CHAPTER 1
“That was nothing short of a success, you do get that, right?” Rogers asked.
Taylor was still in shock and looking at the state of Babacan didn’t help. His alien friend was badly hurt. They had stopped the bleeding, but he barely had a pulse.
“He’s right. We saved a lot of lives,” added Dart, although he didn’t sound wholly convinced himself.
Taylor was still trying to wrap his head around it all. He’d come to terms with the very real possibility that Alita might be dead, but never had he considered for the slightest moment of her becoming one of the enemy.
“It isn’t her. It isn’t her making the decision to do what she is doing, you understand that, right?”
Taylor shook his head at Rogers.
“I don’t know anymore. I honestly don’t.”
“You really believe Alita could possibly do those things, what we saw her doing?”
Once again he shook his head, but this time it was in acknowledgement he couldn’t believe she was capable of it.
“What have they done to her?”
“She has been turned. Now whether that is by torture, or some chemical process, or whatever, I don’t know, but I am going to find out. I promise you that. Milo Rivers will get to the bottom of this.”
“She can’t be doing what you said of her own free will, no way. I’ll never believe that,” Dart said.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions on this, Colonel,” replied Rogers, but Taylor was shaking his head still, “What is it?”
“She knows. She knows I am back in this war. She knows our secret, our deception.”
“Yes, and I am sure it will only be a matter of time until Bolormaa knows, and when she does, there will be hell to pay, but she’s still not aware of the AR2 suits.”
“It doesn’t exactly take a genius to put it together now, does it?”
“We left no evidence that we were at Hajander or linked to that operation in any way. We left no survivors, and as far as anyone else is concerned, Jones was rescued by the Alliance, not us.”
Taylor grimaced.
“I sure hope you’re right.”
“So do I, but don’t blame me for this. It is you who has risked exposure at every point.”
He didn’t even bother trying to argue it, knowing it to be true.
“You might just have endangered our entire operation.” Rogers was surprisingly calm despite the accusation, “But do you know why I am not mad?”
Taylor shrugged.
“Because I knew that about you; that you would always do this to protect your friends. It is what makes you who you are, and what has kept you alive for as long as you have. I’d like to think if I was ever in deep trouble, you’d do the same for me.”
“You have my word. You are just as much one of us as any other.”
“Your regiment doesn’t even know me.”
“But they will in time, I’m sure.”
“You offering me a job, Colonel?”
“Hell, no, you wouldn’t want it,” he replied with a faint smile.
“Jeez, look at it,” said Dart as they passed into the docking bay of the station that they’d returned to. People were pouring out of the ships they had been rescued from. Nilsson was observing it all from a raised gantry. Many were wandering as if lost. Their faces showing a mix of confusion, relief, and worry in equal measure.
“Those poor bastards,” said Dart, “I don’t even want to think what they have been through.”
“It’s going to take a lot of work to bring them back from it,” said Rogers.
“It doesn’t matter if it takes ten years. The fact is we got them out of that hell.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” replied Dart.
They put down, and as the door opened, they realised how quiet the landing area was, as if inhabited by ghosts. It was eerie and unsettling, but nobody wanted to say it.
“Medic! Get a medic over here!” Taylor yelled.
Several in the crowd looked at him blankly before clearly recognising who he was. Their faces appeared confused and then angry.
“Well, I don’t like the look of this,” said Rogers, standing at the door with Taylor.
Three of the POWs suddenly rushed at them and tackled Taylor back into the small vessel. He landed hard, and his helmet crashed against the interior wall. Rogers grabbed one of them off him and threw them out the door, but not before they had punched Taylor in the face with immense force. The respite was welcome, and he spat blood out as he got back to his feet.
“What the hell is going on?” Dart shouted.
Several of the POWs were back on their feet and swamping the door once again. Taylor had had enough. He drew out his Assegai.
“Stun only, and do not activate the blade. Remember these people are our own. They are sick. They are not the enemy!” Rogers ordered.
Taylor smacked one in the head with his Assegai as he reached the door, and he collapsed back unconscious. The blow was so hard it could well have fractured the man’s skull, but neither of them could spare a moment’s thought for him. Three more of the rabid POWs had rushed in. Taylor smacked the first one as he had the last, but the other two got inside. Rogers struck one and managed to grab the other before he could reach Dart. He threw the man down the ramp who tumbled into several others.
“We aren’t going to make it out of here without killing, and he isn’t going to last long,” Taylor said, pointing to Babacan.
“We can’t fight and carry him,” replied Rogers.
“I’ll do it,” replied Dart.
He was wearing the same armoured exo-suit that every marine did, and that would have to do. They could not risk exposing the AR2 suits that were propped in the corner of the craft.
“All right, let’s do this!”
Dart grabbed Babacan and hauled his body onto his shoulder while his feet dragged along the floor. Six POWs stood at the base of the ramp. Several were growling, and one was foaming at the mouth as if in some kind of frenzy.
“Try to save all that you can,” said Rogers.
Fights were breaking out among the crowd ahead. POWs were fighting one another. Many were screaming in panic as if as surprised as Taylor and Rogers were.
“Whatever this is, it hasn’t affected them all,” said Rogers.
He didn’t have time to think about it any further. One grabbed hold of his helmet and smashed it against the rim of the door to their craft. That was enough to wake him up to the danger they were facing. He snapped back with his elbow, smashing the solid armour he had into the woman’s face. He backhanded her so hard her neck snapped, and she collapsed onto him. He felt disgusted, and yet Taylor activated his Assegai and cut across another. Blood splashed over him as the man’s throat was slit. He was mortified even further, and didn’t know how to take it.
Rogers felt another one grab him and haul him towards the others, but he used the power in his suit to resist and stand his ground. Instinct kicked in, and he lifted and activated his Assegai as the man assaulting him closed once again, and ran onto his weapon. The blade penetrated the man’s stomach and exited on the far side of his body, but he was still lashing out and trying to hurt the Captain. Taylor could see what was happening. Rogers was stunned by the brutality and horrors of having to face humans, and it was too much for him. Taylor reached over and thrust into the wounded man’s brain, killing him instantly. The body slumped back and slid off Rogers’ blade, but the Captain was staring at the blood dripping from his weapon as if he’d never seen such a thing before.
“Kill, or be killed!”
Taylor grabbed him and pushed him down the ramp while striking two more that were coming at him. Dart followed them down the ramp, hitting the door release. Within seconds they were flooded by a dozen of the frenzied former POWs. One grabbed Dart, but Taylor cut him down before the pilot kicked another in the kneecap. The man’s leg gave way, and he collapsed down, not before taking a brutal kick to the face from Dart, who
didn’t share Rogers’ misgivings.
“Move!” Dart shouted.
The pilot was running forward before Rogers could even respond. He crashed into two of their attackers like an unstoppable line-backer. The weight of Babacan on his shoulders only further ensured that he kept on going forward. Rogers and Taylor were quick to follow, and hit all those in their way. Rogers still struck with non-lethal blows, choosing to not use the electrified power of his Assegai, but Taylor did no such thing. He cut and thrust as though he were a cavalryman cutting swathes through the enemy. He didn’t care who they were now, only that they were the enemy, and they stood in his way.
Dart was still storming ahead, but he soon tripped on several bodies blocking his path. He fell forwards and tumbled, along with Babacan. Rogers and Taylor encircled them and swung in every direction, but they were starting to be overwhelmed. Taylor felt three grab one of his arms and stop him from moving, and he was desperately hacking at them as more piled on.
Gunfire rang out overhead, and one of Taylor’s attackers was struck in the head and knocked down, but there was no blood. Automatic fire continued to ring out, and as Taylor cut down two more, he looked up at the gantry where the Admiral had been. Two-dozen marines were laying down fire into the crowd with non-lethal rounds. The Admiral himself was among them, but merely observing the action with a cool-headed curiosity. As he watched, the Admiral pulled on a helmet, which struck him as strange. He never thought of Nilsson as a man to get stuck in with his own two hands.
The Admiral had no weapon in hand and was instead manipulating the controls of a control pad. Moments later they realised what he was up to. The doors had been sealed, and it was becoming harder to breathe.
“Masks on, now!” Taylor barked.
He went for one of the helmets on the wall beside them and put it onto Babacan, as Rogers kept fighting the crazies all around them. It wasn’t long before many were dropping through oxygen deprivation, and that was a relief as Taylor could finally relaxed. Two still crawled to reach him, as if wanting to hurt him even with their last breath. One man reached his feet and tried to reach up towards him, but he backhanded both with his Assegai still in hand, and they collapsed back down.
“Thanks heavens for that,” said Rogers.
The doors opened, and dozens of marines poured in, but they were aiming right at Taylor and Rogers, and not just those on the deck.
“Put down your weapons!” they screamed.
Taylor didn’t look impressed, and instinctively activated his shield, lifting his Assegai ready for a fight. Even if he didn’t understand what was going on. Rogers hadn’t followed suit and looked surprisingly calm.
“Do what they say, Colonel.”
“What?”
“They can’t tell who is friendly and who isn’t. This is necessary.”
Taylor wasn’t sure about that when a voice rang out. It was Nilsson’s voice being projected through speakers all around the room.
“Everybody is to lay down their weapons. Anybody who does not or resists will be considered an enemy combatant. Lay down your weapons, and no harm will come to you.”
“Put it down, Colonel. They have to do this, and you know it. This whole situation is chaos, and order must be restored.”
Taylor grumbled to show his dissatisfaction and general grumpiness, but he deactivated his shield and held out his Assegai to a marine, who promptly took it as more rushed past. Many were putting restraints on the wrists of those who were coming around, but Taylor was saved that at least, and he was glad to see two medics attending to Babacan. That gave him some relief and confidence in them.
“You don’t let him die, you hear me?” he insisted.
“I wouldn’t let him die even if he were the enemy,” snapped one of the medics.
“Come this way, Colonel,” ordered a marine.
His rifle was lowered a little so as if to not present a threat, but Taylor knew precisely what he was doing. The muzzle was ready to be put into action at a moment’s notice. He didn’t like it at all, but he had no choice but to respect the situation. He, Rogers, and Dart were led off quickly. The marines continued to separate and restrain everyone in the room.
“This isn’t exactly the welcome home I imagined,” said Taylor.
“Quite honestly, none of this is what I expected, but I should have.”
“Should have what, realised that Bolormaa has turned our own people against us and made them into monsters?”
“We knew they’d be turned from the moment we landed on that world and saw it with our own eyes. We just weren’t willing to see what was right before us.”
“And what is that?”
“That those people, they aren’t people anymore. At least not as we knew them.”
“I don’t believe that. If that bitch can twist them to be like that, then we can twist them back.”
“If you had thought that, Colonel, you’d not have killed them, would you?”
“I was fighting to survive. We had to get Babacan out of there. He’d never have made it if we sealed that door and held on.”
“But you didn’t hesitate. You killed them like they were any other enemy.”
“I did what I had to do. That is all.”
Rogers knew not to press, seeing that deep-down Taylor was as disgusted with it all as he was. Horrified at the realisation that any one of them could have been Alita, and that was exactly what she had become. The three of them were led to a small bunkroom, and the door was sealed shut behind them. It was a prison of sorts for the moment, but Taylor took the opportunity to slump on the nearest bed and make the best of it. The other two sat down opposite, though not looking so comfortable.
“What the hell was that all about?”
It was clear that Dart had little idea what had gone on during their last operation.
“Those…people. Those POWs, they aren’t POWs anymore, or most of them anyway,” replied Rogers.
“I don’t get it, why would they turn on us?”
“We’ve got no idea what was done to them.”
“Or even if they are the same people anymore,” added Taylor.
“What do you mean?”
“The Colonel is talking about cloning, something he became intimately familiar with a long time ago, but I don’t think that is what we are dealing with today.”
“Why not?”
“Look, Colonel, I know you’d like to think it was that way. It sucks to think our friends and comrades have been turned against us, but that is the reality of it. Those people in there, they are sick, and I intend to do everything in my power to heal them or find someone who can, and so should we all.”
“And if we can’t? If they are too far gone?”
Rogers glared at him as if telling him to be quiet but not being able to say it in front of Taylor.
“I won’t kill her. I can’t. If the opportunity arises, I will not kill her, but I will kill anyone who tries to end her life. She is coming back to me, one way or another,” replied Taylor sternly.
“Whatever has been done to her, I am sure it can be reversed. The Lieutenant is strong, and I am certain she can resist it all if she’s given the help to do so.”
“You really believe that?”
“Of course I do.”
Taylor sighed. He wanted to believe the Captain, but his unwavering optimism was becoming tiring, as if his words of support no longer counted for anything. There was an uncomfortable silence for what felt like an age when Dart finally broke it.
“She’s going to come for you, Colonel, isn’t she? Bolormaa, I mean.”
“I guess so.”
“Then we have to be ready for her. Nilsson will have us out of here in no time.”
“Ready? How the hell do you think we can do that? We’ve got a few suits, big deal. We aren’t even close to ready.”
“I’ve not seen you quit before,” said Dart.
“I never said anything about quitting. I am here to see this through, whet
her it kills me or not. I’m just being realistic.”
“She still has no idea how powerful the AR2 is.”
“She’s not going to be stupid enough to risk herself, though, is she? And we still have no idea if they’re up to the job of defeating her, Captain.”
“They’re up to the job, trust me.”
“Yeah? I’ll believe it when I see it.”
The door finally unlocked and slid open. The Admiral strode in with six marines at his side.
“Thank god,” said Dart.
The Admiral said nothing for a moment and studied each of them as if judging them.
“Sir, we have work to do,” said Rogers.
“You’re damn right we do,” snapped Nilsson.
He wasn’t his usual self, and nobody could blame him.
“Your cover is blown, isn’t it?”
“It seems so,” replied Taylor calmly, still lying slouched in the bunk against the wall.
“That was foolish and irresponsible. You know full well how important this is.”
“Yeah, well, you should never have put me back to work then, should you? I won’t sit by while terrible things happen to our own people. You knew that. Putting me back in the field was never going to stay quiet for long, and you always knew it.”
“I knew you could be headstrong, Colonel, but I did not think you would knowingly endanger a top-secret operation that is of the utmost important to the Alliance.”
“Then I guess you don’t really know me at all, Admiral.”
“This is not a joking matter, Colonel. You should be relieved of your command for this.”
Taylor got up and stood tall before the Admiral.
“Yeah? And so what are you gonna do? Nothing. You can’t touch me.”
Nilsson didn’t know how to respond; he knew he was powerless just like everyone else around them knew it.
Battle Beyond Earth - Box Set (Books 6-9) Page 44