by Dawn Chapman
In came Jai, a whirling fighting machine. He looked at me and was by my side in moments. He had twin blades, and he wasn’t shy in using them.
“How much longer?” he shouted to me.
Sixty-two percent.
“Just over a minute,” I called back.
We were being pushed back, farther and farther. Pushed back to where I didn’t think we’d escape from. I couldn’t let them win. They couldn’t win. Jai’s blade got stuck inside one, and he had to lose it. I tried my best to defend him and us. But I wasn’t a match, really.
Sixty-three percent.
Start to pull out! I shouted. Hiroto, we’re going to have to run for it, and I mean fucking run!
Sixty-four percent.
Almost, but go. I have a little distance I can work from, Hiroto said.
Xe’s helping a ton.
Thank you, Kyle. It’s been an honour! Xe said. Maybe this will finally appease what you thought of me, working with Nehi and Saskia.
Wait, she’s not getting out!
Still on sixty-four percent. We didn’t have all of the intel. Fuck! I turned, and so did Jai. We ran.
Ran out faster than I ever thought I was capable. The exit was so close. The explosions were so close. We just had to keep going.
I could see the floor, and I knew I was going to trip. It was just a matter of when.
I knew what I had to use. Hiroto? Can you do it?
There was no answer.
Hiroto?
I’ll keep you on an even keel. Do what you can for her! Xirob said. I pulled up my interface. Xe, you better be by that fucking door!
The doorway was so close.
1 MINUTE TILL DETONATION
We were just about to get out. We’d made it.
I placed my hand on the door as we exited, and prayed and hoped Xe was there. Jai behind me.
She’s with us. Hiroto confirmed.
We kept on running out into the open lands, trying our best to get as far away as possible.
Then I slammed straight into— Fuck.
The mech.
I didn’t know what was worse, the massive explosion about to go off swallowing us all or this thing that was about to just stomp on me like a fly.
“This is X2717 Fighter coming in hot! Get your ass to the ground, soldier!”
I didn’t hesitate, hearing his voice. Tyto!
I turned to see Jai hurtling towards me and the mech. I pushed back off the monster, lunged for him, and tackled him to the ground just as the fighter hovered in behind us and started firing.
Jai then did something I wasn’t expecting, he picked me up like a rag doll and ran. The red hot fire rained in huge waves at the enemy. Hiroto? How the hell is Tyto here?
Hiroto laughed. We’ve been sending out distress signals for weeks on a frequency that only Rytin and Hope City know. Ever since you warned them about Nehi and her partners, they’ve scoured the city and have been fighting nonstop. Tolsa’s in a huge uproar, but they’re fighting because of you. Rytin managed to get Tyto’s ship contact details, and Xirob and I thought this was a good back-up plan.
As the health on the mech started to fall, I glanced to Jai with a grin. “Cavalry to the rescue!”
“I don’t know how you did it, but thank fuck. That base is goi—”
It cut him off mid-sentence, and I didn’t hear any of the rest of it. The first blast shook the ground. The plume of fire and smoke blasted high into the atmosphere in huge billowing waves.
Hiroto, we need another get out plan, what you got?
Water. That’s all I got. New flag up. Run!
I pointed and Jai altered his course. Then the second explosion hit.
I could do nothing but flap around a little on Jai’s back. I looked to the view behind me that Hiroto and Xirob were watching. I didn’t want to die again and didn’t want my friends to.
The two air pockets met in the middle, causing a wondrous display of mixed colours.
It will hit critical mass when the third strikes. We need to get out of here.
The flag was ahead, and Jai pelted over rocks and debris of vast smashed trees.
“Come on!” I yelled. We were so close.
I could see the fighter still lashing the mech with everything it had, its health at five percent.
Get the fuck out of here, Tyto! I yelled into my own head. I had no idea if he heard me, but the fighter stopped firing, turned and fled.
I had no idea how quick it would be. We crested a fallen tree, and I could hear water, a lot of it.
Hiroto, where are we going? I shouted at him.
Over the—
I saw it as the third explosive went off. The shockwave tore through the trees this time, and only one thing was on my mind: death.
Hiroto and Xirob screamed, so did I. “Jump!”
I frowned, and then Jai saw it, as he leapt high into the air. The waterfall below us was rainbows and glory.
For one moment, I saw heaven in that spray. Then we plummeted.
My stomach churned, and I could do nothing else but scream for all I was worth. What would have been a fiery death for us blasted overhead.
Downward I fell flailing like an idiot. I righted myself turning my fall into a better dive.
Then nothing but the iciest of waters, deep under the cold, pulling at my very breath. I kicked upwards, tried to see the surface. The current was strong. Much stronger than I thought, and I was weak from running, weak from the strain of this intense battle despite the extra points I’d thrown at myself.
I thought of Tyto coming back for me, of the people I’d met on Tolsa, the immense trust and friendship they’d all shown me.
I felt Hiroto inside me, willing us on. Xirob wanted to see his brother again, and as I kicked up harder and harder, the glittering rainbow turned lighter. Turned to fire.
I frantically looked around in the water for Jai.
I didn’t know if I’d surface to my death or not. But I realised one thing.
I didn’t want to give up.
I wanted all of this and more. I wanted to live.
I made a push for it and burst out…into cool air. I stared up into the skies above, seeing the clouds of smoke.
MISSION COMPLETED REWARD COMPILING
INFORMATION ON ARNDALE - THOUGH NOT QUITE WHAT YOU WANTED! SORRY DUDE!
FOR RISKING YOUR LIFE FOR YOUR LEAD NITE REWARD COMPILING
Chapter Forty-Two
I pushed the notifications away. I could see something on the shoreline. It wasn’t moving.
Fuck. I paddled for all I was worth, and when I got to Jai and hauled myself out of the water, I went to him. He was beyond cold. Also not breathing, but there was a little life in him. I dragged him up further.
Everything in me hurt.
What can I do?
Xirob spoke. He needs a kick-start. Put your arm next to his neck, and I’ll get a charge across.
I did as he asked, placing my arm near his neck, waiting while Xirob opened my skin. A tiny wire snaked out, touching the spot at the back of his neck that I knew might do something.
When it sparked and his body jerked, I had to force myself not to pull away.
Nothing.
Come on!
The spark went off again, this time he jerked higher. I waited.
I hoped.
Then he sat bolt upright and looked at me. “Fucking hate water.”
I sat back, my suit steaming in the sun. “Me too,” I said.
He pointed upwards as the fighter dipped down and started to head towards us. “Friend of yours?”
I could only grin. “Yes, a good one.”
He slapped me on the shoulders. “Friend who just saved our asses. I owe him one.”
“As do I.”
We both watched as the fighter snaked its way over to us, then disappeared behind a few trees.
Moments later, a familiar face came through the trees. I held his eyes the whole way, and all he could do was grin at me.
<
br /> “Hell of a spot you got yourself into.”
When he was within reach he threw over two bottles. I opened mine and drank in quick, replacing some of the fluids and energy I’d lost. Jai copied me, after I’d proved it wasn’t poison.
I nodded, and when he reached me, he held out a hand so I could stand. I wasn’t so sure I could but with a heave I was up, rubbing the shit off my ass.
I helped Jai up and watched as the two of them just looked at each other.
“Jai, meet Tyto,” I said.
They were just using intel inside to weigh each other up. They both nodded to each other, then looked at me.
“Level twenty-six! Yeah, nice job! You’re not basic anymore!”
I hadn’t looked, but I’d felt the level up. “I’ll digest it later. We still have a job to do,” I said to Jai. “Right, you have a way off this rock for us?”
However, Jai shook his head. “Sorry, no. I got notification, they took it.”
“They?” But I didn’t need an answer. Arndale.
Tyto frowned and patted his chest. “What am I, chopped liver? If you need out, I’m here. Count on me and my freighter.”
“You have a freighter, in orbit?” Jai asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Wait, what?” I also asked. “When did you get that? What happened to the ole junker?”
“Kyle, it has been a long time since I left you.” He looked at Jai.
“Yeah. I parked its ass way out, then came in as stealthy as I could with the fighter. Do you know how many of those fucking mechs and critters I had to kill already?”
A long time? How long? I panicked. Hiroto? Xirob? But they didn’t answer me.
“I can only imagine,” Jai said. “We have some other team members to pick up. You okay with that?”
Tyto glanced to me. “What they like?”
“They’re good people to be with. They need a way out.”
“Sounds familiar.” Tyto held a hand out for Jai. “General Jai Trix, welcome aboard. I could do with a few new teammates. My freighter is yours. I’d be honoured, of course, if you’d take me with it.”
I was shocked but Tyto lowered his head to Jai.
“General?” I asked, looking to Jai. “Huh?” Jai was a General!
Jai took Tyto’s hand and shook. “Thank you, and you have great stats. I’d be a fucking idiot not to.”
I watched as Jai focussed for a moment, then I saw the welcome to the team notification. Tyto joined the party chat.
Naylar was first to pipe up.
Naylar - Whatever the fuck you guys are doing out there better be worth it. Denn’s getting worse.
Rei – Please hurry.
Jai cursed. “Tyto, you got Frax root and pads?”
Tyto nodded, “There’s a pretty good med bay, but no respawn facility.”
“Then let’s move. She can’t respawn anywhere near here. We lose her, and she’s gone from us for a very long time.”
Tyto nodded, and within moments we were at his fighter. I was cramped in next to Jai, and we were speeding for the base.
We parked outside the science labs, and Rei and Naylar carried out our wounded comrade. Jai and Tyto helped her on board. By the time we’d to and fro from the planet to his freighter, she was looking much better. When I arrived in the med bay, the pod closed over her body, and Tyto injected even more meds.
We all breathed a sigh of relief as her stats finally started to improve properly.
MISSION COMPLETE
FOR NEVER GIVING UP ON YOUR TEAMMATE REWARDS TOTAL GIVEN 1 QUICK POINT
Jai hugged Naylar to him, smoothing over her matted hair.
I watched them together, watched as Rei stood with Tyto talking about the specs of the freighter.
It felt good. It felt real.
The plan now? Hiroto asked.
I looked back to Denn. How much of that info did we actually download?
Sixty-six percent. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better, Xe said.
No, you did your best, Xe. Thank you. Then I spoke to Hiroto. So the plan is we decipher as much of the info as we have. I tapped the side of my head. Then we make a real plan. For now, I want Team Trix to fully recover. This is going to be a long journey.
Space Seasons: Spring Mutiny coming May 22nd!
Afterword
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About Dawn Chapman
Dawn has been creating sci-fi and fantasy stories for many years. Until 2005 when her life and attention turned to scripts, and she started work on The Secret King, a 13-episode Sci-Fi TV series, with a great passion for this medium.
In 2015, Dawn returned to her first love of prose where she reveled in the world of The Secret King, Letháo, and First Contact, as an epic prose space journey over 3 generations.
This year her experience of working with others expanded. From Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, to LitRPG/GameLit. Dawn's built a portfolio of writing, consulting, publishing, and audio proofing.
Connect with Dawn Chapman:
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DawnChapmanAuthor.com
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About Mountaindale Press
Dakota and Danielle Krout, a husband and wife team, strive to create as well as publish excellent fantasy and science fiction novels. Self-publishing The Divine Dungeon: Dungeon Born in 2016 transformed their careers from Dakota’s military and programming background and Danielle’s Ph.D. in pharmacology to President and CEO, respectively, of a small press. Their goal is to share their success with other authors and provide captivating fiction to readers with the purpose of solidifying Mountaindale Press as the place ‘Where Fantasy Transforms Reality.’
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Space Seasons by Dawn Chapman
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Bloodgames by Christian J. Gilliland
Wolfman Warlock by James Hunter and Dakota Krout
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Mephisto’s Magic Online by Christopher Johns
Skeleton in Space by Andries Louws
Chronicles of Ethan by John L. Monk
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