Embattlement: The Undergrounders Series Book Two (A Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Novel)

by Hinkens, Norma

  My jaw drops. I look over at Trout’s dumbfounded face, and then my feet kick into action. I dash across the room and squeeze Brock in a crushing hug. My eyes well up with tears of relief. “How did you get here?” I ask, releasing him.

  “A Sweeper in the Intake Sektor smuggled me down here.”

  I stare at him, still scarcely able to fathom it’s him and that he’s unharmed. “Why would a Sweeper help you?”

  He shrugs. “She asked me how I got extracted. When I said your name, she looked at me real funny. She snuck me down here and told me to hide if anyone showed up before she came back.”

  “My name?” I frown. “What did she look like?”

  “Dark-skinned, her name was … Panda, or something weird like that.”

  Trout reaches for Brock by the shoulders. “Panju! Is she all right?”

  Brock frowns. “She’s missing an arm. She said she can’t work in the lab again until she gets her new one.”

  A shadow passes over Trout’s face. He releases Brock and throws me an agonized look.

  I turn to Sven, my heart pounding. “You need to have your contact bring Panju to the Biotik Sektor too. We can’t leave her behind.”

  Sven nods. “I’ll do what I can.” He walks back to the keyboard and begins typing again. “First, I need to try and line up the military clones to replace Lyong’s bodyguards for the next shift. This could take some time.”

  The Ghost turns to Jerome. “How do we get some food in here? My men are hungry.”

  Jerome throws him an amused look. He walks over to what looks like a sculpted faucet coming out of the wall and taps on the keypad beside it. A hologram display of food items appears.

  “Name your poison,” Jerome says.

  The Ghost stares dubiously at the display for a moment. “Steak, rare.”

  “You got it.” Jerome stabs at the keypad and the faucet spits out a one by one inch square of something the color of recycled paper pulp.

  “What is this junk?” The Ghost picks it up and sniffs it. “This ain’t food.”

  “It’s lyopholized food, dehydrated, macrobiotic nutrients.”

  “Quit griping and put it under your tongue!” Big Ed calls across to The Ghost. “Then tell me it ain’t food.”

  The Ghost takes another quick sniff, before popping the entire square into his mouth. His expression of misgiving turns to one of astonishment. He hits the keypad and pulls up the hologram food display again.

  “Bad news,” Sven says, coming up to us. “I made contact with the military clones, but the dark network went down before I could get a message to the scientist.”

  “There must be some other way to reach her,” I say.

  “Not unless we go to the research lab, and that’s too risky.”

  Trout glances up at the hologram feed from the Terminus Sektor. “If we were able to blend in, we could move freely around the Craniopolis, right?”

  Sven frowns. “What are you suggesting?”

  “What if a maintenance crew paid the lab a visit?”

  “Deviations?” I ask, raising my brows.

  Trout grins. “With one new addition. I reckon I could fake it.”

  I shake my head. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “I think it’s a great idea,” Sven says. “And that’s how we’ll set the explosives in the tunnels too. The Sweepers never question maintenance crews making their rounds.”

  I give a resigned nod. “All right,” I say, turning to Trout. “But don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

  Jerome turns to me. “I’ll line up the crews to get Trout and the other Undergrounders into position. You, Big Ed and Sven are in charge of setting up the trade with Lyong.”

  “I get the feeling I’m not being included in some important plans,” The Ghost says, joining the circle.

  Jerome runs his eye over The Ghost’s tattoos. “You’ll draw too much unwanted attention. You and your men stay put in the Biotik Sektor until after dark. If Lyong surrenders, your job will be to disarm the clones. Be prepared to fight your way out of here if things don’t go according to plan.”

  I glance across the room and meet Rummy’s stare. He raises his brows questioningly and I give a subtle nod. I can’t leave him alone with The Ghost. I gave him my word he’d have his chance to escape. I have no choice but to bring him with me to make the exchange. After that, he’s on his own.

  “Time to find out if Lyong has any heartstrings left to pull,” Sven says, after Jerome and Trout head off to change into maintenance uniforms. He walks over to the back of the room where Sook is tied up next to Rummy and pulls him to his feet. “You get one phone call,” he says. “Let’s see if Daddy wants you home or not.” He positions Sook in a pod chair, hands bound in front of him, and calls up a hologram feed. Sven hands me a sheet of paper. “Hold this up for Sook to read.”

  “Lyong will know we’re inside the Craniopolis if you film it here,” I say.

  “I won’t transmit a live feed. I’ll doctor the background with some footage from the forest.” Sven places a card in Sook’s lap and leans into his glistening face. “Hold these coordinates up to the screen, and read from the sheet in Derry’s hands. And make it convincing, because if you don’t, you’re not going to be of any use to us anymore. Got it?”

  Sook blinks furiously, and nods.

  Sven adjusts something on the control panel. “Okay, we’re rolling.”

  Sook swallows hard and stares straight ahead at the sheet I hold out in front of me. “I am Sook, son of Lyong. I was captured by the Undergrounders two months ago. They will negotiate a trade for Owen Connelly, an Undergrounder being held in the Craniopolis. The trade must take place in precisely two hours at these coordinates. My father, Lyong, must be present at the exchange. Failure to comply with any of these conditions will result in my … my execution. I beg you to meet the Undergrounders’ demands and save my life.” Sook drops his head into his chest and takes a shaky breath.

  Sven smirks. “Delivery was a little flat, but you showed some emotion there at the end. Might be enough to tug at the old man’s heartstrings.”

  Sook’s beady eyes dart from Sven to me. “You aren’t really going to kill me, if he doesn’t show.”

  “We won’t get the chance,” Sven says. “The Rogues are hungry for Sweeper blood, and they’ll begin with yours if this doesn’t pan out.”

  A bead of sweat trickles down the side of Sook’s nose.

  Sven taps for a few minutes on the control panel and then lets out a relieved sigh. “It went through.”

  “Let’s head back out through the tunnel,” I say. “We need to reach Jakob before Lyong shows up.”

  Sven nudges Sook to his feet and we walk out to the communal area. Trout and several other Undergrounders are grouped in a corner dressed in the shapeless gray tunics worn by the deviations. “Good luck,” Trout says, giving me an awkward grin.

  “You too,” I say. “However this goes down, thanks for … for everything.”

  Trout nods, and adjusts the strap of his gun over his shoulder. “See you on the other side.”

  I follow Sven over to the entrance into the tunnel. Rummy, Big Ed and several Undergrounders are already climbing down inside. The Ghost stares at me, his lips pressed together in a tight line of loathing below his pencil-thin mustache. He leans in and whispers. “Happy trading. Rummy’s hide’s gotta be worth something.”

  I shudder, reminding myself I’ll be thankful for his predatory instincts if this trade falls through. Blade throws me a parting look of hatred, taps his tattooed knuckles to his chest in a way that signals a primal threat. I wonder if he has any idea that The Ghost is selling his brother out.

  I trudge along the tunnel, my feet dragging. I’m about to come face to face once again with the man I detest more than any Rogue. A man whose face I never wanted to have to see again. A shiver runs across my shoulders. It feels as if there are a hundred thousand critters crawling below the surface of my skin.

  After w
hat seems like an eternity of shuffling along dirt walls, we surface again in the cool forest. I straighten up and brush the worst of the grime from my clothes.

  “Derry!” Jakob runs toward me.

  I exhale softly. “We set up the trade.”

  He smiles gently. “You did the right thing.”

  “Let’s go,” Sven calls over to us. “We need to get to those coordinates before Lyong does.”

  The Undergrounders fall into formation behind him, and we pound a path along the trail until we reach a generous clearing about half a mile from the mouth of the tunnel.

  “This is the spot,” Sven says, a grave expression on his face. “I’ll hide Sook so Lyong can’t attempt an extraction.” He checks the rope around Sook’s wrists, then disappears into the undergrowth with him.

  Big Ed turns to Rummy. “Why’s he here?”

  “I made a deal with him,” I say. “And I always keep my word.” I take my knife and slice the rope securing Rummy’s left arm to his side.

  Rummy flexes his arm and scrutinizes me. “You left me without a weapon once, and I got me one the only way I knowed how.” He gestures at Big Ed’s rifle, then raises his brows questioningly. “What’s it to be this time?”

  I turn to one of the Undergrounders. “Set Rummy up with a weapon.”

  The Undergrounder walks over and retrieves a gun from one of the supply packs.

  I slap an extra clip into Rummy’s left palm. “I don’t know how you plan to shoot with your arm in a sling, but we’re even now. I don’t owe you another minute of my life, so don’t ever come back.”

  Rummy gives a subtle nod. “You got it, Butterface.” He turns and wades off into the sea of ferns to the left of the trail. Within minutes the thud of his footsteps has died away, absorbed by the dense foliage. I take a quick breath before rejoining the others. His is another face I won’t miss.

  “Do you think Lyong will show,” I ask Sven, out of earshot of Sook.

  “We’re about to find out,” Sven says. “If he does, it means he wants his son back. In that case, I doubt he’ll risk Sook’s life by trying to double cross us, but I’ll have the Undergrounders take up sniper positions, just in case.”

  He exchanges a few words with them, and several Undergrounders retreat into the undergrowth and scale the surrounding trees.

  I pace back and forth, eying the horizon. “Are you sure we’re in the right spot?” I ask.

  Sven frowns. “Just stay calm, he has a few more minutes.”

  I twist my hands together. “How am I supposed to keep calm? I’m about to see my brother again, after thinking all this time he was dead.”

  Sven stiffens, then peers up through the treetops, one hand tented over his eyes.

  “What is it?” I ask, my heart pounding faster. I anxiously scan the horizon. I can’t see or hear anything, yet, but I’ve learned to trust Sven’s enhanced faculties.

  “It’s a Hovermedes.” Sven points at the distant horizon. “Headed this way. Time to get Golden Boy into position.” He tromps into the undergrowth and returns a moment later guiding Sook by the shoulder.

  The Undergrounders gather around, and we watch, transfixed, as the Hovermedes comes into view and begins a staggered descent. A spasm of fear goes through me. We’ve come this far, but there are so many things that could still go wrong. What if Sven’s military clones weren’t able to replace the bodyguards? Or what if Lyong tries to extract us? What if Owen's not in the ship with him? I try to slow my breathing, but my brain twists and turns in a sea of bleak scenarios.

  The Hovermedes sinks soundlessly to the ground on retractable support legs. I shudder again at how insidiously quiet the extraction ships are. It takes all my willpower to hold my position and not run.

  Minutes tick by, and then a pneumatic door pops open and slides seamlessly across the body of the Hovermedes. I can taste the tang of my fear in my throat. Beside me, Sook’s agitated breathing quickens as we wait to see who will emerge from the ship.

  An automated step floats out from beneath the doorway. Two clones dressed in black Schutz Clone fatigues exit the ship and stand to attention on either side. I slide my gaze sideways at Sven for reassurance, but his face is impassive. There’s no way for him to know who the clones are beneath the helmets.

  A moment later, a skeletal figure emerges, backlit in the blinding afternoon sun. He shuffles forward and descends the step, clutching tightly to a metal handrail. Another figure comes into view behind him, dressed in some shapeless, gray tunic, hands bound in front of him, a black hood over his head.

  “Bring my son to me!” Lyong calls to us, waving a feeble hand in Sook’s direction, as he rocks back and forth on his heels.

  “How do we know that’s really Owen under the hood?” Sven calls back.

  Lyong snaps his fingers impatiently, and one of the Schutz Clones hurries up the steps and snatches the hood off the hunched figure. Owen! My heart kicks against my rib cage. I slide my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming out his name.

  Sven escorts Sook forward a few feet, one hand on his shoulder. “Bring Owen down here first,” he calls out. “We’ll meet in the middle.”

  The Schutz Clone escorts Owen down the steps after Lyong, and then resumes his position at the side of the Hovermedes. Lyong pokes a finger in Owen's side and I watch, transfixed, as they slowly walk toward us. My heart thunders in my chest. A few more feet and they’ll be well past the Schutz Clones’ reach. I hold my breath, willing Lyong to take another unsteady step toward us.

  A loud thrashing in the undergrowth breaks the spell. Lyong startles, spins around, and puts a gun to the back of Owen’s head. My heart freezes over.

  39

  A bedraggled figure bursts into the clearing with a bloodcurdling scream. She hurls herself forward, but Lyong and Owen are already climbing back on board the Hovermedes.

  I stare wide-eyed at the woman who crouches down in front of us.

  Nikki!

  Before anyone can stop her, she takes a shot and downs one of the military clones. The other one returns fire and dives inside the Hovermedes, just as the door slides shut.

  “Run! Into the undergrowth before they release the tubes!” Sven yells.

  “Grab Nikki!” I yell back to him. “I got Sook!”

  We disappear beneath a battalion of giant ferns, and take cover in the darkness. I watch in dismay as the ship begins a rapid ascent.

  “Looks like Lyong has no appetite for extraction right now,” Trout says, grimly. “He’s bent on getting out of here as fast as he can.”

  I throw myself at Nikki and shake her, tears streaming down my face. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? We were this close to rescuing Owen.”

  “You weren’t rescuing him!” she screams at me. “You were all standing there, gawking. Lyong was about to execute him.”

  Big Ed places his mangled hand on my shoulder. “Let her go, Derry.”

  “It was an exchange,” I say, shoving Nikki away from me in disgust. “Lyong agreed to trade Owen for Sook. And for the record, that might have been a military clone you killed, not a Schutz Clone.”

  Nikki stares at us, eyes darting around the group, trying to process the enormity of what I said.

  I glower at her, shaking with rage and despair.

  “We have to head back to the Craniopolis,” Sven says. “There’s nothing left to do but fight, and we’ll have to move rapidly now. Lyong may not know we’ve infiltrated the Craniopolis, but he knows we’re in the vicinity, so the first thing he’s going to do is increase security and patrols.”

  I wipe the tears from my face with my fingertips and look up at Sven. He hesitantly reaches out for my hand, and squeezes it. “We can still do this.” He throws a glance across at Jakob. “Just not the way he wanted.”

  “I know.” My voice trembles. “Let me say good-bye to him.”

  I turn and walk slowly over to Jakob. “I have to go back there with the others and finish this now.”

 
He lifts his face so his eyes are locked on mine. “I’m coming with you.”

  I shake my head in disbelief. “No! It’ll just make things more difficult. We can’t protect you.”

  “I’ll do whatever killing needs to be done. I can’t live with myself if I let you go back there without me, not after what happened with The Ghost.” He trades a loaded look with Sven, and a sinking feeling comes over me.

  “I’ll grab my pack,” he says, and walks off.

  Bid Ed sidles up to me. “That boy’s change of heart has less to do with killing and more to do with dueling for love.” He peers at me through his spectacles. “He’s seen the way Sven looks at you.”

  My face flushes. “It doesn’t mean anything. Sven’s a clone.”

  Big Ed pulls his fingers through his beard. “All God’s creatures are capable of love.” He peers at me through his spectacles. “And hate.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, frowning up at him.

  “I’m questioning Jakob’s motives in coming with us. And I’m wondering who he’s thinking of killing all of a sudden.”

  “No!” I narrow my eyes at Big Ed. “Jakob would never hurt Sven.”

  “Love is a powerful motivator.” He looks away and adjusts the brim of his hat. “Trust me.”

  A slow sonic boom registers inside my head. Kitty Marsh! Big Ed killed for love all those years ago. He’s warning me to keep an eye on Jakob. I turn in a daze and follow the others back toward the tunnel entrance. I have to put an end to this rivalry between Sven and Jakob before it goes any further. I hardly dare admit to myself that it’s happening, but deep down I know that Sven has feelings for me. And the fact that it goes both ways excites and terrifies me. There’s something about the way he looks at me that ignites a place inside my soul that Jakob’s never touched. I love Jakob, but more like a brother or a best friend. He was my strong room in a world gone mad for all those lonely years in the bunker. But now that I’m free to follow my heart, I think I might have done something crazy and fallen for a clone.

  We trudge along the tunnel back to the Craniopolis in a ticking time bomb kind of silence. When we reach the Biotik Sektor, I clamber out of the tunnel and clear my mind of all thoughts of Sven and Jakob. I can’t muddy my thinking with my emotions right now. I need to stay focused on the fight that lies before us.