Loyalty: Old Mans Comeback Book 5, page 18
“That would be foolish.” Frada sat down. “If we’re divided…”
“Oh yes, I know that. The trouble they don’t. They’ve been too long suspicious of others. And who should blame them, eh?” Cade drew a deep breath. “Their entire culture is gone.”
“You’re in the same position.”
Cade smirked. “Yes, well… I’ve caused plenty of trouble. Possibly because of my loss. I don’t know. I suppose I’m making amends. The best I can.”
“I’ll do what I can to help.” Frada touched his shoulder. “Now… should we run a test? See if we can reach the Hostel?”
“That’s not the test. We need to watch the console carefully and ensure it is only received by those we want to receive it.”
“You can do that?”
Cade nodded. “With the Kultarin technology, we can do a great deal. The same way Sorsha found my location. We have sensors that can see a great deal between the satellites. And we deployed one near enough to the Hostel to ensure security. I doubt they even know about it.”
“I didn’t.”
“But you were mostly just a trader by the time it mattered.” Cade gave him a sidelong glance. “Correct?”
“Well…” Frada’s cheeks darkened. “I suppose that’s accurate.”
“Alright, I’ve stalled enough.” Cade initiated the request. “Let’s hope The Concierge is paying attention. I don’t want some random person to pick it up there. More importantly, I doubt they’ve found their traitor.”
“I’m surprised you don’t know who it is?”
“I dealt with the daughter. I have no idea who she worked with or spoke to. She claimed to have quite the network. But I also got the impression she may not have been the wisest when it came to the people she confided in.”
“She did try to kill me and Torma with some bruisers. There were likely more where they came from.”
“If only I could recall more of our conversations. I know the substance, but not the specifics. So much of my…” Cade hummed. “Darker side? I suppose we go with that. It’s fuzzy. Difficult to break through the fog of the mind.”
“Should we say something?”
“The computer is requesting a secure connection,” Cade said. “When The Concierge accepts, then we’ll have voice comms. Until then, there’s no point in exposing ourselves through voice recognition.”
“You think the Mahshi are that sophisticated?”
“I know for a fact they are,” Cade replied. “Because I’ve supplied them with hints as well. Some of their best finds came from me. And they have the capacity to do a great deal. What specifically, that’s harder to say. But I won’t make the mistake of underestimating them regardless.”
“Alright.” Frada stood. “I’ll get us something to drink while we wait. Do you think it’ll be long?”
“No more than an hour. Plenty of time to have something hot though. If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, Cade.” Frada touched his shoulder before walking out. “I’ll be back soon.” The satellites were nearly finished. They’d have fifteen of them ready to transport back to the Hostel in the next twelve hours.
Anyone wanting to take them on would have to think twice. There wouldn’t be another attack without consequences. And Frada appreciated the opportunity to be one of the men responsible for creating that obstacle.
Chapter 26
VasCorp Facility, Nevada
Sorsha Ritaktha
Gia brought them down low, parking directly in front of the destroyed doors of the facility. Fortunately, the unconscious bodies of the soldiers were far enough away to not be obstacles, though the rush of the engines did knock a few of them about.
Sorsha stood, rushing through the ship down to the cargo area. The ramp dropped, revealing the darkness of the empty space dead ahead. She held her breath in anticipation, and a few moments later, the Box came soaring from the depths of the lift shaft.
“It’s here!” Sorsha shouted.
“We can attempt to tractor it in,” Gia said, “though I must say, it’s possible the beam is too big and may drag debris with it.”
“I’ll just get it.” Sorsha hustled down the ramp. The Box tapped the ceiling, then began to descend toward the edge. It approached. She reached, leaning out far enough to where she did not want to look down.
Her fingers brushed the device. Sorsha swiped it again, this time getting a firm grip on one of the clamps.
It pulled her off her feet, bringing out a quick yelp, which turned into a real scream when it seemed likely it would drag her out into the center of the lift.
“Whoa!” Torma’s voice shouted behind her. He grabbed her legs, dragging her back. As she and the Box came back over solid ground, one of the clamps disengaged, dropping to the floor. “You guys weren’t kidding. I don’t even want to think about how heavy this is if that just happened.”
“Get it aboard!” Sorsha dragged it, practically running. They moved up the ramp as another clamp dropped. “Just a little further!” Once they cleared the ramp, she shoved it into the floor. “Help me get the rest of them off. We don’t need this thing floating around.”
“No doubt.” Torma helped her. “I can’t even imagine it turning into a projectile in here.”
“Exactly.” Sorsha backed away as the last of the clamps came free. She put them in a nearby crate, then turned to it. “I can’t believe it. Gia! We’ve got it! We’ve got everything we need!”
“The mission is nearly complete,” Gia replied. “Where is Jake?”
Torma turned. “He’s at the stairs, waiting for Flip to get up here.”
“Hurry!” Sorsha pressed her fingers against her earpiece. “Flip, can you read me? You need to pick up the pace! We’re good to go, it’s time to leave!”
She didn’t get a response.
“He’s not answering.” Sorsha turned to Torma. “Can you check?”
“Yeah, I’ll be right back.” Torma rushed away.
Gia announced, “Those fast-moving aircraft are making a move.”
“Flip needs to hurry.” Sorsha sighed. “Are we ready to deal with them?”
“Yes, though from the ground may cause considerable harm.”
“They’re not giving us a lot of choice.” Sorsha paced. “Come on, Flip! We don’t need last second heroics today!”
***
VasCorp Facility, Nevada
Raymond “Flip” Kinnely
After four stories, the comm came back online. Flip’s companion huffed, carrying on like he might pass out. He didn’t want to have to carry the guy up three more stories, though it might’ve made things quicker.
“You’re only halfway here,” Torma said, “what happened?”
“This guy has to get some help,” Flip replied, “for his family and the people underground here. Did you get the Box up there?”
“It’s aboard,” Torma confirmed. “We’re just waiting on you, pal. Then we’re out of here. Prize and all.”
“Thank God.” Flip paused to sling the scientist over his shoulder. The additional weight made stair climbing far less fun. “You hear those engines, Jake?”
“I do.”
“They’re getting damn close.”
“I know,” Jake replied, “and if you don’t get up here before they attack…”
“There’s no way they’re going to start dropping bombs or something. Not when they have no clue what’s in the facility.” Though he couldn’t trust that Morley might act against his own interests. Detonating the facility might be easier to lie about than the idea that the Box had been taken.
“Wouldn’t be so sure.”
“Get aboard the ship,” Flip ordered. “Both of you.”
“Sir…” Jake protested, “we can wait here for you. Help with that guy or—”
“There’s no point,” Flip said. “Just get back to the ship. I’ll make it aboard. It won’t be long. You’re just risking yourselves for no reason.” He rounded the second to the last of the stairs. “Besides, I’m almost there.” The engines from the fighters closed in, making the ground rumble. “Hurry!”
“No… time…” The scientist muttered. “We’re… not going to… make it.”
“Shut up,” Flip grunted. “We’re fine. It’s just another few moments.” They made it to the top of the stairs.
Flip sprinted for the exit. A gun went off, two quick bursts that splashed against Flip’s shield while climbing his body. A huff from the scientist didn’t sound good, even as Flip spun in place, dropping to the floor.
His burden had been shot in the head, killed in an instant. Flip shoved the body away while readying his weapon. He only needed to go a little further. The ship was right there. But at least two of the stunned individuals outside woke up. They unloaded in his direction, laying down suppressive fire.
“They’re shooting?” Sorsha cried. “How did they wake up? Gia! Prepare to shoot them again!”
“No!” Flip ordered. “I don’t think all of them can take a second blast. Just… leave it to me. I’ll make my way there.” He climbed to his feet, stumbling on one of the artificial gravity clamps. A bullet caught him in the head as he tried to retain his balance, causing his ears to ring.
Flip felt dazed, surprised by what happened, but more to the point, totally confused. As he fell to his side, he realized he’d survived being shot in the forehead. The shield worked well. But it had to have been a stray shot, or the luckiest aim he’d encountered in a long time. He’d been in motion, on his way to the ground.
Voices screamed in his ears. Flip couldn’t respond. He felt like he needed to take a moment to appreciate his fortune. “I’m not dead…” He muttered. “And that’s kind of a miracle.”
The roar of fighter engines interrupted all other noise. Flip knew what was coming. He acted on autopilot, rolling back toward the antigravity clamp. He brought it online, tapping the panel until the light turned blue.
A high-pitched screaming sound pierced the air. Turret fire from the Ilsin erupted next. The world began to shake violently. Flip got a firm grip on the clamp, then rolled off the edge of the lift, slowly sailing toward the bottom. The thought of having to climb those stairs again weighed on his gut, but he had a bad feeling it wouldn’t matter.
Flames erupted through the entrance above him. The men on the ground, the ones the Ilsin stunned, all had to be dead. They’d been incinerated in seconds by the attack. More explosions sounded overhead as planes went down.
Heat rushed down the shaft. Flip’s feet touched the floor. He dashed into the nearest room, then slammed the door shut. A sound of wind rumbled outside as debris clattered onto the lift. Something particularly big slammed into the floor nearby, the concussion of which threw him off his feet.
Flip landed hard on his stomach, all the air rushing from his lungs as he finally checked out.
Chapter 27
VasCorp Facility, Nevada
Sorsha Ritaktha
Bombs dropped all around them, obliterating the courtyard. Shields held firm, protecting the Ilsin, though the same could not be said of the other vehicles. And the bodies. They were gone in an instant. Life signs wiped out in seconds.
The entrance to the facility was smashed, bringing down the remaining walls and ceiling. A deep grumbling sound rose from far below them, a response of the planet to the assault. The noise even made its way into the ship, the concussion from the detonated bombs reverberating through its bones.
“How?” Sorsha asked. “We didn’t even get a chance to strike!”
“My fault,” Gia said. “My assessment suggested the bombs would take longer to reach their targets. That they would need to be closer. That was not the case. Also, they are still on approach. Though I’m not sure if there’s a reason for them to attack again.”
Sorsha turned in her seat. “Did Flip get aboard?”
“No!” Torma shouted. “No, he didn’t quite make it!”
“Nor did the scientist,” Jake added. “I saw the guy get blasted in the face. Just before Torma closed the ramp.”
“Might’ve saved us.” Torma arrived on the bridge with Jake in tow. “How bad is the damage?”
Sorsha brought it up on the tactical screen. “Look. Look what happened.”
“It’s…” Torma grimaced. “It’s been crushed. The facility… it’s come down. Oh no… you don’t think… it couldn’t have all collapsed.”
“It did not,” Gia said, “and there are still life signs down there. Getting out will be a challenge. I need to calculate the force it’ll take to open a hole for Flip to escape.”
“Is that possible?” Sorsha clenched her fist. “We’ll have to move quickly.” She checked the comm. “Flip? Can you hear me?”
“Vitals suggest unconsciousness.” Gia hummed. “I hope he wakes up before the other people in his area do. It won’t be pleasant if he finds himself at the wrong end of a bunch of angry civilians.”
“With guns,” Jake added. “Don’t forget that. How long will the shield stay active on him?”
“Indefinitely,” Sorsha said. “Mostly.”
“What’s that mean?” Jake threw his arms up, pacing way.
“That he’s fine,” Sorsha snapped. “At least in that regard. Gia, bring up the architectural design of this bunker. See if there’s another way out. Some kind of safety passage or something.” The fighters started coming back.
“Do you think they know we’re down here?” Jake asked. “Like… if they dropped bombs, they might know. Since you know… this section where we’re at won’t be blackened.”
“A good point,” Gia said. “We should evacuate the area, and come back when we’re ready to hit the spot. I could hit it with our main cannon. The key is to ensure we don’t cause additional damage. Life-threatening damage, I mean.”
“You just gotta blow up some rubble,” Jake replied. “How hard would that be?”
“There’s a lot,” Sorsha said, “and if we do it wrong, it might destroy the stairs. The lift’s out, even if we restored the power. At least, that’s my feeling. Launch. We’ll continue our scans at an altitude those planes can’t reach.”
Gia replied, “Disembarking.” The ship launched, immediately climbing. Jake and Torma took seats.
“You sure?” Torma asked. “Because this might…”
“I’m not,” Sorsha interrupted. “I don’t know if this is a good idea, or a bad one. I’m not abandoning him. But we need some space to operate.” She stared at the computer. “Those vehicles are on their way back. And they have much to account for… killing all those men.”
Jake muttered, “There aren’t even any bodies left of those people. No one will know what happened here. If we don’t expose it somehow, then they’re free and clear. Just like every other time they’ve committed an atrocity.”
Torma gestured outside. “This is normal?”
“For VasCorp?” Jake nodded. “Sure. They’re not decent. They do terrible things all the time.” He rubbed his face. “I’d say those clowns have gotten away with more shady nonsense than we could even start to describe. No, they’re dangerous bastards. And if we don’t get Flip out of there soon, they might have him.”
“Not for long,” Sorsha said. “I’m showing great restraint right now, but I won’t do so for long. If we have to do something drastic to get him back, we will.”
Torma asked, “Will he be okay with it?”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.” Sorsha turned back to the computer. “Now, give me a moment, please. I need to focus on what comes next.” She had no idea, but decided to trust Gia. They’d open the means for Flip to escape. Providing he was in the condition to flee the place in time.
***
VasCorp LA Headquarters
Terrence Morley
Whitby reached out. Terrence snatched up the phone, slamming it to his head so hard it felt like someone slapped him. “Go ahead,” he snapped. “What happened?”
“The site was leveled,” Whitby said. “They hit it hard. We’re assuming much of the lower levels were spared, but the top has been crushed. Probably the first two floors. The strike teams we sent are most certainly dead. And likely quite a few of the people down in the bunker as well.”
“Do we know if they got it?” Terrence pressed. “I need to know how much trouble we’re in here, Captain.”
“I can’t say, sir. I have no way of getting in there, of course. And an initial assessment suggests it would take days, possibly weeks to dig it out safely.”
