by C. J. Barry
Berman grunted, sweat beginning to spread across his brow as the laser ate a perfectly round, two-meter wide tunnel through the tower levels.
Rourke turned to Decker who was fitting Plass with his rappelling harness. The three of them wore harnesses with clips in the back, ready to take the harrowing ride up through Berman's new tunnel. The marksman stood by with the harpoon gun and cable.
"Looks like we're taking the express route.” Rourke grinned.
Decker stood next to him and watched Berman's progress skeptically. “Are you sure this is going to work?"
Rourke balked. “Hey, it was my idea. What do you think?"
Decker shook his head. “You don't want to know what I think. Is Barrios alright trapped in that lift?"
"Alright?” Rourke snorted. “He's safer than we are. Plass said it would become operational once they shut off the alarms."
Finished, Berman cut the laser cannon fire and dropped back. “Harpoon gun."
A split second later, the marksman was targeting the ceiling of Level Eighteen and pulling the trigger. The cable attached to the harpoon zinged upward and snapped taut.
The marksman reached over and clipped the three-man rigging unit to the gun barrel and hoist. He then clipped each man's harness to the rigging, facing outward. As soon as he stepped clear, Berman addressed them. “All yours. Good luck. We'll be backing you up."
Rourke nodded and activated the hoist control behind his head. The initial jerk nearly ripped them out of their harnesses. Higher and faster they ascended through the narrow tunnel.
"Keep still, boys.” Rourke looked up, gauging their velocity. “Banging into a floor section at this speed is going to hurt like hell. And whatever you do, don't look down."
Above them, a laser blast shot perilously close to the thin cable they now owed their lives to.
"That didn't take long. Next level. Your side, Decker,” Rourke ordered.
"Got it.” Decker slowly raised his laser pistol and began firing continuously as the level approached. He pumped artillery into the waiting guards.
The ascent seemed eternal and before they reached the end of the line, all three men were returning fire on every level they encountered.
The ride ended abruptly with the trio hanging fifteen levels up, staring at two surprised tower guards on the eighteenth level. Outnumbered and stunned, the guards were quickly eliminated.
Rourke unclipped his harness and shoved off the other two men, clearing the gap to the floor. He reached out and hauled Decker and Plass to the safety of solid ground.
Decker exhaled a long sigh of relief.
Rourke grinned at him. “Feel better?"
"I'm taking the lift down,” Decker muttered.
As they removed their harnesses, Plass looked around at the empty corridor. “Where are the rest of the guards?"
"Probably heading for the lower levels,” Rourke answered. “Fine with me. Let Berman handle them.” He looked up from the micro micropad to the corridor ahead of them. “Access shaft that way."
* * * *
"I expected you to be bigger.” Cidra squared up her shoulders. She could feel Grey's quiet strength next to her, giving her the lead.
Tausek's expression didn't change. “I expected you to be dead."
"And miss the honor of meeting my family's murderer? Never."
"Your father killed millions of my people by denying us the vaccine. He deserved to die,” Tausek uttered in supreme domination.
Cidra's eyes narrowed. “The real beauty of history is how easily it can be rewritten as new facts emerge."
Tausek's mouth twitched. Their eyes locked.
"We know what you did,” she continued fearlessly. “We know how you did it and we know why."
Tausek's eyebrows raised a millimeter and settled back down. “Well done. I underestimated you. No doubt the reason why you've proven so difficult to kill."
"I had help."
Tausek looked at Grey. “Grey Stone. You are unexpected and unwelcome."
Grey smiled broadly. “I'm only here to watch you squirm."
Tausek's eyes narrowed minutely. “It is you who will squirm."
"You betrayed your own people and used the d'Hont,” Cidra prodded.
Tausek turned back to her. “The d'Hont are no more than a weapon at my disposal. They served me well and will continue do my bidding."
Cidra persisted. “The millions died because of you."
"It was a small price to pay for my rightful place,” Tausek concurred.
Victory flooded Cidra in a rush. She could only hope the confession made it beyond these walls.
Grey stepped forward. “Lucky for you, the plague came to Dakru when it did."
Tausek gave a short snort. “Luck,” he gloated, “had nothing to do with it."
The words hung between them as the revelation turned to horror. Cidra's resolve faltered. She choked out, “You brought it here? You infected your own people?"
Tausek cast her a pitying look. “Of course. It was the opportunity I'd been seeking."
Grey cut in. “Why didn't the d'Hont die as well?"
"I needed them. The vaccine was given to them as part of their regular inoculations,” Tausek answered him smugly. “I planned for everything."
"But their families?” Cidra stammered.
Tausek leveled his eyes at hers coolly. “It's amazing how the death of a loved one or two can guarantee more loyalty to the cause than mere credits can buy."
Air rushed out of her lungs in shock. Her voice shook. “Why?"
Tausek's mouth slid into a demonic curve. “How else would the son of a female slave hand become the most powerful man on the planet? I was the product of a d'Hont rape. It is only fitting that they made me what I am today."
Suddenly, the communication's device in her boot emitted a short squeal of feedback. Cidra's breath caught as Tausek stared at her boot and slowly raised his gaze to hers. Then he hissed low. The corvits came to life, advancing slowly on her.
She heard Grey's low curse next to her just before he stepped between her and the corvits.
Tendrils of primal fear coiled within her. Tausek casually turned and walked to the second door, leaving the corvits guarding his prisoners. The door opened and Tausek stepped inside. He turned to face them.
"Cidra, come to me,” Tausek ordered. His arrogant voice cut through her.
Grey cast her a hard look.
Tausek kept his eyes on Cidra. “I will order the corvits to kill Stone if you refuse."
Cidra's heart thumped wildly in her chest. A vision of Grey being viciously ripped apart flashed by.
"No, Cidra,” Grey whispered over his shoulder.
She looked from his broad, vulnerable back to the terrifying creatures of muscle and claws. Tausek wanted her, not Grey. If she left now, he could escape or be rescued. He had a better chance without her.
Cidra turned and followed Tausek, testing her wrist restraints gently. She stepped through the doorway and looked back at Grey.
His eyes were fierce, his body taut and poised. She could see the transformation. The hunter had come alive. And he was not happy.
Tausek moved behind her. Cidra watched in stunned disbelief as Tausek slowly raised his arm and pointed a finger at Grey. “Target!"
Her scream of “No!” rang out and was abruptly cut off by Tausek's steely arm around her throat. The other arm wrapped around her waist and jerked her tight against his body. The door closed as Tausek dragged her into his private chamber.
* * * *
"Hurry up,” Rourke yelled. “We're almost there."
Running backwards, Rourke fired behind Decker and Plass, covering them as they sprinted by. More guards pursued them, rushing up from the lower levels. The final two floors had been a virtual gauntlet of gunfire.
Plass ran to the final access shaft leading to the top level and began entering his access code. Tausek and Cidra's voices could be heard clearly over the tower's communication system. He didn't know how
or why, just that Fiske was the only person who could have established the link. The fact that his access codes were once again working only deepened the mystery.
As the access door slid open, they all dove for the cover the access shaft offered. Laser blasts criss-crossed down the corridor behind them. Rourke and Decker alternately returned fire.
Plass said, “You are going to have to stay here and hold them back. I'll take care of Tausek."
Rourke snapped, “Forget Tausek. You take care of Grey and Cidra. Or we'll stop shooting at them and start shooting at you."
He turned to fire at the newest wave of guards to attack their position. “You'd think these guys would give up after Tausek's confession."
"They aren't d'Hont. They work for Tausek,” Plass snarled as he headed up the shaft.
As Plass breached the top level landing, he froze as Tausek's ‘target’ and Cidra's scream riveted him in place. Heart pounding, he began racing down the corridor towards Tausek's chambers. Just as Plass rounded the corner, he caught the sight of Fiske running flat-out from the other direction. The Lieutenant waved his laser pistol and yelled to him, “Kill the corvits!"
They reached the door at almost the same time, triggering the activation field. Stepping inside, they took in the gruesome sight. Grey was alone, flinging one corvit off his bloody right arm and sending it careening into the wall. The other corvit was ripping into his neck and back as he tried to pull it off with his other hand.
Plass aimed and picked the corvit off Grey's back. It shrieked as it flew across the room. Fiske shot the other corvit just as it leapt. It joined its lifeless mate on the floor. The only sound that remained was Grey's labored breathing. He slumped to the floor on all fours, his teeth bared in pain.
Plass ran to him. Blood was running down his arms, pooling around his hands. His back and neck were shredded, but it didn't appear that any major arteries were severed. He would live if he got medical care soon.
"Cidra,” Grey grimaced. He tried to stand, slipping in his own blood. Plass helped him to his feet. Grey pointed to the second door. “He took her in there."
Fiske rushed to the door but it didn't open when he breached the activation field. “It's secured,” he told Plass helplessly. “I don't know the access code."
"I do,” Plass said.
* * * *
Rage and fear guided her as Cidra shook off the restraints. Tausek gave her no leverage to reach his body and he was much bigger and stronger than she anticipated. He had one heavily muscled arm around her neck and one wrapped around her left arm and waist. She fought the instinct to grab the arm that was choking her and instead reached with her free hand for Tausek's eyes. His head jerked back. He roared as she clawed at his face. She was rewarded with a tightening of his death grip on her throat, cutting off her air supply.
She reached down and behind her, intent on inflicting serious groin damage before she passed out. With her first dig, he jerked his body away from her and flung her across room. The side of her head hit the wall with a violent thud. Her vision clouded with silvery stars.
Cidra dropped to the floor, rolled onto her back, and groaned. She shook her head to clear the dark edges that threatened to close in on her. With tremendous effort, she focused on Tausek standing two meters from her, his features contorted. She could see the damage she'd inflicted on his face. The scratches were bright red against his white skin. He wiped a hand across his face and glanced at his bloody fingers. Then he gave her a cold, cold look.
"I shall enjoy killing you with my bare hands."
As he started toward her, a ragged voice cut through the air. “Get away from her. Now."
Cidra's eyes widened. Grey. Alive. She grinned victoriously into Tausek's face as it twisted from savagery into rage.
"Now or die,” Grey said from behind them.
Tausek slowly backed away from Cidra and turned to the three men at his chamber door. His lips curled as he looked at Plass and Fiske. Then he eyed Grey's bloody clothes.
"You're going to have to find yourself some new pets,” Grey said. Then he spied Cidra struggling to stand. His gray eyes burned into Tausek. “First, you will pay for that."
"I don't think so,” Tausek smirked. Suddenly the chamber went black.
Plass shot once where Tausek had been standing, but the light from the laser blast showed no target.
When Fiske finally located the lights, they looked around in disbelief. Tausek was gone.
Plass turned to Fiske. “He must have gotten by us. Notify Berman that Tausek has escaped. He's probably heading for a transport on the lower level."
Fiske gaped at him and countered, “How would he get out of the tower?"
"Try the lift. See if its functional again.” Then Plass asked Grey. “Is she alright?"
Cidra was already in his arms when he answered, “Yes. She needs a medic."
Plass nodded. “So do you. Find one. We're going after Tausek."
As their footsteps retreated out of the chambers, Grey held her. Then his mouth captured hers in a desperate kiss, slanting over her lips again and again in an effort to convince his mind that she was safe. He couldn't hold her close enough, couldn't kiss her deep enough.
Cidra slid her arms around his waist. He flinched. Quickly, she stepped back and looked at her hands covered in blood. Frantically, she began checking the wounds on his back, neck, and arms.
"I'll live.” He smiled grimly. “Once Tausek is caught, we'll both live."
She stopped. “I don't think they'll catch him.” Then she said quietly, “I could swear I smelled fresh air when he escaped."
Grey squinted at her. “Fresh air? This tower is sealed up tight. The closest outside exit is twenty levels down."
Cidra looked into his eyes. “Maybe he didn't go down. Maybe he went up."
Her insight jolted him. He quickly scanned the room. Other than the one door, there was no visible exit. That left only one option.
"An escape passage,” he muttered, disgusted at himself for not seeing it sooner.
"If you could smell it, the doorway had to be close to you.” Grey walked to the wall behind her and began pressing along it.
Cidra grimaced at the trail of blood he left across the room and smeared along the wall. To her surprise, an entire section of wall slid silently out of the way, revealing a passageway.
Grey disappeared into it and Cidra followed him when she realized that he was going to investigate. “You need a medic, Grey. We should go back. Let Plass take over."
He was already heading up. They had reached the roof before Grey cast her a tight smile over his shoulder. “Tausek's long gone by now. We'll leave it up to Plass to track him down. At least we know how he escaped."
He stepped onto the roof and stopped dead. “Cidra. Take a look at this. It's a landing bay.” He started walking around, reciting the inventory. “Small transport jets. Weapons. Ammunition. Survival gear. Food stores. All the necessities of life. Unbelievable."
"Grey,” Cidra said, looking up at the high domed roof curiously. “How would he get a transport out of here?"
"There must be a retractable opening,” he answered absently, his full attention on the warehouse of weapons and supplies before him. “You know, a man could hide up here for months and no one would know it."
Cidra scanned the roof for an opening and frowned. “I don't see one. I think he would have to break through that barrier to take off. Don't you—"
Suddenly a laser blast shot by her head and caught Grey low in the shoulder. He dropped to the floor with a deep groan and went perfectly still.
Cidra spun around behind her to find Tausek standing there, the laser pistol now pointed at her. He stood between them and the only exit. She took a quick glance at Grey behind her. He hadn't moved.
She slowly lifted her eyes to Tausek, a deadly calm stealing over her. Reality became an illusion, insignificant and expendable. “You killed him."
A low growl rumbled through Tausek. “And
you are next. You have ruined everything. My plan, my place, my right."
"You had no right,” she screamed at him, her rage making her invincible. “The judgment to live or die is not yours to command. It never was."
Tausek's face twisted, his voice escalating with every sentence. “I built Dakru. I made it what it is today. I can do the same throughout the galaxy. I am Tausek!"
Cidra stilled. The galaxy. He wanted the whole galaxy. She already knew he'd do anything to get it. And she knew something else. He was completely insane. Uncontrollable, unpredictable, and deadly. Past reason, past logic. No matter the cost, she couldn't allow him to escape.
She had one last weapon against him—her body and her life. There was five meters separating them. A few steps. She could make it. “I will never let you out of here alive."
A hideous kind of laugh rumbled through Tausek. “You can't destroy me with your inferior Kin-sha skill.” He lifted the laser pistol and pointed it at her head. “Good-bye, Cidra Faulkner."
Cidra ran straight at him and leapt forward, hoping to inflict some damage before she died. She heard the blast, saw the flash of light. Ignoring the shot, she slammed into his mid-section, hurled him backwards and landed on top of him.
A second later, she was staring into his open mouth, his unseeing eyes. The smell of burnt flesh choked her. Tausek was dead. What happened?
She raised her eyes slowly to the feet planted several meters away at the entrance to the roof. She knew those feet.
Cidra looked up to find Barrios smiling at her, his laser pistol firmly in hand. “That was for you, love."
EPILOGUE
Cidra sat alone in the moonlight on a planet she both loved and hated. The grass in Syrus’ clearing felt cool and thick beneath her. Avion's giant moon hung possessively in the night sky, casting its brilliance across the Lake of Ares. A hush of light wind whispered through the trees in a sweet, voiceless song.
The breeze caressed Cidra's face like a loving hand. She gave a contented sigh. She was free. The very thought brought bittersweet tears to her eyes. She would enjoy the future that her family had been denied.
Avion's elaborate burial ceremony would have to be enough to heal her wounds. There were no apologies, no thank yous from the Central Consortium. Her father's honor had been restored and her family celebrated. It wouldn't bring them back, but it was more than she could have hoped for. She wiped away the tears and accepted what was.