Thunder (30 page)

The Lander relaxed his body and slipped from the guard's arm to the floor.

The watcher rushed in. His footfalls caused Cleon to turn in his direction. The guard took aim at Cleon's exposed back.

Grab his legs!
Bodhi yelled to the Lander.

The Lander tackled the guard as he fired. The laser shot sliced into the ceiling. The guard went down.

The watcher disarmed him and handed Cleon restraints from his hip pouch. “We'll leave him for his people to find.”

Cleon secured the guard while Selah and Treva ran to the shot Lander. They turned away. Bodhi could see that half his head had been blown off.

There's another
guard hiding here
, the voice permeating Bodhi's head said.

Where is he?
Bodhi asked.

I'm not sure, but
there were two of them a few minutes ago
, came the response.

“A voice is telling—” Bodhi began.

Two cells down, another door flew open and an armed guard charged out. Treva fled and the guard turned to fire at her. Cleon hurtled himself at Treva, dropping her to the ground. The shot missed.

The watcher took aim and shot the guard. The man slammed into the open door and slid to the floor, leaving a trail of blood and bone fragments on the door frame.

Bodhi checked and disarmed the dead guard, then approached Cleon. He patted him on his good shoulder. “That was really brave. Are you all right?”

“No. Owww! Now my shoulder hurts,” Cleon said. The girls doted on him as he sat up.

Bodhi glanced around nervously. They needed to keep moving and free Landers from the cells. He looked down the hall. At the other end, the corridor turned off to the right. The flashes of light told him the immediate fighting was going on down there. His hope was fading. He wasn't sure how they were going to get everyone out of the line of fire.

He systematically began opening doors. The Lander who'd feigned unconsciousness helped. Shaggy-haired Landers filtered into the hall, all in white linen, some with bare feet. They clung to one another. Several stood by themselves as though ready to run. They stared at the rescue team as though they were the enemy, their voices growing louder.

The watcher raised his hands for silence.

Selah helped Cleon to his feet. Bodhi watched as she scanned the faces of the Landers.

“Hold on.” She touched the watcher's arm. “They're afraid of our masks. Imagine how you'd feel looking at people dressed in all black with hoods.” She reached up to take hers off. “There's nothing—”

“Wait!” The watcher pulled her hand away from her mask and came in close to whisper, “We are not to take off our covers in this environment. We don't know if there are cameras we've missed. It would be putting your life in jeopardy. They'd have your picture and it could lead to others being caught.”

Selah balked. “They're scared. What can we do? We need them to trust us.”

Bodhi stepped forward, putting his hand on the small of her back. She turned and looked up at him. He smiled softly. “Let me do it.” He walked forward with both hands raised.
I'
m the one who's been talking to you. We'
re here to give you freedom.

The sudden barrage of fifteen minds at one time drove Bodhi to his knees. He clutched at the sides of his head and wailed in pain.

“Stop!” Selah screamed at the group. “You're going to kill him.”

The intensity in their eyes faded. They backed off.

Bodhi's head pounded. He propped himself up on one knee. Selah reached down, wrapped her arm under his armpit, and helped him up. He staggered a few steps before regaining his composure. Flinching, he said, “Let's try this another way. Do you have a spokesman among you?”

All eyes turned to a man standing off to the side by himself. He looked at each of them in turn. Bodhi felt the conversations, but since they weren't directed at him he couldn't hear.

The man stepped forward. He probed Bodhi's mind.

Why do
you seem foreign to us?
the man asked.

I'
ve only been in this country a few days. I'
m not completely acclimated
, Bodhi said.

How can you understand
our fears and the torture we've been through?

I
know some of it through the Lander child.

The man's eyes widened.
There is one of our children here
?

Bodhi turned and motioned Selah forward. She hesitated but stepped up beside him. He wrapped his arm around her waist.
Her father was Glade Rishon. She is novarium.

The man looked around at the others, then back at Bodhi.
Was? What do you mean?

Bodhi felt the nearness of Selah's pain. He pulled her tightly to his side. She glanced at him with questions in her eyes. He passed a calm feeling to her and she relaxed.

Bodhi straightened.
Her father was killed by Dr. Everling earlier today.

The man tipped his head, glancing around again, confusion on his face. Murmurs passed through the group. They were closing Bodhi off from the conversation. He'd never had anyone do that before. With the status he'd enjoyed at home, it bordered on being rude.

The man turned back to Bodhi.
She is a true heir.

Selah touched Bodhi's arm. “What's going on?”

“They recognize you as novarium,” Bodhi answered.

The watcher interrupted. “We need to get out of here. The fighting has moved to the next section. Commander Mojica says they can hold them off till we get out on the old ramp up to the JetTrans terminal. Her team cut a hole in the fencing
around the area to make it look like you broke into the Mountain there. It will afford you an escape route into the forest.”

Selah smiled at each of the Landers. Their expressions had seemed to soften when Bodhi announced she was novarium. She needed to find someone with a better explanation of the term when they got out of here. She felt like a lamb going to slaughter and everyone was waiting for the meal.

She marveled at so many marked people. They were all tall, at least six feet. Some were blond, others dark-haired, but all shaggy from long confinement. The mark stood out on the left side of each temple and forehead. All marks looked the same, no matter the shape or size of the head or their apparent age differences. She'd have to remember to ask Bodhi how the age thing worked. How long did it take to show age? He still looked twenty.

The watcher finished another call to Mojica and turned to them. “We need to get moving. We're going to the ramp. Everyone, follow this way.” He started toward the corridor opposite the fighting, then looked back at Bodhi and Cleon. “I need one or two of you in the back of the group with weapons, just in case.”

Bodhi picked up the weapon from the first dead guard and handed Selah the one from the guard who'd charged out the doorway. She handled it like it was a dead rodent. He knew the last thing she wanted was a weapon.

One of the Landers in the front of the group stopped them. “What about the others?”

Movement came to a grinding halt. Bodhi hurried back.
“What others?” The Landers murmured and he grabbed the man's tunic. “What others?”

An older-looking Lander gently removed Bodhi's hand from the man's clothing. “The ones they keep in the corridor behind us. We know they're there but they've never broken rank to communicate with us.”

A barefoot Lander farther back piped up. “They ignore us. We've tried to make contact with them, but we've only seen one and he ignores us. Acts like we aren't here even when he's looking right at us.”

The watcher, Bodhi, and Selah looked at each other in confusion.

Selah shook her head. “We didn't come this far to leave anyone. We have to get them.”

“Since that's in the opposite direction, how about we leave Cleon and Treva here with these and we go?” Bodhi looked down the corridor they needed to traverse for access behind this cell block.

The watcher agreed.

Cleon already held a weapon, so Treva rushed back to the entrance and retrieved one from the body of a downed team member.

Bethany stormed around the Prison Control Center wearing a communication headset. Every few seconds she tapped a link on her ComTex to connect to another unit on standby. Fighting inside was fierce, and casualties were mounting. She didn't understand how insurgents could have been so well prepared.

“Ma'am, once units go inside the area, we have no communication with them. We can only talk to those who remain outside the perimeter. Don't you think it's time to contact Mountain security?”

Bethany spun to face the man. “If you contact them I'll break your hands.”

The man pulled away from the console and put his hands in his lap.

“The Prison Unit is autonomous. We do not allow security inside for any reason. We have enough of our own guards and air support without bothering them,” Bethany said. Noah had always felt Mountain security was compromised. He didn't trust the people in charge. Too many of them reported to the executives.

“I want JetTrans units ready on this side of the Mountain, and get me contact with Control for the laser cannons. I want them ready and waiting. I don't know how these people intend to get out of there, but they are not getting away with this. Not in my unit.”

Selah stuck near Bodhi as they hurried down the far corridor to cells on the other side of the wall. Slinking in with weapons drawn, they peered over counters and around doorways for hidden guards who hadn't joined in the fight but would defend their own territory. None were found.

Bodhi and the watcher tried cell doors. Unlike on the Lander side, these doors didn't automatically open. They were discussing explosive charges to open the doors.

Selah noticed the guard had forgotten to secure the keypad.
“Guys, maybe this will help.” She reached over the counter and pushed on the button. One by one the four heavy cell doors clicked.

She hurried over as they pulled open the first door and peered inside. Light filtered into the cell from behind them. She ran back to the console and flipped illumination switches, and light inside the cell spilled out the doorway.

Bodhi stared. Selah gasped. The watcher stumbled back against the doorway.

S
elah blinked several times, trying to force her brain to register what she was seeing. Twenty identical male children, maybe twelve or thirteen years old, sat one to a bed in the long, narrow room of end-to-end bunk beds. They were dressed in identical white tunics and baggy pants, each with a Lander tattoo on the right side of his face.

“How is this even possible?” Bodhi asked.

The watcher tipped his head. “It isn't possible.” He pointed. “I've never seen a Lander of such young age.”

“I've only ever known adults.” Bodhi scratched his head.

Selah shook her head. “Well, gentlemen, you've missed the obvious. They are all the same person, or at least identical to the same person, whichever one that is. Would the real boy please stand up?” She rolled her eyes and waved a hand dismissively as several of them stood up in response. The question was rhetorical, but she suspected they were too young to understand.

The watcher walked away and engaged his ComTex. Selah figured he was asking Mojica for advice. The only logical option was to get out of here and sort this out later.

Bodhi moved to her side. “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

Selah grimaced. “I've never seen a puppy litter this big, let alone a matching set of kids.”

“How could this happen?”

She shook her head. “I don't know. They're your people, not mine. Well, no offense meant, I don't—”

“I understand what you mean. I'd better see if there are any more in other cells.” He marched down the aisle, opening the three other doors. From where she stood, Selah could see more bunk beds, but thankfully, no more people.

She continued to stare. The boys sat or stood patiently, looking down at their hands folded in front of them. What was off besides their sheer numbers?

Bodhi strode to her side. “No others.”

“They're such a sickly pasty white.” With their shoulder-length dark hair, the stark contrast of their pale skin made Selah wonder what was wrong with them.

“Let's try asking,” Bodhi said. He walked in among them. They scrambled to the far corner of their beds. He turned to Selah. “Am I that scary?”

“The mask is probably not the best way to make friends with children. Let me try.” Selah moved in with a soothing tone. “Don't be afraid. We've come to take you out of here.”

She moved toward the nearest one. He whimpered and pulled his legs underneath him. She remembered this kind of behavior from Amaryllis, and suddenly felt guilty for not
having thought about the girl's whereabouts in the last few hours.

Bodhi coaxed one boy out of hiding. He timidly approached and reached to take hold of Bodhi's hand. Bodhi pulled back and the boy looked hurt.

Bodhi sighed deeply enough that it made Selah smile. He reached out his hand. The boy eagerly took hold, and with that, the other boys streamed off the bunks to surround Bodhi.

Selah was bypassed. She stood, hands on hips. “Well, I guess you've become the shepherd to this flock of identical sheep.”

He grimaced.

The watcher strode into the doorway. Selah noticed the look of delight in his eyes at Bodhi surrounded by children. Actually, it tickled her too. He'd been so standoffish with Amaryllis. There was hope for his cold heart yet.

“Commander Mojica said to round them up and bring them out. We'll sort this out later.”

Selah gasped. “I've got it! I know what's wrong.”

Bodhi and the watcher stared, waiting for her to finish.

She grinned broadly. “Their mark. It's on the wrong side!”

Bodhi looked at them. Selah could tell that look. He was trying to contact them.

“Well, what do they say?”

He looked worried. “Nothing.”

“You mean they won't talk to you?”

“No, I mean, I get nothing. As though they're not here,” he said.

Selah looked around the group for some kind of subversion. “Could they be blocking you?”

“No, I'd know if it was a block—it's like hitting a wall. There's nothing here.”

The watcher looked nervous. “Listen, we have to get out of here now.”

Selah helped Bodhi herd the boys out into the group of Landers. It couldn't have been more of a surprise if they'd brought back a crate of snakes. The original Landers parted in the middle as the boys scurried forward, staying in a huddle around Bodhi.

The Landers stared at the boys. Selah couldn't blame them. She wanted to stare too. Not only were they odd, but they were quiet. Not one sound since they'd found them. Cleon and Treva tried talking to them, but the boys clung to Bodhi, refusing to look at anyone else.

Selah bit her lip. Poor Bodhi looked so uncomfortable surrounded by children. She noted they continually touched each other—holding a hand, patting an arm or a shoulder. When left to their own devices, they moved as a single group, never straying far from the core focus of Bodhi.

The order was set. Selah and the watcher were out front, then the boys with Bodhi, the Landers, and Cleon and Treva as the rear guards.

“If we get forty people out of here without incident, this is going to be an operation for the books,” the watcher said
.
“Commander Mojica said she never fathomed an operation this large or with this much resistance. They're holding the line so we can get out, but she doesn't understand how it's working so well.”

“Let's hurry then.” Selah picked up the pace. The walls and floors were scorched from battle. Farther down the hall
they turned left at the T. There appeared to be a body or two blocking the aisle in the other direction, or maybe it was furniture. Selah opted to think it was an inanimate object rather than a fallen person.

She remembered this area from the facial navigation. On the map it turned again to the left, and there was a long ramp that angled up to the JetTrans terminal—and freedom.

They turned left at the end of the short hall and ran into a solid wall—no ramp. Everyone skidded to a halt.

“Where did this come from?” Selah asked. “It wasn't on the map.”

The watcher moved to the wall and felt the surface. “I was hoping it was a halo-projection and not really there.”

“What do we do now?” Bodhi walked with boys hanging on both arms.

Cleon threaded his way through the group. “What's the holdup?” He stopped and looked at all four corners of the wall. “Where'd that come from?”

Selah glanced at him. “Well, if we knew, we wouldn't be standing here, would we?” She immediately felt bad for being snippy, but she was bone-tired and still worried about Rylla.

Cleon touched the surface of the wall, tapped on it in a few places, and turned with a smile. “I think it's just a false wall to block the corridor to the ramp.”

Selah furrowed her brow. “How does that help us? A wall is a wall, isn't it?”

“No,” Cleon said. “I mean, it's not a full composite wall. We should be able to break through it.”

He stood near the end where the wall joined the corridor. He faced away from the wall, leaned back against it, and
gave a sharp backward kick with his boot. The wall held. He grimaced.

“What now?” Selah asked.

Cleon held up a hand. “Patience, my dear sister, patience.”

Now he was pacifying her. She figured she deserved it after her comment, but she couldn't see this working. They needed to find another way out.

Cleon moved three feet closer to the center of the wall and kicked again. Nothing. It didn't even make a dent. Selah shuddered. They had to move on.

Bodhi turned to thread the boys back through the group. The watcher spoke into his ComTex.

Selah heard Cleon kick the wall a third time. This time it sounded funny, like his foot went though. She turned. Cleon was leaning on the wall with both hands, kicking with all his might to enlarge the hole he'd made.

Selah ran back to him. “Stop. Let me look.” She bent and peered through the hole. Her heart leapt. She could see the ramp. Morning light filtered through the terminal gates to the outside. “He got through!”

The retreating group turned back to the wall.

Landers helped to pull out hunks of wallboard until the area was about five feet wide and seven feet tall. The corridor filled with the white chalky dust of demolition. The hovering dust burned Selah's eyes and made her cough, but thinking of freedom made it worthwhile.

Cleon cleared the rubble on the floor, pushing it back with his boot. His chest puffed up as a slight grin crept
across his face. He'd made an important contribution to the operation.

The group filtered through the hole and charged up the ramp to the top doors. The morning sun streamed into the cavernous opening as the sliding doors were pulled back.

The watcher tried to stop them, but people were charging into the outdoor enclosed area. “Commander Mojica will be—”

Suddenly a large craft descended from the sky, blocking out the sunlight. Everyone scattered. The watcher yelled and waved his hands, but to no avail. He couldn't be heard. Many scrambled through the hole in the fence. Selah helped herd the boys in that direction.

The watcher fought the downdraft and covered his eyes as the huge JetTrans set down in a great cloud of dust. Selah and the others stopped. The access panel of the pilot seat slid back and Mojica leaned out, motioning to them. The cargo door on the side facing the fence slid open, and several of the team jumped out with weapons drawn.

Cleon ran toward the Landers who were trying to escape through the fence. “Stop! Wait! These are our people.”

The Landers seemed confused and the children terrified at the sight of armed forces. Selah and Treva tried to coax them back to the transport. The team shouted at them to come.

Selah pointed at the craft and yelled to Bodhi over the din, “Get them to go!”

Bodhi grabbed the closest boy around the waist and took off running toward the transport. The rest of the children followed. It was harder getting the Landers to come back.
Some had already passed through the fence and wouldn't come back.

There were more yells and then rockets exploded as heavily armed Prison Unit guards ran from the direction of the merchant gate. Pulse disruptors and laser darts fired rapidly. Grass exploded, trees shattered, and people ran.

Mojica's team fired back. The battle raged as Landers convinced of safety in the vessel tried to get aboard. Treva shoved a couple of hesitant ones toward the craft.

A Prison Unit guard hit a Lander with a shot from his disruptor. The man's chest exploded, showering blood and tissue in all directions, splattering the side of the transport. One of the team returned fire and killed the guard. Two more Landers were caught in the crossfire as they sprinted for the craft. The wounds were not ones to recover from.

Bodhi stood in the transport doorway, screaming for Selah to come. Surrounded by the children, he couldn't pry himself free.

Cleon pulled the last two Landers through the torn fence and turned to Selah, who was still on the other side near the trees. “Come on! We have to get out of here!”

Selah shook her head. “No. You go. I have to find Rylla! I know she's still nearby.”

“No, you can't. She'll be all right on her own.” His words were lost in the battle.

Selah sprinted into the woods.

Cleon raced after her. A team member grabbed him by the arm, dragging him toward the transport. He fought back, straining to get loose. Weapons fire exploded around them. A laser dart whizzed over his head. Cleon ducked, which
gave the team member the leverage he needed to pull him to the craft. A guard fired a pulse disruptor, hitting the open doorway. One of the children fell out dead, his head split open. The team member jerked Cleon, screaming and fighting, into the craft.

Bodhi tried to disengage from the children. They crawled over him in fear, like crabs trying to get out of a barrel. The transport rocked, trying to lift off. The last two team members lunged onto the platform as the transport rose.