Standoff, p.63
Standoff, page 63
Trevor and Casey waited as we checked our packs and were ready to jump back in.
“You’re doing really great out there,” Trevor said.
“You think we’re in trouble though?” I asked.
Casey shook her head. “Doubt it. You damaged a couple of drones. I’m sure they’re used to that with practice off all the newbies coming in.”
“They’re getting more in?”
“Don’t you ever watch the news?” Trevor said. “But yes, the program at Ground School…well, we’re pleased to say that there’s a full hit enrolled, and a wait list too.”
Malaki let out a choked gasp, and Casey had to pat her back. “Why?”
“Janet Lester’s a hit reporting on you and your antics, alongside some leaked footage of a certain crew taking to the skies to defend Artem more recently.”
“Us?” I asked.
Casey grinned. “All of us. Our three squads have been spreading hope to all the others who might not have even thought of the skies or the DP program, till you came along.”
“They’ve seen some great reports,” Trevor added.
“Janet?” I vaguely recalled her name.
“Yes, she’s got some insight into you and us. I don’t know where from.”
“I do,” Apex said. “Janet’s Shay’s adoptive mother, just like Anada is.”
“They both adopted him and your brother?”
“This is good news. It means together we are all making a difference.”
There was a click in my ear, our teams command channel. “Back in the air, we need you to recon out towards the power plants,” General Canlas said.
I loved heading back this way, skirting the coast towards the power plants, the dam, the scenery with my X16 and X1 was perfect, and I scanned the horizon quickly taking it all in. Beach and sand on my right, greenery and trees to my left. The X16 and X1 were working in perfect harmony with a steady ten drones each out. It was nice, until it wasn’t.
I caught something out the corner of my view, then zoomed in and there…I spotted it.
“Drones all out,” I commanded. I almost fell out of my seat, disconnecting without a thought of jumping into the back. “Apex, hold them for me.” I needed my X1 for this.
“What the fuck?” Malaki screamed after me. But I was at the back of the helo and pushing to open our tailgate against complaints of our foot soldiers, till they all saw what I did, then there were gasps of horror.
The rush of air dropped our helo several feet, and I almost fell out. One of the guys caught me, and I dipped my head to them before looking outside with the X16 again.
“Report, Airman,” Malaki demanded. “Now.”
“Three-sixty turn,” I commanded sharply. “We’ve got company on the beach.”
“What?”
The helo banked, though, and my view changed. I slid to the doors to track its movement.
“What is it?” Justin said.
“Hesacha,” I replied gravely.
“You’re not joking?”
“No, I saw its trail.” I stared into the horizon. “There’s a small group of them.”
“We’ve got visual too.” Trevor said.
“Are you recording all of this?” Noel asked.
“X1’s recording,” I confirmed. I double-checked anyway, just to be sure. We couldn’t afford to miss any of this.
As the helo came about on the location, I strapped myself back into my seat. “Drone’s out,” I said. “Hold this course, then follow me. They haven’t heard us, so we’re above their range; let’s not blow it.”
“Copy,” Malaki reported.
“We don’t have permission to be out here,” Justin said.
“Then get it.” I glanced at the dashboard. “We’re busy.”
“Red7 to FC, we have sights on a hesacha pack. We’re inbound to track,” Justin reported.
My whole body exploded with goosebumps as our comms buzzed alive. “Flight Control to Red7, repeat.”
“We have a hesacha sighting. Tracking it now.”
“Reporting to command. Wait out.”
“There’s no way we are waiting on orders from above,” I declared, gripping the seats rests tighter. “Keep with me. We can’t let them go. How the fuck did they get inside the wall?”
“I don’t know.” Malaki bit her lip, eyes flickering over her HUD as she took stock of our ammo and fuel.
“Then we’ll at least figure that out.”
Malaki and Justin kept our helos high, out of sight and sound. Silao and I tasked four drones each for surveillance. The rest we kept awake but on hold, saving them for whatever was about to hit the fan. We followed the glowing mana trails of the hesacha pack inland and towards the forest. But…they neither set the trees on fire, nor came out the other side of the forest. Even with infrared tracking, they had just…vanished.
“We’ve good coverage, but we’ve lost them,” I reported to FC.
“How the hell did we lose them?” Silao shouted at me. “Taking more drones out.”
“Copy,” I responded, mirroring his actions, spreading as far out as possible as the helos scoured the area. Apex did too; we couldn’t have any more eyes in the sky than we did.
“Tally4 to Dizzy101, what’s happening?”
“We’ve lost them,” came her weary response. Though I saw the sheer frustration as she squeezed the cyclic, and I felt it from Apex too.
“Send us the coordinates, and we’ll take it from here.”
“We can land and go in on foot for a quick look?” Silao said.
“No, RTB, we’ll send in the Black Bears later. You all need to come home. We’ve something else for you to do.”
“This is—”
“This is more important, believe me,” the General interrupted firmly. “That’s an order, RTB.” What the hell could be more important?
“Yes, sir,” Malaki’s voice was resigned. “Turning now. Bring the drones in. We’re booking it back to base.”
“So we can get back out?”
“I don’t know, but my father doesn’t order unless there’s a reason. Something is up.”
I cursed but brought all but two drones back inside and closed the hold doors. Malaki sped us back to base, thoughts of hesacha inside the walls playing on our minds. Neither of us said a word.
As the dust settled after our landing, two lone figures were waiting for us. General Canlas, of course, and strangely, Elias.
“We had to put a rush on it,” Elias greeted us, wiping sweat from her brow. “But we have the new helo for you, the X101. We’re transporting her over now. We’ll swap out all your gear and drones for my new ones and fix the two you broke. You will have a full hit of forty-eight for you and Apex. Understand?”
I could do nothing but nod, dumbstruck. Our medics, gunners, and engineers split off to get restocked on all their respective gear.
“While Elias’s team handles the bird, we need to debrief.” The general’s stern gaze fell on us, his unyielding demeanor a hallmark of his rank. Even in the stark silence, the gravity of the situation echoed.
We trailed him, the metallic clank of our boots punctuating each step, off the platform and towards a nondescript building at the edge. He promptly led us to a small office nestled at the back.
Inside was CO O’Conner, along with retired Captain Xiang Yun.
“What’s going on?” Justin asked, and we traded glances.
“We’ll fill you in now, son. Please,” Captain Yun said, gesturing to the detailed map sprawled across the table, which held the attention of his daughter.
Approaching the table, a chill ran down my spine. The intricately detailed blueprint showcased Molsk and Sinnisters’ Canning Farm. The implications were instantly clear.
“Shit,” I muttered, feeling a weight settle in my chest. Of course, this was happening now.
“Exactly,” Captain Yun responded, his voice low and heavy. “I’m drafting you in because the Rhinos and Black Bears are tasked now with the hesacha. We have a little time, but our orders are to go in, hit hard, and take out Sinnisters’.”
“We have intel already from Wallace Farm that the drug’s bad. It not only makes the user complacent. It turns them completely dependent and angry. If it gets out it could have dire consequences,” Michaels said.
“My parents?” I could barely get the words out, my heart in my throat.
“Our Wallace informants say they’re already in the underground system,” General Canlas said. “We need to move in now and fast.”
Together, we delved into the intricacies of the map. Captain Yun outlined the strategy: a full-blown assault before the impending drug shipment.
“M-Corp has orders for you to bring in those responsible for it,” Captain Yun said.
“That shouldn’t be a problem. You tag them, we’ll bring them in. After all, we’re mostly supporting, right? We’re not actually on the ground to do anything.” Justin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“All your drones will be needed,” Captain Yun emphasized. “You’ll have to watch all areas of the farm.”
“That’s a lot of farms,” Malaki said.
“You have mastered all the drones, haven’t you?” General Canlas studied me intently.
I looked at him and then to Malaki, and to O’Conner, then to Captain Yun. “I’m not sure how long we can hold them for,” I said.
“I can recall the Black Bears,” O’Conner said.
“No, no.” I shook my head. “We can’t afford to pull anyone from the wall or from the hesacha. We’ll do it but be aware we can’t operate at full capacity forty-eight drones. This is for short bursts only. That means only if we get into some serious trouble, it puts us both under extreme pressure.”
Captain Yun and General Canlas traded glances. “Agreed, we’ll adjust for it. Thank you for your honesty.”
“When do we move?” Malaki asked.
“We’ll give you time to rest,” Canlas said with softness only his daughter had seen before. “We know you’ve had a full-on day of practice.”
“We have,” Justin added. “The rest will be needed.”
“Is there anything else you require?” Captain Yun asked.
With memories of Bisan’s advice in mind, I replied, “The best regenerative nites and drinks you can get us. Speak with Bisan, he’ll let you know what we might need, and we’ll need some medical equipment.”
“Medical?” the general asked, his eyebrow raised. “Are you planning on getting hurt?”
Malaki laughed. “At this point? Yes, but Bisan can tell you his ideas, and then we can sort it for the mission.”
“Okay, you go, rest. We’ll pick this back up in twenty-four hours. Then leave the following night, first dark,” Canlas stood.
“Dismissed,” O’Conner ordered, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
We left, Apex summarizing the meeting in a message for the rest of our teams.
“It’ll be good to run backup for Li Yun,” said Malaki. “I’d rather you boys run your new drone sets like that than with the hesacha.”
“That’s one big-ass helo to land near that farm,” I said.
“You’re not kidding,” Justin whistled. “It’s not exactly the quietest thing either. When that comes in, the whole area will be shaking.”
“They know what they’re doing,” Malaki said, leaning on him.
“Yeah,” I grunted in agreement, though dread gnawed at my insides. The ramifications of the drug infiltrating the food chain could be catastrophic.
This could go wrong so very fast. If any of that drug got into the food supply, it could be devastating for everyone who relied on it and those who worked in the area. But on the other hand—We were finally going to get Mom and Tsomak out.
We can get Pim too, and the boy, Apex murmured, the faint sense of tentative hope washing from him to me.
“Let’s grab some food and a few drinks, and sleep,” I said.
“We really need to be rested for this.”
“I agree,” Silao said. He’d been quiet during the debrief, nursing a DP headache, but the prospect of food had him popping back up.
“Anders?” they all asked at the same time.
“Anders.” I couldn’t help but laugh at them. “Burgers from him would hit the spot just right.”
We headed off, and I was more than excited to see him after this short period, hoping there would be news on many other levels. Mira and Asan were top of my list.
The closer we drew to the bar, though, I knew something was off. There were no lights.
“Malaki,” I said. “Something is wrong.”
She looked away from her conversation with Justin and stopped walking to hold back.
“How many times have you known Anders to close the bar?” Justin asked.
“Only a few things would make him close up,” Malaki added.
“You should head home,” I said, stepping forward.
“You’re not going anywhere near there without us,” Malaki said. “What—”
“Justin, take her home.” I held my hand up. “You’re not coming anywhere near that. This is my mess.”
“You’re not alone,” Silao protested.
Gratitude swelling within, I gently urged him away. “I know I’m not. But go. I will come to you all as soon as I know things are okay. This I have to do on my own.”
“You promise?” Malaki asked, looking about to break out of Justin’s grip.
“I promise. Go get some food and rest.”
“You need to rest, too,” Silao advised. “We need you in top form for this next job.”
I nodded at him and moved toward the bar. Only when I drew in closer did I turn to make sure they’d really left me. Then I knocked at the bar’s front door.
Silence.
I knocked once more.
66-Shay
Time blurred as the hours turned into days and days into weeks.
Every day, like clockwork, Kristof would take Shay out of his suffocating lab for a mere hour. That was all he got to walk around as the older teen kept him updated on his plans and how far along they were.
Kristof was unhinged, his madness evident in his eyes. It was clear as day.
The working conditions of those inside this facility shocked Shay the deeper he went. Kristof had shown him the best of the facility the first few days, the printing labs for M-Corp and those who were rich, those who could pay the price of anything for the products Sinnisters’ grew. Shay remembered the enticing aroma of rare meats they’d flaunt. Now he knew what the massive air ducts he’d seen were for. They processed the smell of cooking meat so it wouldn’t drive those who worked there insane. Only those who had complete trust were allowed in these labs. They were the best-kept and best-paid of Sinnisters’ employees. They had their apartment blocks attached to these facilities, which were luxurious compared to measly room Shay and Anada had shared.
His current predicament was being forced into assisting the erratic Kristof with coding for the labs. Every ounce of Shay’s effort was poured into gaining Kristof’s trust. His fingers would tremble as he delicately worked his way through securing a network to Anada. The mere thought of communicating with her after the agonizing isolation made his vision blur with tears. A weight of sorrow pressed against him as Pim nudged him. Shay’s arms wrapped tightly around him.
“I’m so sorry.” His voice was barely a whisper as he stroked the walrat’s hair.
“You don’t need to be sorry,” Pim’s soft voice replied.
Desperation pushing him, Shay tapped on Ananda’s contact. His heart raced. No matter her situation, he had to reach her. But again, as always, his HUD flashed red as it failed to connect. He longed for the comforting embrace of his mother, and Pim was sick with worry about his own, not knowing if she got out okay.
First, Shay needed to secure a network for him and Anada. Doing that while working with Kristof was one of the hardest things he had ever done. But now, today, he’d accomplished it. He tapped her contact again and finally, finally, it flashed green.
“Anada?” His voice quivered with hope.
Her reply was a gasp of joy. “Shay! Gods, where have you been?”
“I’m trying to get to see you, but I can’t.” Shay’s voice faltered, a knot in his throat. “I finally worked this out, but I don’t know how long the secure network will last.”
“Kristof said you were with him.” Anada didn’t seem too worried. “He was working with you on something?”
“I am. It’s not good, Mom…” Shay paused, his voice cracking. “Mom, you need to leave. As soon as you can.”
“We can’t leave,” she said. “You need—”
“—No, you need to get out,” he pleaded, panic edging his words.
“Kristof’s been making you seem like a saint,” Anada continued, unbothered. “We’ve been getting better food down here, something they’ve been trialing.”
Shay swallowed. He knew the food they were getting. “Don’t eat it, please,” he said. “Take from the other stalls.”
“But I’ve never felt better,” she countered. “I’m finally putting the weight we’ve lost back on. This is a good move.”
“No, no, it’s not,” Shay begged. “It’s a trap. Mom. Please, believe me.”
Her next words were daggers. “Shay, I can’t pass this up. I was starving. We’re all starving here.”
Fuck! He started to beg, but Anada wasn’t having any of it. “Don’t you know how much this will mean to us down here?”
It was terrifying. Anada was sharp, and she knew Shay well enough to trust him when he said something was wrong. But she had to have been eating the food for days now, and her edge and alertness were gone. She sounded happy, and it sent chills down Shay’s spine.
“Okay, Mom, just please promise me you’ll look after yourself. I’ll work here to ensure we get good positions and can move up the ladder.” Shay squeezed his eyes shut, fighting to remain calm.
My mom…Pim nudged Shay’s check.
I’m sorry, I can’t ask. We can’t trust Anada right now. Shay felt like his heart was breaking.
