Worldkiller, p.22
Worldkiller, page 22
part #7 of Variant Series
"Any idea how many?"
He shook his head. "We're not certain. Hundreds, at least."
I nodded, forgoing any further questions, knowing now wasn't the time. I seemed to have a habit of losing my focus, just a little bit, when around the likes of Kira, assuming she'd spot any danger coming. But, that wasn't necessarily the case. It was down to all of us to look out for trouble, not just her.
The route from Catfish's shop, toward the derelict portion of the city where we entered the sewers, however, was quiet. It had once been a hotspot in the fighting between Northbank and the VLA, but no longer. We sped quickly through the empty, broken streets, flanked by crumbling, abandoned buildings, and soon arrived at the sewers. As always, the necessary scans and checks were performed before we entered, to make sure the coast was clear.
We moved carefully through the labyrinthine series of tunnels unhindered, and soon arrived at the exit into the outer ruins and abandoned suburbs that once made up the vast lands of Greater London. The air was immediately purer out here, further from the factories and populated areas at the heart of the city. And in the silence, I immediately picked up the sound of movement, my audio enhancer noting the rumbling of engines coming from down the street.
I turned to the others to warn them, but found that Kira was one step ahead of me, her ears even more sensitive to sound than my advanced audio tracking technology.
"Jeeps," she whispered, nodding toward the ruins of a house to the side.
We rushed immediately for cover, slipping inside and behind the semi-broken walls of an old living room, looking out through gaps and breaches in the crumbling edifice. It took a minute or so before the jeeps appeared, detected early as they were, rumbling past in a convoy of half a dozen vehicles.
"More reinforcements?" I asked, whispering as the jeeps passed by. "This road leads toward Southbank, doesn't it?"
Harkin nodded. "There's a large checkpoint not too far to the north of here," he said, "protecting the way into the city above ground. Could be reinforcements, or merely a standard patrol."
"Large for a patrol," noted Ford. "Perhaps some of the other garrisons and bases along the coast are supplying smaller groups of reinforcements as well."
"That would make sense," said Kira, as the rumbling jeeps began moving off up the road, quietening a little. "Better to spread the supply of soldiers across multiple bases, than send them all from a single place."
"We'll have to be careful, in that case," said Ford. "There might be more patrols like this, still heading north from the south coast. Here we have cover, but there won't be so much beyond the ruins."
"No, but these jeeps are easy to spot, especially during the night," Kira said. "They're loud and bright. We'll be able to avoid them easily enough."
We waited for a minute or so longer, before heading off once more, continuing through the ruins to the southeast. We continued slowly, still aware of the threat of Reapers and hidden enemies here, before the ruins gradually began to ease and lighten, revealing the rolling lands beyond.
Further from the city, the skies cleared, the once polluted air crisp and clear out here. Above, the clouds were sparse and light across the firmament, the moon shining down upon us, the stars brightly lit. The collapse of the old world had been a catastrophe for humankind, but for the natural world, the benefits were vast. The skies were no longer clogged. Animals battling at the edge of extinction had seen their numbers proliferate. Lands once dominated by cities and vast human populations had once again been recaptured by nature.
Take away our human bias and it was hard to deny that the decimation of our world had been a good thing. Perhaps that's what my ancestor, the Worldkiller, wanted? I wondered idly, as we moved across the open hills and plains, passing further ruins, speeding toward the bunker. Perhaps he recognised the fact that humans were a plague on this planet, and sought to redress the balance, give nature back the world we'd stolen from her?
I liked the thought, and certainly preferred it to the narrative that Henry Vance had spun; that the Worldkiller had sought to destroy the world to create better conditions in which Variants could thrive. That he believed us to be the next stage in human evolution, ready to inherit the world from our predecessors.
Whatever the truth of it, what that ancient telepath did amounted to the greatest crime in human history, his actions leading to the deaths of billions of people. His ideology and reasoning, however you looked at it, could never be condoned. But, perhaps with the hindsight that the long centuries had now given us, we could look at his actions as having a positive impact. From his great sins had sprung a more healthy, verdant, populated planet, the reduction in human numbers leading to a great bloom in other ecological life.
He'd been given the name Worldkiller, but really, he'd brought it back to life. And whatever his motivations truly were, however dreadful his actions, at least some good had come from what he did. And it comforted me, in some small way, to think that was his intention, all along.
Not to kill the world, but breathe life back into it. To get on his knees and perform CPR on a planet whose very heart was failing.
I clung to that thought as I looked across the beautiful hills, the littered ruins covered in shrubs and trees, the patches of life that had grown from the foundations of the artificial world we'd built.
No, I could never forgive what the man did, but at least, using this rationale, I could come to understand it. And in that, I found solace.
In that, I found peace.
23
We took a little over five hours to reach the bunker base, our progress occasionally slowed by the sight of nearby convoys or smaller regional outposts, forcing us to divert our course around them or stop until the enemy passed. Mostly, however, we moved at speed, jogging quickly when in the open, covering the thirty five mile distance at a reasonable rate.
The bunker itself was, as you'd expect, concealed underground, set nearby the ruins of a once-reasonably sized town, which had now given birth to an area of rich vegetation. Outside the bunker, and marking its location, were the remains of an old country mansion. It was mostly worn down to a stump now, though its foundations were still visible, showing how large the property had once been, fit with backyard swimming pool and tennis court. Both of which, of course, were only just about visible through the moss and tangled shrubs that now covered them.
Harkin led us around the side of the mansion, through the overgrown gardens, and toward an old stone outbuilding. Like the house, it was barely intact, though two of the four walls and part of the ceiling were still standing. Inside, hidden under the cover of some tarpaulins, I saw a couple of vehicles parked out of sight. Elsewhere, were some old metal shelves and gardening tools. Cobwebs, spiders, and dead flies covered the corners and walls.
It was, however, the heart of the outbuilding that was of primary interest, where a circular hatch was situated. We stood around it for a few moments, before I heard latches being unfastened below, and the door open vertically up, folding over to one side.
The face of Ingrid, of all people, appeared, narrow eyes glaring at us. She grunted, then disappeared back down the short ladder leading into the bunker below.
"A warm welcome, as always," remarked Ford with a grin.
We descended the ladder, one by one, entering a short stone corridor. At the end, a door opened out into a surprisingly large and well fitted space, with a number of other doors and areas branching off from it. The ceilings weren't high - and certainly, someone like Ares would probably get a stiff neck living here - but overall the place was a great deal larger than I'd have thought.
In the central area, Scissors and my mother awaited. Along with Ingrid, they seemed to be the only two people there, sitting over at a little control area established within the main chamber. And, as was common practice in the VLA, there were multiple security feeds set up too, showing the old mansion and surrounding area, alerting those watching to any incoming threats. Or, in our case - we'd called from Catfish's shop earlier to tell them we were coming - the arrival of allies.
I moved immediately in and gave my mother a hug. "How are you, mum?"
She smiled and nodded. "Good. Yes good." She seemed lively, given the early hour. With all that was happening, I supposed she wasn't likely to get much sleep. "Do you have time for a quick tour?" she asked me, eyes hopeful.
I turned to Harkin, knowing this was only meant to be a quick pit stop.
"You have a couple of minutes," he said, overhearing us. "And then we'll need to go. Ares said he's planning on attacking before six. That's less than an hour away and it will likely take us some time to reach the coast, even with one of the jeeps."
"We'll be quick, Victor," said my mother, ushering me immediately away through the main chamber, explaining a few things as she went. "So, this is the main communal living space," she said. "Usually, some of the operatives are over in the control area, but because we're the only ones here right now, Edward and I are keeping watch. Through there," she went on, pointing to a side door near the control area, "is a store room where Edward's little lab is set up. It's not huge, but is quite well outfitted."
"Have you started making more of the vaccine yet?" I asked.
"Oh yes," she said, nodding. "There's no rest for the wicked around here. Everyone's always up to something."
"So you've met the others then? What do you think of them?"
"Oh, well, where do I even start," she said, letting out a sort-of overwhelmed laugh. "I haven't met them all, because they've been coming and going on operations, but I've had a couple of conversations with some of them." She thought for a moment, trying to remember names perhaps. "Cash, I've spoken with him. Very kind young man, and so handsome too. He's often at the command post from what I've seen."
"Yeah, that's one of his main functions," I said, smiling at the thought of her integrating into this crazy world I now belonged to. "He's also one of our best scouts."
"Yes, of course. Like Columbus." She smiled at the name, probably thinking it quite outlandish. "I like him too. He sought me out to make sure I was OK when I first came here yesterday night. Lovely man. And so interesting. And his brother, he's also very pleasant."
"Marcus," I said, wondering how the two brothers were getting along.
"Right, yes," my mother went on, as we continued through the large living space. "Very young for a captain. It's been fascinating watching your father too, commanding all these troops. And that Ares. My word, you weren't wrong about him, Paige. I have no intuition like Variants do, but even I can sense the aura of power around the man."
I had to laugh. For years, nothing had excited my mother, at least nothing that wasn't related to tea. It was great to hear her talk like this, to detect that strain of life and hope in her voice. And, perhaps it was my imagination, but her cheeks even looked less hollow already, filling out as though nourished by the positive turn her life had finally taken.
I glanced back, as the others continued to take a short breather, hearing the latest updates from Scissors before setting off. A minute must have already passed. We didn't have much time.
"Anyone else, then?" I asked. "What about Murtagh and Blair and Amber?"
"Oh yes, I've met them all," she said, showing me another room. This one was a well fitted kitchen, with plenty of space to prepare food for a relatively large group of people. "I remember Maeve, actually, from before. She was young then, but that red hair of hers is hard to forget. I will have met Blair too when she was just a baby. I do recall Victor having a granddaughter who wouldn't stop crying."
"Some things never change, then," I said. "Blair never stops talking."
She laughed, nodding along, almost...effervescent in her manner and mood. "Yes. Doesn't quite take after her grandfather there, grumpy as Victor can be." She grinned, looking back at him. "Her mother, though, was the same. Chatty and razor sharp with her tongue."
"Right," I said. "I...I don't really know much about Blair's parents. I got the impression she doesn't like to talk about it."
"No, I can't imagine she would. They were both killed when she was young, I think. She never really knew them."
And here I am, I thought, with both of my parents alive and well. I don't appreciate how lucky I have it sometimes. So many others have lost parents and loved ones. I've been strangely fortunate in that way.
Behind us, a grumbling voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to look at Harkin and the others. "Paige," our leader said, tapping his watch. "We really do need to get moving soon. I'll give you another minute while we get the car started. We'll see you up top. Don't be long."
He moved away with Ford and Kira, Ingrid seeming intent on chaperoning them wherever they went as though they were up to no good.
My mother took my arm, drawing me quickly toward another room, seeming keen to complete the tour before I left.
"Jeez, how big is this place?" I asked, as we entered a large, barrack-like chamber, low-ceilinged, but fitted with bunk beds to house at least forty people.
"Yes, it's quite sizeable, isn't it?" mum said, seeming to relish the fact that she had been here first, and knew something I didn't. "Apparently the person who once owned the mansion here built this before the collapse, when global tensions started heating up. I can't work out if they just really liked having lots of space, had a very large family, or were planning to invite others to join them down here."
She grinned to herself, showing me another, similar room, able to house many others. The place was a continual surprise, and had, I assumed, being retrofitted and updated by the VLA when they discovered and started using it.
Conscious of the time, however, I gave any further rooms a quick, cursory look, before easing my way back toward the entrance. My mum's energy deflated just a little. I imagined that she wanted me to stay, though wasn't going to actively say it now that she'd turned over a new leaf.
"I need to go," I said to her, as Scissors gave me a little wave from the side, sitting at the security station. "Have they told you what's going to happen after, when the army arrive?"
She glanced over at Scissors.
"They haven't told us much," squeaked the youngster. "Depends where the army makes camp, right, when they get here?" He shook his head. "We're just getting settled here and, what, now we have to relocate again? It's very inconsiderate, isn't it, Mrs Adler."
My mother didn't answer, as I pulled her into a quick hug. "Gotta go, anyway," I said. "Whatever happens, you'll all be taken care of. Just keep working on the vaccine for now.'
"Yes, ma'am," Scissors said, giving me a crisp military salute. "Looks like Harkin's got competition for leader. Your daughter's a natural, Pat."
I left at that, no longer having to wonder how long it would take Scissors to start using my mum's first name. As I rushed away, I saw her sighing and shaking her head at him.
Imagine it, I thought. Locked down here with Scissors for company. Perish the thought.
I chuckled to myself, as I passed Ingrid, who stood guard at the bottom of the ladder, waiting for me to leave so she could lock the door above. I said nothing to her and she said nothing to me, an arrangement she seemed to have with most people, and one she clearly preferred.
From above, I could hear the light sound of an engine running. The jeep came into view as I climbed back up into the outbuilding, the jeep now waiting just outside. I sped immediately toward it, as I heard the hatch shut tight, and climbed into the back seat next to Kira.
"Sorry," I said. "I've never seen my mum so talkative. It was hard to get away."
"That's all right, Paige," said Harkin, gesturing for Ford to get going. The car began moving off into the night, the ride smooth, the engine quiet. "We should have given ourselves enough time to get there."
I sat back, as the car glided through the gardens, and away toward the open fields. It was spacious inside, sturdily build, and well armoured. From the brief glance I got of it before climbing in, it looked capable of handling a variety of terrain and operating well off-road.
"Is this a modified custodian jeep?" I asked, looking around the interior.
Ford nodded, sitting right ahead of me. "Yeah," he said. "We've modified it to make it as quiet as possible, and it's got some old stealth tech installed on the exterior. Nothing like the car that Brutus escaped Neorome in, but still, decent enough, especially in low light conditions."
"So long as we keep off the roads," Harkin added, "it should allow us to avoid being spotted."
"Right," I said.
"And what about Brutus, then?" asked Kira, sitting comfortably in the back seat next to me. "Has that snake slithered away with his spawn yet?"
"You mean this spawn?" I asked, quickly drawing up an illusion of Artemia, and activating her voice. "How could you call me that, Kira? I thought we were friends?"
She recoiled. "Oh, stop it," she said. "That's uncanny, Paige. You've even got her horrible little mannerisms down."
I removed the illusion, leaving my own grin behind. "Sorry, couldn't resist."
"To answer your question, Kira," said Harkin, "I don't know what's happening with Brutus. He asked for Artemia to be delivered after three days, and unless I'm mistaken, it's only been two. So, she will have to be delivered some time later today, which might be more tricky now that the army is readying to invade."
"Yes, well Dom probably just had his soldiers take her to the location earlier this morning," Kira said, sounding displeased at the idea. "She can wait for Brutus there. Or, ideally, she'll be picked up by some roving band of raiders before he can even arrive."
Or, more likely, Brutus is already there waiting, I thought.
That was the reason, after all, that he'd given himself that three day window before his daughter was delivered. He clearly wanted to be there early, rather than risk getting there late, leaving her vulnerable and alone while she waited.
