Vallar

by Cindy Borgne

  “T-t-thanks,” I blurted out between deep breaths.

  “I heard your distress call and thought you were one of ours. What’s a Marc doing in such a crappy envirosuit?”

  “I’m not a soldier.” I strained to focus. “Hey? How can I hear what you’re saying?”

  “I attached a signal converter to the antenna of your helmet. Now get over to that jet.” He motioned with his rifle across the canyon.

  I tried to get my legs under me, but a wave of dizziness made it impossible. “I need water.”

  He pulled me up and let me lean on him. I hobbled over to an aerojet along the opposite wall of the canyon. On the tail was a hand-painted blue orb representing the planet Hinun.

  He pulled out several containers, refilled both our oxygen packs and the water reserves of our suits. I took some long drinks from the water tube.

  “Hurry up!”

  I spoke between gulps. “I’m Ian, what’s your name?”

  “Never mind that.”

  “What are you going to do with me?”

  “Tell me why you came out here. Then we’ll see.”

  I didn’t see harm in a simple explanation. “I was worried about someone and thought I could help.”

  The soldier chuckled once with a huff. I didn’t know if that meant he didn’t believe me or if he thought I was an idiot.

  He pulled out a retractable ladder by the rear seat. “If you wanna live, get in.”

  I pulled up with both arms, but my wounded leg kept slipping. He ended up boosting me inside. Then he jumped into the pilot’s seat and sealed the hatch. The vessel started with a soft humming sound and hovered a few feet off the ground. The small size made it feel like a dome cart that somehow left the ground.

  The Genner fired the boosters, propelling us upward. “Don’t bother trying to mess with anything back there - I have it all shut off except the small radar screen.” He took the vessel down into the canyon, winding through the labyrinth. “I’m back in the air.” He said over the radio. “Where are you guys?”

  Another voice came over my helmet radio. “Not much left of us, sir. Turn to point two, six, niner.”

  “On my way.”

  I held on as the Genner flew like a mad man, doing spirals and going upside down. At last, he leveled out, rejoining about seven other aerojets.

  “Okay,” I said as my head spun. “Could you drop me off about five hundred feet away from the battle?”

  “Yeah, right.” He signaled his fellow Genners. “Follow me. We’ll lead them over to the south hangar.”

  “Roger.”

  He had to be a superior officer, giving orders the way he did. He led the small band of aerojets through a narrow passage of the labyrinth. A rear-view mirror on the outside of the aerojet gave me a clear view. The jets varied in color and size. Black paint concealed the names and logos. There were some other organizations helping Gentech. Still, it wasn’t enough for them to stop Marscorp.

  “But what do you plan to do?” I asked. “Your forces are much too small.”

  “Don’t try that psychological crap on me because it won’t work.”

  “I’m not. I just want the killing to stop.”

  “Strange words for a Marc,” he said.

  A couple of Marc scouters and a hovercraft entered the ravine, racing toward us.

  “Look out!” he yelled.

  The tiny radar screen indicated the Genner pilot targeted the closest vessel, a large hovercraft, and fired the laser cannon at the front of the jet. The other pilots locked on to it as well. A mass of laser fire tore the vessel apart. Marscorp returned fire immediately.

  He yanked the aerojet to the right to avoid a shot and swooped down, back into the canyon. The Genner pilots followed and returned fire at every opportunity. Only the most advanced pilots flew this well.

  “Help! I can’t get away from him,” yelled the pilot of an aerojet farthest to the rear.

  He weaved to keep the enemy vessels off balance. The narrow ravine made it impossible to turn and assist.

  “Descend,” he ordered.

  I gripped the sides of the tight compartment. The team of aerojets followed us as he cut into a small ravine to the right. The larger Marc vessels tried to follow. Some missed the turn. Others hit the wall and exploded.

  “I’m hit!” yelled one of the pilots.

  A puff of smoke came from its rear.

  “Eject!” The Genner pilots shouted over the radio.

  It slowly descended and crashed before the pilot could eject.

  “Damn,” he said sadly.

  The pilot’s screaming echoed in my mind. “Sir, please, for the sake of your people there is no choice but to surrender.”

  “And be turned into prisoners and slaves for the Marcs? I don’t think so.”

  His team continued to pull the Marcs into the ravine and engage them.

  He turned and headed back out of the small branch. “Break up into pairs. Keep them off balance. Aerojet Two, you’re with me.”

  Two bright lights flashed far to the south, followed by echoing booms.

  “Be careful. It’s busy up here.” He struggled with the controls, trying to shake a couple of scouters shooting at us from behind.

  Sweat trickled down my face, making the collar of the envirosuit itch.

  The Genner rolled over and executed a gut-churning outside loop, followed by another snap-roll into a vertical climb. He hit the top and nosed over into a dive, sighting on a scouter. Laser fire erupted from his nose gun, burning off a wing of the Marc. It slid to the ground and skidded to a halt. Another scouter soared overhead, flying right for him.

  “I’ll try to stop them,” said one of the pilots, but two other scouters zeroed in on him.

  “No, pull up!” he warned.

  “I’m trying.”

  Two scouters plastered the aerojet with laser fire. A midrange flew overhead and dropped a small missile, which exploded. It kicked up dust and fragments. Before I knew it, we were above the canyon. Vessels were wrecked on the surface. People in envirosuits ran for cover. The chaos was unbelievable – no doubt we’d be shot down any second. I wanted out, but there was no use in asking.

  Chapter 7

  I squirmed in the tight confines of the seat behind the Genner pilot. The small jet soared around ledges of rock, dodged laser shots and avoided a slew of Marc jets. I flinched and shut my eyes at every near miss.

  When I was younger, the stories of battles had sounded like a game. I wanted to see a battle, yet Clare told me many times that war was hell. Every second of this battle pounded that truth into me.

  A Marc midrange fired a wide laser beam at two disabled aerojets on the ground. My wound drained me too much to block out their fear and pain. Screams of the helpless victims ripped through my mind a moment before the vessels burst into flames and exploded. I leaned against the side of the aerojet drenched in sweat and trembling.

  A few Genners on the ground ran toward us with their hands up. The Marc vessels made it impossible to help them.

  A huge vessel fired its laser at the helpless men. The hot beams seared through limbs and burned their bodies. A small cluster of red scouter blips appeared on the radar, heading in our direction.

  The Genner pilot pounded the console with his fist. “Everyone follow me. Execute Alpha-Whiskey.”

  “What’s Alpha-Whiskey?” I asked, but he didn’t answer.

  “But, sir,” said a female pilot, “there are too many of them.”

  “We have to hold until the reinforcements get here. If they take the mine, it’ll all be over.”

  No one replied. On the small radar, their blips ascended above the canyon.

  “You’ll never make it up there,” he warned. “Stay in the labyrinth.”

  They ignored him, and I didn’t blame them.

  “What’s going on?” asked a deep voice over the radio.

  As I recognized the pilot of Phantom One, a chill went up my neck.

  “Some of ou
r pilots are running,” he said. “Maybe I should let them.”

  “No, Marscorp will become too powerful if they take this mine. We can’t let that happen. Deltoton will be here.”

  “Deltoton?” I asked.

  “A surprise for your people.”

  Why would Deltoton help Gentech? They were the next biggest organization located on the other side of Mars. Big organizations didn’t ally themselves with small rogues. There had been several negotiations with the Deltas and word was they leaned toward joining us. Beacon considered them an ally.

  “But how can Deltoton help?” I asked.

  “They are.” He brought his aerojet level with the canyon.

  Several Marc vessels already chased after the four fleeing pilots.

  “Get back into the labyrinth,” he pleaded with his fellow pilots. “Get back here before it’s too late!”

  The scared pilots didn’t answer.

  “Layne,” said the Phantom pilot. “Don’t go after them.”

  The Marc vessels fired a wide spread of laser shots. Layne squirmed and pushed back in his seat. Screaming blasted over the radio. All four aerojets burst into flames for a second and fell to the ground.

  Forgive me, but we lost Layne.

  “You’re Layne!” I blurted out.

  He was too busy with the controls to answer. Layne was going to die, but would I die too? Either way, he was someone loved by Kayla.

  “Listen,” I said. “I know it sounds like I’m trying to discourage you, but I’m trying to help. You’re not going to survive this unless you retreat.”

  “I have to defend this mine at any cost, so stop with the chatter,” Layne snapped.

  The Phantom pilot shouted, “A lucky shot hit the rear engine. I’m losing power.” Grinding engine noise mixed in with his voice. “I only have twenty-five percent power, and I’m descending into a deep pocket in the labyrinth. I’m gonna try and fix it.”

  “This is bad,” I said. “He can’t even help you.”

  I groaned, wanting to be free of the spinning cage. Layne turned toward the hangar. The remaining aerojets followed him.

  I gaped at the rear-view mirror as Marc midranges streamed in behind us. “No! Layne!”

  “Quiet!” Layne ordered. “Top speed everyone.”

  I cleared my voice. “Listen, I appreciate you saving me, and I’m trying to return the favor. You have friends – friends that are going to suffer when you die.”

  “Oh God, why did I take you with me?” He took us over a hangar near the place where he’d found me.

  As we cleared the north end, the hangar exploded. Several Marc scouters flew right into it. The blast pushed the Marc vessels upward. Rock, metal struck several of them. Some exploded on impact. Others hit each other, and they crashed to the ground.

  Dust flew up into the air, making it hard to tell how many of them he destroyed. Alpha-Whiskey had been a trap.

  “I don’t like blowing up my own hangar, but I have no choice,” Layne said. “The Marc soldier is nothing but a pawn, and I take no pleasure in it.”

  “There is a girl who is going to be crying when you die.”

  “Why are you doing this to me? I saved your life, didn’t I?”

  “I’m trying to save you.”

  “Are you some sort of expert in manipulation?” He leveled out the aerojet and another group of raging mad Marc vessels hurled toward us. They knew Layne was the leader.

  “You have to listen to me.”

  “You’re just trying to save your own ass,” he snapped.

  His comment made me angry. “You know a girl with long auburn hair, don’t you? One named Kayla.”

  Holy shit,” he blared. “You’re a damn spy.”

  I couldn’t deny it.

  The Phantom’s voice crackled over the radio. “I felt the explosion.”

  “I’m in trouble.” Layne did a one-eighty and the enemies followed.

  “I’m still on the ground,” shouted the Phantom pilot. “Dust got into the intake valves. Can’t get any power out of the rear engine.”

  “Is your deflector still working?” Layne breathed heavily, doing several maneuvers to keep the Marcs from targeting us.

  “Yes, I’m clear of the battle. Several kilometers down in the labyrinth.”

  A couple of the scouters were in range. I braced for a laser blast. Layne struggled with the control stick and shouted. A laser struck the engine and jolted the aerojet. I yelled. Smoke flowed from the rear. The engine sputtered and cut out.

  "Shit!" He struggled in vain to keep the nose up as the floor went out from under us. The straps strained to keep me in my seat. Alarms screamed through the speakers as the ground rushed up to meet us.

  The vessel spiraled downward. I could feel the blood rushing out of my head. I saw black spots and the sky blurred. Something passed us, but all I saw was a dark blur. The surface came up fast. I strained to keep my eyes open and struggled to breathe against the crushing force.

  The jet slammed into the ground, grinding across the rocks and bumpy terrain. I coughed and gasped for air. A gash ran across the front of the jet. The pilot’s console was smashed and broken in half. I checked for any leaks in my suit. The pressure gauge remained stable.

  Layne popped open the hatch and staggered to his feet. He yanked me out of the backseat, grabbed me by the collar and thrust me up against the side of the jet. “How do you know about Kayla?”

  My back ached from hitting the jet. “I’m psychic.”

  “Psychic?” Layne’s eyes burned at me right through his visor. “I should kill you now.” An explosion distracted him. He turned back and forth a couple of times, pointed at the another crashed aerojet about a hundred feet away and hurried toward it. “Over there.”

  I staggered after him. We reached the cockpit of the jet. A Genner pilot was slumped over the console. Layne opened the hatch and leaned the pilot back. Blood streaks ran across the man’s lifeless face. Smoke drifted from the rear engine.

  Layne touched his friend’s hand. “I’m stranded.” His voice cracked. “Damn it!” In a burst of anger, he swung his rifle at me.

  I backed up and tripped with my hands over my visor. Layne’s finger hovered over the trigger. Nothing I could say would make me less guilty.

  But Layne’s eyes narrowed as if he studied me. His face softened. “You’re nothing but a scared kid.” He lowered the rifle and pulled me up. “We have to hide.”

  Laser fire lit up the sky. Explosions sent piles of powder flowing down into the canyon. Layne took out a GPS and studied it while we moved west. My leg had stiffened up while cramped in the aerojet, making it hard to keep up.

  “Hurry,” Layne demanded.

  I followed him into a trench. He ducked and fired at a group of Marc troops about three hundred feet in front of us.

  “You can’t hold out.” I leaned against the wall of the trench. “I’ve seen it. You need to surrender.”

  “I can’t.” Layne looked up like he expected help from the air. “They’ll interrogate me.”

  “I’ll tell them you saved me. Maybe that will help.”

  Layne ducked down to avoid laser fire. “Oh sure, sure.” He scrambled backwards as a midrange came over a row of jagged hills and bolted away from me.

  “Layne, no. Stay here!” I reached for him, but he was too fast.

  He jogged across the trench, keeping his head down, but there was nothing to hide under. The midrange raced toward Layne and gained easily.

  “Layne, get down!” I screamed.

  He ducked down and covered his head.

  I turned to the Marc vessel, jumped on one leg and waved my hands. “No, stop!”

  Laser fire streaked from the vessel and hit all around Layne. I screamed and dropped to my knees. Layne yelled in pain and collapsed. He gasped over the radio, trying to say something.

  I trembled, feeling small, trapped and paralyzed with fear. The ship turned around and lowered to the ground. A ramp at the rear of the
ship fell open. I flinched as it hit the ground with a bang. Soldiers carrying rifles ran toward us. A salty taste on my lips came from my own tears.

  “Stay down.” I limped toward him. “I’m coming.”

  “You can’t help me.” He said between gasps.

  I dropped to the ground and crawled toward him. A small flat metal object was in the dirt in front of Layne. It was a com. Not wanting anyone to take it, I put it in my pocket.

  “Better to die before they come.” Blood dripped from Layne’s mouth as he choked out the words.

  I struggled to patch the holes in Layne’s suit. “Hang on, hang on.”

  Then I gasped at remembering the signal converter. Shaking, my hand reached up and pulled the device off the antenna of my helmet. I pushed it deep into the ground where nobody could see it.

  Marc soldiers formed a wall around us. “Get them in the ship.”

  They pulled me up. “Please, get him to a doctor.”

  One man grabbed Layne by the leg and dragged him up the ramp. Once inside the ship, they dropped him in the middle of the floor. I knelt by him. He stared at me behind a cracked visor and strained to breathe. Vents on the ceiling hissed as the cargo area pressurized.

  “Help him. Somebody, help!”

  Instead they huddled together talking. Layne moaned as a tear rolled down his cheek. His eyes flared about. I touched his hand, knowing it had to be terrifying to be injured and among the enemy.

  I hurried over to one of the officers and shook him by the arm. “Hurry and get him to an aid station.”

  The commander spun around. “Do you know what these Genner bastards did?”

  My lower lip quivered, so I tucked it in and bit down. These men would only listen if I spoke with authority – the authority of an elite, which I had never done.

  “This man knows critical information,” I said, surprised at my tone. “Thanks to your incompetence he may die with it.”

  “You’re awfully bold for someone who shouldn’t be out here. Who are you?”

  I gave him my identification number.

  He huffed and plugged it into a small terminal built into the wall. He turned around with his mouth open. “You’re an elite?”