Red Star Sheriff

by Timothy Purvis

  Nielson lightly stepped to the window to the right of the door and tried to retrain on the senator through it. However, Sonoros was already skittering behind his desk. Nielson smiled. Amelia reached into her purse and pulled out her Crighton, not as lethal as the Titan V, just a short pug-nosed handgun loaded with ten shots in its clip. Regrettably, she’d left the other clip at home. In that same movement, she aimed and fired. Unlike Nielson’s muffled gunfire, the little Crighton’s report was like a series of cracks that took him by surprise.

  The first shot hit his shoulder, plowing through the top and out into a wall. Nielson ducked behind a chair just before the second bullet hit him straight on. It grazed his ear instead, speeding through the lower lobe. The third tightly fired bullet skimmed right past his temple and into the wall behind him. Amelia immediately rolled into the senator’s office head first and over her back to find him cowering behind his desk.

  “Are you alright, sir?” she asked taking cover beside him, tip of the Crighton’s muzzle flat against the bridge of her nose.

  “Why’s he doing this!? Why!?” Sonoros demanded, crouched low, forehead propped against a desk drawer.

  “Just stay down,” she replied and heard the front door swish open once more.

  Low talking came from the other room and she knew at least one other had joined Nielson. They were effectively trapped and she was fairly certain there would be no negotiation. Whatever Nielson wanted to kill Sonoros over, she was now on that hit list too. Should’ve left ten ‘til and said to hell with Sonoros!

  “Ms. Lynch,” Nielson called silkily. He sounded like he had raised to a more advantageous position. Likely the window’s sill. “This really doesn’t concern you. Surrender now, and I’ll let you leave. But, Sonoros stays.”

  “No! No! No! Don’t leave me!” the senator grabbed the left sleeve of her white blouse.

  She brushed him aside and shook her head. Yeah right, Nielson. I grew up in the Wastelands. No way you’re letting me just walk out the front door. Okay. We’re cut off. Neither of us are walking out of this. And I have seven bullets left. So, how do we get outta this? I don’t know how many just entered and we’re not shooting our way out. Okay. Take measure of our situation.

  She looked behind her and saw the long curving window. Two rooms, one exit. Or… The thought hit her like lightning and she swallowed hard knowing what the only move was going to be. And she’d have to be extremely precise. And fast. Oh, Amelia, you’re fucking insane…

  Less than a minute had played out since this whole fiasco began and certain death was perched up there waiting for them. Well, she wasn’t going to disappoint. She gripped her Crighton tighter and dropped to her side and out of cover. Nielson was right where she expected. He quickly re-aimed, but she fired twice. One shattered the edge of the sill, the other sailed through where Nielson’s head had been a split second before he ducked into cover. She leapt to her feet, found the new intruders. Two men by her desk and fired twice more. The surprised men couldn’t get their marks on her and both received a shot to their left shoulders. They both fell to the ground looking for cover.

  In that two second moment, she shifted her aim to the window behind them, fired three times, then grabbed Sonoros’ chair to toss through. The window shattered instantly and the chair flew out into open air. Nielson rose back up and she re-aimed at him knowing she had no bullets left. Her bluff worked as he threw himself down and gave her enough time to grab Sonoros by the upper arm firmly. He gave little resistance as he came to his feet looking into the lounge.

  “Come on!” she shouted.

  “What are you doing!?”

  “Something incredibly stupid!”

  “Wha—”

  Amelia slung Sonoros as hard as she could towards the window and outside onto his stomach. Somehow, he wasn’t able to resist her effort and went sliding forward. She immediately leapt out the window head first and pushed off after him. She rolled over onto her back, sliding feet first along the curve of the dome. Sonoros had managed to turn himself around and slid feet first downward as well. His eyes were closed and his scream was a high-pitched wail of terror. Amelia managed to gain enough speed by pulling her limbs in towards her body and allowing the decline to slip her faster than Sonoros until she was right beside him. They were fast running out of curve, so she slung herself onto her stomach and reached out with her left hand to grab his arm and held on as firmly as one would a raging Tibermote Bull.

  “Whatever you do,” she screamed into his ear, “don’t push off! Don’t make any sudden movements! Keep still and let me guide you!”

  If he heard her, she couldn’t tell. He never let up on his howl. She really couldn’t blame him, though. The chance she was taking was beyond risky and downright insane. If they missed by just half-an-inch, well… Hope I remembered the layout right! If not, we’re going to be street pizza!

  The curve of the building dropped more sharply and more vertical as Amelia closed her own eyes pushing her feet into a stopping posture. Maybe she misjudged this after all? But what was the alternative? At least this way, they were going out on their own terms. Well, her own, she guessed. Sonoros didn’t exactly have a choice either way. Grip loosening on the wall, a wave of relief washed over her as their feet hit a solid foothold. She opened her eyes, found a grip, and reached out to grapple for dear life. A metal, fingerlike pole jetted forward. Something for hanging banners, maybe. Sonoros flailed from her grasp slightly as Amelia gripped the metal rod, its edges sinking into her flesh, and she grabbed him swiftly yanking them both forward, slamming their faces into the flat of the building wall. Her nose screamed at her, pulsing in anger. But it was better than being dead.

  Sonoros didn’t seem to appreciate her efforts though as he glared at her, nostrils flaring, “You’re fucking fired, Lynch! You hear me!? Fired!!”

  “You’re welcome!” she retorted. “We can talk about my future employment after we’re safely out of reach of those guys who want you dead! I don’t know why they’re gunning for you… well, I can think of a few reasons, but probably not the same as mine! For now, we need to get out and down. So, shut up, follow me, and give me my performance review once we’re out of this mess!”

  He nodded at her as she looked down. She’d been right. There was a narrow two-foot ridge ringing the building, dividing governmental office complexes from the general bureaucratic divisions below. It was unnecessary ornamentation, and an odd addition to the structure. Now, she was just happy such excess was there.

  Wind jostled her hair and she turned her head right. The marvelous view she’d been admiring not even ten minutes ago was inspiring a new emotion in her: sheer terror. What the fuck was I thinking!? She saw a window only ten-feet away or so. She gripped Sonoros’ arm tighter, ignored his protest, and inched along hoping the window would be unlocked. If not, she had still managed to keep hold of the Crighton. Without thinking, she’d shoved it into the waistband of her dress jeans. By some miracle, it hadn’t fallen out. Miracle. Right. I’ll only have to smash the window with the butt of it and pray I can keep my grip long enough to not fall off… miracles…

  “WHAT THE FUCK!?” Nielson yelled rushing towards the window.

  Lynch had just tossed the senator out of said window, and herself right alongside. He got there just in time to see them sliding over the far curve of the building dome. Sure, there was a curve, but the drop was still steep and he couldn’t believe she’d done that. He stood there, jaw hanging, eyes wide. After she started shooting, he’d expected her to use that as a distraction to rush the front door. After all, she’d just shot his two men now rising to their feet and examining their well-placed shoulder wounds. There was no way she was leaving by the front of the office, he’d make sure of that. But… this! Jesus Fucking Christ! Is the entire family insane!?

  He gripped his left shoulder where the bullet had pierced cleanly through. He’d gotten lucky. She was a crack shot and, had he not had his reflexes, he’d be one dead assassin.
Nielson turned as he heard one of the men, assigned to watch Lynch, grumbling.

  “Fuck. Crazy bitch got us both in the same place!”

  His brows knitted, lips snarled, “Apparently, your ward was armed and knew how to use it!”

  “Uh, apologies, sir,” the second man said shaking his head and holding his hand over his bullet wound. “We didn’t even know she had a gun. We never saw her use it. No training or anything.”

  Fucking Wastelanders! He dropped his hand from his shoulder. His ear hurt too but there was little time left. If they survived that bit of clever idiocy, he needed to get ahead of them. No, this young woman was not going to make a mockery of him. He shouldered past the two men and paused. The comm on the girl’s desk was beeping incessantly. Had been for the last twenty seconds or so he’d wager. He had half a mind to answer and say Sonoros’ office was permanently closed for business. But, again, time.

  He exited the front door, the two men following. “It makes little difference,” Nielson waved his hand through the air as he walked. “Security has to have been alerted by now. Get to ground level, see if they’re actually splatter patterns on the pavilion. If they’re not, leave a message in my callbox. Then get back to Donnor’s Drop and await further orders.”

  “Where are you going, sir?”

  “To the Consul Praetorium,” he glanced back at them. “If they, by some miracle, survived, then Sonoros will immediately head there to find protection from the Praetorium guard.”

  The two men looked to one another and then gave affirmatives. Nielson didn’t bother further with them as he made straight for the government lifts on the other side of the building that would take him to the senatorial docking bays.

  IT WAS A quarter past six and they were fast approaching Aquila Mons. They’d been in the tram for the better part of the day and the anxiety was heavy on Asta’s heart. It didn’t help that there wasn’t much to look at since they were inside a pill-shaped tram zooming through a subterranean tunnel at better than a thousand miles an hour. And they were still having problems connecting to either Curt or Amelia. She pounded the console with the edge of her fist having to disconnect the attempt once more.

  “Tryin’ ta break the comset ain’ gonna help us none,” Drevan said from where he sat in the driver’s seat. “Sittin’ here powerless ta do anything is frustratin’ me too.”

  Asta grumbled. The day had been long and painful. After leaving the fallen labs, they’d walked for nearly six hours, and it’d been a close call. Oxygen reserves were at one percent by the time they’d arrived at the tram terminal miles further along the canyon summit. The relief she’d felt removing her helmet once below ground and in the station had been immense. So much so she’d briefly forgotten about their flight long enough to tease Drevan.

  ‘That was too fuckin’ close. Ah’m at one percent, Drevan!’

  ‘Ah know, ah know,’ he’d replied trying to catch his breath. ‘But we made it.’

  ‘Uh huhn. You said five hours!’

  ‘Or so. Ya always skip over the keywords ah use,’ he’d cocked a brow and raised the corner of his lip then.

  She raised her own brows trying not to smile in return. ‘Ya always brag ‘bout how concise ya are, honeybell. Ah thought when ya said “five hours or so” it’d be around five hours. Not, “We might go six and almost die!”’

  ‘Yer bustin’ mah balls, woman.’

  She’d been chuckling then as they entered the tram and started off. But as the hours went by, a certain terror settled across her soul. She’d tried numerous times to make contact, but the comm system didn’t seem to be able to connect to Aquila Mons for some reason. She wasn’t sure if it was because of distance between them and the city, or if it were due to the tram traveling so fast. Whatever the reason, neither was picking up whenever she tried. Now, she’d just tried Curtis for the seventh time and still nothing.

  “Ya don’ think they’re already…” Asta looked to him, leaving the question hanging in the air.

  “Don’ ya go thinkin’ that way!” But she could see the same fear etched across his face. He pointed to the bottle held between her legs. “Jus’… take another drink o’water’n… try’n reach Amelia again.”

  Asta looked to her lap. It was fortunate this tram had had a cooler built into the lower wall and it’d been stocked with water and snacks. But she didn’t feel much like indulging in either. Still, she did as suggested and let the cool liquid soothe her throat. Once done, she took in a breath and dialed up Amelia’s connection. The comset triggered and she saw the holodisplay indicating there was a connection.

  “It’s buzzing! We must be close enough now!” a smile crossed her face. They both sat holding their breaths. Nobody answered. “…It’s… no…”

  “Try her at work. Maybe she’s still there. Since we have reception now, it’s worth a shot.”

  “…Right.” She hung up and input the comset connection for the Bureau of Senate Affairs. It just beeped. She disconnected and ran her hands over her head and through her hair, suppressing a scream, her teeth gnashing loudly.

  “Ah…” Drevan started and gasped as he watched the tunnel flying by hopelessly. They were in a tunnel of nightmares, she kept thinking, her head throbbing, heart aching, body trembling, and it wouldn’t stop.

  Then the comset beeped and she immediately triggered it. A young man’s face came into existence. Dark brown eyes, cream colored skin, and brown curly hair, all tinted a light shade of blue under the holodisplay.

  “Curt!” Tears streamed down her face and saliva threaded her lips. A good, happy cry on the verge of leaving her trembling body.

  “Mom? I just got home and saw that you were calling from a tram. What’s wrong?”

  “Lissen ta me’n lissen good!” She practically screamed, her features contorting with her fear. Had she’d been able to see herself in a mirror, she would’ve seen some haggard person on the edge of sanity. “Yer father’n ah found ourselves in some trouble! An’ the folk causing us all this grief tryin’ ta use ya two as leverage!”

  “What? Mom, slow down. Take a breath, please. You’re sobbing too hard and it’s making it hard to hear you. You and dad, are you all right? What sort of trouble?”

  “Union soldiers…” She forced herself to calm down. “There’s this assassin and he’s got men watchin’ you’n Amelia.”

  “Me and Ami? Why?”

  “Ta make us do sumtin bad! But we ain’ got time ta git inta it all! they might be lissenin in’n comin’ now! Theys watchin’ ya, son!”

  “Curt,” Drevan leaned over. “Ya gotta git outta there. Ditch ‘em way we uster ditch dem Wyldens when goin’ huntin’ out in the bayous.”

  Curt looked pale as he shook his head. “Dad, I know this city like the back of my hand, but if they’re monitoring me, this assassin, and I assume his agents, then what do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go?”

  “We’re on our way ta the city now. We just want ya safe!” Asta said.

  “Okay. Okay. I’ll disappear for a while and… hold on. I’m actually getting an urgent communication from Ami now.”

  “Hurry!” Asta gasped.

  Curt nodded and the holodisplay went dark as they were put on hold. It felt like ages before he came back to Asta as she and Drevan sat in silence waiting, the rapid hum of the tram thrumming the walls of the tiny vessel. Echoing out and bombarding them with its constant vibration. Then Curt was back and his eyes were wide.

  “Ami’s fine,” he started before she or Drevan could speak and he raised a hand. “But she’s with this senator and they’re on the run from a guy named Nielson.”

  “That sumabitch! Ah’m gonna kill ‘im!” Asta’s hands went into tight fists.

  “She’s… well… she told me, but maybe I shouldn’t repeat it just in case.” Curt rubbed his chin with his hand and looked thoughtful. “Remember the last time you guys visited?”

  “Yeah,” Drevan replied.

  “I seem to recall you gu
ys took the train. Well, there’s a tram system near where you arrived. Can you meet me there by six-thirty?”

  Asta nodded vigorously, “Ah know which one yer talkin’ ‘bout. Commented on how shitty that station was. Even by Wastelander standards.”

  Curt chuckled. “Yeah. I don’t think it’s any cleaner now than then.”

  “Be careful, son.” Drevan exhaled sharply, his jaw tense. “We ain’ far out. Ah jus’ brought up the new destination and it’s showin’ we’ll jus’ make it by then.”

  “Good. I’m heading out now. Don’t worry. They won’t see me, I guarantee it. I’ll fill you in on what’s happening when I see you.”

  “Okay.” Asta was relieved even further. “Ya watch yerself. We love you, kiddo.”

  “Love you too, guys. See you soon.”

  The holodisplay disappeared and the comset switched off as Asta leaned back. Fear was still there, but it was no longer terror. Now she had a task and a target. Nielson. That limp cock bastard. Ah’m gonna put his ass down but good. Hang on, babies. Momma’s comin’.

  Drevan seemed to read her mind and rubbed her thigh. “They’re safe. An’ we’re gonna keep ‘em that way. Nielson ain’ gittin’ ‘way this time.”

  “Nope. He’s not. But… he had guys watchin’ her, right?”

  “That’s what he said. But we know he’s a no-good dirty liar. Maybe he just wanted to do it personally?”

  “She’s on the run with some senator…”

  Drevan furrowed his brows. “True. When we meet up with Curt, we’ll figure it all out. Best not to worry over it right yet.”

  “Yeah. Yer right.”

  Asta leaned back feeling better than she had all day but still nowhere near relaxed. Relaxed would only be for after they had the kids and were back in the Wastelands.