The Lives of Tao (46 page)

Commanders go last.
 

He stopped and pointed. “Go, go!”

The others, rifles up, moved forward into the thick smoke. Roen followed, staying low and moving in the rear. They reached the intersection and inspected the scattered bodies on the floor, taking position at the corner. Roen saw a group of guards approaching from the left hallway. He held up three fingers, counted to three, leaned around the corner, and opened fire. The Genjix soldiers scattered and returned fire.

Roen pulled back to reload and let two of his other men take his place. All his men were on one side of the intersection. They had to get on the other side to take advantage of the corridor space. He gritted his teeth as the two currently engaged pulled back around the corner to reload.

“I need suppressive fire,” he yelled over the din of the noise. He looked at the agent in the back and pointed at the corridor behind them. “Watch the rear!”

After the next round of enemy fire, he waited while his men laid down covering fire. Roen took a few steps back, ran forward, and dove across the intersection to the other side. He had become used to such acrobatic moves through his time training with Sonya and Lin. However, carrying out these maneuvers with heavy gear through gunfire made this dive feel like he was swimming through molasses.

Bullets zinged past his body. Time seemed to slow as he seemed to float in midair. The yellow explosions from the muzzles of their guns pulsed like dancing flames. Then Roen felt a heavy thud as he hit the floor and rolled onto his knees. It took him an instant to catch his breath as he scampered up to the corner and leaned against the wall.

What the hell are you doing?
 

“I’m fine. We needed more cover, so I came to this side.”

Next time, tell someone else to do it. You are the commander.
 

Roen watched his men on the other side lay down a fresh barrage. He joined them, spraying bullets at the Genjix soldiers. The exchange continued for several more seconds until the sound of enemy gunfire eventually died. One of his men crept forward to confirm the kills. When the agent finally signaled the all-clear, Roen’s men came out of their positions.

Check the men. Always put their safety first.
 

“Anyone hurt?” he asked as they checked the bodies.

“Two of us with minor wounds, sir,” the man next to him reported. “Carlberg suffered a head injury, but he’s fine. Perez might have a cracked rib.”

The thought of losing men never occurred to him. Roen turned and looked for his men. He counted only four as they reported in.

“We lost Hutchinson,” another man said.

That hit him like a mild shock. Roen stiffened and looked down at the floor. While he had expected that some of his people might die, it had never occurred to him that the burden of command would make their deaths his responsibility. Now, that statement weighed heavily on him: “We lost Hutchinson.”

Roen, do not dwell on it. We have a job to do.
 

“Sir?” his man said, waiting on his orders.

Think about the rest of your men. You still have their lives to worry about.
 

Roen nodded and looked at the agent. “Kwan, right?”

The agent nodded.

“Let’s go. We have a job to do.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

VINDICATION

I live in fear of the day when humans learn that we have been playing them like puppet masters since the dawn of their time. I can only hope that they understand that we tried to do right by them, that no matter how much evil the Quasing has brought to their planet, some of us are still fighting for their best interests. I do not think humanity will have that forgiveness. As is your saying, may God have mercy on all Quasing’s souls, for I do not believe humans will, once the truth is out.
 

Roen’s small group continued toward the helipad. When they reached the stairs, they gathered at its base and used a scope under the door to assess the enemy strength. There were two guards on the other side of the door and at least a dozen men near the center of the helipad.

A waiting helicopter hovered directly above them, readying to land. There were four prisoners, with hoods over their heads standing off to the side, flanked by two guards. Roen recognized Jill and Sonya by their clothes. Both seemed no worse for wear. Roen felt renewed rage when he saw Sean giving orders on a handset and standing behind Sonya.

“How should I play this, Tao?”

Incendiary to the right, away from the prisoners. Send two left and the rest right, providing suppression fire. The guards in the open are not wearing armor, so they should go down easily. Have the men stay near cover. Be careful of Sean and take him down last.
 

Roen pointed to two of his men, pointed at the door, and then pointed left. He pointed at the other two men and pointed right. Then he held up his open hand and counted off from five. His men ran up the stairs and quickly took out the two door guards and then took cover. Roen came out last and hurled his grenade toward the enemy but away from the two women. The explosion shook the ground and threw up a cloud of smoke and debris. He felt a rush of cool air and raindrops on his arm as he burst outside and opened fire.

Roen waited a beat as his men moved to flank the enemy, then he dove behind a crate near the door and took aim at the soldiers at the far end. A quick burst of gunfire took them down. A grenade flew right over his head and landed a few meters behind him. He took off running and stumbled as another explosion damaged the entranceway to the helipad. Roen rolled to his feet and continued to fire, staying low and constantly moving. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of his men fall. And then another. There were still half a dozen Genjix guards left.

Keep moving down the right. Order the left flank back, and get someone on that guard making his way toward the back. Be careful with the two near the women.
 

Roen shouted orders at his remaining two men as he followed Tao’s lead and continued to shoot. One of the Genjix guarding Sonya and Jill fell, and then another fell. Sean pulled out his pistol and took cover behind the two women.

“You coward!” Roen roared.

Smart move if anything. Order your men to get behind him.
 

Roen looked to both sides and suddenly realized he was alone. Where were his men? By his count, there were still at least two Genjix guards and Sean to deal with. He reloaded and crawled back toward the door. It had gotten eerily quiet on the helipad, with only the crackling sound of fire interrupting the otherwise dead silence.

Roen saw one of the Genjix poke his head out of a corner. Roen aimed quickly and took him down. The last guard he found trying to flank him. Roen’s life flashed before his eyes for a split second when the guard fell. Kwan, it seemed, was still alive. The agent gave him a quick nod as they warily headed for Sean.

Sean, still standing behind Sonya, looked more annoyed than worried. “Now that you two can hear me,” he said mildly, “I suggest you drop your guns before I put a bullet in your precious Prophus here.”

“Fat chance, Sean,” Roen shouted. “You should think about surrendering right about now.”

Sean cocked his head. “Is that you, Roen Tan? You came all the way here for your girlfriend, did you? I’m just not sure which one she is.”

Roen and Kwan slowly closed in on Sean. Sean glanced back and forth at the two with a bemused expression. Roen didn’t know how the man could be so unconcerned with the situation. The helicopter had long since pulled away and the entranceway had been damaged. There was no way for the man to escape except down the mountainside.

“I’ll make you a deal, Roen,” Sean said. “Why don’t we all put down our weapons? And then I’ll release your girlfriends and these two gentlemen here. In return, you give me a one-minute head start, and then you can pick up your weapons and come after me. Is that reasonable?”

Sounds too reasonable. You cannot trust Chiyva.
 

“Or I can just shoot you,” Roen responded.

Sean chuckled. “Here’s why you won’t. If, let’s say, you happen to miraculously be a crack shot with an automatic assault rifle, which I don’t believe you are, and you do manage to kill me, where do you think Chiyva will go, girlfriend number two or your man here? Think about it, son.” The thought of the Genjix being in Jill gave Roen chills. That would be a fate almost worse than death. What could he do then? Roen frantically tried to think of a solution.

“How do I know I can trust you?” he asked.

Sean shrugged. “You don’t. But I can’t take on two fully armed men and you won’t shoot at your woman here. And since I only care for Chiyva’s survival, which is guaranteed, I really have a lot less to lose than you do. You should give me that one-minute head start before you hunt me down. It’s your best chance.”

Do not do it!
 

“Tao, I don’t have a choice. I’ll still have a pistol on me anyway.”

Roen shouted out, “Fine, Sean. Put down your gun and we’ll put down ours.”

Sean let go of his pistol and dropped it with a loud clatter onto the metal grating. He held out both his hands to show that he was completely unarmed. Roen gestured to Kwan, and the two slowly placed their rifles on the ground. Roen stood up and put one hand near his holster, ready to pull his pistol out. And then – faster than he thought possible – Sean drew another pistol from his hip pocket and shot Kwan in the head.

Roen pulled out his pistol, but dropped it when he felt a hammer-like blow. He fell backward, clutching his chest. His armor had taken the brunt of the blow, but it hurt nevertheless.

“Stupid, stupid,” said Sean. “Why would you make a deal, boy, when you already know I don’t care about the consequences? And now look at the mess you’ve made.” He brandished the gun in his hand and looked at all the bodies littering the ground. Then he looked at the crushed door at the entranceway. Sean added, “You’ve built quite a body count, son. There is no escape from the helipad for any Quasing here, so this one is insurance.” He gestured at Jill and clubbed her on the head with the pistol. “And since no Quasing wants competition for available vessels, these three won’t be needed anymore either.”

Roen watched, horrified, as Sean put his foot on the backs of the two Prophus delegates and pushed them off the helipad over the cliff. Their screams faded as they fell down the side of the mountain. Sean was about to do the same to Sonya when he hesitated and turned to Roen.

“You care for this one, don’t you, boy?” he said slowly. He pulled out the small glass figurine of a turtle and looked at Roen. “I believe it’s time Tao pays a debt owed to Chiyva. Do you remember Paneese, Tao?” Sean pointed the gun at Sonya’s back and pulled the trigger.

Bam. Bam. Bam.
 

Sonya gasped. Roen watched as her body shuddered and contorted before collapsing onto the platform. A pool of blood began to expand on the ground around her.

“No!” he screamed. He dived to the right, rolled up onto his feet, and began to run. Roen continued running, dodging and weaving behind a few crates on the helipad. A bullet ricocheted dangerously close to his head as he dove behind a generator.

Stick your head out of the right side and pull back!
 

“What? I have to get to Sonya!”

Trust me. And do it quickly. You cannot save her until you handle Sean.
 

Roen complied, peering out from the right edge and pulling back. Two bullets spit up the ground at that side, and he huddled back toward the center.

Five. Six. Now do it again.
 

“Are you crazy?”

Just do it.
 

“Come on, boy. Why do you delay the inevitable? Do you know how to die like a man? Come out and show me!” Sean’s voice echoed through the mountain air. “You better stop hiding. Your girl will bleed out in a few minutes.”

Roen stuck his head out and peered at Sean, having just a split second to pull back behind the generator before two more bullets flew right past his head.

Seven. Eight. Now, stick your head out the other side.
 

“I’m not getting this.”

I will teach you if we ever survive this. Just follow my directions.
 

Resigned to trusting Tao, Roen stuck his head out and pulled back just as a bullet struck the railing close to his head.

Good, now run to the right, past that debris toward the edge. Cut in and charge Sean when I say so. Go!
 

Roen took off, keeping his head low and charging across the length of platform. He sprinted past a row of crates and heard a bullet pass by. He almost stumbled as his momentum carried him forward. Roen put his hand down to keep his balance as he turned and dived behind several large fans.