Transient Echoes (20 page)

Scar threw himself on Terry, pinning him with his knees and hands. Terry squirmed to get free.

A shot rang out from where Ludo had been fighting.

Charlie fell to his knees, a hole in his neck. Ludo stood before him, gun in his hands. He kicked him on his side, sending his face into the mud.

Terry looked at the gun in Ludo’s hand, which was now pointed squarely at Scar’s face. “Get up,” said Ludo.

Scar eased off Terry’s chest and took several steps back.

“Ludo, what’s going on?” asked Terry, standing at last.

Ysa screamed and brought her staff down on Purple Eyes. He deflected it, thrusting his fist into her chest. She remained unfazed.

“They are here for Ysa!” shouted Ludo. “We must get the sacred Vessel!”

Red struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his broken nose. Terry ran and kicked him in the face, knocking him down.

“Where is it?” asked Terry, looking back at Ludo.

“A box inside,” he said.

Terry remembered the day he’d first awoken here at the farm and the jewel-encrusted knife they showed him. He didn’t know what it was at the time, nor did he understand its purpose now, but it was the only thing he could think of that might fit the description. “I’ll be right back!”

Terry ran to the rear of the house, knocking open the rear door, and heading inside. The fire was largely restricted to the front of the building, but the rest of the house was filled with smoke and heat. He had to be fast.

He went into Ludo’s bedroom, scanning for any signs of the box. He found several chests in the corner, far from the bed. He opened them and sorted through the contents. The first chest was mostly clothes, so he tossed it aside, cursing under his breath. The second had a bunch of handcrafted accessories in it. He kicked the chest away and cracked open the next one. More clothes, of course, as well as a few precious stones. “This is crazy,” he said.

He moved the chest, hoping to find a smaller one tucked behind it. No such luck. He was about to get out of there when he noticed an indent on the floor, cut into the wood like a handle. He gripped and pulled, and a small hatch lifted.

“Terry!” shouted a voice from under the floorboards. The person screaming lifted the hatch, revealing a hidden storage compartment. It was Talo, covered in dirt and staring up at him. He seemed to be clutching a small box in his hands.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing down there?” asked Terry.

“Mother said to stay here,” he said in English.

Terry beat his chest to show he understood. He grabbed the boy’s arm, pulling him from the hole. Terry snagged the blanket off Ludo’s bed and wrapped it around both of them.

The fire swelled near the room in the hallway. Burning wood screamed as the fire engulfed the home. Terry and Talo rushed out of the master bedroom, shielding themselves from the heat, then flew through the rear door into the open yard. Terry threw the blanket off of them and carried Talo to the fence at the far back of the farm. “Stay here.”

Talo beat his chest.

Terry motioned at the box in the boy’s hands and Talo gave it to him. Terry opened the lid and found the dagger, jewels and all. He gave the box to Talo and left to return to the battlefield, running hard and fast.

As everything came into view, he saw the fight had changed. Ysa was on her backside with the old man lording over her.

Ludo stood with his knee on Red’s back, pinning him. He waved the rifle at Terry. “Use the metal!” he shouted. “Help Ysa!”

Terry glanced at the dagger in his hand, then at Ysa and her attacker as he pressed the heel of his boot against her throat. Purple Eyes stared down at Ysa with a placid look on his face. “You will come with me,” the old man said.

Terry dashed toward them, kicking dirt behind him as he moved. When he drew close, he clasped the hilt of the knife with both his hands and raised it high above his head. As the blade was about to make contact, the old man bent slightly to the side, avoiding the jab. His face retained the same, seemingly bored expression.

Terry tumbled forward, landing face-first into the earth. He slid several meters, shredding grass.

Ysa screamed.

Purple Eyes smiled.

Ludo ran to Ysa and aimed the gun at the man with the white hair, shouting words Terry didn’t know. Purple Eyes did not bother to look at the weapon.

“Ludo!” shouted Terry as he got to his feet.

Ludo squeezed the trigger, and the muzzle flamed. The bullet hit the old man, deflecting from his temple. The flattened piece of metal landed a few meters from the target, who remained unfazed.

Terry could hardly believe his own eyes. Was this guy bulletproof? How was it possible?

“Terry!” shouted Ludo, snapping him out of it. “The knife!” He fired a second round, hitting Purple Eyes in the chest and accomplishing nothing.

Terry grasped the dagger. This was it. He ran toward Ysa and Purple Eyes, leaping a second time, but aiming with his whole body rather than the knife alone.

He landed on the old man’s back, wrapping his arm around his wrinkled neck. Purple Eyes shook him, stepping off Ysa in the process. He grasped Terry’s arm with his own and dug his fingernails into his skin.

Terry grit his teeth, trying to ignore the pain. He raised the dagger high above them with his other hand.

The dagger came down, its rainbow jewels glistening in the light of the nearby flames. It slid into the old man’s chest with ease, tearing his skin and ripping his flesh.

For the first time, Purple Eyes screamed, his face contorting in pain. He staggered, flinging Terry free and backing away, the knife still in his chest.

Ysa and Terry both got to their feet and stood alongside Ludo.

Purple Eyes clutched the dagger and ripped it free. He took several heavy breaths as crimson blood drained from his body, fixing his sight on Terry. He lifted the dagger high into the air. “Occotv!” he shouted.
Attack!

Terry looked at Ludo. “Now what?” he asked.

Ludo shook his head. “Problem.”

A loud hum filled the valley, growing steadily.

Terry gripped Ludo’s shoulder. “What is that?”

Before Ludo could answer, a vehicle appeared from behind one of the distant cliffs, heading in their direction. Fighting the pain in his wrist and arm, Terry managed to focus long enough to see a band of men hanging off the sides and riding atop the metal monstrosity. Three of them seemed to be blowing horns, their faces adorned with paint and bones.

Ludo’s mouth dropped. “No!”

The vehicle arrived within moments, and half a dozen men unloaded, weapons in hand.

Ysa attacked them immediately. She disarmed two of the men with ease, kicking their weapons to the ground. She planted her fist on another’s jaw, shattering bone and teeth. Terry and Ludo joined her, each of them taking on an individual fighter.

Purple Eyes moved in, the dagger in his palm. He clashed with Ysa, pummeling her into the dirt and holding the blade against her neck. She didn’t move.

At this, Ludo paused, which gave the man he was fighting the opportunity to knock him in the back and onto the ground. Terry kicked his opponent away and made a break to help his friend. As he did, he felt a sharp pain rip through his leg, and he fell.

A bullet had ripped through his calf, taking a chunk of his flesh with it. The pain filled his body, and suddenly he felt every punch and every wound all at once.

He collided with the yard fence, breaking apart the wood and rolling towards the burning house. He tried to get on his feet, but collapsed immediately, screaming in pain. He looked to see Scar, standing with a gun in his hand.

Terry watched helplessly as the men took Ludo and Ysa into the vehicle, binding their hands.

The flames spread around him, jumping onto the dying earth and broken wood surrounding the house. The heat was almost too much for him to bear as he lay there on his stomach, covered in mud.

What was he supposed to do? How could he be so helpless? He’d searched for years to find a home, and now it had been ripped from his arms. He didn’t want to be in pain. He didn’t want to die or be alone. Why couldn’t he simply be happy for once? Why couldn’t he be free?

He turned on his back, staring into the fire. Was this the end? Would he—

A laugh echoed in the flames, light and sweet.

Terry jerked his head around, but saw no one. “Who’s there?” he asked.

Another laugh. It was a girl.
Terry,
she said.
What are you doing, silly?

“Janice?” He touched the side of his face, shaking his head. “No, not right now. I can’t deal with this again!”

Why are you playing in the mud?

The flames crackled, wavering like tides in a yellow sea. A shadow flickered between them, distorted and fanatic.

I told you to run,
whispered the voice, and the figure seemed to move with it.
But you didn’t listen.

“Go away,” he gasped, breathing in the heat and coughing. “Please.”

Not this time,
she said.
This time I’ll stay. You need me. You always will.

The cloud of smoke hovered in the midst of the fire and quickly evaporated into the air. As it did, Terry saw the body of a small girl, pristine and untouched by the flames. Her long brown hair fell below her shoulders as she walked through the chaos of the crumbling structure, calmly approaching him with her hand outstretched. Her face was peaceful and full of youth, exactly the way he remembered it.

“Janice,” he managed to gasp.

She smiled, reaching out to him. He felt the touch of her fingertips against his skin. “Soon,” she told him.

And then the world went black.

Ch
ap
ter
13

Ortego Outpost File Logs

Play Audio File 381

Recorded: January 16, 2351

THISTLE:
You ever coming home, kid?

FINN:
I’m starting to wonder. Seems like we’ve been here a while.

THISTLE:
Well, I take responsibility for that. I turned your vacation into an assignment. Now I’m regretting it.

FINN:
It’s okay, boss, really. I like being here. Feels like we’re doing something important, you know?

THISTLE:
You’re just saying that because your girl is there.

FINN:
Heh, maybe I am.

THISTLE:
No big deal, Finn. I get it. But don’t get too comfortable. As soon as the job’s done, and those scientists get the radiation fixed, you’re heading back out into the field. Your team needs you.

FINN:
Doesn’t sound like them.

THISTLE:
You know they’d never admit it, but I can tell when they ask about you.

FINN:
The next time you hear from them, say I’ll be back soon.

THISTLE:
Sure, but until then, don’t do anything stupid. We don’t need another radiation accident. I don’t care if you think you’re Superman or not. Don’t risk it.

FINN:
Come on, boss. You know me.

THISTLE:
That’s exactly my point.

End Audio File

Somewhere on Kant

January 16, 2351

Terry opened his eyes
, only to find he was unable to move. He’d been strapped to a bed. He wasn’t going anywhere.

Shit
.

He tried lifting his head, pressed against the straps but only managing to move a few centimeters. Peering down at himself, he saw a fresh set of clothes beneath the straps. Not his. Someone had dressed him.

He shot a glance to his side, his arm locked in place by a piece of leather. He still ached with pain, but it was much more tolerable now. The broken bone had been set and wrapped in a splint. Whoever his captors were, they didn’t want him dead.

Be thankful for the little things.

He scanned what he could of the room, but there was only stone. Tall rock walls and a rough ceiling. Light came from a window somewhere behind him, but it was too far for his neck to bend. If he could only get free, maybe he’d find a way out.

“Don’t worry, brother,” said a voice.

“Who’s there?” he snapped, but he already knew the answer. It was Janice, only her voice was off. She didn’t seem to be inside his head anymore. She was…

A flutter of laughter filled the room. Terry struggled to break free of the straps, twisting and turning, left and right, back and forth. As he did, he saw a quick blur, and he stopped.

Rolling to his side, he focused his eyes, staring at the strange distortion. For a moment, it seemed to fade, but quickly came together, materializing before him. It was like watching a rock shatter into dust, but in reverse.

As the figure materialized Terry’s eyes went wide, and he held his breath in disbelief.

Janice stood before him, smiling and twirling her chocolate hair. “Why’re you in bed?” she asked. “This is no time to be napping.”

He tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t form. “I…”

Janice pranced around the room, giggling as she skipped and bounced. “What a neat place!” she exclaimed.

This can’t be happening,
he thought.
This isn’t real.

“Don’t be so mean!” said Janice. “I’ll tell Mommy. I will!”

What is she talking about? I didn’t say anything.

“Yes, you did. You said I’m not real! What a mean thing to do.”

“You...” he paused, not knowing if he should answer.

“I am
so
here!” she snapped, stomping her foot. “Stop saying such mean things.”

There was no use in arguing with her. Not right now. He had to get out of this place, find Ludo and Ysa. He’d worry about his sanity later. “Okay,” he muttered.

She grinned, instantly dropping all apparent signs of anger. “I’m sorry I left, but I had to. I didn’t trust that silly old farmer. Not one bit.” She shuffled to his bedside and beamed a cheeky smile at him. “I’m here now, though. I knew you needed me.”

“Sure,” he said.