Nightfall

by Peter Hoole

  “That car,” Caleb said.

  Jacob was quite taken aback. He had heard rumours of such things, but had never seen it in action. Refocussing, Jacob followed Dunleavy to the car. As they were about to enter, Dunleavy pointed to the middle row of seats.

  Jacob got in, and took his place next to Murphy.

  Caleb also entered the car. He turned to his team, and introduced Jacob.

  “Hi all, this is Jacob. Jacob is going to be helping us get to the colony. Please consider him our amigo.”

  Casey and Murphy nodded in understanding. In Spanish, Amigo means friend. However, over time, Caleb’s team had established a code. The code was simple.

  If a person was described in a language other than English, they were not to be trusted, and they were to be treated as though they were a threat. To emphasise their understanding, the Marines repeated the word.

  “My amigo,” Casey said, extending his hand to Jacob, which he shook.

  “Nice to meet you Amigo,” said Murphy.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Caleb turned and faced the runway. “Okay everyone,” he began, “So we keep our new passenger in the loop, and so he doesn’t completely freak out, let’s just run through it again. It’s pretty critical that we aren’t seen, right? So, when I give the word, the Lieutenant will lower the ramp of the plane, which, as we understand, is right in front of us, correct?”

  “Yes sir,” replied Murphy, opening the Kite Controls on the tablet she had acquired from Natalie.

  “Good,” Caleb continued. “Once it starts to open, we’ll begin our approach. According to Natalie, the ramp will take about twenty seconds to lower. Correct?”

  “Sir, yes sir,” Natalie said from the back, mocking the Lieutenant.

  Murphy chuckled to herself. Rather than being annoyed that the prisoner was mocking her, she took it as a compliment, a reassurance that she was getting under her skin.

  “So, Murphy will lower the ramp, and we’ll do a three count. That should allow us to get on the ramp as it hits the ground, allowing for crashing the fence and use of the car’s boosters. It’s gonna be bumpy, so I suggest you all put your seats in the upright position, buckle up, and hold on.”

  Caleb turned on the engine, and took a deep breath and focused. Not only would he have to drive the car at speed, but he would need to ensure it was kept straight. But that was the easy part.

  The difficult part of the stunt was going to come towards the end. Once he got on the plane, it was difficult to know when to stop. He could start braking before the ramp, but, depending on the angle and traction gained, the braking might be too much, or even worse, not enough.

  Caleb knew he would need all his focus, especially as he was risking not only his life, but those of his fellow passengers.

  One of those mattered most of all, and she was sitting there next to him. He turned to her, and whispered. “I love you, babe.”

  She looked back at him. “Just drive straight, babe,” she said as she winked.

  Caleb smiled; relieved his girlfriend was seemingly relaxed. He looked in the mirror, straight at Murphy. Murphy had her finger poised over the button on the tablet designated ‘Lower Cargo Ramp’.

  “Okay, Murph,” said Caleb. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  “Yes, sir,” replied Murphy, “Hopefully lowering the ramp in three… two… one… lowering the ramp.”

  Murphy pressed the button, and to her relief, it seemed to work. About two hundred yards away, the ramp began to lower in front of them. In the distance, the sliver of a plane cargo bay began to appear. As it opened further, the size of the opening became apparent. The plane was big, if the cargo hold was any kind of guide. The ramp opening could easily hold a truck.

  Caleb, marvelling at the image he was gazing upon, remembered the plan. “Okay all, gunning it in three… two… one,” he said to the group as he accelerated.

  They all braced themselves as Caleb took off. To someone from the outside, the screech of the tires would have been terrifying, especially as the car was currently cloaked. As the car made a brisk speed, and with a burst from the boosters, the fence fractured and fell with ease.

  The car continued the journey, and the ramp continued to go down. As the car neared, the ramp touched the ground, the cargo hold on display to anyone standing behind.

  The car hurtled towards the entrance, now only a hundred feet from the ramp. Caleb placed his foot on the brake, waiting for the split-second decision he was sure he would need to make. They went up the ramp, and Caleb slammed on brakes, the ABS doing some of the work.

  Such was the speed at which the car had accelerated, the brakes had little effect. As the ‘Bat screeched up the ramp, there was only minimal reduction in the speed of the car’s forward movement. A panicked look appeared on Caleb’s face.

  It was a look Darcy had not seen previously. For the first time since she’d met him, he looked genuinely concerned.

  It was an expression shared by the most of the occupants in the car. They too, were more than concerned about the car’s speed.

  The only calm face in the car was Natalie’s.

  The look was fleeting, though.

  As the car careened into the cargo bay of the plane, Caleb grabbed Darcy’s hand. The car reached the threshold of the plane. Suddenly, the ‘Bat jerked to a stop, trapped by a chord that had been activated by the car’s approach.

  The motion reminded Caleb of the times he’d had to make a trap-landing on an aircraft carrier.

  The jolt on the carrier, while a shock to the system, could be coped with. That is, if the passenger knew the shock was coming and was able to mentally prepare for it. And physically place themselves in a position so as to absorb the dramatic change of speed.

  Only one person in the car had braced themselves – Natalie.

  As the car lurched into position, clamps from the floor of the cargo bay snapped into place, holding the ‘Bat in position.

  Once the car settled, Natalie, sensing a small window to attack, made her move. She swung her elbow into the jerking head of Dunleavy, hoping to break his jaw as he had hers.

  She didn’t wait to discover the result, repeating the action on Casey, an act which knocked the Sergeant out. Remembering her vow a few hours earlier, Natalie reached over a bleeding Dunleavy, grabbing his gun from his belt. She swung around, and aimed at Casey’s head. Her finger poised over the trigger, the hammer clicked back, and struck the back of the gun…

  Nothing. Casey’s head remained intact.

  Dunleavy’s gun had jammed.

  The lull in action was all that Murphy needed. She quickly unbuckled, having noticed the commotion in the back seat. She turned just in time to see the prisoner lining up the weapon with Casey’s face. Fear and anxiety gripped Murphy as the trigger was pulled.

  When the gun failed to fire, Murphy’s fear transformed into anger, and she half leaped over the seat. She ripped the gun from Natalie’s hand, which she then threw to the ground.

  The Lieutenant reached into her holster, and grabbed her own gun, a much more trustworthy weapon, and aimed it at Natalie. “Should have shot you back at the airport,” Murphy said, anger strewn across her face.

  Natalie resigned herself to her imminent fate. As she relaxed, into her seat, defeated, she looked up at Murphy, and smiled. Not the normal happy smile that accompanies a normal person. Natalie’s smile was one of smugness, as though she knew something her killer did not.

  “See you in the next life,” she said, and Murphy began to squeeze the trigger.

  Natalie’s death was but moments away, when a voice saved her life.

  “Stand down, Lieutenant,” Caleb’s voice boomed from the front.

  “Sir?” Murphy replied, easing her finger back off the trigger. The gun was still pointed at the prisoner.

  “I said, stand down, Murphy,” he repeated.

  “Sir? She tried to kill Casey! She—” Murphy replied, anger setting the tone for her voice.

&nbs
p; “I know… but we still need her.”

  Murphy kept the gun pointed straight between Natalie’s eyes. “Fine sir. I won’t shoot…” she said, giving Natalie a dark look, “after all, wouldn’t want to get shit all over the back of our new car.”

  Caleb turned to Darcy, who was still breathless from the landing’s jolt. “Grab the tablet, and close the door,” Caleb instructed. Though struggling with the pain in her chest, Darcy complied.

  The large ramp began closing behind them, hiding them once again from the world. Caleb pressed the button on the display, deactivating the cloak. He didn’t want to use up any unnecessary power, plus they were in an enclosed space, and the invisible car was a trip hazard.

  As the car came back into view, Caleb exited the vehicle. The cargo area of the plane was a massive space. As he first observed from the parking lot, the height was enough to carry an entire truck and trailer. Three, possibly four, ‘Bats could also have fitted inside the plane’s belly.

  Though marvelling at the size, it was the aesthetic interior that caught Caleb’s attention as well. The plane’s creators were obviously perfectionists, clearly spending as much time on the design and look of the plane as they did on the technology.

  The interior walls of the plane were shimmering silver, lit up by the lights that had automatically come on when the ‘Bat entered the plane.

  Darcy also stepped out of the vehicle. She too, was struck by the design. “Geez, how does this thing get off the ground, Caleb?” she asked her boyfriend, not really expecting a response.

  “No idea, babe,” he replied. “Then again, how do they make a whole car disappear??”

  Darcy contemplated his response. In a Caleb-like way, she knew he was saying that, despite everything and the believability of it all, there had to be an explanation.

  “They got it here,” he continued, “we must be able to get it back.”

  “Back where though?” Darcy asked.

  “Hopefully, we’ll find out.”

  Casey’s door opened, and the waking-up Sergeant stumbled out.

  “You okay, Sergeant?” Caleb asked.

  “I’ve had worse hangovers, sir,” he replied. “They usually come after good times though.”

  “What, nearly getting your head blown off isn’t a good time?” asked Murphy from the car, still intent on making sure Natalie didn’t move.

  “Not even in my top ten, babe.” He winked at his saviour.

  Casey made his way to the back of the cargo bay, doing a quick inspection of the area. As he approached the back of the plane, he ran his hand along the side of the cargo hold, as though feeling for any damage that might have occurred. After he completed the right side, he made his way across to the left, easily a fifteen-yard distance, and repeated the action on the left.

  “She’s still looking good, sir,” Casey said as he finished his brief inspection.

  Jacob exited the car. “Shit, this’ll never fucking fly?”

  Caleb looked at Darcy, deciding not to waste his time with the amigo.

  “Darcy, can you go find the cockpit? I imagine it’s at the top of those stairs. You and Murphy will need to figure this thing out, okay?”

  Darcy looked surprised. “I’ve never flown a plane,” she said, half protesting, and half happy that Caleb was entrusting such a task to her.

  “I know, but Murphy will be there with you.”

  As he spoke, Natalie emerged from the ‘Bat, in pain from the broken hand and jaw Dunleavy had given her.

  “Tie her up,” Caleb said to Casey.

  “Gladly sir,” replied the Sergeant. “Whereabouts? The left or right wing?”

  Caleb looked around, ignoring the joke (or at least what he hoped was a joke). About three yards in front of the stairs was a door to the emergency hatch. Connected was a handle. The handle that indicated that if it was pulled, the door would open.

  “Just over there… that handle should suffice,” Caleb said, pointing to a handle on the wall marked ‘Emergency’. “That way, if she struggles, well, we won’t have to worry about her anymore.”

  Casey led Natalie to the place, making sure she bumped her head a few times along the way. He secured her to the handle, loosening it slightly so that any movement would ensure she’d be ejected from the plane.

  “Now keep an eye on her. She’s your responsibility. We will need her, I imagine,” Caleb said to Casey.

  “Yes sir,” Casey replied, raising his gun at Natalie.

  Murphy, after making a sweep of the cargo bay, made her way up the stairs, making sure she stayed away from the prisoner. Her rage was still inside, and she knew she would have killed her if the Captain hadn’t stepped in. For the meantime, it was probably better if Murphy didn’t interact with her in any way.

  Caleb walked back to the ‘Bat, as Dunleavy had yet to emerge.

  He walked to the rear drivers-side door, which was ajar and stuck his head in. “You okay, Mike?” he asked the clearly hurting former Chief of Staff.

  Dunleavy moaned.

  “Jackson,” he started, “I hate to steal a line from someone else, but I really am too old for this shit.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Finding the cockpit had not proved to be a difficult task. The entryway at the top of the stairs led straight to it. It was an impressive view, to say the least. There were half a dozen seats, each with a different set of controls in front of it. Comfortably the size of her living room, Darcy was able to walk around the area with ease.

  She looked at each station. The first was labelled ‘Kite Operations’. The next was ‘Navigation’. At the front of the cockpit, there were two chairs next to each other, much like one would expect in a standard cockpit. One was labelled ‘Control’ and the chair to its immediate right was marked ‘2nd Control’.

  As Darcy continued, she studied the other stations. The first one on the left side surprised her – ‘Weapons and Defence’. There seemed to be even more to this plane than met the eye.

  The last chair was labelled ‘Communications’.

  In front of each chair was a large black monitor, each about forty inches on the diameter. Until they were activated, it would be impossible to know how they worked.

  The exceptions were the two front seats. While they had screens in front of them, they were a bit smaller, closer to twenty inches on the diameter. They did have several buttons and levers, of which some Darcy recognised. There was only one major problem as far as Darcy could see - how did the thing turn on?

  As she was contemplating the problem, Murphy appeared in the doorway. Darcy was comforted by her appearance. They had both been through so much over the last few hours, having both saved each other’s life. Not bad for a couple of people who had only met early that morning.

  “Wow,” Murphy said as she entered the cockpit.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Darcy responded, still trying to figure out how to turn it on.

  Murphy walked to the front of the cockpit, looking around the room as she moved. As she was probably going to take responsibility for the plane, she figured she would have to get to know it better than most.

  “One question, Darcy,” she said as she approached the Control chairs, “How do we turn this thing on?”

  With a shrug of the shoulder, Darcy gave her a response.

  There was no obvious power switch, or sequence. The control that was obvious was used to control the plane - the throttle being the only one Darcy recognised. The rest may as well have been labelled in German.

  Murphy continued to scan the console, only pausing to take in the view out the front of the plane. The vista was nice, but not overwhelming. The window spanned from the side of cockpit, near the entry door, around the cockpit to the other side. Standing or sitting anywhere in the room would give a person a view of the outside.

  As Darcy looked out the window, she shifted her vision to the south, to where SEATAC was. The billowing smoke had disappeared.

  Darcy paused. The view appeared
as though the attack had never happened. The sight caused Darcy to briefly ponder the events of the preceding day. Just over twenty-four hours ago she had woken up, next to Caleb, snuggled under his arm. She was so content with the world, and happy. Her career was going well, and Caleb had been home for a few months. Perhaps his lifestyle was about to change. Perhaps it was the end of all the long absences. Perhaps it was the end of the implicit violence he had to endure.

  She had never been more wrong.

  “Well… I’ve got no idea,” Murphy said, drawing Darcy from her daydreams.

  Darcy shook herself back into focus. “No idea?” Darcy asked.

  “I’ve got no idea how to turn this, this thing, on. I was looking for a ‘print reader or something, you know, like the tablet. But there’s nothing.”

  Darcy shrugged again. She was following Murphy’s lead, and didn’t have the slightest idea where to start.

  “Hey, Darcy, what’s that?” Murphy said, pointing to a slot below the panel.

  “It’s nothing to do with flying the thing?” Darcy asked. “Don’t you recognise it?”

  “Nope, it’s certainly not standard.”

  “It looks like, you know, a card reader at an ATM.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.” Murphy stood up and walked to the door. She stood at the entrance, the stairs bannister visible from Darcy’s position.

  From her vantage point, she could see Casey, standing across from the prisoner, his gun drawn. Caleb was looking through the ‘Bat, talking to Dunleavy. Jacob, their latest addition, was against the side of the ‘Bat, casually looking around the cabin. “Cap.” Murphy said loudly, trying to get Caleb’s attention.

  “Yes, Lieutenant,” Caleb replied.

  Darcy was impressed they still kept up the formalities of rank, even in the most trying situations.

  “We’re gonna need her up here,” Murphy said down the stairs.

  “I kinda wanna keep her where she is, Murph,” Caleb said. He was content that the emergency exit would provide a good failsafe. “Do you really need her? I don’t want her near anything important.”

  “I guess. I’ll do what I can to figure it out. Can’t do anything without the power though, and for that… looks like we’re gonna need an access card. I’m hoping she has one.”