L let out a sigh and silence once again filled the room. She patted Kai on the arm. "Well, no point dwelling on that. It won't get us anywhere."
"Have you tried looking for a way out?"
"Nah, thought I'd just sit here and wait to be rescued. What do you take me for? Of course I've tried to find a way out. But your boss--"
"He's not my boss," snapped Kai.
"Duke isn't as stupid as he looks. This room is sealed better than my toolbox, and you know what security measures I have on that."
"I never knew why. It's just a stupid old box."
"The point is we're not getting out of here anytime soon. Not unless someone breaks us out," said L.
"Then we shall be here till the stars die and Soul reclaims me again as one of hers."
L let out a snort and shook her head. "I'm not planning on being here that long. You can stay here and rot, but my crewmates will come and get me."
"Will they?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Because... Because not everything is as it seems, sometimes. You know, sis, sometimes people break their promises or leave friends behind. It's life. It used to get me down, but now I just accept the colour of people's hearts. It's just the way things are," Kai said in a whisper.
"Who has been filling your head with that worm shit? This isn't the Kai I knew before I went away. This isn't the brother who fought five village boys off to protect me. You have lost so much hope. You have lost so much faith.
"My crew–my friends–will come for me. They will tear this city apart until I'm found. Midnight–oh, you must meet Midnight, she is the scariest person I have ever met. She is this tough, mean, fearsome Noctis female that I once saw beat up someone with their own arm. Their own arm!" L said, waving her hands in the air even though Kai couldn't see her in the darkness.
"She...sounds like fun."
"Then there is Phoenix. He's kind of the captain, but not really. Midnight lets him think that he's in charge. Well, no...I take that back. He is my captain. He promised me that he would look after me, and so far he has."
"Great job he's done of that," Kai snorted.
"You haven't seen the colour of his heart, Kai. If there's a way to get me out of here, Phoenix will find it. He always seems to know what to do. Then there's Plowstow... He's... He's...green."
"Just green?"
"And finally--"
The sound of a lock being pulled back drew their attention towards the door. The door hissed as it was pulled away from the walls and light grew in between the gaps it made. It was so bright it blinded the pair, who had to cover their eyes. They had become used to the dark. Used to the stillness of that pitch-black room.
As the door swung open the only visible thing was a tall humanoid outline. Light appeared to be radiating from its back, obscuring its features. It stood tall. It stood still.
A head moved from side to side and surveyed the scene in front of it. "I hope you're not planning to dally here all day, young lady. Like the great poet VVG once said, we have work to do. So do we must!"
"And, finally, there's Freyan.
48
Phoenix saw the pistol. He heard the sound. He felt the pain pass through the top corner of his chest as he tipped out the back of the hover truck. It wasn't a plasma pistol that the driver fired. It was a bolt-action handgun. Just his luck.
The bolt passed through his combat gear, only designed to stop light plasma fire, and ripped flesh and tore muscle as it made its way through his body.
It hurt like hell.
He fell from the back of the truck, and the ten-foot drop to the sand seemed to take forever. When was he going to hit the ground? When was he going to meet his maker?
A flash of silver blinked in and out of existence in the corner of his eye. What could that be? Phoenix reached for it and felt his hands wrap around cold steel. It felt solid. It felt reassuring. Then the kiss of sand came up to meet him in the face. Phoenix wanted to lie where he was and wait for death to greet him. His wound hurt so much. He was more tired than he'd realised.
But none of that mattered. His arm jerked ahead of him and he was pulled forward.
What the...?
He closed his mouth as his body bumped along the ground, to stop sand and other bits of debris making his mouth their home. Phoenix lifted his head up and saw that his arm was entangled in a long length of cable attached to the hover truck. He was being pulled along at speed, but if he held on, he would survive.
Nobody had noticed him yet. They all thought he was dead. He wished he were.
Phoenix looked up at the task before him and gave himself a mental slap. Get your shit together! Come on!
He wrapped his arm around the cable to secure a better purchase and began to pull himself forward, inch by inch. He needed to get to his feet. It sounded ridiculous, even to him, but he needed to surf the sand and save his friends. He kept dragging himself forward, hoping–and praying–that nobody from the truck made sure the job was finished.
Then again, with the black gear he wore and the darkness of the desert, he doubted if anyone could actually see him. It wasn't a theory he wanted to put to the test, though. It would be better to get back onto the truck before anyone noticed.
His wound burned as he pulled himself forward, inch by inch. Every inch was a victory. Every inch felt like a mountain climbed.
His hand slipped on the metal, and he moved back a foot or two. Forward, fool, not backwards. Forward.
The only thing in Phoenix's favour was the combat gear he wore. He had questioned Saoirse's choice of attire, but now he couldn't be more thankful. Anything other than the tough material would have been torn to strips by now. His face felt bruised and bloody, but it would be a lot worse if he had been bare-faced.
Phoenix lifted his head up once and saw that he still had some way to go.
"Phoenix?" Saoirse's voice spoke in his ear.
"Yup."
"I dispatched my pursuers."
Of course she had.
"Plowstow appears to be having problems, but I believe he can save himself. He...appears to have a knack for survival. What's your situation?"
"Errr, kind of busy, not--" Phoenix paused to spit out sand. "Dying. I'm making my way towards Duke via some cable."
"Are you injured?"
"Just a small hole through the chest. I should live...I hope."
"Do you need assistance?"
"Nah, I should be fine. This is a piece of cake. I just need to climb up this cable, without being seen or shot, and somehow kill two armed assholes with my bare hands. So, like I said, it should be a piece of cake."
"I am not familiar with this cake you speak of."
"It's an--"
"Earth saying," Saoirse said in a monotone voice.
"Yes, it's an Earth saying. I'm from Earth, hence I say things from there. I really don't have time to deal with this, right now. I have asses to kick."
"Are you sure you don't need help?" said Saoirse.
"I'm sure."
"Is that just your male pride and ego speaking?"
"It's.... What?"
"I shall be on my way," said Saoirse, cutting the conversation short and returning silence to Phoenix's ear.
If you were going to come, why bother asking me?
Phoenix let out a sigh of frustration and focused on the task at hand. Gripping the steel cable firmly, he pulled himself up hand over hand. He knew he would only get one chance at this. He knew that if he failed, there would be no turning back. It would be game over.
He stopped within four metres of the truck. The hover engine masked any sounds he made. Its deep bass hum echoed through his chest, keeping rhythm with his heartbeat.
Adjusting his grip on the cable, he spun his legs around so they were in front of him. Arching his back, he bent forward slightly at the waist. The cold desert air tore at his face. Riding on his butt, he took a deep breath. He began to get his feet under his knees, which were clamped together, and pull
ed himself into a sitting position.
Twelve months ago, if anyone had told him he would be sand skiing on a distant desert planet, Phoenix would have laughed in their face. If they had told him he would also be risking his life to get back in a hover truck he had been thrown out of, and that he would be doing so unarmed, he would have taken a swing at them.
Duke hadn't turned the hover truck around. He hadn't made sure that his prey was dead. He had left it up to fate. Well, Phoenix was going to show him and his driver that fate was indeed a cruel mistress.
49
There was one thing Phoenix had refused to address, despite its glaring at him in the forefront of his brain. One thing he was waiting for. He knew that the worms were out there. He had seen more than one moving alongside the truck.
But none had attacked him.
That in itself was more worrying than anything else.
Where were the worms?
Phoenix kept his head down and tightened his grip as the truck pulled him along. Movement to his left made him snap his head in that direction. He peered into the darkness and felt foolish for even doing so. What was he expecting to see? He felt something tickle his leg, almost making him lose his balance. Gripping the cable to steady himself, he shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
Shouts up ahead brought his attention back to the truck. Had they seen him? No. Shots would be coming his way. Had they seen...something else? He couldn't hear what was being said, as only a few words floated their way to him.
Easy! Relax, relax. First, stay alive. Second, make your way towards the truck. Third...well, shit. The third seemed so far away that Phoenix couldn't even think that far ahead. Trying to control his breathing, he felt the slow trickle of blood making its way down his chest. Another problem for another time.
"Phoenix! Phoenix, Phoenix, guess who?"
Once again Phoenix had to keep control of his balance as a voice boomed through his ear. "Hello, L."
"Did you miss me?"
"Hmm... Let me think on that... Hmm. Did...I...miss you? Hmm."
"Phoenix!"
"Yes, all right, I missed you, loudmouth. It's good to hear you back to your old self. Are you okay?" Phoenix whispered.
"I'm feeling so good I could dance. Actually, I have been thinking about a new one I can show you. It involves--"
"L, I am kind of busy, right now."
"Doing what?"
"What I do best."
"Fine! Just so you know, everyone is okay, and we're making our way towards the ship. Once you get to the city we'll pick you up," said L.
"Good. One question, before you go. There were a lot of small dust worms about, but now there aren't. That's a good thing, right?"
L's silence told him all he needed to know. He was in trouble. He could sense it. He could feel it. How much trouble he was in was all he wanted to know. He would have to face it head on, no matter what, and deal with it.
"Phoenix, get to the city as quick as you can. Do you hear me? Get to the city now!" said L.
"Why?"
"An alpha is coming."
"How bad?"
"Bad."
"All right, L, thanks for letting me know. Well, see you back at the city."
"Be safe."
An alpha? Logic dictated that the alpha of any species was always the biggest and strongest. Phoenix had a real problem on his hands. He had seen how big those creatures got; he had nearly been eaten by one. It was an experience that he didn't want to relive again.
But first he had to deal with the issue of Duke.
The roar of an engine sounded behind him. Argh! More problems that he could do without. He didn't have a pistol or any weapon of any sort to deal with the matter at hand. He could hear the roar of the engine getting closer and closer.
He was a sitting duck. A deer in the headlights to be picked off at leisure.
Think, Phoenix! Think!
There was nothing he could do. There was nowhere he could go. He just had to await his fate and hope that he remained hidden.
The engine got closer. Phoenix's heart pounded against his chest. His whole body grew tense, awaiting the pain that would no doubt herald his discovery.
He heard shouts up above on the hover truck. They must have also heard the engine approaching from behind. Phoenix knew that his cover would be blown–either from the front or back.
"Get ready!"
"What?"
"Are you hard of hearing?" Saoirse asked.
"No," Phoenix said in confusion.
"Then get ready! I'm coming. Prepare yourself, Phoenix Jones," said Saoirse
"Prepare myself for what?"
The war cry Saoirse screamed in his ear enveloped him whole. It was all he could hear or think about. It was like nothing Phoenix had heard of before. It was one part beautiful, two parts eerie. Its beauty was like witnessing a thunderstorm in the ocean with nothing but a raft to keep you afloat.
Phoenix felt a hand on his back as Saoirse raced past him. She picked him up and threw him forward. Phoenix was lifted clear off his feet and was airborne, heading straight for the truck. Only one thought raced through his mind.
Damn, she's strong. She held back, last time we fought.
Phoenix flew forward and saw Duke's astounded face loom into view. It was something that would keep him warm at night.
"Guess who, motherfucker!" Phoenix yelled, connecting a punch to Duke's jaw.
50
They landed in a heap, with Phoenix on top of Duke. The pistol Duke tried to raise to shoot Phoenix out of the sky clattered to the floor. Phoenix didn't waste any time; he knew what he had to do, and he needed to do it fast. He held Duke down by the throat and punched him in the face repeatedly. The wet sounds of his fist smashing into flesh echoed in the night.
Duke shoved his hands into Phoenix's face, where he dug one of his thumbs into Phoenix's eye. As Phoenix yelled in pain, his hand going to his eye, Duke used the moment to roll Phoenix off him. They rose to their feet as one, staring at each other with a mixture of emotions.
Duke was wide-eyed; a man he thought he had killed stood, large as life, in front of him.
"What's the matter, Dukey? You miss me?"
Menace touched Duke's lips; he said nothing but dived for the pistol on the floor. Phoenix threw a kick to his head. It missed but grazed Duke's shoulder, knocking him back.
Phoenix went for the pistol himself, fingers grasping at the weapon. He didn't have time to bring it up, as Duke launched himself towards him. They collapsed once again on the floor, both struggling and clawing for the pistol. They rolled around in the tight space, trying to gain the upper hand.
Duke was on top of Phoenix, pushing the pistol towards Phoenix's face. Phoenix pushed it away with every ounce of strength he had. His muscles strained; he could see Duke's finger making its way towards the trigger. Duke squeezed it just as Phoenix moved out of the way. The bolt blasted a hole through the bed of the truck, inches from Phoenix's face. He could smell the burning metal, the acrid scent threatening to bring bile up in his throat.
Phoenix bucked Duke off him, and the pistol went off once more. Phoenix didn't see where the shot went as they both struggled for the weapon. Phoenix cocked his head back and delivered a head butt to Duke's face. Duke's already bloody nose took the brunt of the force, shifting to the left, where it stayed misshapen.
Duke staggered backwards, holding his nose in his hands. Dropping his bloody hands from his face, he looked up to see Phoenix pointing the pistol in his direction.
"I guess this is how it ends," said Duke.
"It never began, Dukey. It never began."
"You won't leave this planet alive, you know. No matter what you think. No matter what you do." Duke laughed.
"Is that--"
The truck jerked to the left, knocking Phoenix and Duke off their feet. The pistol went over the side, and Phoenix watched as it disappeared into the darkness. Turning his head back, he looked towards the driver to see him sl
umped against the controls, a dark patch spreading across his back.
That's where the other bolt went.
Phoenix sprang to his feet but was thrown back down once more. The out-of-control truck swerved left and right. Phoenix looked up from his hands and knees to see Duke crawling towards the controls. Phoenix tried to follow him but was hit from behind by the now free-swinging arm of the gun turret.
Stars danced in front of Phoenix's eyes.
Phoenix was launched into the air as the hover truck hit something with a bang. His arms flailed and legs kicked as he came down with a crash. Whatever the truck had hit must have been big. Or whatever had hit it.
The truck tilted on its side as it hit something again. Phoenix found himself flung forward, the impact against the side of the truck rattling his teeth in his mouth. Duke twisted the half moon steering controls, panicking as he tried to wrestle the truck back under control. But whatever the truck had hit must have damaged its controls, as no amount of turning brought the beast under control.
Phoenix found himself slammed against the side of the truck once more, and his gaze fell onto an enormous shape moving in the sand.
Shit. Is that...what hit us?
"Phoenix! You need to get off that craft before that thing attacks again," Saoirse said in his ear.
"Don't you think I know that? Saying it is much easier than doing it!"
The black-diamond body slammed itself against the truck with another resounding bang. The truck groaned under the impact. Phoenix ducked as the gun turret swung for his head. Another couple of knocks from that worm and they would flip over.
"Saoirse, what's your position?"
"Look behind you."
Phoenix turned to see a hover bike speeding towards them. Saoirse did her best to control the bike as sand kicked up all around her. Inching the bike closer, she crept along the side of the truck.
"How do you expect me to get out the truck?" Phoenix asked.
"Jump."
"Jump where?" Phoenix asked in a panicked voice.
"Towards me," Saoirse said, holding out her hand.
Stranded: (Space Outlaw 2) Page 15