by Justin Sloan
Fierce pride flooded Kaylin, although it turned to horror as Jaxon turned to face them. His face was a mask of terror, and he dropped the weapon and stumbled back from it, like it was a venomous snake. Fresh tears welled in his eyes as he glanced back and forth between the crumpled body of the dead alien and the weapon lying at his feet.
He might have been young, but he understood perfectly well what he’d done. He’d killed the soldier. For years, he’d been a sensitive little boy haunted by his mother’s death. He was the kind of kid who carried bugs outside, refusing to squish them, because he didn’t want to ever see death again.
And now he was staring at a fresh corpse he’d stolen the life from.
Jaxon turned to the side and vomited. Kaylin rushed over to him, desperately wishing she had time to rub his back and assure him he’d be okay. But she didn’t. She reached down and took the rifle in her own hands, sweeping it back and forth as she searched the street for any more of the enemy.
There were none. But she could hear armored footsteps marching on the next street over. It sounded like a large group of them, and their steps seemed to be getting closer.
Kaylin snatched up Jaxon’s hand and dragged him back over to Ian. She took the Syndicate pistol out of her belt and handed it to the injured man.
“Give them hell,” she said, nodding toward the sound of the marching steps.
He nodded gravely. “I’ll hold them off.”
“You’re hurt,” Jaxon said, pointing to Ian’s dislocated knee. He stared up at Kaylin with a frantic expression. “Shouldn’t we call 911?”
The innocence of his question knocked the breath out of her for a second. But Ian just smiled up at her brother.
“Don’t you worry, kiddo.” He patted the pistol in his hand. “I can take care of myself just fine.”
Kaylin hesitated, but then she ducked down to pull the old veteran into a fierce hug. “He’s going to live because of you,” she whispered.
Ian grunted and muttered, “He won’t if you two don’t get your asses moving.” But then he slung his arm around her, squeezing her in a tight embrace for a fleeting second.
Kaylin allowed herself one moment of pure gratitude and sorrow, as she embraced Ian tightly. But then she stood back up and steeled her expression, refusing to let Jaxon see the grief ripping through her. She grabbed the boy’s hand and began jogging away, pulling him along with her.
She didn’t say goodbye to Ian, because she refused to let this be the end of him. The Syndicate soldiers were going to overwhelm him--she had no doubt about that. But she also knew that his sacrifice would allow him to live on through Jaxon.
“COME ON,” Kaylin said. “We’re super close.”
Jaxon nodded determinedly and followed alongside her, huddling so close he almost tripped her. She led them down back streets and side alleys, pausing at every corner to listen for sounds of Syndicate soldiers. The closer they got to the water’s edge, the more the sounds of the war faded behind them.
Kaylin panted for breath, and Jaxon heaved desperately for air, but she didn’t allow them to stop. They crossed into one more side street, and there it was. The glimmer of water, tinged a filthy grey as it reflected the smoke-clouded sky.
“The lake,” Jaxon gasped.
Kaylin nodded, and they put on an extra burst of speed. The pier came into view as they rounded another corner. Usually, it was crowded with people strolling along its concrete length, while boats docked all along its sides. The boats were still there, but the pier looked near abandoned, without a single person in sight.
Panic filled her, and she scoured the pier, searching for any sign of life. Then a flicker of movement caught her eye. A man dressed in dark clothing was standing in the shadow of a boat docked near the base of the pier. He had something clutched in his hands, and judging by his stance, Kaylin guessed it was a rifle.
The Resistance. They were there, and that meant the rescue boat must be, too.
Giddiness and relief danced in her stomach, and she gave Jaxon’s hand a strong squeeze. “We did it, Jax.”
He was panting too hard to reply, but she saw a fresh spark of life enter his eyes, and his pace picked up. They ran the last stretch down to the pier, ducking through streets filled with abandoned shops and warehouses.
The moist smell of lake water filled her nose, its earthy scent cutting through the choking smoke. She gasped in deep breaths of air and hurried forward, their footsteps pounding against the cracked pavement.
A flash of white in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She whirled toward it, and heavy dread filled her. It was an empty deployment pod, sitting in a tiny alleyway next to a convenience store.
Kaylin cursed and brought her rifle to her shoulder. She scanned the street as she continued jogging, searching for any sign of Syndicate soldiers. No enemies were in sight, and she desperately hoped that meant they’d left the area after landing. But as she glanced around, she couldn’t ignore the plumes of smoke rising from several places around them, and she knew it was likely they were still close.
She dug into the very last of her endurance and put on another burst of speed. As they raced toward the pier, she spotted two more empty pods. She let go of Jaxon’s hand so she could grip the rifle with two hands as she ran, ready to aim and fire at the first sign of Syndicate soldiers.
Her heart pounded wildly as they neared the pier, but the streets remained quiet. The Resistance guard turned toward her, his rifle raised, and Kaylin was relieved to see that he was gripping a stolen Syndicate weapon. She raised a hand in greeting as she crossed the last street that separated them from the pier.
“Are you still taking children?” she called out, holding her breath as she waited for an answer.
The man nodded and lowered his weapon, waving her forward. “We leave in five minutes.” He pointed to Jaxon. “But we still have room for him.”
Relief flooded her, lightening her last steps toward the pier. But right as her foot struck the cement floor of the pier, a telltale whine pierced the air. She instinctively dove to the side, shielding Jaxon with her body.
An explosion rocked the ground, and a wave of heat washed over her. Disbelief numbed her. They’d been close. So damn close to safety. But of course the Syndicate had to tear apart all her efforts.
But she wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet. Not while Jaxon was still breathing. She stumbled into a kneeling position and held her rifle at her shoulder, searching for an enemy to target.
“Run to the boat!” she screamed at Jaxon.
He leapt up and took off running. Kaylin didn’t have time to watch his progress as she turned back to the enemies before her. There were twelve of them, all running out from the multiple alleys that bordering the pier.
Kaylin cursed, realizing she was trapped in an ambush. The Syndicate hadn’t failed to notice the escape boat--they had merely been waiting for it to be full before they attacked.
She ducked behind a nearby support beam, and the ground she’d been standing on vaporized a moment later. Thick concrete chunks tumbled into the churning water fifteen feet below. Kaylin’s heart pounded frantically as she aimed the rifle and fired off two shots. The first struck the ground near a Syndicate soldier, sending it tumbling to its knees. The second struck another straight in the chest, cutting through its armor and killing it.
She didn’t get a chance to fire off any more shots before having to leap for cover behind another concrete pillar. Her heart pounded wildly as the pillar shook with the impact of their fire. It wouldn’t hold for long.
Anger pounded through her veins as she realized she was truly trapped. She glanced toward the boat, hoping to see Jaxon aboard. But he was trapped behind the pillar next to the boat, along with the Resistance soldier who’d been guarding the vessel. The brave man was using his body to shield Jaxon as he struggled to punch in commands to a cell phone.
No. Not a phone. A remote.
Hope surged through her, and she slapped her han
ds over her ears. The Resistance soldier waited two more seconds, allowing the aliens to get closer. Then he punched a button.
An explosion rocked the ground. Cracks raced down the pier as dust and smoke clogged the air.
Then there was only silence.
Kaylin coughed as she hesitantly peered from around the pillar. The ground the Syndicate soldiers had been standing on had been incinerated, the shells of their armor smoking on the blackened ground.
The Resistance must have been expecting the Syndicate to attack. She didn’t know what sort of explosive had been planted around the pier, but it was obviously something made from alien technology. It’d probably been salvaged just the day before, when the Resistance had begun fighting off the Syndicate in other cities.
Wherever the explosive came from, it was exactly what they needed. No human explosive could have damaged the Syndicate armor so easily, not without obliterating everything within a mile.
Movement flashed in the corner of the blackened area. Only one Syndicate soldier remained, but it was quickly limping away, sparks bursting from the damaged armor covering its leg. Kaylin aimed her rifle and fired. The shot stuck the Syndicate in the back, sending it toppling to the ground.
It frantically raised its own weapon, firing off one last desperate shot that flew wide. It exploded into the pillar shielding Jaxon and the Resistance fighter. The cracks in the pier broadened, and the cement groaned under the strain.
Kaylin cried out a warning. But it was too late. A gaping hole opened in the ground right next to Jaxon, and the concrete tumbled into the water below.
The Resistance fighter leapt to the side, trying to drag Jaxon along with him. But his hand slipped, and Jaxon tumbled into the depths of the lake.
Kaylin screamed in horror and jumped to her feet. She pivoted toward the street and fired one more round into the Syndicate, striking it in the chest. She didn’t wait to see it fall to the ground before she dropped her rifle and pack. Then she sprinted across the pier, diving into the water.
Coldness enveloped her, driving the breath from her lungs. Kaylin pushed through the murky water to the surface and gasped in a lungful of air. She treaded water for a moment, searching for any sign of Jaxon at the surface. But churning waves were the only thing in sight.
She had to find him. She couldn’t let him drown, not when they were so damn close to safety. Kaylin dove back underwater, struggling to peer through the dark swirling tide. She spun in a circle, desperately searching for any sign of her brother. Just when panic was threatening to overwhelm her, Kaylin spotted movement directly below her.
She dove down, forcing her exhausted limbs to claw through the water. The moving form grew closer, and a small hand reached up toward her. She latched onto it and immediately surged upwards, dragging Jaxon out of the depths. Her lungs burned from the effort, but she dug into her last reserves of strength and battled to the surface.
Her face touched the air, and she immediately gasped in a huge breath. She dragged up Jaxon, shoving him above the surface.
He didn’t react for a moment, and she shook him harshly. It was enough to shock him into taking a small breath. Then he gasped in another, and another.
“I’ve got you,” Kaylin said. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
He started vomiting up lake water as shivers wracked his body. Kaylin held him close with one arm, while she treaded water with the other. She glanced desperately around, searching for a safe place to reach the land. The pier towered far above them, and the nearby shore had a sharp drop off that was lined with roughly-cut boulders, making it impossible to climb.
Something landed in the water next to her, splashing them both. She blinked water out of her eyes and looked down at it. It was a life vest with a thick rope attached to it.
“Hook him in!” a voice called from above.
She glanced up to find the Resistance guard holding the other end of the rope. Two other Resistance fighters crowded close to him, ready to help pull Jaxon up. Kaylin quickly helped her brother into the vest and tightened the straps, securing him as safely as possible.
She kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll be right up, okay?”
He reached out and latched onto her shirt with his hand. “Don’t go.”
“It’s okay,” she said, struggling to talk through her chattering teeth. “I promise, I’ll be right up.”
He still wouldn’t let go, and she was forced to pull his hand off her. The tiny whimper of fear he gave nearly broke her heart, but she reached into the air to give the Resistance fighters a thumbs up. They immediately began hauling Jaxon up, and her guilt turned to relief as she watched him being hauled up to safety.
It was only then that she realized how truly exhausted she was. Her limbs felt like twisted hunks of lead, aching and heavy, and her chest heaved painfully for air. Coldness penetrated deep into her bones, until it felt like her entire skeleton was made of ice. But she resolutely kept treading water, trying to ignore her shivering as she kept an eye on Jaxon.
He reached the pier, and the Resistance fighters grabbed him, hauling him onto the solid portion of the pier. They disappeared for a moment as they hurried him away from the edge. Then, just a moment later, they reappeared and tossed the vest back down to her.
Kayin struggled to get her arms through the vest and tighten the straps. But, somehow, she managed to do it after a painful minute of fumbling. She barely had enough energy to raise her hand into another thumbs up.
The rope tightened, and she was lifted from the water. The vest crushed her chest, making breathing difficult, but she didn’t even have enough energy left to panic. After what felt like an eternity, she reached the pier, and the Resistance fighters hauled her onto solid ground and toward safety.
KAYLIN GAZED AROUND THE PIER, hardly noticing the soldiers removing the vest from her and wrapping a towel around her shoulders.
“Where’s Jax?” she demanded, panic creeping into her voice
“On board,” one of them answered. He was the one who had set off the charge that incinerated the Syndicate soldiers.
He was the one who’d saved their lives.
He hauled Kaylin to her feet and kept one arm wrapped around her shoulders as he helped her toward the boat. Kaylin blinked hard, struggling to focus on his face. He had dark skin and deep brown eyes, and he looked like he was in his mid-twenties.
She knew him. They’d trained on the same team when she’d first joined the Resistance. The realization made her gasp, although it turned into a coughing fit as she hacked up the last of the water that she’d accidentally inhaled.
As soon as she got her coughing under control, she choked out, “Beck. Beck, it’s me. Kaylin.”
He startled at the sound of his name and peered down at her with a puzzled expression. It took her spinning mind a moment to understand his confusion. She hadn’t actually joined the Resistance yet, not in this timeline. And that meant she’d never met Beck or trained with him yet.
He shook his head as they reached the ladder leading up to the boat. “Sorry, I don’t remember you. When did we meet?”
She scrambled to think of a rational explanation and blurted out, “School.” It was close enough to the truth, considering they’d met during training.
He offered her a small, sad smile. “No wonder I don’t remember. School feels like it happened in a whole different lifetime.”
“More like in a whole different reality,” Kaylin murmured.
Beck nodded, despite having no idea she wasn’t being figurative. Then he pointed to the ladder in front of them. “Come on board,” he said. “We’ll take you across the lake, but that’s as far as you can come with us. Only Resistance soldiers and children are allowed to come to our base.”
“I want to join,” Kaylin said. “I want to fight with the Resistance.”
He looked her small, ragged form up and down. Then he simply said, “Good. We need as much help as we can get.”
He gestured for her to
climb the ladder first, and she struggled to get her trembling hands to grip the rungs properly. Finally, she dragged herself over the edge and onto the deck of the boat.
She whirled in a circle, searching for Jaxon, and quickly spotted him through the window of the small side cabin. He was sitting on the edge of a table while a Resistance fighter wrapped a thick quilt around his shaking shoulders.
She raced toward the cabin, and a guard stepped in her way. But Beck called out, “Let her through! She’s with the boy.”
The guard nodded and muttered an apology as he pulled the cabin door open for her. Kaylin burst inside and raced over to Jaxon, sweeping him into a desperate hug. He buried his face in her shoulder and hugged her back so fiercely it was hard to breathe. The other man who had been inside stepped back a few paces, and then slipped out the door, giving them some privacy.
“We made it,” she said to Jaxon. It wasn’t until she spoke the words out loud that she truly believed them. Relief flooded her, and she hugged him even tighter.
“Do we have to run anymore?” he whispered.
“No, Jax. The Resistance is going to take us someplace safe now. We don’t need to do any more running.”
Even as she spoke, the rumbling of engines shook the floor beneath them, and she could feel the boat shifting as it pulled away from the pier. Jaxon’s chest heaved, and he let out a quiet sob. Kaylin held him close, rocking him back and forth as he cried into her shoulder.
“I’m so proud of you,” she murmured in his ear. “So freaking proud.”
He choked back a hiccupping sob. “But I killed him.”
“The Syndicate?” Kaylin shook her head and gave him a comforting squeeze. “You had to, Jax. We both would have died if you didn’t. You saved us.”
“I didn’t want to hurt him,” he whispered.
She kissed him on top of his head, swallowing back tears of her own. The death of an alien didn’t bother her. Never had, never would. But Jax had killed more than just the Syndicate. He’d killed off the last of his childhood innocence, the gentle part of his soul that Kaylin had always treasured.