Second Life of Mr. Hunt: Book 3: Failover

by Gerrit Overeem

  Closing her eyes, she concentrated and picked up one word, which translated to duck. Realizing what was happening, Saasha hit the ground. The explosion sent a wave of cloud and fragments at her, destroying most of her meager defensive position.

  She peered over what was left of her fortification and saw them coming…two Woland and a hoard of mutated humanoids that looked to be pieced together, and a few Xeno-Shadows, which made her shiver.

  Not knowing how much longer she was going to last, Saasha said a quick prayer and charged the creatures. High-velocity needles ricocheted off her remaining armor. Upon reaching her enemies, she gave her left arm a quick snap downward to activate a circular energy shield. The shield flickered and came to life. She thanked her god that some small amount of power remained in the armor.

  Swinging her arm, she slammed a Woland with the energy shield, sending its electrocuted body into a wall, while kicking a mutant away from her. Regaining her footing, she fired two shots, dropping two of the mutant creatures. A Xeno-Shadow dove at her, and with a quick motion, she stepped backward and pulled her energy shield close to her body to block the raking claws.

  Saasha maneuvered her pistol around the shield and fired a few rounds into the side of the Xeno-Shadow’s head, dropping it, and then swung to her left to face a Woland. Its massive body barreled into the energy shield, sending her flying to the ground and knocking out the shield.

  Without any hesitation, Saasha rolled to her side and to a knee to face the remaining creatures now advancing on her.

  

  Ryan looked at Uphir, not knowing what to make of this guy. Perhaps if he got him talking, he could find a way for everyone to make a run for it.

  “I figured you wouldn’t understand the comment, but when you say “hold”, I take this as your surrender?”

  Uphir tilted his head, analyzing Ryan. “Kat, I was not aware you had such an interesting savior, and humorous as well. Blue flames…Do you call yourself the Hand of God by chance?”

  “Not really. I go by Ryan, but I am part Italian and the firstborn son. So, my mother and grandmother did think I walked on water.” Ryan adjusted the pistol in his hand. “Kat, you know this guy?”

  She jumped up on one of the hovering tables. “That’s Uphir. He’s the one who murdered Jessup and is behind this entire thing.”

  “Kat, my dear specimen, I—”

  A red blast of energy and a blue pistol shot hit Uphir’s shield, sending his hovering board backward and causing him to squat to keep his balance.

  “I ask for a simple parlay, and this is what I get. I figured as much from an inferior species,” Uphir said in a more direct tone. “As with past groups that have interfered with my plans, you will fail as well. Advance!”

  About thirty Woland moved through the large open bay doors from behind Uphir, followed by groups of the abominations. The groups moved into formation down the rows between the tables and over debris. What followed next was inhuman. A hulking creature at least fifteen feet tall, the size of a tank, and cloaked in black flame. It appeared to be the form of a Woland made with the skins of many people and the face of a Xeno-Shadow, except the upper part of its head was made entirely of human-sized eyes.

  “As you can see, I am not alone. I have an army and a beautiful creation of genetic engineering. A Flesh Golem created by me. You will surrender, and I will make sure my dissections on both of you will be painless. If not, there will be unimaginable pain as I find out what makes both of you tick.”

  Ryan’s mind raced as he contemplated the dire situation. The shadow creatures flanking them moved in. It would take a miracle to—

  “I like interferin’,” bellowed a voice from above.

  Everyone looked up to see who was speaking. Rainmaker peered down at them from a hole in the wall about thirty feet up. He was burned and in bad shape, but he smiled and cockily nodded his head as he took in the situation.

  “Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Rainmaker…and I bring the storm!”

  The Gatling cannon Rainmaker was carrying spun to life, and hot explosive shells rained down upon Uphir and his small army. Woland and the abominations were torn to shreds as the creatures dived over each other, trying to get to cover. Uphir was forced to hover to the ground and retreat behind his forces. Machines exploded and crashed down around the facility.

  “Run!” yelled Ryan.

  Kat took off with the townspeople sprinting after her and Ryan heading up the rear. He fired at the Xeno-Shadows chasing him. This time there were no blue flaming rounds, so they kept coming until Rainmaker’s storm of heavy explosive shells tore through the shadow creatures.

  The escaping group made their way up the curving path past Rainmaker and to the exit. Ryan ran up to check on him, but a volley of high-velocity needles tore through the large man. The sound of the storm ended. Rainmaker turned toward Ryan, gave a slight nod, and fell forward through the opening.

  “No!” yelled Ryan, running over to the opening and looking down. Rainmaker’s body lay across the debris. He watched for any life from him, ready to run back down and help him, but there was no movement except for a familiar person maneuvering through the carnage.

  Gunny crawled over and through the debris and took up a position near Rainmaker’s body. He fired a few shots, taking down two Woland that were trying to flank him. He glanced up at Ryan, gave him a salute, and continued the fight.

  Ryan saluted him back and then took off down the tunnel.

  Chapter 26

  Boom

  Uphir stood by the back bay entrance and watched Rainmaker fall to his death. He thought about how gracefully he fell and what a useless life that individual had. He was going to move away, but the site of Ryan now standing there caught his attention. It was evident that Ryan was not yet aware of what he was capable of, nor was he trained to channel his divine blue flame. He must be stopped before he realized. Uphir turned to the giant Flesh Golem.

  “My wonderful creation. See that man up there?” Uphir pointed to where Ryan was standing. “Kill him.”

  The creature grunted and took off.

  Uphir left the bay and headed out to a landing platform where three old transport ships were docked. He was mostly successful in this venture. He now had new knowledge of teleportation tech and about half of his scientists back. Not bad for a few centuries’ work, but now it was time to vacate this place.

  “You two come here,” said Uphir, pointing at two Woland nearby, who immediately ran over and stood at attention.

  Uphir faced the one on the left. “I am leaving with my people. Take some of your troops, head out to the town, and destroy it.”

  The Woland gave a salute by slamming his fist across his chest. He barked orders and ran off with twenty soldiers.

  Turning to the second Woland. “Secure this place and make sure no one is left alive. That includes the abominations I created. I want their remains burned. When you are finished, you can head back to your outpost.”

  The Woland saluted and took off with another group of ten Woland to secure the area.

  Uphir gave one last look around. What he could have learned if the Woland had not destroyed the Crystal people. He shrugged his shoulders and headed off to the transports.

  

  Gunny kept low. He was bleeding heavily from the original wounds on his chest and was now bleeding from a Woland’s high-velocity needle sticking out of his upper thigh. He pulled himself tight to the cover next to Rainmaker. His long-time teammate was dead, and he’d just fired his last round.

  He watched as the creatures hesitantly moved forward, but he only had two frag grenades left. He grabbed Rainmaker’s body and pulled him back into the crevasse formed by the crystal wall that fell. High-velocity needles ricocheted off the surrounding debris. He looked over at Rainmaker and laughed.

  “One more for old times,” said Gu
nny, pulling out a cigar and lighting it with one of the hot needles that fell into his cover.

  Gunny pulled the two frag grenades from his pocket and activated them. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and let out a circle of smoke. When he opened them, a group of Woland and abominations were looking down at him, grunting in a language he didn’t understand.

  “I have not a clue what you boys are sayin’, but you should understand this.”

  Gunny revealed the contents of his hand and smiled at the fear that spread across the Woland faces. They attempted to run, but the explosion tore through the area, instantly killing everything in a radius of fire and shrapnel.

  

  Saasha jumped up and started running back toward the power room. She returned fire as she ran, but a high-velocity needle ripped through her right side. She dropped, pistol flying from her hand as she tumbled to the floor. She tugged on her left bracer, set the power system to overload, and tossed it down the hallway. The bracer exploded, taking out a few of the attackers, but they were still coming at her.

  Pulling her knife, she ducked from the sounds of pistol blasts from behind her.

  Splicer leaned on the wall as she stumbled down the hallway, shooting at the incoming creatures with the pistol Saasha had dropped.

  After firing the last round, Splicer collapsed next to Saasha, tears running down her cheeks.

  “Is it done?” asked Saasha.

  Splicer pulled out the detonator and nodded.

  “It was an honor,” said Saasha, grabbing Splicer’s hand, and they pushed the detonator together.

  The explosion ripped through the power relay room. The giant rotating crystals shattered, and the release of energy violently ripped through the crystal building.

  

  Ryan caught up to Kat and the escaping townspeople at a location littered with the remains of abominations and the smell of burnt flesh.

  “We have to keep moving. Continue in that direction,” said Ryan, pointing at the tunnel to the left. “It will take you to the walls of the town. I will keep back and watch the rear.”

  “OK, everyone. Follow me and let’s move fast,” said Kat, waving people to follow her.

  Everyone started moving, but stopped when the ground shook and a loud explosion shook the entire tunnel system. People fell to the ground as the lights in the crystal walls went out, and pieces of the tunnel collapsed, instantly killing some of the townspeople.

  Ryan coughed and shook his head. The tunnel was now pitch black, and people were screaming and falling over each other. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out two small hover lights and activated them. Surprisingly, they worked. He handed one to a guy close by and the other hovered by his head.

  The tunnel in front of them had caved in, and he was now separated from Kat and the other townspeople.

  “Everyone calm down and help the injured. Pick them up and start heading up that corridor. It will lead to somewhere in the swamp.”

  “Yes, high priest, we will do what you say,” said the man holding the light.

  “Sure…whatever. Just get moving.”

  Ryan pursed his lips, shook his head, and tapped the compad on the back of his hand.

  “This is Ryan, anyone read me?”

  There was a long pause.

  “Greetings, Mr. Hunt, this is Lars. I read you.”

  “Nice to hear your voice. The tunnel caved in, and I’m separated from Dr. Kat and a group of townspeople she was leading out. I’m with another group at an intersection of tunnels, and we’re going head in a direction I recall Splicer saying went to the swampy area.”

  “That is correct, Mr. Hunt. I will start heading over that way and meet you there.”

  “No, meet up with Kat first, and then come find me.”

  “One of the spider AIs is on its way to meet Dr. Kat, and I have informed it of the situation.”

  “That’s perfect. See you soon.”

  Ryan kept moving the light around to make sure everyone could see the way out. He waited for the last person to disappear down the tunnel and then made a sweep of the area to make sure no one was left behind. He checked the pulse on a few of the bodies on the ground to make sure, but they were dead.

  He knelt there for a bit with his head hung, but his few seconds of rest was interrupted by an odd sound, and he slowly stood up.

  It sounded like someone was banging on something in the distance. Ryan moved back toward the tunnel ramp that went to the service bay. The banging was getting faster, and then there was the sound of crystal shattering.

  Ryan took a step and then froze at the sound of a loud roar and the echoing of heavy footfalls. The sound of whatever was coming grew louder. He ran down the ramp and into the tunnel toward the swamp. About twenty feet down, he took cover behind some debris and old storage containers, and commanded the hovering light ball to narrow its beam, point back toward the ramp, and turn off.

  His heart raced as he waited. The heavy breathing of something big was now where he just was. It was frantically moving and tossing large pieces of debris around. It sounded like it was trying to dig through to the tunnel Kat went down. Objects were being tossed at a faster rate and then suddenly stopped. He held his breath as he heard a sniffing sound, and then whatever it was took a few steps in his direction.

  Ryan commanded the hovering light to turn on, and he thought, Oh, crap at the sight before him. The Flesh Golem roared as it tried to cover its many eyes. Ryan began firing the pistol as fast as he could. There were no blue flaming projectiles, but the rounds impacted, and pieces of flesh and blood exploded from the creature. It took a few steps back from the hits, roared, and charged toward him. Ryan kept firing until the pistol was empty and then took off running.

  The creature didn’t slow down. It tossed pieces of the fallen wall and ceiling aside or exploded through them with pure ferocity. Ryan could sense the creature getting closer, and the tunnel’s incline made it hard to sprint. He turned a corner to see the man with the other light orb standing next to an exit waving everyone out.

  With enough light coming from the opening ahead, Ryan gave his hovering light an order to move back down the tunnel. A loud thunk sound told him it hit the Flesh Golem, but the loud footfalls getting closer was an indication that it didn’t do a damn thing.

  The tunnel opening had been covered by hanging vegetation that was now mostly pulled down, and he ran outside to find everyone standing around in the swamp.

  “Don’t stop. Keep going!” yelled Ryan. “It’s not safe.”

  Townspeople bolted deeper into the swamp while Ryan drew his combat knife and looked around. The exit was on the side of a mound, and he ran to its top to stand above it.

  His plan was to jump on the creature and stab it in the neck like he had read about Commander Seymour doing back on Earth when defending the entrance to the secret cave he had run into.

  It was a great idea, except for the Flesh Golem being too big to fit through the tunnel exit, and instead of stopping, it erupted through the opening, taking most of the mound with it and sending Ryan flying through a group of trees. Blood trickled from scrapes and pieces of wood that had impaled him as he crashed through the thick branches.

  Ryan shook off the fall, grabbed his knife, and used a tree to help him up, but dove back down as the Flesh Golem’s arm flew over his head and shattered the tree.

  The beast roared and raised its right leg. Ryan rolled in time as the creature’s foot smashed into the muck, sending it spraying in every direction.

  With a flip of the knife in his hand and swift backhand stab, Ryan jabbed the knife into the creature’s leg. The blade dug in deeply, causing the creature to scream in pain and rage. It kicked out, sending Ryan slamming into another nearby tree.

  The Flesh Golem pulled the knife out and tossed it aside while Ryan got up and started running. He stumb
led around and over trees, but the swampy muck was slowing him down. He tried to navigate toward dry land, but the creature was gaining and tossing anything it could grab.

  Ryan tripped through the vegetation and picked up an animal trail that led to another high mound. He ran up the trail, but the mound unexpectedly ended. Not able to stop his momentum in time, he fell off the side. The survival tech in his clothing activated and then failed, causing him to slam hard into the ground.

  Cringing from the impact, he grabbed at his side and used his other hand to push himself up to his knees. He closed his eyes tight as a wave a pain washed over him. Once it was gone, he opened them, and his face dropped at the sight before him.

  Skeleton-like mushroom hands sprouted from the ground as if an army of undead were clawing up. This patch of blood fungus mushrooms was about five times larger than the one he and Kat found earlier.

  Some of the hands near him started to turn in his direction as his blood dripped on the ground. He was about to crawl away, but froze at the sound of heavy breathing above him. Ryan slowly turned around to see the Flesh Golem looking at him from atop the mound.

  There was a non-mushroom path to his left that he could sprint back on, but before he could move, the creature jumped down to block that direction. Ryan slowly backed up to the mound and tried to backpedal up, but his feet and hands kept slipping in the mud. The creature moved forward, leaned in, and roared.

  Ryan’s face crinkled at the smell of its breath and spittle of saliva. The creature pulled back, reached out, and grabbed him around his torso with both large hands. Ryan banged down on its grip as it began to squeeze. With the life being squeezed out of him, he looked around and caught sight of a large vine growing along the ground. For a second, it almost sounded like the vegetation on the vine turned and said, “Yes.”

  The creature roared and removed one hand from around Ryan to fend off a vine that had tightened around its legs.

  Ryan could breathe again, but still could not break the grip. He pounded with all his might, but both he and the creature reacted at the sound of engines above them.