Vanessa cried out when one of the Jumpers was blasted from the bike and sent flying through the air like a ragdoll before hitting the ground in a heap, the four wheeled machine continuing on riderless. The swarm of military vehicles was close enough now to make out the slick mechanical lines and heavy mounted artillery, but looking into the eyes of the occupants was impossible thanks to plated steel that doubled for glass. Now John could see why the missiles fired earlier had done little more than put on a light show.
Impact was imminent as the Abyss Jumpers and Metal Rebellion refused to back off and the military swarm accelerated even harder. Reality and the sting of the unwavering momentum sent Candice’s hands up to the sides of her helmet in an attempt to shut out the sounds of the madness, her muscles shaking with fear and eyes kept wide with horror. She was strapped in the seat and helpless as visions of fire and death rammed her senses, leaving her to wonder which breath would be her last.
Gritting his teeth beside her, John cradled Bobbie and stared through the battered windscreen with heart lodged deep in his throat. It was an Armageddon infused high speed Mexican standoff with the horsemen and women of the apocalypse riding in front on the way to certain death, and against all sense and self preservation he actually felt a primal rush of envy. After all, to die in battle for something you believe in wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Another explosion tore open the earth in front of them and Aaron yanked down on the wheel as a body pounded the windscreen before being flung into the chaos, leaving the truck to momentarily slide sideways with splashing water and rain quick to wash away the blood. Another jerk of the wheel restored their trajectory and, as the tires regained traction, all hell broke loose.
The first quad bike angled straight towards the front grill of an enormous machine with wheels that belonged on a tractor and a box like frame heavy with mounted guns and launchers. Less than a second before impact the Abyss Jumper leapt from the bike and ceased to exist in a ball of fire so powerful the front of the SVU exploded into molten shrapnel, sending what was left of the machine to tear into the ground as steaming scrap metal.
The smoke hadn’t even begun to rise when another Jumper said goodbye. Followed by another. And another. Fireball after fireball rocked the immediate landscape, sending flame soaked engine guts, glass and instantly cooked bodies to rain down on the still charging Metal Rebellion fleet. Seared flesh and metallic fragments bounced against the windscreen as Aaron was forced to guess at a path through the carnage. Vanessa opened her mouth to scream but all that surfaced was a gasp. Candice kept her hands over her ears as the rough terrain crushed her shoulder against the door, while John locked his vision on the bus sized beast heading straight for them. The combined velocity was mutually assured devastation.
“Steer us out of the fucking way!” he yelled into the comms.
“Thanks for the tip,” Aaron yelled back, “now hang the fuck on!”
With a blood curdling grunt Aaron ripped down on the wheel. The truck bucked as though smashed by the fist of a giant then jerked to the right with a piercing scream from the engine. A blur of steel and fire soaked the edge of their vision before exploding into a shower of sparks as machine scraped against machine, leaving Vanessa to scream at the painful grinding sound that rushed the cabin. A second later the sparks were obliterated by a fork of lightning that clawed down to strike at a palm to their right, blinding them for an instant as the metal connection severed and the truck raced free.
With bones jarring along with the bouncing tires and vision restored, John spun around to peer through the back window past the huge mounted gun and found a vision of hell. A wall of fire raged where the head on barrage had ignited with such horrific majesty that there was no division between the ground and the sky.
He could see the blackened shells of overturned vehicles in the base of the flames, but he could also see survivors of the Abyss Jumper’s journey to peace. Several Metal Rebellion trucks had pushed through the fire line and were racing up behind them, and in the distant smoke he could just make out two bikes gunning to join them. Beyond the wall of hell John had no doubt there was still a swarm of military muscle spinning their wheels to turn around, and that meant the chase was about to begin.
He leaned over and gently pulled Candice’s hands from the side of her helmet as the truck shuddered and whined. Pure shock kept her eyes bloodshot and wide and her cheeks were red from fear soaked tears.
“That soldier hat looks kinda good on you,” he tried to joke as another clap of thunder shook the heavens.
“Real sexy huh?” she managed while lifting the filter to wipe at her nose.
“Well if we weren’t in the middle of…”
“Exit straight ahead!” Aaron interrupted.
Together they looked up through the rain where wind whipped palm trees flashed beneath the sky. At first Aaron’s claim made no sense, but as they fled along the water soaked terrain a break in the fauna began to emerge.
“Is that a road?” Vanessa asked.
“If not,” Aaron replied as he pushed the engine for all it was worth, “we’re in serious fucking trouble.”
“We already are,” she said with an urgent finger pointing up through the windscreen.
John leaned forward to follow her gaze and stiffened at what he saw. Emerging through the clouds in the distance two small but aggressively built helicopters swayed and fought against the punching winds. With noses tilted forward and side mounted cannons reaching out like grasping talons, there was no second guessing their intent.
“Oh shit,” Aaron hissed before yelling into his comms. “Listen up metal heads. Two hungry hawks straight ahead. Time to mount up!”
A sudden series of ridges in the ground sent the truck bouncing into the air before gravity brought it crashing back down, shaking them with the fury of a barrel in a waterfall. The low level of the clouds meant the incoming choppers dipped in and out of visibility as though ghosts haunting the sky. In a matter of seconds they would be overhead, and the exit to the road would become a long odds dice roll with a missing die. Aaron struggled against the bucking terrain and stole a glance at John through the mirror.
“If we’re gonna make it I need you behind the trigger,” he declared with a hint of trepidation. “We spray the sky and keep them from locking on.”
“It’s not like I can shoot through the damn roof,” John snapped.
“No, but you can jump out and wave hello.” Aaron flicked an overhead switch and there was a sharp whump over John’s shoulder as the rear window slammed open, a searing hot wind rushing the inside of the cabin and stinging any exposed skin. “At least it’s not cold.”
John turned to stare at the massive gun mounted on the back tray. “Just do me a favour and keep all four wheels on the ground.” He lifted Bobbie from his pouch and brought their noses together. “Hold tight big guy, I’ll be back in a sec.”
“You’re not seriously…” Candice began.
“Don’t worry,” John winked while easing Bobbie onto her lap, “I kinda like storms.”
His heart was in his throat and ears were bombarded with the whine of machines and wails of a nature in pain as he crawled out onto the rear tray. A pungent smell of sulphur shocked his senses. Metal pole railing was all there was to separate him from the chaos of the water soaked ground that promised certain death with one bump induced slip, and so he kept to his hands and knees to get into position as the terrain rattled his bones and hot rain whipped his face.
A loud thump broke through the air, sending chunks of the ground to open up like a high speed flower with pure destruction for petals. John grabbed the gun grips for dear life as the truck bounced and shuddered to the left before pushing up to his feet. One accurate rocket from either of the choppers and the swaying palm trees would mark their graves, with their bones crushed into the earth by the remaining vehicles that were relentless in their close pursuit. Now standing tall with his weight pushed against the massive turret he could j
ust make out some of the other Metal Rebellion vehicles, and couldn’t help but whisper a silent prayer that they too had someone fighting against the wind and rain with fingers on the trigger.
“Take out those fucking birds!” Aaron’s voice crackled from the inside of his helmet.
John winced as a fork of lightning lit up the sky close enough that he could see it flow like rushing water, followed almost immediately with a ripping crack of thunder that left his ears ringing and teeth tingling. A jolt of adrenaline kicked along his nervous system as the turret supports pushed into his shoulders. He leaned back to point the barrel in the direction of the choppers, clenched his jaw and pulled down on the dual triggers to unleash the ammunition coiled by his feet. The weapon kicked and shook his hands numb in a matter of seconds but he maintained his grip, firing up with no real idea of how close he was to the targets. Carried across the frantic wind came the sound of other guns firing as he squinted against the hard rain and struggled to keep balance.
Metallic heat began to push against his chest as the bullets tore through the air, causing the helicopters to bank left and right with impact sparks lighting up their frames like fireflies. He shuffled to the right to follow the chopper on the left, growing more confident in finding his target. Hot empty shells bounced from the floor to be swept up in the winds and still his fingers pushed hard against the triggers.
Suddenly streams of smoke began to leak from the belly of the bird on the left, spiralling up through the blades as the frame began to shudder and shake. The hail storm of bullets continued and the aviation fuel ignited, and in an instant the chopper turned into a bright orange fireball sent crashing down to the ground. The remaining airborne viper lifted high and disappeared into the thick clouds, giving John the opportunity to take his fingers off the trigger and drop to his knees.
“Hold the hell on!” Aaron commanded through the speaker.
He grabbed the base of the steaming turret as the truck crashed through the line of palm trees and bounced onto the cracked and water soaked road. With a grimace he looked over his shoulder and watched as the Rebellion trucks that had been either side slammed on the brakes and turned in half circles, their noses now facing the military monsters ploughing across the field. The sound of rockets and spraying bullets was quick to rumble into the background as Aaron pushed the truck forward, the road ahead empty but for tumbled trees and palms.
With nerves frazzled and clothes soaking wet, he crawled along the tray and back into the cabin. As he slid into the seat Candice reached across and planted an urgent attempt at a kiss on his helmet. She smelled of sweat and fear, and it was delicious.
“Fuck I needed that,” he said as he grabbed Bobbie and nestled him back into the pouch.
Behind them another explosion lit up the sky as the second helicopter tumbled from the clouds in a rolling ball of fire and ash. Aaron slammed a hand against the wheel and flashed a grin at Vanessa.
“I think you’ll agree that was pretty good driving,” he declared.
“If it makes you feel better,” she replied with hands still gripping the sides of her seat, “I’m a little impressed.”
“A little?” he asked with surprise.
“Trust me, get us to where we’re going and I’ll make you a damn trophy.”
“You got yourself a deal.”
A desolate and long straight road lay ahead, with huge cracks in the tar that shook the suspension with every high speed impact. Behind them a stationary battle was being fought beneath the turbulent heavens, but it was a battle that no longer belonged to them. The death toll beyond the spraying water and palms would be rising by the second, and with each life lost the importance of reaching their destination grew higher and higher. The fact was their battle still waited to greet them, and with it the fate of human kind’s position amongst the stars.
For the first time in what seemed an eternity they could breathe a little. It wasn’t that they could relax or enjoy the apocalyptic view through the bullet cracked windows, but there was the chance to steady their hearts somewhat. With headlights cutting through the dark grey of the rain they were alone, the road ahead a strange, lightning tinged tunnel ready to carry them to a pressing appointment with destiny.
“How far is it?” John asked.
“Closer than you think,” Aaron replied.
Vanessa leaned forward for a better view of the hell outside. “Oh shit,” she said as recognition widened her eyes, “I’m sure I’ve been on this road before, a long time ago. If I’m remembering right there’s a bridge we’ll have to cross to reach the mainland.”
“There’s no way the bridge will still be crossable,” Candice guessed.
“Exactly,” Vanessa replied. “We’re on a road to nowhere.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned,” Aaron said with a snarl, “it’s that nowhere is still somewhere.”
The sky continued to swell and swirl as the engine pushed hard through the water and rain. Candice reached for John’s hand as the rear panel pulled closed, relieving them of the hot thrashings wind and softening the sounds of chaos.
Just when the road felt as though it would stretch on into eternity a turn began to emerge, and with it the faint outline of a bridge poking through thick clouds and smoke. Even with poor visibility the damage was evident, and there was no way it would carry them to the mainland.
“Welcome to nowhere,” Aaron announced as he pulled down on the wheel to steer the truck off of the road and through a patch of palm trees with branches that scraped along the metal.
The frantic wipers scraped across the windscreen to reveal another grass soaked slab of land, only this time in the distance there was a building to break up the scenery. As the tires struggled for traction and the engine cried out in frustration they moved closer and closer, eventually coming to a stop at what looked like the entrance.
If anyone in the truck besides Aaron were anticipating a solid point of refuge they were sadly disappointed. The structure looked like an old double story factory that had long ago given up any fight against the elements, and now with the storm to end all storms bearing down upon it there was little life left to be had. Iron walls that may once have been thick and majestic were ridden with gaping holes and rust, with the hot rain pounding through sections of the roof that had been torn away. A large, graffiti strewn door had been slid partially open and beckoned with shifting shadows and a promise of the unknown.
“I don’t think I have to worry about no trophy just yet,” Vanessa said with obvious irony. “You sure this is the place?”
Aaron raised an eyebrow and stretched his hands out wide. “I expect the trophy to be at least this big.”
“In that case,” Vanessa managed to smile, “you better be ready to show me some magic.”
Aaron killed the engine and checked his weapons. Off in the distance the sound of thunder changed slightly, causing Candice to tighten her grip and John to bring his face close to the glass. Though he couldn’t see back onto the road he was more than sure that thunder wasn’t what they had just heard.
“I don’t think we’re going to be alone for much longer,” he predicted.
“Time to move,” Aaron was quick to respond. “Follow me and don’t stop to take in the view.”
One by one they jumped from the truck and in an instant felt the full force of the weather. John covered Bobbie’s head as best he could, and with gun in hand he raced around the truck and ushered Candice towards the entrance. The water level reached just below their knees, making every step a challenge made even more difficult by the constant punches thrown by the winds. Behind them the sound of approaching engines grew louder, choreographing with the beating of their hearts.
Aaron was the first to climb the small steps into the shadows, followed by Vanessa who braced herself against the wall and extended an arm to Candice for support. John stole a quick look over his shoulder but heavy rain clouded his vision. It didn’t matter though, he knew once inside there would
be no chance of getting back to the truck and so he stepped into the shadows hoping like hell they weren’t making a big mistake.
A bolt of lightning lit up the interior for a beat, revealing concrete poles and rusted walls that rumbled and groaned. Water logged and musty, it was nothing but an empty cavern.
“Over here,” Aaron yelled above the screaming winds as he splashed his way to the far corner.
The concrete floor made moving a little easier and a flashlight on the bridge of Aaron’s gun shone the way. When they reached the filthy walls he handed the weapon to Vanessa and squatted down, his right arm disappearing into the water.
“This is gonna be messy,” he announced.
With a jerk of his arm a square steel door emerged, followed by an instant waterfall that rushed down a small manhole and grew stronger every second.
John couldn’t help but shake his head in amazement. “All roads lead underground huh?”
“Just about the whole network’s underground,” Aaron replied as he hopped onto the ladder with water gushing across his shoulders. “Underground gives life a chance. Now let’s go!”
He vanished down into the waterfall with an audible curse at the soaking. Vanessa hesitated for a moment, but when a thunder clap shook the walls she quickly lowered herself onto the rungs and began the descent. John ushered Candice to the edge and took a moment to look her in the eyes.
“You get the feeling,” he asked, “that we’re playing some bizarre game of real life snakes and ladders?”
Candice wiped water from her eyes and half smiled. “Whoever’s rolling the dice sure has some explaining to do.”
The Hallucigenia Project Page 73