: A Near Future Thriller (Forsaken Mercenary Book 2) Page 12