I didn’t imagine you would.
Meredith flipped the internal switch that activated the pack. Nickie wanted to sing, run, fight, and kick the ever-living shit out of anything that stood between her and her goal as the stored energy hit her nanocytes and fire flooded her body.
It was as though she’d been released from an invisible weight that had been slowing her down without her even knowing it existed. She’d been far too high to appreciate or even recognize it when the last energy pack had been activated in the bar, but she recognized it now.
She got to her feet, rolled her shoulders, and held out a hand to Grim. “Come on, Grim. I’ve got you. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
He looked up at her and shook his head, not understanding. “N-no, Nickie!”
“I’m going to jump you across. I’m at full power, but it won’t last for long so hurry the fuck up. We need to get across before I drain the charge.”
Grim extended a trembling hand and Nickie pulled him to his feet. His legs refused to hold him, but Nickie was ready for the adrenaline dump he was experiencing. She tucked her arms around her friend and hoisted him into a fireman’s carry. “Are you ready?”
Grim shook in her arms. “No!”
“Tough titty,” she replied with a chuckle. She adjusted his weight across her shoulders and backed up to the farthest point from the edge of the chasm.
You don’t need that much run-up, Meredith told her.
What about the extra weight? Nickie argued. Grim isn’t exactly made of sweetness and light, and the top of the cliff is farther away than the ledge I sent the others to. She set off, picking up speed as she went until she reached the edge and leaped without hesitation.
“Holy shit!” Keen exclaimed from the other side. “She’s not gonna make it!”
The three of them watched Nickie take a flying leap toward them with Grim across her shoulders.
Adelaide gasped. “She… She is!”
Nickie and Grim landed in a messy heap on the ground beside them. Nickie groaned and pushed Grim off her. She saw he’d passed out and scrabbled to check on him.
Grim opened his eyes to see the four of them looking down at him. “Did we make it?” he managed weakly.
Nickie smirked and pulled him to his feet. “Does it feel like we didn’t?”
Grim shuddered. “To be honest, a little bit. Thank you, Nickie.”
“Don’t mention it.” She glanced at the shadows where the tunnels resumed and turned to John. “Lead the way.”
Rebus Quadrant, Planet Zuifra, Reinek, Labyrinth of the Dead
They set off into the tunnel system once more, flashlights at the ready.
Nickie strode ahead to catch up with Grim, leaving Keen and Adelaide to walk together for a spell.
“How are you holding up?” he asked.
Adelaide shrugged. “It’s not what I thought it would be. I didn’t think I’d be so scared, but I’m handling it, I think.” She turned her head to scrutinize him. “How about you? Is the level of danger everything you were hoping for?”
Keen grinned, his bushy eyebrows contracting to hide his eyes. “Hell, yeah! I haven’t been this alive in years. You know, it reminds me of this planet I visited once…”
Adelaide giggled and hooked her arm through his as they walked. “Just how many planets have you visited? You’re like a fun uncle who comes home from his travels. You have a story for every situation.”
Keen puffed out his chest. “You know, I have no idea. Hundreds, I suppose. I was a Space Marine when I was a lad. We shipped out to wherever we were needed, and a few places we weren’t.”
“What was that like?” Adelaide asked.
Keen shrugged. “Exhilarating. There was a fair bit of waiting around, but then we’d see so many planets one after the other we lost track of where we were sometimes. I loved that. It’s good to be back in the field again and remind myself that variety is the spice of life.”
“I don’t know,” Adelaide admitted. “I’m not sure that a life filled with adventure is really for me.”
Keen shook his head. “Should I remind you that you were the one who wanted more adventure?”
Adelaide looked ahead thoughtfully. “I may have bitten off more than I can chew.”
Keen inclined his head. “That may be, but you’re here now, so you might as well take what you can from the experience.”
“Hmmm.” Adelaide smirked at Keen. “Maybe I just needed a vacation from life on a mining colony.
Nickie slowed to match Grim’s pace when she reached his side. “Hey.”
Grim patted her on the shoulder. “Hey. Thanks for getting me across. You could have left me there, but I’m glad you didn’t.”
Nickie brushed his hand away. “As if I’d just leave you there to die, ass.”
Grim chuckled. “I know that. I knew it before you did.”
She snorted. “What, you’re psychic now?”
“No,” Grim told her, “I just know who you are underneath all the attitude.”
Nickie picked up her pace a little to hide the shine that tried to spring to her eyes. “Fuck me. If I’d known we were going to talk about feelings, I’d have walked on my own.”
Grim knew she was deflecting. “Nickie, it’s okay. We can talk about something else. John, for instance.”
Nickie spun to face Grim. “What? Why?”
“I’m just wondering why you’re so hard on him.” Grim shrugged. “He’s been nothing but nice to you. I thought the mattress was a kind gesture.”
Nickie scowled. “Maybe I should have left you.”
Grim chuckled. “Maybe you should give John a break.”
“I’ll give him a break,” she muttered as Grim fell back to talk to Adelaide. “His arm, his leg…”
“What are you mumbling about?” John asked as she caught up to him.
“Nothing.” They were some distance ahead of the others since John was scouting ahead to search out their path to the center chambers. “Are we getting close?”
“We are. Hey, that was a good thing you did.”
She looked at him blankly. “What? You mean not leaving Grim behind?”
He nodded.
Nickie’s lip curled. “And you would have?”
“No…” John answered slowly. “But if I’m completely honest, you haven’t struck me as the sentimental type so far.”
Nickie supposed she should own that, but… “Grim is the closest thing to a friend I’ve got. Of-fucking-course I’m not going to leave him to die alone on some strange-ass planet. Fuck, what do you take me for? I’m a bitch, but I’m not completely heartless.”
“I’m sorry.” John had the good grace to blush.
Not that Nickie cared. She prodded him with a finger. “Now you, you’re another matter completely.”
John grinned. “That almost wasn’t a threat! I really feel like we’re making progress today.”
Nickie smirked. “Shut it.”
The group moved in close when the tunnel opened up once again. The rumbling had become a constant drone in the background, lending a sense of urgency to their journey into the depths of the volcano.
The cavern they came out in was the largest they’d seen yet. It was lit by the same red glow as the cavern with the crevasse, but the light was much stronger here. The downward slope continued, and the shale they were standing on crunched beneath their feet.
“What is this place?” Adelaide turned a slow half-circle.
Keen looked up at a familiar sound. “I knew it wasn’t the damned lava!” He pointed into the steamy air between two rock formations.
Nickie followed Keen’s finger but saw nothing. “I don’t know what you saw, but th—” She was cut off by the air being driven from her body as a half-ton of living rock plowed into her from the side.
She got to her feet and kicked out at the thing that had struck her. “Get out of the way, all of you!” she shouted, seeing the rocks move again. It was some kind of stone mons
ter. She narrowly avoided a swipe from its jagged hands and kicked it again to distract it from focusing on Adelaide, who had frozen and was within its grasp.
Keen and Grim lunged and grabbed Adelaide by the arms and pulled her to safety. Nickie relaxed fractionally when she saw them all duck into a crevice between one pile of rocks and another. What have I got left in the tank, Meredith?
Just your natural ability. I’m afraid your nanocytes used up the remaining energy to heal the damage to your joints after you made the jump with Grim. You fractured both your ankles on impact and tore multiple muscles and ligaments, and Grim broke three of your ribs when he landed on you.
Didn’t feel a thing.
Yes, well. You will feel the next one, so concentrate.
Nickie didn’t argue. She ducked around the monster and searched for a weak spot in its stone carapace. It left a trail of dust with its every movement, so Nickie figured its joints were the best place to start.
She drew her weapon, and her palm molded itself around her Jean Dukes Special like a lover on a hot summer night as she brought it up and fired. Rock chips sprayed as the shots impacted, but the monster failed to react.
Dammit! It doesn’t feel pain.
She sidestepped and shot, then ducked the monster’s arms and shot again twice with no more effect than if she’d been throwing flowers at the beast. Meredith, how do I kill this fucking thing?
You will have to dismantle it, Meredith advised.
Nickie danced as she shot. The rock monster lost chunks of its body, and it still came at her to get to the others. How? I can’t get in close enough.
She had no opportunity to test any theory Meredith may come up with.
The monster put on an unexpected burst of speed and lunged at Nickie. It grabbed her and flung her against the wall before she had a chance to break free of its grip.
She felt her shoulder come free from its socket as she impacted with the rock. The sudden shock masked the pain of her arm breaking as it twisted awkwardly underneath her, but only for a moment. She slid to the floor and lay still.
Fuck. This.
Get up, Nickie!
She opened one eye. I don’t fucking want to get up. However, the monster had turned its angry little eyes on the others. She groaned and pushed herself up with her uninjured arm and squinted through swollen eyes at the oncoming monster. She felt for her Jean Dukes.
It was gone.
The pain in her shoulder and arm was immense, and it radiated out in burning waves that brought spots to her vision every time the wave peaked. I need to get this shoulder back in and finish this.
You know what to do, Meredith told her gently.
Nickie glanced at the monster, who was tearing up the rock around the crevice. They were firing to keep it back, but just like the suboptimal ammo she was carrying in her Jean Dukes, it had little to no effect.
Ready?
No, Nickie retorted. She clenched her teeth and looked for a useable protrusion in the rock. She settled on one and walked over. Count for me, Mere.
Of course. One… Two… Thr—
Nickie slammed her dislocated shoulder into the rock and her scream pierced the cavern, bringing the monster’s attention back to her. The cavern swam in her vision, fading almost to black and back again as her body fought the shock.
She screamed again, this time in rage as the monster swept around and charged her. She fished her drones out of her belt and flung them at the monster. They’ll work, right? They’ve got to be better than the ammo in my JD, no matter how fast it can fire a projectile.
We will see. The drones can be directed with precision. A bullet cannot change trajectory mid-flight, Meredith replied. What do you want from them?
We need to take it down. Go for the legs.
Meredith sent the drones at the monster. It batted at the tiny spheres but missed, and then missed again when they whipped around and shot through its lower leg.
The monster finally reacted. It collapsed with a roar and Nickie dropped to her knees too, finally overwhelmed by the pain from her injuries. She spotted her Jean Dukes on the cavern floor, and a fresh wave of pain wracked her as she reached for the weapon and picked it up.
The monster dragged itself to shaky feet and hobbled toward her, infuriated by Meredith’s constant bombardment with the drones but determined to end Nickie’s existence.
John crept from the safety of the rocks and ran at the monster with his weapons drawn.
What the hell does he think he’s going to do against it that I haven’t already?
Men are like that, Meredith replied. They get a little stupid when they fall for someone.
Nickie groaned and dragged herself to her feet once again. Not you, too. How about you all give me a break? This is not the time or place.
Her natural healing ability had knitted her ribs, and she could almost make a fist again. Almost. She holstered her JD Special, having a much better idea instead. Looks like I’m almost good to tag back in. Where are my drones?
Awaiting instruction.
Good. Seeing as my ammo isn’t good enough, I’m going to have to improvise. Concentrate the passes on its right arm. This fucker has annoyed me enough.
What’s the plan?
I’m going to tear its arm off and beat it to death with the soggy end.
That’s…creative.
Well, it was one of Aunt Bethany Anne’s favorite threats when I was a kid. I always wondered if it could be done.
Let’s find out then, shall we?
Nickie strode toward the beast on legs which threatened to betray her. John was having a battle all of his own. He dodged and jabbed at the monster with his sword.
Of course, he brought a sword. A fucking sword, Meredith!
I believe it is a ceremonial item. Look, he has his pistol as well.
Fat lot of good that’s going to do him. Small wonder no one comes back from this place. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Get out of the way, dumbass! You’re blocking my drones.”
The distraction almost cost John his life.
The monster swung an arm while John’s attention was on Nickie and knocked him to the floor in a spray of teeth and blood which coated the inside of his faceplate.
“Fuck!” Nickie ran over to John’s side.
Meredith, the drones!
She knelt to remove John’s hood and check his pulse. It was still strong, so he was okay for now. She quickly wiped the blood away before she replaced his hood. The thought crossed her mind that he might not have made it, and an unwelcome twinge plucked at her insides. “You shouldn’t have done that,” she murmured as she quickly pulled his unconscious form into the cover of the rocks.
Meredith sent the drones zipping in formation at the monster’s arm. It screeched as they tore straight through its body and out of the other side. The arm flopped uselessly at the monster’s side as the drones separated it roughly at the shoulder joint.
Nickie smiled coldly as the monster flailed. Now she had a weak spot she could use to her advantage. She could say whatever she liked about her grandfather, but he had taught her well. Not that she was grateful or anything; she still hated him for every minute he’d taken from her in the name of training.
Nickie made her calculation and launched herself from John’s side, leaping at the monster. She latched on to the injured arm and twisted as she landed with her feet in the armpit. She dug in with her feet and pulled on the arm in a move worthy of her Aunt Tabitha at her most unthinking.
The arm came free with a dry pop and Nickie fell back with the arm on top of her. She scrambled to her feet and avoided the monster’s thrashing feet, using her dodge to wind up and swing for the monster’s head with her improvised club. She felt her almost-healed arm break again but she was beyond caring.
The monster didn’t know what had hit it. Its head snapped back and slammed against the wall, dazing it.
Nickie pushed through the burning in her muscles and the white-
hot bolts of pain shooting up her rebroken arm and swung the monster’s arm again and again.
The arm shattered on the seventh blow, but by then she didn’t need to keep going anyway. The monster lay completely unmoving on the cavern floor, defeated. She bent over and rested her weight on her good arm while she got her breath and forced down the nausea from the pain as her arm knitted again.
John made his way out from behind the rocks and came to sit beside her. “My hero.”
Nickie grinned. She undid her faceplate and gingerly explored the area around her busted eye with a fingertip. “You helped.”
They leaned back against the rock and breathed through the relief of surviving the battle. Adelaide and Keen emerged from their hiding place, followed by Grim, who bitched at Keen as they made their way over to Nickie and John. “You blocked my view the entire time, I didn’t see any of the fight!”
The three of them helped Nickie and John to their feet, and they headed into the next set of tunnels.
Grim paused by the rocky corpse and sighed. “No one ever saves any of the action for me.” He prodded the nose of the inert beast with a foot and hopped back half a step when the head shifted.
Grim took another step back when the monster’s eye opened and fixed him with an enraged stare. He backpedaled and ran after the others before they disappeared into the narrow tunnel without him.
Chapter 17 Nickie
Nickie and John supported each other as the group limped deeper into the tunnel system. The incline in this section was much sharper, leading them ever closer to the center of the volcano.
They lagged a little way behind Keen and Adelaide, and Grim was out in front of them all since he was embarrassed about haring past them when the monster woke up.
“I can’t believe what a beating that thing took and lived,” Nickie marveled. She rubbed her ribs, which were getting less sore by the minute. She was bone-tired, though, as her nanocytes worked at their usual capacity to heal her injuries.
“How’s the arm? Three breaks is a lot for one day.” John slurred a little as he spoke. He was in a slightly more difficult situation than Nickie since the blow he’d taken from the monster had cracked his cheekbone and he didn’t have nanocytes rapidly repairing him.
Labyrinth (Deuces Wild Book 3) Page 17