One of the marines helping Jonah levered the cabinet, tipping it against the table legs to jam it against the door. He fell on the cabinet as it tipped and as he levered himself up a bullet ripped through the door and hit him. His helmet jerked back, and he slumped forward onto the cabinet motionless. Jonah dragged him back by his legs and rolled him over. Ray couldn’t see the injured man’s face, but Jonah simply heaved him backwards out of the way. Not a good sign.
Jonah and the last remaining man stopped working having done all they could with the barricade. They both stood to the side of the door now waiting. The barrage of bullets splintering the door stopped and Ray checked her screen again. Half way there.
Ray noticed Nettle checking her sidearm and she patted her own holster, making sure it was still there. The noise of feet pounding down the corridor behind them had them spinning. Three marines including the snipers burst into the room. The front two immediately took defensive positions on either side of the door and waited for the third who ran with the injured Sparks slung over his shoulder.
Once they were through they swung the door shut and began to emulate the barricade from the far end of the room. A massive explosion from where they had come rocked Town Hall and fragments of the earthen ceiling rained down on the room. The aftermath of the explosion halted the attack on both doors for a period as everybody watched the ceiling hoping it wouldn’t cave in.
The brief reprieve was shattered by redoubled attacks at both doors. Bullet damage ceased on the eastern door and the door bashed against the table as it was battered forcefully from the other side. One of the soldiers whipped in front of the door and unloaded through the center of it with his assault rifle. A hole broke open in the center of the door and a cry of pain echoed back through into the room. The kicking ceased, and another hail of bullets ripped through the door covering the floor with splinters.
Ray began to wish they had chosen terminals a little further into the room. With twenty seconds of upload time left the barrage of gunfire at both doors stopped suddenly, plunging the room into a ringing silence. Nettle was poised over her terminal intent on the last few seconds of data transfer. Ray’s hearing pulsed from the recent aural assault and she stared at Nettle feeling like she was looking through a veil of static.
The upload bar finally vanished, and Nettle’s console flicked over to a map screen. Nettle jammed the encryption key into her console and her fingers began to fly over the symbols on the screen. The image of Diana reappeared, this time shrouded in gauzy shapes, each once a different hue to differentiate them as individual nets. Nettle used both hands to spin and zoom the digital planet bringing Atlas front and center. As she zoomed in, Ray could clearly see the large void in the nets hovering over the shuttle port outside of Atlas. The safe passageway that CDSE could use to enter and exit Dianian air space.
Nettle used four fingers to grip one of the nets by its corners and dragged the hazy image over the shuttle port. As the net moved away from its current location a new button appeared on the screen simply asking “MOVE? YES/NO.” Ray punched the move button in triumph and stepped back.
As her heel hit the floor a deafening roar crashed from both ends of the room. Both barricades exploded and flew into the room. The heavy cabinets slid back, and the twisted metal chairs bounded like tumbleweeds smashing into the consoles. Several small black balls flew through the doors and before Ray could think, one of the marines tackled her like a linebacker, smashing her into the floor.
The other marine had thrown himself over Sparks, leaving Nettle standing. Nettle ripped the HHI out of the console and threw it toward the rolling grenades. It made it about half way before the first one went off. The shock wave picked up the unit and flung it like a toy, smashing it into shards against the far wall. The wave met Nettle, still leaning in from her toss, and flung her backward like she had been charged by a bull. She crashed into a console, her head cracking sickeningly against the metal case.
Ray struggled to stand but found herself pinned by the heavy, unmoving marine. She wriggled out desperately as heavy boots thumped towards the doors. She couldn’t see Jonah and the Marine on top of Sparks wasn’t moving.
She wrenched herself free and leapt to her feet whipping left and right to get her bearings. Her flash stick somehow caught her eye reminding her that the console was still logged on and the encryption key engaged. Ray sprang, ripped it out and swallowed it in one motion.
She hammered the logout logo in the corner, mashed her finger on the yes button and watch the screen go blank as the heavy boots entered the room.
Grinning fiercely Ray turned on her attackers and drew her sidearm. She had won. Whatever happened to them now, CDSE were going to lose. They would all die here. Grinning like a wolf, Ray lifted her pistol two handed and sighted along the barrel at the first dark shape that emerged through the smoke. His eyes widened as he saw the pistol leveled at the bridge of his nose. His mouth dropped open and he flicked up his weapon to take aim. Ray pulled the trigger just as a familiar voice cut into her awareness.
“Not her.”
Ray prepared herself for the recoil. The soldier looked death in the face realizing he wasn’t going to be able to react in time.
To Ray’s horror the muzzle of the gun sparked but nothing else happened. Ray squeezed again with the same result. The relief on the soldier’s face was palpable.
“Stun mode,” he said out loud, stepped forward and lashed out with his weapon trying to knock the gun out of her hand. Ray reacted without thinking, leaping back like a cat. The butt of the soldier’s gun whipped harmlessly through the air as she toggled the mode slider away from stun.
She fired randomly in the man’s direction. The bullet ripped through his forearm snatching his hand away from his assault rifle which clattered to the floor. Unused to the force of the recoil, the pistol almost pulled free of Ray’s grip, pivoting up and nearly connecting with her chin.
Anger fizzed up Ray’s neck making her scalp contract. Fierce joy beating in her aching gut. The soldier stared slack mouthed at his dangling hand, blood pouring from the tatters of black cloth and torn flesh at his wrist.
A second man appeared beside the soldier. Ray lined up on his forehead, two hands this time and braced as Jonah had demonstrated. He dropped like a rock, the crack of the weapon crashing around the cavernous hall.
Out of the corner of her vision Ray detected a blur of movement and she ducked just in time to avoid the butt of a swinging rifle. She spun and lashed out with her weapon connecting forcefully with something hard at head height. The man in front of her staggered back holding his face.
Something hit her forcefully in the back sending her flying forward onto her face. She hit the floor, her hand gripping involuntarily, firing a round into the wall on the far side of the room. She felt the heavy weight of somebody on top of her and strong arms around her chest.
With her arms still free, she lifted the gun and fired two handed down the length of her back. She pulled the trigger three times. Pain erupted in her ear from the blast of the weapon, far too close.
She thrashed out from under the man as his grip slackened. The man she had pistol whipped was returning now, an evil gash in his cheek spilling blood. He held his rifle high, butt first, ready to smash it into her face. She pumped a round into his chest. The impact of the slug hitting his body armor knocked him to the ground.
Ray aimed for his head and fired. The first round glanced off his helmet but the second hit square, punching a hole straight through. The soldier collapsed forward, the exit hole in his helmet dripping pink with smashed brain. Ray whipped around, looking for her next attacker.
At the far end of the room she could see more CDSE soldiers with weapons trained on somebody on the ground. She couldn’t tell if it was Jonah or not. Nettle lay still against the wall, chin slumped on her chest and eyes closed as if sleeping. She could see Sparks’ hair peeking out from below the man who had saved him, the marine clearly giving his own life in t
he process.
As she looked back toward the entry door a familiar figure strolled calmly through. Jager, in officer’s dress, hands clasped behind his back.
“Finished?” Jager inquired casually.
“Fuck you,” Ray thought to herself, raising her gun and firing in one motion.
Jager’s unblinking predator’s stare didn’t flicker as her trigger stuck fast, her empty weapon failing to fire.
“You’ve lost,” Jager informed Ray as if he were telling her the time. “I would have these men shoot you where you stand but you are required by Copeland. If you come with me now I will not have them kill your friends.”
Ray looked desperately in the direction that she had last seen Jonah. She looked back at Jager and pulled the rigid trigger once again just in case. Jager slowly raised two fingers, ready to signal the death of almost everybody she loved.
Ray dropped her weapon and held her hands up. She stared back at Jager defiant.
“Good,” said Jager slowly returning his hand. He nodded to two men, who moved forward cautiously. She won’t fight or run,” Jager assured. “If she does I will kill every pestilent stinking soul on this filthy rock and make her watch.” He spun and strode out of the room. “Bring her,” he commanded over his shoulder.
Ray’s rage was fading, and, in the calm, she could see more clearly the outcome of the battle. She could see Jonah now, lying still on the floor at the far side of the room. Nettle was trying to lift her head and seemed to be gradually coming around. Jonah face was turned towards Ray with eyes closed. Ray imagined she was engraving his face in her memory. One last look to take with her.
Ray signed,” Good bye” and turned to follow Jager and her escort. She was deeply sad to be leaving but filled with lightness. Her injured hand and stunned ear stung like badges of honor. They hadn’t lost, they had won. Jager, ahead of her in the corridor was a dead man walking. He didn’t know it and Ray certainly wasn’t about to tell him.
CHAPTER 34
Ray walked easily in front of the CDSE soldiers. They moved briskly past the familiar barracks and buildings of Atlas. Once or twice a window blind was opened a crack, and scared eye peeked out. Clearly people who were either allowed to stay or had hidden. Some of the houses Ray knew and she wished the inhabitants well. They would live.
The party moved into Atlas’ outskirts and on into the new concrete structures that had arrived with the humans. Beyond these, the cool of the forest rose up, swaying gently under the patchy clouds. The old trail that Ray had run so many times winding into the ardent green.
To Ray it had never looked more beautiful. She wished she could run to the end and walk out into the lake one more time. Watch the sunlight rippling across the lake bed.
Too soon the CDSE compound loomed ahead of them and the guards hauled the gates open as they approached. Jager led them through and headed straight for the buildings at the back dedicated to research. Another guard opened the door as they approached and Jager led them in.
Astrid sat in a small room, armed guards flanking her. She appeared utterly defeated, her face sallow and her eyes bloodshot. She looked up as Ray entered tears still clinging to her cheeks.
“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. I’ve made a mess of everything, but you have to understand. They were going to leave them here to die. Your sisters. All the children. I have no choice...”
Ray shrugged and smiled at Astrid trying to convey that it was OK. She wished she could say more. Astrid's head dropped down again, and her shoulders shook.
Jager watched dispassionately for a spell and then turned to Ray. “Our work here on Diana is not finished and Miss Copeland is the only one with the appropriate knowledge to fulfill our mission. Unfortunately, following recent events she has developed a misplaced sense of injustice. We need her to forget. For that reason, you are to become the new Miss Copeland. She will write an earlier backup of herself over to you. When you wake up, you will have no memory of the events of the most recent six months of time on Diana. Do you understand?”
Ray nodded.
“During the procedure you are to lie still. Gross movements may upset the process and could damage your brain. Do you understand?”
Again, Ray nodded, looking straight ahead. She tried to block the feeling of triumph from her eyes. Not that it really mattered. Even if Jager figured all this out somehow, they would all be stuck here anyway, unable to escape.
With a small start, Ray remembered the encryption key sitting in her stomach. If the key went with her to the Golden Hind, there was a chance that Astrid would find it. It would have to come out some time and Astrid might feel it and wonder what was happening. A swallowed flash stick would be too tempting. She would look at it for sure.
Before she could stop herself, her eyes flicked to Astrid. Astrid happened to be looking up and the two exchanged a glance. Fleeting, but Ray felt something pass between them. Astrid’s forehead crinkled just the tiniest amount.
Jager frowned, his piercing eyes boring into hers. Ray stared back trying to give away nothing. Frozen to the floor.
Jager leaned over slowly and pressed a button on a wall mounted screen. His frown remained. The screen flicked to life and a CDSE uniformed face appeared.
“Captain Jager Sir,”
“Inform Pfeffer that we will be performing the procedure here, “Jager instructed.
At the engineer’s confused expression Jager continued. “Relay the message ensign.”
“Yes sir,” the engineer replied, and the screen turned blank.
Jager turned back to Astrid and Ray.
“I don’t trust you two. Transfer them to surgery one.” He turned to Astrid. “The MRI we moved in there will suffice?”
Astrid nodded without looking up.
Jager flicked a nod at the soldiers and they guided Astrid up to standing with a hand on each arm. Ray followed as they exited the room.
A short way down the corridor they entered a surgical suite like the one Ray had escaped from just a few short days ago. The memory of Pritchard’s haggard face with the cruel metal spike sticking out of his eye made her shiver.
Against the wall was the familiar bed complete with brain scanner. Slightly bigger than Ray was used to and, from the look of the molded plastic, containing many more rings than the ones Ray had used before. Despite her resignation, Ray felt a surge of fear. She wondered if it was going to hurt and looked to Astrid. Astrid looked back clearly reading Ray’s face.
“Don’t worry dear,” Astrid projected so Jager could easily hear. “You will wake up with no memory of what had happened so that equates to the same thing as no pain. Please lie down. I must fix your head to keep it as still as possible. That will be uncomfortable I’m afraid.”
Ray approached the bed and levered herself up, careful not to put too much weight on her injured hand. She lay down carefully and Astrid walked over. She put a hand on Ray’s head and stroked her hair for a second. Ray looked at her feeling peaceful and resigned. They held each other’s gaze for a time, Astrid’s hand now still. Finally, Astrid leaned down and quickly whispered in Ray’s ear “Don’t let them win and please, look after your sisters.”
Astrid broke contact and quickly slid the cowl over Ray’s face. The white plastic sat inches from her nose and she felt a small swell of claustrophobia. A white band descended from the cowl and wrapped itself around Ray’s head. It tightened to the point where Ray thought her skull was going to crack.
She fought her compounding fear, forcing herself to lie still. Something tugged her boots off and she felt cold metal against her skin as somebody cut the metal zipper out of the front of her pants.
After a time, the room fell quiet and the lights dimmed. Ray could hear Astrid adjusting settings. And felt the hum as the powerful magnets were engaged. Astrid put her hand on the back of Ray’s wrist and squeezed it briefly. Ray heard her footsteps retreat and the light switch clicked, plunging the room into darkness.
In the total black Ray’s wo
rld shrunk to the sound of her heart beating and the phosphines in her eyes reminding her of the lack of light. The hum of the magnetic coils slowly began to penetrate her mind. Filling her slowly with an intense high-pitched whine. Sparks flecked through her vision and her skin felt burning hot all over. Her mouth began to taste metallic. The sensations increased in intensity until Ray felt like she was about to fly into parts. A scramble of human pieces, disentangled and flung into every corner of the universe.
She began to feel her body distorted. Oversized hands and feet and then the sensation of sinking into the hard bed, pushed by a giant invisible hand. The sparks in her vision intensified until they coalesced unto a sheet of pulsing white light, burning behind her eyelids though she could no longer tell if her eyes were open or closed. The light flashed one blinding, intense pulse and then vanished.
CHAPTER 35
Slowly, the sensation of gentle light began coloring the back of Ray’s vision. The hum of the MRI had diminished, and the light no longer sparked across her retina. Sound began to coalesce, and she could hear voices echoing in the room around her.
With a feeling of falling she plummeted back into her own body, fully aware once again. The white plastic of the MRI cowl sat an inch above her nose she could still hear her pulse beating in her temples. She examined her consciousness. Her memories.
Ray frowned, confused. She was still most definitely Ray. Maybe it hadn’t worked?
She lay for a while as the voices in the room continued to converse in low tones. Astrid’s last words echoed in her memory.
“Look after your sisters.” What did that mean? Had she meant to do this?
The cowl slowly slid back and Jager’s icy eyes came into focus once she adjusted to the relative brightness in the room.
“Miss Copeland.” He stated more than inquired.
Ray paused for a second trying to fathom Astrid’s plan but eventually found herself nodding.
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