Vallar

by Cindy Borgne

  “I’m sure we can get you the training. How about you, Ian? What do you want to do?”

  “I’d like to design ships.”

  “I’m sure Bret would be glad to help you with that.”

  “That’d be great, but does he ever have spare time?” I asked.

  Before she could answer, a thin trail of green dust rose up in the north beyond the crater.

  “Do you see that?” I asked.

  “He’s shooting at something,” Kayla said.

  Whatever happened, I wouldn’t abandon my post too soon. I couldn’t accept seeing the Phantom burst into a ball of flames. This time I would stay as long as possible, so he could get those messages out.

  The Phantom appeared over the row of hills.

  “Here we come,” Bret said over the helmet radio. “I got all but one satellite and they’re furious with me.” He sounded out of breath.

  “Did you get the messages out?” I asked.

  “Affirmative to Vallar for backup,” Rachel said. “Negative to the hangar. We need that other dish down.”

  His vessel swerved in an irregular pattern at a much faster speed than the average ship. The smaller scouters fired at him, but kept missing. The Phantom deflector sent out confusing signals to render computer targeting useless. It also absorbed signals of all known types. The pilots had to depend on sight. Having to use night vision, made it all the more difficult.

  The scouter jets soared past. Their short wings came in view. Sonny fired on the first one. The beam struck the scouter in the fuselage. A trail of smoke flowed from the scouter as it plunged to the ground.

  “How’s that for shooting?” Sonny asked.

  “Great job.” Kayla said.

  They broke away from Bret and split up. Laser blasts ascended on the east side as Kayla fired and struck one of them in the tail. The small jet tilted and lost altitude. The tilt turned into a roll that increased in speed. It skidded across the ground and stopped at the edge of a crater rather close to Kayla. I hoped nobody survived the crash.

  One of them flew toward me. I struggled with the targeting gauge to get a fix on it. I’d never noticed wind on Mars, but for some reason a slight breeze kicked up the powder and created a haze around me. It was the dust storm I’d seen. The cross hairs briefly flashed red.

  I fired and the laser beam went wide. “Damn it.” I fired and missed several times without having a lock on it. So much for having the highest score.

  “Be patient,” Kayla said.

  The red cross-hairs blinked and I squeezed the trigger. A vibration went through the weapon as a streak of light flew out of it. The beam struck one of the wings, sending the scouter spinning out of control. It slammed into the ground and exploded.

  “Nice shot,” Bret said.

  The amount of particles in the air continued to increase, hiding the view of the scouters.

  “Here comes the dust storm,” Bret said.

  Several scouters came over the hills and raced toward Sonny.

  “It’s busy over here,” Sonny said.

  “We’re coming,” Rachel said.

  I struggled with the controls and tried to lock onto a target, but the distance was too great. Still I fired, trying to lure the jets away, but they ignored me and continued toward Sonny. Bret swooped down on two scouters in the swarm. He fired on both at once and caused two to burst into flames for a second. The crumpled shells fell from the sky.

  Laser blasts bounced off the ground near Sonny’s location. He shouted something followed by a blast of static.

  “Sonny….” I strained to see him across the crater, but between the distance and dust it was impossible even using the visor zoom.

  “Damn,” Sonny said.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “Cannon’s out. I’m back in the crater, dang it.”

  The scouters turned toward Kayla’s position. The phantom followed.

  “Take out that last dish before more Marcs come,” Kayla said as flashes of light emitted on the east side.

  “Negative,” Bret answered. “We need that midrange down.”

  I fired several shots to lure them my way, but again they paid no attention and continued toward Kayla’s position.

  “Ian, save the energy,” Bret ordered. “Only fire when they’re in range.”

  The night vision of my visor picked up the dust as green sparkles. Too much of it interfered. I adjusted the night vision filter decreasing the sensitivity, so it would screen out small objects.

  All I could see were flashes of light all on the east side. “Kayla?” I used the cannon display to locate the Marc vessels converging on Kayla’s position. “Kayla!”

  When she didn’t answer, I wanted to abandon my post and run to her even though she was too far away. Waiting to telling her about my visions had seemed like the right choice on the ship, but out here it made no sense.

  “Kayla!”

  “I’m okay,” she said. “I’m hiding on a ledge of the crater. Be ready with that missile.”

  I couldn’t stand it anymore. After this was over, I had to tell her.

  “Clever bastards,” Bret said. “The scouters are flushing us out first. They’re on route to you, Ian.”

  The scouters fired wildly at the Phantom. I braced as the scouters came within range and waited for the cannon to lock the targets. The haze of green sparkling dust lightened and I adjusted the night vision sensitivity gauge. I pretended I was in the simulator and let the shots fly. Three went down within seconds. One of them crashed into another lower flying jet.

  “That’s my man,” Bret said.

  That made four down while a remaining five continued toward me. In the background of the cannon display, a hulking figure made its appearance.

  “The MC1000 is coming up on you from behind.”

  “Affirmative,” Bret said. “Stand by.”

  I fired again and again, taking down two more. The dust storm continued to fade. The Phantom followed the scouters while the MC1000 moved in from behind - all of them heading toward me. I fired a few more shots, but missed as the scouters banked off sharply. They continued to turn and took positions at the sides of the MC1000. My memory flashed back to the attack. I could see the Phantom exploding before it happened.

  “Bret, get out of there!”

  A ball of white light flashed from the nose of the MC1000. The Phantom rose up sharply and a laser blast flew underneath it. The beam struck the ground several meters in front of me.

  “Nice work.” Bret said.

  “Ian?” Kayla asked. “You need some help?”

  “No, go to the cave.”

  Bret teased the MC1000 by staying just out of its range and continued to lead it my way. A few more scouters joined the group and they surged ahead of the midrange, descending toward me. They were not going to chase me out of my post before I could get that midrange.

  “Ian,” Bret said, sounding panicked. “Get out of there.”

  I couldn’t leave my post. Bret needed the cover. These Marcs were trying to kill the only people who cared about me. Instead, I fired several shots, hit one scouter and dove under the tarp before they unloaded. The only sound was an electrical buzz and vibrations through the ground. I peeked out of the tarp. My laser cannon had been turned into a melted lump. The scouters passed while the midrange neared.

  “Ian, where are you? They’re coming back around.”

  “I’m by the launcher.” I pulled the tarp halfway down - just enough to target and fire. I got behind the targeting display and aimed for the midrange.

  “Ian, they’re coming . . . .”

  The red cross-hairs flickered over the MC1000 as it almost locked.

  “Keep them off me for a few seconds.”

  The cross-hairs turned a solid red. I held my breath and pulled the trigger. The missile streaked toward the midrange.

  “Ian, run for the crater!”

  I grabbed my laser rifle, bolted out from under the tarp and ran east towar
d the crater. Only a trace of dust remained in the air. Scouters flew in and hammered my post with laser blasts. I sensed a wave of terror and glanced back. The midrange exploded and drifted toward the ground.

  “I knew you could do it,” Bret said.

  “Sweet,” Sonny said.

  Bret roared past, firing the lasers and dropping the scouters with ease.

  I found the cable. Dust still swirled heavy in the crater. Once at the bottom, the dust flowed so heavy in the crater I could only see a foot in front of me. “It sure is thick down here.” I turned down the night vision sensitivity.

  “Tell me about it,” Sonny said.

  The visor displayed the remaining oxygen at seventy-five percent, and the compass pointed south-east. As I walked, through the pitch black, I stayed along the side of the wall and worked my way toward the cave.

  “On route to the last dish,” Bret said. “I’ll be back to . . . .

  “Say again?” Kayla asked.

  “I won’t be able to pick you up yet. We spotted three Marc midranges heading this way. They’ll be here before Vallar backup.”

  “Kill the dish and go,” Kayla said. “We’ll be in the cave.”

  “Affirmative,” Bret said. “I’m going to meet up with our reinforcements. Be careful . . . .” The signal broke up as he went out of range.

  “Anyone at the cave yet?” I asked.

  “I might almost be there,” Kayla said.

  “Whoever thought of putting the guy with the bad leg farthest from the cave?” Sonny asked.

  “Don’t worry, Sonny,” Kayla said. “I’ll have your dinner waiting.”

  “Great, cause I’m starving.”

  I laughed. With Vallar on the way, we wouldn’t have to stay in the cave too long. The Marcs wouldn’t go for a huge battle over one ship. Those midranges would be chased away.

  “Kayla, there’s some more things I’d like to tell you when we can get a chance to talk alone.”

  “Interesting,” Sonny teased.

  “But what’s it about?” she asked.

  “I’ve had some visions about you and . . . .” I stopped at a slope in the crater going about fifteen meters down.

  “Say again?” Kayla asked.

  “There’s a steep slope blocking my way.”

  “Can you climb down?” Kayla asked.

  “There are boulders stacked up against it. I don’t know how stable they are.”

  “Don’t risk it,” Kayla said. “Look for a clear spot.”

  “Okay.” I walked along the slope, moving away from the wall. After several meters, I found a less steep section with plenty of grooves to hold onto and only small rocks piled up at the bottom. I started down and fumbled for things to hang onto.

  As I reached the halfway point, a red laser beam streaked through the rusty cloud and struck the edge of the wall above me. Rocks tumbled down. A large one crashed on my arm. I shouted as I lost my grip and slid out of control to the bottom of the crater. I managed a clumsy shoulder roll to soften the blow and landed on my side.

  “Ian, you okay?” Sonny said.

  “Someone shot at me!” I scrambled to my knees, breathing heavily.

  “What?” Kayla paused. “Heat sensors are negative.”

  I sensed an angry presence and ducked behind a large boulder. “Someone’s out here.” My heat sensor was also negative. “I sense several people. Stay back!” I gripped my rifle and peeked around the rock.

  The heat sensor lit up in a small circle at the bottom left of the visor. A black blur floated in the dust several feet in front of me.

  “Sonny,” I called and aimed my rifle at the blur. “I see someone.”

  “I’m coming!” Sonny yelled.

  A black blur headed toward me. The tip of a rifle came out of the dust and emitted an arcing beam, striking the boulder. I recognized it as an electrical charge and fired at the dark shadow. The figure tumbled backwards. I bolted back toward the crater wall.

  A flash came from behind. I screamed at a burning sensation so strong I thought I was on fire. Sparks flew around me. My rifle dropped. I staggered and fell to my knees. Sonny’s and Kayla’s voices blurred together as they yelled for me to respond.

  A line of several Marcs stepped out of the dust with blurry glowing buttons on their wrists and rifles aimed at me. Behind them was a small midrange half covered with a tarp. I’d been so close, so close to freedom.

  “Sonny, Kayla . . . .” I held up my hands and fought against my eyes wanting to roll back. “Marc ship – stay back.”

  A smaller burst flashed from behind and ripped me away from freedom.

  Chapter 24

  I woke up feeling cold metal on my side with clamps around my wrists and ankles. Someone had taken off my shirt. Startled, I scrambled and yanked away only to cause the shackles to dig into my skin. When I tried to move more than a foot, the chain tightened and stopped me. I rolled to my knees and discovered the chain was fastened to the floor. I recognized the hum of Admiral Beacon’s flagship.

  My eyes focused enough to see someone’s shoes clicking as they paced back and forth. A couple of officers stood at attention in the corners with laser rifles. Maybe they hadn’t captured Sonny and Kayla.

  “So,” Beacon said, “you’ve joined the enemy.”

  At hearing his voice, I trembled uncontrollably. His dreaded face came into focus. His fake blond hair had at least five centimeters of dark roots. I recognized one of the men in the corner as Vice Admiral Kodet - Beacon’s second in command. He watched me suffer with a smug grin.

  “How much information did you give them?” Beacon yelled.

  Information? I wished I would’ve downloaded an entire databank and given it to Bret. His voice made my head pound.

  “Answer me!” The edges of Beacon’s eyes glowed red as he shook me by the collar.

  I flinched and jerked my hands up in a reflex to cover my face, but the handcuffs jammed into my wrists.

  He laughed sarcastically and released me. “Don’t you realize that we found out where you went? I wasn’t about to let you make it to Vallar.”

  “How d-did you find out?”

  “It was a long process.” Beacon huffed. “I know why you’re betraying me too. You don’t like the wars because you’re weak. But you’re forgetting that we deserve to go back to Earth – to have our own land. It’s our right and you’re too young to know that tough choices have to be made against those who won’t cooperate.”

  Anger welled up inside me, enough to slow my trembling. “Don’t pretend to be thinking of others. You just want power. I know you had plans to betray the Deltas.”

  “So you’ve used your visions on me?” Beacon glared.

  “No!” I stared back at the Admiral, thinking back to Nate in that vision. “It just came to me.”

  “But you went out to rescue a couple of spies. That makes you a traitor.”

  “My loyalty is with Vallar, and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”

  Beacon laughed. “Don’t you realize I also captured Lieutenant Merceir? Will you obey me if I promise not to kill her?”

  Oh God, No. No!

  I curled up in a cringing ball. Did he have Sonny too? Then I remembered my vision of Hannah and Alexis. I couldn’t hold back from scrambling into a complete panic. I yanked the chains causing them to clank and dig into my wrists.

  Beacon chuckled. “It doesn’t matter. There is a way to make you have visions for me.”

  “You can’t force me!”

  “You have no right to refuse.” Beacon bellowed, stepped over and backhanded me in the face, sending me rolling to the side. He grabbed my hair. “You’re my property, and you’ll do as I say.” His fingers tightened.

  He released his grip and slapped me across the other cheek, knocking me onto my side. The chains forced me into a crooked position. Stars floated before my eyes. Blood rolled down my lip. Beacon brushed some of my hair off his hand, walked out with his men and slammed the door.
/>   Oh God, please don’t let him hurt Kayla. Please, No!

  I cried over and over and couldn’t stop squirming even though the handcuffs burned as they dug into my wrists.

  After several minutes, I remembered I had promised myself I would be like Bret. I took a deep breath and tried to think logically. Beacon would’ve gloated about having Bret and Sonny, but he hadn’t mentioned either. Bret would get Vallar to help us get out of here.

  I imagined myself standing over the dead body of Beacon lying on the barren land, exposed to the elements, and decaying while I kicked dust over his remains. I’d never cooperate with Beacon – never. Kayla would hate me if I did.

  I recognized the movements of how the ship felt when it docked. Two petty officers and Kodet entered the room.

  A familiar looking gray haired one stopped, and his mouth dropped open. I recognized him as the petty officer who had been kind to me on the way back to Marscorp after the battle of the mine.

  “Why are you in chains?” he asked.

  “No speaking to the prisoner.” Kodet glared at me in a way that I knew better than to answer.

  I struggled to remember his name as they unlocked the shackles from the floor and pulled me to my feet. His name had started with an “M”. Standing up made me dizzy and I wobbled. Was it Mark, Mike, Mick?

  Kodet pushed me toward the door, but I ended up stumbling into the wall. Both petty officers winced and glanced at each other.

  “Mitch?” I asked.

  “I said no talking.” Kodet yanked me by the arm out the door and led me through a long hall. We walked down a ramp connected to a tube, leading into a massive bio-dome complete with trees and grass.

  Palm trees hung over the path and water trickled from a large statue in the middle of a fountain. A couple of birds chirped and dipped into the water. Farther away I could see part of a large pool with a wave generator. People waited at the top of stairs in their bathing suits on a platform for a water slide.

  I recognized the place as the Marc recruiting dome at Argyre. It had to be the most elaborate and largest in the entire Argyre post. Most of the dome was used as a recreation center to recruit workers or soldiers into the Marc ranks.

  People went in and out of a three-storied building used to house recruits. The hook was “Join us and spend a week here. Benefits also include four weeks a year in a luxury bio-dome.” As I learned from working in a shop, workers didn’t get those rewards unless they met a grueling production quota.