Helix_Episode 1

by Nathan M. Farrugia

  Ark tucked his shaking hand under his chest. They could shoot through the middle, avoid as much light as possible. But they’d have to move through the grass, in the darker patches. And then they would need to cross the main street, but they had to do it at a safe distance from the intersection. He didn’t know if that would work. What if they walked into an ambush? No, they needed to circumvent the town entirely .

  ‘Is that Olesya?’ Val asked .

  ‘Where? What’s she doing?’ Damien whispered .

  Val was watching the road ahead with her superior vision. Ark saw movement and couldn’t believe it. Olesya was running across the long grass. By herself .

  He swore. She was ruining everything .

  ‘Olesya!’ Xiu called out .

  ‘Don’t,’ he said. ‘She’s on her own now .’

  He hoped she would get picked off by the enemy. And if not, he could deal with her later. After what she’d done, he had good reason to shoot her .

  ‘That doesn’t look good,’ Val said .

  She was looking past the gas station, where headlamps bled through the night. A jeep with a searchlight on the back. Someone was washing the light over the grass. Ark returned his attention to where he’d last seen Olesya. She was gone .

  ‘They’re not the same soldiers,’ Val whispered .

  Ark inched himself closer to the edge of the forest. With his exposed eye he looked directly at the patrol. Val was right, they were wearing different vests .

  ‘The driver is a soldier, but the ones on foot are our age,’ Damien said .

  ‘Helldiver,’ Val said. ‘Squad leader is Nasira .’

  Ark’s stomach churned. Nasira’s squad was the only squad so far to complete Combat Training. They were no longer just recruits. Promoted to the rank of private first class, they were now in Special Operations Training. Which meant —

  ‘We are so screwed,’ Jay said. ‘One time, Nasira stepped on my toe and didn’t say sorry .’

  ‘That’s nice, Jay,’ Xiu said. ‘But her squad’s objective is to hunt us down, not step on toes .’

  Helldiver took a right turn at the road and started in Ark’s direction. The searchlight swiveled to the trees. The large beam cut through the forest, turning night into day .

  ‘Slowly withdraw,’ Ark hissed. ‘Now .’

  * * *

  O lesya kept to the long grass and moved low. In the darkness, her vision was monochrome. Avoiding the blind spot in the center of her vision, she watched the edges for movement .

  She made her way in a slow curve to the left. The main street continued out of town and passed before her. She rested on one knee .

  On the other side of the road, an unnatural shape shifted in the long grass. Olesya looked through the edge of her vision and noticed somebody’s elbow. She watched, listened to her breathing and the rustle of wind through leaves. She picked out the detail of bodies. Many, many soldiers in black, lying in wait .

  Once she was sure they weren’t looking in her direction, she carefully returned the way she’d come. She made a deliberate arc to the gas station they’d run for last time. She was almost there when a breeze tickled the grass. Something flashed ahead of her. She paused, ready to draw her pistol. A recruit .

  ‘Olesya.’

  It was Xiu. Olesya followed her to the wall of the gas station and then the rear of a shop on the main street .

  Through Ark’s mask, his nostrils flared. ‘Are you trying to disqualify us ?’

  Olesya just glared at him. ‘While you were hiding in the forest, I was scouting the opposing force .’

  Ark drew his pistol and aimed at Olesya. He was ready to fire, but Val stepped in his path .

  ‘Don’t,’ Val said .

  ‘Why not?’ Ark pushed her aside .

  Val shoved his barrel into her own vest. ‘If you want to shoot someone, go right ahead .’

  ‘You too now?’ Ark lowered his pistol slowly. ‘Unbelievable .’

  Val turned to Olesya. ‘Helldiver is out there with those soldiers. They should be behind us, patrolling. Which means we’re in the clear, right ?’

  Olesya hadn’t expected Val to ask her a question. ‘I don’t think they’re patrolling .’

  ‘You can think what you like,’ Ark said. ‘We need to make it to the beacons or we’re disqualified .’

  ‘No way I’m getting disqualified,’ Jay said. ‘We’ll get through this .’

  Damien returned from a quick peek around the corner. ‘Um, so this time they’ve blocked off the street .’

  ‘We’re screwed!’ Jay said. ‘We can’t get through this .’

  ‘There’s no way they’ve blocked it off,’ Ark said .

  Olesya ignored Ark’s drawn pistol and walked over to have a look for herself. The intersection she’d run across last time was completely blocked. Burned out cars were pushed into a cluster. Behind the cars she could see a high wall made of concrete blocks. The instructors must have shifted things around before the qualification started .

  Ark shoved Olesya aside to have a look, then turned back to his squad. ‘OK, I’ve got it .’

  ‘Really?’ Jay said. ‘What do we do ?’

  ‘We detour.’ Ark pointed back to the gas station. ‘We can’t go around from here, we have to pull out and circle the town .’

  ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ Olesya said. ‘I was just on the left side and they’re waiting in the grass .’

  ‘How many?’ Damien asked .

  Olesya thought for a moment. ‘I don’t know exactly, but there’s at least five to six of them. Could be double that .’

  Ark paced around them. ‘It’s a trick. They want to funnel us in here and push us over that wall. If we fall for that, we deserve to be disqualified .’

  ‘But I saw them waiting for us outside the town,’ Olesya said .

  ‘On the left wing?’ Ark said. ‘Fine. So we go on the right wing .’

  Xiu shook her head. ‘If they’re on one wing, they’ll be on both .’

  ‘Then they’ll be weaker. Just half force,’ Ark said. ‘Not counting the large numbers they’ll have covering this wall. I say we ambush the small team on the right wing and push through. Fast, aggressive .’

  Val raised her hand. ‘How about I scout the right side, see how many are waiting? We pick the weakest side .’

  ‘No,’ Ark said. ‘We have a time limit on this. We need to choose a side and commit, or we miss out completely. We need three of us to make it through and it’s a pass .’

  ‘They want you to choose a side!’ Olesya said. ‘There’s a wall here, which means they need less soldiers here .’

  Ark jabbed a finger at her. ‘Are you suggesting we scale the wall and risk what will definitely be an ambush ?’

  ‘I don’t know, I’m just saying — ’

  ‘Olesya,’ Xiu said, ‘now’s the time to take your shot .’

  ‘Fine.’ Olesya swallowed. ‘Over the wall .’

  Ark blinked. Everyone was looking at Olesya now .

  ‘You for real?’ Jay said .

  ‘They’ll have some soldiers at the beacons, but that’s it,’ Olesya said. ‘The rest are waiting on the left and right wings. That’s where I’d put my strength .’

  Ark looked less than impressed. ‘Yeah, well that says it all, doesn’t it ?’

  Olesya heard the jeep in the distance. Helldiver was coming back for another sweep .

  ‘They’ll have a couple of soldiers covering the wall,’ Xiu said. ‘But if we get to higher ground we could deal with them .’

  ‘Scale the wall, if you want,’ Ark said. ‘I’m taking Firebird Squad down the road to the right. If there are soldiers there, we take them out. We move around and that’s it .’

  Ark started for the intersection. Most of his squad followed .

  Jay hesitated. ‘You know what? Screw it. I’m scaling the wall .’

  Ark growled softly to himself. The jeep’s searchlight splashed over the gas station in the distance. They couldn’t t
urn back now .

  ‘Helldiver is coming,’ Val said. ‘Ark, whatever we do, we do it now .’

  Damien nodded. ‘I’m going over the wall .’

  ‘I need you guys at the wing,’ Ark said .

  Damien and Jay didn’t move .

  ‘Fine.’ Ark turned to Olesya. ‘Good luck .’

  He didn’t sound sarcastic this time, which caught her off-guard. ‘You too,’ she said .

  Ark didn’t linger. With Helldiver approaching, he moved with the rest of his squad, Val included .

  Xiu was looking at Olesya. ‘I said take a shot, not a gamble .’

  Jay frowned. ‘Can you get to the roof? I don’t want a sniper shooting me when I go over.’ He nodded to Damien. ‘We’ll clear the street .’

  ‘On me,’ Xiu said. ‘Olesya, let’s go .’

  Olesya gripped her pistol in both hands and followed Xiu around the wall, to the intersection. The street lamps lit the pavement, Olesya avoided looking directly at them. Xiu slipped inside a building. Olesya followed her to the staircase .

  She kept her shoulder against Xiu’s back. When they moved apart, she kept her hand on Xiu’s shoulder. Together they climbed the second flight of stairs, pistols aiming in tandem. There was no time to check the entire floor. They kept moving .

  Once they reached the third level, Xiu moved into a corner room that smelt of mold and spotted two windows that gave enough light. There was no one in here. Xiu crouched under a window. Olesya left the door ajar and took a position under the window next to her .

  Xiu was silent, her head tilting as she looked out the window and searched the other buildings. Olesya took the other window and checked the rest of the rooftops, looking for movement and silhouettes. Between them they had the intersection covered .

  Then she heard the jeep .

  Xiu held a finger to her lips .

  Olesya nodded. On the street below, Damien and Jay darted into a shopfront. A searchlight washed over the shopfront. The jeep was closer now. Helldiver was heading right into the center of town .

  Xiu gestured for Olesya to get down. She ducked under the window. The jeep turned the corner, accompanied by Helldiver on foot .

  It seemed like an eternity before the jeep and Helldiver Squad moved again. When Olesya looked again, Damien and Jay were doing the same. And she saw something else. Two soldiers in the windows above them, pistols ready. But Olesya couldn’t shout to warn the boys, Helldiver might hear .

  ‘There’s two,’ Olesya whispered. ‘One in each window .’

  Xiu took aim. Olesya didn’t hesitate. She lined up her front and rear sight, inhaled partly, and fired. One round, then another. Xiu did the same with the other soldier, then gave a thumbs up to the boys .

  They ran for the wall. Jay threw himself onto the roof of a burned-out car. Damien followed. The cars were against the wall, giving them some extra height. Jay holstered and ran up the concrete while Damien kept his pistol out to cover them .

  Jay managed two quick steps then gravity kicked in, but not before he gripped the top of the wall with both hands. Jay stuck his butt in the air. As silly as it looked, Olesya knew that was their technique to climb a wall. He would drive one leg up the wall, using the momentum to launch him high enough so he could throw his forearms over the top. He hoisted himself over the wall and a moment later reached down to offer Damien a hand .

  Olesya kept her focus, scouring the windows and rooftops for more soldiers .

  ‘Anything?’ Xiu whispered .

  ‘Not yet,’ Olesya said .

  ‘You were right,’ Xiu said. ‘They put most of their forces out on the wings. Then they have the patrol come in to flush us in either direction .’

  ‘But why not one direction?’ Olesya asked. ‘They could concentrate their forces if they blocked one side off .’

  Xiu nodded. ‘Sure, but we’d get suspicious and back out. That’s why they give us two choices — ’

  ‘The illusion of choice,’ Olesya said .

  ‘Exactly. And Ark fell for it .’

  Olesya watched Damien climb over the wall and disappear from view .

  ‘You think they’ll cover us?’ Olesya asked .

  ‘They can’t until we’re over the wall,’ Xiu said. ‘We have to make it there first .’

  Xiu moved for the door and nudged it open with her foot. Olesya covered her as they took the stairs down. Olesya’s vision had improved, but she still kept her hand on Xiu’s back .

  They stepped out onto the sidewalk and faced opposite directions. The street was deserted. A moth flew past her pistol, drawn to the street lamp .

  Xiu moved for the wall. Olesya followed, scanning every window and corner she could find. Xiu was on the car, her hand out. Olesya took it and stepped onto the roof with her .

  Gunfire echoed in the distance. It came from the right wing .

  Xiu’s hand tightened over hers. ‘That’s our squad,’ Xiu said. ‘With Helldiver right behind them .’

  ‘Should we go help?’ Olesya asked .

  ‘No, we need three past those beacons. That’s the objective,’ Xiu said. ‘You go, I’ll cover you .’

  Olesya grabbed Xiu’s arm. ‘I’m not going without you .’

  ‘Yes, you are.’ Xiu kissed the corner of her mouth. ‘Now go .’

  Olesya didn’t know whether the placement of that kiss was on purpose or accidental. She holstered her pistol and jumped onto the wall. Xiu boosted her up. She managed one foot but the next one slipped and she caught the top of the wall with the fingertips of her right hand. The concrete was rough, cutting the circulation to her fingers. Using what little energy she had left, she raised her left hand up and gripped the top of the wall. She looked below. Xiu was taking aim down the street .

  ‘Go!’ she said .

  Olesya drove her knee high, bringing her boot up the wall. She used the thrust of her knee as momentum and threw her elbows over, hugged the top of the wall. On the other side of the wall, there were no cars, it was a sheer drop. She clung to the top, lungs burning, and peered back over at Xiu .

  ‘I can help you up!’ she called out. ‘Quickly !’

  ‘Keep going.’ Xiu looked up at her and smiled. ‘You’ll find me again .’

  A Helldiver stepped under a street light. Nasira .

  Xiu started firing, but she was too late. Nasira fired first and Xiu caught the electro-round in her chest. She slumped off the car and rolled onto the road. Olesya watched her spasm .

  ‘Xiu!’ Olesya whispered .

  Xiu’s hand trembled, reached up to Olesya .

  Nasira took aim .

  Olesya dropped from the wall. She landed, grazing the skin on her hands. The beacons flashed ahead. Ark’s team wouldn’t have made it through. She was Firebird’s third surviving member. She needed to make it. Her stomach coiled into knots. She had only a short distance. She sprinted, pistol in her holster, didn’t look back .

  She crossed the beacons, lungs burning .

  Firebird Squad had qualified .

  Damien and Jay were busy adjusting their holsters so she left them alone and sat on the grass near the beacons. She couldn’t go back out there, so she waited for Xiu. No one climbed over the wall, but eventually Nasira approached from a nearby street. She gave Olesya a slight nod, then walked over to Jay and elbowed him softly .

  ‘Nice one,’ Nasira said .

  Jay nodded quickly. ‘Uh thanks. You too .’

  She smiled and touched his arm, then walked ahead, handing her pistol to a pair of soldiers in black fatigues. The soldiers approached Jay and Damien and took their weapons too, then directed them after Nasira. The soldiers wanted them all moving. Olesya stood and brushed herself off. She checked the wall again but Xiu was nowhere to be seen. The soldiers pointed Olesya in a different direction .

  ‘I’m not with them?’ she asked .

  ‘No, this van,’ the soldier said. ‘Your weapon, please .’

  Olesya handed them her pistol. The soldier ejected th
e electro-round and the magazine. Olesya made her way to the van. A driver stood by the van and flicked the cigarette into the night air .

  She lifted the rear door for Olesya. ‘In the back, recruit .’

  Olesya was too exhausted to say anything; she climbed inside and took a seat. It smelt of tobacco and pine air freshener. She hadn’t wanted to leave Xiu behind like that .

  The driver climbed in the front and closed her door .

  ‘Is there anyone else coming?’ Olesya asked .

  Either the driver hadn’t heard her or chose to ignore her. Was she in trouble? She hoped she wasn’t being transferred to another squad. She didn’t like Ark but she wanted to stay with Xiu .

  The driver was talking on her radio. ‘Have them wait. I’ll come around .’

  A soldier closed the van’s rear door. The engine started and the van turned and drove past the beacons and soldiers. She didn’t see the instructors anywhere. Maybe the qualification wasn’t over yet .

  The van stopped again. This time, when the rear door opened, Val climbed inside and sat opposite. She didn’t say anything, but her hands were still shaking. Before the door closed, another recruit climbed inside .

  Ark.

  He sat next to Val and glanced over at Olesya. This time, he didn’t look angry. He just looked tired. She felt much the same, her adrenaline ebbing away with every moment .

  The rear door opened once more and more recruits filed in. These recruits wore purple vests. Olesya made room for four Helldivers. The door closed and the van was almost at full capacity. Street lamps flashed past as they left the perimeter and took the long road back to the training center .

  Except this wasn’t the right road .

  Olesya looked around at the squad members’ faces. Ark was the only one who seemed to notice their bearing was off. He caught her gaze. This qualification hadn’t ended yet and he knew it .

  The van suddenly accelerated. Olesya stopped herself from falling onto the Helldiver next to her .

  ‘Listen up, kids.’ The driver switched her headlamps off and reached for her helmet. ‘This is no longer your qualification. We’re undergoing some restructuring. Which is a nice way of saying we’re about to start fighting each other .’

  ‘Helldiver Squad?’ one of the Helldivers asked .