Balls and Chains

by James Cox

  “Whatever we’re doing we have to do it before the reinforcements arrive which is...” I glanced at the screen. “Three days.”

  “Hang on.” There was a rustle of clothes, something clattered.

  Then Outlaw was on the radio. “What the fuck is going on?” His voice was harsh and higher than normal. “They abandoned the prison! They just left everyone there?”

  “They won’t starve in three days, Outlaw.” I was trying to remain calm for the both of us. “If we take down the government building by then, we can intercept the next batch of guards and get a ship to Earth.”

  “Fuck.”

  “I’m sorry, brother.”

  He sighed. “It’s not your fault, Whip. We’ll set up to take down the government building tomorrow. Once Wexmen is fucking destroyed, the rest of those loyal to him with fall or run. They’ll be the ones in hiding. Then we can go get Liam.” His voice shook slightly as he said the VP’s name. “I’m going to set things up. Prepare yourself on that end. I want to know how many peacekeepers, where, and how well armed.”

  “You got it.” The radio went dead. I ran a hand over my face, exhaustion pulling at me despite the sleep I got. The war was coming to a peak. The climax was going to be in the next few days. Sure we grew in numbers but was it enough to take on what was left of the government? I honestly didn’t know. I glanced at Harley. “Sex is going to have to wait.”

  “Aye.” He stood. “W’at can I do to ’elp?”

  I loved him even more for asking. I started working on the new program. We had the blueprints from Torrin, the peacekeeper turned Outlaw. What I had to find was how many peacekeepers and where they’d be. I hacked into the cameras near the government building, piggybacking their power so I could see the view with infrared. I had to triangulate all the cameras in the area to make one full view that I could manipulate and use as my viewpoint. A lot of work in a limited time. Harley started making food and tea. I was going to need as much of it as I could get. The night was going to be long but productive.

  Hours, it took hours to complete. My eyes were strained which made my head start aching. My wrists hurt from typing and my fingers ached from using the holographic touch screen. I had rewritten code, set up the angels and as the sun crested the horizon, I finished my task. I sat back, blinking furiously as my dry eyes scratched my lids. It was done. The screen was a beautiful representation of the government building. I had peacekeepers on infrared, their guns in blue when charged and black when empty. I could use a 3D movement to see each floor. And I couldn’t have gotten that in-depth without Torrin’s help. I took a deep breath and my eyelids started to close before I could stop them. My head fell forward and I jerked upward, trying to stay away. I should double-check everything.

  “Come to me bed,” Harley spoke.

  When had he returned? I thought he went upstairs hours ago. I glanced at the cot. He was lying against the wall, the blanket covering him from mid-waist down. “I’m not done yet.”

  “Yer going to fook it up wit’out some sleep.”

  Damn. He was right. I nodded and was unsteady on my bare feet as I made my way toward him. “Just a few hours,” I mumbled. Then I practically fell into bed. Harley pulled the blanket over me and my eyes shut as he curled closer. My dick didn’t even stir as his warm, naked body pressed against me. Yeah, that was beyond tired, that was almost comatose. I grunted at the joke then fell into oblivion.

  Chapter Ten

  I didn’t dream. Hell, I don’t even remember falling asleep. The only reason I woke was because the tart smell of tea wafted thickly through my nostrils. I opened my eyes, squinting and saw Harley setting up food on the table. My stomach growled loudly and he turned around.

  “Morning, luv.”

  “Love, huh?”

  “Aye.” He straightened. “Ya don’t like it?”

  I pulled the blanket away and stood. “I like it a lot.” I yawned, stretched sore, cramped muscles, and then walked to him. I kissed him briefly on the cheek and sat. I don’t even think I tasted the food. It was shoveled into my mouth and washed down with warm tea made of dried Khat leaves and some kind of fruity herb. I took it all down quickly and then sat back sighing. Now I felt better. Even my dick wasn’t up for a morning go today.

  Harley watched me with a grin.

  “I was hungry.”

  “Aye, I see t’at.” He sipped on his tea then reached out and grabbed my hand.

  It should have seemed silly. Holding his hand as we sat at a dinky table in a basement but I held on tight. A cavernous yawn made my eyes tear. Damn, I could go for another five hours of sleep. At least. “What time is it?”

  “Just after sunrise. Ya got time to sleep. Or fook.” He grinned.

  I smiled back. “You have no idea how much I want to but... we have a war to win.” I stood, winced as my back ached then went to the holographic screen. I picked up the radio. “Whip here.”

  “Program done?” Outlaw spoke, his voice was anxious.

  I had a feeling he was sleeping with the radio in his hand. “Yes. Done. When are we doing this?”

  “Tonight. It has to be tonight. We’re setting up some guys now. Amazons and Underground are going to engage the peacekeepers and try to push them back. Our MC along with Justice and Romeo are going to the government building.”

  I took a deep breath. “Big day.”

  “We’ve been planning this for years. The day is finally here.” Outlaw blew out a breath. “Talk to you before sunset.”

  “You got it, Pres.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “I should check the program once more.”

  Harley pulled me to my feet. “Yer going to sleep a few more bloody ’ours.”

  I tugged my arm, but it was only a half attempt.

  “Two ’ours then I’ll wake yer arse.”

  He pushed me to the cot.

  Damn it, my eyelids were already closing. “Only two then I want to double-check the program.” I lay back. “And see if Outlaw needs help.” I was asleep as soon as my head hit the thin pillow.

  It was more than two hours later when I felt the soft daze of sleep fade away. I was finally rested enough to get up without being interrupted. I was alone in the basement. It sent an odd wave of panic through me. Where was Harley? I stood quickly, walking to the stairs and the latch was shut. I heard him talking and listened carefully.

  “Aye, that new plug will get yer hover car running like new.”

  I took a deep breath. He was working. Good, very good. The panic subsided as I went for the radio. “Outlaw?”

  It took a few seconds but eventually he answered. “You awake, sleeping beauty?”

  I winced. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  “Don’t worry, brother. We need you well rested. Everyone’s getting into place. Justice and our MC are in a truck heading for the government building. When the sun goes down, we’ll start this.” He paused. “Well, end this.”

  I sat in the seat on the edge. It took a few taps of the screen to bring up the building. There was a large expanse of green grass and trees around the highest building on Mars. This was it. This is what we have been trying to work up to. Taking down the heart of the government, taking down Wexmen. “Okay, I see you guys.” They lit up in green because of my program, while the peacekeepers would be reddish-orange and any weapons would be blue until they ran out of lasers. “I have six men in front, three on each side, six in the back. It looks like twenty or so in the building, but I can’t tell specifics yet because they could be bunched together.”

  “Okay.”

  “There are four laser cannons.” I didn’t even think those were made anymore, the materials used were too hard to find. I guess not for our government. “One at each corner of the building.”

  “Mayhem has toys for that.”

  Mayhem was our explosive expert. “Good. Each man is armed including the ones in the building, but I don’t see any more cannons after that. I’m going to double-check the program. When you’re ready,
let me know.”

  “Will do, brother.”

  I started typing away, clicking this, tapping that. I made sure all the links were hidden and each reading accurately. I was focusing solely on my job in this crucial mission. I must have tuned out everything because I didn’t notice Harley until I was done. He was sitting on the stairs, book in his hands, the latch above him closed. “Hey, sorry.”

  He winked at me. “’ows it going?”

  “Very soon, we’ll find out.”

  “I can’t believe it’s ’appening. All this bloody time and finally see a fooking end to this shite.”

  I knew the feeling. “If...if things go wrong. I have to help. I’ll need you to man the monitor.”

  “You t’ink somet’ing will go wrong?” He placed the book on the stairs and stood, his eyes wide with concern.

  “No,” I lied smoothly then couldn’t look at him. If things did go bad, it would be an epic sort of turn that might very well destroy the MC and the only family I had. I took a deep breath. I had to talk myself out of these damn doomsday scenarios. Think positive. I survived my childhood, turned out pretty decent as a man, and we would get through this.

  “Whip?”

  I jerked. The radio startled me. “Yeah. I’m here.”

  “We’re getting ready.”

  “Okay. I can relay through your earpieces.” That way if one man was in trouble I could help or alert the others. “Outlaw?”

  “Yeah?”

  I opened my mouth but froze. Did I wish them luck? Did I say good hunting? Did I make some kind of emotional speech? Should I just shut the hell up?

  “I know,” Outlaw answered. “I know. We’ll be okay. We’ll handle this shit.”

  I saw the truck carrying my MC on the screen. Each green blob was one of our men and above them was a brief name so I could keep track. “I may need you here.”

  Harley pulled a chair over.

  “There’s too many to keep track of myself.”

  “Aye, I keep me eye on t’em.” He sat forward, eyebrows scrunched in concentration.

  Here we go.

  Chapter Eleven

  The main column started to light up. “Amazons and Underground MC are engaging the peacekeepers near the front lines.” I couldn’t watch them. They had extra backup. My focus, our focus had to be on the government building. The truck pulled up to the building and stopped. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until my lungs started to burn. Breathe, keep it together! “Outlaw, four from the back are getting into a hover car. Probably heading toward the front lines.” I hoped.

  “Got it.”

  The truck rolled forward heading for the back of the building. It stopped again. This time I saw the back doors push open and my guys run out. I couldn’t hear the laser shots, but they lit up the screen. Night surrounded bright sparks as the battle began. I watched our guys find cover where they could. “No one’s behind you. The guys in the front are coming around back.” I watched diligently. “The peacekeepers in the building are starting to come down.” Looked like about twenty in there. A group of six remained on the top floor. That had to be Wexmen.

  “Throwing bombs!” Outlaw yelled.

  I couldn’t see them without having marked them in the program but I sure as hell saw the explosion. Two bright flashes went off. A thin tree fell, crashing into the window and shattering the glass. More burst of light. The MC was moving forward. I saw at least four red blobs go down, their color fading as they died.

  “W’ip, t’at peacekeeper car is turning ’round,” Harley yelled, although it was quiet in our safe basement.

  “More coming your way. Time to get inside.” They had to have some form of cover.

  “We can’t get in yet.”

  They needed to plant those bombs deep into the building to bring the massive structure down.

  “T’ey are a few fooking blocks away.”

  “They’re coming at you fast, guys,” I spoke into the radio. “Move. Quick!”

  The group lit green started to make their way forward. It went quicker once they took out two more peacekeepers.

  “They’re turning the corner to your left,” I shouted.

  “Fuck,” Outlaw muttered. I saw him charge forward like a suicidal, danger junky. He rushed the peacekeepers that were trying to defend the front doors. He shot two of three and Mayhem came up behind Outlaw. He shot the third. They were rushing inside. I blew out a breath as the hover car sped up to the doors. Now two of our guys were covering the exit. I could see Mayhem planting bombs on the inside walls and the center of a hallway. It’d blow so big the entire structure would fall. We wouldn’t have known where to place them if it hadn’t been for Torrin’s blueprints. The former peacekeeper had actually come through.

  “Shite.”

  I glanced at Harley’s area of the screen. “Outlaw, there are factions of peacekeepers breaking away from the front lines. I count...at least ten so far. Move faster.”

  “Is Wexmen in the building?” he asked.

  Laser shots lit up the screen. The peacekeepers that were in the building had arrived on the first floor.

  “There are six men on the top floor. I don’t know if it’s him, but they are not engaging you.” There were still shots going off. “Four men in the transport, all armed. Three in the stairwell, also armed. One guy in the front, out of ammo.” I almost felt bad for that lone guy. No, not really. “I have six more coming down the second transport. The four from the hover car are trying to get closer.” It was a damn mess.

  “Charges are set.” Mayhem’s deep voice rumbled through the radio.

  “Which way is easier to escape?” Outlaw asked.

  I took in the screen completely. “Front door. One guy on the left, hiding beside the stairs. He’s out of ammo.”

  “Thank God for the little things,” someone muttered, but I wasn’t sure who.

  They started running, moving fast through the large first floor. Peacekeepers exploded from the transport, firing at my brothers. I was breathing heavily, checking every angle. “Guy on the left is going to make a move. Blow up the cannons!”

  Outlaw shot the unarmed man. They were bunched up at the door, staying out of the cannon’s range but barely covered from the peacekeepers inside still firing. They were trapped. Mayhem shifted left then right. Two explosions rocked the screen. I saw men fly backward and over the railing. “Romeo and Chaos are down!” I screamed into the radio.

  Mayhem and Justice ran to them. They helped the guys up and then they walked on their own. They looked okay but who could tell from here.

  “Run left, watch the guys in front when you get to the corner.”

  They shot as they darted across the street.

  “Take the next right then blow that building.”

  They rushed, Outlaw last as he watched their backs. When they turned the corner, I saw Mayhem pause and then the screen lit up. It was so bright that both Harley and I looked away.

  “Fook me.”

  I winced, glancing back at the screen. The angle was wrong. Damn it, the explosion must have hit a camera. “I can’t get a location on you,” I said as I started to tap the screen. I had to rewrite the damn program to fit the new perimeters.

  Harley took the radio. “Yer behind Titan’s grocer. Keep running straight.”

  I kept typing away as he led them by memory.

  “W’en ya get to t’e blue building go right. Follow t’at to the lig’t.”

  I was almost there.

  “Almost there,” Outlaw yelled, breathing heavily.

  “Cross t’e street, ’ead to the yellow building. Go ‘round back, take t’e ramp down.”

  “Are you sure?” Outlaw asked between pants.

  “Aye, now fooking do it!”

  I half listened, half worked on the program.

  “T’e ramp leads to a garage, take t’e third truck, white outside. Key is under t’e seat.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked, almost done but getting distra
cted by the conversation.

  “Aye. It’s me ’over car.”

  I glanced at him quickly then back to the screen.

  “I ’ave two but ’ide one so I don’t ’ave to pay the fee.” He grinned at me.

  I shook my head. Thank God for outlaws. I tapped the screen. It went blue, rebooting, reconnecting then I saw our guys. “Got you!” I shouted it. It felt right to yell even though we were still in the basement. “Get up the ramp, take your right it’ll lead you to this street.”

  “Anyone following?” Outlaw asked. He was still breathing heavily, but I heard the engine start in the background.

  “Yes. Two hover cars and...” My mouth fell open in momentary shock. I could see the government building, well, what was left of it.

  “And what?” Outlaw yelled, his voice hitching.

  “Just two hover cars but they’re stopping and swinging around. They’re heading back. You did it.” I smiled. “The government building is a pile of rubble.” There was a dark mass on my screen. The explosion had taken the whole thing out. One nearby building was partially collapsed and all the trees were pretty much obliterated.

  “The fooking t’ing is down!” Harley yelled into the radio triumphantly.

  “Any survivors?” Outlaw asked.

  It took me a minute, but I saw them. “Yeah...apparently they took off instead of following you. I count...ten, but they’re moving out of my sight.” I could only watch so much.

  “T’e peacekeepers at t’e front lines are moving to.”

  I glanced at his small section of the screen. “They’re retreating. Probably going to meet up.”

  “Fuck,” Outlaw said. “That means we missed some. They’re still a problem.”

  “But we gave them a hell of a blow.” I watched on screen as their truck passed our building. “You’re not being followed. Drive that all the way home. I’ll get on the chatter to see who made it out and try to get a location.”

  “Good. Amazons and Underground are going to start going building to building. Anyone not with us goes down.” Outlaw made it sound like an ultimatum. Join us or die. Maybe it was just his adrenaline talking or maybe his mercy had run its course.