CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live."- Mark Twain
Kieran and her soldiers felt the building shudder, and then shake violently. An earthquake? There was a flicker. A shudder. Another. Another. Still another! The images around them were coming apart, disbanding into several different realities. The wall ahead of them became a doorway, then morphed into a wall again, a doorway straight ahead again. Flicker. Still a doorway. A way out! It had been there all the time!
The doorway faded back into the illusion. Even that explosion hadn't done the trick completely.
Troop morale was devastated by the hopeful flickers that didn't last. Most settled back down to sit on the floor. After all, there was no place else to go.
"Get up! All of you, get up!"
Kieran was on her feet, kicking, pushing and pulling others up. She wasn't about to let them give up. She had given up on herself once, but no one else had. She felt she owed them. So she lectured loudly.
"Did you think this is going to be easy? Death is easy. I can tell you from my reality that living is harder. You volunteered, remember? Said you were willing to die for the cause. I don't believe any of you have it in you to die for the cause; it seems to me you'd just sit there and die. Who needs a cause or any such nonsense? Certainly not each other." Her disgust was only part real; she needed them mad, crazy...anything but defeated.
"On your feet!" Gray joined her. "Get up or I'll..." The Shadows got up slowly. First one, then others two at a time, three...
"That's better." Kieran said. "I have an idea to get us out of here. I am hoping we'll be able to get Outside again, breathe some fresh air, and find a comforting shadow to lounge in before we destroy Makr with our secret weapon."
There was a murmur of noise, not words. Gray saw where she was going with this. He'd try about anything right now, he thought, and he was willing to bet his soldiers, both men and women, were ready to end this stalemate.
"Yes." he said firmly. "Our secret weapon. Need to know. Only a few know it exists. You're all carrying a part of it. It will be the end of Makr, I guarantee it."
Kieran wasn't sure how she and her chief sergeant could deliver on that guarantee exactly, but it promoted their cause. Her Shadows seemed to be alive again, while Sergeant Gray looked to have newfound respect and admiration for the Lieutenant for the re-manufactured hope.
Kieran saw Gray's satisfied smile and said, "Do you find this amusing Sergeant?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. My morale is high. My secret weapon is at the ready. Let's kick some Cyber butt!"
"It'll probably hurt us more than it does them."
Sergeant Gray just kept smiling, then whispered. "By the way, what is our secret weapon."
"Just follow my lead."
A shudder and a flicker. New information. No information. Collect data. Assess. Evaluate. Respond.
She smiled. All her Shadows started to smile with her as if they were getting some big private joke. She started laughing out loud. She made rude gestures and laughed heartily at the reaction. Gray did the same and encouraged others to join in the chaotic fun. The chain was growing. Still laughing, she signaled for the grenadiers to proceed. Ten soldiers stood side-by-side with rifle launchers or with grenades in their hands. Next, she raised her own laser ax to those also armed with them and motioned for them to stand behind the grenadiers. Last, she got the others to join the rest in a line behind them.
When everyone was in place, laughing still, she began to remove her Stealth garments. The look she got from her fellow Shadows communicated cubed chips full of data. Volumes, that's what Harry would say, she thought. Volumes. And Makr is taking in all of it—every single piece of data, however irrelevant.
Had she lost it? Had she gone crazy? Did anyone see what she was getting at? Another in the group comprehended what the Lieutenant was doing and decided to embellish it, as she began to remove the light toga undergarments she was wearing.
Illogical actions required a lot of research. Minutes at least.
Kieran, Gray and the rest all followed suit. Sergeant Gray was as confused as anyone by Kieran's irrational actions, but he decided that if the lieutenant thought it was a good idea, he'd do it. She'd made sense so far today when everything else had been beyond belief.
"I give up," she said simply, nodding approval at the same time. The general laughter hesitated, but when she shook her head, it resumed easily. "We're staying here and we're going to die here. Or there. Or there. Or there."
"Give up and die here," added Gray, louder than the rest. "Give up and die here. Give up and die here." They said it repeatedly until everyone had joined in with the chant.
They were ready now. Kieran nodded at the grenadiers who launched their grenades in a forward assault; everyone hit the deck and raised their shields. When they recovered from the explosion and stood up, the chanting continued, hardly missing a beat. This time Kieran changed the chant.
"Boogeymen! Boogeymen! Boogeymen!"
Remembering how Harry had feared the 'Boogeymen' —whatever they were, she thought he would have appreciated the thought. He seemed to think that's what we were, she recalled. 'Boogeymen.' Poor Harry.
She signaled the others using only her eyes, shining brightly for the first time since the cloning implants. The Shadow soldiers knew what she meant without words and without gesture. The grenadiers retreated to reload. Twenty laser axes were set on the highest battle settings focused at an area about four feet square straight ahead into the illusion of the doorway. Forty determined Shadows marched through an opening to the Outside that no one could see, in order to make their way to the safety of the shadows. They found the doorway subdued by waves of light blue, and they were unable to feel or sense either substance or nothingness as they marched ahead.
Flickering of the scene. More flickering as the scene took the form of a chamber with defined hard edges. Was it reality or another trick? The image of the doorway dissolved into static, leaving a darker reality. There was a two and a half inch steel wall with a dark gaping hole, with red hot edges made by the lasers.
Sergeant Gray sent the point soldiers on ahead. He couldn't help being disappointed at not being the first. That would be true for all of them—especially Kieran—who made this last ditch effort.
They had broken through, but to where? Standing with nothing on, with only their weapons and shields, they had broken through to another holding area. This time weapons were trained on them. Kieran looked around. These were Shadows from Carlos' Nest, but they didn't look too happy to see them. What had happened to the others? Where was Carlos hiding 450 Shadow people?
Maybe they don't recognize me with my clothes off. She stifled a smile. There was nothing odd about Shadows seeing each other naked; they often showered together. Nests weren't especially private. Soldiers were used to seeing other soldiers walking around nude, that's true, but in combat?
"Surrender?" the puzzled soldier asked tentatively. This was Lieutenant O'Shea, all right. He was too battle-weary to appreciate the humor of the situation. He could barely stand, but he didn't seem likely to budge.
It seemed to be a legitimate offer. The only enemy she knew this day was Makr.
"Sure. Where's Carlos?"
She stepped in a few feet and faced the soldier. She assessed the situation with her peripheral vision as Sergeant Gray and the others stepped through the opening and fanned out. We've got them outnumbered two to one at least, she thought. This looked like a squad. What had happened to the others? Even a small assault squad had more than eight people. There don't appear to be that many people here. Is Carlos dead? The thought stunted her advance. What if this is just another illusion? Why does he want me to surrender? He knows I'll never do it? Something I'd never do.
"Keep your distance," the battle-weary guard warned. "All of you! I say again. Do you surrender?" He seemed to be the leader, temporarily anyway, although he didn't appear too comfortable
in the role.
"I said, yes, for Makr's sake!"
He stepped back and aimed his weapon at her forehead. What did I say wrong? Kieran thought. He looks worn out, beaten. Damn. What's happened here?
"Hey, we're on the same team." Well, we don't exactly look like we're on the same team, she knew.
Others joined him. They all looked shaken, but their weapons didn't move off the target. The looks on their faces had changed—some to fear, some to anger, and all exhausted from feeling both. The squad's indecision to accept or deny the visitors made it easy to distract them. Kieran's people were slowly fanning out as she stalled for time.
"I know you people, but you don't seem to remember me. I'm Kieran O'Shea of Carlos' Nest, same Nest as you. We came to find you."
"Enough talk!" A female soldier moved up to stand next to her leader, temporary or not. "Can't you see? It's a trick or they'd be wearing Stealth."
"No, I'm not so convinced," he said. "I don't think Makr would make them naked because we wouldn't be expecting that."
Finally, someone with some sense. He may be scared, but he's not to be counted out yet.
"He's right," Kieran said. "Otherwise, it wouldn't serve a practical purpose."
"You shut up," the other woman snapped. "Make them put their weapons down," she ordered.
Sergeant Gray looked to see Kieran's reaction. She didn't seem to react at all. Good. Easy does it, Lieutenant, he prayed. They didn't need a hot head at this stressful junction.
"Look, we are trapped..." he started.
"Both of you! Be quiet!" Kieran snapped, hoping the bluff gave them pause and a moment to wrestle control away.
...just like you, he was going to say.
"Are you the leader here?" Kieran nodded her head to the man.
"Yes, I guess so. Why?"
"Do we need her? Do you need her to help you make your decisions?"
"We need her here if I say we do." He paused to look at his anxious female companion. "Go on back."
"But...," she protested.
"Go, I said."
He turned slightly to tell her to go. Rather pleased with himself, he turned round again only to discover a laser ax being pushed against the left side of his nose.
Sergeant Gray smiled. "Now, the rest of you lay those weapons down. Move wrong and you're toaster dust. Your call."
Eight weapons were on the floor. That's it? Any assault team he had ever seen had had three times the soldiers and three times the weaponry. What had happened to the others? He examined his prisoners. Each had blood smeared on their faces and hands. These were the survivors, the strong ones, but they could barely stand. Surely, they hadn't fought amongst themselves and murdered their own people. If not, they had been in one helluva battle.
Where were the Cyber? Cybert wreckage? Where were the human dead?
Meanwhile, Kieran strolled over to the woman who had been so ready to see them killed. She reached down across her left side. It appeared as if she was going to backhand her. Instead, she stopped her hand inches from the woman's cheek, then patted her lightly with the back of her hand. She wiped away some dirt and dried blood that didn't appear to be hers.
"Listen, I know this is hard. We're all terrified of what's going to happen next."
"I ain't scared," the woman announced, full of bravado.
"No...well, I am. And he is." She pointed to the big and burly Sergeant Gray.
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid we haven't got it. We don't know what it takes to do the job. We don't know enough. We aren't disciplined enough. Or smart enough."
"You're plenty smart," the other woman said. "I know you. You're Lieutenant O'Shea, right?"
Kieran was pleased. "So, you believe us now?"
"Not at first, but now I think about it, yes. Something bad would have happened by now. Besides, if anyone can figure Makr out, I think you can."
"Don't suck up. It isn't polite," she smiled at her. "Sorry. Not at my best when I'm cold. What's your name, honey?"
"Mona. And don't be sorry. If there's anything..."
"Actually...listen, could you do us a favor? We left our clothes on the other side of that hole. Could you? I'm a little cold. We've disabled whatever controlled SensaVision on that side so there's nothing to be afraid of."
"I'll do it. It's good to have you all here."
"Lieutenant!" It was Gray. "You aren't going to believe what happened here."
"Try me, Sergeant."
"Eight. That's it. All that's left of a forty person team. Makr..."
"Not Makr directly." A voice not heard from before. "Something else. A Cyborg. Cyberman. Whatever you want to call him. Half human. Less more than likely. One of Makr's latest monstrosities."
"Why," she asked as she checked him out physically. Tall, ruggedly handsome, sounded intelligent, and someone she should know if he is a Shadow. Now, she'd see: "You heard me, 'Why?'"
She let him enter the area, showing a "hand off gesture to the others."
The tall stranger, without Stealth, strode into the room. He looked weary, covered in blood. A formidable foe, thought Kieran, when he's rested. He put his hands to his head, hiding his eyes and emotion.
"I have no idea."
She wasn't finished with her attack just yet. "Well, it's hardly symbiosis? Half human, half machine. Makr can do better than that. He can’t do better than that?
"Maybe to throw us off for a change. We win battles with surprise; this one surprised us, believe me."
"Who are you? You aren't a Shadow. Where'd you come from?" demanded Kieran's sergeant. "What's your story?"
"Name's Parks. Bill Parks. I'm from Outside, same as you, human same as you, but I came to this fight with your Shadows. Thought you needed all the help you could get for the final battle." Parks braved a half smile.
Gray bristled but let the insult go.
"Actually I wanted to be with the most dedicated fighters Outside, and those would be your Shadows. Mostly, I've been tending to the wounded down there."
He gestured back over his shoulder, indicating around the corner. "We were waiting for Captain Montoya to return. We didn't know what else to do. Just waiting. Most of them are too scared to move."
"Why are you still here? You don't appear to be as frightened as the rest of these Shadows," asked Sergeant Gray.
"I couldn't leave them. I've seen too many of their comrades die."
"Excuse me, Reverend." It was Mona with the clothes Kieran's group had left behind. She placed them in a pile nearby. Kieran mouthed a "thank you" and gave her a wink.
"Reverend?" she asked.
"Evangel. Or was." The Reverend knew what was coming next.
"Why are you here at all? From what I've heard, you Evangels are against this revolution."
"Some more than others. I'm here to give hope if I can. Even though you Shadows are taking action, there are many others who are immobilized by fear. I'll spread the word to others when it's over. I'm here for them, and you, if you'll have me."
"What happened?" she asked. "Why are all these people hurt?"
"Where's Carlos?" probed Sergeant Gray.
"Please, one question at a time," the man said, on the verge of collapse.
"I'm sorry...Parks? Is it?" He nodded. "Tell us what happened here, Reverend."
"It was a blood bath. A monster...I don't know where to start."
At that moment, Mona came back in with more clothes, handed a couple of pieces to Kieran and Sergeant Gray, who immediately put them on. Parks looked confused.
"Why...?"
"Never mind that, later," Kieran said. "Tell us what you know, please."
"If it's all the same to you, there're seventeen hurt back there—some seriously wounded. Some have lost limbs. Look, if they don't get blood..."
"Blood, we've got," Sergeant Gray spoke up. "We'll see if we've got the right type. Don't worry, Parks. We'll help you see to the wounded." He motioned to two of his Shadows, a man and a woman
, to investigate where Parks has indicated and assist the wounded there.
"You don't understand. He killed ten just trying to find out where Carlos might be. Three more died of wounds they received at the hands of this monster." He was anxious again. "More will die, if I don't get back to them in a hurry."
"Steady. You can't do it all." Kieran said with her hand on the man's shoulder. "We promise to take care of the wounded. My Shadows are already there with them. Those we can help we will."
"You don't see what we've become." His voice was weak, but somehow managed to find the strength. "Symbiosis is a matter of time. That's all. Just a matter of time."
Kieran and Gray saw the frightened look on the pale face. "I have little courage left to see my comrades die," he muttered. His daring had taken quite a beating. He lost consciousness.