“That’s just the thing, if you don’t trust my leadership, how can we move forward? Trust is a huge part of it,” he said.
“Drake, listen. There weren’t many options considering the Russians lied to us about the number of refugees. We were unprepared. It wasn’t you,” I reassured.
“I wanted to help them. I let my emotions get in the way. I thought there had to be a way to save them,” he said. I nodded my head slowly. I could appreciate his genuineness and kind heart. He wanted to make a difference.
But this is war. Sixteen refugees weren’t worth risking the survival of the human race.
“In that case, it was a lost cause. I’ll continue to offer you assistance. I’m not saying I’m always right, but hopefully my experience can give you insight in certain situations,” I replied.
He sighed and clenched his left hand.
“Can I ask you one thing?” he said.
I knew it was coming. “What?”
Drake slumped his head. “Just out of curiosity, what would you have done in my shoes?” he questioned. I was right.
“You’re not going to let up, are you?” I asked. He shook his head.
I sighed. “I honestly don’t think the Russians had anything valuable to share with us. But in that situation, if I was in full command? I would have asked nicely for the coordinates a couple of times and explained the situation,” I said.
“The truth? You would have told them they weren’t going to survive?” he asked.
“I would have told Viktor that. Then if they didn’t want to comply, I would have offered two options: one, they give me the locations of the android bases and I eject the pod. I would promise to destroy the pod with the XU-97. This would be a quick, honorable death in which they contributed to humanity’s survival. I would explain that.”
Drake gulped. “And option two?”
“I would have sent Xena in to execute them one at a time until they told me the locations,” I said plainly.
Drake’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “That easy?”
“Fuck no. It’s not easy at all. But it’s a numbers game. You have to think of it that way. Sixteen people versus potentially millions or billions that will be born in the future if we don’t stop the androids. We need those locations, so we do whatever it takes,” I explained.
“Even if it means abandoning your husband if this signal we’re following leads to nowhere? We don’t have time to scour the planet for him.” I glanced down at the deck. I could feel him staring a hole through me.
I narrowed my eyes at him, “Yes,” I said. After I answered, the truth revealed itself, smacking me in the face. They might abandon the search for Luther if we didn’t find him initially, but I realized then that I wouldn’t. I dropped my head as guilt overwhelmed me. I just explained to Drake that sixteen people weren’t worth risking the fate of humanity, but one person was? Unfortunately, yes, to me, Luther was worth it. Love, celebrated and considered exclusive to humans, was now a potential detriment to our survival.
It took me long enough, but I realized just how selfish and hypocritical I was. It made sense. Unbelievable. Titan was right to be suspicious of me. They painted Xena a bullseye on my head for good reason.
I wasn’t ready for this.
I gulped. It was time to confront this head on. Not even Luther would want this. I gritted my teeth in anger. If we didn’t find Luther this first go around, Drake would likely opt to abort the search for him and pursue other intelligence options. Time wasn’t on our side.
I flared my nostrils. I hoped that when the moment came, I would do the right thing. If I abandoned Drake to continue my search for Luther, my absence would jeopardize the entire human race.
“Captain. Whatever is down this tunnel, you lead, I’ll follow. Maybe I can learn a thing or two,” Drake interrupted my thoughts.
“Wait, what? Um...” I straightened up in my seat and arched an eyebrow.
“We’ll try it for a while. You’re in charge. Honestly, my confidence is shaken, or maybe I need a break. That’s me being completely honest,” he revealed. The problem was, I was also having my own doubts.
“Drake, I have to be honest with you, too,” I said.
His eyes widened. “What?”
“I know what I said about making the tough choices, but I’m... I don’t know, it just hit me that if Luther’s not here, I—”
“Captain,” he interrupted, leaning in.
“Yes.”
“If the time comes and we need to go our separate ways, I’ll do what I have to, but I don’t think it’ll come to that,” he said.
“Why?”
“I dare say you’re in this position only because of chance. No, you’re here for a reason,” he said with confidence.
“How can you be sure?” I asked.
“I am. How many people live their lives and know they were born for one moment? Huh? I can tell you without a doubt you and I were born for this. Even if we die. All this isn’t lining up out of thin air,” he said with conviction.
“I don’t know.” Truth be told I wasn’t one that believed in destiny or fate, but it seemed unusual to have a pilot with my credentials lying around on Titan.
Drake leaned forward. “Luther got you here. His love motivated you to make this voyage. It held you together during all this craziness. He is the vessel, otherwise you wouldn’t be sitting here, would you?” he asked.
I gulped. “Probably not.”
Drake paused. He placed his hand on my shoulder. I felt my eyes gloss over. “No. You wouldn’t have. Victoria, if he’s gone, then his death meant something. It meant you’re in the most important position in human history. Take hold of that. Embrace it. Don’t let his sacrifice be in vain. We need you. I need you to take command, Captain.” He stared at me more intensely than I thought he was capable of.
I nodded at him slowly. “I—”
“Colonel Drake?” Xena interrupted, chiming in on our helmets.
“Yes?” Drake asked. We waited for a few seconds with no answer.
“Xena!” Drake spoke up.
“Yes. I’m in the XU-97 hovering above the entrance to the cave. Permission to engage a large unknown group heading toward your position. They’re aimed right at the tunnel,” she said.
Drake stared at me. “Captain?” he said.
“A g-group of what, Xena? What are they?” I took the reins.
“Not sure. Somewhat humanoid in shape, but not movement. Very fast, moving on four limbs. They appear highly agitated and aggressive. Headed to the tunnel, Colonel. I’ll need you to give me an order immediately,” she rattled.
“Burn `em! Now!” I ordered.
“Colonel?”
“Do it!” Drake ordered.
“Engaging,” she said. I heard a faint shrieking sound that echoed down the tunnel as Drake and I met eyes.
“The hell was that?” Drake said. He leaned forward in his seat.
“Can’t be good. Look around the cart, I doubt there are any weapons, but look anyway,” I said. Drake climbed over into the back, rummaging around. After a couple of minutes, the hood popped up and the robot pointed its guns at the entrance. “Warning. Motion detected. Scanning. Five, seven, eight, twelve lifeforms detected.”
“I didn’t stop them all, Colonel. I say again, potential hostiles approaching,” Xena said.
“Captain Belic is in charge, Xena, report to her,” he said.
There was a moment of silence. “Colonel Drake, are you sure you wish to transfer command and all authority to Captain Belic?” she asked.
“Yes. Yes!” he confirmed.
“Very well. Captain, what are your orders?” she asked.
“Stand by, Xena,” I ordered. I could hear growling and snarling echoing from the entrance.
“You think we can outrun them?” Drake asked, peering behind us.
“Doubtful. The sounds are getting louder.”
“Contaminated lifeforms detected. Keep all limbs inside the
car. Good day.” The robot opened fire, lighting the tunnel up like the Fourth of July. Rapid fire bursts of energy zapped down the corridor at an alarming rate. Its squared body snapped left and right erratically.
“Captain, there’s a lot of them,” Drake said.
“No weapons?” I asked rhetorically.
“Other than the robot, no,” he said. I could hear screeching and scampering behind us, but I didn’t want to look. Against my better judgment, I turned around anyway, facing the music.
As the robot fired, the flashes of light highlighted a nightmarishly fast creature scurrying upside down on the ceiling. It was like a blur, so fast I couldn’t make out its form. It reminded me of a spider’s low scamper. “Oh, my God.”
Drake followed my eyes. “Shit. No. No. No. I’m not liking Earth one bit here.”
“Up high!” I yelled at the robot.
One of them got dangerously close, within several meters on the ceiling. The robot tore into the creature, melting dozens of apple sized holes through its torso and face. It landed hard, tumbling on the tracks. It squirmed around violently before flattening out motionless.
“That was close! How much further is this fucking tunnel?” Drake stood up.
“I don’t know, sit down!” I yelled.
“Xena, can you track us from above? Through the terrain?” I yelled.
“Already on it, but your signal is weakening. For now, I see a highlighted outline of you and Colonel Drake moving away,” she said.
“How thick is the terrain?” I asked.
“Two to three meters, various geology and soil. More than likely I can penetrate through but—”
“Get above us, I want you to fire on my command directly behind us.” I observed the swarm of creatures inching closer. They were darting on the walls, the ceiling, and ground.
“Oh God,” Drake said.
“The tracking image of you is lagging slightly, Captain. You’ll have to hurry. I cannot guarantee accuracy much longer,” she said.
“They’re gaining on us, Captain. Fast.” Drake glared at me.
“On my command, fire four meters behind us, Xena,” I said, concentrating over the buzzing laser fire and shrills.
“In position,” Xena said. I trained my eyes on the horde approaching. A blur of ravenous metallic teeth and fangs strobed into view as the headlamps flickered.
“I trust you, Captain, whatever you have to do,” Drake said, injecting confidence. I had one shot at this.
“Get ready Xena. Hold...hold...fire!” I yelled. An instantaneous beam of white energy flooded the tunnel in front of us, incinerating three of the creatures into a wisp of dust. Sunlight, soil, rock, and snow followed through the hole, crushing the remaining creatures in a tsunami of debris as they shrieked. The rubble piled up, blocking off part of the tunnel.
“Perfect shot!” Drake yelled, standing up.
“Hold your fire, Xena, hostiles down,” I ordered. The cart-mounted robot ceased fire, as well, but continued to pan around erratically as we moved deeper into the tunnel.
“They’re gonna be pissed about their tunnel.” Drake grinned, patting me on the back as I turned toward him.
“You picked a helluva a time to give me command. Shit, move!” I yelled. Drake’s eyes bulged as one of the creatures emerged from underneath the cart. Time slowed down. It was like a dream I had no control over.
I was frozen in front of a nightmare. It was hideous. A mesh of decaying man and machine, absent of hair on its head, face, or body. It reminded me of a gangly skeleton with a tiny layer of skin and flesh over bone. Anchored into the flesh were small, clover-sized scales. These crude metallic panels blanketed the body, spaced apart two centimeters and were linked by circuitry wires.
I gathered the implanted mechanisms in the creature had a sinister bolstering effect. The cybernetics seemed to preserve only what was absolutely necessary of the flesh, reengineering an otherwise delicate human physical specimen into a deadly, hyper-agile, feral remnant of a man.
The fingers were extended into razor sharp serrated claws, each digit twenty centimeters or more. It had pale skin with white eyes and no visible pupils. The nose was simply two black holes, as were the ears. Facial features seemed to have been lopped off with a heated surgical tool, with bits of seared, blackened flesh around the amputation. It had brackets of metal tracked horizontally across its mouth, splitting the machined upper and lower jaw.
It opened its mouth wider than any human range of motion, like an alpha baboon displaying its teeth to a rival. Inside the mouth was mostly blackness. Greasy, oil-like saliva sloshed about, streaming drool in anticipation from the lower jaw, like a ravenous wolf before a fresh kill. Inside, its metallic gums had a stained yellow, plague hue. Two massive icepick-like fangs suddenly protracted from the upper jaw like twin switchblades. Red veins emerged and pulsed in its milky eyes.
Time seemed to leap forward. The creature lunged at Drake, plunging its dagger like teeth into his visor, cracking and splintering the glass like a spider web. My visor flashed a cautionary indicator:
WARNING - SUIT PRESSURE LOST
COLONEL RIVEN DRAKE
“Ahhh!” Drake shouted.
The monster let out an excited roar. Its eyes turned black as it yanked Drake by the face over onto the side of the rail cart.
“Drake!” I screamed.
“Contamination detected.” The rail car robot swiveled around, but the creature was out of its range on the opposite side of the door.
Drake’s screams echoed off the tunnel walls. My chest cramped as I scrambled for an idea.
“Think!” I yelled.
“Captain?” Xena asked.
“One of them has D-Drake!” I yelled. I collapsed into the floor holding my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I had no fighter jet, no weapons. I shuffled toward Drake as he screamed, leaning my head over the cart. The creature had Drake pinned to the exterior of the door, its claws sunk inside the metal. It was ripping through his helmet as Drake’s legs shook violently.
Somehow, Drake was fighting back. “Err! Err! Err!” He struggled, hammer-fisting the creature in the head with little effect.
“Captain, move away from Drake,” Xena said.
“What?” No, no, you can’t fire through the ground again, you’ll hit Drake!” I ordered.
“Who said anything about firing through the ground?” Xena asked. I snapped around at a humming sound behind us. My mouth dropped in amazement. Xena was flying the XU-97 sideways in the tunnel. She’d crammed it through the hole created from the blast. The craft was scraping the ice ceiling, shaving massive slabs of ice off behind it as it bounced along. I could see her stoic pose in the cockpit, turned sideways as she barreled forward, ready as ever. “Orders?” she asked. The rail cart robot pointed its guns toward our ship. “Motion detect—”
A flash erupted from the XU-97, destroying the cart mounted robot.
“Sorry, Captain, the robot was targeting the XU-97,” Xena said.
“No, it’s fine! Get closer!” I yelled.
She throttled forward. “Target acquired.” She zapped a burst of energy down the side of the rail car. I heard two thuds as Xena put on the brakes. I dove over the side without hesitation, tumbling several times before coming to a stop.
“Ahem...okay...where’s...Drake...” I panted, getting to my feet. I shambled around in the dust filled corridor. Xena powered down the jet, leaning it against the corridor wall.
“Drake?” I called out. Halfway between myself and the jet, there he was, face down. A cloud of smoke separated us. To the left of him was the monster, sprawled out face up. A chuck of its skull was melted, and its lower body was a pile of goo.
As I approached, I observed patterns of two bloody holes poked throughout his suit. “No,” I whispered, running over to him. I kneeled beside him as my visor flashed his vitals:
MEDICAL EMERGENCY WARNING
COLONEL RIVEN DRAKE
CONDITION: EXSANGUINATION
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY
“Xena! Drake needs help! He’s bleeding out!” I yelled.
“On the way.” She navigated out of the ship, jumping off the tilted ramp exit carrying a thick stretcher like board tucked under her arm. I backed away as she neared. She flattened out the board on the frozen soil beside him. “Could you grab his feet?” She asked.
“O-okay.”
“Tilt.” We gently lifted his body up and slid the stretcher under him as a pair of robotic arms emerged, assisting us from each side. Drake’s face was covered in blood and glass. One of the robots scanned Drake’s body head to toe while the other one injected him with a maroon fluid. I couldn’t help but wonder if this emergency unit was designated for Luther.
“What-what do you think?” I mumbled. The stretcher lifted from the ground, floating in place about waist high like a hoverboard.
“Captain, these medical drones are asking for my assistance, is there any way I could link up with them, then provide you with details later?” she asked, cutting through his suit with a large, scalpel type tool. As the blade sliced through his jumpsuit, I observed several quarter-sized pairs of puncture wounds on his torso. Blood was everywhere, spattered across the inside of his suit and pooling up around the entry points.
“Oh, o-of course. Absolutely. Anything I can do to help?” I showed her my palms, they were shaking.
“Negative. We have a more pressing issue that will require your attention,” she said. I glanced over at the XU-97, we would have to figure out a way to get it out of here. Then, I heard footsteps galloping in the distance. I snapped back down the tunnel and saw a group of armed personnel head our way. Beams from flashlights scattered across the ground as they ran at us.
That was the problem Xena mentioned, not the ship.
“I hope these are the good guys,” I mumbled. I put my hands up as they approached. I counted eleven of them. They slowed down to a trot within sixty meters from our position, several of them pointing their weapons at us.
They wore dark blue or black camouflage uniforms, combat boots, with gas masks covering their faces. I could hear garbled dialogue between them, but I couldn’t make any of it out. They stopped about thirty meters from us, and by this point, they were all pointing their weapons in our direction.
The Legion and the Lioness Page 21