by T. C. Edge
“Sorry,” Tanner called to her from the cockpit, voice bouncing down the short passage. “Didn’t mean to make you lose your breakfast. Well, almost,” he added with a grin, turning back and seeing Chloe’s face pale.
Chloe’s stomach heaved a final time, doing summersaults. She hadn’t quite spewed up the eggs and bacon from earlier, but had gotten closer than she’d want. She sat for a moment to steady her gut, raising a hand and saying, “It’s OK, I’m all right,” to Nadia as she attempted to help her out of her harness, having speedily escaped her own. “Just give me a minute,” she added. Nadia grinned at the sight.
The falcon was descending now, dropping to the earth and landing with a light thud on soft dirt. The engines calmed, all noise ceasing. Chloe shut her eyes, drew a salutary breath, and blew out slowly.
After a moment or two, her midsection had settled. She opened her eyes again to find Tanner and Ragan pacing down from the cockpit. The former was smiling, the latter shaking his head.
“You’ll get used to Cliff’s flying eventually,” Ragan said. “First time he does that is always the worst. It’s never nice when you don’t see it coming.”
He reached down and helped unclip her harness, before pulling her up to her feet. The force of his tug was enough to have their bodies briefly colliding, chests pressing together in a fashion that sent a slight jolt running through Chloe’s body. Ragan smiled awkwardly, took half a step back, and opened out his hand.
“After you,” he said, presenting passage towards the door.
It was whirring open now, Nadia at the controls and opening it up to the wide expanse beyond. Chloe blinked as the light spilled in from outside, the weather holding nicely here several hundred miles from their previous camp. She moved towards the door, ramp extending, and looked out upon the rolling prairies. It was beautiful, and yet set Chloe on edge. She didn’t like the open. When your life was spent running and hiding, places like this, with so little cover, could be quite disquieting.
With a hint of trepidation, she stepped onto the ramp and down to the dirt, turning her eyes around. A little way off, straight ahead, the cluster of buildings came into view, lonely and deserted. At least at first sight. There was a rise behind them, the lands building to a ridge that obscured what lay beyond. To the left and right, however, the world was open, vast, and seemingly empty.
She prepared to step forward again, eager to get a closer look at the farm. A voice held her back.
“Hold there, Chloe,” said Ragan. She looked to the top of the ramp, where Ragan stood. “We need to scan the area before we do anything else. Make sure our guest doesn’t have any friends waiting to lay an ambush.”
Chloe nodded, sinking back a little to the jet’s sleek exterior. Tanner came down to join her, taking a full swig of clean, fresh air as he stepped into the morning sunshine.
“Livens the senses, doesn’t it,” he remarked, eyes lighting as they began gazing up towards the sun. He smiled, tanned skin seeming to shine. Clearly, he enjoyed the sun’s rays more than most, given the golden brown hue to his skin.
Chloe wasn’t of the same thinking. She didn’t have the natural complexion for sun-bathing, and had always found it hard to tan as a youth. Still, life in New York didn’t really demand such a thing. Perhaps, she wondered, it was different in the west?
In the rear of the jet, she heard the sound of clinking. A few moments later, Mikel was being shuffled out, wrists and ankles still bound in chains. Ragan and Nadia gripped his arms, flanking him on either side. They led him down the ramp and into the bright sunshine. The vamp winced at the light, clearly favouring the dark.
His movement was a little stunted too, and not merely because of his restraints. Being locked in the back of the jet for so many hours was always going to cause discomfort, even for a man like him. He arched his back, stretching as he stepped from the shadows of the plane. A mixed look of relief and discomfort fluttered across his face, which held an otherwise placid expression, as it had for several hours now.
“Right, stay here with him,” said Ragan, looking to Tanner and Nadia. “I’m going to scan for heat signatures, make sure we’re alone. Chloe, do you mind lending a hand?”
He gestured to her jacket pocket, where Remus remained hiding.
“Sure,” she said, glancing down. She performed the unspoken, mental command, and within moments the little drone was waking, hovering into sight, and reforming. He didn’t take the shape of a bird, as he usually might, but adopted his more traditional form for surveillance and combat. It wasn’t dissimilar to his resting orb-like shape, only a little flatter and broader.
“OK, let’s go,” Ragan said.
The cluster of buildings wasn’t rare off, only a hundred or so metres from where they’d landed the jet. They’d done so, by the looks of things, on a track leading towards the farm, as forgotten and lonely as the place where it led. It was mostly grown over by now by the prairie grasses, though remained just about discernible by the occasional lines of rocks that were placed along its sides, giving it some shape. Chloe looked back, seeing the faint outline of the track stretch off the other way, heading over the rolling hills and, she imagined, meeting with a more permanent road somewhere not far off.
She turned again, eyes back on the farm. A cool wind whipped across them as they strolled, cautious, causing her black hair to flutter and dance. She brushed it back, tying it with speed and skill into a ponytail, and tucking it safely away into the top of her combat gear. Gear she’d been wearing for a couple of days now. Gear she so wanted to escape.
“I need a shower,” she mused, her internal thoughts vocalised.
She looked over at Ragan with a slightly abashed smile. She didn’t want him to think that she smelled But then, if she did, he’d no doubt know already. She took a whiff. She did.
Her eyes fled back towards the buildings.
“Soon, Chloe,” Ragan assured her.
He lifted his finger, activating his lenses one at a time. Chloe, meanwhile, sent Remus on ahead, the drone sweeping skyward to present an aerial view of the collection of abandoned structures down the forgotten track.
They slowed as they neared, Ragan scanning with a gradual, methodical turn of the head, Chloe doing the same via the use of her drone. She shut her eyes and Remus’ perception came into view from above. Holding her breath, she searched for movement, tracks, signs of life. There was nothing.
She opened her eyes once more and turned to Ragan, who was completing his sweep. She stayed silent for a moment to allow him to concentrate, before he loosened up all of a sudden and nodded.
“Nothing here,” he said. He looked at Chloe. “Anything?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing. I’ll keep Remus on sentry duty above. He’ll notify me if he spots anything.”
With the farm’s state of desertion confirmed, the two swiftly hurried back towards the jet, only a little way down the track. They encountered an uncomfortable silence on arrival, Tanner’s eyes still seething as they glared at Mikel, his rifle held firmly between his hands and itching to be used. The nano-vamp, meanwhile, remained almost oblivious by the attention, eyes vacantly searching some random patch of earth near his feet. They lifted as Ragan and Chloe reappeared.
“Place is empty,” said Ragan to his colleagues. He turned to their captive. “Right, Mikel, over to you then. Tell us where the data disc is.”
“Can’t you just use your scanner to find it?” queried Tanner.
It seemed a fair question.
“Unfortunately not. The disc was incased in protective metal. My scanner wouldn’t pick it up. Now come, Mikel, let’s get this done. No games. This is business.”
Mikel didn’t speak immediately. His eyes drifted off again towards the prairie, curved with an element of doubt. He shook his head, as if to himself, then stopped. Finally, after what seemed like an age, he spoke.
“How can I trust that you won’t kill me when I tell you?” he asked.
; “Because you have my word,” said Ragan immediately. He wasn’t in the mood for further delays.
“Your word,” whispered Mikel, smiling sceptically. “If only that was enough.” His eyes turned, landing directly on Ragan. “It isn’t, I’m afraid. I’m going to need more than that.”
Ragan altered his posture a little. It was the shuffle of a man growing increasingly frustrated.
“Fine. What do you want?”
Mikel looked down to his ankles pointedly.
“Take off my restraints,” he said. “I’m not going to give up my only bargaining chip with my wrists and ankles fixed tight like this. I’d have to be a fool.” He looked at Tanner, and lowered his voice. “And unfortunately, I’m not.”
Tanner drew back his lips, revealing his usually pleasant teeth. Not on this occasion. They were bared like a growling wolf, eyes similarly threatening in their stare.
“He’s just trying to trick us,” Tanner grunted, turning to the group. “Soon as we release him, he’s going to turn on us.”
“Turn on you?” said Mikel calmly. “How little you think of your skill, Mr Tanner. Here was me thinking you had self belief, with a generous dusting of arrogance. Or is that all just for show? Yes, I know your type. All bluster, no muster.” He smiled, guiding his eyes to the others. “There are four of you, all heavily armed. Surely you’re not concerned that I might be able to best you?”
“I’m not concerned about that at all,” bit Tanner. “I’ll take you alone, Mikel. Gladly.”
“Hmmmm, what a confusing fellow you are,” Mikel said, an amused frown rippling above his eyes. “First you’re too frightened to set me free. Now you’re saying you’d fight me alone? Which is it, Mr Tanner. I’m inclined to believe the former. Very easy to make idle threats against a man in chains.”
“You’re no man!” Tanner was losing his cool once more. He seemed unable to rein in his anger in the face of Mikel. “Stop calling yourself that, freak! And no, it’s the damn latter. I’d fight you one on one, fists or knives, I don’t care. I’d love nothing more than to tear those smirking lips from your face.”
Mikel was smirking. He was returning to the man they’d first captured, enjoying the game. Chloe watched on, anxious. She didn’t like where this was going.
“Again,” spoke Mikel, voice smooth. “Big words, with nothing to back them up.”
“I’ll back them up, all right,” growled Tanner. His eyes swerved to Ragan. “Go ahead, set him free. He’s no threat to us.”
Mikel chuckled arrogantly. Tanner was easy for him to manipulate. Far too easy, in fact. And Ragan clearly knew it.
“Cliff,” he said, with a cool reprimand. “Let’s not make this into a slanging match again. Calm yourself.”
Tanner looked set to turn his ire on Ragan instead, but managed to bite his tongue before any words were spat. He turned away, took a deep breath, and returned his eyes to the fray, silent.
Ragan took over. His demeanour was the opposite of his friend, composed and in control.
“Now Mikel,” he began. “I understand your predicament, and so will make a concession. I’ll release your restraints, and you’ll tell us where the data is. Can we agree on that?”
Mikel considered the proposal for a moment with a little frown and shake of the head.
“Thank you, Agent Hunt, I do appreciate it,” he said with feigned gratitude. “However, that isn’t quite enough now, is it?”
Ragan stiffened.
“Not enough?”
“Well, no, of course not. Relieving me of my chains isn’t sufficient. After all, there are four of you, as I say. What’s to stop you from gunning me down once you have the disc? And don’t speak of your word, or your honour. I’ll need further guarantees.”
“This is ridiculous,” came Tanner’s voice again. “Ragan, why don’t we just search the buildings? We’re sure to find it eventually.”
“That’s assuming it’s in one of the buildings,” smiled Mikel. “Perhaps I buried it nearby? Are you going to dig up the entire prairie, Mr Tanner?”
“I don’t see why not!” He looked to Ragan. “We have time, don’t we? We could call back to base, get more men down here. It wouldn’t take us long…”
“My my, so very keen to keep me under lock and key,” cut in Mikel. “You’re just desperate to kill me right here, right now, aren’t you Mr Tanner? You can’t bare the thought of me escaping your sight. Oh, you’d never sleep properly again, would you? Not knowing I’m out there somewhere, watching you…just waiting for my time to strike.” He hissed the last words, eyes widening with pleasure.
“I’d welcome it,” growled Tanner in response, facing him down. “I’ll say it again, freak. Me and you, fists or knives. I don’t care which. I’ll…”
“Tanner!” said Ragan loudly, voice cutting through the thin morning air.
Tanner shut up immediately, caught off guard. Mikel smiled.
“There’s a good dog,” the nano-vamp purred. “You go silent for master.”
It was the last straw. With a sudden motion, Tanner dropped his rifle, lifted a fist, and swung right at Mikel’s face. Ragan leapt forward to intercept him, but Tanner managed to get there first, knuckles crunching right into Mikel’s jaw. There was a crunch, a grunt, and a spurt of blood. Mikel’s head snapped to one side, then rose back up. Slowly.
His eyes remained black, in control. Only the tiniest hint of red and white flashed, indicating hatred, and anger. His lips bled. Claret dribbled down his chin. But a smile still hovered.
Ragan took a firm grip of Tanner, hauling him away. He dragged him right towards the ramp of the falcon, and tossed him onto it. A finger pointed into the gloom of the jet’s interior.
“Go wait in there,” he ordered. Tanner made to move back down the ramp. “Seriously, Cliff, I’m not joking! You’re making this impossible for me!”
“But…”
“Cliff, please! Just…please do this for me. Wait there a moment, OK?” His voice started hard, then softened, ending in an almost pleading tone. The look in his eye forced Tanner to relent. He nodded, reluctantly, and withdrew, hovering up into the belly of the plane, fists clenched tight to his sides, and voice muttering quietly to himself.
Ragan let out a sigh, shaking his head. He stepped back down and into the bright light. Neither Nadia nor Chloe were speaking. Not with each other. Not with Mikel. All eyes fell on Ragan as he came.
“OK,” he breathed out. “So where were we?”
“Discussing my safe release, I believe,” smiled Mikel. “Now I see that you don’t trust me, and it’s hard for me to question that. However, it is quite the same for me. The difference is, you hold the cards here, Agent Hunt. I was promised safe release, and payment for my trouble. I believe you also mentioned transport?” He looked around. “I don’t see any. How am I supposed to get away? You might just as easily take off in that jet of yours and hunt me down, even if you do let me go. You can see the bind I’m in.”
Ragan sent strong fingers through his hair. The sun wasn’t overly hot, not at this time in the morning, but he was starting to sweat nonetheless.
“I can see the bind, Mikel. I’d have to be blind not to. The promised transport is in the shape of a jet car.” He looked at the falcon next to them, referencing a compartment on its underside. “There is one stored in the falcon’s underbelly. It’s not large, or particularly fast, but it’s plenty to take you and your money away from here. That bargain stands true. But we need the data disc first.”
“Well, let me see this jet car then. Let’s do that for starters.”
Ragan looked to Nadia with a nod. She sprung to action, rushing up into the falcon and activating the controls. Immediately, a section of the jet’s underside began to fall, dropping down like a lift. At the same time, a set of stilts extended from various points on the jet’s underside, reached the dirt, and began lifting the entire aircraft up like a car jack. Soon enough, it was two metres into the air, providing enough space for
the storage lift to slide out, revealing a small jet car on a shelf.
Nadia came back down the ramp, opened up the vehicle, and began driving it off the shelf and onto the dirt. She then returned to the falcon’s controls, withdrawing the shelf, closing the storage compartment, and retracting the stilts. Within a minute or so, the falcon was back in its original position. Only now, another aircraft was parked beside it.
Chloe watched on during the entire episode, thinking it odd that there had been another aircraft inside the falcon this entire time. She’d heard Ragan mention providing Mikel with a transport as part of the bargain they struck, but didn’t imagine it had been beneath their feet all along. It was as though the falcon had given birth, Chloe thought.
“And just like magic,” mused Mikel, “there it is. My carriage.”
“Yes, as promised,” said Ragan, rather curtly. “It’s not much more than an escape pod should the jet run into trouble while airborne, but should be plenty for you. It was designed to fit half a dozen people, and has fuel for a thousand miles. That sufficient for you?”
“It’ll do,” said Mikel. “Now be a good boy and load up my money.” He smiled again, a face Ragan was struggling not to hit. He was exercising more self-control than Tanner, though. Just.
The money was loaded aboard as ordered, though not the weapons. They were offered in the bargain, but Mikel showed some disdain for them. Nano-vamps favoured smaller firearms mostly, and the likes of Mikel preferred knives. It was a good thing, really. The smaller aircraft would have struggled to have taken the weight of the money and the heavy weaponry.
Mikel watched on with a smile that bordered on self-satisfaction. He appeared, to Chloe, to be enjoying ordering the team about.
With beads of sweat now appearing on his forehead, and hair growing slick, Ragan stepped before Mikel again. Chloe could sense his growing exasperation. He was reaching the limits of his control. With another captive, perhaps he’d be fine. But with Mikel?
“OK, what else?” he asked firmly. “You have your transport. You have your money. We have nothing else to give you, Mikel.”