“On foot?”

  “If we have to.”

  They hit an exterior stairway running and could see the street below was empty. That was a welcome relief. The Colonel stopped as he reached the bottom and looked around to the corner before running out.

  “Do you know where you’re heading, Sir?”

  “It’s a walled city, and nearest exit is directly south.” He checked the compass on his arm and continued to lead the way. It was remarkably quiet as they ran on through empty streets. They spotted two civilian Prians who simply went back inside and locked their doors. They clearly knew the sort of trouble they were bringing.

  “They don’t want us here, do they, Sir?”

  “The rebels will put to death anyone who supports us. The locals will support whoever they think is stronger. Whoever will most likely keep them alive.”

  “Then they really have taken hold of the city?”

  “Yes, it’s far worse than any of us could have imagined. The General needs to know this before he embarks.”

  They ran onwards for fifteen minutes when finally they could see the southern gates. They were open and undefended. The end appeared in sight.

  “Come on. We’re almost there!”

  They’d taken a few steps when the roar of engines rang out. Two Otters came down a street beside them, one with the artillery piece atop. Both had a dozen or more Prians hanging off and angrily crying out as several fired at them. The cannon fired, and the shell struck a building beside Rossman. The blast was enough to throw him across the street. He hit a wall hard and collapsed. Lee was thrown into the dusty road beside him.

  He coughed out a mouthful of dust as he crawled over to the Colonel. He was alive, but drowsy and unable to speak. Stone was already yelling commands as they split up, taking up positions in the buildings nearby. Lee and the Colonel were separated from the rest. He picked him up, threw him over his shoulder, and carried him inside to shelter. He put Rossman down, and as he hit the floor, he came to. He flurried with his hands, uncertain of where he was.

  “Sir, it’s me. You’re okay.”

  “Corporal? What happened?”

  “They brought up armour and hit us before we could get to cover.”

  “What are you waiting for, Corporal?”

  “Sir?”

  “I’m fine. Get back in the fight, and give them hell.”

  “Yes, Sir,” he replied with a smile.

  He peered out of the doorway. The two vehicles had drawn to a halt, and Prians were leaping from them as others came out from the doors. The cannon fired once more. The side of one of the buildings was blown out as a gun battle raged. He couldn’t get a clear shot because of the gun shield. He ducked back inside.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Dealing with that thing,” he snapped as he rushed on.

  He came out in a small alleyway and ran between the buildings, coming out right behind the gun truck. He didn’t stop and ran straight at it, firing as he did so. He killed the gunner instantly and then turned on the two beside him. The second collapsed off the side of the vehicle while the third rushed him with a Firanwar. Lee activated the close combat mode of his Aquilla and pushed a thrust home against his attacker. The force and leverage of the Aquilla drove through the blade and burrowed into his shoulder. Yet he took hold of the muzzle and pulled it from his body, lifting his blade once more.

  Lee was prepared for him, though. He beat the blade aside, drove his stock into his stomach, and then again into his head. As he keeled over, he drove his Aquilla home to make sure. He turned back to the truck and scrambled up onto it. He hauled the dead gunner from his seat, cast him over the side, and climbed into the seat.

  He pivoted the gun around, took aim at the other Otter that several Prians were using for cover, and squeezed the trigger. The vehicle erupted in a ball of flame, instantly killing those around it. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted another vehicle. A third Otter was tearing towards them, and atop it was Baclu. This was Lee’s chance, and he traversed the gun around. He saw the look of terror on the traitor’s face as he realised what was happening. The Otter slowly stopped, and those atop it leapt off as Lee took his shot. The shell struck the centre of the driver’s cockpit and went right through. Baclu and the others were launched into the air as the vehicle erupted into a ball of flame.

  “Woohoo!” Griffin yelled as several others joined in.

  Lee leapt from the gun position and landed by the door of the vehicle. It was flung open as the driver came for him, but his Guardian was already in hand, and he thrust it through the surprised Prian. Even with the blade through his body, the enemy brandished his teeth and tried to fight back. Lee got a hand on the back of his head and smashed it into the doorframe to finish him off.

  “Come on!” He urged the others to join him. Stone came out carrying the Colonel. They heard the buzz of engines overhead. The last of their shuttles was coming in to land outside the gates.

  “The son of a bitch came back for us,” said Lee in amazement, “Come on, everyone move!”

  He’d spotted Prians amassing in the streets around them. He rushed to Stone’s side to help with him the Colonel. They went right past the gun truck and headed for the shuttle, knowing it was their best chance. Gunfire rang out at their backs as the others fought an orderly retreat with Bosque in charge.

  They ran out of the gates as the shuttle put down. The ramp touched down as they reached it, and they rushed inside. The gun truck came tearing out a moment later. Several leapt off it and poured into the shuttle, as many as could fit.

  “Get the Colonel back and report to General Sanson. We’ll be there as soon as we can!” Bosque shouted from the top of the truck.

  Half of Lee’s squad followed him aboard the shuttle, including Madan and his brother. Madan stopped at the door, looking back as dozens of Prians poured out of the southern gate after them. Yet it wasn’t the horde he was looking at.

  “An Emperor has been declared,” he said.

  Lee didn’t understand, but Madan pointed up to a purple smoke rising vertically from deep within the city. It was clearly a significant symbol to them, and Lee took him at his word, but they had no time to discuss it. He turned back to the pilot.

  “Get us in the air, now!”

  Stone saw to the Colonel. They began to lift off with the ramp still open as he went to the edge to see what Madan was seeing. That’s when he spotted him.

  “Baclu,” he spat.

  His cousin’s killer looked bloody and ragged. Covered in dust, but it was him. Lee felt sick.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  “You wanted him dead?” Madan asked.

  “More than anything else in the world.”

  “Then you know how I feel about Zha.”

  “He’s that bad?”

  “He is a scourge on this world and my people.”

  Lee sighed. “Help me end Baclu, and I will help you get the same.”

  Madan nodded in agreement as they heard gunfire ringing out from the horde of Prians firing in the air in triumph. They saw a dust cloud rise up as the gun truck raced away from the city as they were leaving. The door finally sealed shut, and they were relieved to have made it out alive. It was air-conditioned and well lit, in stark contrast from the hellish scenario they’d just come from. The Colonel was coming back to his senses and looked surprised to find he was once again aboard a shuttle.

  “We made it?”

  “Yes, Sir, thanks to one Corporal.” Stone gestured towards Lee, who knelt down beside them.

  “I knew you’d come through for us,” said Rossman.

  “How? I didn’t know I could, Sir.”

  “Because the right motivation can make or break a man. You now fight with the same passion they do.” He pointed to the Dharan Rhepoys.

  Lee realised in that moment how much the Colonel was using his desire for revenge to his own advantage.

  “You never busted me out because you felt guilty about my cousin?”

  Rossman shook his head.

  “I told you. I needed the best Marines I could get. If you get a chance to get revenge, then that’s a bonus, but don’t believe for a moment that I don’t want it, too.”

  “Baclu, that asshole is still alive. I thought I had him.”

  “Don’t worry, we will, but right now we have bigger problems. There has been an awakening of the Prian people. These aren’t isolated mutinies anymore. We’re not fighting rebels. This is a war.”

  “Sir, a new Emperor of Rhamprox has been declared,” said Madan.

  “Habadur Zha?”

  “Yes.”

  “What do you know about him, Sir?” Lee asked.

  “That he’s one of the most dangerous individuals you can imagine. He has long been thought to be dead.”

  “Many have tried to kill Zha. Some say he cannot be killed,” replied Madan.

  “Let’s put that to the test, shall we? If it’s war these rebels want, then war they shall get. We will return to Delphi. We were nothing more than a recon mission, and look what we achieved. We will return, and we will end Zha and Baclu. That is my promise to both of you.”

  Lee nodded in appreciation and slumped back down into a seat. He was opposite Nelson, who no longer looked at him with envious and murderous eyes, but entirely the opposite. He had made a friend, but as he looked around to those all around him, he realised something more than that. He’d found a family.

  THE END

 

 

  Nick S Thomas, Awakening

 

 

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