by Jon S. Lewis
The creature came in fast. It was as long as a school bus with a head that looked like a crocodile. Its body reminded Colt of an eel, though it had three sets of arms that all ended in clawed hands.
It battered Oz with its tail and disappeared into the darkness, but it wasn’t gone long. Oz didn’t have enough time to turn around before the creature bit him on the shoulder. He dropped the baton. Without thinking, Colt shot toward it. He dug his thumbs into its eyeballs, and the creature let go. It shook its head back and forth as Colt pulled Oz out of the way, then it disappeared.
Colt could feel the creature behind him before he saw it. He spotted a desk pressed against the wall and didn’t hesitate. He jammed Oz beneath the desk. The monster lashed out, raking its claws against Colt’s back. He could feel fabric and skin being torn.
Colt clenched his jaw against the searing pain. He turned around and pulled out one of the electrical charges from the pouch on his belt, hoping it would work underwater. He waited, but he didn’t have to wait long. The monster came at him, mouth agape.
Colt set the charge and watched as the green light blinked four times, then five. Six. Seven. He plunged the device into the monster’s mouth. Eight. Colt let go of the charge and quickly pulled his hand out. Nine. He ducked beneath the desk where Oz was hiding. Ten.
The charge exploded in the monster’s mouth. Its body convulsed as crackling light shot over its scales. It went stiff, its eyes charred and its jaw slack as it sank to the bottom.
Colt looked down at Oz. Blood continued to seep from his shoulder, but his eyes were open. Grabbing Oz by the collar, Colt swam to the surface, where he could see a hatch. He looked down at his watch. The security system was supposed to go off-line in less than a minute.
Seconds ticked slowly by and Colt thought he saw something in the distance. He wanted to dismiss it as a hallucination, but he couldn’t—not after what just happened. He looked down at his watch. Five seconds. Four. Three. Two. One.
Colt grabbed Oz around the neck. He was heavy, even in the water but Colt managed to make it to the hatch. It was already open. He hesitated, but then he figured one of Basil’s men on the inside must have helped them.
Colt climbed out of the water and pulled with everything he had. Soon both boys were lying on the tiled floor of a small, windowless room. Barrels marked Toxic Waste stood against one wall as Colt propped Oz up against another. “Come on. You can’t quit on me now.”
Oz groaned and opened his eyes. “Are we inside?”
“I think so.”
“Where?”
“I’m not sure, but there’s a bunch of toxic waste. We better get out of here.”
“It’s not toxic waste.”
Colt frowned.
“Go ahead,” Oz said. “Look inside.”
Slowly, carefully, Colt removed the lid of the closest barrel. He expected to find bubbling green goop. Instead, there were two duffel bags. He lifted one out before unzipping it to see what was inside. “More gifts from Basil?”
Oz answered with a nod as his face grimaced in pain.
“I still don’t get why he’s helping us?”
“Like I said, it’s good for business.”
“That’s it?”
“Basil used to be a CHAOS agent,” Oz said. “He and my dad go way back, and he knows it’s smart to keep on my dad’s good side.”
“I’m going to say that this is yours,” Colt said as he pulled a size twelve boot out of the duffel bag. He put it back inside before sliding the bag over to Oz. “How’s your shoulder?”
“It hurts.” Oz had peeled off his wet suit as well as his shirt. Colt could see the bite marks. They were seeping with blood and puss.
“You need a doctor.”
Oz looked at his watch. “I’m more worried about Danielle. We only have six minutes to find her.”
: : CHAPTER 51 : :
Oz gritted his teeth as he changed into the clothes that Basil’s men had left. Besides the boots, there was a black T-shirt, matching cargo pants, goggles, and an ammunition belt with more grenades.
“What was that thing in the tunnels?”
“I didn’t get a good look, but I think it was a Gorem,” Oz said. “They live in the swamps on Gathmara.”
“Are they poisonous?”
“A little bit.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? It’s either poisonous or it isn’t.”
“Look, it doesn’t matter because we need to hurry.” Oz made his way to another barrel before peeling off the lid. He reached in to pull out a large canvas sack.
“What’s that?”
“Our ticket out of here.” He handed it to Colt.
Inside was a jet pack. It was smaller than Grandpa McAlister’s, and there were two retractable wings jutting out from the sides.
“How does it work?”
“Just like that antique you practiced with the other day. It’s just faster, that’s all,” Oz said.
Colt could see that his friend’s shoulder was bothering him as he strapped the jet pack on and cinched the buckles across his chest.
As Colt struggled to slide into his own jet pack, Oz punched a series of commands into his watch. A small holographic replica of the Trident Biotech tower sprang to life, hovering in the air.
“We have a little over four minutes to get to the thirteenth floor.”
“I thought buildings didn’t have thirteenth floors.”
“That’s why it’s the perfect place to hide,” Oz said. “Let’s go.” He cracked the door open and peered out, before slipping into the hall with his back against the wall.
“What about security cameras?” Colt asked.
“Basil took care of them.”
“How?”
“He hacked into the system. Instead of showing a live feed, all Trident security will see is a loop of empty rooms and hallways. As far as they’re concerned, we’re not even here.”
“What about the motion sensors?”
“Hopefully those were shut down too.”
Oz used the hologram map to navigate the hallways. The three-dimensional image showed more than the layout of the building. Red dots represented Trident employees. Oz and Colt showed up as green. So did Danielle, and it looked as though wherever they had her, she was alone.
They were able to duck into empty offices or boardrooms when anyone got too close, though they had a close call when a janitor followed them into a bathroom. He left before he discovered the boys hiding in the stalls.
The lights flickered once, then twice. Then they went out. The red glow of an exit sign at the end of the hallway was the only source of light. Colt couldn’t see Oz, even though he was standing next to him.
“What was that?” Colt asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think it was Basil?”
“I doubt it.”
Before they could pull out a flashlight, there was a sound like an engine powering up and the lights came back on. Colt looked at Oz. His skin was pale, and his forehead was beaded with sweat.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“The stairwell should be just around the next corner,” Oz said, ignoring the question as he walked away. When he got to the corner, though, he pulled back.
“What?”
Oz put his hand over Colt’s mouth. “We have company,” he whispered.
“I don’t see anything on the map.”
“There’s no heat signature because it’s not human.”
Colt peered around the corner to find a robot. Its narrow head sat on top of broad shoulders and a wide breastplate, all painted red. Colt could see exposed wiring in its midsection, though its thighs, shins, and feet were fully plated. It had a single eye that glowed amber. One hand was a claw, and the other held an oversized pistol.
“What is that thing?”
“The Thule call it a Wächter,” Oz said. “It’s German for watchman, but we just call it a Sentry.” Oz reached into a pouch to pull out what
looked like a handful of silver marbles. Then he raised a finger to his lips and stepped into the hall.
“Identify yourself,” the robot said as a beam from its eye scanned Oz.
“You can call me the grim reaper,” Oz said with a wicked smile. He tossed the marbles, which stuck to the robot’s metal casing. It looked down as Oz stepped back behind the wall.
Colt could hear a beeping sound. It was slow at first, but it picked up speed.
“You might want to cover your ears,” Oz said.
There was an explosion. Light flashed and the walls and floor shook before everything went quiet. Oz stepped into the cloud of smoke wafting down the hall. He started to cough. “All clear.”
The robot was lying on the ground with its head a few feet away. Its chest was riddled with holes and scorch marks.
“Nice trick,” Colt said.
“Thanks.” Oz coughed again and stepped over the robot. He placed his fingertips on a sensor pad next to the door, and each lit up with green circles as a picture of his face appeared on the touch screen. The door opened.
“How did you get clearance?”
“Guess.”
“Basil.”
The door led to an empty stairwell with cameras everywhere. Colt hoped that Basil’s video feed was still working, not that it mattered. After that explosion, everyone in the building was going to know there was a break-in.
“Why didn’t we take the elevator?” Colt asked.
“I needed the exercise,” Oz said. He was leaning over with his hands on his knees, and his breathing was heavy.
Colt could see the blood seeping through Oz’s shirt, and his skin was chalky white. “We need to find a first aid kit or something.”
“I don’t think a bandage is going to do much good.”
“Probably not, but you need to clean those wounds.”
“It’s already in my bloodstream,” Oz said. “The sooner we finish this, the sooner I can get to the emergency room.”
It wasn’t long before they reached the thirteenth floor. Oz placed his fingertips on the sensor pad and it lit green before the door opened.
“According to this,” Oz said, referring to the hologram map, “Danielle should be in a room at the end of this hallway . . . but—”
“But what?” Colt asked, agitated.
“She’s not alone.”
“Who’s with her?”
“I don’t know, but it looks like somebody from Trident.”
“It’s probably Koenig,” Colt said through clenched teeth. His pulse had quickened, his fists were clenched.
“Maybe, but no matter who it is we have to hurry. We only have about three minutes until you were supposed to meet with Koenig. If we don’t find Danielle before then, he’s going to kill her.”
: : CHAPTER 52 : :
Where is everyone?” Colt asked as they crept down the hallway to where Danielle was supposed to be hidden. “This is too easy.”
Oz coughed so hard his face turned red. “It’s not over yet. Besides, don’t forget about Koenig’s bodyguard. He’s got to be around here somewhere.”
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten about that goon,” Colt said as the boys made their way to the end of the hall.
“This is the door,” Oz said before leaning against the wall. His head was thrown back, his breathing looked pained as he shut his hologram watch down. “Are you ready?”
Colt nodded, though he wasn’t sure. He had never been a violent person, but all he could think about was wrapping his fingers around Koenig’s throat and watching the head of Trident Biotech fight to breathe. He was torn between guilt and rage, knowing that killing Koenig wouldn’t bring his parents back, but wanting Koenig to pay a heavy price for what he had done.
“Listen,” Oz said. “If this goes sideways, I want you to get out of here.”
“No way. We’re in this to the end.”
“Don’t be an idiot.” Oz didn’t wait for Colt to respond as he tried the handle. It was unlocked. “One . . . two . . . three.” He twisted it before pushing the door open.
Aldrich Koenig, or what appeared to be a holographic representation of him, was seated behind a large desk. Colt felt robbed. He couldn’t exact revenge on a hologram.
Danielle appeared to be flesh and blood as she stood next to Koenig’s bodyguard. He looked all too real as he towered over her. Oz was big, but the bodyguard was enormous and Colt started to wonder if they were going to get out of there alive.
“Welcome,” Koenig said, his voice strong despite the fact that he wasn’t sitting there—at least not really. “Would you like to take a seat?”
“We want Danielle,” Colt said through a clenched jaw.
“All in due time. Please,” Koenig said as he gestured for Colt and Oz to sit down. “Do you know something? I’m curious, what did you expect to gain by all of this?”
“What do you mean?” Colt asked. He could see Oz eyeing the bodyguard.
“Did you come to avenge the death of your parents? Or are you simply trying to play superhero like your grandfather?”
Colt ignored the question as he turned his attention to Danielle. She looked tired. Her face was drained of color, and it looked like she was struggling to stand.
“Ah, you’ve come to rescue your lady fair,” Koenig said as he followed Colt’s gaze. “It’s rather romantic, isn’t it?”
“We’re going to take Dani home, that’s all. And you’re going to let us.”
Koenig smiled, as though taken aback by Colt’s bravado. “What do you know about us, I wonder,” he said, his hands positioned so that his fingertips were touching. “I mean, beyond the propaganda, of course. What do you truly know about my kind.”
“I know enough.”
“Yes, of course,” Koenig said dismissively. “But were you aware that when the first humans crossed into Gathmara, they took our children back to Earth? Scientists dissected and studied them like animals.”
“Give me a break,” Oz said.
“Perhaps you knew that your forefathers released a viral epidemic in an attempt to kill off every living creature on my home world?” Koenig said. “Of course they failed, but they wanted to turn our world into a settlement for humans. That way your wretched species would have a place to go once you destroyed your planet. It’s rather monstrous, even for a society as primitive as yours.”
“You should talk,” Colt said. “I mean, you’re the one who killed my parents. What do you call that?”
“A necessary evil, I’m afraid,” Koenig replied far too casually for Colt’s liking. There wasn’t an ounce of remorse in his voice.
Colt seethed as he stood before Koenig’s hologram. “What about the Eden Project?”
Koenig smiled as he stood up. His hologram was only slightly transparent as he walked in front of his desk to stand in front of Colt. “So you did read the files,” he said. “It’s a pity your mother had to die because of them. Because of her—well, let’s call it persistence—she took your father with her, and now it appears that her noble son will suffer the same fate.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
“You have your grandfather’s courage, I’ll give you that,” Koenig said.
“What you’re doing? It’ll never work,” Colt said.
“Oh, but it will,” Koenig said. “Even as we speak, our forces are gathering on the other side. The wall that separates our worlds is crumbling, and soon this planet will be ours.”
“We’ll fight back, just like the last time. You won’t win.”
“There’s that American bravado I’ve come to admire, wouldn’t you say, Rainer?”
Koenig’s bodyguard smiled.
“Come on, Dani,” Colt said, ignoring Koenig. He took a step toward her with his hand outstretched.
Danielle didn’t move.
“Such an obedient one, she is,” Koenig said. “And I haven’t even activated her yet.”
“What are you talking about?”
Rainer
reached into the interior breast pocket of his suit to pull out a small device that reminded Colt of a television remote control. “You see, I wasn’t convinced that you were going to cooperate, so I had one of our biochips implanted into Ms. Salazar’s head.”
Koenig’s bodyguard entered a code into the device, and Danielle’s eyes flared red, her posture changed. No longer tired, she was like a soldier standing at attention. “I can have Rainer shut her cerebral cortex down from anywhere in the world. Once that happens, she’ll stop breathing. Then her heart will stop beating.”
“No!” Oz shouted.
Colt looked at Koenig’s bodyguard, then at Danielle. He hit the ignition switch on his jet pack, and it roared to life. He leapt. His shoulder rammed into Rainer’s midsection. The impact sent them both smashing into the wall as the remote device flew out of the bodyguard’s hand.
“You idiot!” Koenig shouted as Oz scooped it up.
Colt tried to push away from the bodyguard, but the massive man was gone. In his place was a wicked creature wrapped in blue scales. Its head was vaguely reptilian, ending in horns that swept back like exhaust pipes. It had six arms, each ending in clawed hands.
“Does his true form bother you?” Koenig asked as Rainer threw Colt across the room.
“The smell does,” Oz said. He was holding three concussion grenades in each hand, all of them blinking green. “Grab Danielle and get out of here,” he told Colt.
Colt was woozy as he tried to stand up.
“Now!” Oz shouted.
Before Rainer could reach them, Colt managed to grab Danielle around the waist. He threw her over his shoulder and ignited his jet pack. Her weight was throwing them off balance, making it hard for Colt to control where he was flying. The low ceiling and narrow walls weren’t helping, and neither was the giant reptilian creature that was trying to grab them.
Colt managed to make it out the doorway just as Oz rolled the grenades toward Koenig’s shape-shifting bodyguard. Seconds later the first grenade exploded. Two more followed, detonating in rapid succession as Oz jumped into the hallway.