Metal and Ash (Apex Trilogy)

by Jake Bible

  “Oh, sweet Jeezus,” Jethro moaned. “This isn’t happening.”

  “Well, sounds like you two are getting to know each other,” Melissa said as she walked into the mainframe room. “He behaving himself, freak? Or do we need to figure out how to get me in there too so I can kick his ass?”

  “Nah, he’s being a perfect gentleman,” Beth said. “Except for that last visual of the two of us trapped in here with him. I don’t think that’s physically possible, Jethro.”

  “Oh, some one pull my plug now, please,” Jethro begged. “I’m going to go find an offline system and hang myself. Nice knowing you.”

  “He’s cute,” Melissa said. “Well, not the shriveled up meat bag over there. That’s gross. But he sounds cute. You doing okay?”

  “I’m actually better than, well, ever, actually,” Beth said. “For the first time in my short life I feel free. I don’t feel confined and jammed into a too small box. I’m me and life is wide open.”

  “Except for the fact that you aren’t alive,” Melissa frowned. “Not sure I’m too happy about that. How the fuck are we going to go drink wine together and laugh about all the stupid shit that stupid people do? My freak is in a box and the box can’t fit through the door.”

  “Bullshit,” Beth said over the com. “I’m always in your ear.”

  “Okay, now you’ve hit creepy level,” Melissa said. “You better not spy on me when I’m having some alone time.”

  “Oh, for the love of God!” Jethro shouted. “Do you hate me?”

  ***

  “You can’t avoid me forever, Papa Bear,” Rachel said as she ran down the corridor to catch up with Capreze. “You’re going to have to talk to me sooner or later.”

  “You were ordered to stay in the infirmary,” Capreze said, not slowing down or turning to look at her. “You will comply with that order or you will be placed in the brig. Do you understand me, uh...?”

  “Rachel,” Rachel grinned. “It’s okay to call me that because that’s who I am.”

  “Not possible,” Capreze said. “Look at you.”

  Rachel grabbed her father by the shoulder and spun him around. His eyes went wide at the strength she had. His instinct was to go for his sidearm, but Rachel slapped his hand away from the holster.

  “Yes, look at me!” Rachel said, holding her father firmly in her grasp so he couldn’t look away. “Who do I look like?”

  “You look like my daughter when she was younger,” Capreze said. “Which is the problem. You aren’t my daughter.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Rachel yelled. “I’m telling you that I am! How can I get you to believe that? Huh? Ask me anything. Anything you think only Rachel would know.”

  “Makes no difference,” Capreze replied. “You shared a mind with my daughter. I’m sure you have all the data you need to fool me.”

  He wrenched himself away and was able to unclasp his holster, but he didn’t pull his sidearm.

  “Now, listen to me, clone,” Capreze said. “You are alive, I will give you that, and it’s my basic belief that all life deserves a chance to live that has kept me from tossing you into the incinerator.”

  Rachel took a couple steps back, surprised that the thought had even occurred to him.

  “But if you do not keep yourself in the infirmary as ordered,” Capreze snarled. “And way the fuck away from me then I will have no choice than to turn you to ash. Understood?”

  Rachel held back the tears that welled and she took a deep breath. “Understood. Sir.”

  “Good,” Capreze nodded. “Now get the fuck out of my sight.”

  ***

  “You hanging in there, sir?” Campbell asked as she sat next to LaFrance in the infirmary.

  “Yeah,” LaFrance answered. “Just tired. I took quite a beating, didn’t I?”

  “You did, sir,” Campbell replied. “Just rest, sir. I’m going to check on the dogs. They need a walk. Capreze said I can use one of the sub-basements to run them in. That should burn off some energy.”

  “Good, good,” LaFrance replied. “Take care of them. Those are the first dogs the wasteland has seen in hundreds of years.”

  “You know I put my team first,” Campbell replied and frowned.

  “Trouble?” LaFrance asked.

  “Just wish I could do more,” Campbell replied. “I’m a damn engineer! I can help with this fight!”

  “But we’re Canadian,” LaFrance replied. “And they don’t think we can be trusted.”

  “Then why aren’t we locked up?”

  “Because they want to believe we can be trusted,” LaFrance responded. “And that shows a lot about the person Capreze is. Just push it from your mind, Campbell. Take care of your team and pray we get through this nightmare and the right side wins.”

  “And that isn’t the Canadian side,” Campbell stated.

  “Unfortunately, no,” LaFrance sighed. “Now get.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Campbell left the infirmary, nodding to some of the Railer medics. They were friendly and nodded back, but instantly went back to their work of taking care of the wounded that had just come in. Campbell tried to stay out of everyone’s way as she stepped into the hall. A quick jog and she was away from all the chaos and glad she would see her team again. She didn’t like being away from them for long.

  The dogs were kenneled in a large room a few floors down and Campbell smiled as they all rushed her when she opened the door. She knelt quickly and took the happy licks of greeting then gently pushed them away.

  “Ok, ok,” she laughed. “Let’s get you guys out for a run.”

  She gave a quick whistle and stepped aside, letting the dogs barrel from the room. She followed close behind, but didn’t hold them back, letting them run down the massive corridor as fast as they wanted. The dogs instinctively didn’t stray further than where they could see her. They shot quick glances over their shoulders to make sure she was keeping up.

  Campbell was winded quickly as the fatigue and stress of the past few days caught up with her. She let out two sharp whistles and then clapped as the dogs went around a bend in the corridor.

  But instead of instantly seeing her team rushing back to her, she heard a series of short, hard barks. Campbell pushed herself and sprinted towards the sound, wishing she had a sidearm. The barks were ones of alarm and warning.

  She made it around just as one of the barks ended in a high scream.

  “What the hell?!” Campbell shouted as she saw Brand down on his side, blood pouring onto the concrete. Coal and Lesh stood in front of the fallen dog, their hackles up and teeth bared; low, threatening growls rumbled from deep in their throats. Kook slowly started to circle what they’d found.

  “Interesting,” the Great Maker said, Stan draped over his shoulder. The Great Maker’s right hand dripped blood and Campbell’s eyes went wide when she saw a bloody heart gripped in his fingers. Brand’s heart. “I never in a million years would have thought I would see acanis lupus familiaris in person.” He lifted the heart to his lips and took a tentative nibble. “Oh, now that is quite something.”

  “What the fuck have you done?” Campbell shouted. “You fucking monster!”

  She rushed him and he waited patiently. Just as she was about to collide with him, the Great Maker stepped to the side and struck Campbell in the temple. She flew to the side and slumped against the wall. The Great Maker set Stan down and looked at the still form of Campbell.

  “If I had known the Stronghold would be this easy to penetrate,” he said aloud. “I would have come earlier. This place is a veritable buffet.”

  He stepped towards Campbell and the dogs’ growls turned to ferocious barks and they attacked. The Great Maker was able to punch Kook in the throat as the dog leapt at him, crushing the animal’s windpipe. The dog hit the floor, its legs flailing as it struggled to breathe. Coal and Lesh went for his legs, but found nothing but metal when they clamped down.

  “There is a reason, other than the need
for food, that dogs did not survive the wasteland,” the Great Maker said as he kicked out, sending Coal flying in the air. The dog slammed into the far wall and the sound of his spine snapping echoed off the concrete walls. “You do not have the reasoning to survive. You act first and cannot think.”

  He tried to kick Lesh off, but the female let go and backed up, her eyes locking onto the Great Maker’s. Her body was tense with violence and the dog looked from Campbell to Stan and then back at the Great Maker.

  “Did I speak too soon?” the Great Maker said. “Do I see intelligence in those eyes?”

  Lesh made a lunge for Campbell, but the Great Maker blocked her path. She then turned and ran to Stan, grabbing the boy’s shirt and pulling as hard as she could. The Great Maker rushed her and she had to let go and retreat. The cyborg watched her closely and then knelt by Stan. With a hard shove he pushed the boy over by Campbell and away from Lesh’s reach.

  “I do not have time to do this all day,” the Great Maker said as he reached back and grabbed Brand’s back leg. “So I am going to have to ask you to leave.”

  He swung the dead dog at Lesh and caught her across the snout. She yelped in pain and scrambled away. The Great Maker stood and threw Brand’s corpse at Lesh as hard as he could. The body hit the spot Lesh had just been and blood sprayed everywhere.

  Lesh stood far down the corridor, her fur bristled with primal rage. She watched the Great Maker for a moment then her eyes fell on Brand, Coal and Kook’s corpses. She slowly backed up then turned and fled, her tail hung low as she sped around a turn and was lost from sight.

  “Not so stupid,” the Great Maker said. “Admirable.” He looked at the corpses about him. “And delicious. But I have to eat the best first.”

  He knelt by Campbell and tore into her throat. The unconscious engineer came awake instantly and struggled to fight the cyborg off, but her life poured out of her throat and her strikes and punches grew weaker and weaker until her eyes glazed and her life faded away.

  The Great Maker stood up and wiped his mouth, his teeth red-black in the gloom of the corridor.

  ***

  “TRAIN INBOUND!” a Railer shouted.

  The Stronghold hangar emptied and everyone ran to the platform that was a hundred yards away. Capreze was right on their heels, having been alerted by Jethro of the train’s arrival.

  The crowd stood with their mouths covered and eyes wide as they saw the BTT secured to the top of the front engine. The look of the train and the BTT told a story of what had happened, but when the Railers started to step off the train that’s when everyone knew that they had been through real hell.

  “Where are we at?” Capreze asked as he walked up to Jay. “Bisby? Jespers?”

  “Not sure,” Jay shrugged. “The EMP took out all com. If they’re alive they’re out in the waste somewhere.”

  “Fuck,” Capreze swore. “Harlow? Masters?”

  Jay shook his head. “Didn’t make it.”

  “Are you sure?” Capreze asked. “You have confirmation?”

  “We all do,” Marin said as she walked up. “Harlow had been infected and turned. Masters stayed with her. He sacrificed himself to give us the head start we needed.”

  “Motherfucker,” Capreze snarled. “The mechs?”

  “EMP,” Jay said. “They’re all down. If any have hardened CPUs then we may be able to salvage them later. I don’t know about the thinkers, but I know Stomper wasn’t hardened.” He rubbed his face and Capreze thought the Chief Mechanic had aged a hundred years since he last saw them. “I didn’t see Lt. Murphy and her team either. Have no idea on their status.”

  “They should have made it clear of the EMP,” Capreze said. “They had different orders.”

  “That would have been nice to know,” Jay said. “Do I even want to know?”

  “Later,” Capreze said. “So we’re looking at no mechs, a handful of BTTs, a hundred riders of Eden, and anyone who can fire a rifle.” Capreze looked out at the far perimeter and the line of the Ranchers’ Disciples. “Never thought I’d be so glad to have that many deaders that close.”

  “What about the Three’s forces?” Jay asked. “How’d the Rookie do?”

  “Dog?” Capreze laughed. “He did well. But we owe most of that to something else entirely.”

  “I’ll let you tell me later too,” Jay said. “Right now I’m going to get some chow before we go to war. Looks like I’m back in a mech.”

  “Me too,” Capreze said.

  “Me too,” Rachel announced behind them.

  “Holy fucking ghosts!” Jay yipped. “What the hell?”

  Capreze whirred around and Rachel slammed her palm against his chest before he could say or do anything. “Now you fucking listen to me, Papa Bear. Whether you believe I’m your daughter or not doesn’t fucking matter right now. You need mech pilots. I’m a fucking mech pilot. In fact, with this snazzy new body of mine, I’m the fastest, most skilled mech pilot you’ve ever fucking seen. I won’t need cerebral integration. I won’t need the mech AI. I’llbe that fucking mech and wipe out everything coming at us. So shut the fuck up and let me fight.”

  Capreze watched her for a second. “No.”

  “Fuck you,” Rachel said and looked at Jay. “Get me a mech.”

  “The commander said-.”

  “Jay Rind, you remember when your fucking shine still exploded and took out most of the east wall at the mech base?” Rachel asked. “You remember how I covered for your ass and said it was a misfire from my mech while I was circling the base, bored?”

  “Oh…right,” Jay said, avoiding Capreze’s glare. “I think I remember that.”

  “Get me a mech, Jay,” Rachel said. “Or I’ll take a mech. And I’ll rip out the cerebral integration unit and the AI and make do with what I can.”

  “You have any idea what that’ll do to the controls if you don’t properly disengage and remove those systems?” Jay nearly shouted. “You’ll ruin a perfectly good mech!”

  “Then you better do it for me,” Rachel smiled.

  “Jay,” Capreze warned. “Don’t you dare.”

  “You know what, James?” Jay said. “It’s been a fucking shitty day and is about to be a fucking shitty night.” He looked over his shoulder at the Railer train and the sun setting beyond it. “We need all the help we can get. We’ve lost everyone, man. EVERYONE!”

  Heads turned and voices quieted at Jay’s outburst. Even Capreze took a step back.

  “I’m giving the girl a mech,” Jay said. “She may be Rachel, she may not, but no one gets that fired up and has plans to turn on us. I don’t give two fucks if you are onboard with this or not. I just want to kill some deaders and hope we don’t die in the process.” He looked at Rachel and nodded. “Come on. I have the perfect mech for you. I’ll have the systems removed while I get something to eat. We have two hours before the deaders get here, that’s the headstart we had. You’ll want to use that time to make sure you know what you’re doing and don’t blow yourself or anyone else up. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Rachel nodded. She shot a hard glance at Capreze then followed Jay into the Stronghold.

  “That’s your daughter,” Marin said as she patted Capreze’s shoulder. “I don’t have a doubt in my mind.”

  Capreze watched Marin follow Jay and Rachel. He took a deep breath and avoided the stares as he turned and took in the situation.

  Three mechs, two piloted by old men, and one piloted by who knew what. Capreze didn’t like it, but he didn’t have a choice. He just hoped they all lived so that Rachel could have a chance to truly prove him wrong. He had never wanted something so bad in his life.

  Sixty

  “There’s movement,” an Eden tech said, instantly rousing the Mayor from a doze. “Looks like the first guy won.”

  The Mayor rubbed his eyes and watched the grainy vid as Stone emerged from a massive pile of BC. They had all watched the battle between Stone and Reginald escalate until every ounce of BC on the battlefield
had been used. They had battered each other repeatedly in a relentless show of unforgiving violence. By the time they had finished they were each covered in tons upon tons of BC that the other had struck them with, creating a mound of metal that was taller than the tallest mech.

  “How can he survive that?” another tech asked.

  “Easy when you are no longer a man,” the Mayor said.

  Stone looked about himself and seemed to ripple for a moment. Then he was fresh and clean as if he hadn’t spent hours in mortal combat. He glanced over his shoulder towards the direction of the Stronghold then looked back towards the west. The Mayor could barely make out the strange grin on Stone’s face then he was gone.

  “What just happened?” the Mayor asked. “Play that back, slow it down.”

  The vid was reversed and played in slow motion. The entire Eden control room watched as Stone took off running, moving so fast that their eyes couldn’t even catch it.

  “Interesting,” the Mayor nodded. “See if you can keep tabs on him. He’s heading to Monterey.”

  “How do you know?” a tech asked.

  “Because I know the look of revenge when I see it,” the Mayor said.

  ***

  Stone didn’t even glance back at the carnage he’d wrought while battling Reginald. He really didn’t care. He also didn’t care if Reginald survived or not. That was Reginald’s deal, not his.

  All Stone cared about was ending it all. If he lived, fine. If he died, fine.

  As long as three men and one woman died too.

  ***

  “A little more distance,” Bisby said to One Arm. “Don’t follow too close.”

  “We are a half mile away from the back of the undead pack,” One Arm replied. “I am keeping us at the optimum safe distance.”

  “Well, it’s still too close for me,” Bisby said. “Especially since it’s dark. I didn’t survive that last fight so we can be swarmed and overtaken.”