by J. N. Chaney
I didn’t want to permanently injure the guy. I stayed away from his hurt arm and instead overwhelmed him with a flurry of punches to his jaw, temple, and gut.
He was staggering by the time Doctor Wong blew the whistle.
Another cheer went up from the crowd as I backed off. We were both a mess with cuts and bruises, but he had the more serious injuries between the two of us with his elbow out of joint. We both panted as we looked down at his arm.
“Looks like a draw to me,” I gasped, placing my hands over my head in an attempt to put less pressure on my lungs. “If you fight half as hard against Legion, we’re not going to have a problem.”
John looked at me sideways, then spat out a wad of thick blood.
“For those of you who couldn’t hear, Dean has offered a draw to John!” Doctor Wong yelled. “He says they should save the fight for Legion!”
For a such little guy, Doctor Wong had quite the voice when he wanted.
John slowly nodded then grabbed my outstretched hand with his left.
The crowd went bananas as we stood in the middle of the ring and both of us lifted our hands into the air together.
Everyone rushed past the perimeter of our made-up ring, cheering. They understood everything. We could have gone at each other for a few more rounds at least, before someone gave in or was knocked out. Even with his elbow dislocated, John hadn’t been about to give up.
A draw made the most sense all the way around. Besides, we both knew that I’d pulled my punches at the end. That was enough for me.
Amidst the slaps on the back I received, I made my way over to Stacy. She was trying to hide her smile and feign irritation but failing miserably.
I was sweaty from the fight with blood still coming down in a few different places on my face. I went to her with my arms wide.
“No, don’t you dare hug me all sweaty—”
Her words ended in a grimace as I wrapped her in a bear hug, deciding I didn’t care who saw.
“You’re crazy. You know that, right?” Stacy asked, laughing out loud. “There’s something wrong with you.”
“Oh, I know,” I said, releasing her. “I think there’s something wrong with all of us. Who signs up to travel to a different planet to start over?”
Stacy didn’t have an answer, but in that moment, we were interrupted by a scream. Doctor Allbright set John’s elbow back in place as he bellowed to the open alien sky above.
“The things we do to entertain others,” I said, chuckling a little at the expense of my friend and his pain.
“Are you still going to be able to go out tonight?” Stacy asked. “I’ve been briefed on your plan. I’m going with you.”
“I knew you would be,” I said, making my way from the courtyard through our tent city. “I’d like to take John and Lou also, if that’s okay with you.”
“Lou?” Stacy asked as we smiled and waved to the well-wishers who had seen the fight. They waved back excitedly, reminding of the days when fans had acted similarly. “Why Lou?”
“First of all, he was crazy enough to volunteer,” I said. “Also, he’s already proven himself reliable in the field.”
“Okay, we’ll take Lou, John, you and I, Tong, and the Rung,” Stacy said, listing off the members of our group. “I’m going to make sure we’re supplied before we leave. Get yourself cleaned up and meet me by the vehicles.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
A quick shower and a run-through at the cafeteria tent later, I was on my way to meet Stacy and the others. The vehicles we brought back from the Cerberus Installation were located on the right side of our compound and placed under heavy guard.
The ignition mechanisms were created so it would take a handprint to drive the vehicles. Still, Stacy didn’t want to take any chances that they might be stolen. They and the weapons were the best chance we had at defeating Legion. We couldn’t afford to lose a single one of them.
The predators were large-wheeled vehicles with room for a driver and passenger up front. A heavy machine gun sat in the rear, where there was room for another gunner.
If we were all going to fit into these vehicles, we’d have to bring two of them. I caught sight of Stacy gearing up along with Lou. Tong and the bound Sulk stood beside them. Tong had wrapped a cloak on Sulk to disguise him. There was no point in bringing more attention than necessary.
Those inside the wall were in a good mood after the exhibition, but who knew how’d they react if given to access to a member of the race who created the Legion virus in the first place. These weren’t the times to tempt fate.
Stacy and Lou put on the white Remboshi scale armor. Their helmets with the two breathing vents at the bottom clipped onto their belts. Stacy hefted a Judge handgun she placed in a holster at her hip.
Lou stood by the crate of armor, doing his best to look like he knew what he was doing. It was the first time he’d worn the new armor and it looked like he was having some difficulty getting it on.
“Need a hand?” I asked, heading over. Not waiting for him to say yes, I showed him how the vambraces were clipped onto his forearms.
“Thank you,” Lou said, moving in the armor as he tested the weight. “It looks like it should weigh a ton, but I barely feel it.”
“Remboshi technology,” Tong said with a slight smile. “The best there is.”
The Rung spy, Sulk, laughed out loud.
Tong and Sulk went at it in a verbal dispute, talking excitedly, with Tong waving his arms.
I looked over at Stacy as I clipped on my own gear.
“Tong, what’s he saying?” Stacy asked in a concerned tone.
“He says the Rung have far superior weapons now, suits of armor that grant the wearer god-like abilities,” Tong said. “He says they were overrun before they were able to use them. If we can recapture them, Legion won’t stand a chance.”
“Well, let’s get these god-like power suits back and take it to them,” John said, joining the group. “I’m ready for another fight.”
7
We took two predators, armed to the teeth. In one, John drove with Lou sitting next to him, and Stacy was on the Blood Shot 2000 mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
In the other, I took the wheel with Sulk sitting handcuffed beside me and Tong on the Blood Shot. Mutt had tried to insist on coming, but I’d talked the big guy out of it. Things were stressed at best between us and the Rung. As much as I loved the dog, I realized he’d add another element of hardship to the mission.
He seemed kind of pissed at first, but after a few belly rubs and promises I’d be back soon, he lightened up. The biscuit I saved for him from my midday meal might have helped as well.
I knew Ricky and Boss Creed would look after him while I was gone. Not that Mutt needed much looking after to begin with. He was an extremely intelligent dog with finely honed survival instincts. He often looked after the humans on the planet, as evidenced by his actions upon the appearance of Sulk.
We headed out from the compound as the twin suns disappeared over the horizon. John took the lead in his predator and I followed.
Sulk was secured with a pair of cuffs on his wrists that connected to the dash in front of him. He’d made no protest to being restrained that I was aware of. Maybe he was cooperating because he knew we were there to help. At least I hoped so. I really was in no mood for any unhappy surprises.
My senses were on overdrive. When we rolled out the twin gates of the compound, there wasn’t so much as a call or screech from the jungle to the north. I had no doubt in my mind Legion was watching us. What he was deciding to do with this turn of events was yet to be seen.
We traveled quickly; the predators’ large off-road tires ate up the ground underneath us. Their heavy-duty lights cut through the darkness like a beacon and I swept my gaze from left to right searching for threats.
Sulk said something in his language and Tong responded.
“Hey, in English, so the non-gecko people can understand,” I said
.
“Sulk is giving us instructions on where to go,” Tong said with a heavy sigh. “He said there is a narrow canyon that cuts through the mountains to the east. How have we come to this?”
“What do you mean?” I asked. If Tong was concerned, so was I. His opinion had become valuable and I trusted his insights, especially when it came to a member of the Rung.
“Uniting with our enemies that have been our sworn adversaries for centuries?” Tong said. “Trusting them now goes against everything I know.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?” I asked, echoing Jezra’s words and relaxing. But Tong’s mistrust of the Rung was understandable and in line with my thinking.
“Dean, you continue to surprise me,” Tong said. “That saying is very insightful.”
I didn’t tell Tong the saying didn’t belong to me. I was too lost on the course of action we now found ourselves on.
“What’s the plan once we get through the mountains?” I asked.
“Sulk says there is a Rung bunker just past the canyon,” Tong said. “We’ll connect with the force there and make our assault on their main bunker, which has been overrun by Legion. There they have a cache of weapons and upgraded armor that he promises will end Legion.”
“And we can expect heavy resistance starting when?” I asked. “Legion’s not just going to let us walk in there and impose our will. He’s going to be ready. He’ll be expecting us.”
Tong clicked off a series of sounds to Sulk that could have been him asking a question or sharing a complicated recipe for all I knew.
“Sulk says we can expect Legion to strike as soon as we enter the canyon,” Tong explained. “While it is the most direct route, it is not the safest. We will, however, be able to see exactly what we are getting into. Before we left, Jezra gave me access to the satellite.”
“My man,” I said, gathering what Tong was hinting at. “Legion will think he’s getting the drop on us, but we’ll be able to tell exactly where he’s moving.”
“That’s right.” I could practically hear the smile on Tong’s face. “Finally, we’re a step ahead. Once we get into the Rung’s underground bunkers, however, that advantage goes away. Who knows what’s waiting for us there.”
“Nice thoughts to keep us warm at night,” I muttered under my breath.
Sulk clicked something off.
“He wants to know if when the fighting starts, we will give him a chance to prove himself,” Tong translated. “He doesn’t want to go down without a fight. It is a matter of honor.”
I removed my gaze from the predator in front of me for a moment, looking over to Sulk. He stared back intently, his one normal eye searching mine for an answer. The robotic red eye shone with an eerie light.
“What do you think?” I asked Tong, moving my line of sight back to the road in front of me. “Do we trust him enough to let him fight when the dying starts?”
I already had my own opinion on the matter but wanted to hear what Tong thought to see if we were in agreement. My mind went back to the point inside our walls when Sulk had me dead to rights. He’d pointed that blaster in my face and could have killed me right there. He didn’t, though.
Even after Mutt and I grabbed him, he’d only tried to get away, not kill us.
“I can’t answer that question without my own bias tainting the outcome,” Tong admitted. “The many years my people have been at war with the Rung have soiled my decision-making ability on the subject.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “Tell him we’ll consider it.”
Tong seemed to take pleasure in relating the answer to Sulk. The Rung answered back vehemently, and Tong just laughed. I surmised that Sulk was not happy with Tong’s response and that Tong was happy that Sulk was unhappy.
The rest of the night, we traveled with the idea that we would move better under the cover of darkness. As far as any of us knew, Legion didn’t possess a way to see in the dark.
The mountains were only a hard night’s ride in front of us. Going all out in the predators, we’d reach the base of the mountains by daybreak.
“How’re you all doing back there?” Stacy asked through the comm unit in my ear. “See anything?”
“Nothing besides the back of your predator and the stars overhead,” I answered. “I don’t think we’re going to see Legion tonight. If he did watch us as we left the Orion, he knows he can’t catch us in the predators. We’re thinking he’ll set up and ambush further ahead. Sulk says we have to travel through a canyon once we reach the mountain range. He’ll probably hit us there.”
“Agreed,” Stacy said, muffling a yawn. “Keep your eyes open. Let Tong rest and switch off if you start falling asleep.”
“I’m good,” I said. “Should be good at least until dawn.” I really was awake, probably too keyed up to sleep.
We drove through the night over the alien terrain. The looming dark masses in front of us that were the mountain range grew closer every hour. The forest to our right remained still and not so much as a streak of motion or a rogue cry from an animal could be heard.
As the dual suns began to fight back the dark sky, Stacy called a stop. Just as planned, we were at the foot of the mountains. We would rest and regroup here just inside the tree line of the forest before continuing our journey.
We parked the predators under a pair of large trees with neon-like branches and dark brown trunks. Tong took too much pleasure leading Sulk from his spot in the vehicle and securing him to a tree. I wasn’t sure if I should let him continue in this vein with our enemy/hostage/soon-to-possibly-be-ally or say something.
My concern was less for Sulk and more for us. I didn’t want to aggravate him to the point where he and his fellow Rung decided to take revenge on the Remboshi for this treatment. I wondered if they had some sort of prisoner-of-war pact to abide by.
“I’ll take first watch while you get some sleep, then wake Lou, John, Tong, and you in that order,” Stacy instructed. “We should all get a solid eight hours before we hit the canyon, then we’ll travel with the cover of night again. Using Jezra’s satellite, we’ll be able to tell if Legion is waiting to spring a trap on us.”
“I’m not going to argue with you,” Lou said, handing out our rations, which weren’t anything more than a few pieces of fruit and packed sandwiches. “I could use some rest.”
John massaged his elbow. There was a thoughtful look in his tired eyes as he did so. He looked over at me, raising an eyebrow.
“You good?” I asked, wondering if he was going to start verbally sparring with me about who should have won our match.
“Yeah, I’ll live,” John said with a smirk. “I have to. We need to have a rematch until there’s a clear winner.”
“Careful what you wish for, brother,” I told him, biting into a piece of fruit. “You just might get it.”
The more and more I got to know John, the more I felt comfortable joking with him. I knew now he was one of the good ones. Not just good as in he was on our side, but good as in he could be counted on.
I could see it in his eyes now. The gladiator spirit that drove him forward was the same one that raged inside of me. We were definitely brothers under the skin.
After our meager meal, we chose our sleeping areas and passed out hard. I was under a tree using the branches above me for shade when fatigue finally set in.
It was one of those sleeps that came so quickly, you weren’t sure how long you’d been out at all when you woke up. All I knew was that I was torn from the deep embrace of slumber by a piercing, bone-chilling scream.
I sat bolt upright, trying to figure out far too much at once. I blinked as I reached for my weapon. Others in the camp were also roused awake from the noise.
The suns were still overhead but on their downward descent now. I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep. Six hours, maybe more.
The scream came again. It was a sound I was familiar with. Legion. I had heard the people he infected enough times to recognize
the distinct scream of pure mania.
In a moment, everyone was up and shifting from sleep to fighting mode. Weapons were raised as we took up a defense position around the predators.
I took Sulk from the tree he was attached to, back to the passenger side of the predator, and secured him once more.
He groaned as I locked him in place. I couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to be tied down while Legion came for us either.
“Lou, Tong, on the Blood Shots,” Stacy instructed. “Dean, don’t let anything happen to our Rung friend.”
We all moved to obey without asking questions, though I balked at calling Sulk a friend.
I donned my helmet, which fit snugly on my head.
More of the screaming came from the woods. We still couldn’t see anything, but it was getting closer.
“Legion saw us leave the Orion and what?” John asked. “It took him this long to find us and gather a force to send here?”
“Tong,” Stacy said without answering John’s question. “Time to fire up access to the satellite Jezra gave you. Tell me what we are dealing with here.”
“Searching now,” Tong said, going for the data pad that hung on a carrier around his shoulder. “I can access the HUD in your helmets and let you see in real time what the satellite is seeing. Jezra has it following our movements.”
A moment later, a small square popped to life in the lower right-hand corner of my visor. It showed an aerial view of our predators. We were tiny dots on the ground. Further into the forest showed not just dozens but hundreds of infected coming our way.
The forest was full of the infected beings rushing our position like a dam that had burst and the ground began rumble with their stampede-like movement.
“Stacy,” I said as calmly as I could.
She knew the same thing I did. As much as we all wanted to stay and tear into Legion, this was not a fight six people could win.
“There—there have to be hundreds of them!” Lou gasped in awe. “How are there so many?”