The Americans: Apex Trilogy, Book 2

by Jake Bible

  He stumbled and staggered his way to the front, stepping over holes that opened and closed at random as the fresh BC repaired the corroded areas. He shoved debris from his seat and tried activating the ignition, but the vehicle didn’t respond. “We’re still offline!” he shouted back.

  “Give it time!” Melissa yelled back. “Billy will get it working!” Mentioning her uncle’s name brought a fresh wave of grief and Melissa hugged Beth closer to her. “He’ll get it working…”

  The windshield repaired itself and Desmond tried to keep it together as he watched the violence unfolding before him. Spiders laid waste to the Aghori, while Aghori ripped open Spiders and feasted. Blood, guts, metal and acid flew everywhere and Desmond became dizzy trying to keep track of all the movement.

  An alarm sounded and Desmond looked down to see systems quickly coming back online. He punched the ignition and the HAV’s mag drive kicked back to life. “We’re in business!”

  He ran the fastest diagnostic checklist of his career and had the HAV ready for departure in seconds. He slammed the accelerator home then hit the brakes. “Fuck! I’m gonna need help!”

  Melissa carefully set Beth’s head down on the floor of the HAV and rushed to the front, taking control of the weapons system. “I don’t have her secured back there so take it easy!”

  Desmond glared at her. “Really?”

  Melissa shrugged. “Do what you can. I’ll do the same since we only have the…ammo…that…” Tears welled in her eyes as she watched the weapon’s system indicate it was fully loaded. “Thank you, Billy…”

  Melissa focused the targeting system at the group of Aghori covered Spiders that rushed the HAV. The windshield lit up with target confirmations and Melissa fired half the battery of missiles at the creatures of metal and flesh. The projectiles rocketed away from the HAV, impacting into the bodies, spreading their various parts across the landscape and splattering the windshield with gore as the HAV barreled through the debris.

  “Fucking great shooting!” Desmond shouted, swerving the vehicle to the right to avoid a second group. Melissa painted those targets and sent the rest of the missiles at them before they could pursue.

  “Scans show only seven Spiders left,” Melissa announced. “I can’t tell how many Aghori there are, but I don’t see movement.” She looked over at Desmond as the man concentrated on navigating them up over a hill and through a dry gully beyond. “I think we did it. Did we do it?”

  Desmond was quiet for a few minutes and Melissa thought maybe he hadn’t heard her until he finally responded through gritted teeth, “I’m not answering that question until we’re out of this piece of shit and on a transport ship. Go check Beth then get back up here to keep me awake. We’re less than two hours away, but as soon as the adrenaline wears off I’m going to crash hard.”

  “Don’t you have your injector?”

  “You really think I kept up with that? It’s rolling around back there somewhere. If you find it I’ll use it so you can get some sleep. Otherwise you’re going to have to run your gums to keep me focused.”

  Melissa smiled. “You may be the first person that is asking me to talk and not telling me to shut up.”

  Desmond glanced over at her. “How old are you?”

  “Seventeen.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

  “Pity,” he grinned.

  “Pity for you since I don’t go for old men,” she laughed, getting up from the weapons console. She gripped his shoulder and leaned in, kissing his cheek quickly. “Who knows, though? In a couple years you may be my type. I’m fickle and my tastes do change.”

  Desmond patted her hand and let her slip to the back.

  ***

  Beth lay crumpled against a crate and Melissa rushed to her, relieved when she felt the warmth of her body. “Beth? Hey Freak? You in there?”

  Beth stirred, but didn’t wake. Melissa pushed her hair from her face and dragged her over to the bench seats, grabbing the top part and pulling down a bunk. She struggled to get Beth up in the bunk, but finally got her settled, debating whether to strip her suit off, but deciding to repair it instead, incase they ran into more trouble.

  Melissa curled up next to Beth on the bunk, promising herself she’d get up in just a minute and join Desmond.

  She was soon fast asleep.

  ***

  A jarring impact brought Melissa out of a violent dreamscape where she wasn’t sure if she was being pursued to be eaten or pursuing others to eat them. Once she had shaken the sleep from her head, she bolted upright, realizing they weren’t moving.

  “DESMOND!” she screamed, running from the bunk to the front of the HAV.

  Desmond lay slumped over the console, drool dribbling from his mouth and onto the controls. His snores nearly shook the vehicle.

  Melissa sighed in relief that he was still alive, but that relief was quickly gone as she looked out the windshield.

  “Desmond!” she shouted, shaking the driver harshly. “Desmond, wake up! We’ve crashed!”

  The man stirred and smacked his lips. “Oh, fuck… My head feels like shit and my mouth tastes the same.” He blinked his eyes rapidly at the windshield. “What the fuck…?”

  “Yeah, that looks like sand,” Melissa snapped. “You fell asleep and crashed us into fucking sand!”

  “Hey! I warned you I’d need you to keep me awake!” He checked the systems and smiled. “Looks like I’ve only been asleep for about fifteen minutes. There’s no damage to the HAV, so we must have just coasted into a dune.”

  “Dune?” Melissa asked. “As in beach?”

  Desmond stared at her for a moment like she was an idiot then realization dawned on him about what his words actually meant. “Holy shit! Yes! The beach!”

  He leapt from his seat and raced Melissa to the rear ramp. They both hit the controls at the same time and the ramp descended halfway, held up by another dune behind them.

  The two scrambled over the ramp and onto the sand, grasping for purchase as their fatigued bodies soon tired from the exertion of climbing. When they finally reached the top they could see the HAV’s tire tracks stretching for a mile behind them then lost as the ground became hard dirt.

  The sound of waves crashing and ocean birds calling made them both turn around and Melissa grabbed Desmond’s hand when they saw the ocean stretching off into the horizon.

  They stood there gazing out into the bright blue and white of the ocean waves, hands grasped and fingers entwined, until Desmond was brought out of his reverie by the faint buzzing of a voice coming from the HAV below. He activated his com, connecting with the HAV’s communications system.

  “Attention American HAV number HCL-951! Attention American HAV number HCL-951! Please respond with your security code immediately!”

  “This is Private Desmond McHale and I haven’t a fucking clue what the security code is! I have Ghost Melissa Brenton with me and Vessel Elizabeth Laughlin. We are all that’s left of the American convoy.”

  There was a pause and the com squawked fiercely in Desmond’s ear.

  “Private McHale? This is Colonel Blue Masterson. Did you say you were all that’s left?”

  “Yes, Colonel.”

  “And you have the Vessel with you?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you have a sample of the nanotech also?”

  “We’re fine, Colonel. Thanks for asking.”

  The Colonel chuckled. “Sorry, son. It’s been one shit fuck of a few days. I’m glad you three made it. Did you say you had a Brenton with you?”

  “Yes, sir. Melissa.” Desmond squeezed Melissa’s hand and she watched his face, trying to gauge the conversation from his reactions since she didn’t have her com with her.

  “Do you know what happened to her aunt, Heather Walton?”

  “Yes, sir. She died in combat. Helped save our butts so we could get out of Tibet.”

  “What about the package she was carrying?”

  “The nanotech? We have a sample on
board, sir. There’s also some developments with that tech you’ll want to see.”

  “Developments? Last time someone told me there were developments I was slapped with a paternity suit. Wasn’t mine, but sure did give me a scare.”

  Desmond remained silent, unsure how to respond.

  “Listen, Private. My nav Tech tells me we have a lock on your location. We’ll be there in thirty minutes. You just hold tight, understand?”

  “Understood, sir. Thank you, sir, we look forward to getting right the fuck out of here.”

  “Copy that, Private. See you in thirty.”

  The com went dead and Desmond turned to Melissa, a huge grin spreading across his face. “Damn, I wish I wasn’t six years your senior. I’d give you the best kiss in the world.”

  “Are they coming?”

  “They’ll be here in thirty minutes.”

  Melissa jumped up and hugged Desmond around the neck, kissing his face. Their lips brushed against each other and she playfully pushed him away. “I outrank you anyway.” She laughed. “You need to be at least an officer for anything to work.”

  He squeezed her hand once more and let it fall away. “We’ll see what happens. I’m due for a promotion after this hell.”

  “Too true,” Melissa laughed, slip-sliding her way back down the dune to the HAV. “Let’s pack up what we can and get Beth ready.”

  “Yes, sir,” Desmond winked, following the Ghost down the sand and into the back of the HAV.

  ***

  When the amphibious personnel carrier finally came ashore, Desmond had to restrain Melissa as the medics carried Beth away.

  “But she’s my freak and I’m staying with her!” Melissa screeched, fatigue and shock finally taking over. “I’ll fucking gut them all if they hurt her!”

  “Melissa!” Desmond shouted. “Get a hold of yourself! They’re American medics! They’re not going to harm her!”

  “Well, I can see you’re related to Heather,” Colonel Masterson said, stomping through the sand toward them, his hand extended. Desmond gave a quick salute, but Blue waved it away. “Shake my hand, son. There’s too few of us left to stand on ceremony.”

  Desmond gripped the Colonel’s hand. “Thank you, sir. It’s been quite a ride.”

  Blue turned to Melissa. “Sorry about your aunt, she was a fine Ghost and amazing woman.”

  “Yes, she was,” Melissa replied. “I lost my uncle, Billy Brenton, too.”

  “He saved our asses,” Desmond added. “He went above and beyond.”

  “Billy? Doesn’t sound like him, but I guess these days really put everyone to the test.” The Colonel saw the look of disdain on Melissa’s face and held his hands up. “I’ll make sure he is remembered with everyone else and his record reflects him in a, well, more positive light than it has.”

  “Thank you, Colonel,” Melissa said, taking a deep breath and hanging on to Desmond.

  “Well, let’s get you two aboard,” the Colonel ordered. “We have sixteen ragtag ships out there that are ready to get to Australia. I’d be lying if I said we don’t expect trouble along the way, but we’re Americans and trouble seems to be our business.”

  “That it is, sir,” Desmond replied as they trudged to the APC and boarded the craft. The back hatch closed and sealed and the vehicle powered back into the surf, heading for the fleet where the future of the Americans would be decided, for good or bad, by a handful of refugees, Techs, troopers and Ghosts.

  Epilogue

  The Three stood on the roof of the Beijing high rise and lifted their glasses.

  “To us!” Mr. Plain toasted. “And to profit!”

  “Profit beyond imagination!” Mr. Continental added.

  “Not bad for a month’s work! Cheers!” Mr. Brown Eyes finished for them.

  They clinked their glasses and each sipped, their eyes locked on the still smoldering city below them. Their Shock troops had long since defeated the Chinese forces and were now putting the city back together, but it was a slow process.

  “From here we can keep Europe and still move across the Pacific and take the Americas,” Mr. Brown Eyes said after finishing his drink.

  “Is that still the plan?” Mr. Continental asked.

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” Mr. Plain inquired. “There are resources there that haven’t been tapped in centuries.”

  “Brazil and Mexico will not be pleased,” Mr. Continental said. “I don’t want us to spread ourselves too thin.”

  “Hard to be spread thin with our recruiting tech,” Mr. Plain grinned.

  “Very true, Mr. Plain,” Mr. Continental conceded. “Just being cautious.”

  “And we appreciate you for that,” Mr. Brown Eyes smiled, filling each of their glasses once more. “But, with the American forces on the run for the time being, I don’t think Mexico and Brazil will be issues.”

  They raised their glasses once again.

  ***

  Desmond wrapped his arms around Melissa as they stood on the deck of the command ship AFS Silverthorn and looked at the massive Wall of Australia that loomed on the horizon.

  “That’s something you don’t see everyday,” Melissa said. “Could have used a wall like that to hide behind while we were getting our asses handed to us out here this past month.”

  “I think we did pretty well against the Three’s ships considering,” Desmond said. “They turned tail finally, at least.”

  “Not without a lot of American casualties, though. Lives we couldn’t afford to lose.”

  “Only one I care about is right here,” Desmond said, nuzzling his face against Melissa’s neck. “It’s all that matters these days.”

  “Hey! Stop it!” Melissa protested. “Your eye patch scratches.”

  Desmond rubbed harder, squeezing his arms so she couldn’t get away. “Oh, I’m so sorry my affliction irritates you.” He spun her about and planted a quick kiss on her lips then spun her back. Melissa laughed heartily and elbowed him softly in the ribs.

  “I guess I can forgive you since you’re such the naval hero now, Lieutenant McHale,” she said. “You’ll be getting your ocular jack port in place soon, so I guess I should enjoy the patch while we can still play pirate and wench.”

  “Can I be the pirate next time?” Desmond asked. “That wench outfit rides up.”

  “You wish,” she giggled.

  “There you two are,” Beth said as she stepped onto the deck.

  “Hey, you shouldn’t be up here!” Melissa scolded.

  “I can’t stay below forever,” Beth complained. “It smells down there.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Desmond laughed.

  “They done running tests?” Melissa asked.

  Beth laughed. “Hardly. Blue has me doing memory drills this week. Wants to see if I have any residuals from the Capreze persona. Anything to give us a leg up when we finally get to North America.”

  Desmond suddenly pointed out at the wall. “Here they come!”

  “Hope the Aussies are friendly,” Melissa said. “I don’t think we have much fight left in us after these past few weeks.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Desmond said, puffing his chest out. “Ole One Eye Des is always ready for battle!”

  “You are so lame!” Melissa laughed. “Please don’t ever do that again.”

  The attention signal blared over the loudspeakers. “All hands to stations! All hands to stations!”

  “Guess we need to get below,” Desmond said, taking Melissa by the hand and offering his elbow to Beth. She took it and smiled.

  ***

  “How many ships are we looking at, Wells?” Colonel Masterson asked.

  “Ten, sir,” Ensign Wells answered. “All battleships.”

  “Armed?”

  “Fully and active.”

  “Guess they don’t quite trust us…” Blue mused. “Can’t blame them. Are they answering hails?”

  “Yes, sir,” Wells responded. “We’re to hold present position while they approach.”<
br />
  “Easy enough. Any other chatter on the wire?”

  “No, sir. Their ships are staying quiet.” The Ensign cocked his head slightly. “Scratch that, sir. I am picking up a faint signal. Not sure it’s coming from the Australians.”

  “Dial it in and put it on speaker,” Blue ordered. Wells did as he was told and a faint voice could be heard coming from the bridge’s com speakers. “Can you clean that up?”

  Wells worked for a short time and the signal became noticeably clearer.

  “Is that…?” Wells asked aloud.

  “That’s singing,” Blue answered as the entire bridge crew puzzled at the song. “Nothing I’ve heard before. Hail them and let’s see if we can get a response.”

  “Attention, this is the AFS Silverthorn. Please identify yourself.” The singing suddenly stopped. “Again, this is the AFS Silverthorn. Please identify yourself immediately.”

  “Um…hello?” the voice asked. “Who is that? Matty? Are you fucking with me again?”

  “This is Colonel Blue Masterson, commanding officer of the American Forces Fleet. Identify yourself immediately!”

  “You do realize I have complete control over all the stronghold’s systems, right? Keep it up and I’ll shoot your ass, Jespers!”

  Blue furrowed his brow. “Who the fuck is Jespers?” he asked, but Wells and the others only shrugged. “Again, this is Colonel Blue Masterson. Please identify yourself!”

  “Well, this is Brigadier General Jethro Gofuckyourself! Blue? Really, Matty, you couldn’t come up with a better name than that?”

  “Son, I don’t know who the fuck you are, but you better start talking straight or you’re going to get one giant hunk of BC up your ass!” Blue roared.

  “BC in the ass? What the fuck does that even mean? Have you been into Jay’s shine again?”

  “Sir, the Australians are hailing us,” Wells interrupted.

  “Tell them to hold on,” Blue snapped turning his attention back to the voice. “Did you here me? You are going to tell me who you are right now, or I swear to God I will hunt your smart ass down and kick it all over the globe!”

  The line was silent for a moment. “This isn’t Matty, is it?”