Reavers (Book 3) (44 page)

Abruptly, a bellowing series of tones rang out, several deep bass tones in rapid secession followed after a pause by a final, slightly higher-pitched one.  It sounded alien and
angry
.  Countless small sparks of green light flittered about randomly through the grooves in the massive legs.  The nine black spires began shifting.  The slope of the dark shafts grew shallower.  Something was starting to take form in the center of the dark abyss.  Instead of a hulk of metal or some single form, an undulating mass slowly lifted out of the dark cavern. 

As it lifted into the air, the day’s light illuminated its features.  The nine bent spires connected to a massive grouping of black rings, each rotating at different speeds and at various angles.  The combination of their separate movements and revolutions created the illusion of a large sphere of living metal.  As the black abyss beneath the spider closed, the nine spires repositioned themselves to maintain balance.  The ground shook violently as they impaled the ground as the whole creature shifted in place. 

Cain realized he had been right - the spires were the thing’s legs.  It looked like a gigantic black spider.  Its height was staggering, more so since there were no structures large enough nearby for comparison.  Even the hospital was completely dwarfed by it.  The high-pitched whine returned to Cain’s senses.  Turning around he found the bomber had not missed the appearance of the massive
thing
.  The V shaped craft had altered its course and was headed directly toward the massive black hulk.  With the monstrosity free of the ground, Octavia turned to face the approaching bomber.

Once more the craft released three loud screeches and dropped a dull white glob.  The shimmering orb fell from the sky directly on target - it would not miss this time.  The dull white orb crashed into the side of the massive black spider and a blinding explosion engulfed it completely.  For the briefest of moments, Cain was certain the bomber had been successful.  However, that momentary doubt was crushed by the razor sharp smile on Octavia’s face.  The blinding light of the explosion subsided and the massive black machine stood triumphant, no visible damage on any part of it.

“Streamer,” Octavia said in a relaxed tone as she gestured toward the V shaped bomber.  “
Fire
.”

The black spider let out a bellowing melody that seemed some kind of acknowledgement.  The central hub of the spider quickly rose high above its limbs.  The revolutions of the rings increased in speed and started shifting.  Instead of a perfect sphere, they altered to the point they created a flat disk.  The green sparks of light that had been randomly passing through the various grooves collected around the central hub, amassing into a single sphere at the center of the rings. 

When the last spark of light reached the central mass, a tight stream of green light launched out of it.  The force of the blast pushed the spinning mass back toward the ground.  The nine legs quickly reacted and returned the central mass to its previous height.  The solid green beam ripped through the sky.  Cain estimated its width as not much wider than a person.  The beam rocketed through the sky and slammed into the side of the V shaped bomber.  The bomber was thrown off course, but showed no other signs of damage.  Just like the spider, it was unaffected by the other’s weapons.

“Intriguing,” Henry said.

“Admire it later,” Octavia said in clear annoyance.

“What’s going on?” Rupert said in a small lost voice.  He was obviously completely overwhelmed by what was happening.

“Stalemate,” Cain said toward Henry.  “What’s your next move?”

Henry was not shaken by his taunt.  His only response was a self-assured smile as he turned to look nearly straight up.  The others matched his stare but could see nothing of interest in the mild cloud cover.

“Do you want me to target for you?” Henry asked abruptly.

“I can do it!” Octavia said.  “Just watch.”

The massive black spider unleashed a howling acknowledgement to an unspoken order.  One by one the nine legs lifted into the air only to slam into the ground with greater force than they had exhibited earlier.  Everyone was knocked off their feet by the vibrations, save for Octavia and Henry.  As Cain watched the limbs sink themselves deeper, he wondered what the little girl was up to.  Suddenly a thought hit him; the spider was hunkering down. 

As the ninth leg secured itself, a brilliant array of lights started to fill the grooves in the black metal.  The countless sparks of light lit up the ground with an eerie green radiance.  The light was far brighter than it had been before.  The hairs on the back of Cain’s neck stood on end.  The specks of green light started to coalesce into a single sphere contained by the swirling black rings in the central mass.  The massive ball of light pulsed as more and more specks of light amassed. 

Cain eyed the final point of light as it closed on the waiting charged sphere.  He wrapped his arms around Angela in a pointless move of protection as the final scrap of energy joined the others.  In an inhuman roar the energy released upward.  The force of its release sent the mechanical spider’s body crashing down, only to be halted inches above the ground.  The nine legs strained to keep the central hub steady as the pillar of light etched through the sky.

Clouds instantly vaporized in a ring around the immense strand of power.  The previously auburn sky grew pale around the shaft of light.  Slowly all color faded as the sky around the beam turned to lifeless, black space.  Like a surgeon’s scalpel, it had pierced through the atmosphere of Jeirude.  Not wavering for an instant, the attack of the massive spider continued to race outward.  Cain noticed something in the small patch of space visible around the green light. 

With the tremendous distance, it appeared only as large as a grain of salt.  It was too small to be the moon orbiting the world, but for him to see it with the naked eye meant it had to be remarkably large.  The green beam slammed into the side of whatever it was.  Like the V shaped bomber, it didn’t seem to react in the slightest to the attack.  Suddenly realizing he had completely forgotten about the bomber, Cain scanned the sky.  The bomber was lined up for another run at the hospital again. 

Apparently, it had given up on hurting the metal spider.  The bomber’s whine was barely audible over the low rumbling of the spider’s ray.  Cain could see the dull white of another barrage appearing between the two prongs.  The bomber screeched twice, but, oddly, not a third time.  The dull white faded away and the bomber’s speed tripled.  The V shaped craft blasted overhead and arched nearly upward.  Returning his attention to the spider, Cain couldn’t believe his eyes. 

In the far distance of space, he could make out three
other
distinct shafts of green light.  The massive black spider apparently wasn’t an orphan.  The V bombers gave up their strafing runs and were fleeing.  Octavia had done it.  The troopers shouted and cheered as the bombers disappeared behind the clouds.  Even Rupert thrust a balled fist triumphantly at the newly vacant sky.

“Perfect shot,” Henry said.

“Really?” Octavia asked with all the exuberance of a five year old being praised by a parent.  “You mean it?”

“I doubt I could have done better myself.  All hostile forces are in full retreat.”

“It’s over?” Abigail asked hopefully, not daring to question how the man knew what he did.

“Confirmed,” Henry said with a firm nod.  “Organic . . .
civilian
casualties are minor.  Brent would be proud of your decisive defense.”

Octavia’s smile beamed with pride at the praise.  Suddenly, a look of supreme terror filled Owen.

“Brent!”  Owen raced back into the hospital.  “I’d forgotten!”

Exchanging startled and worried glances, the others quickly followed.  As Rupert and Abigail started to follow, Henry put a firm hand on Rupert’s shoulder - completely immobilizing him.

“What’s the big idea?” he instantly protested.  “I have to check on my daughter!”

“Go on ahead,” Henry said to Octavia, completely ignoring Rupert.

The heavy-worlder balled a fist as he watched the young girl hurry inside.

“I said, what’s the big . . .”

“I heard you the first time,” Henry said in a cold voice that sent shivers down Rupert’s spine.  “There are things
you
were not meant to see.”

The hospital was eerily calm after the calamity.  The screams and the sounds of panic were almost painfully absent.  The sounds of collective terror would at least be an assurance that someone was alive.  The perfectly silent hallways had the oppressive feeling of a morgue.  In the dull red lighting, the walls looked like some kind of abandoned slaughterhouse.  As the others charged up the stairs, Cain paused to peer into a room.  A patient was huddled in blankets under his bed, shaking silently. 

Rupert’s words instantly flooded over Cain.  He had said the entire world had hidden from the Shard during the invasion three years ago.  An entire world held its breath as it hoped to avoid detection by the roaming Slasher hordes.  The populace had known it had no way to defend itself, and that feeling had left a permanent mark.  As Cain quickly followed after the others, a sickening thought hit him.  How many had been found huddling in the dark?  How many silenced screams had this world endured?

Shaking off the thoughts, Cain focused on keeping up with the others.  As they reached the proper floor it dawned on him a small form was standing next to him.  Without him noticing, Octavia had caught up and was matching his pace.  A quick urge to lash out at her filled him, to somehow make her pay for the pain she had leveled against these people, people whose biggest crime was a firm dislike for outsiders that was purely reactionary to the preemptive disgust by the standard-gravity worlders.

The feeling faded as he studied her young face.  In the dull light it was apparent she was already hurting.  He would have been stunned at the notion of a Shard feeling regret for performing its function of slaughtering humans, if he didn’t already have bigger things dominating his mind.  As they raced toward Brent, Octavia would glance into the side rooms.  Cain couldn’t help but wonder if it was even possible for a Shard to feel remorse.  In the Great War they had fought for millennia to wipe out humanity - could they really have second thoughts after all that?  Abruptly, Cain ran into Tyra. 

Rubbing his head, he started to apologize when he realized she hadn’t scolded him.  In fact, she hadn’t reacted in any way.  Moving around her, he glanced ahead of the still troopers.  His focus had been so intense on Octavia that he hadn’t noticed they had arrived.  Ahead were the double doors that led to the observation room - although he doubted that was what was startling everyone.

A warm green light was escaping from the gaps between the doors and the floor.  Soft rays of light covered the floor with an ethereal quality - almost like the floor was made of light itself.  Cain shook his head and focused.  The green light was just much stronger than the dull red illuminating the empty hall; there was nothing magical about it.

All the others stood perfectly still, most likely caught somewhere between awe and fear over what was going on inside.  The idea he could open the doors to find Cassandra dead was enough to cause Cain’s resolve to quiver.  A deep pain filled his chest at the thought of losing her.

To him she was just a friend to joke with.  What would be Brent’s reaction to losing her?  It was safe to say his day started and ended around that easily embarrassed girl.  Finally, Cain couldn’t take it any more.  Whatever the truth was, it couldn’t be any worse than the images his imagination was conjuring.  No matter what had happened, he knew they would all see it through, together.

Taking a step toward the doorway, he pressed forward.  The others let out held breaths as his motion broke them of their daze.  Together they entered into the observation room.  Despite all that had happened, the room seemed identical to what they had left.  The only change was it was now bathed in a constant green light.  Hesitantly, Cain turned to peer into the operating room.  The images of fright and terror his mind had created were instantly shattered.

The scene was downright serene - something out of a sterile, medical 3P about childbirth.  The doctors were calmly working on Cassandra, not a bead of sweat on their brows.  She was breathing in forced regularity, but seemed completely free of pain.  It almost seemed like it was all staged, and that any moment an announcer would start preaching the joys of parenthood or the importance of getting regular check ups.

The only odd thing was Brent.  He was firmly grasping his wife’s hand, but his face was clear of all emotion.  He seemed to be sleepwalking without the walking.  Cain carefully leaned toward the sound-obscuring window and tried to get a better look at Brent’s hands.  The left hand was on top of Cassandra’s, while his right was hidden underneath.  Discreetly leaning over, Cain tried to get a better look.  Restraining the urge to gasp, he realized that Brent’s right hand was gone.  His right arm seemed to end in the middle of the forearm as it blended into Cassandra’s.  With greater understanding, Cain took in the room.

Now that he knew where to look, it was obvious the green light was coming from Brent’s hidden arm.  Somehow it all felt familiar, but Cain couldn’t place it.  The sound of several girls gasping startled him.  Had they realized that Brent was somehow responsible?  Without drawing attention to himself, he carefully glanced at the girls.  Their eyes weren’t focused on Brent.  As far as he could tell, they weren’t even looking in his direction.  Following their glances, he let out a gasp himself.