by SW Matthews
“But these pilots… they aren’t actually in the robots, correct?” Aigu asked.
“That is correct, sir. The pilots are safe in the underground control centers in Hotan and Naggu.”
“So they are driving by… remote control?” Ru asked.
“In a manner of speaking, I suppose, but as I was saying, the bio-cyber interface allows the pilot to think of the mechanical avatar as his or her own body, and sensors on the structure of the robot give the pilot a type of somatosensory perception.”
“So they feel the robot’s pain?”
“It is more of a… notification of sensory stimuli.”
Ru turned to Aigu. “Have the bombers on standby, and keep in touch with the satellite control teams.”
Aigu smiled and quickly left the room.
Ru turned next to Zhen. “Keep trying, and let me know as soon as you hear something.”
Zhen left as well.
Finally, Ru addressed Rao. “Deploy the fleet. Send the scouts along the coast and post the sentries outside of Kashgar and Lhasa, along with the slayers.”
Chapter 47
The Xanwiti had been marching for several hours, and they were ready to descend the final mountain outside of Lhasa. They numbered nearly eight thousand, and an additional eight thousand were awaiting instruction outside Kashgar.
“We march for peace, but are prepared for war,” Mr. Ken had said over the commlink to every able-bodied member. “They will not be able to ignore our numbers, and it will be impossible for them to deny our new heroes, Mr. Pol, Mr. Gill, and Mr. Leef.”
And so they marched, garbed in the customary black pants and shirt, white tunic, and green cloak, but with additional gear as well. All had commlinks and weapons of their choosing, ranging from the more primitive—staff, bow and arrow, sword, and knife—to the advanced, including machine guns, sniper rifles, and grenade launchers. Some pulled carts with tents and food, and several in the front carried binoculars.
As the assembly crested the last hill, they stopped and looked down at Lhasa in the valley below. Mr. Ken led the boys to the front of the pack. The old man carried a staff, but he had rarely needed it, even during the long march. Now, however, he leaned against it as he spoke to his new friends.
“The others are awaiting our signal,” he said. “They are on the outskirts of Kashgar. We will all march on the cities at once.”
“Will they attack us?” asked Gil.
“Perhaps. The president is a thoughtful man, and Zhen is sympathetic to our cause, but the prime minister is a feeble-minded, secretive jingoist. He may seek to end this movement once and for all, so he can focus on destroying your country.”
“They want war?” Pol said. “I thought that the UNA was causing this? That it was forcing war upon your country?”
“It is,” replied Mr. Ken. “But China is not innocent. As I said, there was some type of agreement between the two countries with regard to some type of technology, which the countries had agreed to work together on. I do not have any details on the specifics, but our insiders confirm that it is essential to our survival. Which is probably why it’s so difficult to obtain information. But after a time, China refused to honor the pact. It was the Chinese president and his advisors who caused the discord.”
“Why don’t they want to work with the UNA?” Leef asked.
“Who is to say, Mr. Leef? Distrust? Greed? I suppose they do not think they need the UNA anymore.” Mr. Ken paused and looked out over the valley. “We have tried to convince them. Tried to disrupt their operations, to force them to purify their intentions and walk the green path for the betterment of all the earth, not just China. But they refuse. We have made headway, and our secret members have made great strides in the inner workings of the government, but we are not there yet. Only now, with you three, do we have the opportunity to turn the tide.”
“But it sounds like they won’t care about the recording. It sounds like they want war,” said Pol.
“It is not the recording you bear that will cause the revolution. It is your very existence.”
“Revolution?” Gil asked.
“The majority of the population does not support the current government, but they are easily controlled. Most know of our presence, and of our symbols: the three men, white, black, and green. When you are recognized, the people will revolt and rally behind us, I have no doubt.”
Pol looked at his brothers, then back to the old man. “We don’t want to start a revolution. We just want to keep people from dying, then go home.”
Mr. Ken smiled. “If the revolution does not happen, there will be no home to go to. You boys are the hope of the human race.”
Suddenly many objects appeared high in the sky, falling toward the city.
“What is that?” asked Gil.
“It appears the battle has begun,” said Mr. Ken calmly. “Those are missiles.”
The entire group watched in silence as the missiles, hundreds of them, sped toward Lhasa. Soon they began to explode above the city. The detonations were muted but left clouds of smoke. In a matter of minutes, the entire city was covered in a layer of fog.
“Non-nuclear EMP attack,” said Mr. Ken. “Computers, defense systems, communications—they will all be useless. Plus most of the military’s weapons will be rendered inoperable as well.” He looked over at a young man next to him. “It is time,” he said.
The man nodded and made the announcement into his commlink, and the group began their descent into the disabled city.
Chapter 48
Braxton was alone in his office, sitting at his desk and yelling at his comm station. “I don’t care what order you were given! I am telling you to deploy the CNS teams as soon as the subs are in range. Once they are out, you can start the attack with the rest of the troops!”
“But Will,” came the slow response, “he gave me a direct order, in front of the speaker, Lorentz, and the Chief Justice.”
“Lorentz and Leggett are mine,” Braxton snapped. “And Belloq is not a concern. Cole is on his way here now. Once I have talked to him, he will be on board.”
“I didn’t know you had Lorentz and Leggett.”
“I tell you what I want you to know, Sullivan. Now continue with the plan.”
“He’s already stopped the missile attack.”
“I know that! It’s inconsequential! The EMP attack has begun, and drones are being launched as we speak. The next wave is the soldiers, and they will attack as ordered.”
“We’ve been ordered to Calgary—”
“Yes, Sully, I know. I have already sent Roni. Cole will be there; he’ll just be a little late.”
Sullivan sighed. “What exactly do you want the CNS teams to do?”
“The two teams to Lhasa are to go to the Science Academy and secure the entire building, including the staff, equipment, computers, everything. Under the structure, in an underground bunker, is the replicator. We need all information about it, and all personnel who operate it. But securing the replicator itself, intact, is the top priority. Understand?”
“The replicator, yes, sir.”
“Good. Now, the mission for the teams to Kashgar is a little more complicated. The gravity research lab is the target there. All equipment, computers, staff, just like Lhasa. But two specific people must be found, and no harm must come to them. The first is Dr. Ling Wu. He is the lead scientist for China’s Mars program. Make sure his information is programmed in every CNS member as a non-hostile.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The second is Pik Tong, the boy genius. He’s fifteen and has been instrumental in China leapfrogging us in replication technology. He’s apparently making huge strides in gravity research as well. I believe that China’s withdrawal from our agreement is linked directly to when Tong became involved in their Science Academy.”
“They thought they didn’t need us,” Sullivan said.
“That’s right, and they may be right. We must have this boy. And listen—he is an
orphan, but Dr. Wu is like a father to him. We have to have both Wu and Tong, and both unharmed. In fact, we need to treat them like royalty.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Notify me as soon as those two are secured.”
“Will do.”
“Now, Sully, get up to Calgary and help Roni calm everyone down. Assure them that the assassination was an act of war and that we are justifiably retaliating.”
“Oh, Will, about that… the sniper. I heard that—”
“Don’t worry about the sniper, Sully. I have taken care of it. Just follow your orders.”
“Roger that, Will.”
Braxton stood and walked out onto the deck. The afternoon sun was beating down and the wind was picking up. From the south, storm clouds approached, and lightning could be seen in the distance.
A servant approached. “Mr. Braxton, sir,” he said. “You wished to be notified when your ‘guest’ arrived?”
Braxton turned to the young man.
“He is here, sir.”
Braxton nodded. “And the supplies I asked for?”
“They are ready, sir. Where would you like them?”
“Bring them, and the guest, to my office, please.”
The man disappeared.
Braxton headed back into the office and sat at his desk. He pulled up all the information regarding his guest he’d retrieved from his military databases. He’d reviewed it all earlier, but it didn’t hurt to refresh his memory.
The same servant soon appeared, pushing a covered cart and leading the guest into the room. He parked the cart, nodded, and left.
Braxton stood and approached his guest. “Chief Petty Officer Zann, welcome to my island retreat. I hope that your presence does not force me to destroy it, as I had to do to my favorite mountain cabin.”
Tuck was still dressed in the police uniform. His hands were cuffed in front of him, and he stood silently, staring at the floor.
“The strong silent type, hmmm? I’m sure the series of events that delivered you here to my office once again are quite astounding. Surely you would like to share your tales of heroism with me?”
Tuck remained silent.
Braxton walked back to his desk, pushed a button, then returned to face Tuck. “I assure you that your efforts will go unrewarded. The attack on China is occurring at this moment. You sacrificed yourself for nothing. It’s true that Porter was my puppet, but Cole will be too. It’s a minor thing to bribe a politician. They are weak-minded and weak-willed, and the higher their office, the easier to they are to predict and control.”
The door behind Tuck opened, and a man entered. He was at least six and a half feet tall, and his impressive musculature was obvious under his skin-tight black uniform. His head was covered by a rubber mesh hood, black like his suit. His heavy black boots echoed as he moved to stand behind Tuck.
“This is my new friend,” Braxton said. “I don’t remember what his given name was, but I have taken to calling him Luc. I have always liked that name—Luc. I would have named one of my sons Luc, but it’s tradition in my family to name every male child William Braxton. A bit pretentious, but most traditions are, aren’t they? Anyway, Luc is special. He is a new class of soldier my teams have been working on, and he’s going to help me drain you of all of the information you contain.”
Tuck didn’t even glance at the hooded man.
Braxton smiled. “I would really like to know who was sent to China to meet with Zhen,” he said, again coming to stand in front of Tuck, next to the cart. “But I will soon get that information from Cole. You see, he’s headed to Calgary for an emergency meeting, but he has to stop here first, so I can give him his instructions.”
He stepped forward and placed his hand on Tuck’s chin, raising his face so their eyes could meet. “What exactly did you hope to accomplish by murdering President Porter?”
Tuck stared at him blankly.
Braxton let go of his face. “No matter. I’m sure you realize now that the wheels are already in motion and cannot be stopped. But I would like to minimize any future disruptions. I need to tie up the few loose ends that remain. So what I would like to know from you is simple: where are my kids and grandkids? I would like to know these things before Cole arrives.”
Tuck remained silent.
Braxton smiled. “Still nothing to say?”
Tuck looked the older man in the eyes. “I thought your whiskey tasted like shit.”
Braxton stepped forward and backhanded Tuck, knocking him to the floor. Then he motioned toward the hooded figure. “Get him up, Luc.”
The hooded man easily lifted Tuck from the floor and placed him in a chair.
Braxton turned to the cart. “You may not recognize this,” he said, removing a syringe from the cart. It was filled with a clear fluid. “But I know that you are familiar with it. This is the serum that my idiot son-in-law Cregor used on himself. Do you remember?”
Tuck tried to move away, but he was held fast by the hooded man. Braxton slammed the needle into Tuck’s thigh and emptied it.
Braxton laid the empty syringe back on the cart. “Let me refresh your memory in case you don’t recall its effects. Your body will be maintained in its current state. Any injuries you suffer will quickly heal, and your strength and reflexes will be dramatically improved.”
Tuck looked at Braxton questioningly.
“Yes, that’s right. You will be stronger and faster. But remember that I am on a serum also, as is my friend Luc, and ours is the improved version. We can recover from almost any injury, forever, as long as the serum is being infused. But you only have a certain amount of damage you can sustain before your entire body transforms into tumor and… dissolves.” Braxton picked up a knife from the cart. “And there is no way to predict what the threshold is for that transformation. You could sustain a thousand wounds and heal from every one, or you could accidentally cut yourself shaving and… pop, end of story.”
“I don’t shave,” Tuck growled.
Braxton swung the knife, cutting Tuck across the chest. Blood splattered across the floor. Tuck grimaced in pain.
Braxton stood quietly, watching the wound heal. “One step closer,” he said. “It does hurt, though, doesn’t it? That’s the part the soldiers had the hardest time with. The pain from a severe injury still slows them down for a bit. That’s another issue we were able to resolve with Luc and his colleagues.”
He pulled a chair over so he could sit next to Tuck. “I’ll tell you what, Mr. Zann. You tell me what I want to know, and I will decapitate you. It’s the quickest way for you to die now. Otherwise you are about to embark on a journey of misery and blood the likes of which you have never imagined.”
Tuck chuckled.
“What is so funny, Mr. Zann?”
Tuck looked up. “I ain’t got time to bleed.”
Braxton was confused. He looked at Tuck, then Luc, then back at Tuck. “And I don’t have time for this nonsense!”
He stood, retrieved a handgun from the cart…
… and shot Tuck in the chest.
Chapter 49
Andy reached up with his left hand to steady the handgun. The sights were squarely on Bash’s midsection. He slowly exhaled, and his finger tightened on the trigger.
“I am waiting, mon ami.”
Andy looked down at Piper, her head in a puddle of blood. Her breathing was shallow.
Bash took a step forward, and Andy focused again on his old friend.
“I don’t want to kill you, Bash, but I will. I’m not going to let you hurt her.”
“Protecting your woman, eh? Very admirable, AJ. It is unfortunate that you were not able to protect mine.”
“I tried! If it weren’t for me—”
“She would have died an honorable death, in battle, like the soldier she was, not like a whore.” Anger flashed in Bash’s eyes.
“She was a soldier, and she would have done exactly what I did if she had been in my position.”
&nb
sp; The two men locked eyes, but neither spoke. The anger seemed to drain from Bash, replaced by something else. His stance relaxed, and his gaze softened.
“I think about her every day, Bash. I think about all of them, including you. I think about how I fucked up and caused so much death, and so much suffering, for my team and their friends and families. I know it was my fault. I’ve tried to not think about it. For years I struggled in the western isles. Looking back, I see that I was torturing myself.”
Bash nodded. “Yes, beautiful Piper told me of your condition when she found you. Pathetic.”
“I was a pirate. I never killed anyone, but I took whatever job paid the most, no matter how dangerous. The money I used for every kind of drug I could find.”
“You were trying to forget your transgressions.”
“I was trying to forget who I was. What I did was terrible, but there was something even worse. As much as I hated myself for letting my team suffer and die, I knew that if I had to do it over again, I would do the exact same thing—even knowing the outcome. I could not have just left them to die.”
“You would have disobeyed orders again?”
“Fuck the orders! My team was out there! Orders come from some bastard back in a bunker. He has to give the correct order so he can sleep at night. But my people were in danger! The people I shared my life with. I’ve replayed the entire thing a million times. I always think I could have flown better. I could have avoided more of the attack if I had been more evasive. I might have been able to get closer to the base before going down…”
“There was no way,” said Bash. “The attack was too strong, and we were unprepared and without support. No one could have evaded that much enemy fire.”
“Maybe, maybe not. All I know is that given a thousand chances, I would have tried a thousand times. And you know that Mel would have done the same.”
Bash sighed and shook his head.
“The only difference is, she probably would have succeeded,” Andy continued. “She was smarter and braver than I ever was. She was the true team leader.” He looked down at Piper again. “Just like Piper.”