Meltdown (Mech Wars Book 3)

by Scott Bartlett

  “That does not matter,” Rug said, lifting her massive head from her paws. “Does it? We still have the footage of Darkstream’s deeds on Alex, including the confession Mario Laudano volunteered when he thought we could not possibly escape him.”

  “It does matter,” Tessa said, and though she spoke confidently, she’d lost some of her usual bravado. “If we don’t have the muscle to bring Darkstream to justice, it won’t matter if we release the footage. It will embarrass them, and it may even cost them money. But it won’t topple them. Not by itself. It’ll only piss them off.”

  Lisa nodded. “Tessa’s right. We need allies, and I’m guessing the other Darkstream soldiers will be about as unlikely to join us as the mech pilots. That means we need to start locating Quatro drifts.”

  Andy moaned wordlessly, drawing Lisa’s gaze.

  Just before they’d left Ingress, Lisa had grabbed a medkit from one of the other shuttles. Once she had it aboard, she discovered that the pilot in charge of keeping it replenished had also been negligent, and the only antibiotics she could scrounge from it consisted of two large blue pills.

  She’d dissolved them in water and gently poured them down Andy’s throat. That had caused him to gag, at first, which she considered a positive sign.

  They’d seemed to take effect quickly, and within hours his fever had dropped, along with his nonsensical muttering.

  But she’d only found two pills, and once they wore off, Andy’s condition began to worsen again. Now, his muttering had turned into wordless moans, and he thrashed about in his crash seat. If it hadn’t been for the straps holding him there, he would have thrown himself onto the shuttle’s deck.

  Unable to take it anymore, Lisa ripped off her own straps to storm across the craft, past the Quatro whose energy weapon was trained on the pilot, and into the cockpit.

  “Land the shuttle,” she said.

  The pilot turned to blink at her. “Pardon?”

  “You heard me. I want you to land. Now.” Her fingers found her pistol’s grip, and she caressed it.

  “It isn’t safe,” the pilot said, eyes flitting to her firearm. “There are mercenaries and Quatro fighting Darkstream all over the place. I even spotted one of those quadruped mechs. I’m not landing.”

  Lips pursed, Lisa shook her head. “Are you trying to tell me that every square inch of Eresos is covered in fighting mercenaries and aliens?”

  “Um…” The pilot sniffed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

  “That’s what I thought. Now that we have that cleared up, you’ll do exactly as I say. Put this shuttle down within five minutes or suffer the consequences.” Eyebrows raised, she patted the butt of the pistol.

  “Militia members,” Lisa said over the channel they’d agreed on before leaving Alex. “I need everyone to search their shuttle’s medkits for antibiotics. If you find some, report to me. I need one of you to have your pilot land as soon as mine does, so that I can get the medication from you. It’s for Andy. He’s in rough shape.” Through the cockpit’s open hatch, Lisa stared at Andy’s pale, sweaty face, and she frowned.

  Maybe I should have turned him over to Darkstream back at Ingress…just so he could have gotten the attention he needs.

  But no. Andy wouldn’t have wanted that. She was pretty sure he would rather die than become Darkstream’s prisoner, after what he’d seen the company do back on Alex.

  Ten minutes later, she was stepping out of her shuttle’s airlock onto a meadow full of tall, brittle grass that waved in the wind. She shielded her eyes to watch another shuttle swoop in to land gently next to hers.

  Bob O’Toole stepped out of the airlock, grinning like a fool.

  “Why the smile, O’Toole?” Lisa asked, her tone flat. “Are you happy to be deep behind enemy lines, with limited fuel and supplies?”

  “I’m just happy to get to see your pretty face.”

  She marched over to him, snatched the medkit, and wrenched it open. Its contents fell out onto the grass, and she sifted through them with her boot until she found what she needed.

  Plucking up a transparent, yellow-tinted bottle, she held it up to the sunlight. Cefoxitin. That was what she’d given Andy before, and it had seemed to work wonders. Perfect.

  “Did you find what you need?” Tessa asked as she emerged from the shuttle behind Lisa, squinting into the sun.

  “Who’s watching the pilot?” Lisa asked.

  “Rug just took over. Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure if she could fit inside the cockpit, that energy gun of hers would be squarely up his ass.”

  Lisa suspected she was supposed to laugh at that, but she wasn’t in the mood for comedy at present.

  “Hey, it was kind of funny,” she said when Tessa’s smile faded from her face, replaced by a grim expression.

  Then, she realized that Tessa was staring at something. She followed her friend’s gaze to the horizon, where several large, purple shapes were striding toward them, the grass parting around their massive frames.

  “Looks like we found our first drift,” Tessa said.

  The Quatro must have seen them land, because they headed directly for the two shuttles parked side-by-side.

  “Should we get out of here?” Bob O’Toole said, his voice quavering.

  “No,” Lisa said. “We’re looking for Quatro. Remember?”

  “Sure,” he said. “But now that I see them coming, I’m not so sure I want to find them, anymore. At least, not unless it’s with the rest of the militia at my back, fully armed, with a few bazookas for good measure.”

  “It’s hard to make friends with bazookas, O’Toole,” Tessa said. “Although, maybe this explains why you don’t have any. Friends, that is.”

  Lisa was surprised at the pang of pity she felt for O’Toole at Tessa’s words. It was standard Tessa ribbing, but O’Toole was such a pathetic target that the comment rang a little too true.

  I must be tired. Sympathy for O’Toole was the last thing she would have expected to feel.

  When the Quatro reached them, they arranged themselves in a broad arc, all of them facing Lisa.

  A few seconds passed while both species stared at each other.

  Then, without warning, one of the giant aliens emitted a wordless roar and charged straight at Tessa.

  Chapter 10

  Until I Am Satisfied

  By the collective!

  When Rug saw the Quatro approaching across the field, her spirits soared. She asked Nail to watch the pilot for her again, and ever-agreeable, Nail agreed. Rug went straight to the airlock.

  That turned out to be a fateful decision.

  Her joy at the prospect of reuniting with long-lost kin turned to ashes in her mouth as one of the Quatro surged toward Tessa Notaras, just as the outer airlock door was opening.

  Rug burst from the cramped chamber, meeting the Quatro just before he reached her friend. That encounter likely would have ended with death for Tessa—a lone human stood almost no chance against a Quatro, not unless they piloted one of their great machines.

  Tessa did not pilot one, and so Rug’s timing was fortunate. The Quatro was halted in its tracks, but Rug did not stop there—not without making sure her friends were safe, first.

  She continued charging forward, toppling the Quatro until he fell to the grass with a crash. Rug placed a paw on his chest, extending her claws so that he would feel their pricks.

  “It appears I have the best of you, friend,” she said, panting slightly.

  “Your might serves the drift well…friend.”

  “Today, my might has spared a friend of us both. This human has done many good works. Why did you attack her?”

  At that, the strange Quatro’s lips drew back into a snarl, and he hissed. “That is no friend of ours. She is responsible for hundreds of Quatro deaths.”

  Rug hesitated. Could there be some error?

  She decided this warranted further investigation. “If I release you, will you promise to relent until I am satisfi
ed?”

  “Yes.”

  Rug removed her paw, and her fellow Quatro rose to his feet, glaring at Tessa.

  Pausing to gather her thoughts, Rug also met Tessa’s gaze. The humans would not have understood the exchange that had just transpired. Rug had not activated her translator, since it would only have spoken over her, muddying the conversation.

  “This one claims that you were responsible for Quatro deaths, Tessa Notaras.” she said. “Is that true?”

  Her words had a strange effect on the human. Tessa went rigid, and the color drained from her face. Although Rug still hadn’t figured out human body language completely, she surmised that this reaction likely served as confirmation.

  Her spirits sank even farther.

  “It’s true,” Tessa said at last, her eyes wide.

  Rug didn’t answer. Instead, she approached Tessa slowly, the grass rustling under her paws with each step.

  Soon, she towered over the human, glaring down at her. And for a long moment, she did not know what her own reaction would be.

  But then she turned back toward the Quatro she’d just met. “Tell me more of this travesty.”

  “With pleasure,” the Quatro growled. “This human led many attacks on the meager dwellings the Quatro took for themselves on this forsaken planet. Even when the first drift to encounter the two-legs offered a deep gesture of peace, they responded with aggression. And this human’s face is etched into my mind forever. Most of my old drift is now dead thanks to an attack that she led.”

  Rug swung her head toward Tessa, whose posture was so much different from what Rug was used to seeing from the human. Normally, Tessa conducted herself with confidence—or at least, as far as Rug could tell, based on her limited understanding of human social interaction.

  Now, Tessa looked…well, she looked guilty. As though her spirit had shrunk as small as her body.

  “This is a deep betrayal,” Rug said.

  “Rug—” Tessa began, and her voice broke off, full of emotion. She began again: “Rug, there is more to this. There’s no excuse for what I did, but I can at least offer you the reasons I had for doing it.”

  “I will hear them, Tessa Notaras. Because of the respect I held for you before today, I will hear them. But not now. Now, we have urgent business, and I’m afraid you can no longer be trusted to conduct it.”

  “You speak to them with facility,” said the Quatro who’d nearly killed Tessa Notaras.

  “Yes,” Rug said. “Our fortunes have been aligned for some time.” For a moment, emotion threatened to overcome her, but she forced herself to press on. “We have come to uncover the truth about this war. I have always known the Quatro would not fight so fiercely unless provoked, and you have confirmed that. Now, all that remains is to find a way to defeat this Darkstream.”

  The Quatro sat back on its haunches, his gaze never leaving Rug’s. “The Quatro in this region are already locked in furious combat with that force for evil. We have found allies in some of the humans—and so we know that not all of them are rotten—but I am saddened to report that we have just suffered a major defeat. I do not believe we have the forces required to win.”

  “Have you given up hope so easily, friend?”

  “No,” the Quatro said. “I said we lack the necessary forces in this region. But there is a region across the Barrens, far to the east, where many Quatro have ventured but none have returned. I am convinced there must be many more drifts of Quatro there.”

  “We have craft to speed our journey,” Rug said. “If you truly believe this, and are willing to join actions to your words, then perhaps, together, this we can achieve.”

  “I will come—partly in penance for disrespecting you. I attacked one of your party without first engaging you, and for that I apologize.”

  Rug did not mention the fact that this Quatro had not even known she was aboard the shuttle until she’d emerged. She did not mention it, since she would be just as remorseful in his place.

  “You say you are receptive to the idea that not all humans are rotten. Would you also receive one of my human friends into the care of your drift? He is near death.”

  “I will lobby my brothers and sisters on his behalf. They are sure to agree to it. It is the Quatro way, is it not? Despite everything else, that is still true. With luck, he will recover in our absence. No doubt our allies among the Red Company will be able to help.”

  “Red Company—these are the human allies you mentioned?”

  “Indeed.”

  Rug turned back to her human companions. “These Quatro will see that Andy gets the care he needs.” She swung her head to meet Lisa Sato’s gaze. “Based on my discussion with my new friend, it seems our highest chances of success await to the east.”

  Lisa nodded. “I trust your judgment, Rug. You can explain the plan while we’re in transit. O’Toole, get Andy out of the shuttle. Will you stay with him?”

  O’Toole nodded. “Anything for you, sweetheart. Andy might be a cocky brat, but he was always willing to have a drink with me. Besides, Phineas would have stayed with him. So I will, too.”

  “Thank you, O’Toole.” Lisa turned back to Rug, and Rug found her expression just as inscrutable as she had found Tessa’s. “Rug…are we okay? Is everything going to be okay, between us?”

  “Nothing could mar our friendship, Lisa Sato.” Nothing, except learning that you slaughtered my people in droves.

  “I feel the same way,” Lisa said. She appeared to draw a great breath. “We’d better get started.”

  Chapter 11

  Emergency Bulletin

  The grass of Eresos crunched underfoot as Ash trailed behind Beth.

  She gave a pleasurable sigh, which drew a smile from the other young woman.

  It’s been too long.

  It felt good to experience the world with her own body, after so long inside her MIMAS. To feel actual sunbeams play across her skin, and not a sun simulated by the dream. To breathe actual air, instead of oxygen that had been piped to her by her mech.

  To live life unmediated by a walking metal weapon.

  Currently, their mechs were being repaired of the damage they’d endured since first deploying to Eresos. Ash’s in particular was being fitted with a new bayonet, since one of hers had been snapped during the recent battle.

  Typically, she felt vulnerable outside her MIMAS, unprotected by its armor and weapons. But with the city walls in sight, atop which the garrison of Ingress watched over them, she could breathe easier than she normally might have while clad only in clothes.

  Besides, lately, she’d been feeling vulnerable even inside her MIMAS. The mechs Darkstream had engineered, while more formidable than any ground combat unit ever deployed by humanity, were no match for the quads piloted by the Quatro, and she feared the bipedal alien mech that Chief Roach piloted would make short work of her, if they ever found themselves on opposite sides.

  The memory of the way Roach had thrown her backward several meters, with such ease…she wouldn’t soon forget it.

  Maybe Oneiri Team really is done.

  Without their leader, what were they? Could anyone replace Roach, and keep them unified as he had? Sure, both Jake and Ash had served briefly as commander, but Jake wasn’t here, and she had serious doubts about her own ability to keep the team working together long-term.

  Since graduation, Roach had wielded them like a single, seamless weapon.

  Now, I feel like we’re scattered.

  “I wish I could walk through the tall grass,” Beth said, turning back as she spoke, her deep blue eyes shining.

  “You’re brave,” Ash said, and she meant it. The real world really did feel less safe to her now, outside of the mech. “I don’t have the courage to go outside the range of the snipers on the wall. Not anymore.”

  Wrinkling her cute little nose, Beth turned to continue walking. “It would be worth it, to feel the grass surrounding me. I think.”

  The wind picked up, and Ash caught a s
cent in the air she hadn’t smelled in a while. “Hey,” she called ahead. “Are you wearing perfume?”

  “Yeah!” Beth said. “First time in months. And I don’t know when I’ll next get the opportunity, so…”

  Ash smiled to herself. Her friend really did know how to make the best of every situation.

  I wish I had that ability.

  She wanted to help preserve her friend’s good mood, but…

  There are things we need to talk about.

  “I’m concerned about Roach,” she said at last. “I don’t know that he can lead us anymore.”

  When Beth turned this time, the smile had vanished, and that killed Ash. “Seriously?” Beth said.

  Ash nodded. “I mean, think about what he’s become. What that thing he pilots did to him. He’s basically an alien himself, now. Just a nervous system stretched across a metal frame.”

  Beth shuddered visibly.

  “I wasn’t going to mention this to anyone,” Ash said. “Didn’t want to worry them. But…the other day, he attacked me.”

  “What? How?”

  “He hit me, sent me flying back inside my mech. I can send you the footage.”

  “No need—of course I believe you, Ash!”

  “Yeah. I just thought you might want to see it.”

  “Well, you can send it if you want.”

  A silence fell between them, and it felt a bit awkward from Ash’s perspective.

  Oh, God. I’ve ruined a perfectly nice day. How many of those do we get?

  An alert flashed on her HUD, then, with a high-enough priority that it superseded every other function of her implant.

  “EMERGENCY BULLETIN: A FORCE CONSISTING OF FIFTY-THREE QUATRO AND THREE QUAD MECHS HAS BEGUN ATTACKING VILLAGES IN THE GLADES, TO THE SOUTHEAST OF INGRESS. ALL DARKSTREAM COMBAT UNITS ARE TO MUSTER AT INGRESS AND PREPARE FOR AN IMMINENT COUNTEROFFENSIVE.”

  After the implant detected that Ash had read the alert in full, it permitted her to will it to dissolve. When it did, her eyes found Beth’s. “Did you get that alert?”