Weylin led them back to the Great Circle where the festival was just getting started. Deep brass drums thumped, vibrating the cavern walls and Alex's ears. Trumpet-like instruments blared a deep, fast tune encouraging people to dance. Antarians wearing bright yellow, red, and blue colors skipped around weaving long colored ribbons through the air as people filed into the cavern and took their seats around the stadium.Alex and Jack were seated in a raised area close to where the elders sat. Jack sat at a large table facing the soon-to-be empty middle expanse of the arena. Alex was positioned on a lower tier a few meters away from him with Weylin at her side. Guards stood behind each of them. Jack looked like a king ready to watch a jousting match.After everyone was seated, waiters came around with giant platters of food. They set a plate with a variety of delicacies down in front of every person. Alex thought that every piece of food looked like the remnants of some large roasted in
Alex awoke. Her head throbbed like she'd been hit by a transport pod on a speed way. The black colored contacts stuck to her eyes making them burn. When they finally opened, she licked her fingers and jiggled the contacts until they moved easily. A low candle burned on the metal dresser. Alex let her eyes adjust to the dim light before she tried to move."I wonder how long it's been," Alex said, her voice coarse and deep.She pulled her tired body up into a sitting position. Looking down, Alex realized she was still fully dressed, jacket, boots, everything. Her stomach tossed and she forced it down by taking a couple of deep breaths. Wiggling out of her jacket made her stomach even more upset and this time, she knew she wouldn't win. Alex launched across the room and over the basin. Her ears quivered at the horrible retching noise as she produced a bland pink colored vomit. It drained down the side of the polished granite basin and the waterfall washed it down the drain in a swirling
Now the hard part.She poked her head down into the room for a brief look. What she saw appalled and saddened her. How could they use Jack like that?Jack was tied naked to a metal four poster bed. A large breasted burly brunette had her dress pulled up and was sitting on top of him moving her body up and down.The girl chattered on and on. "And then I'm going to raise him to be a big strong warrior and my family will be honored. Those Vestarians don't-" and on and on she went.Jack's head lolled from side to side with a look between a grin and a grimace. His chest hair was matted with sweat and vomit. A bucket full of pink vomit sat on the floor next to his bed. His eyes were tired, glossy, and drunk.Alex was in luck though. The room was set up the same way hers was and the girl faced away from her. She timed the drop of her bag with the movement of the rocking bed. The girl didn't even hear the bag hit the ground. Alex held on to the sides of the rock and hung, then dropped sil
Alex strapped her backpack to the front of her with the blow torch on top and wedged herself between the large rock wall and the wall below their vent. Jack followed her example and they inched their way down to the bottom floor.Her right arm ached as she used it to crawl little by little down the framework. When they finally reached the bottom, Jack staggered behind as Alex walked gingerly between the walls. She counted her steps and stopped suddenly. Jack bumped into her. Alex listened with her ear against the wall, hearing footsteps and voices on the other side. Leather armor creaked faintly from one of the guards on the other side. She strained to hear their voices."That guy can really go.""He seriously has the best job. Can you imagine two days with the best women in the city?""That has got to rub him raw. How do they get him to stay like that?""Drugs, but the hangover's gonna be a bitch."The voices faded with the footsteps. Alex proceeded cutting a hole into the wall
Jack woke, his head throbbing painfully. There was a hand on his head and his pillow was rather- hard and made of muscle? Opening his eyes, he saw a yellow rag in front of him with pink chunks on it. It smelled like vomit and his throat burned. He knocked the rag away. Beneath, were two knees covered in dark denim. Alex. He patted one knee and rolled on to his back. Alex's jacket covered him and his feet hung off the edge of a couch.She had her head leaned against the wing of the couch arm. Her right arm was on the arm rest and her left hand fell to her lap as he moved. Alex's navy blue shirt was buttoned to the bosom. The white tank top underneath was splattered with tiny specks of blood. The splatter marks ran all the way up the porcelain skin of her delicate neck.Memories faded in and out. He remembered the underground lair of the Antarians. Then the festival. Flashes of women's faces. The smell of sex and vomit. Alex and - a bubble bath? That can't be right. Then running in the
"Very impressive. Ready to go back?" He held his hand out to her.Alex nodded and accepted his hand. That minty, tingling, electric feeling crawled up his arm. She had that effect on him every time she touched him.Weylin was waiting on the other side of the door. He held Alex's crowbar in one hand. "Did you get them all?" he asked, looking around behind them."They won't be bothering us anymore," Alex said, taking her jacket off."They will send more," he said, peering out the windows."And I will take care of those too." Alex stomped ahead of Jack and pushed Weylin aside to get back on the train. She looked down at him ominously. "Get this thing moving before there is more bloodshed."Jack shrugged up at the kid and stepped into the train. "What's up with you?" he asked Alex.Weylin stumbled nervously to the controls. "Nothing," she said sharply. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes."Why don't you go in the back and lay down, you're looking a little pale. We'll
Alex woke to an internal banging drum that made her ears ring and sent blood pounding to her head. She rubbed her temples until it subsided slightly. Her right hand ached. The whole train rumbled as it ran down the track, rattling the windows in their panes, irking her headache more. The failing sunlight streamed through the cracks in the blinds as they shuddered with the lively train.She pushed out of the chair. Jack lay sprawled across the bed, shoes still on. How terribly uncomfortable that must be. Alex checked that her knives were secure in her belt and pulled her maroon jacket closed. She lurched forward as the train started to slow. What was it now? They needed to keep moving if she was ever going to make it to Lexi.Alex made her way to the cabin. Weylin lay napping in the conductor's seat. She slapped his shoulder and he jumped violently. "Why are we slowing?" she growled.He looked around with his big eyes. "We must be out of power," he stuttered, wiping his face with his
Suddenly her attackers came. She was unsure who they were. Vestarians, maybe, as the kid had said. They stepped out from behind the towers. There was as many of them as there were towers and they came towards her. Their footsteps crunched sand and rolled rocks, scattering echoes in every direction. To normal ears, it would be silence, but to hers, it was a parade commemorating her soon to be fight.?Her inevitable victory.Alex cleared her thoughts again. Didn't she want peace? Did she really want to fight a horde of surface people? No. At this moment, she wanted their blood, she lusted for it. She stood holding her breath, fighting to slow her heartbeat, and watched them come in slow motion.The auroras lit their faces in a green and purple glow. They wore white paint across their eyes. The moon glinted off their completely white eyes, ruined by sun damage. It was any wonder they could get around at all. Alex decided they must be using senses other than sight and sound to track her.
Jack woke with a splitting headache. The white tile ceiling above him looked like that of a hospital room. He gave an inward sigh. The last time had been three months. He wondered how long it had been this time.His fingers felt tight and his hand cramped. He looked over to see they were taped together with someone else's hand. He blinked the sleep from his eyes. As his vision cleared, he saw Alex lying on the cot next to him. Their tactical suits had been removed but the tech suit remained. Both of them were layered in blankets strapped to wires. He racked his brain and remembered the nova they had set off. The third one in a row must have taken its toll.He sent heat into Alex's hand. Her eyes blinked opened. She pulled at her taped hand and then used her free hand to rub her eyes. She looked around. "What's going on?""Wish I knew," Jack answered.She quirked a smile, then pushed the covers back. "It's kind of hot in here, isn't it?""Is it? I can't really tell." Jack sat up, l
The rumbling throughout the Sanctuary stilled as the battle above drew silent. Tom turned to Jimmy. Jimmy nodded and the team climbed to the Surface.After the light, the tunnel, and the door, they emptied out onto the street. Their men looked tired but had smiles on their faces. The team leaders directed them on searches to find any survivors, whether they were friend or foe."Has anyone seen Alex?" Jimmy shouted.Several people shook their heads.Jimmy turned to his team. "Let's spread out. Knowing them, they'll be up somewhere high."The team diverged. Tom searched on his own, always keeping at least his pistol at the ready. The sun slipped over the horizon casting the buildings in a deep twilight glow. Tom climbed the stairs on several buildings to the top but didn't find anything except dead bodies and empty bullet casings. After five buildings, the night settled in. The tanks disappeared back down into the tunnel. Jimmy recruited more people to help search. Armor-clad bodies
Someone was calling his name. At least he thought. There it was again. Tom blinked. The room was black and hazy."Tom?" Jimmy's face loomed above him."What happened?""A fireman got to you. Are you alright?"Tom wiggled his fingers. He could feel the skin pulling across his arm as he moved. "I'll be okay, just a few blisters." He pushed back to his feet, climbing up over the top of the dead Alphas.Their power suit clad soldiers surrounded the room with guns drawn. Bullets covered the floor along with bodies of the Alphas and a few of his team members. His stomach twisted at the loss of good men.Jimmy put a hand on the shoulder of his power armor. "They died saving us. We need to get moving. We've gotten ten so far. We'll finish a sweep and then start clearing the level below."Tom nodded. "Let's go."Jimmy led the way. His team fell in behind him as they jogged down the streets checking building to building. The battle had tightened in around the Sanctuary. The noise of it s
The three of them sat dressed in black tactical gear layered over Alpha tech suits. Alex's dirty face watched Jack as he tightened down the straps on her suit."We stick together, okay. No running off and playing hero on your own," Jack warned. He looked at Lexi while he said it."I thought you were going to make me stay in the pod," Lexi said."I would but it won't be safe there.""I don't think it will be any safer with us," Alex said in a low tone.Jack turned to Alex. "At least we will be able to keep an eye on her. She tends to always find trouble when I tell her to stay put."Alex's eyes flashed to Lexi. "Don't I know it."Lexi rolled her eyes. "If it weren't for me, you guys wouldn't be together, or maybe you'd even be dead.""Watch your tone young lady," Alex warned.Lexi grinned. "I know you're trying to be all tough, but it's really good to hear you say that." She stepped forward and gave Alex a hug.Alex melted. She laid her head against Lexi's cheek. "You're so ta
Jack reached over and touched Alex's shoulder. "Wake up, love."Alex squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed at them with the back of her hands smearing the soot across her face. "How long has it been?" She looked over at Lexi sleeping in a reclined chair.He reached his hand out and wiped at a smudge with his thumb. It only made it worse but she smiled at the touch. "About six hours," he said."You shouldn't have let me sleep so long. You need rest, too.""I got a few hours. Don't worry so much."Alex looked out the pod screen. "I can't help it. I'm finally free of Henry's terror, but now I feel like we're on the verge of losing it all."Jack's mouth drew down in a frown. "It's not going to be pretty. Ellie messaged me before we left her range. Looks like the Alphas are ahead of us by a few hours. When we get there, we will have to fight through them to get to the base."Alex nodded. "Did you see much of it when you visited? It's huge.""No, I only really had one thing on my mind at
Tom sat at the table drumming his fingers. "Does anyone actually know how to work these computers other than Ellie?"The five people working the screen didn't look up.Jimmy crossed his arms over his chest. "Just give them time.""General, the ships are in place.""Good," Janice said, leaning over the tech's workstation. "Anyone have a status on the Alphas?""They're closing in. The ships are taking them out now.""It looks like they are floating topside. Orders?""There's nothing the ships can do up there. Tell them to concentrate on as many darts as they can. Send runners topside and tell them to prepare." Janice turned to Jimmy and Tom. "That's your cue. Do your best."Tom saluted and Jimmy nodded. They turned out into the hall. Their teams waited for them, strapped with weapons and power armor. Tom donned the power armor helmet, gave a nod to Jimmy, and led his team away.As they walked down the halls, they passed locked doors to apartments. Their people, the ones that wer
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to him as the gunfire continued to rain down on them. She lifted her chin up. Her eyes connected with his and she smiled.He smiled back. They were going to make it. Somehow, they were going to make it. He tilted his face down and pressed his lips to hers. The liquid electricity filled him. He could feel the energy building in them. He held on to it as he kissed her. She parted her soft lips and he slid his tongue inside. Her tongue moved along his, soft, slow, and passionate. He pressed her against him, gathering the energy they created. He could feel the energy sparkling on his fingertips, asking to be released. He held it back until they vibrated. Finally, he let it go.The white-hot fire burst from them. In his mind, he could feel it like an extra sense. He coated the stadium with it. He could tell it what to touch and what not to. Screams of Alphas pierced the gunshots as the white fire flashed into a nova. He could feel the en
Jack turned to Lexi. "You have to stay here. Got it?""But, Dad-""No. Stay. Promise me that you will stay?""Please let me help."Jack shook his head. "There is nothing you can do, muffin. Please. I don't want to worry about you. I have to get your mother and I need you to be safe. So take the pod and go. I will catch up as soon as I can." Jack flicked at the controls, locking them in place.He held his arms out for a hug. She stepped into it, burying her face in his shoulder. He held her tightly."I love you," he whispered. "You've grown into a fine young lady. I couldn't be more proud of you.""Please don't leave me again," she whispered.His heart sank and he hugged her even tighter. "It will be the last time. When this is all over, I will always be at your side. I promise.""You better."He stroked the back of her head. "Please be safe." He stepped back to look at her."Wait." She pulled the sapphire ring off her finger and stuffed it in his shoulder pocket."What's th
Alex stood locked in a small empty room the size of a utility closet. The walls lay bare except for the light switch. She flicked at the walls, but the screens were disabled and didn't respond.She paced back and forth, rubbing the Vice at her neck. Her bare feet didn't make a sound as they worked the white tile of the floor. She had to figure a way out of here. She needed to find Brooke and Tom. They had to be free. They were only here because of her. This was her problem, her world, not theirs. She flicked her palm open and drew a fireball. Her insides were still hot, but the pull of energy from just one fireball was tremendous. The amount of focus it took to wield it was much harder than it had been when she was pregnant.Alex pressed her ear to the door. Two heartbeats from the other side. She had no weapons other than the fire. She may be able to take out one Alpha, but not two. She sighed, then moved to another wall. There was no sound coming from that side. She tapped on it. S