by A. G. Taylor
Sarah touches his shoulders. “Listen. You do what you have to do to survive. Alex and I are coming to get you out of there.”
She quickly tells him about her plan to destroy the meteorite fragment.
“The meteor storm is timed to hit midday tomorrow,” she continues. “We’ve got to stop it somehow.”
“Destroy the beacon?”
Sarah shakes her head. “That’s not enough. Even if the signal is shut down, the meteorites will still be headed for earth. We have to take control of the beacon and use it to deflect the storm.”
“Just tell me what you want us to do,” Robert says with determination.
Sarah smiles at her brother and strokes a hand through his hair. “I just need you and the others to hold on a little longer for me. Look for the dawn tomorrow – we’ll be coming. Do you think you can break out of your cell?”
Robert bites his lip. “Makarov has us guarded by Ilya and about a hundred robowolves.”
“All I need you to do is distract his attention while we get close to the Spire.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m coming after you. I made a promise I’d never leave you, didn’t I?”
Robert grins. “You’d better keep it.”
“I know things have been hard these last four months, Robert,” she goes on. “But as soon as we get out of this it’s going to be easier. I know I’ve made mistakes as a leader—”
“You’re a great leader,” Robert interrupts. “You saved us from Bright. You knew that Makarov wasn’t right from the very beginning. You were right to be suspicious.”
“I know. But it’s time we started trusting some people again. Like Rachel Andersen.”
“You’re going to contact HIDRA?” Robert asks with surprise.
“If we can’t defeat Makarov they’re the only people who know enough about the fall virus to—”
Sarah stops talking as she becomes aware of another, powerful presence in the empty world she has created. Looking round, she sees a pair of eyes in the sky to the east – wide and blazing with hate.
Makarov.
“Get out of here,” Sarah orders her brother, shielding her message from the Russian’s prying mind. “Tell the others. Tomorrow at dawn we bring Makarov’s tower down.”
Robert begins to protest, but his sister gives him a look like their mum used to when she wasn’t going to take any debate.
“Be careful,” he says, planting a kiss on her cheek before fading quickly away. Sarah turns to the horizon, realizing she doesn’t have much longer before the shield blocks her out again. She returns her attention to the Spire itself. For the first time she can sense more than just the minds of Robert and the others – now she can read the electronic thoughts of the robowolves, the commands emanating from the central computer and the beacon signal itself, beaming out deep into space.
Her power has grown.
She goes deeper into the computer system, pushing through command instructions and programs in search of some way to control the beacon.
“Sarah Williams! How are you not dead?”
Makarov’s voice cuts through her mind like a laser, but she ignores it. Already the walls are coming down, shutting her out of the Spire. In the final seconds, she manages to take control of the computer’s communication system to send a single, desperate message…
32
Makarov paced back and forth before the illuminated control desk in the meteorite chamber.
“Security has been breached,” he hissed. “How did this happen?”
The computer answered emotionlessly, “The girl, Sarah Williams, managed to break through our firewall using her mental powers—”
“I know what she did!” Makarov snapped back. “Is the meteor beacon still operational?”
“She was unable to access the beacon control,” the computer answered. “However, she subverted the communications array for a period of forty-six seconds.”
“To what purpose?”
“To transmit an audio message towards a ship in the Bering Sea. The vessel’s identification code lists it as the HIDRA Ship Ulysses, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The ship is currently three hundred kilometres off the southern coast of Chukotka and on an approach course. It is safe to assume the signal reached them.”
Makarov took a deep breath. “Are we in striking distance of their position?”
“Negative. The Ulysses is not equipped with long-range missile capability. It does however carry a fleet of thirty hovercopters capable of staging an attack on our location.”
“Recommendation?”
“Use the beacon to block communications in a three-hundred kilometre radius. Launch the drone fleet for a pre-emptive strike on the Ulysses to knock out their airborne capability.”
Makarov smiled. “Good. And send the ship to the bottom of the ocean while you’re at it.”
“It shall be done, sir.”
Makarov watched as the computer activated the fleet of fifty drone-fighters on the 10th floor of the Spire. The drones were pilotless jets especially designed to defend the Spire against an airborne attack. In less than half a minute the launch doors on the 10th floor had opened and the first wave of drones blasted off into the night sky.
Makarov turned at a growl from the door to the control chamber. Balthus nudged Octavio into the chamber and then retreated to the entrance.
“What is it?” Octavio asked. “The others are getting suspicious. I think they know I haven’t been suffering the same—”
“Robert Williams has been in contact with his sister,” Makarov interrupted angrily. “He continues to plot against me even though it places the lives of your entire group at risk.”
“How could he do that?” Octavio replied. “She’s dead, isn’t she?”
Makarov slammed his palms on the control deck. “Somehow she escaped!”
Octavio backed away, but stopped as Balthus growled dangerously from the doorway.
“I have reached the end of my patience with Robert Williams and his sister,” Makarov hissed. In the LCD glow of the command screen, he suddenly looked as ancient as a mummified corpse. “You have until tomorrow to persuade the others to submit to me. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Octavio answered, trying to disguise the fear in his voice. He thought that Major Bright was the meanest person he’d ever met, but he had nothing on Makarov.
“Now, get back to your cell and get the others in line,” the Russian snarled, “or at dawn tomorrow I’m going to have them thrown off the top floor of the Spire one at a time. Starting with Robert Williams.”
In the flight briefing room of the Ulysses, Rachel Andersen stood before thirty hovercopter pilots who were waiting expectantly to find out why they had been called together at two a.m.
“We received a distress signal,” she told the group.
Commander Craig hit a control and the audio message that had been sent to them from the Spire began to play out over the speakers.
“This is Sarah Williams to HIDRA,” the message began. “Nikolai Makarov is holding my friends hostage. He is also in contact with an alien power that is sending a meteor storm towards earth. Tomorrow at dawn I am going to launch an attack on Makarov’s tower to rescue my friends and try to deflect the storm. You must send forces to support us. If the meteor storm hits, the entire world will fall under the control of the Entity.” There was a pause. “Rachel, if you’re listening – we need your help…”
The message went to static and a murmur went up around the assembled pilots. Rachel silenced them by raising her hand.
“The meteor storm is scheduled to hit us in less than eight hours,” she said. “This is our chance to deflect it from earth. Commander.”
She stepped aside as Craig addressed the pilots. “We’re launching an immediate attack on Makarov’s tower. It’s located on the Chuckchi Peninsula, almost three hundred kilometres from here.”
Behind him a map appeared on the big screen
showing the location of the Spire in relation to the HS Ulysses in the Bering Sea.
“There’s just one complication,” he went on. “We’ve detected a series of aircraft launched from Makarov’s position. We can only assume Makarov has found out about the distress signal and has launched a counterstrike against us. We estimate at least fifty jets.”
“He’s got his own air force?” one of the pilots asked incredulously. “Who is this guy?”
“He’s the guy we have to take out to save the world, Lieutenant,” Craig snapped back. “That’s all you need to know right now.”
“What about backup, sir?” one of the pilots asked. “The Russians have a base in Siberia.”
Rachel shook her head. “All our communications have been blocked since we received Sarah Williams’s message. Makarov has technology in advance of our own.”
Again there was a murmur around the room.
“Okay, okay,” Rachel Andersen said, leaning over the podium. “Enough talking about it. Your primary objective is to protect the Ulysses and take out that airborne force. Secondary objective is Makarov. We need to take control of that beacon or level the tower.”
Commander Craig nodded. “Any questions?” There was silence. “Okay, get to your ships!”
Makarov kneeled before the spinning meteorite fragment in the centre of the chamber. The light glowed brighter, indicating connection with the Entity.
“Master. The storm is only hours away. Our time is at hand.”
The voice of the alien boomed in reply, “Yet you have not neutralized the threat against us. Sarah Williams is not in your control.”
“She evaded my robowolves on the ice—”
“You attempted to kill her against my orders!” the Entity interrupted harshly. “I was clear she is not to be harmed yet.”
Makarov bowed his head a little lower. “I do not understand, master. Why do you need this girl—”
“Do not try to second-guess my intentions,” the alien snapped. “You are alive only because of my grace.”
“Forgive me, master,” Makarov whispered, feeling the power drain from him. He had to place one hand against the floor to stop from pitching forwards. “I beg you, give me the strength to defeat our enemies one last time. Let me prove myself worthy to lead.”
“Sarah Williams is coming after you. She will try to take control of the beacon and deflect the storm.”
Makarov looked into the beam, eyes wide. “Give me the power to defeat them, master!”
The Entity laughed. “Touch the beam, Makarov. Drink of my deepest powers. But be warned, you might not like the result.”
For once, Makarov hesitated as he reached out with his hand. The light around the meteorite was intensely bright – like staring into the sun. Then he looked at the skin on the back of his hand – wrinkled and white, ancient. He plunged his fingers into the beam…
And was engulfed by the pain of thousands of volts of energy passing through him, stronger than anything he had experienced before. Makarov screamed and looked down at his arm. Blue fire leaped towards his shoulder and surrounded his body. He screamed again.
“Master!”
And then it was over. Makarov staggered back from the beam, blinking rapidly. He felt different. Looking around, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in one of the computer screens: wide, staring eyes like reflective discs; elongated arms with ten-centimetre long claws protruding from his fingers; a gaping mouth. He no longer looked human. He looked like something new. Something…
Alien.
“Master, what have you done to me?” he said quietly.
“I have made you stronger,” the Entity’s voice replied from the light. “Ready to rule our new world. Do you not feel strong, earthling?”
Makarov flexed his clawed fingers and felt the power coursing through them. Every millimetre of his body was now in tune with the alien force.
He grinned.
“I am strong, master.”
“Then make ready,” the Entity replied. “The final battle is at hand.”
33
The dawn brought a sky the colour of gunmetal and a watery sun shining across the desolate plain. It also brought a team of forty robowolves, tearing through the snow towards the miners’ village. They ran as a pack – a diamond-shaped formation moving with unstoppable ferocity to destroy every last living thing in their path.
Crouched against the side of the mountains behind the village, Yuri watched through a set of ancient binoculars as the last of the robowolves entered the village.
“Do you think that’s all of them?” Sarah asked at his side.
“I think it’s enough,” Yuri replied, looking round at her. The girl showed no signs of her ordeal from the night before. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I could take on the world today,” she replied. “Let’s do it.”
Yuri produced a black box from his side. The box was a trigger and linked to the C4 explosives they’d placed around the village below. Yuri wound the priming handle on the side of the box several times and passed it to Sarah.
“I’ll let you do the honours,” he said, before glancing round at Alex, who was also crouched on the hillside. “You might want to cover your ears. This is going to be noisy.”
Sarah pressed the red button on the top of the box and the explosives Yuri had placed around the village under the cover of darkness exploded. The buildings were ripped apart, burning splinters of wood flying high into the morning air. Simultaneously, C4 charges buried under the central courtyard overturned the earth itself with a deafening wumpf. Amidst all of this, the metal bodies of the forty robowolves were cast about, torn limb from limb and then melted in the extreme heat.
Yuri gave a whistle. “Well, there goes the neighbourhood.”
Lowering the binoculars, Sarah looked at him. “Now let’s go do the same to Makarov’s house.”
At the Russian’s side, Laika gave a low growl, showing her readiness for the fight. Yuri grinned and said, “It will be a pleasure.”
“Hey!” Robert yelled, hammering his fist on the door to the cell. “Louise is sick! You have to get her some help!”
After a moment he heard footsteps on the other side. He looked round to the others. They’re coming. You all know what to do.
The door slid open to reveal Ilya, accompanied as always by a pair of robowolves. Through the windows behind him, the dawn was breaking, hard and clear.
“What is it?” Ilya demanded, looking into the cell.
Robert indicated Louise, who made a good show of clutching her stomach on her bunk. “She’s been sick all night and it’s getting worse. You have to take her to—”
“Don’t listen to him!” Octavio interrupted, jumping up and pushing Robert to one side. He looked at the ceiling and spoke to the concealed microphones hidden there. “It’s part of an escape plan, master! A trick!”
Ilya backed away from the doorway and the two robowolves moved in to block any attempt at escape.
“Damn you, Octavio!” Robert hissed, advancing towards the older boy, who jumped back towards the door.
“I’m not going to let you or your sister get us all killed,” Octavio protested. “You’ll all thank me for this in the end!”
Before Robert could respond, Ilya held his hand up. “Stay back! All of you!” He then turned to Octavio. “The master wants you to come to the 153rd floor.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Octavio moved to the door and squeezed past the robowolves. Inside the cell, Robert and the others looked across at him accusingly.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do, brother?” Nestor asked grimly.
Octavio looked at him over the backs of the robowolves. “You know it is.”
“Then do it.”
Taking a step away, Octavio raised his hands towards the robots and reached out with his mind. Snatching the robowolves into the air before they could react, he whipped his arms around and they flew towards the window at high speed. The r
obowolves smashed through the toughened glass and pitched out over the side of the building. The corridor flooded with howling wind. For a second, Ilya watched, open-mouthed at what had just happened. Then he looked round at Octavio.
“You’re going to regret that,” he said dangerously.
“No he’s not,” Louise replied, jumping through the doorway and throwing Ilya back against the wall with the power of her mind. The long-haired kid’s head took a heavy hit and he slid down to the floor, unconscious. Nestor, Robert and Wei emerged from the cell as doors at either end of the corridor slid open. Robowolves tore towards them from both directions.
“Take care of them!” Nestor yelled above the air that was rushing in through the shattered window.
Wei stepped forward and let loose a stream of fire from his hands that engulfed three of the robowolves. As they ran through the flames, Octavio snatched them up and sent them hurtling through the hole in the side of the building, still burning. Nestor turned his attention to the two attackers approaching from the other direction. He sent a blast of tornado force air down the corridor towards them. As the glass side of the Spire exploded outwards, the robowolves were tossed helplessly into space. Louise ran to the edge and watched as they arced through the air to their destruction far below.
“Cool,” she said.
“Good work, Octavio,” Nestor said, slapping his brother on the shoulder. “You were born to be a double agent.”
“You have to get out of here,” Ilya said weakly from his position on the floor. “He’ll be sending more robowolves for you. He has an army.” They all looked round at the Russian boy. The blankness in his expression was gone now and they sensed that once more the control Makarov exerted over him had been broken. Robert kneeled before him.
“Find the other workers from the Spire,” Robert ordered. “Free them from Makarov’s control if you can and take them to the sleeper chamber. We’ll be there to help after we’ve taken care of Makarov.”
Ilya nodded and pulled himself to his feet. “Thank you,” he said as he ran in the direction of the stairs. Robert looked round at the others.