“And how do we do that?” Gabby said.
“I’m looking at a schematic of the old greenhouse. According to this layout, there’s a valve that will lead you up top near the end of the cistern.”
The group looked out into the enormous cavern, the sporadic light reflected by the still waters. They couldn’t see the other side and could only go on Alex’s word that the exit valve would be there. They trekked on.
Will walked close to Gabby, who insisted on helping Halsey along by herself. Looking out at the group, of which only nine remained, it was impossible to not feel an atmosphere of misery. Hamza was out in front with a pulse rifle while Saskia was at the rear with hers. Amongst them not a word was shared. The only sound was sloshing water.
“I’m sorry about tonight,” Will said. Gabby’s head turned.
“Don’t be. Jacob, Adar, Nusaybah, Malik, they’re still out there. Pat, too, I know it,” Gabriella said back. Such words normally would’ve made Halsey smile, but not now.
Will fought his usual pessimism and nodded. Hamza saw they were nearing the end of the cistern, yet all he saw was a concrete wall. The soldiers behind him stopped as he did. Hamza remained calm and began to walk to his left, searching for a way out of their newfound squalor. Pushing past the vine-like tubing, he finally found what they were looking for.
Metal rungs were now visible, which led straight up to what looked like a manhole. With little caution, Hamza began to climb. It didn’t take long to reach the valve, but the damned thing wouldn’t move an inch. Before needlessly straining himself, he began to head back down.
“We need some muscle up here!” he called out.
Will went off to handle the problem, leaving the two Crimson Angels to themselves.
Gabby let Halsey rest against a pillar. The captain slouched till he sat in the water. He’d lost a lot of strength, but the bandages had seemed to stop the bleeding.
Hamza followed Will up the rungs. Having to come down to allow the cyborg up had been aggravating in itself. He wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of here.
Will stopped at the valve, noticing a keypad that was as decayed as everything below. He held onto a rung with one hand and pushed against the valve with the other. The old mechanism resisted at first, but not long into it he could hear the latches snapping one by one. With one extra shove the valve came off entirely. Will supported the two hundred pounds of metal with that one hand and tossed it into the room above, showering him in dust.
Will then went up himself.
He was now inside a greenhouse roughly the same size of the cistern down below. All around him were the remains of trees that had been abandoned long ago. The glass above was broken in a few spots and dusty, but beyond was a magnificent gloss of moonlight. Hamza was the first to join him, eyeing the new environment cautiously.
“All clear!” Will reported.
The group began to move, all except Saskia who continued to watch their backs. Gabby let her do so for now.
“Okay, Joe, come on. Take it slow,” she advised.
Halsey struggled to get to his feet.
“Will can carry you. Just wait here.”
“Gabby, I’ll be fine!”
It was then that they all heard a splash. All argument ceased. Even those on their way up paused to look out at the darkness. The sporadic light was of little use.
Will was drawn to the noise as well. He could see a lot better than everyone else in the black and saw that almost everyone was on the rungs or at least close to them. The farthest out were Saskia, Gabriella, and Halsey.
“Keep going!” he heard Sgt. Neeson yell.
The soldiers didn’t hesitate to do so, and Will and Hamza helped the wounded as needed. I should be down there, Will thought.
Both Gabby and Saskia tossed flares out into the water. A red glow now illuminated the cistern. The walls were still far enough from the light to be anything but a shadowy abyss. The pillars and tubing lines had become menacing silhouettes. Neither of the two women had fought in a jungle before, but the illusion was very real with the water at their feet and the tendrils surrounding them.
“Back up nice and slow,” Gabby instructed.
The two soldiers walked backward at a slow pace. They won’t outright charge us. Not with our pulse rifles, the Sergeant conjectured. So far, her theory was proving true.
Joe was alert despite his pain. He wasn’t angry that Hamza had the third pulse rifle with him. There was no telling what might come at them, and his grenadier-equipped rifle would still work wonders on traditional soldiers.
Saskia wasn’t afraid, or at least she refused to believe she was. One of the vines moved, akin to a slithering serpent. Saskia raised her rifle but didn’t waste her shot. Get a grip! They were only a few feet from their way out now, so very close. She saw it happening again. The forest of vines had come to life and was ready to ensnare them as if they were flies.
Above, Hamza helped the last of the troops into the greenhouse, and with that Will no longer waited. He leaped down, something like almost thirty feet. He’d jumped from higher.
Will landed on his feet and created a hell of a splash in the shallow water. Gabby kept her cool and maintained her course, but Saskia fought with herself to keep from turning around to make sure it wasn’t a threat. As they went along, she got careless with her footing and tripped over one of the vines. Down she went into the water.
Sergeant Neeson was aware of what had just happened and knew the only way Saskia would make it out of this was to not help her up. There you are. On her soldier’s flank she saw him; a soldier aiming at Saskia from behind a pillar. Gabriella fired first.
The UNR soldier flopped like any other man when hit, and though there was no blood when he fell, she knew he was dead.
Almost right above were three more UNR soldiers hanging from the tubes, nothing but their hands keeping them from falling. Watching their comrade go down, they waited no longer. Using a single hand to hold on, they all went for their sidearms.
The UNR soldiers then heard a familiar sound. They all knew it was always followed by another.
The launched grenade didn’t hit any of them, but the explosion was enough to send the trio down into the water. Pieces of concrete came down as burnt and severed tubes bled stagnant muck.
Saskia helped herself up in the confusion. She and her sergeant both aimed at where the cyborgs had fallen, but they were already gone. Did they at least lose their weapons?! Gabby thought frantically. She got her answer.
One of the soldiers stole up behind Halsey, crawling through the water, which still appeared black in the crimson light. Before Halsey knew what was going on, he felt a hand grip his ankle.
The room was thrown into noisy chaos as a cyborg burst into a full sprint back the way they’d come. Gabby saw that he was dragging a man behind him who was left helpless.
“Joe!” she yelled.
Will ran after the bastard but was tackled from behind. The momentum behind the blow almost sent Will off his feet, but he recovered. He tossed the foe off his back, but the cyborg easily recovered and landed on his feet as well. Will’s opponent came at him, forcing him to fight.
Gabriella and Saskia took aim but the UNR soldiers weren’t alone. The remaining one came from around a pillar next to the duo and shoved Saskia into her sergeant. Both hit the water and the cyborg was quickly on them.
The UNR troop kicked Saskia in the ribs, snapping two and sending her a few feet. He next brought his foot down on Saskia’s pulse rifle and then reached for Gabby’s. Before he could lay a finger on it he felt a knife stab into his neck.
The cyborg struck out with his arm first and foremost, despite his yell of agony. The blow worked, striking Gabby in the chest and sending her on her ass yet again. Ignoring her pain, she came at her foe. Her KA-BAR knife was ready to shear through more flesh.
The UNR soldier easily caught her swinging arm and his other hand took hold of her throat. Like her brother before, Ga
bby’s feet were lifted off the floor.
“You fucking bitch!” the soldier growled as he squeezed. Though apparently not fatal, the cut was still an agonizing one. He was in the midst of deciding whether or not to snap her little neck, regardless of his orders.
As Gabby’s legs kicked, he didn’t notice when she clicked her heels together only once. A blade as big as her KA-BAR jutted from her boot toe and lodged straight into the attacker’s groin.
There was an ear-splitting scream as both of them fell over. Gabby was up first and was still holding her dagger. She’d never released her grip on it. The UNR soldier in front of her was struggling to get to his own feet. As she stepped closer, he looked at her in dread. Without a word Gabriella rammed her knife into the one guaranteed kill spot: the eye.
The UNR soldier’s remaining eye seemed to reflect shock at his own mortality. He reached up to grab Gabriella’s wrist, but his grip was already weakening. When she removed her weapon, he fell over into the water and this time he did not get up.
Gabby fought to catch her breath, but checked on Saskia. The woman was already up, but was supporting herself against a pillar. They heard water sloshing, and they both trembled. Luckily, it was only Will joining them, wiping clean his bloody saber.
“Help her get to the others,” Gabby ordered as she began to walk away. This time, though, Will blocked her path.
“Hold on a sec,” he said.
“Move, motherfucker!”
Gabriella raised her pulse rifle at Will. It was pointed dead in his face, but he didn’t budge. The red glare of the flare gave her the aura of a bloodthirsty monster, and Will didn’t doubt for a second he was in the presence of one.
“Move, Will!!”
Will became conscious of the reality that Gabby had no intention of living at this point. She’d lost everything as the situation got more and more out of even his control. Her face was full of an animal rage, like nothing he’d ever seen from her. He had seen this before, though, in Luis. It was a flame of malice he never wanted to see again.
“I’ll get Halsey. I promise,” Will said. “I give you my word, Gabby. I won’t stop until I get him back to us.”
The first sense of relief all night came as Gabby lowered her weapon. Will began to leave, but he didn’t hear her moving at all. He turned toward her again. There was a blank expression on the sergeant’s face.
“Don’t waste time, go! Don’t wait on me, either!!” he commanded.
She finally managed to speak. “You want my pulse rifle, Will?”
Will contemplated that he may indeed need the weapon more than he would ever admit.
“No, you hold onto it. You guys may need it.”
“Will,” Gabby said with a pause, “please, come back. Please.”
“As long as there’s work to be done, I always will.”
Will headed back into the tunnel as the flares finally died out. Gabriella ascended to possible salvation as The Wolf headed back into the darkness.
Chapter 14 – Cooperation
October 22, 2065 – Columbus, Ohio
For the first time ever, a new pair of hands rummaged through Marisol’s bag. She’s truly seen the world. A little piece from each corner was here in this simple duffle bag. Ah, but a specific type of souvenir. Damien could have spent all night sorting through it all, having already devoted an hour to the task. He was seated on his haunches in the now wreck of a former kitchen. As he picked up a rosary, something fell from the beads and landed between his legs.
When he saw what it was, he congratulated himself on not assuming it was just another bead.
What he now held, this marble-sized silver sphere, was Unit 37’s tracker. By the looks of it, it still appeared to be in working order, only deactivated. Saving it for a special occasion?
“Anything useful in there, sir?” said Aliss as he stepped into the kitchen. The Head Director did not stop his inspection.
“I’m going to assume 37 got away,” Damien said as he began to zip up the bag. It wasn’t until he faced 3-05 directly that the cyborg was moved to answer.
“Yes, sir,” Aliss replied as calmly as he could.
The Head Director didn’t chastise him or even remark on the matter. All he said was, “Then let’s finish up, shall we?”
Before they even arrived, they could hear the mother’s grieving. They walked into the living room. Danielle consoled the old woman as Maurizo stood by the table. As soon as they entered, he saluted them both.
“Sir, what happened?” Maurizo asked.
Damien was positive he’d heard them in the kitchen, but he went on anyway.
“She’s eluded us for now, Lieutenant,” the Head Director said dryly. “There’s the business of a temporary place to stay. You’ll be glad to know I’ve arranged for a house in the city.”
“Thank you, sir. I’d like to mention I’ve taken the liberty of filing my reports as well as the official statements.”
“Have you now? That’s very good, very good indeed. Alas, as head of the PSID, you know that I still must interview any I deem necessary.”
“Yes, sir.”
Maurizo let Damien through. He seated himself on the couch opposite the lieutenant’s mother.
“Ms. Leone, I’m sorry to bother you, but I must speak to you about your daughter.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“I’ll try to be quick about this. From what I’ve gathered, this occurred at the drop of a hat, at least on your end. See, we had suspicions this type of incident might arise with her sudden disappearance. Is there anything you wish to ask me?”
“What happens now, Mr. Howarth?”
“Well, ma’am, if what you’re telling me is true, and you haven’t been in contact with Unit 37, then there will be no charges.”
That hadn’t been the answer Marisol’s mother had been looking for, but she only nodded.
“However, you are aware of the penalties if everything you’ve said does not hold up. Your subsidized home would be at risk as well your daughter Carla Leone’s treatment.”
The woman managed to stay strong.
“I fully understand and again state I have been in full compliance with the UNR contract concerning my youngest daughter.”
“Then by all means, your hearing will be swift. I bid you adieu, Ms. Leone.”
The Head Director stood now. Before he left, he said one last thing to Lieutenant Leone. “Men like you, with such conviction and loyalty, are always in Venloran’s favor. Sleep well, Lieutenant.”
Maurizo took it in stride, though he looked no more comforted. The Head Director and Aliss departed after that without a word. Both men had experience breaking hard news to families, and the best way to deal with it was to be precise and not linger on details. The two left the house but stopped on the front lawn. All around them were soldiers canvassing the area. The night sky was covered with UNR aircraft and ever more were on the way.
“I guess it’s a disappointing night for both of us,” Captain Howarth said.
“Pam usually offers me a smoke by now regardless of whether the mission was a bust or a win,” Aliss said back.
“Not a bad consolation prize, but not my taste.”
“Yeah, I hear you turned her down.”
“6-75, understood,” said the captain with a smile. “I’m more a scotch man myself.”
Crazy kid. “Howarth” may have been a whole lot younger than him, but Aliss respected him all the same. Sure, he had experience, but there was more to it than that. Aliss was aware of the young man’s heritage. Under most conditions like this, a bad seed was inevitable and yet here stood the Head Director of the PSID.
“I almost miss the smell of it sometimes, sir,” Aliss commented. “If I could give just one small piece of advice?”
“Certainly,” the head director replied.
“Just be patient. I’ve worked cases like this before, and running is never enough. They either come back to what they see as home or turn up somewher
e else. They never just up and disappear. We’ll get them both in time.”
“Aliss, why did you never join The Cabinet? You’re not a founding member, but they’ve been accepting new members recently. If someone like Dylan could secure a spot, I know you could.”
“It may sound strange to you, Captain, but I do not consider myself a man. I can hold my kid one minute, and instantly sentence one of my own kind to death the next. What I do has to be done, I know that, but from the very beginning of my position I felt… nothing.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? You feel no conflict within yourself.”
“On the grand scale, no, no it is not. Imagine if I was in a position like our Chancellor’s. Feeling no humanity at all, I’m liable to make an incredibly rash decision based purely on logic. Humans can be intelligent, but they are not inherently and incessantly logical. Cold logic by itself is not enough to lead. I accept that. Only men should lead a whole country.”
Damien was stunned to hear this, but Aliss didn’t look ashamed at all.
“I never looked at it that way,” the Head Director admitted. “Thank you.”
“A pleasure, sir. I must remain here, but you should head to D.C. The Chancellor is going to inspect Kane and Flemming’s catch” Aliss suggested.
“Actually, I was going to head to HQ first.”
“To see McGinley, I presume.”
“He’s been on my mind, especially as of tonight Damien explained. He wasn’t fooled by the cyborg’s façade of calmness, “Do you think it’s the wrong move?”
“No, Head Director, but the International Summit is tomorrow. Between going all the way to Virginia and then all the way to New York City, do you think you’ll get enough sleep?”
“Those UNR Cruisers have some very comfy fold-out beds and I’m no stranger to sleeping in-between flights.”
“I don’t even need sleep, and yet I enjoy it. Here you are wasting it,” Aliss chided.
“Many of history’s greatest works remain unfinished because our lives are too short. I think we’re cheated half the time.”
“Perhaps…” Aliss conceded. Pulling up to the front lawn was a Humvee. The vehicle stopped, but kept its motor running and headlights on. Never complacent and ever moving. He’s young now and in his prime, but, in the future, it might ruin him. “See you at the summit, Head Director.”
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