Yes, Dad, Eve replied. We’ve also been to the bathroom, and we have our names printed in our underwear. I understand that I have to finish my vegetables and say yes sir and yes ma’am. May we go and do our job now?” There was a pause before she came back online, her voice a touch more contrite. “Please?”
Akio’s snicker came over the link clearly.
Bethany Anne snorted. I suppose so. You kids stay safe.
Oh, we will, Eve promised.
Splinter World, Colony Outskirts, Mechanical Fields
Bethany Anne and Michael stayed low and moved fast past the intersections, utilizing whatever the environment offered in the way of cover as they made their careful way toward the ravine’s edge.
They’ve been here a while, Bethany Anne remarked, nodding toward a rusty machine that had what looked to be years of vine growth covering the enormous feet. To build all of this. That's if they didn't just kill the original inhabitants and move right in.
Michael had to agree. This is not the kind of infrastructure that could be thrown up overnight. They were nearing the end of the mechanical fields, which seemed to be never-ending. The steadily-pumping machinery was interspaced with enormous tanks, blocking Bethany Anne from locating their way out.
I need to get a different perspective, she remarked offhand to Michael.
Michael shrugged. I think your judgment is sound enough on this.
Bethany Anne narrowed her eyes at Michael and jerked her thumb toward a ladder on the side of a nearby tank. I meant that I should climb up and get the lay of things.
Michael grimaced then change the subject. That would be an idea. We should have brought some of Eve’s minidrones along. He looked relieved at an excuse to divert her.
You haven’t escaped, Bethany Anne assured him. I’d be delighted to hear about the times you thought my judgment wasn’t sound just as soon as we get home. She ducked to avoid a tangle of twisting pipes that ran between the enormous tanks, drizzling coolant into the fine dirt beneath.
Bethany Anne noted spilled coolant coalescing into sticky, shining puddles. She made sure to avoid getting any of the viscous muck on her armor’s boots as she headed for the ladder.
Michael stifled a laugh. You are walking like a woman wearing Louboutins in a farmyard, he teased.
Bethany Anne turned her head and raised an eyebrow at her husband. I am walking like a mother who doesn’t want to wear a burn mask to tuck her children in tonight.
Michael reached out with his mind to check that the area was clear while Bethany Anne climbed up the side of the tank. She leaned over the edge a few moments later. We’re almost at the edge of the ravine.
Do you think we will be home by tonight? Michael smiled as Bethany Anne landed beside him. “That would be good. We’ve been away from Alexis and Gabriel for too long.
It does feel like we've been away a lot recently. Bethany Anne moved from the shadow of one bulky machine to another and sighed. I don’t like leaving them, but what choice do we have? It's not like we can bring them with us to a full-on war.
Having new bases built will make it easier for us to travel together. Michael swerved around the next puddle to join her in the lee of the massive rattling pump. Their powers will manifest soon enough, and then we can bring them wherever we go. Michael didn’t need to see his wife’s face.
He could feel the heat of her disapproval
Bethany Anne groaned. This again?
Michael took the lead. Yes. “This,” as you put it, is a decision we have to make, and soon. Do you intend to leave our children on High Tortuga when we find the Kurtherians?
Bethany Anne faltered at the thought of being without her babies for an extended period of time. Shit. No? A pair of guards came into sight. We can’t talk about this now.
It will wait until we get home, Michael conceded, moving past Bethany Anne to remove the guards’ heads before they spotted them. You have to admit, this is a clever choice for a hideout.
In what way? Bethany Anne retorted, passing Michael while he covered her. It’s stupid as fuck to go to ground in a place like this.
She pointed at the puddle by the base of the tank she was using as cover while Michael crossed the intersection. That’s just begging to burn. One stray spark in the wrong place and BOOM. She turned back to Michael and demonstrated with her hands. This whole cliff is replaced by a crater, and it’s bye-bye any chance of us getting anyone out of here alive.
I’ve survived worse than a little bit of fire. Michael took the lead. And that is precisely my point. Since we know the Ooken to be at least reasonably intelligent, we would have never thought to look here without the intel to guide us.
He pointed out another patrol and Bethany Anne moved to deal with them.
True, Bethany Anne conceded, waiting for him to catch up to her. Peter, Jian, and the others are down there somewhere. They have to be.
Michael’s face was hard. God help the Ooken if they aren't.
Bethany Anne snorted. No God’s going to save the fuckers who took them. They have to be taught not to do that shit again.
They continued to leapfrog until they reached a larger intersection between two main passages at opposing angles. They paused, looking down each of the routes in indecision.
Bethany Anne checked in with the others again. Akio, Eve, have you found your way down?
Eve’s reply came instantly. Yes, but we haven’t come across the power plant yet, just the aliens. Bethany Anne? They have weapons technology from a variety of sources. Maybe your scavenger theory isn't so out there after all.
A quartet of Ooken guards emerged from a side-passage they'd missed previously, making the decision for them. The guards splayed their tentacles, preparing to attack.
It wouldn’t surprise me. Keep going, and let me know when you find something.
We will, Eve replied, and dropped the link.
Bethany Anne drew her swords from her back and darted toward the guards, her blades flashing as she moved through the group with practiced steps.
Michael sighed and put his sword away. Every time, Bethany Anne. Every damn time.
Bethany Anne turned back to flash a grin at him before moving off with her swords held in a relaxed grip. What can I say? Early bird gets the worm. She toed a twitching tentacle that lay in her path, eyeing it with distaste before she stepped over it. Ugh. Some worms.
Michael snorted, slipping around her to get first look at the side passage. It's clear.
The passage went down a short way and curved around, then opened onto a rough stone ledge below the cliff edge. The ledge was covered in vines that hung down from the cliff face above, snaking past the ledge to create a kind of bower that was lit from the outside by a pearlescent glow.
What the fuck? Bethany Anne looked around. Where’s the light coming from?
Michael separated the curtain of vines, revealing the shimmering forcefield above their heads. That would explain why Izanami couldn’t locate more than the basic outlay of the colony on her scans.
Bethany Anne frowned. Double-fuck. Where did they get tech that can block ours? We couldn't even see, she pointed at the force field, that.
Michael dropped the vines. I would guess they got it from the Kurtherians. This enemy appears to be skilled at confusing outsiders as to their capabilities.
Bethany Anne narrowed her eyes. Then let's pull off the mask and see who's hiding underneath.
They pushed through the vines, being careful of their step until they found their way down—a crumbling disused path worn into the rock face.
Bethany Anne looked down the path with skepticism. This looks like a good bet.
Michael peered down, stepping back quickly when the edge crumbled beneath his boot. If we are careful.
Bethany Anne regarded the dizzying drop they faced if the path failed them. Then it looks like this is our path.
They began to descend warily, watching above as well as below since the vines still covered every surface.
Bethany Anne pushed a knot of vines out of the way and looked around to check that Michael was still behind her. You didn’t get around to telling me what happened with your T-rex hunt.
Michael's shoulders tightened. No, he replied tersely. I didn’t.
Bethany Anne gave Michael a look he didn’t see. You know I’ll find out one way or another. You might as well just tell me.
Can a man not keep anything to himself? He shook his head and laughed at her stern look. Apparently not. The hunt did not go as expected, and other than that, my lips are sealed on the subject. You won’t get anything out of Akio, and Peter–
Will tell Tabitha everything, Bethany Anne told him, and then she will tell me everything. She smirked and kept walking. That’s how things work around here. You should know that by now. Speaking of Akio, when is he going to deal with the Sabine situation?
Michael sighed. Is it that obvious to you?
Bethany Anne sighed. Honey, it’s obvious to everyone. I was glad for her to get some distance when I found out the older kids were heading to Devon for a while. She held up a finger before using the hand to push away a vine at head height. I know all about the letter. Is Akio going to resolve it before it goes too far?
Michael frowned. I hope so. I told him to.
You told him to? Bethany Anne repeated. She chuckled. Oookay, then. That should solve it.
Michael’s frown deepened. Yes. What’s the problem with that?
Bethany Anne’s lips pressed together in amusement. Did you give him any specific directions?
Michael made a sound of disapproval. He is six hundred years old. I hardly think he needs to be instructed like a pubescent Were.
Bethany Anne dropped to slide down a scree-covered incline where the path had degraded. When she reached the bottom, she turned back to point a teasing finger at Michael as he descended. He’s a man, she told him. A gender not known for listening skills as a whole.
Michael raised an eyebrow. I’ve listened to you, oh…I don’t know, five times at least. How is that not a skill?
Bethany Anne narrowed her eyes. Be glad I don’t know if they’d detect us if I zapped your snarky ass.
Michael bowed and grinned. Touché, my love.
Bethany Anne gave him the finger and got back to walking.
They came to the bottom of the ravine and pushed through the pooled vines. The valley floor was covered in vines, which grew in tight knots along the ground and choked the tall trees. The colony was sleeping; there were very few lights.
Bethany Anne and Michael did not need light.
Two shadows slipped through the night, deadlier than the rest.
The vine-covered area by the cliff soon gave way to rough buildings on high stilts that brushed the tree canopy in the wide valley. Michael was familiar with that construction method, and also the reasons for building that way. He tested the ground, which for now was cool and solid beneath their feet.
They slipped between the trees to where the buildings began, making their unerring way toward the building in the center that Izanami had identified as the other most likely place the Ooken would be holding so many hostages.
Michael checked in on Eve and Akio.
We are doing well, Akio replied. We reached the target, but this is not the location of the prison. The building Izanami marked is a munitions factory.
A cold smile formed on Bethany Anne's mouth. Then why don’t you and Eve cause some mayhem in the factory and then get the hell over here?
Sounds good to me, Eve agreed.
21
Splinter World, Colony, Prison
Bethany Anne and Michael were waiting on a roof near the prison twenty minutes later when there was a deafening rumble, then an explosion in the distance.
It got exactly the reaction they were counting on.
A steady stream of guards swarmed out of the prison building and jumped in the transports lining the yard behind the wall. The gates opened and were lit by floodlights before the first transport was allowed to leave.
Fuck it all with a hand blender! Bethany Anne stamped a foot as she cursed. There was no way to sneak in through the front gate while the transports were leaving without either using their abilities or being seen. There are at least five hundred guards down there. We should go for the wall while the searchlights are trained on the gates.
Michael nodded. That likely means there aren’t too many more left inside to guard the building. It’s a good plan. He watched the gate for another moment or two to make certain the attention of the guards was elsewhere, then the two of them made a run for the wall.
They leapt from a short distance away, pulling themselves over the top before anyone spotted them. Michael paused before jumping down to check out his landing spot. You know, I love that we still make time to do stuff together.
Bethany Anne landed with a soft thud on the concrete below. Yeah, well let’s make it count. We’re almost there. Can you locate Peter? Or even the Weres in general?
Michael landed beside her and concentrated on categorizing the minds within the building, searching for any that felt familiar. His goal was to get in and out quickly without being noticed.
The Ooken were easy to avoid. They were all in mental communication with others, many in groups of six or more. There were other minds in the prison: violent ones, pitiful ones, and a few eat-your-mother’s-face insane ones.
They all deserved to be there for one reason or another, but there was no trace of Peter. He probed deeper into the building and found someone more than familiar. I have Peter. He’s alive.
Bethany Anne let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. What about the others?
Michael paused. I can’t tell.
Only one way to find out. Bethany Anne left the cover of the building and ran for the wall surrounding the prison. She leapt when she was almost there, grabbing the top of the wall to haul herself up and over before Michael had a chance to reply.
He shrugged and followed before she killed every alien in there.
Michael landed beyond the wall and found his wife in its shadow by the red glow of her eyes. A quick scan of their surroundings showed him they were lucky not to have set off any alarms. There were trip lasers over every window, along with heavy bars. It’s geared more toward keeping people in rather than out, he pointed out.
Bethany Anne wasn’t so sure. Yes, but whichever way it gets tripped, it will still alert the guards, and then we’re back to the issue of having insane numbers of psychotic aliens on our asses. There’s only one answer to that.
Michael shrugged. Then kill them all now. It saves us having to come back and do it when they attack someone else. I know you won’t stand for that.
I’ve got every intention of passing my final judgment on every alien involved, Bethany Anne told him. But there are other ways to neuter the rest of them. I can remove their spaceflight capability. I can disrupt their trade. I can do a thousand things that don’t involve wiping an entire planet out. She sighed. Genocide is one of the things I’m trying to avoid these days.
If I can, she finished a moment later.
Michael laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. It gets tiring; I get that.
Bethany Anne tilted her head to rest it against Michael’s hand for a moment. I know you do. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t killed your ass for abandoning me for so long. She kissed his hand, then shrugged it off to resume her examination of the building’s security. We need an alternative entrance.
Michael pointed at a brightly-lit annex, choosing not to protest her outrageous statement at that time. That appears to be slightly less fortified than the rest of the place.
Bethany Anne considered the building. Looks good to me. Of course, if we knew if t
hey can detect the Etheric we could just step through, get our people, and step out again.
Is it worth the risk to find out? Michael asked.
Bethany Anne made a face. Not right this minute.
Michael nodded. You may get the opportunity. If we are discovered, it will make no difference.
They made their way to the annex, careful not to trip any hidden alarms as they crossed the yard in the shadow of the wall.
They were almost at the annex when a tense moment occurred. A pair of searchlights sweeping the yard changed track and began moving toward Bethany Anne and Michael from opposite ends of the wall.
Bethany Anne thought fast and decided the time had come to take the risk. She acted, grabbing Michael to pull him into the Etheric with her.
Michael breathed a sigh of relief that matched Bethany Anne's when the bland white mist of the Etheric dimension swirled around them. “That was too close for comfort, but now our cover may be blown. We don’t know they can’t track us if we use the Etheric.”
Bethany Anne held her hands out and shrugged. “It would have been blown for sure if I hadn’t. There was nowhere to go. I suspect they don’t have the capability or they would be in here attacking us already.” She made a face. “Hang on, I’ll check.”
She popped her head out of the Etheric. No bullets came whizzing toward her, and no alarms shrieked in the background. The searchlights had moved on to the other side of the yard.
Bethany Anne drew her head back into the Etheric and turned to Michael with a grin. “We’re good.”
Michael nodded. “Then let’s stop hobbling ourselves and get our people back.”
They returned to the prison, but first they traveled to a spot that would bring them out inside the building.
They emerged into a dusty storage room. Bethany Anne brushed the webs from her armor. ADAM?
>> Little busy right now.<<
Are you and Izanami okay?
>> We’re fine. Be with you as soon as we’ve dealt with this EI group.<<
Michael’s call was to Eve and Akio. We’re good to use our abilities.
We know, Akio shot back. He sounded preoccupied. We went a little way and watched over their factories after we laid the Etheric charges. It was the explosions that brought them running, not the active charges.
Through The Fire and Flame (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 3) Page 22