by SW Matthews
Once all vital signs were registering on the monitor, Eddie disconnected the mask from the ventilator and hooked it up to a separate machine that pumped a watery fluid into the patient’s mouth and nose. After a few moments, the anesthesiologist turned to Skorz. “He’s alive, and in perfect hibernation.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Eddie! Do you have to say that every fucking time?” Skorz replied.
Eddie looked up at Skorz. “I love you.”
Skorz rolled his eyes. “I know.”
The anesthesiologist laughed and turned back to his monitors.
Rosie stepped up beside Skorz. “So this is the liquid you were talking about,” she said.
Skorz nodded. “We’ve only used it a few times.”
Eddie spoke up without turning away from the monitors. “It’s mostly hyper-oxygenated saline, with a few minor additives. No endotracheal tube necessary. It just circulates through so the diaphragm can relax, which will help Charlie with this repair.”
“How do you keep it from going into the esophagus?” Rosie asked.
“We don’t. Once it hits a pH below four, it solidifies and forms a barrier, which is digested over a couple hours. One of the additives causes that. Another additive is to treat nausea, just in case the barrier causes any GI upset.”
“Amazing. Any complications so far?”
“One of our patients woke up before we had it all drained, and he had a little laryngospasm and bronchospasm, but it was easy to treat. We’ve had no major issues with it.”
“How do you drain it?”
“Trendelenburg position and very low-powered suction, then use a little positive pressure to get them breathing again.”
“And you’re only using it for cases that require diaphragm paralysis?”
Eddie finally turned away from the monitors, apparently satisfied with what he saw. “No, actually the best use is for really difficult airway cases. We’ve been able to keep some folks from having to get a trach.”
“That asshole Booker isn’t too happy about that aspect of it,” said Skorz. “He wants his residents to trach everybody.”
Just then the operating room door opened and Doc appeared, holding a surgical mask over his mouth and nose. “Rosie! We need to go! Now!”
“Dad! What’s going on?”
“Some soldiers just tried to take Kat and I in. There’s more coming. We need to get out of here now!”
Skorz looked over at Jaq. “Jaq, get them out of here. Call me when you’re safe.”
Jaq stepped forward and grabbed Rosie’s hand. “Come with me,” he said. He led her from the room, her father following.
“What was that all about?” asked Eddie once the room was quiet again.
“Oh, just trying to help some friends and save the world—you know, putting my ass on the line. The usual.”
“Sounds like this deal is getting worse all the time.”
Skorz rolled his eyes again.
***
Jaq pulled Rosie onto a service elevator, with Doc and Kat closely following.
“Where are we going?” Rosie asked.
“Lower-level parking lot,” replied Jaq. “My truck is there.”
When they reached the truck, it was not at all what Rosie expected. It was a small pickup, low to the ground, with wide racing tires—and it was painted bright yellow and purple.
“This is… yours?” Rosie asked.
“I used to be into street racing. And some other stuff. That was before I got cleaned up.”
“You mean like gang stuff?”
“Yes. I still have contacts there. If we can get to them, they can keep you safe. Trust me.”
Doc was leaning against the truck, panting from the run. “I trust you,” he said between breaths. “Let’s go.”
Kat climbed into the bed of the truck, and Jaq covered her with a tarp. The other three climbed into the cab, with Rosie in the middle.
“There’s a safe house south of here,” Jaq said. “We’ll just take it nice and slow and try not to draw any attention.”
Chapter 34
The leaders of China were gathered for an emergency meeting in a subterranean complex just outside Lhasa. They had received the news that a supposed “Chinese terrorist attack” had destroyed a mansion outside of Denver—a false accusation, they knew—and had anticipated that this meeting would include a UNA ambassador who would help clarify the situation. But now the ambassador’s aircraft had been attacked—and once again false allegations had been made that Chinese forces were behind the attack. These dual attacks—and the immediate attempt each time to pin the blame on the Chinese—left the leaders in little doubt as to the intentions of their sole remaining rival.
President Ushi Ru was in his mid-sixties, but with the physique of someone ten years younger. His wrinkled and tired face, on the other hand, along with his sparse white hair, made him appear twenty years older. He addressed his vice president.
“You are certain the meeting with this ambassador was actually set up by Cole?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” replied Zhen. “He assured me that this meeting would convince us of the American’s commitment to work with us, regardless of past transgressions… on both sides.”
“Hmmm.” Ru rubbed his chin. “So they know that Braxton is behind our withdrawal from the Mars Project?”
“He didn’t say that, sir. He only said that we needed to work together, and that they had accomplished some technological breakthroughs that would hasten the advancement of the Mars Project, if we could cooperate. He said the ambassador would give us irrefutable proof of their claim, and their commitment to us, and the project.”
Prime Minister Aigu, a large, jolly-looking man with a bald head and a clean-shaven face, leaned forward and placed his hands on the table. “We have had our own technological breakthroughs, it seems to me,” he said, smiling.
Ru nodded. “We have. Dr. Wu and his apprentice have made great strides in their replicator design. And now, it appears, they are doing the same with their gravity research work in Kashgar.”
“Yes, yes,” said Aigu, “but you know those are not the breakthroughs I was talking about, Ushi. Gravity labs and replicators will provide very little help for what is coming our way.”
Ru nodded solemnly, then turned his attention farther down the table. His gaze stopped on a small man, sitting quietly but attentively. He was old, the oldest in the room, and respected by all. His work was unsavory, but vital.
“Chairman Rao, what can you tell me about your… fleet?”
The small man smiled, showing yellow, crooked teeth. “They are ready, Mr. President.”
“And what are your numbers?”
“Two hundred at both Hotan and Naggu. Each location has one hundred Servo-Scouts, twenty-five Servo-Sentries, and seventy-five Servo-Slayers.”
“What about the… what are they called? Leviathans?”
Rao nodded. “Yes, Leviathans. They are not yet operational, sir.”
“How long until they are ready?”
“We have had some… setbacks with that program. They are quite a bit more complicated than the single-pilot models. I’m afraid it will likely be several years before they are fully functional.”
Ru turned back to Aigu. The two had been friends for many years, and he trusted the man. “Egg,” he said, using his friend’s nickname, “is there any way this does not lead to war with UNA?”
“The war has already begun, Ushi. They use the media to convince their people, and ours, that we are behind these heinous acts, and then cut off all communication through official lines. I can’t reach anyone over there. Not Chaloux, not Belloq, no one. Only Zhen has had any contact with them, and that was with their vice president.”
“Was that a setup as well?”
“I don’t believe so, sir,” said Zhen. “I have known Cole for many years. He has never given any indication that he was capable of such deception.”
“But he is an American politician, so h
e is perfectly positioned to learn,” said Aigu. “And you’ve had no contact with him since setting up the meeting, correct?”
Zhen nodded. “That’s correct.”
“So we have to assume he is part of the problem now.”
“You think his offer about the ambassador was legitimate?” Ru asked.
Aigu shrugged. “Maybe, but it doesn’t matter now. Maybe there was a plot within their government to attack us. I know you think that Braxton is involved with that, and maybe you’re right. And maybe Cole wasn’t involved, and maybe he was trying to help us. But the bottom line now is that the entire planet now views us as the villains, and there is no communication with any other country, including the UNA.”
“So they’re going to attack,” Zhen said.
Aigu nodded. “It’s the only move, and it could come at any time.”
Ru turned back to Rao. “I want you to have all of your Servo-Squadrons ready for launch within the hour.”
Rao smiled and nodded.
“What about a counterattack, Ushi?” Aigu suggested. “We can reposition our armed satellites. Maybe deploy the stealth bombers?”
Ru shook his head. “No. No matter what the world thinks of us, we are not the aggressors here. We will defend ourselves, but I am not going to attack innocent people.”
“And if they launch nuclear weapons?”
Ru sighed. “Let’s hope our early warning system and missile defense force are as good as we think they are.”
Chapter 35
Bandit was swimming when the helijet landed up by the cabin. He was still drying off when Andy met him halfway up the hill.
“I need your help,” said Andy. His hair was uncombed, his clothes disheveled, and there was a wild look in his eyes. “Piper and Tuck have been kidnapped!”
“What?”
“They’re gone, Bandit! Bash took them.”
“Who?”
“Bash! Sebastian Nix! He was my teammate in the war. Let’s go! You’ve got to help me!”
“Okay. Let me get dressed, then you tell me what you need.”
At the cabin, Bandit changed into his usual attire: black from head to toe, with knives on his waist and a long sword on his back. He emerged to find Andy sitting at the kitchen table, his eyes red and swollen, his face pale and streaked with tears.
Bandit sat across from his friend. “Tell me what’s happening, Andy.”
“It’s all my fault,” Andy began, burying his face in his hands. “I brought this on.”
Bandit spoke softly. “What’s going on, Andy?”
Andy looked up and wiped his eyes, then gave Bandit a condensed version of the events of his last navy mission. Bandit listened patiently to the sorry tale.
“I was an arrogant prick back then,” Andy concluded. “I thought I was invincible. I thought I was smarter than everyone, including my superior officers. I was brash and reckless, and unfortunately it paid off most of the time, so I was able to justify my actions. But on that mission it cost four lives. Four good people died because of me. Bash’s fiancée was raped and killed in front of me. And Bash himself… you should see him. His face was ripped to shreds during the wreck.
“And now… now he wants me to suffer. So he’s kidnapped Tuck and Piper. And he… he’s possibly the most dangerous man I have ever met.”
“Dangerous how? Is he crazy?”
“He’s a soldier… or, he was. He was injured. He had head trauma and lost his memory.”
“So he is crazy?”
“No, I don’t think so. Maybe, I don’t know! But I know he was trained as a soldier, and he was a good one.”
“Trained for physical endurance, weapon use, good fighter?”
“Yes, all of those, and he’s very smart too, but that’s not what makes him so dangerous.” Andy shook his head. “I don’t really know how to explain it…”
Bandit waited patiently.
“I guess,” said Andy, “that it’s his code of honor. It gives him a persistence most men lack. And he has no fear. But now… he seems to have turned it into some type of holy mission. He was talking about God, and quoting the Bible…”
“But if he’s so honorable, why would he want to hurt you guys?”
“He wants to hurt me,” Andy replied. “Hurting Piper and Tuck is how he’s going to do it. I screwed up, Bandit.”
Bandit spoke calmly, so as not to upset his friend further. “Do you have any idea where to find them?”
Andy shook his head. “I don’t even know how he found me. And I don’t know what to do if we do find him. I don’t have much in the way of guns, and I’m not much of a fighter. That was always Tuck’s specialty.”
Bandit stood, walked to the door of the cabin, and returned with several items. “Maybe we can find something to help us here,” he said as he laid two backpacks, rifles, handguns, and holsters on the table.
“The goons…” said Andy.
Bandit nodded.
The two men started going through the gear. The two packs were identical. Each included a replacement net-sphere for the rifle, two full magazines for the handguns, some type of electronic device that neither man had seen before, and a few packages of synthetic food. They consolidated the useful gear into one pack.
Then Andy had a revelation. “The SUV!”
“What?”
“The black SUV the goons came to the office in. The one in the back of the Super Bee.”
“What about it?”
“It was gone. The SUV was gone,” Andy said. “It was parked by the office, but I’m pretty sure it was gone this morning. I didn’t even notice it at the time, but I’m almost certain it wasn’t there.”
“So they’re in the SUV.”
“It’s a start,” said Andy. Then another revelation came. “Where are the boys?”
“China.”
“What?”
“Dad and Aunt Kat sent a drone for them yesterday. They’re meeting with the vice-president of China, to try and stop the war.”
“But they just got here.”
“I guess Grandfather decided to expedite his plans.”
“So, they’re going to…”
“Try and form an alliance through our vice president.”
“What about President Porter?”
Bandit shook his head. “I don’t know. I guess what Grandfather said was correct. The president is his puppet.”
“Okay, well, as soon as Piper and Tuck are safe, I’ll call Doc and let him know you’re with me. Then we can help out with whatever they need.”
Chapter 36
The pickup truck flew through the intersection, forcing other vehicles to swerve and slam on their brakes. Three State Guard cars followed closely behind, maneuvering to avoid the traffic.
Kat was glad to be wearing the med exo-suit. It almost completely filled the bed of the truck, so there was very little room for her to slide around as the vehicle swerved, and its padding made her quite comfortable. If it weren’t for the tarp flapping against her face, the ride would almost have been enjoyable.
Inside the cab of the truck was a different story. Doc was bracing himself, arms straight and hands tightly gripping the dash, and Rosie was next to him with her hands above her head, pressing on the ceiling. Both were ready for the ride to be over. Jaq, however, appeared to be enjoying the drive.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve been losing cops on these roads all my life.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever driven this fast before,” managed Rosie through gritted teeth.
Jaq’s smile grew.
“How far to the safe house?” asked Doc as the truck dodged more traffic and picked up even more speed.
“Not far,” Jaq replied. “We just need to lose those cops in the alleys first.”
“What?” Doc said.
“Hold on!” yelled Jaq.
The truck veered sharply to the right and sped down a narrow alleyway. Two of the Guard cars didn’t anticipate the turn in time and skidde
d into parked cars along the road. But the third made the turn and began to close the distance.
Jaq burst from the alley and out onto another street. He turned hard right and continued to barrel between the slow-moving cars. As the Guard car emerged onto the street behind them, Jaq pulled into another alley and floored it.
“Did he see us turn?” Rosie asked, looking behind her.
Just as they reached the end of the alley, the Guard car entered the alley behind them. “Apparently he did,” said Jaq.
Jaq turned right again and weaved through traffic. He reached the next intersection before the pursuing car had exited the alley. He turned right, stepped on the gas, and turned right again at the next intersection.
“We’re going in circles,” said Rosie.
“He won’t expect that,” said Jaq. “Trust me, I know how these guys think.”
They continued past the alley they had just driven through and turned right at the intersection beyond it. When they reached the next intersection and looked right, they could see the backs of all three Guard cars two blocks away, driving away from them.
Jaq smiled at Rosie. “The safe house is just up ahead.” He drove two more blocks, at a legal speed, and calmly entered an alley—and stared in disbelief at the police officer standing in front of them, as if he had been waiting for them.
“Do they know about this place?” Doc asked. “Did they have it staked out?”
“No way,” Jaq said. “No one knows about this place.” He looked in the mirror. No one else was coming.
“He’s not calling anyone on his commlink,” Doc said.
“And he’s not pulling his weapon,” Jaq added.
The officer reached up and removed his helmet, revealing a smiling face with a swollen right eye, long dark hair, and a bushy black beard.
“Tucker?” said Doc.
“What the fuck?” Rosie said.
“Rosie!”
“Sorry, Dad, but…”