“I, uh—” Santiago struggled to get the words out, “Jelly?”
She opened her eyes and licked away Maar’s spit.
“What?”
“Are you okay to continue?”
She nodded, slowly, feeling sorry for herself.
“I only have one question left, I think. I don’t want the interview to go on any longer than necessary—”
“—Stop stalling and ask your question, asshole.”
“You said there was something people around the world should know?”
“Yes. Two things.”
“Do you think now might be the time to tell them?”
“I think so.”
Jelly leaned forward and placed her shackled wrists onto the table top.
“We’d love to hear them. When you’re ready.”
Jelly looked into the light emanating from Santiago’s thumbnail.
“The first thing is this. USARIC, or whatever they are calling themselves now, are rotten to the core.”
Maar screwed his face at the statement but allowed her to speak. It was, after all, her last will and testament, and the public deserved the unfiltered truth.
“Get the forensics team ready,” he whispered to Brayn. “Her time on this planet is nearly at an end.”
“Yes, sir.”
Brayn opened the door and slipped out of the room, leaving Maar, Santiago, and Julie alone with Jelly.
“They claim they had our best interests at heart. What you don’t know is that they sent a squad of mercenaries up to kill us. But it didn’t work. I guess it doesn’t matter to them, now, that they have me and my daughter and my friend Alex. I just hope they haven’t suffered, and that they die quickly and painlessly.”
“I’m sure that’s not the case, Jelly,” Santiago said. “All they want is to talk to you—”
“—It is the case, Sibald,” she groaned. “They’ve captured us and they’ll kill us if we don’t give them the details of what happened. I may be a gorgeous creature, but even I’m not so stupid. We won’t tell them a thing. They’ll murder us for it.”
Santiago couldn’t argue with her sentiment. Maar didn’t even bother to protest and argue to the contrary.
“I was taken by a corporation. They paid off my family and ruined all my crew’s lives. I guess it’s fitting that the same people who tried to kill us all finally have me in their clutches so they can kill me, too.”
Santiago remained quiet for a moment.
“And the second thing?”
Jelly half-chuckled with despair as she wiped her face with her shackled wrists, “The second thing? Simply, it’s the conclusion I’ve arrived at after all that’s happened.”
“And what’s that?”
Before Jelly could answer, Brayn moved into the room, desperate to speak to Maar.
“No, not now. Hold on.”
“But sir, it’s urgent—”
“—One moment,” Maar nodded at Santiago. “Go on.”
Everyone turned to Jelly as Santiago continued the interview.
“What have you concluded, Jelly?”
She clocked the urgency in Brayn’s face and smiled. She knew it wasn’t quite over yet. She didn’t know who, what, or why, but it was enough.
“Love is the answer.”
No one expected her answer. Santiago leaned forward with confusion.
“I’m sorry, Jelly. Can you repeat that?”
“I said love is the answer.”
A teardrop rolled down her face as she explained herself, slowly.
“Those who care for you, love you, feed you, clothe you, shelter you. They do it because they care. Throughout all the death and destruction I’ve experienced it’s all that’s ever mattered. What’s kept me going. Kept me alive. Gave me hope.”
Santiago smiled, “Love is the answer, huh?”
“Yes. A late, great scientist once famously said the same thing.”
“The great Pascal D’Souza,” Santiago said. “Amongst other wonderful words of wisdom. Love is the answer.”
Jelly sneered at Maar.
“Love is the answer. Until then war raises some very interesting questions.”
Maar scowled back at her, which went unnoticed by Santiago who, in his naivety, continued with his platitude.
“Love is the answer. I believe a very famous British band sang something similar nearly two hundred years ago.”
“They were mostly right,” Jelly said. “It’s not all we need. Love. It’s just the answer.”
“You’re British, too. Aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am,” she said. “As is the one person I truly love.”
“And who’s that?”
“Jamie.”
Santiago leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the denouement of the interview.
Brayn slipped in front of Maar in haste, “Sir, this can’t wait—”
“—What is it?”
Brayn pointed at the corridor, and whispered something in Maar’s ear.
“Seriously?”
“I’m afraid so, sir. We have to be quick.”
“For God’s sake.”
Maar stormed over to the door and glanced at Santiago.
“Are you finished?”
“You’re finished,” Jelly snapped.
“I wasn’t talking to you, you stinking bag of space puke,” Maar fumed. “I’ll take your silence as a yes, then,” he barked at Santiago and turned to Julie, “You. Medician woman?”
“My name is Julie,” she fumed.
“Like it matters. Stay here,” Maar pointed his finger at Jelly. “Make sure that tiger monster thing doesn’t leave. I’ll be back in two minutes. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir,” she spat and launched into a semi-sarcastic tirade, “As a matter of fact I read you loud and clear.”
“GOOD.”
SCHWUMP.
The door slammed shut, forcing a violent echo around the perfectly silent bay.
Santiago collected his thumbnail from the table and shut off the broadcast beam.
“I’d better go with them,” he said as he moved out of his chair.
***
Maar pushed several USARIC employees out of his path as he stormed down the corridor.
“Right, where are they? What’s this about a commandeered IRI van?”
“It’s just appeared outside the training center building,” Brayn said. “They’re using a drone to make their demands.
“Are you sure it’s definitely an IRI van?”
“Yes, definitely. Its call sign is IRI-Two,” Brayn said. “It must have been seized en route at the border checkpoint.”
“Get Arden on the line, now.”
“I’ve already communicated with him. He’s on his way.”
“Good.”
Maar reached the double doors and pushed through and into the reception area.
Several USARIC employees turned to Maar, concerned about his haste in trying to reach the outer grounds.
“What the hell are all of you looking at?” he yelled and pointed at the research corridor, “In case you hadn’t noticed we’ve just made the discovery of the century. Now, get busy. We don’t pay you to sit around and paint your damn nails. Get back to work.”
“Sir, they’re taking refuge,” Brayn said.
A suited man in his forties waved at the pair as he approached them, “For heaven’s sake, Maar.”
“Arden,” Maar quipped and ran up to him, “What the hell is happening? Where are they?”
“They’re outside. And they’re armed.”
“Where the hell is Keller?”
Scared, Arden didn’t know what to do with his arms. He clasped his hands together.
“Odrassa and his stupid gold teeth should have those kids by now. But he’s reported the Misfit boy wasn’t there. They must have taken him with them.”
“Ugh,” Maar fumed. “I can’t trust anyone around here to do a job properly. As usual, if you want something done,
you gotta do it yourself.”
He waved Brayn and Arden over with him to the reception door.
“Is that them?”
“That’s them,” Arden said. “What do we do?”
Maar squeezed the door handle in his palm, “Simple. We hear what they have to say. And then we kill each and every one of them.”
He pushed the door open and marched onto the cemented grounds.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Perimeter Zee”
A ball of twine blew across the dusty ground and past the headlights of the mack truck.
Rana pinched her binocle and focused on IRI-Two’s tailpipe as it traveled to the Research facility.
“ETA, twenty seconds,” she said. “They’re approaching the gates. Get ready.”
Sierra pushed the back of the door open and jumped out. She turned to her left and whistled at Suttle in the driver’s seat of blue van.
“All set,” Suttle said into his mouthpiece.
“Good,” Sierra responded. “Enabling the drone, now.”
She opened her palm to reveal a holographic live feed hovering over her skin.
“Drone activate, please.”
Biddip-beep.
Roman joined her and watched the image fizz to life, “What is that?”
“The adjoining drone,” she said. “It’s nearly sixteen-hundred hours. Is everyone ready in case it all goes the way we think it will?”
Roman turned to Saad and eyed his shotgun.
Saad glanced at Amelia at the wheel of the gray van and gave her the thumbs up.
“Ready when you are,” she said.
“It appears we are ready.”
Suttle jumped out of the blue van and lifted his glove, “Should we test the detonators?”
Sierra was taken aback by her colleague’s foolish idea, “God, no. Are you crazy?”
“Only kidding. Don’t get your panties in a twist,” he chuckled.
She cleared her throat and spoke into her wrist, “Hush. Comms link established?”
A tinny, automated voice from the pinpricks in her wrist, “Drone communication link set.”
“Good. This is Sierra, of the Rebels Against Genetic Engineering. Drone frequency zero-niner-five.”
The tires on IRI-Two crunched along the gravel leading up to the giant gates at the USARIC’s Research facility. The drone hovered ten feet above its roof and projected Sierra’s voice out of its speakers.
“This is Sierra, of the Rebels Against Genetic Engineering. Please confirm your attention.”
Shane looked up at the ceiling.
“You hear that?” he asked a fellow border guard.
“Yeah, I think it came from outside—”
“—I repeat, this is Sierra from RAGE. Please confirm your attention or we will use force.”
Shane stood up and looked around for the source of the noise, “A drone?”
“It’s coming from outside,” his colleague said. “Sit down. We’re at R&D, now. We’re fine.”
Joseph, the driver, hollered over his shoulder at the men.
“We’re here. Sit down.”
STOMP — STOMP — STOMP.
DD-12 marched through the open gate and up to the barrier.
“Identify yourself. Vehicle, license, and occupants.”
Joseph rolled down the window and smiled at the gargantuan mound of metal.
“IRI-Two, redirected from Manning border twelve.”
“You are not authorized to enter,” DD-12 threatened. “Please reverse and make your way—”
“—Hey, asshole,” the drone shouted in Sierra’s voice. “Let IRI-Two in, now.”
Sierra paced around as she lifted her wrist away from her face, “Trouble at the gate,” she said to Roman, “Don’t worry.”
“I am not worried,” he said.
DD-12 spun its bulbous head to the bee-like drone.
“Help, help,” Shane screamed from inside the van, “They’re going to blow us—”
“—Shut the hell up,” Joseph screamed back. “You’ll get us blown up.”
“That’s what I was about to say.”
STOMP — STOMP.
DD-12 lifted its giant, right arm at the drone. The sight at the end of his rifle snapped into view and roared to life.
“Exit the area now.”
“I don’t think so, bird-brain,” the drone threatened. “Be advised. Unit IRI-Two is packed with explosives and will detonate if you do not let it proceed.”
Switch — switch.
DD-12’s eyebulb blinked as it processed the revelation.
The drone whizzed past the droid’s shoulders and entered the compound, drawing attention from scores of armed mercenaries.
“You hearing me, numbnuts? We’re coming in. Stand aside.”
Biddip-bwop.
DD-12’s head lowered and scanned IRI-Two’s windscreen.
It saw a frightened driver sweating profusely behind the wheel. Shane and his colleagues sat perfectly still, not wanting to exacerbate the problem they were in.
He took a step along the side of the van and noticed the flashing black device by the tailpipe.
“That’s right, you ungainly mass of bolts. You see that? You have five seconds to let unit IRI-Two in, or it’s bye-bye bad guy.”
DD-12 stood aside and allowed the vehicle through the gates.
“Joseph?”
“Y-Yes?”
“This is Sierra.”
“Umm—”
“—We met at the border, but we were never formally introduced. Not that it matters. You’re to do as I say.”
Joseph listened to her communication as he watched DD-12 stomp back into the compound.
“Tell me what you see.”
Joseph squinted at the building dead ahead of him, “Uh. I see the training facility.”
“No, not the damn buildings, you asshole,” Sierra quipped. “I mean the personnel and any armed mercs. How many of them are there?”
Joseph looked left to the main research facility and saw scores of armed mercenaries look back at him.
“Well, there’s that giant droid thing and, like, more than one hundred USARIC personnel.”
“Personnel?”
“Military.”
“They’re not military.” Sierra said. “They’re mercenaries. Private contractors. Put your foot on the gas and drive in, slowly.”
“B-But they’ll open fire if—”
“—Goddamn it, they won’t open fire,” she spat. “The droid will let you in. As far as everyone is concerned you’re legit. Drive to the training facility and park five yards from the entrance. Facing the front of your vehicle at Research building.”
“Okay, okay,” Joseph said as he stepped on the gas.
Sierra showed the holograph in her palm to Siyam, Roman, Suttle, and Saad.
“See this?”
She pointed at the flickering image of DD-12 watching IRI-Two roll past the gates.
“One of their so-called death droids. On guard at the gate,” she said as she moved her finger to the army of mercs by her thumb, “And close to one hundred personnel. All armed. All ready for our arrival.”
Roman raised his eyebrows in confusion.
“They’re expecting us? But didn’t Noyin say the coast was clear?”
Siyam blinked and pointed at the transparent 3D image of the training center in Sierra’s palm, “They’re tooled up beyond all hell. Guards at the training center.”
“Mega-vehicles by R&D, look,” Saad added as he indicated the knuckle on Sierra’s middle finger, “Two of them.”
Sierra stared at the live map in her palm and realized just how screwed their plan might be if they were to continue.
“How could Noyin have gotten it so wrong? This is ridiculous.”
“He was wrong. Either that or he was lying,” Roman tried.
“Noyin would never lie. He’s one of us,” Sierra barked. “Don’t ever talk about him like that again.”
S
iyam stepped in and broke up the fight before it escalated. He pointed at Amelia in the gray van.
The Misfits inside were ready for war, but they didn’t realize just how much of a war they were in for.
“Sierra,” Siyam said. “I’m not being funny, but we have a van full of Russian allies, all with itchy trigger fingers.”
“And my daughter is waiting back at the Perimeter,” Roman said. “What do we do?”
Sierra had a dilemma on her hands. Or, more specifically, in the center of the palm of her left one. If she made the wrong decision the entire war would be over and everyone would die.
“Change of plan,” she said, confident about her new idea, “Get back in your vehicles.”
“What?”
She waved her left hand around, signaling them to disperse and get ready for action. She closed the live feed in her hand and waved her wrist.
Biddip-bip.
The live feed vanished into her fist, cutting the connection.
“You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yes, of course,” Suttle said. “But we—”
“—Then get in the van and let me handle this. Connect your headgear to the drone. If it all kicks off, then so do we.”
Suttle climbed into the blue van, leaving Sierra and Siyam together.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Siyam said.
“I know what I’m doing. Don’t question my decisions. Just get in the truck.”
WHUMP.
Roman and Siyam opened the back doors and hopped inside.
Sierra lifted her forearm to her mouth and took a deep, long breath. Hopefully, she thought, it wouldn’t be her last.
“Listen up, people,” she began.
IRI-Two rolled to a halt outside the training facility building. Joseph applied the handbrake and pressed his finger to his ear.
“What’s going on?” Shane asked from the back of the vehicle.
“Shut up, I’m trying to listen.”
The drone lifted up and caught the hundred-strong USARIC officials’ and mercenaries’ attention.
Sierra’s voice flew out of the circular device dozens of feet in the air.
“What you see below this drone is an International Repatriation Initiative van. IRI-Two.”
Star Cat Forever: A Science Fiction & Fantasy Adventure (The Star Cat Series - Book 6) Page 17