When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (104 page)

             
“Where did you go
?”
Cameron asked
.“
I ca
n’
t see you by the bomber
.
”

             
There were sounds like gunfire, followed by a woman shouting
.“
My position was overrun. We had to head for the forest
.”
More shooting
.“
W
e’
re headed for that Valkyrie
.
”

             
Cameron rolled to avoid an incoming missile. As he came back around, he saw the Boxti Ace suddenly ignite its afterburners and race skyward. More and more of the Hornets and Wasps disengaged from the humans and beat a hasty retreat. Cameron did
n’
t know what to make of it
.“
Kail, the Boxti are bugging out
.
”

             
“And tha
t’
s a bad thing
?
”

             
“
I’
ll have Torch provide cover for you guys. Just get to that Val and get off the ground. Something bad is about to happen
.
”

*              *              *              *              *

              “
I’
ve got comms
!
”

             
Zev barged into the room, his face covered in plaster and dust. The mammoth fireball h
e’
d seen must have destroyed the carrier, ending the jamming signal. He did
n’
t know how long it would take the aliens to react, but he did
n’
t need much time. Grabbing the mic away from Tim he shouted.

             
“Any station this net, this is Paradise Point. I need immediate evac for friendly soldiers and civilians. Does anyone read
?
”

             
After a burst of static, a voice came through. It was the best sound any of the Scouts had heard in over a week
.“
Paradise Point, this is School House. We are heavy lift carrying sixteen packs. How many are you
?
”

             
Zev looked at his lieutenant. Gabriel counted in his head and held up both hands, fingers spread
.“
Ten
,”
Zev said
.“
But one is a little girl. We can check her if the flight is full
.
”

             
“Roger, Paradise. I
t’
ll be tight but w
e’
ll make it work
.”
He said something to his copilot they could
n’
t make out
.“
Ho
w’
s the LZ
?
”

             
Zev sighed
.“
Pretty fucking hot. You armed
?
”

             
“
I’
ve got a pistol, but
I’
m a pretty lousy shot. Get to the roof, w
e’
ll lower a ladder
.
”

             
Gabriel stepped forward and spoke into the radio
.“
How far away are you
?
”

             
The pilot laughed
.“
Five minutes. And be ready for us. W
e’
re not sticking around forever
.
”

-                           
IV                            -

              “Will this do
?
”

             
Trik walked around the hideous homemade escape craft, admiring their work. It did
n’
t look like any shuttle h
e’
d ever seen before. In fact, it did
n’
t look remotely space-worthy. The engines were welded on at odd angles, the hull was a multicolored tapestry of varying metals and composites, and the cockpit had parts from a half-dozen different ships. Still, he could already taste the coppery flavor of toxins in the air. They did
n’
t have long anyway, and there were always worse ways to die.

             
“
I’
m satisfied
,”
the soldier said
.“
How long will we have in this thing before we run out of air
?
”             

             
Vim thought for a moment
.“I’
m almost certain w
e’
ll be long dead before the filters run out. You see this
?”
He gestured to their only entrance into the suicide machine
.“
This is held on with epoxy. I ca
n’
t imagine it was ever meant to keep a door on in vacuum, let alone during an interspace jump
.”
He rapped on the side, relishing the hollow echo
.“
And w
e’
re sacrificing radiation shielding for weight so w
e’
ll have enough fuel to make it anywhere remotely close to civilization. But hopefully w
e’
ll mutate into something that does
n’
t require air to live
.”
He deflated as he turned toward his captor
.“
About nine hours, give or take
.
”

             
“We do
n’
t have to travel far
,”
Trik said. He rubbed his hand along the wing, scowling when a bolt simply fell to the floor
.“
W
e’
re not headed toward Nangolani space
.
”

             
Vim frowned
.“
But the
Barrenon
would be at one of the safe zones. Should
n’
t we go to them? To your commanders
?
”

             
“The
Barrenon
is a warship. Its purpose is
n’
t rescue. We need to go somewhere with civilians
.
”

             
The engineer scrunched up his face in confusion
.“
Wo
n’
t you be killed by the Magistrate
?
”

             
Trik grinned
.“
W
e’
re not going to Nangol space, remember
?”
He let the realization come at its own pace, relishing the shocked expression on his captiv
e’
s face.

             
“The humans? The
y’
ll be worse. I heard they execute Nangolani on sight
.
”

             
The soldier opened the hatch, recoiling at the stench of adhesives and soldering residue
.“
They are the closest system to us, and our best chance at survival. If we have to fight our way out once w
e’
ve been collected, so be it
.”
He gestured for Vim to get inside
.“
Now are you coming or not
?
”

             
Vim took a step forward, but hesitated at the door
.“
How do I know you do
n’
t plan on killing me once we make it to safety
?
”

             
Trik took Vim by the shoulders and looked him in the eye
.“
Vim, you are a prisoner of war. To execute you would violate several codes which I still hold to. I promise, I will not harm you, nor allow harm to come to you
.”
He pushed the engineer into the ship, stepping inside after
.“
Besides, if I was planning on killing you anyway, why would I have you install two chairs
?
”

             
They sealed the door as best they could, donning protective suits nonetheless. Taking a seat inside the cramped vessel, Vim began the startup procedures. The computers whistled to life, glowing several different colors and bathing the interior in a rainbow of light. Trik struggled to turn in his bulky suit, flipping on fuel lines and powering up the engines. Several times he hit the wrong button, but Vim was there to correct him. The entire shuttle rocked back and forth from their movements, nearly tipping on its side. Finally Trik took his seat the and the craft settled.

             
“Are you ready
?”
Vim asked.

             
Trik took a moment to think about his father. If he were to die, at least he would die with his family in his mind. In Nofan Pas, it was considered the only way to face death. But those ruby fields were only a memory now
.“
Le
t’
s be on our way
.
”

             
Vim sucked in a breath and held it, squeezing his eyes shut as he pressed the engine engage button. For a moment nothing happened. Then the world exploded in a roar as the rockets caught and fired, sending them straight through the shimmering barrier and out into space. When Vim opened his eyes, he could only see stars reaching out to greet him. He looked over at his companion and cheered, grabbing Trik by the arm and shaking him. After a second the soldier joined in, shouting with joy.

             
The first terrible step behind them, the two aliens prepared for a long journey ahead.

-                           
V                            -

              Alexander was led into Jona
h’
s office by a stone-faced soldier with a mean scar running the length of his neck. The High Chancellor remembered all too well the punishment for miners who abandoned their jobs to fight in the war. That this man had survived a hanging only made him more intimidating. They stopped halfway to the desk, waiting for Jonah to acknowledge their presence.

             
“Why, Alexander, what a nice surprise
.”
Jonah stood, holding his arms out as if for an embrace
.“
You should call before you visit, I would have tidied up a bit
.
”

             
“What do you want, Jonah
?
”

             
The rebel leade
r’
s grin never wavered
.“I’
ve often thought about my own death
,”
he said
.“
I wonder if I would prefer to know that it was coming, or take it unawares
.
”

             
“If yo
u’
d like to exercise that option,
I’
m open to killing you
.
”

             
Jonah laughed
.“
I know you are, Alexander. I
t’
s what I love about you, your devotion to your friends
.”
He poured two glasses of scotch from a decanter on his desk, sipping one before handing the other to Alexander
.“
But seriously, would you want to know
?
”

             
“When
I’
m going to die
?”
The politician thought for a moment
.“
Sure, Jonah.
I’
d love to know when you plan to kill me
.
”

             
“Me
?”
Jonah pretended to be hurt
.“I’
m insulted you could ever think me so callous as to murder my best friend.
I’
ll let the people decide your fate. Put it to a vote
.
”

             
The High Chancellor wrinkled his brow
.“
You still think of me as a friend
.
”