Death Wagon Finale

Death Wagon Finale.

The sedatives have no effect, Nobel personnel keep me pinned to the operating table until the restraints are in place. Laser scalpels whine as they cut through the back of my cheap body armor. The timer on my forearm guard blinks steadily all reading zeros. This should be the part where I become a raging monster determined to bite and infect everything I can get my teeth on. Plastic blocks are horseshoed into my mouth along with a breathing tube.

I can see Billy pounding uselessly on the reinforced glass as the surgeons and Martian delegates carry on. Finally I lose sight of my best friend as my face is shoved down into a hole at the end of the operating table. I can feel the finest steel parting my skin between my shoulder blades. Skilled hands probing around, the clatter of tools, the droning of machines nearby, I beg to pass out but this thing inside me won’t let me.  I feel it all, perfectly purified air whistling over my exposed spinal column. Every nerve tapped, every vessel of blood pushing through my veins. I could hear every whisper between the Nobel grand surgeons the Martians. The people representing Mars keep referring to the parasite as a symbiotic. The doctors are afraid to remove it because it could kill both of us.

Good. Kill us. Just do it.

The thing inside me seems to disagree with my wants as it proposes its own solution…

******** ******** ********** *******

Great. Another bubble lodges itself in my eyelashes obscuring my forward vision as I float suspended in the eight foot tall tank. It could be there for hours. The pale green liquid allows me to see out, and I have no idea how long I have been in here. I don’t sleep, can’t move; just stuck in my own head with the hallway ahead that seems to go on forever. Tubes feeding me nutrients and pumping in proper medications, the one on my left foot always comes loose and it itches. Well at least I get visitors.

The holo screen springs to life next to me as the next tour group enters the hallway. I try to measure time by how many times tours come through. This will be the seven hundredth eighty fifth time I get to see ‘my’ story.  I can half see the action on the screen but I can hear it clear enough. Heard it enough to quote it word for word.

“Our final stop on the tour is the man that saved Earth and Mars. Rapid Emergency Critical Response operator, Curtis Wiles. Known to his fellow paramedics as Suture he and his crew of the Death Wagon unit seven overcame hardship and controversy at the hands of the Aegis Corporation.”

Lady, if you only knew.

“Suture is also the longest carrier of a misdiagnosed symbiote. Formerly known as HEP-Z it was discovered to be a life form from the southern polar cap of Mars.  Studies are still ongoing as to the true purpose of the symbiote, or as the citizens of Mars refer to it as ‘The Martian Rebirth’.”

I hate you.

People crowd in around the tank recording me with various devices. Several of them are wearing red armbands to indicate they received the cure that was procured from the replication of Lacey’s uncompromised immune system.

One day I am going to flip you all off. I have been working on getting one finger to work, just one. The middle one…

The holographic tour guide continues in her musical pleasant voice, “The symbiote was extracted by a joint complex effort involving the best cutting edge technology and telekinetic psychic surgery. In exchange for the symbiote and its independence Mars mass produced the cure provided by Lacey Peterson’s immune system.”

I shut my mind off and focus on the good visits I have had.  Billy used to come by but after the third attempt to bust me out, they barred him from the building.

Around tour three hundred sixty something, Kat and Torq showed. Holding hands, and Kat’s belly slightly swelling with child. There were going to Mars to be married and hopefully live happily ever after.

Charlotte came by a few tours afterwards, she asked me for my blessing in marrying Ryal Jones. What was I supposed to do or say? I’m floating in a tank, dead to the world. So silence equaled compliance as they say in the field.

Savannah still visits me often, having relocated to Nexus Prime.  Most the time she just stands there and looks into my eyes. She reads me stories, tells me how Billy and the world are doing, so in essence I get all my news from her. She even gets to touch the glass when no one else can get within two feet of it without an alarm going off.  I can barely see the residue of her lipstick when she kissed the tank not too long ago.

The tour finally ends; the people as always are in awe. No autographs please.

Maybe the doctors will figure out how to repair the damage one day. Maybe someone will finally pull the plug. At this point I would take either. Just please, no more tours. No more.

******** ******* ******** ********

Billy scratched at his palm as he felt the weight of his mother’s gaze upon him. Concerned and skeptical Savannah watched her son before taking a long drag off her cigarette.  Finally, she spoke. “What you are proposing is insane. He is in a maximum security cryogenic prison.  He is the first man ever to attempt and successfully carry out an act of space piracy. They are not going to let him out.”

Rising to his feet Billy held out his hands in a pleading gesture. “Mom, come on. I just need to see Pops. You have plenty of strings to make that happen. Please, I just can’t leave him like that. I know you hate seeing him like that too.”

Savannah snorted lightly, a smirk on her lips. “I rather like Pops as a popsicle.”

“That is not who I am talking about and you know it.”

“Yes I know. Fine. Let me call your Father. If you get caught, you will be right in there with Pops. Two blockheads of ice.” Savannah flicked her cigarette over the hundred story balcony into the night.

Billy gave his mother a brief hug, before leaving the penthouse. Savannah watched son leave before turning back to the grid like cityscape of Nexus Prime, then to the crimson lights of the Nobel institute. Her thoughts filled with a man she only met once, a noble, desperate man.

Sometimes once was enough for the risks of risks.

(Thank you to all my readers and I hope to keep entertaining you all with my new endeavor, Heretic of Mars!)

Death Wagon 38

Death Wagon 38

Walking through the halls of the massive Nobel building I felt absolutely filthy. The walls were tinged with the lightest blue, soothing and sterile. One could spot a speck of dirt a mile away. The first twenty floors were nothing but class rooms and labs of various sizes. The corridors were insulated to the point I could hear myself think.

“Where did they take Kat?” I inquire of Tesla as she finally stops at one of the labs.

Sliding a key-card Tesla, turns to look at me. I finally I notice her eyes are almost too big for her face. Optical implants. They must have cost a fortune.  I could not help but imagine a tiny click whenever she blinks.  “Your friend will be taken to the twenty fifth floor, Neurological surgery.   She is in the best hands. If we need to, we will summon more experienced surgeons.”

“She is a good friend.” Letting the worry creep into my voice.

Tesla nods and motions with her hand for Lacey, Billy and myself to enter the lab.

“I understand, but Nobel houses the best doctors and students in the world, as I am sure you already know. Trust us to do our job.”  I found myself too fatigued to protest any further.

Billy whistles upon seeing the inside of the lab. Everything was in prime condition. Examination tables that I could see myself dying happily upon. Auto Docs, line the walls, their spindly arms at a relaxed pose. Icarus directs Lacey to sit on the edge of one of the tables. Billy contents himself by poking through the myriad of drawers provoking a frown from Tesla.

“Don’t worry he won’t steal…much.” I say, trying to make light of the situation.

Tesla shakes her head before picking up a hand scanner. “I understand. Field medics such as yourself are always in a hard to do position. As long as he catalogues what he takes within reason, he is welcome to it. Your hand please.”

Reflexively my hand balls into a fist. Tesla does not miss the motion.  “You need an Aegis shot, we have to assess what combination you are going to require before submitting the request to Aegis.”

Tesla blinks, still seeing my reluctance she sets the scanner down. “Perhaps you can just tell me your affliction.” Her voice professionally smooth and eerily soothing as she settles herself into a rolling chair.

“I suffer from L7, I was born with it.” I say, knowing I am just drawing things out needlessly but I have my pride, damn it!

Tesla knows there is more, and patiently waits. Finally I spit it out, “I also have HEP-Z.”

Tesla arches a brow, “I am unfamiliar with the slang. Do you know its proper name?” I can tell she is lying to me, the rattle in her voice giving her away. She wants confirmation of what she just heard.

I clear my throat, “Hyper Evolving Parasite, series twenty six. HEP-Z.”

Tesla leans back in her chair, “How much time do you have left?” her resolve cracking.

Checking my chronometer on my forearm guard, “Twelve hours, seven minutes.”

“How long have you had it?” Tesla’s voice came overly quick.

“Eight years.”

Tesla blinks, her fear battling morbid curiosity now. “That is not possible. The Aegis shot would have eradicated it by the third year. We have compiled data on it.”

Billy interrupts Tesla, “Data issued by Aegis, right?”

“Yes! But…What are you suggesting?” Tesla stammers.

“The Aegis shot does not cure anything. It suppresses, so everyone gets the treatment every year. People are not becoming infected repeatedly, because it never left to begin with. We have proof the data they submit is corrupt.” I say, taking no pleasure in dashing Tesla’s view of Aegis against the rocks. Well…maybe a little.

Shivering, Tesla points to an examination table. “I want to see for myself. If what you say is true, we can begin to compile an investigation.”

I pull the data crystal from my pocket, “The Martians have already done that.”

“That is against protocol. We do this by the book.” Tesla was rigid in her stance on the matter.

Shrugging I worked the straps of my body armor loose and laid down upon the table. Tesla was there in an instant, the warmth of various scanners and arrays running over me. Her oversized eyes fail to blink, fingers clattering over the keyboard. Monitors lit up spewing data in a shower of green and black.  She gasps her face paling, “I’ve seen samples and images of this, but never one this big.”

Turning my head slightly, trying to get a glimpse of the monitor. Billy looks like he is about to vomit. “Let me see it.”  I say. If this thing was going to kill me, I at least wanted to see it.

After a few more key strokes, Tesla timidly turns the monitor towards me.  The image on the screen looks like a small black disc, about two inches in diameter along my spine between the shoulder blades. Tesla magnified the image. I could see micro thread like tendrils spread out from the main body, throughout my own. Nanites crowded by body of parasite the majority of them lay dark and still.

“It looks like a Jellyfish, Suture.” Billy remarks off handedly.

Icarus and Lacey appear at the side of the examination table. Tesla frowns, “It does look like the sea creature, Billy.   You said you have L7, Suture?”

Nodding grimly I can’t take my eyes off the image on the monitor. “Since birth.”

Tesla folds her hands together, “There is no presence of it, as if you never had it. Not even the nerve damage it leaves when it is cured.”

I had some trouble digesting the news, feeling my head cant to the side. Fatigue took hold and the world goes fuzzy. I can hear words and time slows to a crawl. It was too much. I can feel my brain shut off as my eyes remained glued to the screen with the picture of the parasite on it.  I just want to sleep, and never wake. Sleep, like the thing inside me.

Billy is now frantically shaking me and resorts to a slap. The hamster in my head kicks over and I look at Billy with bleary eyes. His words come into focus, “Suture! We got company!”

With lead filled limbs I can see the stim-patch Billy hit me with on the back of my hand. The warm sensation of the patch races up my arm, I can feel my pores open and my skin gets pink and flush. Every nerve springs to life, the blood pounding in my ears as my heart rate rockets. Turning to where Billy is pointing I take in the sight of a pair of security guards. Elegantly smooth and shined head to toe body armor in white and red, toting what looked to be pistol sized crossbows.  Tesla is already on her feet approaching the guards.  The guard tilts his head to look down at Tesla, the mirror sheen of the visor giving away no emotion. The other remains in a fixed stance, crossbow in hand pointed at Billy and myself.

Billy grips his pistol, a useless gesture and he knows it. Icarus and Lacey freeze, the kid in the middle of obtaining a third sample, the tube attached to a strap rig, hanging from Lacey’s arm full of sloshing cells.  The rig beeps noisily to signal that the vial is full. Out of reflex Icarus pulls the container out and grips it wordlessly in his hand.

Tesla frowns, confronting the guard, shifting to a stance of authority. “What are you doing in here?”

The scratch static of a comm sounds as the guard replies. “The Grand Physicians have been alerted to your activity. You will come with us. All of you.”

Billy whispers in my ear, “Tesla sent the request for your Aegis shot, seconds later the whole place went buggy.” Great…

I shift on the examine table, my hands are jittery and with stimulant flooding through the body my bowels tell me I really need to go to the bathroom. Tesla puffs out her tiny chest, “Really? And go through the sanitation routine and scans that take at least four hours? We don’t have the time; this man has less than three hours to get his Aegis shot renewed.”

I look at my timer, as it blinks just below eleven hour mark. Panic welled up in my already hyped up actions, she had to be bluffing! Please let her be bluffing!  Billy asserts his grip upon my shoulder trying to keep me down.

The guard’s static burst comes forth, looking stoic behind the faceless helmet. “We have our orders.”

“Tele-conference then! I am not leaving, they are not leaving and I really do not foresee you using that crossbow. So either prove me wrong or right. I have work to do!” Tesla ends her statement with a stamp of her foot and a snarl that would cow any patient.

Wordlessly the armored security guards raise their aim and unleash their bolts. Bill curses and yanks me down over the side of the examination table.  Billy stifles an annoyed cry as a bolt catches him in the deltoid. Stars explode before my eyes, the wind bursting from my lungs as I hit the floor.  Sucking wind, I see Lacey grab Icarus and tuck him behind another exam table. Billy wings a steel tray at one of the guards before ducking back down. Bolts hiss and impact with the table.  Tesla comes out her shocked daze and starts battering uselessly at the guards.

Realizing she can’t stop them, Tesla puts herself in the arc of fire only to be shoved aside by the guard she was attempting to intimidate, causing her to crash into a automated diagnostic stand. The strings on the crossbows wind back under the power of the micro motors locking another bolt in place. Curt static erupts as the guard speaks again, “We are now authorized to use deadly force. This is your last chance. Come with us or we will terminate you.”

Casting a look at Billy, I slowly nod sitting up and raising my hands in surrender. More guards from the hallway pour in crossbows at the ready. Following in behind the white and crimson clad guards swept a billowing cloaked, Cardinal Richelieu and his crew. Billy glowered, teeth bared upon seeing the former company man. “You fucking traitor! You sold Mamma out!”

Billy started to move forward, barely aware of the weapons pointed at him. Grabbing him from behind, I struggle to pull my best friend back trying to keep him from doing something everyone was going to regret.  Cardinal Richelieu idly toyed with the end of his mustache watching Billy with a bemused expression. Shifting his gaze towards me I watched the Cardinal’s eyes grow cold. “Suture.”

The scraps of willpower I could pull together refused to bond strong enough to stay professional. I spit at the Cardinal’s feet.  “Good to see you too, Kelly.” Knowing full well using Cardinal Richelieu’s real name was an additional insult.

A crack in the Cardinal’s demeanor immediately emerged, his hand snaked to the rapier slung at his side. Glancing at the guards Cardinal Richelieu stops himself and chuckles. “Ah, Suture. Diving into the past when you have nothing left. Don’t you understand this…this is the end?”

Waving a hand about in a flourish before continuing, “You can’t stand against this, for this is God’s will. He made the world it is the way it is now because of the folly of man.”

Before I could say anything, Lacey chimes in. “The folly of man? All this is produced because of greed!  That maybe part of man but this is not ‘God’s will’!”

Richelieu snaps, his cheeks flushing red and half draws his sword as his crew intervenes. Screaming bible passages, the Cardinal is hauled back towards the door, his gaze spitting venom at Lacey.  “You will be the first!” The rest of his words are cut off as he is moved out the door of the lab.

Tesla collides with my leg, clamping on a hug. I keep my hands high not wanting the kid to be shot as she begins to cry. “I’m sorry. I am so sorry!”

The guards pull her away, and motion for Icarus to follow them. Icarus bowing his head complies and the guards begin to back out of the room.  I keep my hands where they can be seen, “Wait! I thought we were going with you!” I say suddenly confused, again.

Without answer the guards, shut the door, and the tell-tale buzz of a magnetic lock being engaged ends with a click. Trapping us in the lab.

Slump sliding against the wall, I curl my knees up towards my chest. My resolve gives out and my body wracks with shuddering sobs. If Tesla was telling the truth, it was too late to even get the Aegis shot; the procedure would take too long. Three hours left and now I was locked in a room with my best friend and humanity’s last hope. Both I would end up trying to kill in a matter of a couple of hours.

Billy paces the room, shoving tables and throwing a fit. Taking auto-doc he muscles it over to crash on the floor. “What the hell are we suppose to do now?”

Lacey pads over to my side and crouches near me, “Suture.”

I shake my head, “Get away, Lacey. It is over. I got nothing left.”

Billy continues to maul the dormant autho-doc, kicking at the machine. Pulling at the delicate mechanical arms until an arm comes free. Still not satisfied he uses ruined arm to beat at the metal body and fragile screens.

A reassuring hand rests on my knee as Lacey barks at Billy, “Knock it off, Billy!  Get over here and help me.”

“What is the point, Lacey? Even the people we came to for help have turned on us.” I mumble.

Billy ambles over, finally remembering the bolt in his deltoid and rips it out. Obviously, it did not pierce his body armor.  His anger fades as soon as he takes in the sight of me.  Wordlessly, he joins Lacey.

“Thousands of people died to get us this far.  Millions more will follow if we don’t get this data out to the world. Now pull yourself together, and get us out of here!” Lacey tried to shake me out of the stupor I was in with her words.

I sniff looking to Billy, “You promised me you would do the deed when HEP-Z finally took me. Well the time is here. Ace me. It is the only chance you both have.”

Billy makes a face, steeling his breath. “Yeah, I promised that.”

Lacey blanches, “NO! You can’t!  Not like this!”

Keeping my eyes on Billy, resigning myself to what I know had to be done. “Then get to it.”

Billy raises his arm that held the improvised club. I close my eyes not wanting to see my friend brain me. “Just make it quick.”

“You can’t! Billy please, don’t do it!”

Seconds tick by as I wait, still nothing. Metal clatters on the floor near my feet causing me to open an eye. “You promised me, Billy.”

Snorting Billy shakes his head in a negative fashion. “You know me, I am shit with promises.”

Anger boils up, “You both want to die? What is wrong with you two?” I nearly shove Lacey away as I move to my feet to face off with Billy.

Billy gets nose to nose with me his look was one of equal anger. I was going to make my friend kill me so he could live a little longer. His cigarette laden halitosis washes over my face as he speaks in a low growl, “We’re medics. We preserve life!”

Stepping back, Billy stays in my face. “We oathed it! We all did! Time and time again, we give it all we got, every day!  It is not about the credits, it is not about the fame, it is about doing what is right by the oath we swore!”

Turning my head away, “You don’t believe that, Billy. You never did.”

My head is wrenched back to look at Billy, as he spits, “No. I don’t.” His voice softens, lowering in volume. “But you do.”

Billy finally gets out my face as the words sink in. “Now get out of that ditch your head is in and get us out of here.”

Gazing about the room my eyes fall to gurney. If they wanted to die with me, fine. “The door is magnetically locked. We would need a key card to get passed it.”

Billy shrugs, “Which we don’t have. So I guess we will have to make one.”

Lacey frowns, “Make one?”

Billy smiles, “Yeah, make one. A good shock to the magnetic block and it will pop open.”

She looks at the door warily, “There will be guards outside.”

Pushing the gurney I start checking out the options on it. “Good. We are going to need their weapons.”

 

 

Death Wagon 37

Death Wagon 37

Working our way towards Nobel I answer as many questions as Lacey informs me about the institute. It houses the best medical minds in the world. It is true neutral ground, in the past one could literally walk into the building and do research or talk to these geniuses of medicine science. They catalogued all the medical knowledge and protocol in recorded history. I knew all this already, but just hearing again made me feel very small with my own knowledge of the medical field.

Billy made a ‘jacking off’ motion as I went on in awe about Nobel. “If those bastards are so helpful, why didn’t they grant you the loan to learn on the campus? Your scores for entry were up there from what you tell me. They gave you a pat on the head, and sent you on your way.”

Letting a sigh out, I shrug heavily. “I was born with L7. That automatically makes me a class five citizen. Then catching HEP-Z made me a one. They wouldn’t touch me.”

The mention of the HEP-Z tenses Billy. I let curiosity get the better of me. “Something on your mind, Billy?” I ask.

A fist flies into my face in reply, and Billy plasters himself against the passenger door. “You are dick!”

Stars swim in front of my eyes as I hold my jaw. “What?”

Billy, fumes. “What the hell man? You didn’t want to tell me in person?”

Clearing the cobwebs, I keep my free arm up defensively. “About what?”

Lacey holds Torq back from interfering. Billy looks more hurt than I feel. “About the shot, how you can’t afford it. You put on this brave face like everything is ok, when in what? Less than a day you are going to try and eat my face?”

“Kat told you?” I ask and Billy swoops in punching me in the ear. Jerking back in the seat I shout. “What was that one for?”

Billy’s features cascade to appall now, “You told Kat before me? You double dick!”

I snap glaring towards my best friend. “I just couldn’t do it anymore. Eight years! Eight long years of housing this thing in me. Thirty nine years of Aegis shots, that is hell. On over half of them I could never afford for them to put me out when they did the procedure!”

Billy’s face pales, stunned at the news. His throat lumps, “I get my shot a month before you. You mean all those times I had to borrow credits to pay for the sedatives from you…”

I jut my chin out defiantly. “A few times, yeah. Not every time.” I can feel my anger fading into exhaustion already.

Billy wipes at his eyes, “Why would you do that? For me?”

Turning my gaze to the steering wheel, I lower my hands. “Because you are cre- my friend. The best friend I have.”

He looks out the window away from me, “You are still a dick.” He mutters bitterly.

Shifting my jaw I turn the wheel guiding the ambulance down the street. “So if Kat didn’t tell you, who did?”

Billy clears his throat, “I…I…uh hacked your account a while back. Since you started acting all weird.”

“Now who is the dick?” I say sarcastically.

“Hey! You knew what kind of person I was when I signed on. What I do shouldn’t be a surprise.” Billy retorts.

“Touché.”

******* *********** ************* *********

Driving for another two hours, I get that itching feeling we are being followed. Periodically a patrol car would cross our path or come up behind the rig. In turn they would trail us a ways and then pull away as if not to spook us just yet.

Billy rubs his eyes, having been staring at the data pads and occasionally mumbling. “Nothing. I got nothing. They got that system locked tight. I can access their protocols as that are public record but anything concerning getting in there is a no go. We’d have to have clearance we just don’t have.”

Lacey and Torq shared another pad, reading through whatever they had gotten a hold of. Kat rotated the turret now and then letting me know she was still active. “We are still about twenty minutes out from Nobel, we need a way in. Does anyone have anything?” I ask not really expecting a response.

“I think I found something, Suture.” Lacey said stifling a yawn.

Noting another patrol car tailing us, this one was being a bit bolder than the others. “What is it, Lacey?” I ask, as the vehicle pulls within scanning range behind the ambulance.

“Nobel is an institute for medical practice and of course education.”

Billy cuts in, “We already know that.”

“Stop cutting me off, you ass.” Lacey glowers at the navigator before continuing. “As I was saying it is a place for education. It also functions as a medical facility during emergencies.”

This perks my interest, “What kind of emergencies?” this was so simple it made me feel foolish for over thinking the problem.

“Any. They are bound by the laws of the United Nations. They cannot bar access to those in distress.”

Billy gives a short laugh, “The United Nations? That joke died nearly ninety years ago.”

Ignoring him I wince as the patrol car hits it lights signaling for us to pull over. “What is the status of that law? Oh by the way, we have company.”

Lacey scratches the stubble on her head. “It says the law is still in place.”

Instead of pulling over I punch the lights and sirens, accelerating the rig. I nod towards Billy a grin springing to my lips, “You heard the lady, pipe that in to Nobel!”

The officer did not take us not heeding the request to stop very well. Buzzing angrily behind the rig ineffectively, I could see it had no visible weapons. He was just making a lot of noise. Billy looks back towards the pursing car, “What is he doing? He has no back up.”

Squinting, Billy continues, “He is not even on the comm. He is just driving like an idiot.”

I figure we don’t have time for this, “Kat…junk his tires and let’s lose him.” I say, growing irritate at the noise of the patrol car’s shrill siren.

Taking a sharp turn, watching civilian vehicles get out of the way. Blue clad citizens scattering or stopping on the sidewalk to watch Death Wagon roar by. A frown reaches my lips as I fail to hear the thundering chug of Kat’s machine guns. “Kat? What’s the hold up?”

Torq speaks up, “She says he is not a problem, she has…convinced him to help us. He is an escort. She also says we have to hurry she can’t hold onto him for much longer.”

For once I am grateful at how powerful Kat’s abilities were becoming. Billy distracts me as he clamps a hand over his mouth to stop from laughing. Blacking out the screen on the data pad he snorts and composes himself. “What now?” I ask pulling Death Wagon back on course towards Nobel.

Billy just shakes his head, “You are not going to believe this. Ready?” Before I can nod he flicks the screen back on. A yawning freckle faced of a boy that couldn’t be over thirteen blinks blearily on the pad.

“Junior archive administrator Icarus Hill speaking. Why have you activated emergency protocol…” He glances away to obviously read something. “United Nations one, clause sixty seven?”

The red glow of Nobel looms ahead as I push the accelerator, traffic parting to make way and the shrill of the patrol car wailing behind us. Billy chews his lip. He does this when he about to give someone the truth.

“Well we have an emergency obviously, Junior.”

Nonplused the kid yawns again, “That is Junior Archive Administrator to you, sir. Who are you anyways, and what is the nature of the emergency?”

Billy holds up his hands, “Well excuse me, Junior Archive Administrator Icarus Hill. We actually have more than one emergency. My driver needs an Aegis shot in less than sixteen hours. We also got a member of the Martian royal family that has a head injury, and oh yeah, we have a woman with an active immunity system. That enough of an emergency for you?”

The kid doesn’t seem to take it in, “I can route you to the nearest clinic. The closest Mars embassy is…wait…what? You are making a claim that you have someone with an actual active immunity system?” Ah, the hamster in the kid’s head was waking up…

Billy smiles and puts on the charm, “That’s right, all that and a bag of soy chips. Tell me something ki- Junior Administrator, Icarus. What did you do to land the duty of monitoring these ancient back channels?”

The kid shifts nervously, “Nothing. All junior administrators have to take on this duty for a short time.”

Billy chuckles, “Rrrriiiggghhhttt. What you do, kiss the wrong girl? Steal some rations?”

Shaking his head the kid huffed, “It was nothing like that.”

“Oh, so it was something.”

Glaring from the pad the kid, finally gave in. “I wasn’t ready for the spectral anatomy test, so I quarantined the classroom. I needed more time to study.”

Billy laughs and even I smile. “Icarus I would have done the same thing. Look we are right on top of the building; we need a bay to pull into.”

The kid wipes an eye, “I don’t have clearance to let you in.”

Billy cocks a brow, “But you don’t have the clearance to keep us out either.”

The screen splits as another face appears yawning, with wise doe eyes wiping away sleep. “Icarus, who you talking to? It is nearly four in the morning.”

Billy jumps in before Icarus, “My name is Billy, and we have an emergency situation. Icarus here was about to let us in. So what bay, Icarus?”

Icarus winces, “I told you I don’t have the clearance to do that. Go back to sleep, Tesla. I’m sorry we can’t help you and I am not going to wake up the Senior administrators.”

Tesla apparently had other ideas, “Bay one zero one. I can see you already on the camera. Where you from?”

I grin as I angle Death Wagon towards a roll door that lights up and begins to open. “We’re from Stratus City, and thank you, Tesla.” Billy sets the pad down as the rig rolls into the open bay.

********* ********** ********* *********** *********
I shut down the engine and turn to see the patrol car pull in behind us. Looks like Kat finally lost her control on the officer, as he swings the door open and crouched behind it pistol drawn. Billy pulls his sidearm and calls to the patrolman. “Look pal, I don’t want to hurt you. We have wounded here.”

The door on the left side of the bay opens and a small gang of six kids barely in their teens rushes into the room with a gurney, lead by Tesla. The officer lines up his shot and pulls the trigger. Nothing. Billy flinches, and tries his own gun. Nothing.

“What gives? The trigger is stuck!” Billy cocks the slide on his firearm, and fumes. “What the hell?!?”

Icarus runs in after the gaggle of children, “We are going to get into so much trouble for this!”

Tesla views the scene and waves the others towards the rig ignoring the attempted gun battle. “You might as well put the guns away they don’t work here. All firearms are chipped they don’t work in the building. Nobel is a place of absolute neutrality. If you really want to, you can take it outside.”

The officer grabs his radio yelling for backup half way through his request he slumps down, radio clattering from his hand. I glance back as Kat nearly falls from the turret stirrups. Blood coursing from her nostrils, her eyes flutter shut. Panic fills my chest as Torq moves to steady her.

Getting Kat on the gurney the kids immediately start hooking her to oxygen and data readers. Tesla looks to me, “Icarus filled me in on the injuries vaguely. What is her status, know afflictions.”

Baffled, I ramble out what Telsa requests of me. “Where are the adults? You are just a bunch of kids.” Billy states just as confused as I am.

Tesla motions for the gurney to be taken away, and sets her hands on her hips. Torq goes with Kat, not letting go of her hand.

Looking paradoxically tough Tesla juts out her chin towards Billy. “They are sleeping and have other things to do. We are ALL qualified to handle the nature of these emergencies. Save for your friend’s Aegis shot. Now, if you want to see my qualifications I will take you to the nearest chip reader and you can read all eight pages of it.”

I have never seen Billy put in his place so neatly, and it is my turn to keep from laughing. Billy crosses his arms in defeat, “Fine. Do your thing.”

Tesla snaps her heels and turns away from Billy, having another crew check on the fallen officer. They report the officer is unconscious. Light bruising on the neck but no other damage, the new crew hoists and wheels him away.

Sticking with Tesla and Icarus, I motion for Lacey. Tesla is deep in her game, “What afflictions do you have, ma’am?” she asks with practiced poise.

Lacey shrugs, “According to my companions I don’t have any.” Icarus, shakes his head and pulls out a bio scanner. “Everyone has something.”

After a few waves of the scanner, Icarus pales. Telsa looks over at the readout. “That is not possible, Miss…”

Lacey sighs, “My name is Lacey. Lacey Peterson.”

Tesla pulls her own bio scanner, “Nothing on the spectrum, nothing at all. I’m running the whole range.” Glancing up Tesla, steps back utterly amazed. “Would you mind submitting some tissue samples?”

Lacey chuckles bitterly, “I thought you’d never ask.”

******* ******** ********* **************

Death Wagon 37

Death Wagon 37

Working our way towards Nobel I answer as many questions as Lacey informs me about the institute. It houses the best medical minds in the world. It is true neutral ground, in the past one could literally walk into the building and do research or talk to these geniuses of medicine science. They catalogued all the medical knowledge and protocol in recorded history. I knew all this already, but just hearing again made me feel very small with my own knowledge of the medical field.

Billy made a ‘jacking off’ motion as I went on in awe about Nobel. “If those bastards are so helpful, why didn’t they grant you the loan to learn on the campus? Your scores for entry were up there from what you tell me. They gave you a pat on the head, and sent you on your way.”

Letting a sigh out, I shrug heavily. “I was born with L7. That automatically makes me a class five citizen. Then catching HEP-Z made me a one. They wouldn’t touch me.”

The mention of the HEP-Z tenses Billy. I let curiosity get the better of me. “Something on your mind, Billy?” I ask.

A fist flies into my face in reply, and Billy plasters himself against the passenger door. “You are dick!”

Stars swim in front of my eyes as I hold my jaw. “What?”

Billy, fumes. “What the hell man? You didn’t want to tell me in person?”

Clearing the cobwebs, I keep my free arm up defensively. “About what?”

Lacey holds Torq back from interfering. Billy looks more hurt than I feel. “About the shot, how you can’t afford it. You put on this brave face like everything is ok, when in what? Less than a day you are going to try and eat my face?”

“Kat told you?” I ask and Billy swoops in punching me in the ear. Jerking back in the seat I shout. “What was that one for?”

Billy’s features cascade to appall now, “You told Kat before me? You double dick!”

I snap glaring towards my best friend. “I just couldn’t do it anymore. Eight years! Eight long years of housing this thing in me. Thirty nine years of Aegis shots, that is hell. On over half of them I could never afford for them to put me out when they did the procedure!”

Billy’s face pales, stunned at the news. His throat lumps, “I get my shot a month before you. You mean all those times I had to borrow credits to pay for the sedatives from you…”

I jut my chin out defiantly. “A few times, yeah. Not every time.” I can feel my anger fading into exhaustion already.

Billy wipes at his eyes, “Why would you do that? For me?”

Turning my gaze to the steering wheel, I lower my hands. “Because you are cre- my friend. The best friend I have.”

He looks out the window away from me, “You are still a dick.” He mutters bitterly.

Shifting my jaw I turn the wheel guiding the ambulance down the street. “So if Kat didn’t tell you, who did?”

Billy clears his throat, “I…I…uh hacked your account a while back. Since you started acting all weird.”

“Now who is the dick?” I say sarcastically.

“Hey! You knew what kind of person I was when I signed on. What I do shouldn’t be a surprise.” Billy retorts.

“Touché.”

******* *********** ************* *********

Driving for another two hours, I get that itching feeling we are being followed. Periodically a patrol car would cross our path or come up behind the rig. In turn they would trail us a ways and then pull away as if not to spook us just yet.

Billy rubs his eyes, having been staring at the data pads and occasionally mumbling. “Nothing. I got nothing. They got that system locked tight. I can access their protocols as that are public record but anything concerning getting in there is a no go. We’d have to have clearance we just don’t have.”

Lacey and Torq shared another pad, reading through whatever they had gotten a hold of. Kat rotated the turret now and then letting me know she was still active. “We are still about twenty minutes out from Nobel, we need a way in. Does anyone have anything?” I ask not really expecting a response.

“I think I found something, Suture.” Lacey said stifling a yawn.

Noting another patrol car tailing us, this one was being a bit bolder than the others. “What is it, Lacey?” I ask, as the vehicle pulls within scanning range behind the ambulance.

“Nobel is an institute for medical practice and of course education.”

Billy cuts in, “We already know that.”

“Stop cutting me off, you ass.” Lacey glowers at the navigator before continuing. “As I was saying it is a place for education. It also functions as a medical facility during emergencies.”

This perks my interest, “What kind of emergencies?” this was so simple it made me feel foolish for over thinking the problem.

“Any. They are bound by the laws of the United Nations. They cannot bar access to those in distress.”

Billy gives a short laugh, “The United Nations? That joke died nearly ninety years ago.”

Ignoring him I wince as the patrol car hits it lights signaling for us to pull over. “What is the status of that law? Oh by the way, we have company.”

Lacey scratches the stubble on her head. “It says the law is still in place.”

Instead of pulling over I punch the lights and sirens, accelerating the rig. I nod towards Billy a grin springing to my lips, “You heard the lady, pipe that in to Nobel!”

The officer did not take us not heeding the request to stop very well. Buzzing angrily behind the rig ineffectively, I could see it had no visible weapons. He was just making a lot of noise. Billy looks back towards the pursing car, “What is he doing? He has no back up.”

Squinting, Billy continues, “He is not even on the comm. He is just driving like an idiot.”

I figure we don’t have time for this, “Kat…junk his tires and let’s lose him.” I say, growing irritate at the noise of the patrol car’s shrill siren.

Taking a sharp turn, watching civilian vehicles get out of the way. Blue clad citizens scattering or stopping on the sidewalk to watch Death Wagon roar by. A frown reaches my lips as I fail to hear the thundering chug of Kat’s machine guns. “Kat? What’s the hold up?”

Torq speaks up, “She says he is not a problem, she has…convinced him to help us. He is an escort. She also says we have to hurry she can’t hold onto him for much longer.”

For once I am grateful at how powerful Kat’s abilities were becoming. Billy distracts me as he clamps a hand over his mouth to stop from laughing. Blacking out the screen on the data pad he snorts and composes himself. “What now?” I ask pulling Death Wagon back on course towards Nobel.

Billy just shakes his head, “You are not going to believe this. Ready?” Before I can nod he flicks the screen back on. A yawning freckle faced of a boy that couldn’t be over thirteen blinks blearily on the pad.

“Junior archive administrator Icarus Hill speaking. Why have you activated emergency protocol…” He glances away to obviously read something. “United Nations one, clause sixty seven?”

The red glow of Nobel looms ahead as I push the accelerator, traffic parting to make way and the shrill of the patrol car wailing behind us. Billy chews his lip. He does this when he about to give someone the truth.

“Well we have an emergency obviously, Junior.”

Nonplused the kid yawns again, “That is Junior Archive Administrator to you, sir. Who are you anyways, and what is the nature of the emergency?”

Billy holds up his hands, “Well excuse me, Junior Archive Administrator Icarus Hill. We actually have more than one emergency. My driver needs an Aegis shot in less than sixteen hours. We also got a member of the Martian royal family that has a head injury, and oh yeah, we have a woman with an active immunity system. That enough of an emergency for you?”

The kid doesn’t seem to take it in, “I can route you to the nearest clinic. The closest Mars embassy is…wait…what? You are making a claim that you have someone with an actual active immunity system?” Ah, the hamster in the kid’s head was waking up…

Billy smiles and puts on the charm, “That’s right, all that and a bag of soy chips. Tell me something ki- Junior Administrator, Icarus. What did you do to land the duty of monitoring these ancient back channels?”

The kid shifts nervously, “Nothing. All junior administrators have to take on this duty for a short time.”

Billy chuckles, “Rrrriiiggghhhttt. What you do, kiss the wrong girl? Steal some rations?”

Shaking his head the kid huffed, “It was nothing like that.”

“Oh, so it was something.”

Glaring from the pad the kid, finally gave in. “I wasn’t ready for the spectral anatomy test, so I quarantined the classroom. I needed more time to study.”

Billy laughs and even I smile. “Icarus I would have done the same thing. Look we are right on top of the building; we need a bay to pull into.”

The kid wipes an eye, “I don’t have clearance to let you in.”

Billy cocks a brow, “But you don’t have the clearance to keep us out either.”

The screen splits as another face appears yawning, with wise doe eyes wiping away sleep. “Icarus, who you talking to? It is nearly four in the morning.”

Billy jumps in before Icarus, “My name is Billy, and we have an emergency situation. Icarus here was about to let us in. So what bay, Icarus?”

Icarus winces, “I told you I don’t have the clearance to do that. Go back to sleep, Tesla. I’m sorry we can’t help you and I am not going to wake up the Senior administrators.”

Tesla apparently had other ideas, “Bay one zero one. I can see you already on the camera. Where you from?”

I grin as I angle Death Wagon towards a roll door that lights up and begins to open. “We’re from Stratus City, and thank you, Tesla.” Billy sets the pad down as the rig rolls into the open bay.

********* ********** ********* *********** *********
I shut down the engine and turn to see the patrol car pull in behind us. Looks like Kat finally lost her control on the officer, as he swings the door open and crouched behind it pistol drawn. Billy pulls his sidearm and calls to the patrolman. “Look pal, I don’t want to hurt you. We have wounded here.”

The door on the left side of the bay opens and a small gang of six kids barely in their teens rushes into the room with a gurney, lead by Tesla. The officer lines up his shot and pulls the trigger. Nothing. Billy flinches, and tries his own gun. Nothing.

“What gives? The trigger is stuck!” Billy cocks the slide on his firearm, and fumes. “What the hell?!?”

Icarus runs in after the gaggle of children, “We are going to get into so much trouble for this!”

Tesla views the scene and waves the others towards the rig ignoring the attempted gun battle. “You might as well put the guns away they don’t work here. All firearms are chipped they don’t work in the building. Nobel is a place of absolute neutrality. If you really want to, you can take it outside.”

The officer grabs his radio yelling for backup half way through his request he slumps down, radio clattering from his hand. I glance back as Kat nearly falls from the turret stirrups. Blood coursing from her nostrils, her eyes flutter shut. Panic fills my chest as Torq moves to steady her.

Getting Kat on the gurney the kids immediately start hooking her to oxygen and data readers. Tesla looks to me, “Icarus filled me in on the injuries vaguely. What is her status, know afflictions.”

Baffled, I ramble out what Telsa requests of me. “Where are the adults? You are just a bunch of kids.” Billy states just as confused as I am.

Tesla motions for the gurney to be taken away, and sets her hands on her hips. Torq goes with Kat, not letting go of her hand.

Looking paradoxically tough Tesla juts out her chin towards Billy. “They are sleeping and have other things to do. We are ALL qualified to handle the nature of these emergencies. Save for your friend’s Aegis shot. Now, if you want to see my qualifications I will take you to the nearest chip reader and you can read all eight pages of it.”

I have never seen Billy put in his place so neatly, and it is my turn to keep from laughing. Billy crosses his arms in defeat, “Fine. Do your thing.”

Tesla snaps her heels and turns away from Billy, having another crew check on the fallen officer. They report the officer is unconscious. Light bruising on the neck but no other damage, the new crew hoists and wheels him away.

Sticking with Tesla and Icarus, I motion for Lacey. Tesla is deep in her game, “What afflictions do you have, ma’am?” she asks with practiced poise.

Lacey shrugs, “According to my companions I don’t have any.” Icarus, shakes his head and pulls out a bio scanner. “Everyone has something.”

After a few waves of the scanner, Icarus pales. Telsa looks over at the readout. “That is not possible, Miss…”

Lacey sighs, “My name is Lacey. Lacey Peterson.”

Tesla pulls her own bio scanner, “Nothing on the spectrum, nothing at all. I’m running the whole range.” Glancing up Tesla, steps back utterly amazed. “Would you mind submitting some tissue samples?”

Lacey chuckles bitterly, “I thought you’d never ask.”

******* ******** ********* **************

Death Wagon 4

The smoking ambulance disappears through the gates, both Billy and I watch the wreck until it is out of sight. The guard at the shack leans on the side of the driver door as I roll down the window. His look goes from bored to curious. “Hey, Suture. You are not scheduled to be back for at least another seven hours. Got a hiccup?”

I dislike lying but sometimes it is the way things go. I shrug to the man, “Com trouble, Watts. Flying blind, pulling in for a diagnostic. Is Momma in?”

Watts scratches his chin as if trying to remember, and shifts his shoulders in a fidget. Grabbing a data pad, he paws over the screen. “Damn Neo-Chinese coms are not worth their weight in scrap. Yeah, here she is. Been here since yesterday. She is probably in the tower. Who is covering for you?”

I grin, “Happened upon Fenris, he said he’d do it, for a modest fee of course.”

Watts returns the grin wryly, pushing himself off the side of the rig. He might seem happy but I know he would be expecting a small donation to his ‘retirement fund’ for a decent bay. Saying that I already paid Fenris for something just kept him from asking, but it would ensure that we got a crap position likely on the far side of the complex. Checking the pad once again, Watts shook his head. “Man, we are short handed. Looks like some techs are coming off break. I’ll slot you in Hangar Eighteen. Best I can do.”

You fucking pirate… I keep my cool, but in my mind I am jamming my gun up his ass and pulling the trigger until it clicks. “That will be fine, I guess. Thanks a lot Watts.” Dick.

Watts motions for the gate to be opened, and waves us through. Billy pipes up, calling out to the guard. “Hey we were behind the wrecker, what happened to the Double Deuce?”

Watts pauses, closing in on the ambulance again. Honest regret filling his grizzled expression. “They were down in Sector three, north side peeking south, heading for a gang shoot out. Bearing two four one. We lost com with them, when we got Sat-Nav on again they were a smoking wreck. Everyone got gacked. Same call you chimed in on…weird huh?”

Rolling up the window again, I didn’t want to hear anymore. If Watts wasn’t yanking my chain, that put the Double Deuce on the opposite end of the scene four minutes after we left. “Yeah weird.”

I shift the rig back into drive and enter the complex. Billy looked shocked, “You heard him, right? Still think it is a coincidence? It’s because of the chick we got in the back. We got trouble and it is getting real clear how much.”

I really wasn’t in the mood, “Stow it. We get to the bay then we run her to output to see what condition she is in. We dump her off on the first reasonable price offered. In the meantime we need to get the kid outfitted.”

Still Billy presses on, driving the point home like steel knife into my conscience. Billy is usually high strung but this time it looks like the string snapped. He punched the dashboard, his face flushes with anger. “No. Not this time. When we lost Sat-Nav, Regal thought we were in trouble and came in to back us up. His crew got smoked because of us! He was less than a year from retirement!”

Gripping the wheel, I could feel myself shaking. “Billy…Get the girl to Output. Take a break, smoke a dozen cigarettes, and I will meet up with you after I outfit the kid.”

Billy knew he crossed the line, but held his stance. Nearing spitting, “Yes, sir.” He retorted.

The tarmac was abuzz with activity. Ambulances of various configurations lined the bays, techs swarming the rigs. Suppliers ran wheelbarrows of gear, distributing to various requester and their ambulances. Keeping the speed low, we pull into the ominous Hangar Eighteen. It put us on the worst side of the retrofitted airport. Medics are a superstitious lot. This hangar was considered cursed; it was right next to the rig graveyard. Every rig that was serviced in that structure would suddenly be prone to break downs, or become haunted, and soon to be added to the graveyard. Of course this was just a superstition, and I put no stock in such things.

The techs that worked the bay were juvenile delinquents roped into labor by the company because their parents couldn’t pay for the help provided by RECR. Sins of the father, and all that. Getting out of the ambulance, I once again spy the wrecker hauling Regal’s rig. It was dumped without ceremony into the growing field of junked ambulances. My head pounded, I really want that drink now.

Billy shakes his head, and moves to the back, getting the motorized gurney powered up to transport the girl we rescued from the Jacker shootout. She was still motionless; Billy throws a trauma blanket over her before wheeling her out. I nod to Torq, “Let’s go kid.”

I smack Kat’s dangling foot as I exit out the back, as I pick up a box of soy bars. “Paperwork time.” Kat coughs softly in a mock petite fashion. I look back into the rig; she wasn’t coming out of the turret. Forgetting my anger momentarily I joke with her. “Oh, you are sick? So is everyone else on the planet. We have some back logs to take care of it we want to get paid. But if you are sick we’ll get you a cot and you can do ALL the paperwork.”

Several panels light up as Kat activates a diagnostics check on the rig. I grin; the girl was sometimes too smart for her own good. The system scan would take hours, and of course it would have top be monitored constantly. Kat wins again; still I wasn’t going to let her get off that easily. “I want a shell count, and find someone to scrounge us a replacement gurney since we lost one. Cheap as possible. Steal it if you have to.”

With Torq flanking me we walk through the hangar bay, I wave one of the techs over. Spider I think his name is, skinny as a rail and maybe a stones throw from seventeen years old. The tech rolls his eyes, “What do you want?” his expression changes as he seems to remember my name. “What do you want, Suture?” The tech added.

I fish a soy bar from the box I am carrying. I toss it to the tech. “Com system is busted. Take your time getting to it.” The tech snaps the bar from the air, and winces likely from hunger pains. “We’d just replace the unit, we toss the busted ones. That would take about an hour tops.” The tech said.

Tossing the tech another bar, “We need to be done for the night, and I am rather fond of that unit in particular.” I wiggle the now open box showing the tech there were still sixteen bars inside.

The tech catches on, reaching for the box. I let go as the tech beams, “Oh, man. Yeah. Your rig is fucked; this is going to take all night. We are going to have to order parts, and shit.” Nodding my satisfaction, I stroll on with Torq.

Torq walked silently, though I could tell the kid had a lot he wanted to ask. Casually waving to medics and techs I knew we made out way to the main terminal. Finally, Torq spits out a question. “How come she doesn’t talk?”

I pause to let a trolley limp on by laden with supplies. “Who? Kat?”

Torq tucks his chin closer to his chest, eyes averting. “Yeah.”

“She is a Martian. Anyone born there doesn’t talk…verbally anyways.”

“Why?”

I shrug easily. “After we colonized Mars, the scientists discovered fossilized plants. So they started piecing together the genetic code in hopes of making a new food source. Well they did it, and it produced a harmless bacteria. Doesn’t effect adults, but it caused deformity in the vocal region of infants It also effected their brains, unlocking sections we had always speculated about. Telepathy, telekinesis, pyro, cryo, things of that nature. Meanwhile here on Earth we wanted to study the effects further, so kids were shipped back. Experimented on, most were dissected. Kat got lucky. Some paperwork hiccup had her moved to a facility that was no longer in use. That is where we found her.”

Torq took in the information, his expression bounces between sorrow filled to protective. Ah, the kid is going to be a Galahad, I knew it. I am certain Kat would be amused if she found out. “So she became your gunner?” Torq kept the conversation flowing.

I nod, swiping my badge as we reach the doors to the main terminal. “Yep. She practically lives in that small space. She tested in the ninety nine percentile on the FPS. Her condition doesn’t put her in spot to do grunt work.”

Cocking his head, Torq pressed on. “What is her condition?”

“Not for me to say kid. You can ask her yourself.”

As per usual a good portion of the medics and techs we pass give me a wide berth. Even after years of spotless service they were still wary of what kind of disease I carried. Maybe one day I will forgo the Aegis shot and give them something to really worry about. Walking the hall, we round the corner and right into Cardinal Richelieu’s path. Grey cloak billowing behind him with the Fleur de Lune stitched on the shoulders; his imperial pace came to a halt. He always wore a grin beneath an immaculate mustache and goatee. Exactly three paces back his crew dressed in a similar fashion stopped, eyes narrowing from under their wide brimmed vinyl hats. One of the few friendly faces I could get along with.

The Cardinal extends a gloved hand towards me, “Suture!” he was always cheerful when I interacted with him.

Taking the hand, I shake it firmly. I almost bow formally; the guy has that effect on people. “Cardinal. What is the good word?”

“The dawn approaches as it does every day. The night has been fruitful as usual. Only twenty seven calls for my flock, and by God’s good grace we were able to save twenty three. What brings you to the main?” The Cardinal said his voice majestic and curious.

I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t know how you do it, Cardinal. You’ve been on top for what, eight years? Best service in the field.” I pan a hand toward Torq, “Cardinal, this is Torq. He is a new hire, we are getting him kitted out.”

Producing his famous steel covered Bible, the Cardinal looked towards the ceiling. “It has only been seven years, soon to be eight, but seven. You know as well as I that one is never alone when they work in service of the Lord.” Offering his hand to Torq, Richelieu looked the kid up and down, “A pleasure to meet someone willing to take up the merciful sword of righteousness.”

I have never read the Bible but it worked for the ‘Cardinal’ and that was good enough for me. Torq stared in awe, and merely nodded. Chuckling I pull the kid away, “Always good to see you, Cardinal. We will be around.”

Bowing slightly the Cardinal stepped aside to let us pass. “Of course, Suture.” As if remembering something he held up a hand. “We were just on our way to give, Regal and his crew their last rites. You are always welcome to join us.”

I could feel that knot in my stomach return, “I…uh… I will see how fast we can process the kid, and I will be down.”

The Cardinal swept his cloak in a flourish and strode away, he never said good bye. Most medics refrained from using farewells; there was a finality in those simple words ‘Good bye.’ We finally get to the processing window, the fat slug sitting behind the thick see-through plastic eyeballs us with obvious distaste. I slot my ID card, and speak into the mic, “Unit Seven, new sign on. He needs standard issue.”

The man smirks, shaking his head causing his sagging jowls to shift with annoyance. “What’s he got?” A slot in the window opens, as a small reader comes through. Harmless red lasers crisscross, flickering faintly.

I nudge Torq, “Put your right arm under the reader.”

Torq rolls up his sleeve and does so, the beams waving briefly before the box retracts. The fat man squints and chews his tongue. He rambles off a few grunts as his pudgy fingers plunk over the keyboard. “NPO. No surprise there. T-Seven. Negative for LA, LB, HPC. The kid is going to need his Aegis shot next month.”

I wave my hand impatiently, “Ok he’s clear. Let’s get on with it.”

Smugly the man leans back in his chair. “And here I thought he would have HEP series twenty six.”

I grip the edge of the small counter, “What is that suppose to mean?” the see through plastic is making this guy brave.

Pushing the chair further back, the man continued with his mocking tone. “Oh, nothing, Suture. I just figured that your rig would have become an oversized lunch box by now. You being what you are and all.”

Torq gives me a confused look, “What’s he talking about?”

I eye the security door that led into the room with the chaired worm in it. “Nothing. He is just talking.”

The fat man snorts, “Do you know who are working with, kid? He’s got a hyper evolving parasite series twenty six.”

Torq shrinks back from me, tossing a glance to the plastic window. “Wha-what is that?”

I grit my teeth, seething at the man. “Last warning, don’t cause discord with my crew.”

The fat man sneers, his look clearly stating ‘what are you going to do about it?’. Lacing his fingers behind his head, “Suture here has HEP-Z.”

Death Wagon 36

Death Wagon muscled its way over the debris and down the ramp while I contemplated what just happened between the bounty hunter and I. My confusion deepens as I see Torq is the one driving. Opening the side door and climbing in, I see Billy trying to get Kat to lay back on the gurney. “What is going on?” I ask, immediately moving to help.

Billy glances back at me in distaste, “Just checking out, Kat. We took a hell of a fall and I want to make sure her dome is ok.” He clicks a pen light and sweeps it across her eyes much to her annoyance.

Horror kicks in; I factored in her condition lightly when I sent the VERN into its drop. Billy was right, and I make motion for Kat to stop resisting. Kneeling down at the side of the gurney, I move Billy away. “Take over driving, Billy. Lacey, bring over the ESK box. Er, the brown box with the letters ESK.”

Kat rolls her eyes, her fingers rolling in a fluid grace. ‘I am fine. Dr. Love is a mother.’

Billy makes a face, “Whatever. Try to do a good deed…blah blah…” he falls into grumbling as he switches spots with Torq. Lacey fetches the box and offers it to me. Nodding gratefully I open the box, pulling out a mess of pads and wires.

“I know you are fine, Kat. We just want to be sure. Let’s just get this over with, and then you can get back to the turret.” Crossing her arms, Kat pouts and silently sighs resignation.

Lacey runs a hand over her nearly bald head before speaking, “What is wrong with her? Or should I say, what could be wrong with her?”

Attaching four of the pads along Kat’s temple, I move to place the remaining two to the sides of her neck and pause seeing the tell tale markings of an intimate encounter. Kat flits a guarded look my way as I choose to answer Lacey instead of making the obvious inquiry about the hickeys.

“She has Bore Plague. The virus eats at the bone structure if left unchecked. That and she already has a much thinner bone structure in her cranial area. Most Martians born on their planet have the latter. A hit that could rattle our teeth could most certainly kill her.”

I let Lacey process that as I checked the monitor on the ESK. Mentally I know to widen the range on the readings, since it the machine was calibrated for humans. Kat twiddles her thumbs. Lacey watches with interest as the scan of Kat’s brain came into view on the tiny monitor link of the box.

I marveled at the brain formation, understanding most of what I was looking at. Her neural pathways were firing rapidly, nearly at twice the rate of a human. Turning a knob on the box I zeroed in on a dark spot near her left temple. “Got a headache?” I ask casually.

Kat flinched and gave me a negative sign. ‘No.’

I can feel her scratching at my mind to connect. Taking up a pen light, I check Kat’s eyes, which did little good since full blooded Martians did not have detectable pupils, that is where the ESK came in to play. The readings changed, I could hazard a guess she was having trouble seeing out of at least one of her eyes.

My frown deepens as Kat speaks in my head. ‘Let me serve. You promised.’

Shaking my head, I let her read my thoughts. ‘You have a slow_’

‘I know what I have! You promised! Now let me pull my weight! You got us this far, let me cover you. Please…’ Kat was already taking off the pads around her head, jerking to sit up.

This need to lecture the hell out of her rose but I stomp it back down and out. She was right, and there was nothing I could do to convince her otherwise. Lacey turns to look at me, “She has a brain bleed, I know the signs. You are going to let her get up in that turret again?” concern smears its way over her features.

Kat missteps and catches herself on the ladder leading to the turret. Closing her eyes she scales the ladder and settles in the gunner seat. Tossing the box aside not caring to put the wiring away. “We are all dying, Lacey. Every one of us. Kat is crew and we do our jobs until we are unable to.” I say, motioning for Lacey to join me near the front of the ambulance.

Taking over driving, I can see the smoking wrecks of freelance bounty hunter vehicles burn merrily in our wake. Nearly a dozen blazing wrecks lending chaotic illumination as the ambulance made its way along the road. Bodies were strewn all over between the ruined machines. Magnus apparently was obliged to make sure the road was clear for us. Very clear. Yet another slaughter which brings back flashes of the RECR compound being decimated goes skipping through my mind.

“So why this route, Suture?” Billy asks, patting his lap for Lacey to join him. Lacey snorts yet takes the offered seat. He must be growing on her, I muse.

I point ahead up the road to the stream of emergency vehicles that were roaring our way. “That is why. Before I almost tossed off a cliff, I was trying to tell you that if we play the part of a freelance medical service and claim to have wounded they will let us right by.”

My navigator rests his hand on Lacey’s thigh which she pushes away. “Not a bad idea, boss. But next time, leave the con ideas to me. You are way too honest to be even a decent liar. Speaking of which…” Billy takes up the headset as the channel crackles to life. ‘Unknown emergency vehicle, identify yourself and your condition.’

Billy snickers, and puts on his game face. He switches over to feigned panic as easily as one can flick a light switch. “About time you got here! We’re Kessler Inc. This craft came out of no where, and started shooting! Tore the caravan to shreds. I think it was a Quadrant Runner gone skitso! We got wounded, but there is plenty more back there.”

The man on the channel grumbles, ‘No scheduled caravans on the city roster for at least a week. That means you are smugglers. Pull off the road.’

Shit! I watch as the emergency rigs drop back letting the smaller faster enforcement vehicles forward. Shooting Billy a bitter look I make to pull over. Billy motions for me to keep going and not stop. “Sorry we are not pulling over. We have wounded, and one of them…” Billy balks, making a fist and just blurts out, “One of them is really important. Critical condition.”

‘I will bite. Give me that ‘important’ person’s ID code.’ Determined to call our bluff over the channel and if this kept up I would be testing the nerve of the opposing drivers as Death Wagon rushed headlong at them.

Billy was starting to sweat; Lacey looks at him quizzically from the perch in his lap. My navigator clamped a hand over the mouth piece of the headset. “I got nothing.”

Torq leaned forward into the cab and snapped up the data slate, punching keys and tosses it Lacey to give to Billy. “Try that.” He had been so quiet; I had almost forgotten he was in the rig with us.

Billy pipes the code through and puffs his cheeks in tension. Seconds tick by neither party changing course. ‘That is a Mars ambassador code. Where did you get that?’ The voice squawked with alarming uncertainty.

Billy leapt at the sudden opening given, “That’s right! We’re talking critical condition; code came off the guy’s ID tag! Now make way or we are going through you!”

The man on the channel curses. ‘All units break off, let them by. Repeat, all units break off, make way!’

I chuckle as I hear the telltale sound of a receiver being slammed in anger. Repeatedly. Like a well oiled machine emergency services peel of to both sides of the road as Death Wagon rockets through the opening.

I hit the lights and sirens for good measure, my personal middle finger to them all. Lacey is blushing and suddenly staring out the window. Billy mutters something about ‘that happens when he gets stressed.’ I don’t even want to know, I settle for being happy the bluff worked.

Calling over my shoulder as we stream by the Nexus Prime rigs, “Great thinking, Torq. Where did you come up with that code?”

Torq smiles weakly, looking up at Kat nestled in the turret, “I had a little help, honestly.”

Gunning the engine I guide Death Wagon to the outskirts of Nexus Prime. Billy nudges my elbow, “Next time, let me come up with the bluff from start to finish.”

************ ************ ************* *****

Nexus Prime is the shining beacon of the civilized world. It housed the best schools, and healthiest people. Its technology was always a handful of years ahead of any other mega city. Every civilized country in the world donated resources to keep the city in its pristine condition. When Nexus Prime spoke, the world listened. Too bad it rarely worked both ways…

We stuck out like a sore thumb, looking beyond rustic and straight into tasteless. I felt self consciously dirty gazing around even what was considered the ‘slums’. You had to be a level seven citizen to even live within the city. Pulling up to the traffic signal my stomach groans as we settle next to noodle truck. Rolling down the window down I look at the menu.

The driver in turn motions for me to make an order, speaking in something that sounded like English. Drooling like a fiend, and grunting like a gorilla clone I point at what I want. Torq squints and speaks to the driver though his words are a lot slower in the language used. It takes the driver a moment and then she nods in understanding. Seconds later food is being passed from the truck to the ambulance. Torq, prods me. “Eighty credits.”

Eighty credits? I have died and gone to some sort of heaven. That was incredibly cheap, and the food smelled amazing. I gladly pay, and even tip half the total amount. Driving, eating and talking, life was good. I swallow a half chewed mouthful of noodle, “What language was she speaking, Torq?”

Lacey eyes the carton suspiciously before trying some of its contents. Her face lights up, “That’s spaetzle! Real spaetzle! Oh god this tastes amazing!” as she suddenly tears into her meal.

“She spoke Neo-Heathen. Offshoot of German. Must have sounded like we were from an ancient time to her. Because I only speak Classic German.” Torq savors every bite.

In the side mirror, I can a Nexus Prime security car pulling up behind us. “We can’t hang out here too much longer. We need a way into Nobel.”

The patrol car takes the next turn much to my relief. Lacey watches people crossing the street in parades of grey and blue. “Why are most of them dressed the same?”

Billy smacks his lips, “Working on it, boss. They got encryption I can’t even begin to touch.” Following Lacey’s gaze, he answers her. “This place houses the largest schools in the world. Students wear uniforms. If you can breed or are a teacher you can wear whatever you want. Everyone that lives here is going places.”

“Maybe breaking in is not the answer.” I muse aloud, working through the organized traffic towards the Nobel Institute.

Billy winkles his nose, “What are you suggesting, boss? We tell them the truth? As if they would believe it?”

Lacey interrupts, “Why not? We come bearing truth, we might as well speak it.” before she returns to licking the noodle carton.

A grin reaches my mug, “Obviously you have never dealt with doctors and scientists, Billy. They are a curious lot, always trying to unravel everything.”

My navigator huffs, “So we make them curious about us?” he says nonplussed.

“Exactly.”

Death Wagon 35

The final mountain went quickly as my fatigue gave way to something else. Excitement mingling with pure stubborn determination spurred my motions and carried through to the machine. Magnus kept vigilant watch over our movement, relaying messages to Kat who in turn told Billy, who finally keyed me in on the easiest terrain to take the VERN over.

Venting the heat as the VERN crested the mountain overlooking the sheer beauty of Nexus Prime. The city twice as massive as Stratus and looked far healthier at a distance. The city favored blue lights, calming and cold. I sat in awe as the VERN cooled; taking in the sights I had only seen on the news or in holographic postcards. Where Stratus City was a haphazard mess of roads and slapped together sectors, Nexus Prime was strictly grid like.

Spot lights combed the skies, bearing messages and logos of various advertisements I could only speculate on the context. I could pick out a few of the more famous buildings even at this distance. Moonlit Towers raised two hundred and sixty stories tall and housing over two million tenants set dead center in the city. From the ground to the pointed peak, every window was lined with blue lighting. Seven buildings shorter in stature surrounded it, massive bridges connecting them to Moonlit for stabilization due to its height.

Nexus Prime’s spaceport and its ‘L’ ramp that launched craft into orbit jutted out like a massive cannon in the city’s eastern edge. Shuttles were expensive to launch to the point where it was good luck to see one take off from the port. Near Moonlit Towers was our destination.

The Nobel Institute with its gold and red lights in a sea of blue, capped with the sterling white rod of Asclepius at the top. A sealed sanctuary where the worlds greatest medical minds toiled endlessly to combat and solve the problems of a disease ridden planet.

The chronometer on my forearm drags me away from site seeing as it chirps annoyingly. It just dipped below twenty four hours. This was my last day, but instead of regret I was filled with reckless hope. I only wish I would not make too much of a mess when I finally turned and was put down.

Magus peels off, the hover jet roaring ahead, banking left and away from the VERN. “Billy, where is our escort going?”

“He’s going to clear the road, looks like a minor blockade leading into the city. Could be Aegis.” Comes the reply over the comm.

That gave me an idea. Veering the VERN to follow Magnus, the machine’s clawed feet pile driving into the rock as the metal beast lurched. “Whoah! Suture, we just left the plotted course, what are you doing?” Billy exclaimed.

I grit my teeth, straining the control arm to compensate for the angle of decent I took the VERN upon. “I’m getting us a cover story. Tell Magnus to light them up good, lots of fire and explosions.”

The VERN lurches, tipping forward and nearly falling. The gyros worked overtime, and flashing warnings flooded the screen as the VERN began to slide. I flipped a switch that activated the emergency tow cables. Harpoon grappling hooks blasted from their compartments in the rear of the walker, lodging into the solid rock behind the VERN. With a final jolt the six legged mech came to a halt. Cold sweat instantly evaporated as I stare over a small cliff we were suddenly on the edge of. It looked like a long way down with sharp rocks included.

“Credit Christ, Suture! We’re getting tossed around like rice in a can! Knock it off! Someone peel Torq off the dashboard, fuck! What the hell were you thinking?!?” Billy said in a panic.

Quickly I rub at my eyes and check the feed. “I didn’t see the cliff. I didn’t see the cliff, why didn’t I see that cliff?”

Billy spazzs out on the channel “Fuck the cliff! Back us up! Reverse, go backwards.”

The monitor is spewing everything but good news. The legs were ok, but controls to the climbing array were shot. The fuel level was nearly empty, and one of the main drives registered inoperative. Swallowing hard against gravity as it pulled at the harness, I spoke into the headset. “We’re stuck. It’s my fault.”

Moments passed as I could do nothing more than stare at the ground through the viewport of the cockpit. The VERN creaked as the tension of the tow cables stretched, it would be a few more minutes before they snapped and we plummeted to a certain death. Lifting my gaze to Nexus Prime, I chided myself. I got ahead of myself now we were screwed.

“Suture…”

It was Lacey. I blink and wipe my face, “Yeah. I’m here, Lacey.”

Her voice was as calm as the air conditioned room in the Mars embassy. “Suture. How do we get down?”

Wincing I reply, “The cables will give way and we will fall. I am sorry I messed up.”

“Apology accepted. Now, how do we get down without falling?”

Beating a fist into my thigh in frustration, “Don’t you get it? WE ARE DONE!” I snap at Lacey.

The VERN tilts further over the edge, the screen informing me one of the cables snapped. One down, seven to go and they would go in quick succession now. Lacey comes back with fiery authority in her voice. “We are not done. Find us a way out of this. Now think.”

“What do you want me to do? We can fall or we can fall. Those are the choices and they are same…” I loaded my mouth to rant some more when another line broke. The walker veered again, giving me a slanted view of the mountainside. I knew every maneuver possible with a VERN and even invented a few of my own on the simulator.

Gripping the mike to the headset, I call hastily to the ambulance secured in the bay. “Strap everyone in. Nice and tight. Lock everything down. Kat, get your helmet on.”

I grab the stick to operate the crane and position its boom over the bay that housed Death Wagon. Lacey comes over the line, “What are you going to do, Suture?” this time her resolve wavers in her words.

Craning the head of the VERN to nearly face backwards, I begin to hunch the body of the VERN down and pull the legs in as compact as I can get them. Grunting, “Gonna stop fighting the law of gravity. We are going to cartwheel our way down and out of this mess.”

“Are you sure about this? No that we have a choice, I would just like some reassurance.”

“Just get strapped in.” I take a shivering breath, wishing I had a bottle of soy sake in my hands.

Two more lines give, it was now or never. “We’re in!” was all Lacey could get out before I hit the switch for all the other lines to be released save for the last one. The VERN swung down and final cable gave way. I had attempted something similar in the game a few times, but the graphic shift was so drastic it always crashed the program. I never got to see the end result, I guess I will now!

The VERN crashes into the mountainside, metal chaffing against stone as the legs sent the machine into a sideways roll. Vertigo was instant as the VERN tumbled down the mountain. Like an off center centrifuge we bounced and bucked. Warning lights blazed and alarms wailed. The glass of the cockpit spider webbed so fine it took on the appearance of frost. One of the pedals depressed fully, indicating the walker had lost a leg. The last thing I see is the fire extinguisher shake loose and tumble right at my face.

******** ************* ************** **************

I come to coughing in the smoke filled cockpit. Fire crackles merrily, feeding on the circuits of the control panel of the VERN. Gagging into the headset, “Billy! Billy! What is your status?” I work the handle of the door on the rear of the cockpit.

The door gives way as the cool night air washes over me. Crawling my way out of the VERN I tumble to the dusty ground. Flopping over on my back, I feel for any injury, by the stars above I am shaken and stirred but somehow still whole. Billy groans over the channel, “I think my nose it broken.”

I nearly laugh, looking at the remains of the VERN. Both her rear legs were gone, sheered messily at the body joint. The boom of the VERN’s crane was bent like a swizzle stick and angled off to the side. Sparks flew from various spots on the massive machine, its belly flush with the ground. My heart leapt, I could see that my rig appeared to be intact. “Billy, what is everyone else’s condition?” I ask, worried for my crew and Lacey.

“Torq is awake. Lacey is good. Kat is…Kat is fine. Ow! Look lady, I am just checking you for injuries. Seriously, it’s my job!” Billy rambles on, and then makes a few muffled murmurs before the channel clicks off.

Any joyous thoughts are crushed as I catch sight of a flickering shadow in the sparking light. Turning slowly, I hold my breath to face the green goggled eyes of the Quadrant Runner from the brothel. Except I know now it is no ordinary Runner. All the little pieces came together finally. The missing helmet parts, the maps, the bet. I am less than ten feet away from the most notorious bounty hunter in recent history, the Black Dog himself.

The Dog continues to just stand there watching me. Finally I just have to say something “Excuse me if I forget to beg for my life. I’ve had a hell of a day.” I say with exhaustion.

He adjusts his stance, looking past me towards the wreckage of the VERN then back to my face. His metallic voice fills the air. “Never thought to see one walk again.”

Puzzled, I look towards the noble metal beast. “She did really well. Look, if you are not here to kill me and collect the reward, what do you want? You said you placed a bet that I would make it.”

I made the mistake of taking my eyes off the Dog. I flinch as something brushes the skin just below my ear. Slapping a hand over the spot I twist to face the bounty hunter again. With fluid grace the Dog is wiping a blade of a knife over the screen of a data slate. He had shaved a few layers of skin off my neck.

“Insurance. If you don’t make it I have a DNA sample to confirm your death.” This was the Dog’s reply.

“Why not just kill me for the reward, not that I am complaining…” I say in regrettable haste.

The Black Dog turns away, the metallic tinge to his voice almost nostalgic. “I have studied you for longer than you think. We both want to bring back the past in our way. You just happen to be better at it than me.”

Before I can quip or even form a retort he is gone, melting into the darkness. Checking to see if I wet myself, I squeak into the headset. “Billy, lower the ramp and get the rig ready to roll. Now.”

Death Wagon 34

After a few curve balls, life is back on track. I think after this I will build a few models of the things I have written about. Especially Death Wagon! Thank you all for your patience, input, and support. You all rock!

*************** **************** ****************** **********************

With heavy heart I shift the control rods maneuvering the VERN up the mountain. Deploying the climbing array, the massive machine sways back and forth, adjusting to keep a level balance. It felt just like the simulator, the machine as sure footed as portrayed in the game. Keep moving forward, it was all I seemed to have left in me. The grey rock of the accent seemed to go on forever. The bleak, poisonous landscape gave way clear skies as the walker rose above the low hanging poly-storm.

The sun settled in the west, making way for the darkness of night. Like a child gripping the edge of a countertop, the VERN pulled its way over the apex of the mountain. I switched off the echo scope, taking in the reddish, orange sunset. Mountains shifted from dead grey to a near onyx black as day waned to night. Wind scattered dust along the viewport of the cockpit, strong but no match for the sturdy weight of the machine.

A glittering ‘U’ came into view in front of the moon above. The insanely large Avalon Rail, mankind’s method of travel to Mars. I had pondered about its workings in the past; apparently it was some sort of magnetic sling shot. It could send a ship to Mars in roughly two weeks. The return trip was much slower as there was no counterpart of the system on Mars’s end. After the unforeseen effects the Rail had upon Earth, Mars did not seem inclined to create one for themselves. Go figure…

So far the terrain held, still it was slow progress. Going over the mountain would cut a few hours off the trip but with every step the VERN made allowed Aegis to progress as well. The screen chimed letting me know it was time to vent the heat again. This meant we would have to stop for a few minutes. Letting go of the arm controls, I rubbed at the sore over worked muscles. Unclamping myself from the seat I stretched and took a look through the rear viewport. Death Wagon was still bundled up nice and tight in the payload area. I could see Lacey was the only one sitting in the front.

“We’re stopping for a few minutes.” I say into the headset.

Lacey’s voice comes over the channel, “About how far out are we from this Nexus Prime?” she at least sounded calm.

“Give or take a few hiccups, maybe five more hours. I assume everyone else is asleep?”

I can hear the grin in her voice as Lacey replies. “Yeah they nodded off a while ago.” Lacey’s tone changes, “I am sorry about your friend. He was a…interesting man.”

Failing to flinch I refused to look upon Fenris’s death with anymore remorse. “He went out the way he wanted to. That is a privilege that few people get, and I am sure he would lecture you at great length about it were he here. Now he is sitting with that Odin guy.”

“I am sure he is, Suture. What about you though? Are you going out the way you want to?”

The question rocked me a bit, “I’m not dead yet, nor do I plan to die for at least a little while.” Checking the chronometer on my forearm, I shivered. Twenty seven hours, and six minutes. I could almost feel the Aegis shot getting ready to retire and HEP-Z warming up to flood my body once again.

Lacey changed the subject to an even more distressing one. “So what is the plan once we get there? From what we have been told we are not exactly welcome to come in through the front door.”

I laugh bitterly, “Really? Look, I didn’t think we would make it this far, so no. I don’t have a plan.” Chiding myself for sounding so snappish, I mumble an apology.

She lets it slide, her voice returning with the same calm as before. “Well, we have a few minutes. Let’s use them. What else could Aegis throw at us before we get to the city?”

I thumped down in the cockpit chair, watching the meters decrease towards the green once again. “I am not sure. They have already pushed the envelope with the bombing of Central. They have lost a ten million credit hover jet, and double that for the tank. Not to mention the bounty they put on me and the loss of odds and ends in personnel, vehicles, bribes.” I answer.

“So everyone is looking at them already, I assume. Where would be the best place to stop us and salvage their reputation?”

Rubbing my temples I lean my sore and stiff back against the seat as hard as I can. The pressure felt good, as the wheels in my head turn slowly. “The best chance to do that would be at Nobel itself. They save the institution from a ‘terrorist plot’ and disprove the data. If they do that it is a good bet they will have more than a clean slate.”

I could hear Lacey tapping her fingertips on the dashboard over the comm. “What do you mean by that? More than a clean slate?”

“If they can disprove the data, the grip Aegis has on Mars and Earth will be even worse than it is now. Kat’s father gave me the data about the shot. Once Aegis gets a hold of that they can cut off medical supply to Mars and label them enemies of the Earth government or some shit like that.” I reply.

Skillfully Lacey brings the subject back around to the task at hand. “What kind of resistance can we expect at the Nobel building? Guards? Soldiers?”

Fingering the control arms I make ready to strap back in. “Those don’t worry me; I will figure a way around that. What does worry me is getting to the labs and running the tests. Then the hardest part starts.”

“And what would be the hardest part, Suture?”

Easing an arm forward I start the VERN in motion again, monitoring the slope as the massive machine began its descent. “Convincing a bunch of people that think they know it all that they are wrong.”

Lacey sighed, “I know all about that. Trust me though; the look on their faces when it happens is priceless.”

I smile and return my attention to piloting the VERN. “I look forward to it, Suture out.”

The miles fall away, as the VERN plows on. In the spaces of near level ground between mountains I put the metal beast on autopilot allowing my limbs to rest. Measuring the distance to the next time I would have to take over the controls I found I could squeeze in a short nap. The gentle rocking of the VERN and the comfy chair easily put me to sleep.

The proximity alarm jars me from my sleep. I was dreaming about having dinner with Billy’s mother, Savannah. Actual meat, and vegetables, and that winning smile of hers. Looking out the viewport we were still a ways from the final mountain, but the VERN had stopped.

White light blares through the glass from outside, causing me to cover my eyes with an arm. The light shifts away and I can pick out the whine of electric engines over the VERN’s combustion engine. As my vision clears from red to spotty I catch sight of another Brawler hover jet. It banks around the VERN, obviously checking out the enormity of the vehicle.

Taking up the headset, I open the channel to Death Wagon in the VERN’s bay. “When did that get here?” I ask my stomach dropping a few notches.

Billy comes over the comm. “It has been circling for the last ten minutes. It just got up close.”

Not a good sign. “I can’t see the markings, she’s being wily. If it was one of Aegis’s boys it would have opened up on us by now, right?”

Billy snorts over the line. “Right. Well we don’t have to worry about this one at least. Kat ‘says’ it that guy from the embassy. Sergeant, What’s-His-Face.”

“Sergeant, Magnus DuPree.” I correct.

“Whatever. Kat is chatting him up, mind to mind. He is here to do some spotting for us until we get to the Prime. The roads are active with free lance bounty hunters, but Kat is telling me we are way ahead of them.”

I listen to Billy suddenly peeling with laughter, “Oh, and I think Lacey is going to get sick, she tore into one of the Soy chip bags.” I can hear Lacey complaining in the background about ‘how can we stand to eat this garbage’.

We are going to get hounded all the way to Nobel at this rate. Doing a quick salute to the Brawler as it makes another pass, I get the VERN moving again. Magus would only want to talk to Kat anyways, considering what I knew about the Sergeants’ view of ‘earthlings’. To the northeast loomed the final mountain, and along its ridgeline I could already pick out the golden glow of Nexus Prime. It was time to face destiny…

Death Wagon 33

Sorry things have been a little slow, but I am back and it is time to hammer it out! -English Bob.
************* ************* ****************** **************

Snapping the final switches forward, I held my breath a moment. “Billy. When we come out they are going to pick us up on thermal.” I say into the headset.

Fernis butts in before I can get a response. “Leave that to me. We will cover you, head towards your path and Beowulf will deal with Grendel. We will see you in the Nexus, Beowulf out.”

Billy chimes in, “Yeesh, and I thought you were crazy. Fenris is aware that tank outweighs him by about forty tons, right?”

“I don’t think he cares, Billy. Stay in the wagon, no matter what happens we are to get to Nexus Prime.” I click the last switch on the starting sequence. Like an angry giant the massive engine cranks, and roars to life. Tubing for the VERN’s exhaust blast forth a gout of angry particle laden blue smoke along the flanks of the humungous machine.

“What the hell was that?” Billy yelped over the communication line.

I smirk, easing the control arm forward, “Six point nine on the Richter Scale!” I say with pride and triumph.

The VERN takes its first step, thunderously. The movement pattern was like coming home, lever forward, shift right hip, shift left, right foot stomp, left foot. Through the view port in the cockpit the bay doors bounced, canting right and then left. I felt like a god, the controls working as smooth as glass. Pressing the button to open the bay doors, the portal cracked down the seams flooding the near dark hangar with dirty sunlight.

Stomping without ceremony over the piles of crates and flattening smaller parts outright under the clawed feet of the VERN. The monitor to my right vomits a message. The rear leg I had worked on was in need of maintenance. No time for that now, as the doors continued to open. Polluted air flooded the bay making visual confirmation difficult. Immediately I switch to the echo scope, the cockpit glass shaded to black with a jumble of green outlines indicating obstructions in the area.

The doors stopped dead half way in the process of opening. It left us enough room to get out, but Fenris would have to wait for us to exit first. Crap! The monitor issues another message. Light abrasion impact detected. Location rear belly. Mid belly. Front belly.

On the echo scope I watch what could only be Fenris’s rig come screaming forth from under the VERN and take the lead. Like a screaming newborn the ambulance flared its lights and sirens. Stepping the VERN out of the hangar, I continue working the controls, stomping the behemoth towards the main road.

One of the smaller scout vehicles skidded to a stop from up the road less than ten meters from the VERN. I knew exactly what the scout must have been thinking. ‘What the hell is that thing?’ Raising the front right leg, I angled it over the car. “This is for Momma.” I spat. Slamming the arm control forward and down I was rewarded with the satisfying crunch of solid steel meeting much thinner metal. The leg punched through the roof of the small car but I wasn’t done yet.

Everything I had been through came to a head, and I let it out. Activating the climbing array on the leg, the car went from pierced to a shredded mess from the inside out. Hooks and spikes burst forth from near the bottom of the leg. Without remorse I shift the control arm having the VERN cast the wreckage aside without a second thought.

Rounding the bend the Grendel tank came into view slowly. Its ponderously large main gun pivoted to track the larger VERN. Fenris sped his rig towards the tank, its light guns blazing to no effect on the tank. His lust for blood must be contagious for I wanted nothing more than to join Fenris in his absurd charge. Billy thankfully snapped me out of it, calling over the channel. “Make a break for it! Fenris is doing his job, let’s do ours!”

Veering the walker I quickly worked the controls, “Billy, keep an eye on Fenris with what ever we have for as long as you can. Pipe the feed in here.” Angling the VERN we approached the mountain side. The boom from the Grendel’s main gun was nearly deafening even at a distance. The Vern slid to the side as a foot entered a crater made by the Grendel’s cannon. The gyro stabilizers kicked on keeping the walker upright.

Instantly the feed took over the vehicle status monitor. The tank had chosen to ignore Fenris since the ambulance’s weapons had proven ineffective. Fenris was not someone you could dismiss even for a second. The mountain loomed ahead, the VERN reared up, clawed feet digging into solid rock as it began its accent.

Rockets left the launchers, a pair streaking right for the tank. The flares! Instinctively the Grendel spun its turret away so the rockets would impact with the heavier armor on the sides. The projectiles burst into flame as the outside of the tank turret became coated in the rocket’s accelerants. If they were using thermal imaging they were blind for a few moments.

More rockets arced from the Beowulf, impacting along the mountain side above the Grendel. The side of the mountain shook, shaking the top layer of rock and earth loose. The driver of the tank must have panicked, sending the vehicle into reverse and directly into the path of falling rock. Boulders rained down upon the tank, bouncing off the reinforced armor smashing its top search lights, and partially burying the killing machine.

An APC skirted along the mess flanking Fenris’s rig T-boning the ambulance. The secondary weapons on the Grendel opened up, heavy rounds punching through the front of the Beowulf. Their seals were toast, if the shots hadn’t killed them instantly the polluted air would.

I scream over the headset, my voice shattering with loss. “Fernis!”

My heart working in overdrive and for the first time in a very long span my eyes stung with tears. Fenris had just joined the ranks of people that had given their lives for hope. Fenris was one of the few true friends I had outside of my crew and now he was gone too.

Billy is talking on the channel and he feels like a distant echo to my ears. Absentmindedly I click a switch to vent the building heat, vaguely aware my tears were drying before they even reached my cheek.

I drop the controls, gripping the side of monitor as the APC rams the Beowulf rolling the noble ambulance onto its side. The Grendel spins its treads trying to wrench itself free of the landslide. Rocks slide off its massive frame as it jockeys back and forth, slowly making headway. A few more good jolts and it would be free.

Billy must have angled the image because I am now looking at the rear of the Beowulf on the screen. The poly storm lightened allowing for clearer visibility, though the air was still lethal. The APC backs up, retreating to a support position near the Grendel tank. A hatch in the top of the tank opens as the commander wearing a re-breather helmet surveys the damage. Men pile out of the armored transport carrier wearing similar attire of the commander.

The commander waves a hand motioning for the rest to clear the road and investigate the wreckage. Taking up a set of mag-lenses he focuses on the VERN. His observation is interrupted by activity near the ruined Beowulf as the view changed on the monitor.

A pair of troopers disappeared around the side of the wrecked ambulance. One is thrown back into view and on his back. A jagged metal pole lodged in his throat, his flailing death throes causing the rest to pause. Bloodied and battered Fenris sweeps in at a run, using the fallen trooper’s rifle to shower the rest with bursts from the weapon.

Shells and bodies fall to the berserker onslaught. He is on them before they knew what hit them. Cleaving into one with his vibro-axe, point blanking two more, and their return fire is scattered chewing nothing but air. Fenris lacked a re-breather but seemed to matter little to the big man. One of the troopers clawed at the pavement to get away. Fenris cuffed the crawling trooper dragging him until both faced the tank.

The commander ducked back into the tank, sealing the top hatch. Forcing the man to his knees Fenris simply lopped the man’s head off his shoulders stopping the swing to point the axe at the Grendel as if to say ‘You. Are. Next.’.

Guns from the Grendel angle towards Fenris who roars in a blood frothed cry. Rushing the tank, the large man gets under the firing arc and heaves himself up the side of the vehicle. The guns keep firing, spraying and praying.

Reaching the top of the tank, Fenris chops into the hatch the commander popped out of. Working the blade over the hinge bolts, I can see a growing brown puddle pooling at his feet, as blood is quickly coated with poly storm dust. Fenris was drowning in his own blood and somehow he was smiling about it!?!

Gripping the ruined hatch, Fenris tosses it aside and slams his arm into the opening, fishing. The effort is rewarded as Fernis hauls the commander out by the neck. Kicking and screaming the commander shoves his pistol into Fernis’s chest firing rapidly. The massive man’s back bucks as bullets punch through, yet he doesn’t let go. He raises his axe and slams it home, sheering through armor, skin, flesh and bone with a final stroke.

Dropping the man, Fenris looks about, seeing no one else to lay into he slumps down on the top of the turret. If there were survivors in the tank they were likely still pissing themselves. Rolling over on his back, his skin pale, ashen, and blood bubbling from his mouth he blinks slowly. He was looking right at the VERN, expectantly.

I fumble to retake the control rods. He kept his word and now he expected me to keep mine. I forced a thought forward; the last thing my friend would want to see is us just sitting there. Let him die with the idea that we would make it, if I have my way he would get much more than that. Much, much more…

Death Wagon 32

Rolling out the new year. This one is shaping up much better than the last. You guys rock for all the input and comments you have bestowed upon my inbox and page. I look forward to repaying the favor!
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Nearly leaping from my chair, “Where is Kat and Torq?” I ask in a rush. Billy looks up from the terminal. “They are down the hall, don’t worry. Gave them the heads up. No one goes anywhere alone.” He said, as plain as possible.

Fenris clicked a dial on his forearm guard, checking in with his crew. All save for Fiona was accounted for. The big man grumbled, “We must find out what has become of her. Then we will deal with the Grendel.” Thumbing the handle of his now drawn vibro-axe, he resumed his pacing like a caged animal.

I can feel Lacey watching me, waiting for me to make a decision. Any plan that I was about to make up was suddenly derailed as the monitor chirped. Billy pounced, keys clattering with alacrity, muttering loudly. “No. No. No! Shit!” Aggressive keystrokes followed as Billy continued to curse up a storm.

“What is it?” I say, fear and anger pushing at my exhaustion. The lights dimmed and the monitors flickered.

Slamming a hand down hard enough to make Lacey jump, Billy shoved backwards in the rolling chair. “The air filters have shut down. We are back to emergency power and that is going down. Credit Christ. We were running too hot keeping the lights on and using the systems trying to find Fiona.”

Fenris made to protest and I cut him off, “It’s no one’s fault. We expected too much out of the systems here, they haven’t been cared for properly in decades.” Glancing back to Billy, “So what is the score?”

My navigator grips the keyboard and drums in a few commands, “Shutting down the general lighting, the cameras, water filters, and…and the relay tower we got maybe six hours before we get entombed here. Not to mention the air going bad a few minutes after that.”

Lacey shuddered; I didn’t need telepathy that she was reliving her time on the space station in her head. No help there. “Suggestions?” I ask, as my inner paranoia grows wanting to burst out and dance.

More clacking of keys and Billy winces tightly. “Looks like we are pretty stuck. We got a possible intruder, and Aegis waiting outside. I think they are going to wait us out, they haven’t moved. So we have a choice, bust out and try to muscle our way back to Stratus City. Or we become food for the Grendel’s guns. We’re hosed.”

Fenris checks his forearm comm once again and receives a message. They had found Foina, she was currently enjoying the actual running water in the barracks. A sigh of relief floods within me, at least we did not have in interloper to worry about. Still something is nagging in the back of my mind, unwilling to reveal itself fully yet.

That left the problem of what to do about escape. I did not come this far to get blown away not matter how impressive the firepower gathered appeared. Staring at the map on the monitor I chewed a fingernail. Everyone was counting on me, “So our only options are to go back and die or go forward and die?”

Billy lightly backhanded the screen, adding to his sarcastic tone. “It’s right there in blue, orange, and red. The closest path is right next to the tank and it dead ends four kilometers west. So what’s it going to be boss? Back or forward?”

I catch sight of the hangar in one of the security cameras, one hell of an idea forming. “Neither. We’re going over the mountain.” Billy laughs as the words leave my lips, Fenris looks curious.

“What are we going to do, fly over? I don’t think we packed any wings.” Billy states with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

I silently turn the screen that monitors the hangar toward Billy, showing him the VERN. Licking his lips my navigator gazes upon me as if I just grew another head. “You fucking serious? In that thing? You have lost it, Suture.”

Fenris looms over the desk, placing a reassuring hand upon Lacey’s shoulder. “Insanity has its insights. I’m interested in this plan of yours, Suture.” The big man flashes a shark like grin.

Jerking a thumb and the Neo-Viking, I stand. “What he said. Let’s get to the hangar. See what we can do about waking one of these bad boys up.”

Throwing up his hands Billy stood as well. “You know what, I like this plan. Use a piece of machinery that has been inactive for nearly sixty years. I’m excited to be a part of this plan, let’s do it!”

********** *************** **************** ******************

Back in the cavernous hangar I studied the VERN’s. Starting with the cockpits, I went over the parts in my head. I knew every inch of these machines from the simulators and toy models I had of them. Only one looked to be in operating order, and it was the furthest from the massive bay doors.

Focusing my attention on the machine, I could see that plenty of the hoses would have to be replaced, and its starboard rear leg was in mid disassembly. Unmarked crates surrounded the behemoth, we’d have to go through them all possibly. Looking to the clustered party flanking me I nodded.

“This one. Everyone start going through the boxes, I need at least eight series two hydro hoses, and a welder. They should have green markings on the ends and a big fat two on it. If we can’t find any, start stripping them out of the others.”

Torq and Billy teamed with the Valkyries to go through the crates. “Kat, get up in the VERN, man the crane.” I turn to Lacey and toss her the keys to the ambulance, “Bring up Death Wagon, we are going to load her on the back of the VERN.”

Lacey casts a look at the machine then back to me, after catching the keys. “Is this going to work?” She asks hesitantly.

Like the last few days everything seemed to hinge on a wing and a prayer. “I have no idea, Lacey. But it beats sitting here wondering what it feels like to suffocate.” Giving a short nod Lacey trotted off to get the ambulance.

That left me alone with the big man, as I intended. Lacing my hands behind my back I watched Fenris. I had no idea how to broach the subject, so I figured I might as well just get it out anyways.

“Fenris. I need to ask you something I have no right too ask.”

The massive man craned his face in my direction. “I already know what you are going to request of me, Suture. My rig is too heavy to be loaded with your own.”

Guilt built up like bile in my throat, “We could load you in with us, it will be tight but we could manage.”

Fenris chuckled, “Abandon my rig? Never. I value your outlook, Suture. I knew my role in this the moment you spoke of using that monstrosity.”

All I can muster in movement is a shallow nod, “Like I said I have no right to ask. Once we get outside…”

“You are going to need a distraction when we come out. Worry not for my life and those that serve with me. I am assured the old story will live again and I will defeat the Grendel. If by chance I do not, then I will go to Valhalla and I will drink next to Odin himself.” There was a certainty in his voice that almost made me feel not so bad about all of this. Almost.

Confused I regard the man for possibly the last time, “Who is Odin?” I ask.

Fernis bellowed with laughter, nearly knocking me off my feet as he cuffs my shoulder with a ham hock of a hand. “You do not know who Odin is? You will meet him one day, I am certain. However, that day is not today! Come we have destiny to face.” With that the big man turned and joined the others in the search for the requested parts leaving me mute with disbelief.

******* ********** ************ ********** *********

The VERN’s were constructed with parts that were interchangeable, for rapid repair and cannibalization. Replacing the hoses went swiftly. Kat signaled there was no power for the crane, Torq ended up having to run a line from Fenris’s rig to the crane to give it a jump. Lacey stood on the massive fuel tank, working a metal pole to remix the fuel which had separated back to its binary compound. Leaning on the metal shaft heavily, she kept stirring her eyes glazing over nearly in trance from the repetition of the task.

Sweat beaded on my brow and it was getting harder to breathe as I work the last bolt for the rear leg into place. It wasn’t as tight as I would have wanted it, but it should hold I figured. I could see the others were also feeling the fatigue from the thinning air. Everyone was moving a little slower. Fenris thumped a crate down next to me, “I found missiles.” He stated very pleased with himself.

Looking at the contents of the box I shook my head. “Those are not missiles. Seismic charges, used to cause controlled avalanches, mainly for snow. Looks like you also got a few signal flares mixed in with them, the blue tipped ones there.”

“I still want them. I have an idea.”

I shrug, “Go ahead, the launching tubes should be…”

Fernis smiled, “Already mounted on the Beowulf.”

Apparently his asking was just a formality.

Death Wagon was raised and then lowered into the payload area of the VERN. I picked Kat for the job on the crane because she by far had the best hand eye coordination. Slapping the last clamped hose into place I ran my thumb over my now numb fingers. We were out of time and the VERN was as good as it was going to get on its repairs.

Scaling the ladder seemed to take forever, as I finally slumped into the cockpit chair. Gripping the controls, I flicked the power switch. Lights sputtered before flicking to life. The chair clamps laced over my thighs, and the chair hissed and bounced softly as my weight shifted. The pedals squeaked as I gave them a test tap. I dreamt about a moment like this my entire childhood.

Calling into the headset, “All systems are nominal. Ready to start the combustion engine in thirty seconds.”