by M. R. Forbes
“I don’t see any other way to do it.”
“You don’t need a parachute for that. It has ejection seats built-in.”
“It does?”
“You didn’t notice the handles on the sides?”
Hayden smiled. “I usually notice everything. I guess my mind’s a little preoccupied. How do we confirm they work?”
“Short of pulling the handles? Do you have anyone who can take a look at them?”
Hayden tapped the star again. “Mia, it’s Sheriff Duke. Cancel that last ask. I need you to get a ride out to my position to take a look at some tech.”
“Roger, Sheriff,” Mia replied. “What am I looking at?”
“We need to confirm the ejector seats on a fighter jet are functional.”
“A what on a what? Sheriff, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Just head over, bring your tools, do your best. You’ve got fifteen minutes.”
“Pozz.”
Hayden tapped off the link again, turning to Deputy Sheriff Kin. “Take me back to the office. I want to get armed.”
“Hayden, I’ve got everything right here,” Nathan said, hefting the bag.
“It’s good stuff, but it’s not my stuff,” Hayden said. “Since we have a few minutes.”
“This way, Sheriff,” Kin said, pointing back to his car.
Hayden and Nathan went to Kin’s car, sliding into the back. Kin turned the vehicle around, the rest of the deputies following him as they returned to the tower, driving into the opening for the underground garage and taking it around to the second level. The entire law office was located there, each part of it separated only by open space. A bunch of desks were located near the lifts, wires running from the power outlets on the walls to the terminals spread around the area. The desk in the center had a hand-drawn map of the area laid flat against it. Small red and white chips indicated the daily patrol positions of the different units.
To the right of the desks, against the back wall, was the armory. A collection of tables, shelves, and crates were loaded with an array of guns and ammunition acquired through various means. Some of it came from the Front’s scavengers and scouts. The Centurions had delivered some of it, but most of it had been produced at a factory to the south.
Closer to the vehicles ramps was the motor pool. They had nearly two-dozen cars in their stock, half of them gas and half electric, all of them modified with armor plating and different designs of spikes and barriers to help protect the occupants from trife. They also had almost a dozen motorcycles with minimum reinforcements to protect the wheels from claw punctures. There was one Centurion APV amidst the renovated Earth vehicles, sleek and black and aggressive. They used it to ferry people from the expansion zones to the cities and back for leave.
“What’s that?” Nathan asked, pointing to the left of the desks, to the apparatus against the wall. It was a metal frame with a simple seat inside. A cap covered in electrodes and wires hung on it, the cables running down to a computer placed along the side of the frame.
“That’s the control rig,” Hayden said.
“Control, like mind control?” Nathan asked.
“Sort of.”
The car stopped with the others. Hayden and Nathan climbed out, and Hayden immediately headed for the guns. He knew what he wanted and where to find it, and he didn’t hesitate in grabbing a pair of bandoliers and throwing them over his shoulders, and then picking up auto-loaders and slipping them onto the belts. He crossed to another table, taking a pair of hip belts and holsters and then a couple of matching revolvers. He snapped open the cylinders on each, making sure they were loaded before flicking them closed and sliding them expertly into the holsters.
After that, he grabbed a long duster from a rack and pulled it on over the fatigues and the guns before finally taking Kin’s badge and attaching it to the front of the coat over his heart.
“Better,” he said, hands dropping to the revolvers and quick-drawing them before spinning them and slipping them back where they started.
“You’re kidding,” Nathan said, watching him.
“You’re the soldier,” Hayden replied. “I’m a Sheriff. This is my kit.” He tapped the badge. “Mia, are you on site?”
“Pozz, Sheriff. This jet fighter of yours is pretty awesome. I’m taking a look now.”
“There should be a handle next to the seat that operates the system. I don’t know how much you can do, but my life is going to depend on that handle doing what it’s supposed to do.”
“Pozz, Sheriff. I’ll do my best.”
Hayden started back toward Kin’s car, ready to return to the jet. He was opening the door to the car when he noticed movement from the stairs to his right. Deputy Latos entered the law office with Hallia in her arms. Hayden’s heart jumped at the sight of his daughter, a wave of excitement and sadness passing over him.
“Sheriff Duke,” Latos said, walking over to him. “Deputy Rogers told me you were here. I thought you’d want to see Hal before you went to get her mother.” She held Hallia out to him.
He took her, pulling her close. She looked at him and smiled, recognizing her father. She cooed and reached out, her small fingers wrapping around the end of his nose. He took the hand and kissed it.
“Thank you for keeping her safe,” he said.
“Of course, Sheriff,” Latos replied.
“Nathan,” Hayden said, turning around. “I want you to meet my daughter, Hallia.”
Nathan smiled at the infant, reaching out and gently putting his hand on her head. Hayden could see the sadness in his eyes. He knew replicas were sterile, and Nathan had explained how badly his wife had wanted children.
“Hi, Hallia,” Nathan said in a soft voice. “What a cutie you are. Aren’t you?” She smiled and giggled at him, causing his smile to spread wider. “Yes, you are a precious little girl.”
He brought Hallia back to him and kissed her forehead before holding her out to Deputy Latos again. “Do you mind?”
“Never,” she said.
“Keep her in the safe room,” Hayden said. “Keep all the kids down there until someone comes back to get them. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“Pozz, Sheriff.”
It was painful to hand Hallia back to the deputy. He didn’t want to have to let her go or leave her again so soon. Hayden spared one more touch for his daughter before getting back in the car.
It was time to end this.
Chapter 46
“There,” Natalia Duke said, pointing to the display in the bottom right corner. “What you’re looking for is there.”
James followed Natalia's finger to the small reflective shimmer pressed into the side of a rocky hill in the middle of what could only be considered nowhere.
“That’s John Wayne?” he asked.
“That’s the place,” she replied, looking back at him. “I swear. I don’t want any more of my people dying.”
She had maintained her fierce disposition despite the deal they had made. It was an attitude he appreciated. He met her gaze.
“Thank you for sticking to your word, Mrs. Duke.”
“Fuck you,” she replied.
He smirked slightly. “Captain Fahri, bring us down as close to that structure as you can get. I’m going to bring the prisoner to suit up.”
“Yes sir,” Captain Fahri replied.
James stood, walking over to Natalia and taking her arm. Her hands were restrained in front of her by a pair of old-fashioned handcuffs Tinker had provided. She glared at him as he helped her to her feet and led her off the starship’s bridge.
They walked in silence, from the bridge to the stairs leading into the hold. The space was currently empty, and he guided her to Bones’ locker.
He opened the locker. The combat armor he had taken her out of earlier was hanging inside. He reached into a pocket and produced the key to the cuffs, using it to take them off Natalia. “You’re already wearing her underwear. You might as
well keep wearing her armor too. I know you know how to put it on.”
Natalia rubbed her wrists for a moment and then reached for the combat armor. She winced slightly at the motion of her sore arm and shoulder but didn’t complain.
James turned around at the sound of Tinker’s wheelchair rolling up behind him. “Are we here?”
“Yes sir,” Tinker replied. “Fahri is bringing us down now.”
“Good. I expect Captain Fahri and Corporal Steg to remain with the dropship. If anyone tries to come near us, I want to know about it ahead of time, and I want them promptly blown to shit. The rest of what’s left of Midnight needs to be in full gear and ready to go asap. I’ll be suiting up as well.”
“You don’t want to wait for me to ensure the area is clear?” James asked.
“No. I don’t want you to see it before I do. This is my destiny, James. Not yours.”
James didn’t care about destiny. In part, he was glad Tinker wanted them to go in together. If there were any danger, maybe it would save him from the potential outcome of having to help Natalia Duke kill him.
“Make sure she’s bound,” Tinker said. “I don’t trust her not to cause trouble.”
“I thought you’ve already seen this,” Natalia said, looking back at him. “You should know what happens.”
“I know what will happen, but not necessarily how it will happen. I’ve learned to be wary of nuance, Mrs. Duke.”
“You think you’re too smart to lose, don’t you?”
“We’re here, Mrs. Duke. I’ve already won.”
Tinker turned his wheelchair and rolled away. Natalia watched him for a second before returning to outfitting herself. James went over to the ship-wide comm.
“Midnight Platoon, time to move out,” he said into it. “Get your asses down here and geared up yesterday!”
He dropped the comm, waiting for Natalia to finish with her armor. Once she had, he returned the cuffs to her wrists. He made sure to keep the left side a little too loose.
“If you aren’t careful how you move it, then it will tighten up, and you won’t be able to get out,” he whispered, leaning in close.
“Pozz,” she replied.
“Remember Mrs. Duke. This doesn’t make us allies. Not yet. If things go the way Tinker believes, I guarantee he’ll order me to cut you down before you can cause any trouble. And I won’t hesitate to do it.”
“Likewise,” she replied, her mouth parting slightly in a smile.
James left her there, making his way over to the powered armor and stepping into it. The machine quickly loaded him in. He stepped off the platform and raised the visor of his helmet. When the first of the remaining members of Midnight Platoon arrived, they suited up quickly, getting into their combat armor and grabbing their rifles, ready for action.
“General,” Captain Fahri said. “Touching down in thirty seconds.”
“Roger,” James replied. “All right, Midnight, here we go. Corporal Steg, you’re on dropship defense. You see anything threatening. You blow the fuck out of it, understood?”
“Yes sir,” Corporal Steg replied.
Tinker emerged from his command module, carried in his partially robotic armor. It walked smoothly to where James and the Liberators were waiting.
“This is the moment of truth, my friends,” Tinker said. “The will of the Others cannot be denied. Today, we make history.”
“Whoorah!” the Liberators said in response.
The Harpy shuddered slightly as she dropped onto her landing gear and settled. James walked over to the ramp controls and tapped them, opening the belly of the dropship. A blast of warm air greeted him from outside.
“Dark, grab Mrs. Duke,” he ordered.
Major Efreet moved beside Natalia, taking her arm the same way James had. He guided her into position between the other soldiers and Tinker. The ramp finished opening and James started down it, leading them out onto the arid terrain.
Fahri had landed the Harpy fairly close to the outbuilding, and the Liberators covered the distance quickly. James dropped back beside Natalia as they did.
“Should we be expecting an ambush?” he asked.
“Not that I would tell you if there were,” she replied. “But the place is abandoned. We completed the evacuation last month.”
“Evacuation?” Tinker said. “From what?”
“You don’t know everything, do you?” Natalia replied. “You still don’t know what John Wayne means.”
“I think I’m about to find out.”
“I guess you are. In any case, you don’t have to worry about being attacked.” She glanced over at James. He looked away, not wanting Tinker to see the interaction.
They reached the entrance to the building, a pair of wide doors that had been bolted closed to keep them sealed off from unexpected visitors. James used his plasma rifle to burn through the metal plate bonded to each of the doors, weakening it and then tearing it open. The interior of the space was dark, the light from outside creating an aisle down the center.
There was nothing inside. The room was clean and empty. James spotted a cage at the back of it — an industrial-sized lift that travelled vertically underground and then laterally into the mountainside. He found a second lift a moment later. That one was smaller, intended only for the delivery of personnel.
“Which one?” James asked.
“They go to the same place,” Natalia replied.
“The personnel elevator is sure to be faster,” Tinker said. “But I don’t know if it can handle our weight. We’ll take the freight lift.”
James took point, leading them across the empty space to the lift. This wasn’t the first subterranean Space Force complex he had been in, and so far he wasn’t all that impressed. Still, he found Natalia’s mention of an evacuation intriguing and exciting.
What exactly was down there?
He was about to find out.
They piled onto the larger lift, and James hit the button to activate it.
Chapter 47
It took nearly forty minutes for the massive lift to make the deep descent. It finally whined to a stop. The protective metal gates began to slide away. James stepped forward, resuming his position at the front of the group. The cavern was pitch black, though there was a soft humming sound somewhere to his left. He turned his head that way in anticipation of his visor’s night vision adjusting to the darkness and offering him limited sight.
The darkness started to fade, a grainy view of the cavern coming into focus on the visor. James recognized the empty space at the bottom of his vision – the cavern continuing well past the system’s ability to pierce the dark. The top of his view was obscured by a lower-hanging stalactite. The cavern took on a strange shape as it dipped and shrank to a much smaller area than he would have originally guessed.
He stepped out of the lift, still staring ahead, searching for the source of the hum. He eyed the top of the tunnel, his mind slowly recognizing that it was not only almost perfectly smooth, but it was lined with metal. His eyes tracked through the darkness and circled back, scanning left to right and re-absorbing the strange shape of the upper part of the cavern. He was surprised when he spotted a bridge almost directly above them. It connected one side of a wide walkway with the other. Thick electrical conduits were pinned to the underbelly.
“There’s a power switch on the wall to your right,” Natalia said behind him. “We don’t have to cross the cavern in the dark.”
James turned the other direction, finding the wall and the large circuit box attached to it. A half-dozen wires spread out from it to points around the cavern. He had made sure to deactivate the visor’s night vision before pulling the breaker handle down. A loud thunk was followed by the sudden illumination of hundreds of lights located around the tunnel.
He heard Tinker start laughing behind him. He turned around again, looking back in the direction of the hum, freezing when he realized what he had been looking at wasn’t part of the cavern at all.
>
It was a ship. A gigantic starship. The biggest he had ever seen. It was cold and gray, resting lifelessly in the seemingly endless space. He couldn’t see the top of it, but following its hull, it seemed to stretch on forever.
“So it’s true,” Tinker said. “Not all of the ships made it to Proxima. I never expected the Space Force would have tried to bring the artifact off the planet with them.”
James glanced over at Tinker. He couldn’t believe the man was so even-tempered about the discovery. He had heard of the generation starships before, but he never thought he would get to see one. It was incredible. Just incredible.
His eyes continued to trace the hull as best he could from the perspective. There wasn’t a lot of extra space in the cavern that wasn’t taken up by the craft. He found writing part of the way up the port side of the hull.
U.S.G.S PILGRIM
“You said evacuation,” James said. “People were living on that thing up until a few months ago?”
“Yes,” Natalia said.
James could hardly believe it. “And the artifact is in there?”
“No,” Tinker said.
“Yes,” Natalia replied.
James’ eyes swept over both Tinker and Natalia. Why had they given conflicting answers?
Tinker stepped toward her, a hard metal hand slapping hard against her face, the sound echoing in the cavern. She flinched and put her hand to her cheek, which started to swell almost instantly.
“Don’t lie to me, Mrs. Duke,” Tinker said.
She glared at him. “You wanted fucking John Wayne. This is it, you son of a bitch. Have you ever seen The Searchers? It’s an old movie. We have a copy of it in Edenrise, thanks to a collector. John Wayne calls one of the characters pilgrim. If this isn’t what the USSF scientists were referring to, then I don’t know what they meant, and I’m sorry but I can’t help you, no matter how many people you kill and no matter how many times you fucking hit me.”
James looked over at Tinker again. It was hard to know what the man was thinking with his face hidden by his helmet.