Dead Mech (42 page)

“It is so huge,” he said, his voice cracking
slightly, betraying his adolescence. The Archbishop turned to the
Bishop’s smiling face. “I would like it to be mine.” He looked at
the Ranchers about him. “Who will show me how to pilot it?”

“Um, I am truly sorry, Your Holiness,”
Bishop Wyble said. “You must be equipped with a modified Reaper
chip to pilot a mech.” A grin spread across the Bishop’s face.
“But, we may be able to attain one.”

***

June glared at the Boss. He tried ignoring
her, but the intensity of her stare began to grate on him. “What?
You want to kill me, I get that, I even respect it. But, really,
get over it.”

“How could you?” June snarled. “She was your
mother.”

“Oh, that! You’re mad over that?” the Boss
chuckled. “Please, that bitch had it coming for years. You know she
stole my son away, right?”

“You mean helped him escape a monster for a
father? Yeah, I know. It’s what any decent person would do,” June
snapped.

“Shut up!” a Rancher guard barked.

***

“How’s it coming Jethro?” Capreze asked
impatiently. “You said 30 minutes and it’s been 30 minutes.”

“Sorry, sir,” Jethro responded, closing his
eyes for a second. “Headache is getting in the way.”

“You need me to get Themopolous?” Capreze
asked, impatience instantly turning to concern.

“No, don’t do that. She’ll just give me
something that’ll dull my senses, which will slow me down more than
the pain,” Jethro answered tapping at several tablets at once.

Capreze placed a hand on the mechanic’s
shoulder. “Don’t kill yourself. This is just for a tactical
advantage and it’s not worth losing you over.”

***

The Boiler boy cringed as the Archbishop
stroked his malformed face. “He looks so sad,” the Archbishop
said.

“Yes, Your Holiness,” the Bishop responded.
“Born into the heathen Hell of the Boilers must have damaged his
soul greatly.”

The Archbishop motioned for the boy to be
unshackled. “Well, I shall treat him right. He will know the love
of God.” The Archbishop continued to stroke the boy’s face. The boy
bolted the second he was set free, but the Archbishop reached out
and grabbed a hold of the child’s hair, yanking him violently back.
“And he will learn to obey.”

***

June and the Boss, rifles jammed into their
backs, were shoved forward into the mech hangar.

“Ahhh, the entertainment I promised, Your
Holiness,” Bishop Wyble announced. “And an opportunity for you to
become the mech pilot you’ve always wanted.”

The Archbishop approached June, dragging the
boy by the hand. “She’s a mech pilot?” he asked unimpressed. “She
doesn’t look like it.”

June looked from the Archbishop to the boy’s
terrified eyes and back. “You better not hurt him,” she stated
quietly.

The Archbishop’s eyebrows arched. “You were
not asked to speak,” he hissed. “I may take your tongue for
that.”

***

“Holy shit!” Jethro exclaimed. “I’ve got a
visual on June!”

Capreze leaned over Jethro’s shoulder
towards the vid screen. “Jeezus Christ, she looks like Hell.”

“Who is that with her?” Jethro asked.

The Commander frowned. “That’s the Boss.
Boiler leader. One crazy cannibal.”

“Um, pretty sure the term ‘cannibal’ implies
crazy,” Jethro said.

“Well, then he’s crazier than the rest,”
Capreze responded studying the screen. “Can you get her
attention?”

“Maybe, I don’t know,” Jethro answered. “She
is
facing Two.”

“Good. Try not to get noticed.”

“Sorta implied also.”

“How about less lip and more work.”

“Yes, Master,” Jethro quipped.

***

June laughed. “Do you think I give a fuck
about your fucked up protocols? How about you take your little boy
dick back to your transport and jerk off into a sock and let the
adults talk.”

The Archbishop’s face grew red with rage and
June felt the butt of a rifle against the back of her head before
he even gave the order. She crumpled instantly, lights dancing
about her eyes.

“Careful, there,” Bishop Wyble said. “Don’t
damage her chip.”

“Chip?” the Boss asked. “You mean her Reaper
chip? Oh, that thing is long gone.”

“What?!?” the Archbishop cried.

***

The Archbishop whirled on the Bishop’s vid
screen. “You said I could have a Reaper chip!”

Bishop Wyble’s face blanched. “I am truly
sorry, Your Holiness. I did not know that the Boiler had had it
removed.”

The Archbishop shook with hormonal rage. He
turned on the Boiler boy and lashed out, knocking the child to the
ground. June pushed her self up and lunged at the Archbishop, but
was stricken to the ground immediately. The boy tried to scramble
towards June but the Archbishop stomped on his back, smashing him
into the concrete.

“Bravo!” the Boss cheered, clapping
enthusiastically.

***

“You! You did this!” the Archbishop snarled
at the Boss, grinding his red booted heel into the small of the
Boiler child’s back.

“Yep, I did,” the Boss replied casually.
“Get over it.”

The Archbishop stomped on the boy and the
child cried out. “Take this to my quarters!”

Rancher guards grabbed the boy by the ankles
and dragged him away. He reached out for June, but a blow to the
head stopped all protestations.

“I’ll feed you your balls for that,” June
raged.

“She will too,” the Boss laughed. “So, are
me and the princess gonna fight or what?”

***

The Archbishop seemed to calm slightly at
the suggestion of combat. “Yes, a fight.” The Archbishop raised a
hand and his Page stepped forth instantly. “My chair. My blanket
and refreshments.”

The Page bowed silently, dashing away. The
Archbishop waved at June and Rancher guards pulled her roughly to
her feet. “Strip her.”

“What? You sick little freak!” June cried as
her soiled and dirty clothes were cut away. She stood before the
Archbishop, her black and blue body shaking with anger.

“Now we’re talking,” the Boss leered.

The Archbishop eyed the Boss lasciviously.
“Him too.”

“What?” the Boss barked.

***

“We’re ready for the tactical briefing,”
Rachel said, stepping into the transport and up to Capreze and
Jethro. She gasped at the image on the vid screen. “Shit, is that
June?’

“Yeah,” Jethro responded solemnly.

“Jeezus, makes me wish I’d been a little
nicer to her,” Rachel said.

“You can apologize when she’s safely out of
there,” Capreze responded. “Any progress, Jethro?’

“Gonna try right now, sir,” Jethro answered.
“I hope she sees Two move and not the Ranchers. Otherwise we may
have to forego subtlety and just start blasting.”

“Do you even know the definition of
subtlety?” Rachel joked.

***

The Boss stood in the middle of the mech
hangar, bare-assed and fuming. He glared at the Archbishop. “You
gettin’ an eyeful, you fucking dress wearing pussy?”

Several Ranchers started forward, but the
Archbishop held up his hand. “Leave the cannibal be. He can take
his frustrations out on the mech woman.”

The Page returned, dragging a high backed
gilded chair, a gold plated cooler and a red blanket. “Here you
are, Your Holiness,” the Page puffed.

The Archbishop sat down and twirled his
hands, indicating the Ranchers should form a circle with June and
the Boss in the center.

***

Jethro made Two’s right fingers drum against
the side of its metal body. He watched June carefully, but it was
obvious she didn’t notice. He tried again and a couple of the
ranchers closest to the mini-mech turned about, but quickly
returned their attention to the fight about to start.

“Shit,” Jethro muttered.

“Tap louder,” Rachel said.

“Why not just walk Two over there and tap on
her shoulder?” Jethro mocked.

Rachel grinned. “Why not?”

Jethro turned to get Capreze’s reaction, but
the Commander wasn’t there. Rachel’s grin widened. “He’s outside
talking.”

Jethro slouched in defeat. “What are you
thinking?”

***

“Jay? Jay, come in,” Rachel crackled over
the com.

“Whatcha need, Rache?” Jay responded.

“What’s your current location?”

Jay checked his readings. “Somewhere in
Sector 48-5F. We’re still hours away from you guys.”

“Yeah, but you’re not far from the base,
though, are you?”

“Well, with a couple of track switches we’d
be at the base in about an hour. It’ll tack on more time getting to
you. I thought the base was occupied? What are you thinking?”

“June’s at the base being held by the
Ranchers. Think you could swing by and pick her up?”

“Love to,” Jay responded.

***

“Diverting the cavalry?” Capreze asked,
overhearing Rachel as he stepped back into the transport. “I’m
pretty sure that is a call for the CO to make.”

“You were busy,” Rachel responded. “Plus, we
have Mathew on his way. He’ll get here first.”

Jethro quickly turned back to his tablets as
Capreze looked away from his daughter.

“What?” Rachel asked. “What aren’t you
telling me?”

“About Mathew,” Capreze said. “He’s heading
straight for the UDC stronghold.”

“What?!?” Rachel cried. “Why?!?”

“In case things go south here, we need
someone to try and shut them down. And he has the best shot.”

***

June and the Boss stood staring at each
other. The Archbishop looked from one to the other then clapped his
hands together. “Well… fight!”

“Yeah, I ain’t feeling it,” the Boss said.
“Maybe you and bruised titties here should duke it out while I
watch.”

The Archbishop snapped his fingers and two
Ranchers stepped forward, rifles aimed at the Boss’s crotch. “Fight
or you lose your manhood,” the Archbishop snapped.

The Boss lifted his hands. “Hold on, no need
to threaten the Little Boss.” He turned to June. “Guess they want a
show.”

“Guess we’ll give them one,” she
responded.

***

“They have agreed, Your Grace,” Deacon
Montoya stated.

The Bishop turned his attention away from
the vid feed of the mech hangar, muting the connection. “Have they?
Delightful. See, Montoya, what did I tell you? Everyone has their
price.”

“Yes, Your Grace was right, as always,” the
Deacon agreed. The Bishop waved away the flattery as Montoya
continued. “They will have their people in place momentarily. Shall
we have them wait for our arrival?’

“Dearest me, no, Deacon! Cripple those
mechie heathens now,” Bishop Wyble ordered. “Let them take the
casualties, not us.

“Of course, Your Grace,” Deacon Montoya
responded.

***

“I apologize, Your Holiness, but I have to
step away. Business at hand,” the Bishop said over the vid
feed.

“Of course, Bishop Wyble. Do as you must. It
is your honor and duty,” the Archbishop said, his attention on June
and the Boss as they circled each other, looking for a tactical
advantage.

“Thank you, Your Holiness,” the Bishop said,
bowing his head slightly. “I shall not fail His Glory.”

“Yes, yes, Bishop. Send them all to Hell and
the honor of becoming a True Disciple will surely be bestowed upon
you,” the Archbishop praised automatically, dismissing the
Bishop.

***

Mastelo stood next to Capreze as half of the
Skinner council approached.

“Good morning to you all,” Mastelo greeted
them. “I did not expect you to join us.”

The councilors looked to each other and then
at Mastelo. “A decision has been made, Mastelo. It is not in our
people’s best interest to ally with the mech outcasts,” an older
woman stated. “You will return with us and remain in seclusion so
as not to impede what has to be done.”

Mastelo’s jaw dropped. “This must be a
mistake. Has the entire council agreed to this?”

“Most,” the woman answered.

***

Harlow glanced down from her cockpit at the
conversation below. She watched as two council members split away
and approached the Skinner fighters. The fighters’ body language
instantly changed as the councilors spoke to them. The new body
language was something Harlow could read very well. Aggression.

Several of the Skinners glanced in her
direction and then at Bisby, who was still on the ground double
checking his mech’s hydraulics.

Harlow tapped her com. “Hey, Biz?”

“Yeah?”

“Carefully take a look around. I don’t think
the friendlies are so friendly anymore.”

Harlow reached behind her and withdrew two
long blades.

***

Out of the corner of his eye Capreze watched
Bisby undo the strap on his sidearm indicating the pilot was well
aware of the situation. Without drawing attention, the Commander
glanced towards Harlow’s mech, seeing her descend quickly, her
blades strapped to her back. Capreze loved his people.

“Councilors,” Capreze soothed. “Before
anything gets out of hand, let’s sit down and discuss this.”

A shorter man took a step forward. “I am
sorry, Commander. But the discussion has ended. You and your people
are on the losing side. We cannot afford to be on that side also. I
am
sorry.”

***

Several Skinner fighters moved to encircle
Bisby, their long knives drawn. The mech pilot cracked his knuckles
and grinned. “I don’t know what’s going on boys, but don’t do
anything you may regret.” He felt lucky right now that the carbines
were laid out and disassembled for cleaning. He could dodge blades
easier than he could dodge bullets.

“It is not personal, Pilot,” one of the
fighters said. “We mean you no dishonor, but our futures are no
longer joined with yours.”

“Oh, I can fucking guarantee that your
futures are about to be way different than mine,” Bisby
sneered.