Warriors at the Gates- Trojan Wars

by Rick Royster

  They'd travelled three blocks without incident, and to Tressa's delight Rhys was sent far ahead. Just as she allowed high hopes for a clean get-away, she saw movement up above her on the auto-walk; amid the myriad of pedestrians, a lone GU soldier stood out like a full moon.

  "I don't think you thought this through, Commander; we have company," Tressa said.

  Cayden paced several feet behind her, and his hand fell to the hilt of his katana. "Keep walking."

  Tressa glanced back and saw another one emerge from the coffee shop, the Centurion shoving his way through the crowd.

  Then to her right was Sateria, holding her laser pistol in hand.

  "Everyone down on the ground," Sateria shouted, firing a laser into the air. "Now!"

  A wild rush of chaos ensued. Screams erupted from the crowd and all around, people dove behind columns, benches and street signs, others just hitting the ground. A few took off running.

  The cleaning bots - as they were prone to do in times of violence - stood stock still, their circular, expressionless faces still managing to make them look like deer in headlights.

  Thump-thump-thump; the noise drew her eyes up toward the autowalk. The laser-proof glass cracked and succumbed to Brutus’ punches, and he then kicked out the steel support column and leapt in the air down to the ground below. Brutus landed near the exit of the train port, laser guns in hand. He began firing, unconcerned about Region Twelve citizens as he charged ahead.

  He unleashed a barrage of photonic death at her. Tressa closed her eyes, awaiting oblivion, preventing her from a dazzle of steel and light.

  In a slurry of inhumanly fast whirls, Cayden's katanas deflected the lasers skyward, though the last was reflected back at Brutus, grazing his cheek and creating a wicked wound. A moment later, Tressa opened her eyes and took a second to register what happened and drew her pistol. She fired two shots at Brutus. Both found their mark on his chest and put him down.

  Cayden's katana was out and whirling; he spun it in a rapid arc and the blade deflected the lasers toward the sky, the sidewalk and the ground.

  Tressa couldn't distinguish if the screams were from pain or fear. She smelled the raw tang of the laser blast.

  Tressa pulled her gun, ducked low and aimed through a throng of fleeing civilians.

  She fired two shots at Brutus, both finding their mark and putting him down.

  Two streams of smoke rose from his armor. He rose slowly, like a zombie would and got back to his feet.

  Cayden pulled her into cover behind a sky-car while Brutus tried to conceal himself and continued to shoot at her. Three GU police closed from behind and released streams of lasers from their weapons. The vehicle that sheltered them began to disintegrate under the onslaught of multiple laser blasts. Smoke rose from the damaged vehicles and holes filled with electricity and fire sizzled in her ear.

  "We have to get on that train," Tressa said. "The Region Twelve government will not take kindly to us remodeling their city."

  Cayden looked at her and back at their surroundings.

  "They'll lock down Region Twelve airspace; we'll be arrested and then they'll spend every resource they have in trying to capture you. They'll execute captured Coalition agents until the Coalition agrees to turn you over to them. Getting caught is not an option," Tressa said.

  The Region Twelve security forces were everywhere, using chairs, benches and columns as cover as they moved in.

  Cayden sprinted out into the open to greet them.

  "I just want the Cube," Sateria said over the commotion.

  Tressa answered her by popping out from behind the column and firing two quick shots at her. She didn't hit anything but did drive the three security officers to take cover. She turned just in time to see the gold muzzle flash of Sateria's gun. The blast shot hit her flush in the chest and sent her sliding thirty feet across the floor, the impact driving the breath from her lungs. She felt the burn of the laser blast, black smoke spiraling from the fresh hole in her armor.

  Tressa stared at the overhead lights, doubt and inevitability creeping into her psyche. Maybe, just maybe, she should quit. She then thought of her daughter and rolled over to her stomach, pulling the trigger as fast as she could at Sateria who responded in kind. Chunks of the sidewalk’s steel and cement flew up in the air, blaster bolts eating up the floor around her. There was a constant flux of streaming lasers and screaming civilians.

  A shot from Brutus who was charging forward hit Tressa in the shoulder. Her armor again saved her from real injury but it sent a jolt of pain from her head down the length of her arm. Her left hand went numb, sending her blaster scattering across the floor.

  It stopped near the face of a female lying on her stomach, spread-eagled, her eyes glossed over and her expression one of sadness. She was dead.

  Tressa rolled away from the woman as more shots rang out from Brutus and Sateria, each moment the lasers getting closer and closer to killing her. She heard the muffled coughs and gags of civilians being hit in the crossfire. Another woman shrieked.

  For the better part of three minutes, Tressa had held her own. The Region Twelve security forces who survived Cayden's initial attack were left stunned, deafened by the blast and injured by shrapnel and the edge of his sword. In some ways, they appeared to be survivors moving through the wreckage of a bombed-out area. In other ways, they were.

  The time was now, and she made a run for the train port.

  Dust, heat and rising smoke filled the train port; fire spread, flames crackled. Several dozen passengers scattered out of the train, raincoats and umbrellas bobbing in and out through the rising smoke.

  Winter was evacuating citizens.

  Sateria, with jetpack and jet boots, floated in the air. The crowds that were waiting on the train had fled, hundreds of people filing out of the exits and the ones who had been waiting scurrying for cover. A few remained on the train frozen by fear, a few lying dead by random blaster fire.

  Cayden didn't bother to look back. He allowed his consciousness to expand, to bring into focus everything the subconscious mind had recorded into the present, in moment-by-moment clarity.

  The passengers - he could see their faces, feel their fear and panic. Tressa, Winter, and Rhys were gripped in anticipation. He reached further and locked onto Sateria. He could feel the energy pouring off her soul. She was fighting a rage, a storm of conflicting emotions ravaging her every thought. Reading the Centurion's energy was more difficult. It was like nothing was there; they were cold, soulless machines of death.

  At that moment, he knew, keeping Winter safe was more important than anything else.

  "Winter, Tressa onto the train first; Rhys and I will cover."

  Cayden wanted to minimize the carnage. The legionnaires would kill innocent civilians indiscriminately, and ultimately the Coalition would be blamed.

  Sateria cut, thrust, and dropped to the ground. She aimed her wrist blasters and fired, causing Cayden to duck for cover behind a column. A monstrous explosion caused mammoth chunks of gravel and steel to plummet to the ground and burn.

  The party of Coalition agents stepped onto the end of the platform, crouched low and fired their laser rifles. Winter threw a flash grenade on the ground, producing a deafening noise and brilliant white light which filled the space with white smoke.

  In spite of the cloud, the blue letters on Cayden's katana showed brightly even from a distance, as did the volley of laser fire which the blade ricocheted about.

  Nearly hit by her own fire, Sateria rocketed back upward. Rhys stepped out and fired at her, giving Winter and Tressa the time to launch themselves onto the train.

  Sateria released one of her wrist-mounted rockets, the concussive force of which knocked both Rhys and Cayden from their feet.

  Cayden saw Brutus and Tiberius, their rifles held chest high, aimed at him. He turned behind him, where Rhys was. He watched as Rhys struggled to get to his feet. As soon as Rhys stood, a hail of laser fire spun him like a top, and he c
rashed back to the ground. Instinctively, Cayden made a mad dash over to his fallen Lieutenant.

  Blood smeared his teeth, and Cayden saw the smoldering heat coming from his armor. He peered through Rhys’ shades to see the tears in his eyes. He put Rhys’ arm around his own shoulder and lifted him.

  Tressa stood in the doorway of the train so it couldn't close, and Winter darted past her and provided cover fire.

  "Go," Winter screamed, lighting the air with a rapid succession of blue laser fire as she tucked herself in behind a column. Cayden had no time to argue. He dragged Rhys onto the train as two dozen Region Twelve security forces joined the party, making their way behind the GU soldiers.

  Rhys collapsed when he got aboard. Tressa rushed to help him, and Cayden jammed his katana into the doorway to keep it from closing.

  "C'mon," Cayden screamed at Winter, who was now running back toward him and the train. Cayden peeked down. Rhys was flat on his back gasping for air. Cayden kneeled beside him. "Don't you die on me. Hang in there, we'll get you to help."

  Rhys was trying to talk, trying to pull himself up with an arm that just fluttered about.

  An avalanche of hot laser fire ripped by in every direction, torching everything in their path. Sateria ducked from column to column in a methodical advance. Shards of metal and concrete exploded under the weight of the blast. The four security soldiers flanked to her right, Brutus and Tiberius made their slow march to her left and more Region Twelve forces were looking to engage from behind, but she was unsure of who was who.

  Winter felt a cold sweat drift over her entire body. She'd come a bit too far from the train's door. And now, no matter how fast she ran, she knew she'd be cut down.

  Cayden's katana held the door open for her. She could see him kneeled over Rhys. Thunder echoed through the station and the rain came down in a torrential downpour.

  Winter took a deep breath with her back against the wall. If she couldn't save herself, she would ensure the mission's success. She tossed another flash grenade. It immediately drew heavy laser fire in the air, and she drew her gun and fired twice, knocking Cayden's sword loose from jamming the doors. The katana hit the ground and the doors zipped closed as Cayden jumped to his feet.

  Winter watched him rush to the glass, screaming her name, his eyes filled with terror.

  She smiled, giving him a nod to let him know she was at peace with her decision.

  A split second later, the train was gone. There was no way for Cayden to get off the train, and no way for Sateria and the security forces to follow.

  Sateria raised her hand for Brutus and Tiberius to stop firing.

  Winter dropped her weapon, the sound of surrender clanging off the marble floor. She stepped out from the cubicle and lowered her open-palmed hands at her side.

  This time, there'd be no saving her. The last time she had the coordinates, they had to come back for her. This time, the mission was completed. Tressa had been apprehended and, consequently, the Cube was in his custody. Winter had done her duty, and for that, she was proud.

  Through the thick fog and smoke, Sateria walked toward her with Brutus and Tiberius in his wake.

  Winter looked at Sateria's face; her eyes were as pretty and perfect as jeweler-cut emeralds, yet beneath the veneer, she could feel the cold and hostile emanations.

  They both looked around at the collateral damage, the bodies strewn across the floor with crumpled metal and smoldering concrete from the building's structure and the smell of war cascading through the air.

  Winter watched Sateria turn to the four soldiers behind her. They were shouting something about orders to take the fugitive in themselves, by order of Lieutenant-Governor Clay. Sateria was far too interested in gloating to pay attention.

  "Take her to my ship. And..." Sateria looked back at the officers standing around with their weapons drawn. "Tell them we're leaving, and if they object, kill them all."

  Brutus smiled at Sateria, and like the parting of the waters, the officers bowed their heads, lowered their weapons and let Sateria and her party advance unimpeded.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.

  ― Friedrich Nietzsche

  Thunder rolled across the sky and streaks of lightning gave brightness to an otherwise blue and black night. The rain came down in a rush, like the god of war shed a tear for the fallen soldiers.

  Cayden's focus was across the old abandoned docking port, where the Cobra was parked in the shadows. He was the only thing keeping Rhys upright. His head leaned on his shoulder and he could smell the blood on Rhys’ breath; death stank.

  Tressa was standing behind him, eyes sullen and red, a walking zombie.

  The shuttle’s door slid open and Tressa moseyed across to it. Matrix was there to greet her and help her inside. He gave her a hug and looked down at her wrist. "Is this really necessary?”

  He turned back to Cayden, then his eyes traced to Rhys, seeing his injuries.

  "We need to get him into life support, now."

  Rhys smiled then laughed, and he took a deep labored breath. "Life support? Nah. Just your best whiskey."

  Rhys collapsed, falling to his butt, leaning against the wall.

  Cayden crouched in front of him and he observed the hole in his armor, the deep gash under his right ribs, the blood caked onto his shirt already turning black. Rhys’ eyes were misty, the light in them beginning to fade.

  "Don't die on me, Marine, you're going to be ok."

  Cayden pulled him to his feet, Rhys’ weakened body not able to offer much assistance. Cayden carried him through the ship and to the medical table. Matrix and Tressa came in behind him.

  Matrix grabbed a clear bag of vials and medicine, while Tressa just stared at Rhys’ body on the table. Tears streamed down her cheeks and Matrix turned to her.

  "Grab me the needles behind you."

  Tressa did as instructed.

  "This is all my fault, this is all my doing," she whispered to no one in particular, shaking her head.

  In a matter of minutes, Matrix had given Rhys five shots and put two different IVs into his arm.

  Rhys looked up at Cayden, his voice faint and raspy. "We did our job, Commander, but look what it cost? Now, you have an even more important job to do. Bring Winter home."

  Rhys’ eyes glossed over and closed, his head slumped to the side. Cayden glanced over at Matrix for answers.

  The life monitor had flatlined, but then a small beep appeared. Matrix shook his head.

  "I had to induce him into a coma; the machine is keeping him alive now, and I don't have to tell you he's in really bad shape." Matrix had both of his hands on the table, his head slumped below his shoulders.

  Cayden approached the table, rubbing his forehead against that of his friends.

  Tressa peeked over at Rhys, and she had a glossy, glazed look in her eyes.

  Cayden turned around, casting a nuclear glare at Tressa, his hand hovering over his thigh holster, hand on his gun. No one would blame him if he put a laser blast right between her eyes.

  Tressa took a step back, then took a deep breath and stepped forward.

  "Do what you must," she said, calmly.

  "Any reason why I shouldn't?"

  Tressa closed her eyes. "My daughter. I didn't know what else to do. Would you not do everything in your power to protect your child? It is my duty as a mother to make sure my child is safe."

  Cayden moved aggressively toward her. She backed up again until she hit the wall but he got an inch away from her face. He drew his arm back and swung, smashing the compartment an inch above her head.

  "Winter, I've lost her," Cayden said.

  He turned back around and looked at Rhys’ near lifeless body and thought about Winter, now a prisoner of the Global Union.

  A warning noise emitted from the ship’s speakers, a red light blinking rapidly overhead.

  "Someone is trying to make contact," Matrix sa
id.

  Matrix rushed to the ship’s cockpit. Cayden and Tressa followed.

  The words ALERT; IMPORTANT MESSAGE flashed in red across the cockpit's view screen.

  Matrix turned to Cayden. "Incoming message, what do you want me to do?"

  Cayden's hand went to his chin; he knew by answering, it could reveal their location.

  "Do you have the signal's source of origin?”

  Matrix glanced back at the viewscreen and nodded. "Affirmative. It's Winter's wrist-com."

  "Put it through," Cayden said, stepping closer to the screen.

  Matrix hit a few keys and the lifelike but toy-sized holographic image of Sateria emerged. She still looked as beautiful as the first day he saw her, but her smile was gone, replaced by a mask of hate and anger. Cayden knew he was the major source of her unabated rage.

  "This message is a directive from the United Federation of Globalized States. Bring the holo-cube and the soldier Tressa Ladovitch to my ship, and from there we will proceed to the Global Union headquarters in Region One. In exchange, I will release your soldier back into your company," Sateria said. "You have one hour to make a decision."

  The connection was instantly severed after she spoke her last words; she didn't even wait for an answer. A visual of the location where she would be waiting replaced her, and then everything disappeared at once.

  Cayden's face tightened; he had a clear duty to do, no matter what he felt about Winter. She was hopelessly lost; with Tressa and the Cube in custody, the Coalition was safe.

  Damn you, Tressa!

  Hard as it was, he would have to find another way to try and rescue her, but in all probability, he knew she’d be dead in a matter of hours if they hadn't tortured and killed her already.

  It would be up to him to contact headquarters and let them know the mission was a success, that Winter was captured and Rhys in a coma. They would do the rest; they would decide on the next best course of action. He knew none of them would involve the sanctioned rescue of Winter.