by Sarah Noffke
Nona brought her scope to the left and caught two figures, Donny and Kendrick. What were they doing off their posts? she wondered.
Nona was about to zoom in when she caught activity behind them. She pressed the scope harder into her eye. Fuck!
She swept the scope to the left, taking in the strange sight. Roughly ten yards behind Donny and Kendrick were a dozen or more rat-men like the ones they’d fought in Area Eight.
Did Donny and Kendrick know they were about to be ambushed? Nona could pick off a few of the rat-men, but how many before they overwhelmed the rest of her team?
She pulled back slightly, blinking away from the scope. Wait. Could they be? It didn’t make sense that Donny and Kendrick were someone else—that someone had stolen their identities. When would they have had a chance? That would be as bizarre as someone having stolen her identity while she was perched ten feet up in the safety of the tree.
Nona pressed the scope to her eye again. In the ten seconds she’d taken to make sense of what she was seeing the rat-men had taken over, running past Donny and Kendrick. The men did nothing as the creatures ran past them.
They were shapeshifters, Nona realized. She released the safety. Got Donny in her sights. And then he disappeared. He had shifted into the form of a rat-man. She scanned the crowd of beasts as they sprinted for the entrance of Area One-Twenty-Six. Kendrick was gone too. They were charging the facility.
She pressed the button to activate the comm. The Lieutenant needed to be alerted right away. Then she’d join the battle that was about to ensue.
~~~
Fletcher’s hands shook. He couldn’t believe this. All these years after losing his father, he finally had a chance to say the one thing that had been stolen from him. He was going to get closure. Finally he’d have a chance to tell his father that he loved him. His death would feel final, because Fletcher would have gotten the gift of saying goodbye.
Too often the day his father had left and didn’t return played in Fletcher’s head. It still didn’t feel real. For years he had believed that his father would show up again. That was what had happened for that mechanic, Knox. Why couldn’t it happen for Fletcher? But he knew better. He’d read the reports. Cornel Fletcher was dead, and had been for some time now.
“Dad? Are you there?” Fletcher asked, speaking to the Family Tree. He realized that it was the source of the faint blue light.
“He’s here,” his grandmother said. “Give him a moment. Takes him longer to come through.”
“Dad!” Fletcher yelled. “It’s me! Chad!”
The comm crackled in his ear. “Sir, this is Officer Fuller,” Nona said in a mad rush. “Those rat-men are back, and there’s two shapeshifters. I had them in my sights but they disappeared.”
Fletcher stumbled back. “What? How did they get through the perimeter?”
He turned for the corridor and then back to the Family Tree.
“I don’t know, sir, but they are rushing the entrance.”
The sound of gunfire echoed over the comm.
“The rat-men are running straight at Brady and Jordan at the entrance,” Nona said. “I’m trying to hold them off, but there’s so many of them they’re going to get through.”
“Fuck. I’m on my way. Send Jamison and Hunter over from perimeter,” Fletcher said. He stared longingly at the Family Tree. Why hadn’t his father come through? What was keeping him?
Fletcher blinked at the tree for another moment, but he couldn’t waste any more time. He was his father’s son, and that meant that he arrived early to a fight and defended his territory. Spinning around, Fletcher sprinted down the long corridor back the way he’d come.
He’d made it to the first floor when the transmitter said in his ear, “Second floor, southwest quadrant. A male’s voice is yelling the name “Chad.”
Fletcher wasn’t allowed a moment of regret, because the fight had indeed begun. The entrance to Area One-Twenty-Six was being overwhelmed by Petigrens.
~~~
Julianna knew it had been wrong to run off from Eddie, but that thing, whatever it was, was trying to cause a fight between them. They were better off parting. And he’d gone past the next turn because he wasn’t paying attention.
She was overly controlling on missions! How dare he say such a thing? Well, he hadn’t, but that thing had and she was pretty certain that whatever-it-was read their thoughts. How else would Eddie have heard that bit about table manners?
It did irk Julianna that every time they went anywhere Eddie ate the communal food like it was all his. He’d eat the last eggroll without asking first. Take all the ketchup. Pick up the center bowl of salsa and empty it onto his plate. It was just fucking inconsiderate. She was secretly glad that wicked paranormal creature had told her secret. Eddie needed to know that he was a pig at the table. Maybe now he wouldn’t steal her fries and say “yoink,” like it was funny instead of fucking irritating.
You don’t think you’re being a little uptight on all this? Pip asked.
No, Julianna snapped, turning a corner.
She could think and find her way now that she didn’t have to listen to Eddie tell her how she didn’t take enough leisure time or shouldn’t hold everyone else to her personal standards. She’d find the Tangle Thief on her own, then she’d blacken Eddie’s eye. Because even if he hadn’t voiced these complaints, he’d thought them.
You’re partners. You weren’t supposed to leave him behind, Pip reprimanded.
I didn’t. I just got lost, Julianna lied.
Table manners are a big deal for me too. Can you tell Lars that not everyone needs to see what he’s eating while he’s eating it?
No, I’m kind of busy at the moment.
Later, then.
Busy then, too.
You’re in the worst mood I’ve seen you in for a long time.
I’m trying to find a fucking deadly weapon in a maze.
And you’ve been heavily criticized by someone you care about.
Was I? I don’t remember.
Julianna took her second left, stomping the entire time. Only one more right to go and she’d be there. She’d made significant progress—finally.
It doesn’t feel good when someone special is rude to you, is that it?
Pip, are you trying to make inferences?
I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m simply saying maybe you know how I feel now.
I’m sorry, I thought being rude to each other was our thing.
Only because you’ve built this fortress around yourself and the only thing that can get over your walls is a humorous volley.
So you want me to be nice to you, is that it?
Pip was quiet for a long moment. No. Nice is Marilla’s thing, and it’s how I see Knox. Even Lars, sometimes. I like you the way you are.
Then why are we having this conversation?
Because you do your best work when I distract you.
“Motherfucker,” Julianna whispered. Without having to even think about it and while lost in thought, she’d found her way to where the Tangle Thief was supposed to be located.
Damn it, Pip, you’re one heck of a guy.
Thanks, Jules. I think you’re swell too.
Julianna pulled her access badge from her pocket as the transmitter broadcasted in her head. “Front sector. Main entrance,” it said. “There’s a disturbance. Approximately, fifteen Petigrens have attacked Ghost Squadron and are forcing their way into the facility.”
“Fuck,” Julianna exclaimed, pressing the comm button. “Fletcher, you read me?”
Silence.
Julianna tried again. “Fletcher? Teach? Do you copy?”
Nothing.
Now that Julianna thought about it, Eddie could have contacted her as soon as they had separated, but he hadn’t.
Pip, what’s going on here?
I’m looking into it. There appears to be something causing interference with the comm in this section of Area One-Twenty-Six.
I’m not sur
prised with all the wacky shit down here. Can you fix it?
Yes, but I’m not sure how soon.
Julianna paused in front of the unit where the Tangle Thief was. They were under attack, and she’d lost Eddie. Nevertheless, she had to get what they’d come here for.
~~~
“Fregin, can you hear me?” Eddie asked over the comm for the tenth time.
Still he got no response.
He could hardly believe she’d deserted him. Maybe she’d gotten lost, he’d tried to tell himself. He didn’t believe it, though. Julianna had, like him, heard one too many things that she didn’t like and gone her own way. Eddie almost couldn’t blame her. It sucked to hear only the things a person didn’t like about you.
Why couldn’t the strange entity have told Julianna how her laugh made him laugh? Or that she was the strongest person he knew? Or even that more than a couple of times one of her speeches had hit him in the chest with its power? Instead she’d only heard the bad.
Eddie turned down another corridor, completely lost now. The map on his pad was useless, since he didn’t know where he was. GPS would have been brilliant, but since the comm didn’t work down here it was hard to believe that anything else like that would.
“Basement. Northeast quadrant,” the transmitter said in Eddie’s head. “A woman has entered the main corridor.”
“Julianna?” Eddie asked, hopeful.
“Quick scan shows that individual meets the Commander’s height, build, and physical characteristics,” the transmitter said.
“Bob, can you help me find her?” Eddie asked.
“I can direct you to the agent that is spying on her,” Bob said through the transmitter.
“Great, because I’m fucking lost,” Eddie told it, incredibly glad he’d taken that green blob from Area Eight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Area One-Twenty-Six, Nexus, Tangki System
The only thing that could have kept Fletcher from his father was the news that his team was being overrun by Petigrens. He slid to a halt to find the entrance to Area One-Twenty-Six in complete chaos. Loud screeching yells erupted from the doors.
Brady and Jordan were stationed outside the entrance, their backs to Fletcher. Brady was on the steps, firing nonstop. Jordan stood several feet to the right and was trying to keep the growling rodents back.
Fletcher arrived at the entrance and looked over Brady’s shoulder at a scene that filled him with disgust. The rat-men charged forward, many of them climbing over the dead bodies of their own to get into the facility. One dove forward several feet and rammed into Jordan, knocking her down. Her gun flew from her hands.
The monster scratched her face, snapping and trying to bite her. She rolled over onto it, throwing hard punches into its face. Fletcher knew he couldn’t get off a shot at the beast without risking Jordan.
“Fuck! Where did these come from?” Fletcher asked Brady.
“I don’t know!” he yelled over the constant gunfire. “They’re spread out and just keep coming.”
Fletcher caught something in his peripheral vision. He moved to the side of Brady, aiming his rifle as he did. Three Petigrens had snuck around the other side of the building and were trying to gain entrance while Brady was forced to fend off attacks from the right. Fletcher fired several times, but the aliens kept coming. They were tough as fuck to kill.
He steadied his weapon. Aimed. Fired once. The bullet went straight through the head of the closest Petigren.
Fletcher said over his shoulder, “Shoot for the head if you can.”
“Yes, sir!” Brady yelled.
Fletcher stabilized his weapon, taking aim at the next Petigren. It was on all fours, its teeth chattering angrily. At the side of the building Fletcher caught a movement. He fired, killing the Petigren, then chanced a glance at the far wall.
He caught sight of Nona helping Jamison, who had his arm slung over her shoulder. He was limping. Hurt.
Fletcher directed his sights at the final Petigren approaching on that side and shot once. The beast fell, dead.
“Come on,” Fletcher yelled, hurrying the two forward.
Once this side of the entrance was clear Nona sped up, nearly dragging Jamison. His head was to the side, he was close to passing out. Fletcher relieved Nona of him as soon as she had him at the steps, and pulled the wounded soldier into Area One-Twenty-Six and to the far wall.
Looking him over, he didn’t see any injuries. “What happened to him?”
Nona was panting hard. She pulled her rifle from across her back, her gaze on the entrance where the battle was still going strong. “He got stuck on the perimeter. I couldn’t get to him in time. I left my post too late.”
Fletcher ran his eyes over Jamison’s limp form. There was no blood, no puncture wounds, no broken bones—but Jamison was breathing. He didn’t get it, but he’d have to tend to the man later.
He turned back to Nona, about to rise when the butt of her rifle slammed down on the top of his head.
~~~
Julianna held the security badge up, taking a deep breath.
She paused. Dropped her hand by her side.
This felt wrong. She shouldn’t be stalling, but she didn’t want to go into this room for some reason. Well, she didn’t want to go in alone.
This is stupid, she told herself. The squadron is under attack. I came for a job, and I must complete it.
Again lifting her hand to the reader, she tried once more. The badge didn’t read on the scanner. She swiped it again.
“You have to turn it sideways,” Eddie said from behind her.
She spun around. He hadn’t come from the same hallway as she had, but rather was on the other side of her. Julianna nearly choked on a breath.
“How did you get here?” she asked, flattening herself into the doorway. Maybe he was a Saverus.
“I’m not a Saverus,” Eddie said like he was in her fucking head. “Bob led me here.”
“Bob…” Julianna mused, wondering if there was a way that the Saverus could know about Bob. “How did he do that?”
Eddie pointed at something behind Julianna on the wall. She narrowed her eyes in the dim corridor. There on the wall, she made out the familiar small green blob stuck discreetly in place. “He had his agent help me.”
Julianna looked Eddie up and down. “It’s really you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and you really deserted me,” he said, sounding hurt.
“I… Yeah, I guess I did,” she said, not even trying to lie.
“I guess I get it. We can face so much, but when we’re confronted with emotions we want to flee.”
Julianna found herself smiling. “You know, you can be kind of poetic when you want to be.”
Eddie shrugged. “I know, but the thing is, usually I don’t want to be.” He reached out and took the card from her and held it at an odd angle. “The readers, I noticed, work better if you hold the badge like this.”
Julianna watched as Eddie ran the card through the security access. It buzzed once, and the door slid open.
They were finally in.
“Oh, and the comms are out,” she said in a rush. “But Pip is working on them.”
Eddie nodded. “Yes, I tried them.”
“There’s been an attack by the Petigrens,” she stated.
Eddie straightened. “Which explains why you thought I could be a Saverus at first.”
“And which is also why we need to grab the Tangle Thief and get the fuck out of here.”
Eddie waved an arm forward. “Shall we do it together, then?”
Julianna consented with a nod. “Yes, let’s.”
They rushed into the large room. The walls were lined with hundreds of numbered lockers. The Tangle Thief was in 2858—straight ahead, second row from the bottom according to Hatch.
Julianna had taken one step forward when something went completely wrong. A force like she’d never experienced pushed her to the ground. There was something wrong with the gravit
y in the room.
~~~
Nona picked off two rat-men who had Jordan cornered again. She’d finally begun to make progress, thinning the crowd of angry giant rodents. The beasts were hard to take down, but a well-placed shot knocked the fuckers off fast. The problem that was their heads were covered in bushy hair and they had large ears, making it hard to be precise. One might think that a large target would make it easy, but not when the shit-holes had tiny rat brains. Nona had quickly learned that a bullet to the head didn’t always ensure a kill.
She was about to pick off a snarling rat-man who was whipping his tail around madly and looked to be close to leaping at Brady. The beasts could run fast and jump farther than she would have expected, which was why they were nearly at the entrance to the facility.
She froze as she looked at the other side of the building, where two figures had emerged. No, that’s impossible, she told herself. Through her scope she watched as the Lieutenant fired, taking out two rat-men. They fell, and then he turned and helped two figures into the building. Two people who looked exactly like her and Jamison.
Underneath her she heard scratching, so she flipped her head down. One of the disgusting beasts had found her position and was climbing up the tree after her. It clawed at her boot and she scrambled up, trying to find her footing in the tree. The rat reached for her, wrapping its clawed paw around her boot. He was surprisingly strong and yanked her hard to one side. Nona grabbed a nearby limb, trying to keep her rifle from falling to the ground.
The rat-man sank is teeth into her leg, and scorching pain rocketed from her calf all the way up to her hip. Nona yelled and yanked her leg free, then pulled her pistol from her holster. Shot once.
The fucking rodent fell to the ground, blood spraying from the bullet wound in his head.
Nona fumbled for the comm button. “Lieutenant! It’s Nona. Do you read me?”
There was no answer.
Holstering her pistol, she ignored the blinding pain in her leg and swung herself around onto the trunk of the tree, siding down to the ground, rifle in hand.