“Look, we could always listen to the girls. Maybe we’ll find the secret to the female psyche. We can co-author a book, get rich, and retire early. How about it? To make sure they don’t catch on, we can argue about whatever strikes your fancy. Or we can take turns hitting on them to confuse them. It’s a great plan. Even if none of that sounds appealing, we have an even number which means buddies are in two packs, not three, and I don’t have one yet. So sorry, but you’re stuck with me.”
He sighed and I smiled.
“Look on the bright side, you’ll be near Helen. I could always flirt and you can harass me to leave them alone so you seem like the hero. Maybe you’ll get some action.”
If anything, he sank deeper into a depressed state. But he didn’t argue anymore so I held out my arm. He glared at me and turned to start walking towards the girls. I caught up with a few long strides and smiled at him.
“Well, the girls are hooking arms so I thought it only appropriate I ask.”
“Buzz off.”
He put his hands in his pockets and we walked in silence until we got to the girls. We joined them in the middle of the line.
“Look who I brought as a date, girls”
They both smiled at Nick and me. I could tell Helen really wanted to say something but was trying to be nice.
“Are you gonna kiss goodnight?”
(Helen)
I wanted to say something smart but I knew Phillip would get back at me later. I’d worked a lot with Phillip and I knew he valued his pride and skill above all else. Missy however had no qualms about harassing him, it seemed. I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. Nick looked pissed, and Phillip, instead of looking like he was going to knife her in his sleep - his usual response to this type of teasing - actually laughed.
“Of course not. I am hoping to convince at least one of you ladies to accompany me on the way back to the hotel. I figure I’ll charm one of you enough by the end of the evening to get some action. Nick will have to make do with the other.”
Nick didn’t look like he wanted anything to do with Phillip or his plan. So, I had to ask. “Which one of us are you hoping to land, Phillip? Which are you hoping Nick gets stuck with?”
Missy looked at me and smiled viciously, then turned to Phillip.
“That’s a good question, Helen. So, Phillip, who are you hoping to land and who are you hoping to pass off? Given the choice, I mean.”
Nick did smile at that.
“Now you’ve dug yourself a hole, Phillip. Set yourself up for that one.”
“What about you, Nick? Who do you hope Phillip passes over?”
Missy instantly took all heat off Phillip; I heard a small grateful sigh escape his lips, and dumped it on Nick. Phillip’s sigh of relief turned into a laugh.
“Looks like you’re stuck in that hole with me, old boy.”
Nick shrugged. He looked straight at me.
“Everyone already knows the answer to that, so I don’t care.”
I turned and looked away. He had done the dumping, not me. Well he had started it and by the end I was so insulted that I had agreed with it. It was his fault. He left me to begin with and he dumped me earlier. I didn’t feel sorry for him and I didn’t regret what had happened. I sighed, knowing I really only believed half of that.
The teachers interrupted our oh-so-awkward silence; we all lined up and walked to the restaurant. It was only two blocks away, not long enough in my opinion. Soon we’d get to the restaurant and I’d have to play nice again.
We got there and were seated right away. It was great, the no waiting in line part. The military came with such wonderful benefits. We all quietly went over the menu. We gave our orders and Missy turned to me and started asking questions. Phillip snickered on the other side of the table. Nick was silent so I ignored them both and answered Missy. I figured answering questions would keep me out of trouble.
“You know girls, I think I have an answer for your earlier question.”
Missy stopped talking and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, do you? I wouldn’t think you’d want to get yourself between a rock and a hard place, but enlighten us.”
I smiled. I was starting to enjoy Missy’s bluntness.
“Well, if you insist.”
I rolled my eyes, and I didn’t see but I was pretty sure Missy did the same.
“Well, I’ve decided to just go back to your room with both of you. You can take turns or we could try a little experimenting.”
He smiled. I could feel the anger coming off Missy. I grabbed her arm. If she killed Philip his handler would blame me. Besides, keeping her from killing him would give me something to focus on instead of planning his death. But both of us showed our anger in our body language and facial expressions.
“I can't believe you just said that. That’s a new low even for you, Phillip.”
I was about to say that’s putting it lightly, but as long as Nick was telling him how low he was, we wouldn’t be as tempted to try and end up getting angrier, then jumping over the table to kill him.
I guess Missy was as much a feminist as I was. Not that I should be surprised. She was a girl in a man’s world. What woman wouldn’t be a feminist? You can't be a girl in the military without sending the statement that you are a fighter for female rights.
Nick didn’t say anything more and Phillip started to laugh. I think it was our reaction that was funny. Before I could punch him, my phone vibrated. Phillip stopped laughing and picked his up as I turned mine on. He looked at me. about to speak, and got serious. If both of us were getting calls it was bad.
“Helen here.”
It was Jane. She told me she had news. I told her to spill it. I heard Phillip ask Gabe what was up. They must have told us at the same time because we looked at each other and paled. I almost slid out of my chair but Missy grabbed my arm and held me up.
“Are you sure?”
Jane gave me the affirmative and I hung up.
“Time to work.”
It wasn't a question but a statement. I nodded. Phillip was apparently my Intel on this one. He’d be my baseman, giving me the info as he got it. I’d go in and deal with the problem.
“Hope you aren't still skittish about flying.” After the attack on his sister and rescuing me, he had become a bit jet skittish. We stood and Missy stood too.
“What happened?”
I sighed. “Top secret, can't say. We’ll be back by tomorrow if all goes well.” I went over to General Hoocker, knowing he would understand the most. He nodded and took responsibility for us. We promised to return or contact him in twenty-four hours.
We left the restaurant at a dead run. I didn’t even notice my heels; they didn’t bother me.
“I can't believe that they would attack an academy.”
I nodded. All those students. It wasn’t the academy we were at. It was a training one. The initial training academy, for those who sign up with little or no talent. They didn’t have a chance.
“I’ll fly in low, drop you off and hit the bastards where it hurts.”
He nodded. I didn’t like thinking about the deaths I couldn't prevent. But I could use it to focus on making sure they didn’t do it again to more boys and girls that didn’t have the training, or knowledge, to fight back. Unfortunately for the bastards responsible, I had both.
Back at the hotel I changed. My suit was spandex. It may seem unrealistic, but I needed to maneuver and wear a lot of weapons. So, the less in the way my clothing, the better. I put both my boot knives into their sheaths and strapped my M-9’s to my upper thighs. I strapped my sword on my back and put my hunting knife around my waist, just in case. The belt that held it had pockets, which I filled with ammo. I grabbed my M-16 and threw it over my shoulder. I’d start with that and use the sword only if I ran out of bullets.
“Ready.” I turned to see that Phillip had already changed and come back.
“Me too.”
Phillip only had to change. He didn’t
have to pack the weapons. He could be in danger, but it wasn't likely. Besides, if they got near him, he was good at hiding and running. He could find where I’d park the jet and go up until I needed evacuation.
“Yeah, well you only had to change. What's in the bag?”
“Our equipment. Well, you’ll only be using the communication gear. My laptop and some weapons are in here. You don’t think I’d go empty-handed, do you? What if I have to save your butt?”
I finished shoving ammo in my belt pockets and looked up at him, all seriousness. “Negative. You are to report failure of the mission back to our superiors. There is a team being prepped as a cleanup crew so they’ll find me one way or another.”
“I’m not letting you die. Jane may be willing to let you die but I’m not. You’re my partner.”
I smiled. He was right. I could die. Jane would despair about all the money that had been wasted, but I had earned all the money she put into me back ten times over so she’d probably just find a new girl to use.
“Well, partners don’t harass each other about having a threesome.” I was trying to change the subject and lighten the mood. He laughed and we ran up to the roof, where a helicopter was waiting to take us to the nearest airfield.
We stayed silent for the rest of the trip. We both were focusing. Getting ourselves in the zone. We were briefed with as much as the pilot knew. It was basically just details like the time of hit, who gave the warning, and things like that. However, every piece must be covered to do your job, so I listened and committed it to memory as he spoke. Phillip entered all information for reference into his computer. He would look over it later and see if we could somehow use it.
We arrived and the jet was ready for launch. It was a new model, fast and able to go light speed for long periods of time if the situation should arise that we would need it. I was hoping not, because their ships were bigger and faster. Their technology was more advanced than ours, so we were pretty screwed if we needed to out fly them to get away.
I jumped in the pilot seat. Phillip could pilot in an emergency situation, but he wasn't authorized so we’d save that for last resort only. I flew to the coordinates and figured I’d do a drive by first, to get a look around. We could see how outnumbered we’d be. Well, how outnumbered I’d be.
“We are here. Take a look. See if you can pull up how the building looked before it’s destruction on your computer so I have a rough outline. It’s a heap now but I’d still like to have an idea where I’m going in the rubble.”
“Affirmative. I’ll have before and after schematics up before we land.”
I nodded and left Phillip to his work. He’d use his camera and the before schematics to make up an after outline for me. I looked down and sighed.
“So many lives wasted.”
I couldn't believe it. It was like driving into hell. The place was afire and demolished. I could see dead bodies from where we were.
“Well, we haven’t been attacked from the air yet and we’ve circled the place a few times, so I think it’s safe to say if they have any troops still here then they are ground troops, left to secure the site. That doesn't mean you go charging in, either. Be careful about this, Helen.”
I nodded.
“How many in the school when it was hit?”
“You don’t need that information, soldier. It isn't your job to avenge them or find survivors. It’s your job to retrieve private classified data and to kill any remaining aliens.”
“I know, Phillip. But how many of these kids have little brothers or sisters at home counting on them?”
I knew that would get to him. That was how it had happened to him. He was at home waiting for and counting on his sister when her ship was struck. He was then left with no money and no means of support. He had ended up in this life.
“I’ll find out how many people they supported. Parents that are disabled, younger siblings that kind of thing. Is that satisfactory?”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
He snorted.
“You keep giving people money from your salary and you won't have any left for yourself.”
“I have enough money set aside for whatever I might ever need. I don’t give them a salary. I give them a check big enough to pay for an apprenticeship or college, or housing and food, until they reach an age where they can support themselves. Or, in cases of disabled people, I pay off their outstanding bills and give them enough to live comfortably on. Jane loves it. So do my commanding officers. They say it’s good publicity. A general giving to the poor without any reimbursement. Supporting those that can't help themselves. I’m here fighting mankind’s greatest enemy and supporting those whose lives have been taken away by that very enemy. Can’t get better than that, you know.”
“Humph. We both know that’s not why you do it.”
“Maybe.”
We were silent then. Phillip went back to work and I looked for a spot to land the jet. I’d find a place and show Phillip. Then I’d find a safer spot for him. One higher up so he could see the jet. We’d leave it in the open and he’d hold the self-destruct mechanism. If the aliens found it, they’d wish they hadn’t. I’d go in alone and on foot.
“There.”
“A bit in the open.”
“Precisely. They’ll come to me if they are here and have scouts. If I’m still in the jet I can use its guns and missiles and save myself some bullets.” I maneuvered towards the cliff I had seen near it. It was a bit steep, but Phillip could always jump and roll downhill in a ball. Maybe I should tell him to practice while I was gone. I tried to picture it and knew I’d get smacked if I mentioned it.
“Understood. However, I’d prefer to have the bullets in case we need to run, jump in, and shoot our way out.”
I smiled. We wouldn’t actually get that far if we needed to do that. “Phillip, you and I both know if I get in a situation like that, I’m blowing the c-4 in my pocket and taking a bunch of them with me so you can get out.”
“See, now that’s a dumb idea. I have to bring you back alive.”
I landed on the cliff and opened the hatch.
“Out you go.”
He jumped out and looked at me.
“We either both come back alive or not at all, Helen. You know that.”
I nodded and he handed me one of the headpieces. I put in on.
“Testing. Can you hear me?”
Damn smart-ass. “In my ear and well you are right there, so it isn't that hard.”
“Listen with the head piece, Helen.”
“I can hear you. Geez.” I closed the hatch and took off. We hadn’t met any resistance yet, which was a good sign.
I landed in our designated landing spot; it was just at the base of the cliff and partially hidden from sight, where the main building was. “Setting auto destruct. Push your button and all it will need is another push to go.”
He pushed the button on his computer and the light flashed red, showing the self-destruct was active. “Setting timer just in case. I’ll set it for six hours. If we aren't back by then it’ll go with or without threat. Then at least it can't fall into enemy hands. And set.”
The countdown timer was set. A sequence of buttons needed to be pushed in order to stop it. The same ones I’d used to arm it, only backwards. Phillip already knew the combo in case he was the only survivor. We used the same combo every time we worked together. It ensured memorization and thus no fuck ups in an emergency situation.
“And I’m on my way.”
I jumped out and moved forward towards the building where the computers were located. I checked every angle. I’d use my m-16 to start. In a hit and run situation it worked best, and yes, I knew from experience. I had to dash across some field; well, it used to be a field. Luckily it was on fire, partially, so I was hidden by smoke and got through silent and unnoticed.
I got in the building and planted some c-4 just inside, on the walls and ceiling. If I ended up trapped down here those fuckers would be trap
ped as well. If I could get the majority of the exits, Phillip would have a better chance of escape if something went wrong.
“Go right.”
I turned right without question. This place was a mess. With the computer schematics Phillip would have a better sense of direction than me.
“Hey, there are two ways to go. Straight or left?”
“There should only be one. If the rubble fell like that and then…”
I listened to him blabber on; he was doing things on his computer and might take a minute.
“The left shouldn’t be there. I think the wall just blew out and destroyed a few rooms. However, this works in our favor. If it happened the way I think it did then it will be a shortcut to the lab. You have to stop there to pick up some samples, so we might as well do it first. We can get to the computer room fairly easily after. So, left.”
“I already took the left after you said to the first time.”
I could almost feel him smile on the other end.
“Glad you trust me.”
I stopped dead. “Movement ahead.”
“Shoot first ask questions later.”
“What if it’s a survivor?”
“Not our problem.”
I would have shaken him if he’d been here.
“I hear no shots.”
Yeah, definitely shake him. “That’s nice. Shut up before you give away my position with your loud mouth.”
He shut up and I crept forward. It was a survivor. She was breathing, barely. She started screaming; I raised my weapon and looked around. Nothing else was around. I looked back at her and noticed her stomach was swollen. I jumped back and put her in my sights. What the fuck was going on here?
“What's the screaming?”
“She’s barely alive, she shouldn’t be able to move or panic this much. I don’t understand it.”
“Shoot her before she gives away your position.”
I sighed, “I’m not shooting her until I see what is going on. Her stomach is swollen, like a pregnant woman’s”.
“Pregnant people aren't allowed in school.”
No Life, Only Death Page 17