The Rebirths of Tao

by Wesley Chu

  Enzo saw one of the commanders with a pistol aimed at his head a scant meter away. He twisted away just as the man pulled the trigger. He felt a sharp pain burn his cheek. He finished his spinning motion and swung his sword in an uppercut. The Honjo Masamune sliced his assailant from groin to neck. The man, a look of shock on his face, tried to open his mouth as blood poured out of the long wound. A sparkling light left the man’s body and floated into the air.

  “Faust!” the Betrayer screamed as his body fell backward. It seemed Enzo finally had her attention. She took aim at him and fired.

  Left side chest. Now!

  Enzo dodged with ease and the bullet hit one of her Prophus soldiers in the back. Realizing her error, she became more cautious and closed in, exactly what Enzo wanted.

  The one named Marco, now limping, attacked with his rifle, still trying to knock Enzo’s shield out of the way. Enzo parried with the Honjo Masamune and slid the blade low to take out the fool’s other foot. Marco stumbled out of the way clumsily, narrowly avoiding losing his leg. He was off-balance, however, and slipped on the wet floor.

  Enzo switched the angle of the Honjo Masamune and sliced the man’s chest open. Marco screamed as a fountain of red exploded all over the ground. Just as Enzo lifted the blade for the killing blow, his chest exploded in pain. He was knocked onto his back. He saw Jill locking eyes with him as she aimed another shot. Enzo kept the shield close to his body as she bounced bullets off it. The woman was a pest. He would make her pay.

  Up now! She has just pulled back to reload.

  As he scrambled to his feet, Enzo took a punch to the face from the fat ugly colonel. Another punch caused him to stagger backward. As the third punch came, Enzo leaned to his left and countered with the hilt of his sword, punching it upward through the soft tissue where the neck met the head. The large man toppled over, clutching his throat.

  Enzo, gasping from the exertion, watched as the Australian writhed on the ground, his mouth opening and closing as if a fish out of water. With a determined smirk, Enzo walked up to him and gave him a salute with his sword. “You fought well, betrayer. You almost beat me. But like the rest, you are not equal to Enzo, leader of the Genjix. Now, to the Eternal Sea with you.” He reversed the grip of the Honjo Masamune and brought it straight down into Dylan’s stomach. The old man shuddered and gripped the blade as it pierced him.

  All that was left now was the woman. Enzo looked around for her, but she was nowhere in sight. He tried to pull the blade out of the enemy leader, but couldn’t. He looked down and saw that Dylan had grabbed the sword’s blade collar and guard with his hands, and was keeping it in place in his stomach. Enzo yanked again. Still, the blade wouldn’t come out.

  “She’s a fine blade,” Dylan rasped. “I’m keeping her.”

  “You are not worthy…” Enzo began. He tugged again, but the fat bastard would not let go.

  “You think too highly of yourself, you fucking bastard,” a woman’s voice said from behind. Then Enzo felt several sharp pains in his back. He stumbled forward. He spun and lashed out with his shield, just missing the woman as she ducked underneath it. Then she fired again, this time plugging him three times in the stomach at close range.

  Enzo flew backward and landed roughly on the floor. The pain was greater than anything he had ever felt before. He felt his vision blur as she calmly walked up to him. Instead of finishing him off like she should have, the fool bent over and checked on the Australian.

  “Dylan,” she sobbed as sparkling white lights of his Holy One danced into the air above them.

  Enzo’s vision darkened for a few moments, and when his eyes focused again, she was still there, this time, checking on Marco. Enzo tried to sit up.

  Stay still. Your wounds are serious.

  “I refuse to let the Great Betrayer defeat me.”

  The physical exertion was too much, and he lost consciousness again. This time, he wasn’t sure for how long. When he managed to open his eyes one more time, he heard the rushing of water like a gigantic waterfall and saw bright yellow colors flashing above him. He could barely make out the woman’s face as she shouted something imperceptible and shot her gun somewhere outside his field of vision. He couldn’t make out what she was saying, but it felt desperate. Maybe victory was still his. After all, he had never lost before. Even injured, he was fated for this glory.

  Enzo blacked out one more time. When he came to, he saw a friendly face. “Palos,” he groaned. He was being moved. He could tell by the way the patterns on the ceiling ran behind Palo’s head.

  “I have you, Father,” Palos said, leaning over him. “Rest. We’re getting you out of here right now. The evacuation is commencing.”

  Then everything went black.

  45

  Last Meet Up

  Now you know our truth. We are not wise or caring beings. We are not a species that respects and honors other forms of life. We are an aggressive, engulfing, terrible force that consumes entire solar systems.

  If the Genjix are successful, Earth as you know it will die and follow the fate of the many thousands of other planets the Quasing have colonized. The Prophus do not wish that fate upon Earth. We fight now, and we will do so until there are none of us left. Until the Eternal Sea.

  Tao

  * * *

  “Lock the doors,” Jacob ordered, his voice echoing off the high ceilings in the large room. “No one is leaving until we’ve come to a proper resolution, Roen Tan. And not just you; your betrayer as well.” The room lit up as a stream of flames burst into the air. “We’re settling this once and for all.”

  “Stand behind me, Cam,” Roen said, hand on Cameron’s chest, pushing him against one of the stacks of catalysts.

  Cameron looked over at Jacob, the two men with him on one side and the three on the other. “Dad, there’s too many. You’re going to need me.”

  “I got this, Cam.”

  Roen needs to get over himself if you two are going to get out of this alive.

  “Tell me about it. Story of my life.”

  Take out the other guards first. Then with two versus one, you might have a fighting chance.

  “Roen Tan,” Jacob called from the doorway as it clicked shut behind him. “Remember me? You do, don’t you? I can tell by the fear in your voice. Have I haunted your dreams all these years? Rest assured, this will be the last time we ever meet.”

  “I’m sorry,” Roen yelled back. “My memory’s a little fuzzy. Who are you again?”

  “I was the boy who beat you to within an inch of your life. That was a long time ago, old man. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “Oh yeah, you’re that punk with the grand-daddy issues. Well, come on then,” Roen yelled. He turned to Cameron. “Watch the other doorways. Shoot anything that walks.” Then he knelt down and whispered into the comm. “Jill, we have a situation. Might need you to bail us out. Jill?” He put both hands over his ears and concentrated. “I can’t make out what she’s saying. It’s louder than Wembley Stadium on the other end. Something about a counterattack. We’re on our own, buddy.”

  Blitz the northern end and run. That is your only chance.

  Roen whispered into Cameron’s ear. “Here’s what I want you to do. Guard the center area and use the stacks for cover. I’ll take out the enemy at the north end and then we sneak out.”

  What? That will never work. What a dumb plan.

  “Dad,” Cameron said. “You can’t keep trying to coddle me. You need me.”

  “Roen Tan,” Jacob barked again. “I have an offer for you. I’m walking in now.”

  Roen and Cameron both stuck their heads above the pallets like gophers out of the ground and watched as Jacob sauntered in. “You mean like last time, when we put our guns down and fought it out like we’re no better than the animals?”

  “Actually, Roen Tan,” Jacob said, “you tried to shoot me when I offered.”

  “Oh yeah. I did, didn’t I? Oops. That kind of dampens the trust in our r
elationship, then.”

  “I’m still willing to offer you a deal.” Jacob had reached the first row of pallets, still looking relaxed. The two Genjix soldiers behind him stayed at the doorway.

  “What do you have in mind?” Roen asked.

  “First of all, Roen Tan, show me your hands. Both of you.”

  Roen raised the rifle until it rested on the pallet and aimed it at Jacob. “Okay, what next?”

  For a man who had a rifle pointed at his head, Jacob was very relaxed. “Fair enough, Roen Tan. Here’s my offer. Surrender your rifle and pistols – I know you must have two – and come out with your hands up. I beat you to death in front of your boy, and then he will be free to leave. I will even guarantee his safety out of this base.”

  That made Roen pause. “So my life for his? That’s it? That sounds surprisingly… reasonable.”

  “He can’t be serious!”

  He is playing for time. I hope.

  Cameron looked over at his father’s face and could tell that his dad was actually considering it. He had the worst poker face in the world. “Dad,” he hissed. “You’re not actually considering this shit, are you?”

  “Watch your mouth,” Roen said absently, his eyes still locked on the Adonis. “So my son walks right out that door. I put my guns down and surrender, and then you do whatever the fuck your sadistic mind can think of. That’s it?”

  Jacob smirked. “No, he stays while I beat you to death. I want him to watch you die slowly and painfully while I break you bit by bit. I want the image of your death branded into his mind for the rest of his life. I want the face of his father’s killer to haunt his every waking hour. Then perhaps he will know a little of the pain you caused me.”

  Cameron’s blood turned to ice, and he felt a chill move through his body. This Jacob guy was completely unhinged. Even the thought of leaving his dad with him made Cameron want to throw up.

  “Tao, do something!”

  We need to see what your father decides. Unfortunately, that could be the best option. Otherwise, I doubt any of us will walk out of this room alive.

  “You fucking suck sometimes, Tao.”

  Roen is right; when did you get such a mouth? I know your father, though. He is up to something. Be ready.

  “You really didn’t take my advice when I told you to date, did you?” Roen was saying. “That’s probably a blessing for the girls. Look, Jacob, you have some serious issues.”

  Jacob shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Make up your –”

  Roen pulled the trigger. A single shot echoed across the cavernous room. Unfortunately, Jacob was either expecting it, or all the rumors about Adonis Vessels being superhuman were true. He tilted his head just slightly to the left and the bullet whizzed by his head into one of the containers behind him. That’s when the short-lived negotiations dissolved into a fracas.

  “Get Cameron on the level, Tao,” was all Roen shouted as he swung his rifle to the left and took out one of the Genjix guarding the doorway. Then he aimed upward and shot out the four giant warehouse lights directly above them. The center of the room went dark.

  Opposite side now! Get some distance from your father. Hide between the pallets. Keep moving. Stay inside the black.

  Cameron swung to his right and shot off three groupings, all missing. He ducked and moved down the aisle, finding moments to stick his head out and potshoot the men guarding the door. The Genjix there were at a severe disadvantage, standing in the light without cover. All Cameron had to do was wait until he had a good shot and get them from the shadows. Even then, he missed several more times before he finally nailed two of the guards at the north end of the wall. The last one, realizing his bad positioning, charged forward toward the pallets and disappeared around the corner.

  Cameron pulled back and saw Roen and Jacob running around the square pallets and shooting at each other, the gunfire like a strobe light in the darkness. Every time Jacob turned in Cameron’s direction, Roen would try to suppress him and draw him back. Cameron couldn’t quite make out how the fight was going. He could only see the action unfold in the brief flashes of light.

  Do not worry about your father. He can keep Jacob busy. It is up to you to take out the other Genjix.

  Cameron moved his attention to the guards at the southern end. He scampered to the edge of the pallets on the other side and caught both guys right as they were creeping toward him. He took them out easily.

  As he was making his way back to the northern wall, he accidentally walked into the remaining Genjix. The man must have crept up on the other side of the pallet. The two bumped into each other, startled, and then opened fire simultaneously.

  Fortunately, Cameron got the first shot off and hit the guy in the face. Unfortunately, the Genjix got his off as well. The bullet struck Cameron’s rifle and ricocheted into his chest. The impact was enough to knock him onto his back, skidding him several meters until his head bumped against one of the pallets. Luckily, the advanced body armor prevented the bullet from penetrating his body.

  Not so lucky was the feeling that someone had just whacked him with a baseball bat. It hurt so badly, he momentarily blacked out. Writhing on the ground, his vision was blurred by hundreds of sparkling explosions. He actually thought for a moment he had died and that it was Tao floating above him.

  Sorry, pal. I am still here.

  To top it all off, the pain was so sharp, he felt a couple of tears dribble down his face. It took him a few seconds to pull himself together. He pushed himself into a sitting position and wiped his eyes with his sleeves. “Well, that was embarrassing.”

  It is all right. Thinking you lost me is worth crying over.

  “I cried because it hurt so much.”

  Nice excuse. I plan to make fun of you for the rest of your life. For now, get yourself together and check on Roen.

  Cameron found his rifle on the ground and picked it up. He tried to reload the magazine and struggled to pull it out. He finally yanked it out, and then found that the new one wouldn’t go in. Flipping over the rifle, he found a large dent, probably where the Genjix’s bullet had hit it.

  Cameron reached for his pistol and found his holster empty. Crap, he had dropped it up at the platform when he was battling that crazy ninja woman. He ran to the body of the dead Genjix. The Genjix – a large heavyset man – was lying on top of his rifle. Cameron tried to roll him over, but struggled with the limp body. He looked and saw Jacob pinning Roen against a stack with his left elbow at Roen’s neck, both struggling for the pistol that was in his right hand. Roen had both his hands on Jacob’s wrist, trying desperately to keep the pistol from pointing at his head. He was slowly losing that battle.

  Screw it. No time. Go help Roen!

  Cameron charged at full speed and rammed Jacob in the side. The two of them flew into the air and skidded across the floor. Roen collapsed, choking and grasping his neck.

  Roen seems to be injured. Take Jacob out before he recovers. This could be your only chance.

  “While he’s down?”

  Images of a medieval battle flashed in his head. In it, the men-at-arms were stalking the field of bodies, using maces and clubs to finish off the remaining wounded enemy. It was a gruesome sight and more than a little uncomfortable. Part of Cameron objected to nailing a downed opponent in the back like that. Then he saw an image of one of the wounded surprising one of the careless man-at-arms, reaching up and stabbing the guy in the gut as he walked over to club him. The last thing he saw was Tao’s host running over and stomping on the guy’s head.

  Screw battlefield ethics. This is war. Go stomp on his head!

  “Okay. Point taken.”

  Cameron somehow managed to get up first, though Jacob wasn’t far behind. The Adonis Vessel was on his hands and knees when Cameron ran at him again, trying to imitate that fading image of the head stomp. Jacob was fast, though. He caught Cameron’s foot as it was coming down and flipped it aside. Then he swept Cameron’s feet out from under him.

>   Before Cameron could recover, Jacob was towering over him. He picked Cameron up like a rag doll and punched him first in the gut, and then in the face. Cameron got flashbacks of the beating he had received earlier. He took a lazy swing that Jacob brushed aside. Then Jacob spun and threw Cameron head-first against a stack of boxes. Dazed, Cameron blinked and fell back down.

  “You bastard,” Roen said, rising unsteadily to his feet.

  Cameron watched his father attack Jacob with a newfound fury. Having seen him in action before, Cameron knew how good Roen was. Only Lin and maybe Uncle Marco were better, but the difference in speed and skill between Roen and Jacob was noticeable, and not in a good way.

  Get up. Get up! Roen is not going to last long.

  It seemed Roen knew that as well. “Get out of here, Cam,” Roen yelled while eating several punches to the face. “Hurry!”

  “Screw that.”

  Cameron. Let me take control. You are too worked up right now. Relax.

  As much as he tried, Cameron couldn’t put his head in the right state for Tao to make that connection. The more he watched his father take a beating, the worse he became. Finally, unable to sit still anymore, he decided to jump in and help. With a roar, he charged Jacob from behind. This time, the Adonis Vessel was ready for him. He engaged Cameron effortlessly, even while he fought off Roen, making sure to keep moving so that they couldn’t attack at the same time or flank him.

  Watch his legs. Very high-level Shotokan. He will dart in and out.

  Cameron tried to keep the spacing between them, but Jacob was just too fast. The guy had a way of closing the distance before he could react. He jabbed Cameron in the face and then got out of range before Cameron could retaliate. Slowly, the Adonis beat both Roen and Cameron’s faces into bloody messes.

  Cameron’s legs were the first to give as a devastating kick caught him in the midsection and sent him tumbling to the ground. He gasped for air and tried to get up, but had trouble finding his bearing. He watched helplessly as Roen took the full brunt of Jacob’s attention and was soon sent crashing to the ground. He could tell by the way his dad landed awkwardly on the floor that he had broken his arm.