Roth(Hell Squad 5)

by Anna Hackett

  “I’ve met Devlin Gray.”

  Roth scowled. “Oh? You’ve spent time with Gray?”

  She recognized that tone. Devlin was a handsome, cultured, former British spy, and Santha’s right-hand man. Not that he’d shared his past with anyone at Blue Mountain Base, but Devlin and Avery had run into each other once or twice in their former lives. “We’ve chatted.”

  Roth made a skeptical sound and Avery rolled her eyes. “You were saying? About Santha’s team?”

  “Right. Anyway, while Santha was holed up in the city fighting the aliens all by herself—” there was admiration in his voice “—she discovered that the alien canids hate cedar oil. We’ve created some cedar-oil grenades since then, and they are a great deterrent.”

  Canids were the ugly alien hunting dogs she’d heard about, but never seen. “In the negotiation meetings, they mentioned their planet is volcanic and rocky. Didn’t sound like there was much vegetation, let alone trees.”

  He stared at her for a second. “That’s good intel. Make sure you pass it on to Santha when we get back.”

  If they got back. Avery looked up at the sky. The sun was just starting to turn the western horizon orange. Darkness was coming, and so far, there’d been no sign of Squad Nine’s other Darkswifts in the sky.

  A big hand grabbed hers, long, strong fingers twining with her own. She looked up, and the tightness she hadn’t realized had crept into her chest eased. She wasn’t alone. She and Roth were together. They’d get through this.

  They kept walking, and soon they passed a few abandoned houses. They were almost at the town.

  Then a chilling sound in the distance made them both pause.

  Howls.

  “Shit. Canids.” Roth looked at her. “Run.”

  They broke into a stumbling run. The grass was long, tangling around their knees.

  The excited yips and howls got closer. Avery fervently wished they had some of those cedar-oil grenades.

  “Fuck, they’ve got our scent,” Roth muttered.

  They were being hunted.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Onto the road,” Roth barked. “We’ll be able to move faster. There’s no point being in cover. The canids can sniff us out.”

  Avery raced up the small embankment and onto the pavement. She glanced behind them, and her heart stopped.

  The pack of creatures was loping toward them. They were large—larger than regular dogs—with a row of sharp spikes along their backs. Their glowing red eyes and mouths full of sharp teeth were the stuff of nightmares.

  “Avery!”

  Roth’s shout made her whip around and start running.

  She pumped her arms and legs, running as fast as she could, until her lungs were burning.

  They rounded a curve in the road. The canids were gaining. They were so damned fast.

  The town appeared ahead—or what was left of the town. Some houses were dilapidated or burnt out, just black piles of rubble. Others looked in perfect condition, except for broken windows and overgrown yards.

  Roth and Avery sprinted into the town. “We need to find somewhere to hole up. Preferably somewhere high.”

  Right. “Maybe a roof?”

  But most were sagging or missing. They bolted down what she guessed had been the main street. Long-abandoned shops had been looted or boarded up months ago.

  At the end of the street, they spotted something that made them both skid to a halt.

  “What the hell?”

  The street was blocked off by a huge wall of rubble and junk that rose at least ten meters above them. It consisted of old cars, sheets of metal, chunks of concrete, old refrigerators—apparently whatever the residents had been able to get their hands on.

  Avery swiveled and saw the canids sprint into view.

  “Shit.” She spun back. “We’ll have to go around it.”

  They both knew the canids would be on them by then.

  “We can try and climb it?” Roth suggested.

  Avery could tell it was too unstable. They’d slide right back down, or get swallowed by the junk.

  A low growl made them step closer together and turn.

  A huge canid slunk forward on its belly. Its mouth was open, showing off those wicked teeth. Drool slobbered from its jaws.

  Avery and Roth whipped their weapons up.

  The rest of the pack moved in behind the creature.

  The lead canid leapt. Avery and Roth fired, but even under the barrage of laser fire, the creature kept coming.

  “Fuck.” Roth dropped his carbine and pulled out his knife.

  But the canid’s gaze was fixed on Avery. It pounced. Her heart pumping, Avery kept firing, saw green laser tearing into alien flesh.

  The beast slammed into her. She felt the sting of claws on her side, smelled rotting meat on its breath. Roth rammed into the creature and she saw him stabbing it with his knife.

  The canid’s vicious jaws snapped inches from Avery’s face. She turned her head, and tried to heave it off her.

  Then it let out a squeal, and Roth shoved it away. It fell into the dirt beside them, dead.

  Chest heaving, she sat up.

  “You okay?” He wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was on the rest of the pack. He helped her get to her feet.

  The remaining canids were growling and pacing, a few beasts crouching, ready to attack.

  Avery swallowed and stepped closer to Roth. Her side was burning, but she could walk, that was the main thing. “I’m fine.”

  They couldn’t hold them all off. Not with two laser carbines.

  “Hey,” a voice called from above.

  Shocked, Avery glanced up and saw a small, metal ball fall from the sky. It hit the ground in front of them.

  As she watched, the ball sprouted legs and tottered toward the canid pack. She frowned. What the hell was it?

  “Hey, you. In here.”

  Avery spun with a gasp. A gap had opened up in the junk wall and a boy’s head popped out. He looked about twelve, his dark hair in need of a cut.

  “Quick.” He gestured them toward him. “Get in.”

  Avery shared a brief glance with Roth, then dived through the door. Roth shouldered in behind her.

  The boy reached around and slammed the door closed.

  There was a loud boom on the other side, and the entire junk wall rattled. A tin can fell down, clattering and rolling onto the ground nearby.

  “Jesus.” Roth rolled to his feet. “Well, we’re alive.”

  Avery stood, surprised to find herself a bit shaky. She looked at the boy. “Thanks to you.”

  The boy shrugged a shoulder. “Getting eaten by alien dogs wouldn’t be much fun.”

  She smiled. “No. I imagine not.” The memory of foul breath and sharp teeth flashed in her head.

  The boy was wearing clean clothes and running shoes that looked brand new. His face glowed with health and he looked well fed. “Hi. I’m Bastian.”

  “Hi there, Bastian.” Avery smiled and took in their surroundings. She saw that the fortified junk wall circled a group of about six houses, and what looked like a grocery store.

  Roth held out a hand to the boy. “Thanks for the save. We wouldn’t have made it without your help.”

  Bastian blinked, then subtly his chest puffed up. He took Roth’s hand and shook it. “So, you’re military?” He was eyeing their armor and weapons.

  “Yes.” Roth nodded.

  “You’re really a soldier? Not just a regular person turned fighter?”

  “Career soldier. Special Forces.”

  “Wow. Have you killed lots of aliens?”

  Avery watched Roth smother a smile. They shared a glance. Yep, kids always seemed interested in the same things.

  “Yeah, I have,” Roth answered. “So many I’ve lost count.”

  Avery limped forward. “Our aircraft crashed near here.”

  “Aircraft?” the boy asked, wide-eyed.

  “It’s called a Darkswift. A two person c
raft and glider.”

  His eyes opened more. “I saw you! I saw three shimmers in the distance.”

  Roth nodded. “The rest of my squad. We lost contact when alien…bugs attacked us.”

  “The giant dragonflies.” Bastian’s nose wrinkled. “They breed around here, and they are always hungry. They’ll eat anything.”

  “We haven’t seen them before,” Roth added. “We’re from Blue Mountain Base.”

  The boy gasped. “The secret underground base in the mountains?”

  “Yes.”

  “But…that’s just a fairytale.”

  “I assure you, the base exists,” Avery said. “It’s home to hundreds of people.” She looked around. “We have running water, electricity, food. Bastian, do you live here?”

  “Oh, no. People used to live here, but they’ve been gone a long time.”

  “Are your parents here?” she asked.

  His smile evaporated, and he looked at the ground. “My parents are gone.”

  Avery’s heart clenched. She knew that look. God, she’d worn it herself during her childhood. “I’m sorry.”

  She really wanted to touch him, but she’d hated that, as well. Kind, well-meaning strangers touching her, sympathy in their eyes. Then they’d leave and go back to their cozy lives and families.

  “Do you live alone?”

  He shook his head and Avery took another step toward him, but this time, electric pain shot through her side and she cried out. Her leg went out from under her, and she saw the dirt rising to meet her.

  Roth caught her. “Avery?”

  “Something hurts,” she panted through the pain.

  Roth patted her side and she cried out. He pulled his hand back and Avery saw the blood. A muscle ticked in his jaw, his eyes hardening. “Canid got through your armor.”

  ***

  Roth laid Avery on the ground, hating when he saw her wince. He shrugged off his backpack and looked at Bastian.

  “Bastian, can you fish around in there and pull out the first aid kit?”

  The boy knelt, nodding furiously.

  Roth set to work pulling Avery’s armor off her side.

  “Sorry,” she muttered.

  “Nothing to be sorry for.” With her armor off, he lifted her shirt and winced. “Damn, sweetheart. That has to hurt like hell.”

  “Just a little. I didn’t feel it at first.”

  Roth turned and Bastian held out the first aid kit. “Thanks, kid.”

  With a nod, Bastian scuttled backward. “She’ll be okay?”

  “Yeah.” Roth would make sure of it.

  The boy nodded. “I’ll check the wall. Make sure no more dogs are hanging around.”

  “Be careful,” Avery said.

  “I always am.” Bastian scurried away.

  Roth ripped the kit open, rummaged through, and pulled out the remaining sterile pads. He wiped the blood away. The canid claw had gouged her smooth skin, but it wasn’t as deep as he’d feared. He smeared some med gel on—it would ease the pain, and stop any infection. Not to mention speed up the healing a little.

  He pressed an adhesive over the wound.

  “How’s that feel?”

  She smiled at him. “Better.”

  He let his fingers brush gently over her bare stomach. “Wish I was shoving your clothes out of the way for a different reason than this.”

  Her smile was wide. “That makes two of us.”

  He dipped a finger in her belly button. “When we get back to base…”

  She gasped. “Yeah, you told me.”

  He helped her up, glad to see the color back in her face.

  “What’s your take on Bastian?” she asked.

  “Resourceful,” he said. “Lonely.”

  She nodded thoughtfully. “But well cared for.” She glanced at the empty houses. “He isn’t living here.”

  “No, he isn’t. And we need to know where he’s from.”

  Moments later, Bastian reappeared. “No sign of the dogs.” He looked at Avery. “You’re okay?”

  She gave a nod. “Roth fixed me right up.”

  The boy’s shoulders relaxed. “Good.”

  Roth looked around again. It was time to get some answers. “Hey, Bastian, I wanted to ask—”

  Shouts suddenly echoed around them. Roth lifted his carbine and saw a group of armored soldiers running at them.

  “Drop the weapons!”

  “Get down on the ground!”

  There were twelve of them. Roth’s hands flexed on his weapon. “I’m Colonel Roth Masters of—”

  “On the ground,” a woman roared. She rushed up and grabbed Bastian. She yanked him backward and shoved him at a soldier behind her.

  She was in charge, Roth decided. The woman looked like she was in her early forties, her dark hair in a chin-length bob under her helmet. She held her carbine like she knew exactly how to use it.

  The soldiers surrounded them, all stony-faced. Roth took note of them all, and their pristine armor and well-maintained weapons. No raptor claw marks or dents to be seen.

  “We don’t mean any harm,” Avery said. “Bastian saved us from some alien canids—”

  “I’m not going to say it again,” the woman said, her voice hard. “Drop your weapons and get on the ground.”

  “Listen—” Avery began again “—we just want—”

  Something whizzed through the air and slapped into Avery’s armor. What the hell? Roth stepped in front of her and saw her eyes widen.

  He saw the small device’s prongs had dug into her unarmored chest. Dammit. A shockround. A second later, her body started shaking as the high-voltage ran through her.

  Roth grabbed her. He saw soldiers converging and he fired his carbine one handed, taking down the soldiers nearest to them.

  Then he felt a shockround slam into his shoulder. As the electric shock hit him, he managed to roll so he hit the ground first, Avery on top of him.

  He saw the grim face of the woman in charge above him. He struggled to stay conscious, gritting his teeth and trying to keep his hold on Avery.

  Then he saw the butt of a gun descend and everything went black.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Avery groaned and struggled to sit up. Her muscles were aching like she’d spent hours in the gym.

  She blinked, then went still as her brain recognized her surroundings as unfamiliar. Where the hell was she?

  Then she remembered. She scrambled to her feet, a hand pressed to her chest where she’d been hit with the shockround. Her armor and weapon were gone, and she was in a cell. There were three concrete walls and one that was just metal bars.

  She strode to the bars, staring into the empty hall. More cells lined the corridor. Where was Roth? Her throat tightened. Was he okay?

  She forced herself to calm down and assess the situation. She was in a locked cell. There were no windows, just a row of muted lights built into the top of the wall, and she heard the steady whoosh of the ventilation, so she guessed they were underground.

  Avery paced across the small space. The contents of her cell consisted of a narrow bunk and a built-in bench, and that was it.

  A low groan made her freeze. She raced to the bars, trying to see into the cell beside hers. “Roth?”

  “Avery.” His voice was low and raspy. A second later, he appeared at the bars.

  She couldn’t see him that well, but she slipped a hand through the bars and when his strong fingers wrapped around hers, she released a breath. “You’re not hurt?”

  “Ache like hell, but I’m fine. Damn shockrounds. You?”

  “I’m good.” She tried to see his face, and when he shifted, the dim light illuminated his black and swollen right eye. She gasped. “They beat you!”

  “Gun butt to the face. It’ll be fine. Nothing’s broken.”

  Avery’s other hand tightened on the bars. The assholes. They’d seen that Avery and Roth hadn’t meant any harm but they’d still stormed in like they had something to prove
. “This is Howell’s bunker, isn’t it?”

  “That’s my guess.” Roth fiddled in his pocket and withdrew something tiny.

  Avery frowned, pressing her cheek to the bars to see. “What is that? An insect?”

  “It’s a mini-drone. Noah designed it. I tested one in the alien ship on a previous mission.” He touched it and the little drone took to the air, flitting there like a bug, before it zoomed away. “It’ll take a look around and send info back to my mini-tablet.”

  “They left you with your tablet?”

  He smiled. “Not my well-hidden, backup one. It’s tucked into the sole of my boot.”

  “Well, aren’t you a boy scout?”

  He stroked her palm. “Not always.”

  Footsteps echoed in the hall. Avery sucked in a breath and Roth squeezed her fingers. “Showtime.”

  Two people appeared in front of them. The woman was the leader of the soldiers who’d brought them in. Her face was set in the hard lines of someone used to command. The man was an opposite story. Avery made note of his stats: six foot, broad shoulders, green eyes and long, dark hair that he had tied back at the base of his neck. He had a compelling face, strong and brooding. Unlike the woman, who wore fatigues, this man wore well-worn jeans and a T-shirt. Both of which were splattered with streaks of paint. Actually, he had paint on his hands as well.

  “Who are you?” the woman demanded.

  “You could have asked that question before you shot us with shockrounds,” Avery suggested.

  The man looked at the woman with a raised brow.

  The woman straightened. “I’m Captain Kate Scott. I run security here. Since we’re in the middle of a hostile invasion, we don’t tend to chit-chat with strangers.”

  Avery gripped the bars tighter. “Do either of us look like damned aliens? We’re on the same side.”

  Captain Scott’s mouth tightened.

  “Avery.” Roth’s tone held a hint of warning.

  The man stepped forward. “I’m sorry if the captain was overzealous in her duties. But believe me, she holds the safety of our residents as her highest priority. I’m Nikolai Ivanov. And whether I like it or not, I run the civilian side of things in the Enclave.”

  “I’m Colonel Roth Masters. We’re from Blue Mountain Base.”