The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion Book 2) (35 page)

“Why don’t you shut up?” Yates responded, aggressively pushing her weapon into his back.

“Aren’t you going to miss it, Carter? No more hacking?” Lindsey squinted at the big man, but he only scowled in return. “As a fellow hacker I know that high that comes from being able to unlock all the hidden secrets of those in power. The pleasure of the tech bending to your will. It’s like it becomes a part of you.”

Torran witnessed the slightest twitch in Carter’s grip on his weapon and he immediately stepped between Lindsey and the big man. “She’s just curious. No need to get agitated.”

“Keep moving,” Solomon ordered from behind them. “Stop aggravating my people.”

Lindsey gave Torran a triumphant look. Maybe she was enjoying needling their soon-to-be executioners, but he wanted to enjoy what little time he had left with her, not squabbling with the Cultists.

Carter gruffly pushed Torran and Lindsey inside the lab when they reached their destination. Dr. Curran stood behind a wide counter loaded with lab equipment with her attention focused on a microscope. Ramirez stood at the scientist’s side, watching her every move. Some of the screens along one wall were active, scrolling data from Dr. Curran’s examination. A containment chamber with thick glass walls sat in one corner and the sight of it made Torran uneasy. Why did he suddenly feel like a lab rat?

Carter pushed Torran and Lindsey deeper into the room, while Yates trailed behind, followed by Solomon and the rest of her people.

Dr. Curran finally looked up from the large, high-powered microscope and regarded them with a blank expression.

“Did we get the virus?” Dr. Solomon asked.

Torran’s heart sped up and he stepped closer to Lindsey. All the Cultists gathered in the room stared at the blond scientist expectedly. Had they been successful, or not?

“Let me show you my results so far,” Dr. Curran said, picking up a pad and turning toward Ramirez. “Would you mind giving this to Solomon?

Ramirez reached toward it, but Dr. Curran accidently dropped it.

“Oh, sorry, let me just get that,” she said, bending over.

There was a sharp bark and a fount of blood erupted from just under Ramirez’s chin.

Carter shoved both Lindsey and Torran to one side, and it registered in Torran’s confused mind that the big man had shot Ramirez.

Torran drew in one sharp breath.

Carter fired again, this time striking Solomon in the shoulder, knocking her back through the doorway.

Pandemonium erupted.

Most of the squad was already out of their armor, but Carter and a few others were not. Yates returned fire, but in her panic, hit Carter’s armor and missed any killing shots. Meanwhile, Carter aimed for her head, bullets punching into the wall near her as she scuttled for cover.

Lindsey ducked and scrambled toward the counter Dr. Curran was hiding behind. Torran scurried behind her. Gunfire destroyed the equipment beside him, sending Torran sprawling onto the floor. Raising his head, he saw Lindsey lying on her side, clutching her stomach.

“No!’ Torran exclaimed, realizing she’d been shot.

He attempted to go to the woman he loved, but Carter grabbed him by the collar and flung him behind a bank of computers. Torran crashed into the wall with a loud thud. Twisting about, he searched for Lindsey and spotted Dr. Curran dragging her to safety. Blood was pulsing between Lindsey’s fingers and her expression was one of shock.

The thunder of battle raged on.

To reach Lindsey, he’d have to cross an open area, but he was willing to take the risk. It was difficult getting to his feet with his hands still secured, but he managed. Peering out around the equipment that was providing shelter, he spotted Carter exchanging fire with Yates and the remains of the squad taking cover in the hallway.

Desperate to get to Lindsey, Torran fought the wild staccato of his heartbeat and dashed toward her location. Carter shouted at him, but Torran wove through the room, avoiding fire. The big man lunged out from behind cover, grabbed Torran about the arm, and hurled him back to where he’d been before. Torran slammed into the wall, smacking his head so hard his vision blurred.

A second later, Carter grunted as Yates took advantage of him being distracted, and there was a heavy crash as the man hit the floor.

“He’s down!” Yates shouted.

Guilt ate at Torran, knowing he’d inadvertently caused Carter’s death, but he was frantic to get to Lindsey. Torran crawled across the floor in the direction of the counter. Carter lay dead nearby, his head split open. Other members of the squad lay in heaps, blood pooling on the floor. Torran reached the end of the counter and pulled himself around just as he was seized from behind. A still-hot weapon was pushed into his back.

“Room is secure,” Yates announced. “I’ve got the prisoner.”

Torran ignored the weapon pressing into him and jerked himself free of Yates’ grip. All he cared about was the scene in front of him. Dr. Curran sat on the floor, holding Lindsey’s hand. Blood covered her white Sci-Tech suit and Lindsey’s face was far too pale. It took Torran a second to realize she wasn’t breathing.

“She just passed,” Dr. Curran said in a flat tone. “The bullets hit her vital organs and an artery.”

“No,” Torran gasped. Though he felt as though all his strength had been sapped out of him at Dr. Curran’s words, he crawled to Lindsey’s still form. “Linds, Linds...” He didn’t even realize he was crying until his tears fell onto her lips.

“Get him up,” Solomon ordered.

“No!” Torran gasped. “No! Someone needs to help her!”

Yates jerked him off Lindsey and dragged him toward the containment chamber.

Torran couldn’t tear his gaze from Lindsey’s still form. Dr. Curran set Lindsey’s hand down over her stilled heart and shakily stood.

Yates shoved him into the containment cell, and shut the door. The blond woman’s stern face was without remorse. “I guess you’re the only lab rat now,” Yates sneered.

“I’m going to kill you,” Torran hissed.

“No. No you’re not.” Yates grinned and turned her back on him.

In a fury, Solomon confronted the scientist. “I hope you had nothing to do with this.” The Cultist pressed her hand against her wounded shoulder, trembling from the pain.

“Do you think I’d risk the samples? You’re responsible for your people. You should have known your hacker was a spy,” Dr. Curran retorted. “Why would a hacker turn on tech?”

“How do I know
you
weren’t working with him? It was convenient how he opened fire when you were in cover!”

“Maybe he was taking advantage of a clear shot of Ramirez. This is your mess, Solomon. Not mine.”

Slapping her hand on the counter, Solomon leaned toward Curran. “Don’t push me.”

“I can push you all I want because you need me.” Dr. Curran smirked, her eyes gleaming. “And you know it.”

Solomon hissed through her teeth with frustration, anger, and, Torran hoped, a lot of pain. “Did we get the virus?”

Dr. Curran waved her hand at the broken equipment. “We’re lucky ISPV is not airborne, or we’d all be infected and our dead would be Scrags! So far, the samples have all been the regular virus. I have six more to check, but the equipment...” Curran shoved the broken microscope off the table. “Find me another one and I’ll tell you if the remaining samples are the modified virus or not!”

“I just lost six people and the woman who could lead us to Martinez!”

“That’s not my problem!”

Solomon’s face flushed with anger. “Yates, dump the bodies, then prepare to return to the offsite lab to recover another microscope.”

“Yes, sir,” Yates said.

“Solomon, let me out,” Torran shouted, banging on the glass wall. He wanted to hold Lindsey one last time.

Evins, one of the bigger soldiers still clad in armor, moved to claim Lindsey’s body. Pressing his palms flat against the glass, Torran watched with a breaking heart as Lindsey was unceremoniously dragged across the floor to be piled with the other dead.

He’d been convinced they’d die together, and that thought had terrified him.

Now Torran knew what was worse.

To survive when Lindsey was dead.

Chapter 33

Ten Minutes Earlier–

Ever since Lindsey had enlisted in the Constabulary, she’d wondered what it would feel like to know she was about to die. During the failed final push against the Scrags outside the Bastion, she didn’t have a chance to ponder her fate when she’d been rendered unconscious by a grenade. Now that she actually knew the countdown on her life was underway, she was surprised to not feel terror, but rebellion. If she was going to die in a few minutes, she wasn’t going to give her executioners the satisfaction of seeing her afraid.

Catching Torran’s eye, she gave him an encouraging smile. At least they’d be together in the end. It was very difficult for the man she loved to alter his scowl into anything resembling a smile, but he tried. She loved him all the more for it.

“I’m glad we took that walk that day,” Torran said to her.

“Me too,” Lindsey replied, meaning it with all her heart. At least the final season of her life had been filled with love and companionship.

Yates poked the barrel of her weapon into Lindsey’s back. “Both of you shut up.”

“I’d rather not be taking this walk though,” Torran continued, ignoring Yates.

“Yeah, the company leaves something to be desired.” Lindsey tossed a venomous look over her shoulder at Yates.

Yates’ eyes were cold and angry. She jabbed Lindsey again in the ribs.

“Why not torches?” Torran gestured with his bound hands at the room at the end of the hallway clearly illuminated by the remote generators. “I mean, you hate tech, so why not shuck off the generators and go for good old fashioned fire?”

“Why don’t you shut up?” This time Yates rammed Torran with her weapon.

Picking up Torran’s train of thought, Lindsey glanced at the big silent man behind Torran. “Aren’t you going to miss it, Carter? No more hacking? As a fellow hacker I know that high that comes from being able to unlock all the hidden secrets of those in power. The pleasure of the tech bending to your will. It’s like it becomes a part of you.”

Carter narrowed his eyes at Lindsey, and something about the look deeply unsettled her.

Torran protectively moved in front of Lindsey. “She’s just curious. No need to get agitated.”

“Keep moving,” Solomon said briskly “Stop aggravating my people.”

Satisfied, Lindsey flashed a wide grin at Torran. He gave her a troubled look. The storm clouds of bitter emotions filling his dark eyes were understandable. She wasn’t too thrilled about them facing death either, but Torran had a protective streak that both touched her and made her just a bit annoyed. They didn’t have any hope of getting out of the situation alive, but he’d never accept that truth. Sadly, she did, but was determined to meet her fate without fear or regret.

Lindsey was just reaching for Torran’s arm when Carter shoved them both into the room. Shooting the big man an angry look, Lindsey wobbled on her feet. Yates grabbed her shoulder roughly and set her upright. Yanking out of Yates’ grip, Lindsey wondered if she could somehow manage to punch the woman in the face even with both her hands bound. Yates stepped back as Carter yet again pushed his prisoners forward.

Directing her focus at Torran, Lindsey saw he was grimly studying the room, probably searching for a way out. His hair was disheveled and his jawline was scruffy and in need of a shave, but he was absolutely the most handsome man she’d ever seen in her life. She loved him completely, and it saddened her that their final act together would be to die at each other’s side. The conversation around her didn’t mean anything anymore. Torran and she weren’t going to be released. The Gaia Cult would claim the virus and humanity would come to a terrible end. The thought of the Cultists winning infuriated her, but someone else would have to stop them now.

Lindsey returned her attention to the scene before her just as Dr. Curran bent over to retrieve something she dropped. Out of the corner of her eye, Lindsey saw Carter raise his weapon and fire. Lindsey froze in terror, then realized it wasn’t Torran Carter had shot, but Ramirez. Swiveling about, Carter fired at the doorway.

Immediately, Lindsey lunged toward the counter where Dr. Curran had stood seconds before. With relief, she heard Torran’s footsteps behind her. Gunfire exploded and bullets ripped through the air. Nearby, Yates aimed at her and Lindsey attempted to dodge. Something hard punched into her torso three times, stealing her breath and knocking her off her feet. Falling onto her side, Lindsey rasped for oxygen and pressed a hand to her stomach. Blood surged over her fingers. Shock and confusion shorted out her brain. What was she supposed to do now?

“No!” Torran shouted.

Lifting her eyes, she sought out Torran. He was staring in terror at her from where he’d fallen while trying to avoid the barrage. She wanted to say something comforting to him, but it was hard to breathe. The Scotsman scrambled toward her on hands and knees, but Carter grabbed Torran about the waist and effortlessly tossed him behind some equipment.

Trying to say his name, but unable to, Lindsey realized she needed to get out of the open. She shoved the heels of her boots against the floor in an attempt to scoot herself around the counter. To her surprise, Dr. Curran crawled into view and hooked her hand under Lindsey’s arm. One mighty tug pulled Lindsey into cover, but sent waves of agony washing over her. Dr. Curran continued to drag Lindsey around the counter until they were both in relative safety. Lindsey couldn’t see Torran anymore, and she hoped he was safe.

“Fuck,” Lindsey finally wheezed. She was going to die and not be able to say goodbye to Torran. Tears of regret filled her eyes and spilled along her cheeks.

Dr. Curran plucked Lindsey’s blood-covered hand from the wounds and performed a quick cursory examination as the sound of the battle continued. “Well, you’re going to die.”

“Yeah...” Lindsey struggled just to get that one word out.

Bending over Lindsey, the scientist’s eyes were so dilated they looked black. “Do you want to live?”

Unable to speak anymore, Lindsey nodded, but also wanted to laugh. The question was ridiculous.

“Excellent.”

A sharp prick against her palm followed, and hot lava filled Lindsey’s veins. With a gasp, she understood what the scientist had done. Fear, anger, relief, and despair filled Lindsey as the other woman clenched her hand tight.

“I’ll be waiting for your rescue,” Dr. Curran whispered.

In her imagination, she’d pictured dying with Torran pledging his love and holding her close. Instead, Lindsey saw the world fade as Dr. Curran’s thin lips turned upward in a triumphant smile.

Lindsey’s final thoughts were

Oh shit.

* * *

“Mother?” an electronic voice queried. “Mother, are you awake?”

Lindsey groaned.

“Mother? You have sustained dire injuries. Shall I call for assistance?”

Peeling her eyes open, Lindsey gazed up at the aerial drone hovering over her. Beyond the insect-like robot was a gray sky and tall buildings. Her body ached and there was a strange humming in her ears. Whatever she was lying on was vastly uncomfortable. What was even more annoying was something very heavy pinning her legs. Shoving herself up on one elbow, she observed she was in a long, narrow alley that ended on both sides with tall barricades. Also, she was lying on bodies piled at the bottom of a long garbage chute. Without a dumpster in place, the corpses of the dead squad members and broken equipment littered the ground.

It was Carter’s corpse lying across her legs. With a grunt, she pushed him off with her hands. He’d tried to stop the Gaia Cult and failed. Now she regretted all her angry thoughts directed at him. Had he been part of Dr. Curran’s plans all along? Or had he acted on impulse? Had Lindsey’s taunt maybe compelled him to action? It was hard to know, since the big man was dead.

“Teeny?”

“Yes, Mother?”

“I need a date and time.”

The aerial drone responded and Lindsey swore.

“Fuck. I’ve been dead for a day.”

“Though your vital signs are cause for concern, you’re not dead,” the aerial drone assured her.

“Yeah. Not now. But I was.”

Lindsey touched her chest. Dried blood covered the black jumpsuit and the ragged holes showed where the bullets had pierced her. Poking the tip of her finger through the fabric, Lindsey touched the healing wounds beneath. They hurt, but not nearly as much as when she’d received them. As she scooted off the heap of corpses, bullets skidded off the black fabric of her clothing. Apparently her healing body had discarded them.

She was Inferi Boon.

Lindsey giggled at the ridiculousness of her new state. Was this how Maria had felt? Raking her hands through her short hair, Lindsey stood over the deceased and felt like laughing again. She should be dead just like the rest of them, but instead, she was alive because of Dr. Curran’s meddling. Guilt, fear, and relief fought for dominance of her emotions. Instead, she ignored them all and concentrated on what she had to do.

“How’d you find me, Teeny?”

“Your wristlet reactivated.”

Swiping her screen, Lindsey was relieved to see it was functional again. Maybe dying had reset it and removed the suppression program Carter had written. All the corpses had their armor and weapons removed, but Lindsey decided to check them for anything she might be able to use. When her search turned up empty, she set her hands on her hips and peered down the alley. She had plans to make, but first she needed some information and supplies.

Lindsey picked a direction and started walking. Though slightly disoriented and sore, her mind was already spinning out possible courses of action.

The aerial drone dropped to the ground and padded along behind her on its long legs.

“Why are you walking, Teeny?”

“I require refueling for flight. I’ve been preserving my reserves while searching for you.”

“We’ll take care of that soon,” Lindsey promised.

The clacking noise of the drone trailing her was a little distracting, but she was actually glad for its company. Reaching the end of the alley, she climbed onto the barricade and peered over to see a thick mass of Scrags gathered near the shattered entrance of the rescue center. The tiltrotor had probably dragged them to the area.

Even though some of the creatures were within five feet of her, none of them paid her any heed. Lindsey pulled herself on to the top of the cement wall, careful to avoid the rusted razor wire. Fear chewed on her nerves, yet she had to know if she was truly Inferi Boon. Teeny crawled up next to her and perched at her side.

“Prepare to open fire, okay?” Lindsey said.

“Yes, Mother.”

“Hey, fuckers!” Lindsey shouted.

A few Scrags looked up sharply, but didn’t appear to register her appearance.

“Okay, so I’m either a ghost or Inferi Boon.”

“You are Mother,” Teeny informed her.

Lindsey grinned at the drone. “Yeah, I am. Let’s try this again.” Lindsey picked up a small chunk of the crumbling cement barricade and threw it at a female Scrag. “Asshole!”

The Scrag spun about, eyes searching for prey, but dismissed Lindsey’s presence.

“They don’t see me as human, do they?”

“No, Mother. They’re ignoring you.”

“Well, that answers that,” Lindsey said, grinning with satisfaction. With a delighted smile, she jumped off the wall and into the horde.

Teeny followed.

* * *

“How long?” Solomon demanded.

“Do you want it done right, or quickly?” Dr. Curran replied.

Torran looked up from his corner of the confinement chamber. He’d been sitting with his eyes closed and hadn’t seen the former chief defender enter the lab. The short woman’s shoulder was heavily bandaged and she had dark circles under her eyes. Yates stood behind her in full armor. Evins, dark hair standing on end and looking very bleary-eyed, sat in the corner, watching Curran with his weapon leveled at her. With half the Cultists dead, the survivors were stressed and weary.

Torran was glad to see it.

It was agonizing, sitting in the small chamber. They’d fed him once and let him use the sanitary facilities twice. No one spoke to him anymore except Yates. She didn’t call him by his name anymore, but by “lab rat.” The sharp-featured woman with the fair hair took obvious delight in his suffering. He’d never had a negative interaction with her, so he wasn’t sure why she was so cruel. Maybe it was her nature.