by Cohen, Bryan
She could hear his smile through the com. "I don't know how to describe it other than extremely cool."
"Extremely cool isn't giving me much to go on. We've got the ship secure, does Natalie need backup?"
"Backup. An audience. You take your pick."
Erica shook her head and tapped her angel on the shoulder. "Ready for another flight?"
The angel let out a sharp laugh. "Always. Too much standing is bad for the soul."
"My sentiments exactly."
As Erica approached the ground portion of the attack, she wasn't exactly sure what she was seeing at first. Natalie had brought a squadron of rhinos to attack the base's headquarters. Despite the almost indestructible creatures being huge and imposing, she could see something bigger and stronger fighting them off below.
"What the hell are those?"
As she and her angel came closer, it became clear exactly what they were up against. She stepped over toward Natalie, who stood beside a couple of absolutely exhausted looking soldiers.
"What's the report?"
Natalie raised an eyebrow. "I think it's obvious. A few sailors in giant mechanical battle suits are keeping me — us from an easy victory. It's pretty cool to watch."
Sure enough, Erica spied the fast, tall mech suits that towered over the rhinos below them. The two suits looked shiny and futuristic as they quickly kicked, punched, and shot at Erica's warriors.
Erica leaned on Natalie's shoulder. "And your big bruisers can't do anything about these two?"
"They've got a lot of power, but they're too slow to make much of an impact."
One of the rhinos grunted beside them. "We aren't slow. Methodical would be a better word."
Natalie grinned. "How about you methodical turtles take a backseat for a second." She eyed Erica. "You up for a little tag team match?"
Erica clicked her tongue. "I think that could be arranged."
Erica and Natalie stepped forward toward the mechanical suits. The remaining group of rhinos that weren't lying on the ground exhausted parted the way. It was almost comical how much taller the mechs were than the protector and her lieutenant general, but Erica knew that size did not always matter. Erica caught the eye of the sailor inside one of the suits. He had a sly grin on his face as the suit's right arm rose up and began firing.
Natalie and Erica ran in opposite directions to divert the wave of bullets. The sound of the weapons discharging echoed through the area as the two of them bobbed and weaved closer and closer to the suits with every circular rotation. When they were close enough to the mechs to make guns no longer useful, one of the suits attempted to kick at Natalie. The former basketball star easily rolled underneath the weighty metal leg and threw her body with full force into the robotic suit. Erica watched the suit sway as it went down to one knee. Erica took the opportunity to run up the back of the mech and slam her hand through the outer layer. Her fist punched through the exterior of the suit and gave her the window she needed to tear off multiple layers of protective steel. When the mech attempted to stand, Natalie slammed her shoulder once again into the metal beast. The suit's lack of balance sent it crashing down. Erica held on tight as the suit landed on its metal chest. Before the sailor in the other suit could react, she reached in through the hole she’d created with her fists and pulled out the man controlling the device.
The man's eyes were wide. "The General is going to destroy you."
Erica tightened her grip on the soldier's uniform. "Maybe he is. But not today."
With a mighty heave, she sent the soldier skidding across the tarmac.
While a few rhinos engaged the other suits, Natalie climbed to Erica's side. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Erica licked her lips. "Rock-paper-scissors you for it?"
When Erica's rock beat Natalie's scissors, Erica climbed into the suit they had just taken down. As she locked herself into place, she studied the controls and used them to press her suit up into a push-up position. With a few additional button presses, she had the slightly unwieldy soldier back to standing.
When the other suit had dispatched the tiring rhinos, it began walking toward her. While the inside of the suit was musty from the soldier's use, she could barely explain the feeling of being inside a giant metal version of yourself. When the mech opponent swung its fist in her direction, she easily brought up her own suit's forearm to block it.
Erica laughed. "Now this is something I could get used to."
She punched in the commands for her mech to deliver an uppercut. The attack went unblocked to the other mech's head. Her opponent staggered backwards before righting himself. This time, the other suit charged toward her, but Erica was just too fast. She commanded her mech to duck and swing its leg at just the right moment. Her opponent tripped over the extended metal foot and sparks flew as it scraped against the black ground below. Erica didn't waste a moment. Her mech leapt upon the other and began punching furiously until the head of her opponent's suit had been completely smashed in. When the sailor who controlled the losing mech attempted to escape, Erica's suit caught him by the back of his uniform.
"Going somewhere?"
She punched in the commands for her suit to grab around the dark soul's waist tight. Struggle as he might, the sailor wasn't going anywhere for a while.
The rhinos who weren't resting off their battle cheered alongside Natalie. As Erica leapt out, Natalie was there to greet her.
"I'm jealous and proud at the same time. Maybe a little bit more jealous."
Erica laughed. "If we can fit one of them on the ship, you're welcome to take it along."
Natalie looked up at the victorious mech as if it were her brand-new car. "Don't worry, Diana, we'll make room for you, old girl."
"You named it?"
"She needed a warrior's name."
Erica's com buzzed in her ear. "Looks like the battle's all won, everybody." Dhiraj faked a yawn. "You guys made it look easy out there. Looks like about 75 prisoners to add to the brig. We're going to need a bigger boat."
Erica wondered how many more dark souls they'd be able to house and feed. As she did, Natalie tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, your nose is bleeding."
Erica brought her hand to her face and recognized the familiar sight of her blood. "Guess it happened during the battle."
Natalie handed her a cloth, which she promptly pressed into her nostrils.
"But you didn't even take a punch."
Erica nodded. "Don't worry about me. Go check on your rhinos. They might need some Gatorade or something."
Natalie had a look of concern on her face, but she did as she was told.
As Erica applied pressure to her trickling nosebleed, she realized something unsettling. This was the third time her nose had started bleeding on its own in the last week. Her stomach twisted as she wondered what on earth had caused them.
3
Razellia gingerly stepped out of bed, doing her best not to aggravate the torturous pain in her lower back. She pressed her hands against the wall and attempted to stretch out the lingering injury. It had been months since Ted Finley had gotten back his memories and sent her and her daughter, Vella, back to their village. But after dozens of her neighbors were sent to death, life in the small desert town had been tough on all of them.
She took in a deep breath. "But remember, Razellia, you're alive. You and your daughter are alive. You need to be grateful."
While she was, or at least was doing her best to be, grateful, the weeks in captivity in the dark soul dungeons had done a real number on her back. Between that and the need to farm for sustenance, there were parts of the dark soul turncoat that wished she never made it out of that dungeon. Every day was a struggle, but she had one thing to look forward to in her dreary life.
"Mama! You've got to get up and see this!"
Razellia fought through the pain and walked from her bedroom into the only other room that wasn't up a flight of stairs. Going to the second level of the house hadn't b
een possible since their return.
As she walked in, Vella was absolutely beaming at something she'd concocted. The cores of fruit and stems of vegetables littered their meager kitchen.
Her little girl ran across the room and grabbed her hand. "I made you breakfast, Mama. I made you the best breakfast that's ever been."
She took her daughter's hand. "That is so nice, my beautiful girl. But what have I told you about using knives?"
Vella looked toward the mess she had made and then back to her mother. "I know. I'm supposed to wait until you or some other old person is around, but I just couldn't wait. I needed to try out a new recipe."
Razellia tried not to let the practical aspects of her daughter's creativity take over. If whatever she'd created was inedible, it would waste several days’ worth of food. At some point, those several days might just catch up with them.
"Well, don't make me wait. Let me taste whatever it is you've put together."
Vella nodded her head so fast, her mother thought it might fall off. Her daughter led her to the table and passed the bowl in her direction.
"You can just use your hands, Mama. Who needs a spoon?"
Razellia laughed. "Good to know." She lifted the bowl toward her mouth and prayed as she sipped.
She thanked the stars above when it actually tasted half decent.
"Look at my smart little girl. If the time ever comes that we have too much food for ourselves, maybe you could make this for the neighbors."
Razellia could tell that she'd said exactly what her daughter wanted to hear. The little girl's smile seemed infinite.
"When do you think that's going to be? When we have too much food?"
Though it took much effort, Razellia sat down at the table. "I don't know. Maybe we'll get lucky."
Vella leapt into her mother's lap. "Maybe Ted Finley will come back and make us some food with his magic?"
Razellia smiled. "I hope that as much as you, but Ted has bigger problems than just the two of us."
Vella put on her best pout. "I know, but I always like to dream big."
Razellia took another sip of the concoction and laid her hand on the back of her daughter's neck. "I know I always tell you this, but what you did, helping Ted to remember who he was, may have saved a lot of lives."
Truth be told, Razellia had no idea if Ted was still alive. Trade routes and news no longer went through the village, and any word about the greater war as a whole would likely only reach them if one side had achieved complete and utter victory.
Vella hopped to the ground and put her hands on her hips. "That's just what heroes do, Mama. Just like Natalie and Ted, I wanted to be a hero, too."
Before Razellia could continue praising her daughter, the ground beneath them began to shake. The light rumble became stronger and stronger with each passing second. Razellia waited for the shaking beneath her to stop but it didn't. It only continued to grow and grow.
Vella looked as concerned as her mother felt. "Is that a terror light, mama? Are we going to get eaten by a worm?"
While Razellia didn't know anything for sure, she shushed her daughter. "Of course not. Let me go outside and see if I can tell what's happening."
With great effort, Razellia lifted herself out of her chair and made it through the front door. She walked a bit down the street until she had a good vantage point at the dunes of sand off in the distance, but she didn't see the beige sand beyond the village. She couldn't possibly spy the surrounding desert when thousands of soldiers progressed forward. Razellia's stomach dropped as she saw Lychos and dark souls alike headed straight toward the village. But she knew that her town was only a small blip on the way toward a larger goal.
She ignored her neighbors who were likewise gawking at the sight ahead. There was only one thing they could do.
"Vella! Get the transport ready. We need to take your concoction and get out of here."
Her daughter made a whiny noise. "But why? It's too early for all that."
Razellia ignored the pain in her back and picked up the pace until she could grab a scope from the other room. "This is not the time to be asking questions. Do it!"
As Vella stomped toward the transport, Razellia used her device to get a better view of the impending threat. Now that she could see the full scope, she could tell that tens of thousands of troops were headed in their direction. In the front, she recognized the General's wounded second in command: Pluric Xanivere. She knew that he'd been the only thing keeping the General's memories inside Ted Finley's head, but it seemed like a darker purpose lay in store.
Vella tapped her side. "It's ready, mama. I don't know why you're in such a hurry."
"Because of them." She pointed toward the approaching army. "Because if we don't pack up your things and leave right now, little girl, we're not going to have any chance to make breakfast anytime soon. Let's move!"
She could tell that Vella wanted to protest, but she ran off to gather her things.
Razellia let herself look through the scope one last time. Her hand shook as she tried to hold it steady. "If we're still here when they reach the village, everyone is gonna die."
4
Dhiraj loved hanging out with winners. As he stepped foot into the mess hall, the positive energy truly washed over him. Angels, rhinos, and even mermen in a special aquatic side ate in harmony and happiness in the ship's mess hall. While it was getting tougher and tougher to fit everybody on the aircraft carrier, several ships they'd just obtained could help to lighten the load. Dhiraj knew that there would be many battles ahead before the war was won, but for the time being, they were the ones on the offensive.
But despite the playful banter and smiles as far as the eye could see, Dhiraj felt a bit tentative as he walked toward the cool table. As he placed his tray down, it wasn't the banter of Natalie and Erica that drew his attention. It was the solitary, introspective Jennifer who drew all of his attention. He remembered that when the two of them dated at Treasure High, the cafeteria was a time for hand holding and gentle kisses. But ever since they'd gotten back onto the aircraft carrier, Dhiraj had felt like things were completely different with the girl he'd always loved.
As he tried to tune out Erica and Natalie talking shop, he looked toward Jennifer's face until she looked up. It took nearly 30 seconds.
She cocked her head slightly to the side. "Do I have something on my face? Like an entire biscuit or something?"
Dhiraj shook his head. "No. I think you'd probably feel a biscuit. I was just looking forward to talking with you."
She smiled, though it didn't feel like her heart was in it. "I like talking. What do you want to talk about?"
Dhiraj looked around. "Doesn't this kind of feel like the cafeteria at Treasure High?" He pointed towards the rhinos. "They're the jocks." His finger moved towards the angels. "They're the beautiful people." His finger continued to the mermen. "And I guess that that's the swim team?"
Jennifer politely nodded at Dhiraj before taking a bite of food. "Clever observations. Though I have a feeling this cafeteria would wipe the floor with yours."
He squinted. "You mean ours. It wasn't that long ago the two of us were in school together."
Jennifer pursued her lips. "A lot has happened since then though. It almost feels like that was a different life. Like we were different people."
Dhiraj blinked. "Sure, a lot has gone down since then. But I'd say that deep down we're the same."
"Agree to disagree." She looked into his eyes. "Dhiraj?"
He leaned toward her. "Yeah?"
Jennifer fluttered her eyelashes. "Could you quiet down for a minute so that I can hear what Natalie and Erica are saying?"
Dhiraj swallowed hard. "Of course. I'll just talk to myself for a while."
Jennifer turned away from Dhiraj and focused her attention on the others.
Dhiraj took a deep breath and ate as the others talked. He didn't pay full attention as Erica, Natalie, and Jennifer discussed the future plans for th
e army. They would continue up the coast, taking out bases until they'd commandeered enough equipment to move inland. While they continued their path, Ted would work on making sure they didn't get blown to smithereens with a nuclear weapon. It was nothing new, but Dhiraj couldn't fathom why Jennifer wanted to hear the details over and over again. When the others finished up their meal, Jennifer packed up right along with them. It almost seemed as though she didn't notice Dhiraj was still sitting there, until a few seconds later, he felt her arms wrap around his neck and shoulders.
Jennifer whispered in his ear. "I'm sorry. I know I've been distant."
A pang of nervousness went through Dhiraj's chest. "It's okay. I know that there's a war going on. I shouldn't have expected canoodling."
She kissed the side of his neck, sending a wave of warmth down his back.
"I promise that we're about to spend a whole lot more time together. I'm just trying to figure out how I best fit here."
He leaned his head on her cheek. "Being arm candy for the director of communications isn't a position?"
"I don't think the terms ‘arm candy’ and ‘empowered female’ go together. Do you?"
He sighed and turned towards her. "You're probably right. That's why we need to spend more time together, so that you can make sure I'm not being a male chauvinist pig."
She brought her lips to his. As he leaned into the moist kiss, he tried his best to memorize the feeling. During late nights working and time apart, it was moments like these he'd have to hold onto to keep on going.
She pulled away first. "Sounds like a date. I'll see you a little bit later, okay?"
He nodded as she walked away, blowing him a kiss as she went.
Dhiraj sat beside Agent Harding as they flipped through a variety of frequencies. It was up to the two of them to determine if any remaining human settlements needed help. It'd been over a week since they'd heard anything, and Dhiraj wondered if their talents might be better spent elsewhere.