Fire and Steel

by Gavin Magson

  Rex chuckled at the memory of arriving in Six the previous year. The coordinated attack on several key locations by those Rine had hired was a complete mess, just shy of being labelled a disaster. The gangs had either been notified before the mercenaries’ arrival or had planned against such an attack and setup an early warning system.

  Whatever had resulted in organising the gangs they proved more than a match for the seasoned mercenaries, thanks in no part to there being no clear leader amongst the numerous squads and bands of mercs. Miles, Rex, and Jerry had been delayed in joining the fight, which turned out to be a small blessing when the first into the fray were cut down within minutes.

  “It’ll be good to see the girls, assuming they will even answer the door to us, and I hope that Rose stuck around; considering how long we’ve been out of action I can’t see her staying in one place. I’m surprised that the train is so empty thought, I was told that there was a freer flow of citizens now that Six was at peace.” said Rex.

  “I had forgotten that Rose and Ward were meant to wait for us at the guesthouse. I’m sure that she will have made it to Six in one piece; she survived the war with ease, after all. Whether she waited around for nearly five months… that I have my doubts about. Still, we could use the help should we convince Rine to buy some of those suits.

  “As for Six, it’ll take time for the city to heal itself. I’ve seen all this before, the residents will be busy trying to rebuild from the rubble, which means there is little to attract custom from neighbouring Sectors. No, Six will take a while to return to how it once was. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to catch up on some sleep before we arrive. Wake me before we stop, I don’t fancy injuring myself further.” said Miles.

  Rex nodded at his leader and settled himself in for the journey, smiling at how quickly Miles’ breathing became heavy.

  Miles thought it surreal to be walking through the streets of Six unarmed, and to see so many people going about their lives without fear in their eyes. When he and Rex stepped out of the train station there were still obvious remnants of the recent conflict, though not as many as he expected. The bodies had long since gone, whether for burial or dragged away by the animals left behind, yet buildings still bore the scars of gunfire and explosions.

  Some buildings were new, quickly erected and to a minimalistic budget that provided enough structural integrity to not immediately crumble, whilst others were in the early stages of repair. What shops there were before the winter were long since looted and lay abandoned, instead makeshift stalls had popped up on every street in the hope of a sale. As they navigated their way to the guesthouse Miles and Rex purchased food, water, and some homemade alcohol from several stalls, which they stuffed into cloth sacks; the men commented that their entire shop cost twice what it would in Four, no doubt the merchants were capitalising on the lack of competition to inflate prices.

  When the guesthouse was finally in sight both Miles and Rex couldn’t help but notice that the entire street had undergone a revitalisation, with most on the houses no longer sporting boarded up windows and broken doorways, all save for the one they aimed for.

  “Miles, how good are those new eyes of yours?” asked Rex as they closed in on the guesthouse.

  “Better than any scope I have ever used. Why do you ask?”

  “I’m sure that I saw the ground floor window twitch, and I think there is someone staring out of it, only neither of the girls are tall enough that their eyes would be so far up the window.”

  Weeks of rehabilitation had given Miles instinctive control over his augmented eyes, and he did not need to think so much as will them to magnify his image of the window. He could do little for the darkness as there was still plenty of daylight outside, but Miles was certain the sliver of face he could see belonged to a man. The eye did not falter from staring at the approaching mercenaries, nor did it blink.

  “Definitely not one of the girls, and we are being watched; he isn’t interested in anyone else.” said Miles.

  “We could skirt around to the basement entrance and see if we had better luck there?” suggested Rex as Miles continued to head straight for the door.

  “No, I’ve spent too long laid in a bed and getting soft. You run around to the rear, if you think it’s safe go in that way and make your way into the reception. I’ll give you three minutes, that should be enough to get into position. Only kill if threatened, I suspect our free passes have expired in this sector.”

  Rex checked the time on his tablet before walking away from Miles, taking a longer route in skirting around the building. Miles took out his own tablet, noted the time, and selected Angelica’s tablet from his contacts. When he pressed call the tablet failed to connect, just an automated message on loop answered him. Miles considered calling Kathrine but expected to get the same response.

  He waited just shy of the three minutes before walking straight to the door, hammering his fist into the old wood and causing yet more paint to flake off. Miles just and so heard the faint whisper of voices, at least two, before the door opened a fraction. His boot caught the door just above the handle, catching the person opening the door in the face and bowling them over.

  Miles came through the open doorway in a forward roll, avoiding the shotgun blast at head height and coming back onto his feet in time to spin his knife through the air and take the gunman in the throat. He scooped up the shotgun and levelled it on the crumpled heap on the floor, who let out a whimper whilst scrabbling at the floor to get away from Miles.

  “Where are the women who own this house?” Miles kept his voice low, but full of venom that left the figure sobbing; only then did he realise she was female.

  “One of them is upstairs, last room on the landing. I made sure she was fed and had water every day. He was happy for her to die up there, but I made sure to keep her alive.”

  “Is there anyone else in the house, and are they armed?”

  “No, it was just the two of us.” Her eyes flickered towards the basement steps and back to Miles so fast he could have easily missed it. “You don’t need to kill me, I didn’t hurt her. Just let me go and you’ll never see me again.”

  Miles spun at the sound of pans crashing to the floor, followed by heavy footsteps, and lowered the shotgun when Rex came into view, dragging a body behind him. Blood was still pumping from a chest wound on the body, and the legs twitched as Rex dropped the body across the other.

  Miles pushed the shotgun under the woman’s chin and pressed it upwards into her jaw. For a second he didn’t think she would take the hint, but she was quickly back onto her feet. Miles repositioned the gun until the muzzle rested against the base of her skull and moved his head closer until he could whisper into her ear.

  “You are going to walk up those stairs nice and steady, no shouting. When we get to the top you’ll knock on the door you say one of the girls is in. If I think you are trying to warn anyone that we are here I will not hesitate to redecorate with your miniscule brains. Is that understood?” She nodded, muttering under her breath as she did so. “Rex, would you search the bodies for any ammo and secure the door?”

  Miles kept his eyes locked on the woman as Rex went about searching through the pockets of both men. He found a single shotgun cartridge, along with a five-shot revolver tucked into the sock of the man he killed. The revolver, to his surprise, was fully loaded, and Rex kept this for himself as he gave Miles the cartridge.

  Rex closed the front door and dragged a large, dust covered cabinet from the corner of the room until it barricaded the entrance. He had already had the forethought to do the same with the kitchen table and basement door.

  “Both entrances secured, Miles.” said Rex.

  Miles loaded the second barrel of his newly acquired shotgun and the trio made their way up the staircase. The sound of music got louder after every step, so much that when they reached the landing it was painful to Miles’ ears. They walked along to the last door, with the woman’s pace slowing as they app
roached. Miles sensed the hesitation and ground the muzzle into her skull until she sped up.

  “What are you waiting for?” whispered Miles. “Turn the handle or knock, stand still and I’ll pull the trigger.”

  The woman raised her hand and could do nothing to hide the shaking. Miles signalled Rex to join him in stepping to one side of the doorway as the woman’s knuckles rapped loudly on the door four times.

  The music finally came to a stop, and a chair could be heard scraping along the wooden floor through the door, followed by heavy footsteps. Miles could feel the woman tremble through the barrel of the shotgun, but he resisted the urge to squeeze the trigger.

  The footsteps stopped suddenly, too distant to be just the other side of the door. Rex and Miles dropped to the floor simultaneously at the faintest sound of a barrel snapping closed. The door splintered apart as the shotgun blast hit the woman in her chest, a bloody spray erupted from her back as Miles brought his own shotgun’s barrel up and fired barrels into the exposed shape. The gunman crumpled to the floor, his own torso torn open.

  Rex stood up and entered the room, stepping over the body as he swept the room with his pistol drawn. When he could find no sign of another person he signalled to Miles that it was safe to enter.

  “Not the brightest squatter I’ve ever met.” remarked Rex, looking passed Miles.

  In the hallway the woman was dead, she just had not realised it yet. Her lungs were ruined, but her body still tried to suck in a breath as blood spurted from a multitude of wounds. Her head was twisted just enough to see the corpse Rex stood by, and tears streamed down her face.

  Miles drew his knife and advanced on her, watching her fearful eyes lock onto his. Fingers slick with blood scrabbled at the wooden floor, trying to push her away from the mercenary. Miles knelt beside her and placed his free hand on her head.

  “There’s nothing we can do for you, lass, except end the pain. I’ll make sure a Recycler gets you before the dogs do, him too.”

  Miles did not wait to see if she could muster up any words, his knifes point cleaved through to her heart with ease. The death rattle ended, plunging the guesthouse into silence.

  “This guy’s shotgun has a different gauge shell to yours, but there are four loaded into it.” said Rex, handing Miles to new weapon.

  “She’d likely still be alive if she had not lied about there being more in the house. If anyone else is left they must be alert to our presence by now. Let’s clear each room together; we take no chances, shoot anyone that we don’t recognise.

  Miles’ old room was empty of squatters, just like all those they had searched so far. The duo cleared the last room on the floor before returning to Miles’ room, still vigilant despite the lack of evidence any more unwanted guests remained. Rex stood guard as Miles searched for any remaining weapons or ammunition; none lay in sight.

  Miles crouched next to the bed and used his knife to prise out three of the floorboards, revealing a small hide he had used to stash a large handgun, five full magazines of ammunition, and two credit chips.

  “Did you stow anything away in your room, Rex?” asked Miles as he replaced the floorboards.

  “Don’t have much worth keeping safe that I don’t have on me at all times. I think perhaps Jerry has a couple pictures left in his room; I overheard him muttering about it back in the hospital. Any idea when he is joining us?”

  “He’ll be here once he has finished with his reconnaissance of the data centre in Three. I haven’t had a message from him in a few hours, but I’m not worried about that; we both know he can handle himself just fine.

  “We need to keep hope that the girls are still alive and clear the rest of the guesthouse. Take the shotgun, I’ve plenty of ammo for this handgun.”

  Rex wordlessly accepted the offered shotgun and placed the pistol within his jacket pocket. The two men stepped back out of the room and made their way to the penultimate floor of the house. Still there was no noise, nothing to indicate life.

  Two of the three rooms had their doors left wide open, making the task of clearing them all the easier. Unsurprisingly to either man both rooms were empty, the only surprise was that the beds were still made up after all this time.

  Rex went to open the remaining door and found it locked. He looked at Miles, who took a moment to consider their options. After a brief pause he indicated for Rex to kick in the door and repositioned himself to get a better shot at anyone inside.

  Once Miles was in position Rex took a step back, shifted his weight onto his left foot, and planted a big boot next to the lock with all the strength he could muster. The door flew open as the door frame splintered around the lock. Miles came into the room, gun level and ready for any assailants, but quickly came to a halt when he saw the body.

  Angelica had been dead awhile, at least two weeks by his reckoning. She was still hanging from the rope she had made from her bedsheets, the stench of death all around him as Miles confirmed no one else was in the room.

  Angelica’s body was gaunt, the result of being starved for several weeks. Miles couldn’t see a scrap of food laying around the room, only an empty bowl and cup that likely contained her final meal.

  Rex placed a hand on his leader’s shoulder as the man let out a stream of foul curses. He was taken aback by Miles’ reaction, Rex had witnessed far more gruesome deaths alongside both Miles and Jerry; he could not remember Miles being as angry as this before.

  “Miles, we best cut her down in case Katherine is still alive. It’ll break her heart when we tell her, best save Katherine from having to see this too.”

  Rex held Angelica’s cold legs as Miles reached up to cut through the bed sheets. When the full weight of her sagged against him Rex paced backwards until he could lay her down on the bed.

  “Rex, open the windows, please.” requested Miles as he covered Angelica’s corpse with the torn bedsheets and some clothes that had piled up in a corner of the room.

  The windows were locked, most likely by the squatters to stop Angelica attempting to climb out of her prison. Rex used his hunting knife to prise off the lock on both windows and fully opened them. The fresh air, or what passed for it in Six, was beyond refreshing.

  “Only one room left, Ajax’s attic retreat. What do you think our chances are of finding her in there?” asked Rex.

  “It’s not a bad room to hole yourself up in. Last I checked he had plenty of food stashed away, and hopefully some water as well. These bastards were barely feeding Angelica, and I don’t give Katherine a better chance of being treated well. I just hope that we find her alive.”

  The two men ascended to the top floor and stopped once they were outside of the attic room. Dried mud and boot prints on the steps suggested that no one had been up here in several days; Miles took a deep breath to calm his rising anger.

  Rex caught Miles’ arm as he went to grab the door handle, stopping the man in his tracks. Rex manoeuvred himself until his eye was level with the keyhole and squinted to better see into the gloom.

  A figure could be seen sat on the bed, hunched up so that their arms were wrapped around their shins. Rex could see the faintest movement, suggesting whoever it was still lived. He could not make out any more figures in the room but did not assume that meant it was safe.

  “Only light in the room is filtering through the skylight, which has been boarded over. I can see one person, most likely female, sat on the bed. How do you want to proceed?” asked Rex.

  “Either this is Katherine, or we have another squatter to deal with. Easiest way to find out is ask.”

  Miles raised his left hand to the door and knocked three times. He and Rex moved down several steps of the staircase, wary that the rattle of a gun could follow the knocking. After several seconds of silence Miles called out Kathrine’s name.

  “Miles, is that you?” came a familiar voice through the door.

  “Yes. Rex and I have come for a visit, and it seems that you have had some unwanted guests staying of late. D
on’t worry, we have taken care of them for you.”

  The quiet shuffling of feet being dragged across the floor preceded the doors bolt being slid back noisily, the metal on metal scrape seemingly taking an eternity before the door opened to reveal Kathrine.

  Like her sister Kathrine had been starved, the clothes she wore hanging off her gaunt frame; it was only Ajax’s supplies that had kept her alive this long. When Miles stepped up into the room her arms wrapped around his chest and Kathrine hugged Miles tight.

  “I never thought I would be so happy to see another mercenary again in my life. Those fuckers were happy to leave me to die up here, I don’t think they’ve brought me water in a week, and food for a month. I was told the lack of food was to teach me a lesson, so I just hope that Gel didn’t piss them off like I did. I can’t wait to see her aga-”.

  Kathrine had been looking up into Miles’ face as she spoke, but as soon as she mentioned Gel Miles’ expression changed and her voice faltered. He did not need to say a word, for Katherine knew the look of sorrow could only mean her sister was dead.

  Miles did not move fast enough as Katherine’s grip on him went slack, her body crumpling to the floor. He scooped up her limp body and laid her down on the bed, not unlike Rex had done moments earlier for Angelica.

  “Rex, I’ll take care of Katherine, you go downstairs and wait for Jerry’s arrival. If there are any problems do your best to be covert about handling them.”

  Miles picked up a sealed bottle of water next to the bed and tossed it to Rex, who caught it one handed and gave Miles a curt nod. Rex disappeared down the staircase as Miles turned back to Katherine, who’s breathing was quick and shallow.

  “No amount of medicine is going to make you feel better, lass.” muttered Miles. “I don’t want to be the person to tell you Ajax is dead too. What a fucking day.”