E-Day III: Dark Moon (E-Day Trilogy Book 3), page 14
For Elan, for their mother, and for all the survivors, he stood and fired.
The machines charged, whipping their arms out and firing blades at Ronin and the others. One of those blades ripped into his suit.
And with that final attack, he snapped out of his nightmare.
Ronin jerked awake covered in sweat and sat upright.
Chest heaving, he slowly turned to see the other cadets he had just seen die sleeping peacefully in their bunks across the barracks.
Ronin tried to control his breath as he rested his head back on his pillow, but he didn’t close his eyes.
This nightmare had haunted him nearly every time he tried to sleep lately. Each time, the machines ambushed the LDC, overwhelming and destroying the base with ease.
Ronin always thought about where the enemy would head next—Mesopotamia.
Even if they didn’t know where it was now, they would have access to that intel as soon as they took over Kepler Station.
He was sure the LDC had thought of how to safeguard the secret location if the station did fall, but if Ronin had learned anything about the machines, it was that they were relentless. Once they overwhelmed Kepler Station, they would be impossible to stop.
His brother, mother, and everyone else would be slaughtered.
“Ronin,” came a voice.
He turned over to find Bradley was awake.
“Nightmare?” he asked.
“Just a dream about the machines,” Ronin said. “Just can’t sleep. You?”
“I guess I’m still fired up about weapons training. I didn’t think I had it in me.”
Someone hushed them from another bunk.
Ronin turned onto his back.
“Go to sleep,” Ronin said to Bradley. “You’re going to need your rest for tomorrow.”
“What’s tomorrow?”
“We’re heading for a patrol on the basin.” Ronin closed his eyes, hoping for sleep this time.
“In your dream…” Bradley whispered, the words trailing off as if it was more of a question.
Ronin slowly turned toward his friend.
“Did we win?” Bradley asked. “When the machines came?”
“Yeah,” Ronin lied.
— 12 —
“Prepare for landing,” said the pilot.
Tadhg stood in the cargo hold of their stealth MOTH with Keanu, Cyrus, Chloe, and the team of rebel troopers. He was still expecting King Cobra Spaceplanes to blast them out of the sky. But so far, their journey from the Shoemaker Crater to Kepler Crater had gone by uneventfully.
The fact that the stealth MOTH had evaded Kepler’s defense so easily bothered Tadhg. If a ragtag crew like theirs could get this close to Kepler Station, then how easy would it be for the machines?
For now, he wouldn’t worry about that. They were still fifty miles from the actual station and would take a transport train to close the final distance.
For now, uneventful was okay, because soon, real soon, shit was about to hit the fan. Getting Captain Jake Harback out of prison was going to be anything but uneventful.
Not to mention getting to Earth in one piece would be no cakewalk. They couldn’t even convince their current pilot to agree to the mission.
For Tadhg, finding Shadow Squad, and destroying Otto Cross and every enemy machine was worth risking his life.
He was ready for the fight, but he wasn’t sure Chloe was ready for where they were headed. The girl spoke like she was ready. And sure, she had gone through hell during the occupation of Megacity Paris and at Atlas Station. But surviving hell didn’t always prepare someone to fight and kill.
If Chloe stood any chance of succeeding at this next mission, she had no choice but to become a warrior.
Cyrus, lovestruck as he might be with Chloe, still had a tough streak. The guy was a former police officer, and Tadhg could tell Cyrus would go down fighting to save Chloe.
Tadhg hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
He raised one of his new arms under Trooper armor to get the attention of his new friends.
“You know, in Shadow Squad, we used to have a saying,” Tadhg said. “The crazier the plan, the better chance of success because no one will see it coming.”
“Maybe that works for Engines, but in case you forget, we sure as hell aren’t Engines,” Cyrus replied.
He was right, of course.
“The plan might sound crazy, but it’s solid,” Keanu said. “My allies have arranged safe transport to Kepler via a train transport. Once you reach the station, two allied troopers will be waiting to help you free Captain Harback.”
“Allied?” Tadhg asked.
“Yes, we can trust them. These are defectors like Cyrus.”
“If Keanu says we can trust them, we can,” Cyrus said. “However, do you think Tadhg’s going to just walk around without anyone noticing?”
“But according to the LDC, he’s dead,” Chloe said. “Tadhg’s the last person anyone’s going to be looking for right now.”
She looked to Keanu. “I’m more worried about you.”
“I’ll be fine,” Keanu said. “I’ve already got friends waiting for me. Now, everyone, get ready. Once we land, we will need to move fast.”
“Better say your goodbyes then,” Tadhg said.
Chloe embraced her uncle for a long moment.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he said. “We’ll see each other again, one way or another.”
“You really think we can do this?” Chloe asked. “Stop Otto, save Earth, and protect the colonies?”
“I believe in destiny, and I believe Apeiron picked you because of your strength and your intelligence. Now go find her.”
“I will, I won’t let you down.”
Chloe let go of her uncle, and Keanu offered a hand to Tadhg.
“Good luck, Sergeant.”
Tadhg met Keanu’s hand with one of his new robotic limbs. “Good luck, Councilor.”
Behind him, Chloe, Cyrus, Keanu, and the rebels that had accompanied them made their final preps for landing.
A few minutes later, the MOTH set down with a jolt.
With a metallic click, the troop hold opened, and Tadhg jumped out onto the moon. He scanned the terrain of rolling dunes, seeing no sign of hostiles.
Cyrus led the way to a utility hatch protruding from one of those dunes. It was the same kind the LDC had installed throughout the crater, but from what Tadhg remembered, they were all protected by cameras, alarms, and sensors.
He had to trust Keanu had a plan for that.
The councilor followed Cyrus across the surface to a hatch that looked a lot like a manhole cover. Cyrus opened it, and then they began the descent down a ladder into a utility tunnel.
Tadhg went first with his plasma pistol in one hand for whatever awaited them. At the bottom, he used his tactical light to clear a long tunnel. He could tell there was no artificial gravity or oxygen down here.
Chloe came next, and Tadhg helped her off the rungs. Once they were all down, they started walking through the dark tunnel.
Tadhg switched to his rifle. For thirty minutes, they traversed the eerie darkness, listening and watching for any sign they’d been spotted. Finally, they came upon another door.
Keanu squeezed past Tadhg and then tapped it several times.
Cyrus moved in front of Chloe, and Tadhg did the same with his rifle raised. He moved his finger to the trigger, ready to blast any troopers that might have sniffed them out.
Sure enough, there was a person waiting when the door opened. Tadhg wasn’t sure if this was an ally or enemy. He kept his barrel pointed at a man wearing a black vacuum-rated suit.
Keanu walked ahead, raising a hand as if to say it was alright. The man in the black suit took a step back and gestured for the group to go through an open hatch into a chamber. After closing the hatch, he tapped a control panel and the room depressurized.
The next hatch opened to another utility tunnel, but this one was wide enough for vehicles. Tadhg immediately felt the pull of artificial gravity on his body, and his HUD reported there was breathable atmosphere.
Standing about two hundred feet away was an LDC Trooper armed with a rifle. A large bag was at his feet.
Tadhg halted, squaring up with his barrel on the mirrored visor of the trooper.
“He’s a friend,” said the man in the black suit. He removed the helmet covering his shaved head and bushy brown eyebrows.
Keanu lifted up his visor with a smile.
“Gentry, I knew you would keep your word,” he said.
The two men embraced in a short hug.
Gentry put his helmet back on and pointed to the soldier. “This is Sergeant Loche. He’s on our side, so relax.”
Tadhg lowered his rifle, but kept his eyes on the trooper.
“This way, we don’t have much time before the next patrol,” said the sergeant. He picked up his bag and started to walk the opposite way down the corridor.
Tadhg was impressed at the councilor’s ability to get them this far, but every person that knew about them was one more person that could fry this whole mission.
If Loche was a traitor, he wouldn’t be the first trooper to screw them over.
Tadhg thought back to Ronald. The guy had pretended to work with them, then sold them out to Thacker. Two other kids on their team, Veronica and Joaquín, got killed as a result of the betrayal.
He shook away the thoughts as the passage intersected a train tunnel.
Gentry stopped with Loche.
“There’s a transport arriving at the next station in two hours,” Loche said. He dropped the bag to the ground. “There are three maintenance uniforms in here, along with the appropriate IDs that have your pictures from the colonist database. You will see they have fake names. You’ll need them to get on that train. Once you get to Kepler, another trooper will be waiting.”
Chloe walked over to the rucksack and pulled out the yellow maintenance outfits.
She held up the largest of the uniforms.
“No way I’ll fit in that,” Tadhg said.
“You better, ’cause you won’t get on the train without it,” Loche said.
“You got any gloves, and a hat?” Chloe asked.
“Check the bag.”
She fished out both and handed them to Tadhg.
“A little privacy,” Chloe said.
The men turned while she stripped down. Tadhg discarded his armor on the ground. Then he climbed into the large suit. The zipper caught over his chest. Holding in his gut, he just managed to yank the zipper up and to his neck.
“Damn, this thing is tight as a…” he started to say.
Chloe chuckled and walked over as Tadhg put on the hat and then the gloves.
“How do I look?” he asked.
“Not bad,” Chloe said.
Cyrus grinned. “You don’t want to know, Sergeant.”
“Yeah, whatever, man,” Tadhg said. “Let’s get moving.”
He walked around the corner and picked up his rifle.
“Are you crazy?” Loche asked. “You have to pass as maintenance workers.”
“You want us to go there unarmed?” Tadhg asked.
“Maintenance workers don’t carry pulse rifles, man. Now you either do as I say—”
Tadhg tossed the gun over.
“Fine, I got arms, that’s all I need.” He walked past Loche and into the train tunnel. Keeping to the left of the tracks, Tadhg focused on the corridor ahead. He was done chatting and didn’t want to watch another goodbye between Keanu and Chloe.
A few minutes later, Chloe and Cyrus joined him.
The three of them ran down the tracks until they got to the next station. Tadhg snuck a glance around the bend. A single trooper patrolled near a stairwell across the platform, about five hundred feet away.
When the soldier turned his back, Tadhg motioned for Cyrus and Chloe. He helped them both up onto the platform.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” the trooper called.
Tadhg stood and stiffened, but Chloe gestured subtly with a finger to stand down.
“We just got back from a track maintenance,” she said. “You didn’t get the message?”
The soldier strode over, looking at them in turn. “Message? I didn’t get any message about maintenance work.”
“It’s the interference because of the damn tunnels.” Chloe shook her head. “I’ll check with the line supervisor and let them know.”
The trooper stopped in front of them, pausing for a moment.
Tadhg clenched his jaw, ready to spring into action if needed. He looked for cameras but didn’t see any within view.
The security down here was lacking, that was for sure. Good for them now, but bad if the machines invaded.
“IDs,” the trooper said.
Chloe fished hers out from her vest while Tadhg and Cyrus followed suit.
“We’re on the next train to Kepler for our first leave in two weeks,” she said. “Can’t wait to get back.”
The trooper looked at the IDs, one by one, and then directed his helmet at Tadhg.
Don’t do anything stupid… don’t do anything stupid.
Tadhg breathed steadily.
“Leave sounds damn good to me right now,” said the trooper. “Enjoy it.”
He turned and walked away, vanishing around a pillar and into a hallway.
“Nice job,” Cyrus whispered.
Tadhg nodded at Chloe.
She smiled proudly.
“Hope it’s this easy when we get to Kepler,” Cyrus said.
“I’m kind of hoping it won’t be, to be honest,” Tadhg said. “I’m ready to crack some skulls.”
***
Akira walked through the system of tunnels with Kichiro and Okami, still following Eiji and his comrades. Another three hours had passed since they jumped into the pool of water to escape the anaconda of metal with human faces.
For some reason, the nightmare machine didn’t follow them. Or if it had, it was stalking them silently.
Maybe that was what had gotten the two deep-sea diving droids that went offline shortly after Akira made it to the crater.
Questions swirled through his mind during the trek. Not only about what his guides called the Conda, but how they survived out here with the mechanical beast hunting in these tunnels. He was even starting to wonder if it was the abominations that made these tunnels.
There was a lot more to this story, but Akira knew he was close to the answers.
“Almost there,” Hina said.
“We’re good now,” Eiji added. He shone his flashlight on Akira. “Prepare to meet the King of Tokyo, so mind your manners, Captain.”
He stepped around the corner and shouted, “It’s Eiji!”
A heavy metallic clank echoed past him, followed by the heavy thud of boots.
“Come out,” boomed a voice.
Eiji raised his hands and walked into the corridor.
“We have a visitor,” he said.
Akira kept his rifle cradled but moved into a defensive stance. Okami and Kichiro both remained behind him.
Two figures walked around the corridor. Both men directed suppressed assault rifles at Akira. Long black trench coats hung to their boots. The bulk under those coats told Akira they were wearing armor.
“Holy crap,” one said in muffled Japanese.
“Easy,” Akira replied. “I’m not here to harm anyone.”
Only one of the men lowered his weapon.
“Well, I’ll be damned, I never thought I’d see an Engine again,” he said.
The other guard kept his rifle aimed at Akira’s face plate.
“Open your visor,” he said. “I want to see your face.”
Eiji took refuge behind the guards. Lee joined him, but Hina stayed by Akira’s side.
“He’s not an enemy,” she said firmly. “I found that out the hard way.”
“It’s true,” Eiji said in a low, less convincing voice.
The two guards finally lowered their rifles.
“Thank you,” Akira said. He walked forward, both guards backing out of the way to let him pass. They glared at Kichiro and Okami.
Around the corner, two sentry guns were positioned on the sides of a steel door. They both roved toward his droids.
Akira felt his guts tangle. Those weapons would make quick work of them if this was a trap.
But he didn’t have a choice now. These people might be his best shot at finding the Life Ark and Apeiron.
Two blast doors creaked open, revealing a vast chamber.
A pair of Hummer Droids waited inside, their robotic arms mounted with plasma rifles. These were archaic models, which was probably why the signal sent on E-Day didn’t turn them. Or, perhaps these people had reprogrammed them like Juno had Blinky.
Behind the robots, two Doberman Pincer droids watched Akira, their artificial black eyes following his every movement.
They growled at Okami, and the wolfdog returned the fearsome gesture.
“Easy,” Akira said.
Okami quieted, but the other dog droids continued to snarl.
Akira walked out onto the bottom floor of the chamber.
Rising up from the floor, ten levels of platforms extended all the way to the cracked concrete ceiling. Haphazardly built shacks filled every level. Water dripped from the ceiling in an almost constant stream.
On the ground level, tents and more metal shacks provided refuge from the dripping water. Faces poked out, some wearing masks, others with scarves up over their noses, their eyes following him in awe.
“An Engine,” someone yelled. “They found an Engine!”
A group of ten people surrounded Akira and his animal companions. Then twenty. Within minutes, there were fifty people surging around him, reaching out to touch his armor, muttering prayers and asking questions.
Okami wagged his tail, but Kichiro let out a neigh, clearly agitated by the presence of so many people.
There were survivors of all ages, even a few elderly. Akira heard a baby wail and looked up to a woman trying to comfort the child in one of the upper level shacks. Curtains covering the windows of the dwellings on the platforms above pulled back, and filthy faces peered down at Akira.
