***
He didn’t dare believe he had lost them. Even if their motorcycles wouldn’t start, he didn’t want to underestimate how fast they could run.
The Humvee hit a massive chunk of pavement that had been torn out of the road. The jarring impact pulled the wheel out of Brendan’s hands, and he sideswiped a wrecked car. He let up on the gas before accelerating, but resolved to drive slower. It would all be for nothing if he crashed and got hung up.
When he made it to the country road he headed into the open desert and backtracked over the ground Rolf had driven across. The highway overpass came into view. Two motorcycles were heading his direction. It then dawned on him that they had radios.
Stupid.
Both bikers had weapons slung across their backs, and they pulled around and to either side of the Humvee. One shouted at Brendan to stop. Brendan coasted to a slow pace and then realized he couldn’t roll down the window. There was no crank or switch. He opened the door.
“I need to talk to Gundrun. Anak is in trouble.”
“Cut the engine.”
“I have something I need to bring to her.”
The warlord pulled a short pump shotgun off his back and pointed it. Brendan put the Humvee into park and switched off the engine. It continued to rumble and churn and finally quit. The second warlord was at the other door. He opened the doors and looked around inside.
“You’re alone?” the warlord asked.
“Yes, I’m alone. Anak is stuck in a gate. Gundrun can help. You have to let me go.”
“You smashed two bikes on your way here.”
“Excuse me for saying this, but those two idiots wouldn’t let me go. We’ve only got minutes to do anything. Do you understand? If you don’t take me to Gundrun, your gate machine will stop working.”
“What’s in the crate?” The warlord nodded towards the plastic container loaded with the control box for the gate machine.
“Replacement parts we salvaged for your machine. If we get these installed we can keep the machine from breaking down like it does.”
The man shoved the shotgun in and pressed it up against Brendan’s neck. “You’re unmarked.”
“I’m Anak’s property now. Ask him when he’s going to mark me—that’s his business. We’ve been busy.”
“How does a kid like you know about our machine?”
“Because I helped build one just like it.”
Even though his own tinkering with Charlotte’s glove hadn’t been tested, he felt good about his half-truth.
Both warlords stared for a moment. After discovering that Anak was actually a physicist, Brendan didn’t want to reveal too much, as he had no idea what these men might know. What if there were more scientists among the gang?
One warlord took the crate. The other yanked Brendan out of the driver’s seat. The warlord took him to the bike and held on to him as they awkwardly rode back to the gang’s staging area. He clutched the motorcycle’s gas tank, each bump threatening to buck him off the bike.
Activity around the interchange hadn’t diminished.
They wound past the porter foot traffic and drove through the underpass. Helen was nowhere in sight. He had no idea if she had moved the saddlebag with the drone. The second biker followed along behind. They arrived at the command tents. No one was out front. The warlord shoved Brendan off the bike, and he tumbled onto the asphalt.
“Wait there.”
They parked their bikes. One went to the tent. It was Freyda that came out.
“Is Gundrun here?” he asked.
A smile creased her face as she considered him. Her jaw moved as if she was grinding her teeth.
“We’ve had it before,” she said, “people who think they can ingratiate themselves to us, or make us trust them, or even try to bribe their way into our good graces. But this is a first. I didn’t think a local would manage to best three of us. I’m not sure how you did it or why. You told them that Anak is in some sort of trouble? That he needs you to rescue him?”
“Yes, we have a gate machine Anak was testing.”
“And Rolf and Donnie?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Try me.”
“The gate connects to a vault that contains multiple other gates. You can see other worlds through them. One can be selected, and then the machine is calibrated to that gate.”
“How does that translate to you twice ditching your masters?”
“I didn’t ditch them. Please, I’ll explain it to Gundrun. There isn’t a lot of time.”
“Gundrun isn’t here right now. Besides, like Anak, she can be a little soft when it comes to how to treat a slave.”
One of the warlords grabbed Brendan by the hair while another held his jaw. Freyda sifted through Brendan’s plastic crate. She picked up a small pair of pliers and brought it over. With a flourish, she worked the pliers open and closed.
“I had boys. I knew when they lied. It turned out to be every time they opened their mouths. Say ‘Ah!’”
Brendan’s head was locked in place. The warlord holding him was laughing, as if this was just another part of the job, or maybe even what these people did during their lunch breaks. Brendan screamed as his mouth was forced open.
“Freyda, what are you doing?” Mimi called. She led Charlotte by the hand across the lane from the remains of a fast-food restaurant.
“Nothing that will keep this one from telling us what he’s done with Anak, Rolf, and Donnie. Disobedience has consequences. He’ll be able to speak when I’m done, but he’ll sound less defiant.”
“Let him go.”
“You’re too soft on your pets, Gundrun. Besides, this one isn’t yours. Anak didn’t even mark this one, so he’s fair game. Rules are rules.”
“Learn your place, lieutenant. Anak didn’t have time. And this one’s important to him. Anak will be angry if he’s hurt.”
“Well he’s not around, is he? This slave has stolen a vehicle, damaged motorcycles, and now might have done something to Anak and Rolf. You better believe I’m going to get him to tell me what he knows.”
Mimi got close and glared at Freyda. “But I’m around, lieutenant. You still have to take orders from me.”
“Do we? Do we really? You’ve been gone for so long, and think you can slink back into Anak’s cot and resume your place with us after a few weeks? And what is it with this hands-off policy on your claimed property? They’re slaves. They’ll make more, we’ll find more. We have a new world full of them.”
Mimi put a hand to her belt and produced a long black knife. “Freyda, if this is a challenge, why didn’t you say so? Instead you’re doing nothing but wasting our time and your precious breath.”
The pliers shifted in Freyda’s grip. She kept her eyes locked on Mimi momentarily before looking at the other two warlords. She then dropped the pliers and made a show of her hands being empty.
“This isn’t a challenge. But this one has done something to Anak. We need him here. We’ve just set foot on this world and if we stall out now, we could be in trouble.”
With lightning speed, Mimi swung her fist and knocked Freyda off her feet. It took Freyda a moment to get herself back up. Blood poured from her mouth. The dark-haired woman was trembling with rage.
“Go back to your assignment,” Mimi said. “I’ll find Anak.” To the warlord holding Brendan she said, “Bring him into my tent.”
The man obeyed, shoving Brendan towards the tent. Brendan stole a glance at the dark-haired woman. Freyda wore a look he had seen on Lucille and every other bully he had ever encountered. Payback would be coming. A few porters had paused to watch. Among them was Helen, who was helping another porter with a stretcher loaded down with supplies.
The warlord with Brendan walked him inside and made him sit. Charlotte entered next, followed by the nurse. Brendan tried to catch Charlotte’s eye, but she appeared listless, like a zombie. Mimi had her sit on the cot. She nodded at the warlord with Brendan and the man left.
“Where’s Hugh?” Mimi asked.
“Stranded between worlds. It’s a space between windows leading—”
She raised a hand for him to stop. “Tell me he won’t suffer.”
Brendan had no idea what would happen. Madness? Starvation? “I can’t say for sure.”
“And our gate here. Besides one of us going through and turning it off, what can be done?”
“With Charlotte’s help, it should be easy. Or at least possible. Charlotte?”
The girl looked at him as if not comprehending. Then she nodded slowly. “Just so…thick.”
“You have the generator going outside,” Brendan said. “We plug in the box. It worked with the headmaster’s machine. Maybe it’ll work here. With the ring we might reprogram their machine or somehow fry it just by touching their gate. It’s worth a chance.”
“I think we’ve heard enough.” Freyda came into the tent. Les and Simba followed her. “Maybe I’m not the one to beat you in a challenge, but Les here sure might be.”
Les carried a blade long enough to be called a machete or a short sword. His blonde companion had an aluminum baseball bat.
“There’s no time for this now,” Mimi said.
“What, you’re doing this all to save Anak? That’s not what the boy said. If he’s gone, then everyone deserves to know and we need a leader. I don’t think it should be you.”
“Don’t get drawn into this, Les.”
Les shrugged. “You wouldn’t give me or Simba the time of day before. It’s time for someone in charge who understands respect. And with Anak not around, why not me?”
Mimi charged him, her knife in her hand. They collided and fell into a table, upending it. Maps and papers went flying. An electric lantern crashed to the ground.
Brendan took the plastic tray of electronics and grabbed Charlotte. He moved her to the far side of the tent. The two combatants had both dropped their knives. Now it became a flurry of fists, with resounding smacks as blows landed that could shatter bone.
“Don’t run away, slaves,” Freyda called. “We’re just getting started.”
Brendan had seen what Torben had done to those that displeased him. He didn’t need to ponder what cruelties this woman might dream up besides pulling teeth.
Anak had left a laptop computer plugged into an extension cord that ran through the tent wall. Brendan got out the box and plugged it in. Nothing seemed to happen. He pressed the ring into the opening. Did it a second time.
“Charlotte, what else do I need to do?”
She rubbed at her eyes and shook her head. Whatever stupor she was in wasn’t going away fast enough. Was he supposed to slap her? Give her coffee? Splash cold water on her face?
Les was screaming. Mimi had him in an armlock. A loud snap followed. Les let out an agonized wail as she shoved him away. He was floundering and his arm was bent at an odd angle. Simba dropped her bat and went to comfort Les.
Mimi looked down at them as Les clutched his twisted arm. “Enough of this. I need you both to—”
Freyda came forward and plunged a knife into Mimi’s side. She pulled it out and struck again. The nurse fell forward, trying to scramble away. “Ha!” Freyda shouted. “Didn’t see that coming, did you? If you don’t have the stomach for this, then stay behind. As for me and the rest of the gang, we’re sick of the old world. It’s tired out. We’re here to conquer. It’s a little too late for second thoughts. Maybe if you weren’t pulling Anak’s strings we would have been here years ago. So don’t think you didn’t have this coming.”
She followed the nurse, who was crawling forward.
“No,” Charlotte muttered, trying to rise.
Brendan grabbed her. “Help me with this.”
Charlotte looked down at the box. She flipped a switch. “The generator isn’t going.”
Brendan wanted to kick himself. But to get out of the tent meant going right past Freyda. He saw the nurse’s knife on the ground nearby. He went for it and grabbed it.
“You’ll want to sit right back down where you were,” Freyda said without looking over.
Mimi had made it to the tent wall and had nowhere left to go. She turned and faced Freyda.
Brendan backed away slowly, the knife in hand. He stabbed at the tent. The knife cut into the heavy fabric but the material was thick. With all his strength, he pulled the blade down and cut a long gash down the side.
Freyda turned towards him. She adjusted the grip on her knife. A beer bottle smashed against her head. She stumbled but kept her feet. Mimi was reaching around for another bottle but Freyda punted it away. She then kicked Mimi down and began stomping her with her boot heel.
Brendan grabbed the box and unplugged it. He gave Charlotte a push towards the makeshift entrance. The generator was nearby. He hit the start button. Nothing. He picked up a nearby plastic gas can. There wasn’t a funnel in sight. He took the cap off and poured the gas into the generator’s tank as carefully as he could. His hands were trembling, and he was spilling it.
Charlotte was standing at the slashed tent wall and she looked inside. “She’s coming.” She started to back away.
He hit the start button, unsure what to expect. He only hoped any splashed gasoline wouldn’t ignite. The generator chugged to life.
Freyda stuck her head out the tent. “Don’t make me chase you.”
Charlotte grabbed Brendan. She still appeared shaky. “Plug it in already.”
Freyda was stepping out of the tent. One of the guards came around from the front. Brendan plugged in the box. Nothing happened.
“Freyda, what did you do?” the guard asked.
“Looks like I’m in charge for a while,” Freyda said. “At least until we get Anak back. And these kids have gotten on my last nerve. This is what happens when you coddle slaves. We’ll hobble them first, and then they’ll become our first object lesson to this world on what happens to property when it’s disobedient.”
“Why doesn’t anything happen?” Brendan whispered. He was trying to pull Charlotte away with him but she could only stumble along.
“We should have thought this through,” Charlotte said. “Their machine has no receiver. The box is useless.”
“No, it has to do something. We can’t fail.”
“I’m sorry you ever met me.”
Freyda’s hair hung over a red mark on her face where the bottle had struck her. She closed on them, her knife out at her side.
Brendan pushed Charlotte behind him.
“Freyda!” Mimi was at the tear in the tent. “The challenge isn’t over.” She clutched a hand to her side. Blood dripped through her fingers.
Freyda rolled her eyes and turned. “Can’t you just bleed out with dignity?”
They circled each other.
“I have the glove,” Brendan said as he pulled Charlotte along. “I think I got it working again. I can send you out of here and I’ll follow.” The girl couldn’t run, could barely keep upright. Distracted by the fight, the guard didn’t notice them slip past.
As they ran around the front of the tent, a dozen warlords and porters were approaching. “A challenge,” he heard one say, and the call began going up around them. Brendan and Charlotte pushed their way past. Helen was among the crowd, but she was unable to get close.
Before Brendan could call to her, one of warlords stopped him. “What’s the rush, slave?” The man had combed-back greasy hair and had multiple scars on his face. All his visible teeth were capped with gold.
“Gundrun needs a doctor.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She’s been stabbed.”
“It’s a challenge,” another warlord said as he hurried by.
The man let Brendan go, but not before shoving him away and almost sending him to the ground. He lost sight of Helen. Charlotte pulled him up. They crossed the street and headed towards the warlords’ gate.
Even the guards at the car wash knew something was going on, but they weren’t leav
ing their post. Brendan pointed back to the command tent. “There’s a challenge. I just thought you guys should know.”
One of them came close. His eyes narrowed. “You’re no porter. Why are you here unescorted?”
“Gundrun forgot her medical bag with her drugs in it on the other side. I need to fetch them for her.”
“Not unescorted you don’t.”
“Then escort me. It’s urgent.”
“I don’t think so. Go back and get an escort. I don’t care who.”
The other three guards were watching him now. There was no way past. The ring, the wired box, none of it would do any good. Their only hope was for him to run through the gate and manually destroy their machine in the seconds he would have before one of the guards killed him.
A loud whoop and cheer rose from behind him. Someone was shooting into the air, the loud cracks causing Brendan to flinch. Then he heard the chant.
“Freyda! Freyda! Freyda!”
Mimi had lost the challenge, he had no doubt. The guards looked past him. He was about to take advantage of their momentary distraction and run when Charlotte spoke.
“Wait,” she said, sounding more alert than before. “You really have the glove? The one that got crushed?”
“I took your collection of completed circuits from your bedroom and repaired it as best as I could.”
“Show me.”
The cheering from the command tent intensified. He and Charlotte hurried away from the car wash and went to the gas station. The saddlebag was still there. He opened it and showed her the glove. She examined it carefully before taking the back cover off, exposing the small circuits. Brendan did a quick check to see if anyone was heading their way.
“It powers up,” he said.
“I don’t doubt it.”
“Do you think it’ll work?”
She was shaking her head. “I don’t know.”
“Best guess?”
“You’re kidding, right? I never finished it, never tested it. After everything we’ve been through, you want me to guess?”
He nodded.
“Then yes, it will work. I think you finished it. It should send someone back home to where they come from. It means you can go home right now.”
The Supervillain High Boxed Set: Books One - Three of the Supervillain High Series Page 65