by Timothy Cox
The man cocked his head trying to think what the commander was thinking and then it zapped him like they were sharing intuitive thought. ‘Shit. They’re going to attack in one big wave aren’t they?’
Xavier nodded. He looked at his troops and broke the silence they were trying so hard to maintain. ‘Everyone back to the control center!’
Startled eyes looked up; thinking that they were being attacked. Soft steps turned into heavy thumps. Guns’ holstered and the sound of metal bumped. Soldiers in the cafeteria slid over the counter top. Xavier and a few men led the pack running.
To prove Xavier’s suspicion was right – the radar beeped: first one beep, then two beeps, and then beeps’ rained.
‘Fuck!’ He yelled looking at the radar. ‘Commander we better hurry.’
Xavier touched his ear. ‘Give me an update on control room.’
The coast is clear. We’re looking down an empty hall Commander. We can however feel something odd. The ground is starting to vibrate.
‘We’ll be there in three minutes. Keep the door closed and barricaded hostiles’ incoming.’
Affirmative.
Only some halls were alight – but they all shared one thing: dead bodies.
Xavier knew that their only advantage was the hall. Those things were going to come pummeling through it; making focus fire easier. However, one could only speculate how many were coming, and with a long dark hall concealing their little bodies – making things worse. Xavier realized that they needed light down it.
‘What’s the status on the engine?’
Great news. We’ll have it up and running in ten minutes.
It was good news, but even ten minutes sounded long. ‘Be quick, we’re going have to keep them at bay. If we lose control room we lose this ship. What about all the others?’
A lot of them are safe Commander. We have them all locked up in secure rooms.
‘Good. Engineer, any way we can get light down the hall at CR.’
Maybe. I’ll see if we–
A violent explosion made the ship bob. Many people fell to the floor including Xavier. He stood up hearing something he didn’t like: metal twisting. ‘Everyone ok?’
His ear hummed. ‘Anyone on the line?’ He glanced behind at the black tunnel.
STATIC–Command–STATIC–we need sup–STATIC–theybrea–STATIC.
‘Everyone get there now!’ He shouted down the ill-lighted hall.
(18)
He could hear their fire behind closed door. As he burst through with his troops he quickly realized a few things: leaving control room with only a handful of people a mistake and there was no way in hell they were going to win this. He tried anyway.
‘Suppress fire!’ He waved at the hall where they spurted from. The sound of fifty guns roared: amazing unison – spectacular firework. Xavier broke from the group with seven others. They ran towards extra cover. More soldiers stormed in from the opposite side of the room.
It was side versus side. Two entrances. One side of the room hundreds poured in. The other side a dozen men at a time. A lot of soldiers ran along the wall so that their teammates could pour in more efficient. They knelt with their backs against the steel and aimed.
The first batch of soldiers that entered had time to take a breath before shooting. A few seconds later that luxury was gone. It was now the wild west of shooting – not something these soldiers preferred. They knew deep in their hearts (and from years of training) that composure and the element of surprise were always the better option.
Xavier felt like his ears were going to bleed (they were). The gunfire was so loud that everything around him turned into slow claps. He saw insects jump on some of his closest friends. His heart didn’t have time to ache; it was pumping so much blood that he could feel his skin burn. He saw a swarm of spiders overrun someone not far from him. He breathed. He aimed. His memory drifted into the past–
Son. Now you listen. You’re not holding that gun up correctly. Here let me show you.
But dad, isn’t it better to just shoot?
No it is not. That’s how fools shoot and you’re not a fool. Aiming is the mother of true skill, of true power, and you my boy, will lead others to victory one day. You’ll need that power.
Ok dad…ok. Am I holding it right now?
That’s perfect. Now aim.
–he looked through the scope and held his tears. He saw the man trying to fight them: his hands up in the air, trying to scrape them off, screaming. Xavier aimed for his head and fired. He couldn’t hold in his tears anymore; the wall broke. His gun fell from his hands. He stepped back – the more he stepped back – the more he saw the destruction. The soldiers he had sworn to protect had no chance. He knew it. He could see it from where he stood. However, they kept on shooting, they kept on screaming, and most important of all: they kept on trying.
Xavier ran away.
(19)
The ship bopped. Lights flickered. The ship was lost.
To lash at his soul for betraying his ear piece started working: STATIC–commander we are hearing stuff outside the engine room. How are things in control room? Commander come in I think there are…there, wait. Do you hear that? Oh fuck! Command–
Xavier ripped the chip out. He threw it on the floor where it went sliding. He wiped his tears and continued running down the hall. He could still hear them scream in the far distance; or maybe it was just his mind showing him a preview of how he was going to live the rest of his life.
He couldn’t control his sobbing. He thought of all those soldiers. Something else gnawed at his heart; reminding him of the true horror. He was not only going to leave his troops behind – but the thousands of others still trapped behind closed doors: the men and women that swore their allegiance to the Resistance.
He heard things near. He knew time was running out. He entered the code.
Intercom: PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER AN ESCAPE POD. THE DOOR WILL REMAIN SHUT WHEN INSIDE. DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?
He slammed the button. The doors opened. He was half way inside – about to close the door when he heard shouting down the hall.
‘Wait!’ She screamed.
‘No…please no.’ Xavier whispered. He looked at her dragging the man.
‘Wait for us–’
‘I can’t. Sorry.’ Xavier said wiping his eyes.
‘My name is Reeta Lawuas and this is Milo! We barely escaped please wait–’
‘I said I’m sorry.’ His hand hovered above the red button. ‘Please forgive me.’ He sobbed.
‘Wait.’ She cried. ‘Please wait!’ She fell to her knees. The man was too heavy.
He gazed at the red round button. He closed his eyes and squeezed it, feeling ashamed at what he was going to do. And then he heard her cry.
A door broke down the hall. Insects were storming in.
Xavier knew he had to make a choice. He chose to save them. He ran for her and carried the man. She had enough energy to stumble towards the pod alone.
He pressed the button. The doors closed and just in time. The insects jumped against the glass; painting their bodies against it.
Intercom: WELCOME. YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER SPACE. PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS...
Part one out on Amazon: US / UK
PLEASE READ GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION:
1) Earth has unlimited energy but limited resources.
2) If you turn twenty-one on the fifth year cycle – it is compulsory to join the Resistance.
3) It is law to study high-tech material for future preparation.
4) Failing to join the Resistance, if you qualify, will lead to severe repercussions for you and your family.
5) Earth needs you. Earth needs minerals.
Jack qualifies. He will be the third one to leave the family. It will be hard to leave the people he loves behind – but it’s for a good cause. He knows it. The earth is starving for minerals. Without the Resistance: earth will die.
But the universe
is big. Full of, unknown things...
Part one out on Amazon US / UK
Society had enough; people aren't stupid.
The rich get richer and the poor poorer. This is what happens when you stretch the temperament too far. Deep down they've had enough of running the hamster wheel. All they needed was a spark for everything to kick off: the stock market crash of 2015.
Things didn’t stop there; people wiping themselves out weren’t enough. It was as if Mother Nature wanted the job done. There's a disease on the loose. If you catch it, you have six months to live. Except...if you can find the cure.
We follow the story of Clinton Filosy: just a normal man with a heart-breaking past. And things, are only getting worse...
Part one out on Amazon: US / UK
When mother said: “Don’t take stuff from strangers.” She was right.
But when you’re homeless, hungry, and cold, willpower goes out the window. This is the life of Jacob, a man that once had everything: the youth, a car, and even a girlfriend. But when the job market went sideways, he spiralled from everything to nothing. He now begs for money on streets to keep himself alive.
Then somebody appeared, not to give him change for food, but something else. Something that promised a hell of a good night.