The Uligart made a fatal mistake by turning away from Keryn to fire wildly at a passing Avalon. With her back exposed, Keryn forewent the pistol, relying on the shimmering blue blade in her left hand. Passing within inches of the Uligart, Keryn lashed out at the exposed back and shoulders in two successive slashes. The female jerked as if electrocuted, then her body grew stiff. The sound of her engine died. Frozen in place, she dropped like a stone toward the net.
Smiling at her victory, Keryn flew toward the other edge of the field, searching for her next target. A laser blast flashing beside her woke her from her stupor.
Diving down from above, a sleek, black Lithid dropped into place behind her, chasing her, as she streaked across the field one hundred feet above the lake’s glassy surface.
Sliding left and right, Keryn dodged a barrage of laser fire from the persistent Lithid. Sweat ran down her forehead, as she tried to evade the cadet. Already tired from her flight, she doubted she had much more energy to muster an escape.
Her salvation came in the form of a brutish, white-and-black Oterian who slammed into the pursuing Lithid with great force. The explosion of fur and sleek black merged, as both spun out of control toward the gossamer net.
Relieved, Keryn scanned the field again. The lake was much bigger than she would have believed. Even with over two-thirds of the cadets still remaining on the field, she was a ridiculous distance away from most. It would take minutes of flying to reach them and engage in combat.
A close aerial combat, however, caught her attention. Two Avalons engaged in an epic battle, filled with dives and twists like nothing Keryn ever saw. Their flights were poetic and beautiful. Part of her wished to hover and watch, but a deeper part of her, driven by an animalistic urge for victory, drove her on. That part didn’t see two Avalons caught in sadistic ballet—it saw two distracted targets, ready for easy elimination.
Closing the distance, she was almost able to reach the two fighters before the first tumbled away, seething rage cast on his paralyzed body. The victor, hearing Keryn’s engine, turned.
Smiling sardonically, her fine hair whipping in the wind, Sasha watched her Wyndgaart rival approach. Laughing she turned and flew off, inviting Keryn to follow. Keryn tightened her grip on her pistol and set off in quick pursuit. After being hunted by the Lithid moments before, she reveled in the chance to become the hunter.
Sasha led her through a series of feints and dives, leading her farther and farther from the other cadets. It was as if they owned the airspace alone, as if the rest of the students faded away in excited expectation of the upcoming battle. Firing a few shots, which Sasha easily dodged, Keryn kept weaving, as the Avalon lazily fired back over her head. Though Sasha tried to keep Keryn at bay, she quickly closed the gap between them.
Lining up a shot on her much-closer opponent, Keryn was surprised when Sasha pulled into a steep climb. Trying to follow with her eyes, she pulled up, and was temporarily blinded when she looked into the bright morning sun. Sasha tricked her.
Suddenly fearful, knowing how easy it was to shift the delicate balance between hunter and hunted, Keryn spun around and fired, expecting Sasha to complete the loop and drop behind her. As the afterimages faded, Keryn saw the air behind her was empty. She had barely a moment to realize her folly when a laser shot struck her square in the chest—a perfect shot fired from above.
Her suit constricted, tightening her grip on both pistol and knife, while simultaneously freezing her limbs. The tightness crept into her chest and back, limiting her lung’s ability to expand. Tears of frustration streamed from her eyes, as her jetpack sputtered and died, and she began a mind-numbing freefall one hundred feet to the net.
The wind was knocked out of her when she struck the intangible net. Bowing under her weight, it held her tightly. Anger and frustration fueled her humiliation, and she cried unabated while held tightly in the web’s yellow glow. She heard the sound of nearby jetpacks, as instructors came to check her status. They called out to her, but she ignored them.
Keryn yearned to wipe her eyes and runny nose, but that was impossible within the paralytic suit. To her surprise, moments later, her suit relaxed. She took a deep breath and stared through blurred vision at the battle continuing above her. Against all her careful planning and warrior training, she embarrassingly finished in the bottom third of her class.
“Brace yourself,” an instructor called, moments before the net disappeared beneath her.
Tumbling end over end, Keryn fell forty feet to the cold water below. The impact was jarring, leaving her disoriented, as freezing mountain water rushed into her open mouth and filled her lungs. Her suit provided another surprise by being buoyant, pulling her back to the surface.
Drenched and cold, she broke the surface and began retching, spilling lake water and bile down the front of her suit, only to be washed away by lapping waves. Weak, tired, and emotionally and physically drained, Keryn struggled to the shore and crawled onto the soft sand.
She wasn’t sure how long she lay in the sand before a shadow covered her. Looking, she tried to block the harsh light that fell over her and saw a black uniform and white Avalon wings—Victoria.
“Get up,” she said calmly but firmly.
Keryn awkwardly climbed to her feet and stood before the instructor.
“You’re a damn fine student and great soldier, but you still can’t get past the idea that every possible angle is a threat. Sasha didn’t beat you because she’s a better flier. She didn't beat you because she’s a better shot, either. The truth is, she didn’t beat you. You beat yourself.
“Take tonight off and do some soul-searching. Find out what drives you to stay at the Academy. If you can’t find a good reason to be here, feel free to stop by my office tomorrow and turn in your letter of resignation.”
Keryn stared at the ground, unable to make eye contact with the disappointed instructor. Seeing no reply would be forthcoming, Victoria motioned toward the bus. “Get on the bus and get some sleep tonight. You’re dismissed, Cadet.”
Keryn walked to the bus in shame, ready for a ride back to the Academy. More than anything, she wanted a warm shower and a night to herself, to soul-search, as Victoria called it. Keryn wondered if there was something driving her to stay at the Academy. When she left her home world, she assumed it was destiny when she was accepted into the prestigious school. She wondered if it wasn’t just disdain for the Wyndgaart way of life. Though she hated to admit it, maybe Sasha was right. Maybe Keryn didn’t belong at the Academy.
I could’ve helped you back there, the Voice offered.
“Go to hell.” Dripping wet, Keryn climbed into the bus.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Did I hear gunfire?” Vance asked over the force-wide channel. “Who fired?”
“I heard it, too,” Dallis replied, “but no one reported firing shots.”
“Find out who fired….”
“Michael,” Halo interrupted, “two of your soldiers’ vital signs just bottomed out.”
“Who?” He felt the situation slipping out of control.
“Roberts and Gythrun. They flat-lined within seconds of each other.”
Vance hastily motioned Decker and Dallis to join him. “Who has eyes on our point men?”
“I did,” Decker admitted, “but we were receiving interference from the buildings in the business district. I can’t pinpoint their exact location.”
Dallis shook his head.
“Halo,” Vance said, switching channels, “do you have eyes on either of them?”
“I’m sorry, Michael, but I lost them once they went inside the building. I’m working off satellite imagery, so I can track you only when you’re visible from space. Once you’re inside, you’re on your own.”
Vance pulled his mike away from his ear and stormed away from the others. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”
Regaining his composure, he returned to the group and readjusted his microphone. “Platoons Two and Three, hold your posi
tion. We have a situation.”
“Anything we can help with?” Onclav asked, his gravelly Lithid voice carrying clearly over the radio.
“No. Just hold tight right now.” Vance’s voice calmed, and a hard look came to his eyes. “We’re going in to the area directly ahead, then rendezvous at the outpost on the far side of the city.”
“Roger that,” both warrants replied.
Vance scanned the collection of soldiers and team members holding their positions on both sides of the street. Rubbing his black beard absently, he looked at the behemoth buildings looming nearby.
“What are you thinking, Sir?” Decker asked.
“I’m thinking that an intelligent man doesn’t march forty healthy soldiers into an area where two have mysteriously died. An intelligent man turns around, gets back on the ship, and blows the whole city straight to hell.”
“But we aren’t going to do that, are we?”
“I wish we could, but we have our orders.” He felt slightly dejected. “Whatever information is in the military outpost, we need it. If we hadn’t been ordered to scan the city, I would’ve just landed near the outpost, taken what we need, and left.”
“No one ever accused the infantry of being smart, Sir,” Decker joked.
Vance caught himself smiling. “Get the men ready to move. Something’s in the business district, and we’re going to find it. Then we’re going to kill it.”
The infantry and Vance’s team broke from concealment and moved carefully down the road, scanning for any signs of movement from the buildings. As the long shadows of the skyscrapers began to fall over them, the group slowed, taking time to search every potential ambush location thoroughly.
Searching the next three blocks was arduous and took nearly an hour-and-a-half before Vance was confident whatever was in the city was still ahead, not flanking them to come around behind. Raising his hand in a fist, he halted the group. Soldiers melted into the shadows, finding defensive positions until given further orders.
Dallis and Decker joined Vance, who stood defiantly in the middle of the street.
“Our time of stealth and subtlety are over,” Vance said bluntly. “Decker, split your men into groups of four. I want sweeps conducted of all buildings, floor by floor. Either find me something to shoot or the bodies of our fallen soldiers. I also need one soldier to act as spotter for my sniper. Normally, I’d have one of my own pulling that duty, but I need Yen on the ground with me this time.”
“No problem, Sir,” Decker replied. “I’ve got just the guy.” Pulling his microphone away from his mouth, he called for one of his men.
An Uligart broke from cover and hurried toward them. Vance, meanwhile, motioned Ainj to join them, too.
“Ainj, this is….”
“Topher Reese,” the Uligart responded, a look of stern consternation on his face.
“Reese will be your spotter and cover your six,” Vance said. “I want you on top of one of these buildings, ready to cover us on the ground. You need anything from us before you take off?”
“No, Sir.” Ainj adjusted the straps on his mesh vest, having forgone the heavy body armor the others wore. Aside from being constrictive when he tried to fire, the body armor weighed him down to the point that his hollow bone structure couldn't support the weight when he tried to fly.
“Good. Move out, and be ready for anything.”
As Decker called out commands to his men, splitting them up and supervising their entry into nearby buildings, Vance switched his microphone to the team’s internal communications channel. “Rally on me.”
The other five team members broke from their positions and hustled to Vance. All saw his concerned expression, which seemed drastically out of place.
“Bad juju, Boss?” Tusque asked.
“Yeah.” His eyes never left the towers looming over him. “Bad juju.”
“Where do you need us?” Eza idly spun his ax with one hand.
“Here, on the ground.” Looking around, Vance pulled them closer, so the infantry couldn’t overhear them. “Nothing against our brethren here, but, if things start to go bad, I want you all on the ground, so we can beat feet to the outpost.”
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” Nova asked.
“Maybe.” He couldn’t shake the memories of the lost teammates over the past seven years. The sense of dread burrowing deep into his gut made him want to ensure his current group didn’t meet the same fate. “Nova and Yen, you two take north. Tusque and Eza, head south. Ixibas, you’re with me as reserve. Any questions?”
They shook their heads and adjusted their weapons.
“Then move out.”
Vance stood in the middle of the street, savoring the ambient light filtering between the buildings. Decker and Dallis, having established a search cordon, joined him and Ixibas on the road. Minutes dragged painfully by, as infantry soldiers searched each of the twenty-story or taller buildings floor by floor. Minute after minute, Vance asked for updates and received the same reply—no sign of the missing men or any enemies.
Chewing his bottom lip, Vance grew increasingly impatient.
“Anything up top?” he asked for the tenth time.
“Still nothing, Sir.” Ainj’s irritation was apparent even in his singing Avalon voice. “Nothing on the scope, nothing on thermals. There’s nothing out here, Sir.”
“Belay that,” Halo said. “I’ve got movement on the satellite sensors.”
Vance stood straighter, shedding the monotonous boredom that crept into his body. “Where?”
“Due north of your location, approximately a block and a half. Left side of the road.”
“Nova, Yen, you copy that?”
“Yes, Sir.” Nova pulled the spear from the holder on her back. “We’re moving toward it now.”
“Ixibas and I are heading your way, too,” Vance said. “Ainj, are you tracking?”
“I’ve got something on thermals, but it’s behind cover. I can’t make it out from here,” Ainj replied.
Nova and Yen hurried up the road, quickly covering the distance. They slowed, as they approached the area, pulling out flashlights to search dark corners. With the sun setting, the shadows grew deeper, blurring details. Their flashlights panned across the side of the street, searching for the signal Halo saw.
“There,” Yen hissed, his heart like a lump in his throat.
Nova followed the flashlight beam and saw it. Behind a dumpster, partially hidden from view, a gray-skinned creature huddled as if hiding.
Nova moved around the street for a better view. Slowly, the creature came into better perspective. Splayed out on the sidewalk, partially concealed by the alley behind it, lay a Seque. Seemingly unharmed, it had its two elongated arms tucked firmly under its long, narrow jaw. The squat back legs, which gave it a Seque an unnatural gait when it ran on its legs and the knuckles of its long arms, were spread out behind it.
Its thick, gray skin glistened in the setting sunlight. That light also captured its saucer-like eyes. Exceptionally broad and overdeveloped cheekbones extended from its broad nose to its disproportionately small ears. It looked at her in fear, mewling softly.
Nova lowered her flashlight and chuckled, as she approached the Seque. Her nervousness fled, as she realized how worked up she’d been over one of the planet’s beasts of burden. Standing a few feet away, after visually confirming the Seque wasn’t injured and nothing else hid behind it, she activated her throat mike.
“False alarm, Sir,” she said, a bit of mirth in her voice. “It’s just a Seque.”
“Nova, move!” Yen shouted, as waves of hostile energy washed over him.
Nova turned back in time to see the Seque rise on all fours and push off from the ground to stand on its back legs. At its full height of nearly twelve feet, it towered over the Uligart female. The Seque bellowed in rage, as it slammed its clawed fists against its chest. Looking down at the stunned woman, it opened its mouth in a snarl to reveal rows of jagged teeth
.
Nova broke from her stupor, as the Seque swung its arm in a wild backhand. Sharp claws passed inches from her head, as she ducked and rolled to the right. The second arm came down in a crushing blow that cracked the concrete.
Rolling back to her feet, she set her shoulders and drove the spear forward. Clutching its clawed hand in pain, the Seque didn’t move. The spear split the skin of its chest and slid all the way through its body until the tip jutted from its back.
Nova expected the creature to tumble to the ground, dead or dying. Instead, she was stunned when it looked at the protruding spear and thick, green blood that oozed from the wound, then turned back toward her. Opening its mouth wide, it yelled in rage and pain.
Ignoring the spear, it stepped forward, covering the distance with its short legs and pushing Nova backward. She fumbled with the spear, but it remained solidly lodged in the creature’s chest.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” she said through clenched teeth, as it tried to step forward again. With the spear embedded in its chest, she remained just beyond reach of those long arms. “Shoot him!” she shouted at Yen.
Yen pulled his rifle free and fired over her head. The sounds slammed into the Seque’s chest with little effect. Many of the bullets were still visible to Nova, having been stopped by the abnormally thick hide. Snarling at Yen, the Seque pushed forward another step.
“Fine!” Nova snapped. “You want to do it the hard way?” Her forearms strained. “Why don’t you just burn?”
Reaching down the shaft, she pressed a concealed button. One million volts of electricity charged down the shaft and electrocuted the Seque impaled on the end. Its head threw back in shock, and the body writhed in uncontrollable spasms. Spittle flew in sheets from its lips.
Around the spear tip, the skin smoldered and turned black. The scent of cooked meat filled the air, as flesh boiled away, cracking in the heat. With froth on its lips, the Seque pitched forward. The spear shaft ripped from Nova’s hands and fell like a victory flag, sticking straight up from the Seque’s body.
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