Duke's remaining men had begun to collect themselves. The shots fired at Phoenix's crew were becoming more and more precise. Terror and fear no longer made for unsteady hands; they were getting over Phoenix's shock and awe attack. He had hoped to pick off a few more before they collected themselves. As things stood, the numbers were too high for him to take them all out in an open gunfight.
Phoenix ducked as something pinged off his handlebars. "Saoirse, do you have anymore explosives up those beautiful sleeves of yours?"
"Beautiful?" Even in the midst of battle, where life and death hung by a thread, the look Saoirse gave Phoenix told him there was more to fear than weapon fire if he spoke to her like that again.
"What, can't I give you a simple compliment?"
The stare continued.
"Are we going to do this right now? Really?" said Phoenix.
"No, I do not have any other explosives up my sleeves. Or anywhere else, for that matter. They have been all spent."
"Shit. Plowstow, you--" Two more pings hit the side of Phoenix's bike. He ducked as a plasma bolt passed inches from his head. "You got anything?"
"Nah, all out."
Phoenix turned towards his foes and saw that they were beginning to get organised. They were spread out in an arc, pushing their way towards the crew. The latter needed to make a move towards the city and fight them there. Out here they were outnumbered and outgunned, sitting ducks waiting for slaughter.
"Phoenix Jones! You believe you could have won, but out here...the desert winds change victory into defeat quicker than you can blink. It's a shame that this is where you will die. So far from home," said Duke.
"Big words, little Dukey. Why don't you show yourself instead of cowering behind your men?"
There was a moment's ceasefire as both parties looked at each other, searching for any signs of weakness. Neither party wanted to make the first move.
"I will gladly--"
A scream from one of Duke's men cut his words short. Panic ran through their ranks as they looked for another unseen enemy. Darkness had descended around the battleground like death's cloak.
One minute it was light, then it wasn't. Confusion reigned and vehicle lights were switched on so they could scan the area around them. Another scream echoed in the darkness.
"What's going on?" yelled Duke.
Phoenix looked to Saoirse and Plowstow, who both gave him blank stares. Who had come to help them in their hour of need? Freyan was in the city, and Phoenix knew of no one else that would risk their life to help them.
Phoenix brought his weapon up to finish off what he had started when he saw something that stilled his heart. There was movement in the sand.
45
The air was tense as sand shifted and moved in the night. What Phoenix thought he saw had vanished before he had time to flash his light on it.
All had gone silent again.
Everyone seemed to hold their breath. Waiting. Wondering. Nobody moved a muscle; they all moved as one, illuminating and scanning the area around them. They had fought as bitter enemies but a few moments ago, but when things that lurked in the darkness appeared before them, enemies quickly turned into allies.
"You think these tricks will work on me?" Duke asked. "I have seen better--"
"Shut up, you fool! Something else is at play here," said Saoirse.
"Who is this female that dares to speak to me? I will--"
Another scream cut Duke off, but this time light bathed the offender, illuminating his face for the world to see. It wasn't a pretty picture to behold. Eyes so wide that it seemed they would pop out at any moment stared out into a void that none could see. His was a face that stared into death's hollow eyes and knew his time was up. He sank to his chest in the desert sand, his hands clawing for purchase. Try as he might, he couldn't get a firm enough grip and he sank deeper and deeper into the sand.
He fought and fought, but it was of no use. He disappeared in the sand and all that remained were the grooves clawed into the sand by his fingertips.
The whole thing had happened without anyone uttering a word. Not the person who had been attacked. Not his friends, who stood and watched helplessly. It had played out like a silent movie, as if adding sound to the scene they witnessed was a detail too much.
"We are in a worm nest! Get out before it's too late," cried a voice.
Phoenix didn't need to hear the warning twice. He signaled Saoirse and Plowstow, and they took off on their bikes. Phoenix fired as many shots as he could at Duke's scattered troops. A male with a Mohawk two feet tall ran alongside Phoenix's bike, trying to get on. He gripped the side of the bike and tried to hold on. Phoenix almost felt sorry for the man as he stared into a face that showed nothing but fear. Then he remembered L.
Phoenix took out his pistol and fired point-blank between the gang member's eyes. The man's hands still refused to let go, clutching at the side of the bike in a death grip. Phoenix kicked the body clear and sent it tumbling into the sand. He looked back to see the body disappear beneath the sand.
"That went better than expected! All we need to do now is get to the city before them and pick them off one--"
Phoenix was cut off and veered left as an explosion kicked up sand that splattered against the side of his face. The smoking hole the explosion left gave Phoenix all the incentive he needed to twist the throttle and go. Over his shoulder he could see lights in the distance–they were heading their way. Another bright flash from one of the pickup cannons and more sand exploded far too close for Phoenix's liking.
"Fan out! It will make us harder targets to hit. Head for the junkyard behind Duke's warehouse," said Phoenix.
"What do we do if we get lost? I don't wanna die out here with those things," said Plowstow.
"Then don't get lost," said Phoenix.
Phoenix caught Saoirse's eye, but neither said anything. She simply smiled and nodded her head before taking off ahead of him. He turned in his seat and saw Duke's men closing in. They were gaining ground faster than he'd expected.
Hundred-foot worms chewing at your ass–that tends to give you all the motivation you need to move quickly.
Three explosions just ahead of them forced Phoenix to duck and weave through smoke and flames. Sand pelleted his back as it descended again. A bike pulled up alongside him, and the owner tried to steady his aim and fire his pistol. Phoenix slammed his bike into the attacker's, lifting his leg out of the way at the last minute. As the two bikes collided, the attacker's leg was trapped between them. Even over the roar of the engines and the sound of bombs, Phoenix still heard the crunch as bone shattered into a hundred bits.
The attacker's scream sent a chill down Phoenix's spine.
Phoenix pulled away and saw the gang member reach for his leg with a tentative hand. He should have been paying attention to where he was going, but the pain from his leg seemed to be all he could focus on. He failed to see a boulder jutting out from under the sand. His bike slammed into the rock, flipping twice before it came crashing down on top of the rider's body.
Phoenix didn't give it a second look.
Another explosion; another face full of sand. Phoenix stared straight ahead at the city lights, blinking and twinkling enticingly, waving him onwards, inviting him to safety. All he had to do was make it there alive.
"Mr Jones!" a voice called in the darkness.
Phoenix snapped his head around, looking for the owner. Duke's grinning face met him from the hovering pickup truck next to him. Phoenix gave him a friendly wave before opening fire. None of the shots hit their target, but they did cause the driver to swerve.
Movement in the sand to his left stole his attention. A long body, hidden under the sand, snaked alongside the bike. It wasn't as big as the first one he had seen when he arrived on the planet, but it was indeed big enough to cause him concern. Phoenix looked on in horror as a black body at least thirty feet in length, covered with diamond-shaped scales, rose from the sand. Its armour-plated skin was beautif
ul to behold. Phoenix looked at the long tubular body and eyeless head in wonder. The barbels along either side of the worm's head searched the air like a sniffer dog's nose.
Phoenix began to pull away from the creature but it sensed him. Its barbels pointed in Phoenix's direction and the creature's round head swung his way. It dived under the sand and began to follow him. The thing was fast–too fast for something of its size.
A thought lurked in the back of Phoenix's mind; one that he tried to keep at bay. The size of these worms meant most were not fully grown. If that was the case, then one question remained that they should all be concerned about. Where were the parents?
"Mr Jones!"
Phoenix turned at the sound of his name and saw something that stopped his heart. A bolt pistol pointed in his direction. Time slowed as Phoenix looked at the weapon. Seeing the shooter's body hanging out of the truck, arm steady, ready to take aim, Phoenix knew two things: that no matter how bad a shot the shooter was, he couldn't miss, and Phoenix wouldn't be able to move out of the way in time, no matter what he did.
"Goodbye!"
46
Phoenix knew with certainty that he was dead meat.
There were so many things he had yet to see. So many places he had yet to go. How could his journey end on the first planet his feet touched? It didn't seem fair, somehow. It didn't seem right.
What's ever right, asshole? Be glad you got to see what you did. Be glad you got to experience what you did. Be glad you got to meet the people and cultures you did. Nothing is guaranteed, in this life or the next.
Phoenix accepted his fate, and a smile broke across his lips like the first rays of the sun at dawn.
A worm erupted from the sand without warning. Its head reared up in between Phoenix's bike and the truck, and the worm latched onto its prey. The shooter screamed as a scaly black head clamped onto his body. Teeth dripping with black ooze sank into flesh. The shooter held onto the rails of the truck with both hands, pistol all but forgotten.
Phoenix could hear bones snap, one by one, as the worm increased its pressure.
"Duke! Help me! For the love of Soul, help me!"
But there was no help to be found. The worm shook its head once, twice, and the shooter's grip gave out and he was pulled off the truck. His body disappeared into the sand amidst screams of pain.
Phoenix stared behind him, stunned. He made eye contact with Duke, who gave a simple shrug before diving for the dropped pistol.
Phoenix knew he had to act fast. Sweeping his bike towards the pickup, he waited till the last moment and dived into the back of the truck, landing on Duke. The two went down in a heap. Phoenix heard the pistol clatter to the floor. Duke was unarmed–or so Phoenix thought until a blade swept across his face.
Phoenix leapt back out of reach. He got to his feet as Duke began to do the same. Duke stood with his feet apart and tossed his knife from hand to hand. Phoenix patted himself down, looking for a weapon. Coming up short, a frown crept across his features.
Shit. I must have dropped my pistol.
"Lost something?" Duke said with a laugh.
"No. I was just making sure that I had nothing on me. I want this to be a fair fight," said Phoenix.
"You little--"
"Hah! Look who's talking," Phoenix laughed.
"I have never met a creature more irritating than you. More arrogant than you. It shall be my pleasure to put an end to your life."
"Come on then, Dukey! Show me that you can at least swing your fist past my balls!"
Duke roared as he came towards Phoenix, his face twisted in a snarl. Phoenix could feel his intent radiating off him–pure anger. He wanted nothing more than to inflict as much pain on Phoenix as he could.
There wasn't much room to move, but Phoenix leaned out of the way of Duke's first strike. He would have to disarm Duke fast. The lack of room only worked in Duke's favour, and he hacked and swung his way towards Phoenix.
Duke only had to be lucky once–a cut artery here, a slashed tendon there. It would take no time at all for Phoenix to bleed out. If the cut was bad enough, all Duke had to do was wait Phoenix out.
"Come on! Is that all you have? Is that all you're worth?" Phoenix taunted.
Duke's snarl deepened as he slashed left to right–wild, angry, uncoordinated.
Phoenix took a chance and stepped forward, but Duke slashed him across the chest. Phoenix took in a sharp breath. He expected pain but none came. Bringing his hand to his chest, he noticed that the combat gear he was wearing had stopped the cut. A faint line ran across the material.
"It looks like your little suit saved you. But how many cuts do you think it can stop? Won't it be fun trying to find out?" said Duke.
"Duke, tell me something, will you? How did a short, ugly little shit like yourself ever get into power? I mean, at the first sign of you approaching, anyone with half a brain would just stomp you out like the insect you are," said Phoenix.
"People respect power, no matter the size–"
The punch Phoenix delivered snapped Duke's head back and flattened his nose against his face. Phoenix delivered a kick to his stomach before he had to lean back as Duke slashed the blade towards him.
"Yeah, I wasn't really interested in a reply, if I'm honest. But I will give you one word of advice: if you believe power is the only thing that counts in this life, you're wrong. Power-hungry fools, such as yourself, think gaining more power will chase away the demons that haunt you. You think power is only about fear, which is short-sighted. Fear is like a twisted tree that strangles its own roots to survive."
Duke let out a yawn as he launched himself at Phoenix again. "Nothing but pretty words. Pretty words won't save you here!"
The attack was sloppy. Anger had clouded Duke's vision. Phoenix ducked the blade, as it sailed close to his face, and hit Duke square in the chest with his shoulder. Phoenix heard the breath escape Duke's lungs. He didn't give the gang leader a chance to recover, and lifted his head straight up into Duke's chin. The blow hurt; it dazed Phoenix slightly, but he knew Duke would come off worse.
Phoenix wrapped his arms around Duke and rushed him to the edge of the truck. He squeezed with all his might, shaking Duke till he dropped his knife.
The moment of victory was short-lived, as Duke's knee sunk itself between Phoenix's legs. Phoenix's hold loosened only for a moment, but Duke took full advantage of it. Phoenix saw the head-butt coming but could do nothing about it. The blow smashed into his nose and he staggered backward.
Something snapped Phoenix's head left to right, but the blood from his nose made it impossible to tell what. Phoenix felt metal against his back. Looking over his shoulder he saw nothing but darkness. Utter darkness. The light from the truck highlighted something much worse than Duke.
Moving shapes.
Phoenix felt hands around his throat. They were strong. They shook with anger.
"I...am...surprised...you can reach...my throat," Phoenix between gasps.
"You dumb worm breeder. You haven't realised the most important thing, have you?" asked Duke.
"And...what's that?" said Phoenix.
"Who do you think is driving?"
Shit!
"Now!" Duke screamed, jumping out of the way.
The pistol in the driver's hand was steady. He fired. He didn't miss.
As the slug from the bolt pistol hit Phoenix, his mind went blank, and he toppled out of the moving truck.
47
L rested her back against the wall and sank her head into her hands. How had it come to this? The constant fighting for survival. The constant struggle just to keep ahead of the sands of time. She'd thought if she left this planet she would leave all that behind.
All the fear. All the panic. All the pain.
But she had simply left one struggle and replaced it with another.
"You know, I never thought it would be like this," said L.
"How did you think it would be?" Kai asked.
"I don't know. I
just thought I was leaving home for something better. Something...something... For the love of Soul–something more."
"Pain and struggle is part of the universe. One can't simply be without it. That is what it means to be alive."
"Really? And here was I thinking it was to have fun. To enjoy life and all its pleasures." L let out a sigh and rested her head against the cool wall. She heard movement in the darkness and felt a hand rest on her arm.
"The universe is the universe. Just allow its colours to wash over you. Be one with it," said Kai.
"Be one with it, huh? You're such a hippie." L giggled.
Nothing moved apart from their hearts. L closed her hand and allowed the warmth from her brother to flow through her. How long had they been apart? She couldn't even remember. All she knew was that it had been too long. Too many days and nights without hearing his whimsical ramblings.
"Why did you leave?" Kai asked.
"You know why."
"I guess I do. The village and its beliefs, right?"
"That, and I wanted to see more. Wanted to do more. Wanted to be more."
"Little L, always looking up at the stars at night. Always tinkering with machines. Always looking for answers among nuts and bolts. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before you left. You were always a big worm in a small patch of sand. And I was always the tick just looking to catch a ride--"
"Don't call yourself that!" said L.
"But it's true." Kai let out a chuckle and patted her arm. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be here. I know that. And I am sorry. I know... I know... Sometimes I get lost in my work. Sometimes days pass in a blink of an eye when I'm connected--"
"It's the same for me when I'm working on a machine I can't fix."
"But I want you to know that I did try. I did try, when I found out what happened to you. I tried to dig for the truth, but Duke stopped my every advance. The lies he told were easier to believe than thinking I had failed you. Thinking that... What is buried in the dark always comes to light," said Kai.
Stranded: (Space Outlaw 2) Page 14