Fireteam Delta Page 33

  Summers looked at Nowak and the others.

  “Guys . . . how do we know they haven’t already left?”

  Chapter 38: Reserves

  Summers took a breath. Then another. His hand lay on Asle’s head, trying to sense if her condition had gotten any worse.

  “She good?” Cortez watched them with a look of concern.

  “I think so . . . it doesn’t look anything like my head did, anyway.”

  “That’s because she’s smarter than you.” Cortez tussled Asle’s hair, giving her a small smile.

  Thankfully, Asle had returned to normal after a few days, just as Summers had. They’d been careful to watch her diet. If her condition was anything like Summers’ own, it meant that she too would have to deal with the hamr absorbing anything she ate. The last thing anyone wanted was for her to sprout some sort of wings or horns. Though that was the least of their worries.

  Nowak had led them to a river he insisted would get them past the Nevada border. However, from the moment they’d left the coastal village, they’d seen no signs of any life. No people, no animals. Summers hadn’t even managed to see a fish in the large river that flowed beside them. Considering they were heading upstream, that suggested something ahead was the cause.

  “How are we on food?” Summers asked, looking to Synel.

  She’d been handling their traveling supplies, something that was woefully limited at the moment. Their quick escape from the village meant they’d left without really restocking.

  Synel shook her head in response.

  “Not well.” She moved to one of the horses that held a few packs at its side. “Two weeks, if we don’t ration. Assuming the water is safe.”

  Summers nodded, thinking.

  “Do you know of any cities nearby?”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Nowak interjected. “Think about it. If the army’s pulling out, what do you think that means for everyone else?”

  “You really think marching into a fight with these two is a good plan?” Summers gestured to Asle and Synel.

  “And we still have the food issue,” Cortez added.

  “I know . . .” Nowak pinched the bridge of his nose. He had a map of the region sprawled out in front of him.

  Synel moved to the map, looking it over.

  “I agree with Mr. Nowak. Any cities nearby will likely have suffered some kind of opposition.” Synel gestured to the river they were using as a landmark. “This is a major trade route between the coastal and eastern cities. I would have expected to see someone. That we haven’t, suggests . . .”

  “Something bad,” Asle finished.

  Summers noticed the tension in both her and Synel’s shoulders as they spoke.

  “We could turn back.”

  “No.” Synel’s response took Summers off guard. “Don’t misunderstand me. If I had a choice, I would have gladly stayed with the ship. But I’m not confident any of the nearby settlements would be safe for long. If not because of what we saw, then because of the factions that would take advantage of their weakness. That could prove just as dangerous if not more.”

  “And the people in town hadn’t seen anyone from the east for a long time,” Asle elaborated.

  “Great.”

  “I suggest we continue on.” Synel gestured to the map. “If we stretch what we have, I believe we could make it to this base of yours, if just barely.”

  “That’s assuming the army’s still there,” Cortez pointed out.

  “They are,” Nowak interjected. “That message was automated, but if something big enough to take out the army hit the base, I don’t think there would be anything left standing. They’re transmitting. They have power. That at least implies the infrastructure’s still standing.”

  “And what if we get there and no one’s waiting for us?” Summers questioned. “I don’t know if that’s a fight we can win.”

  “I’m not seeing any better options here.” Nowak glanced at Summers. “You said there are more of those things on their way. Where can we leave them that going to be safe?”

  “Any city has to be safer than this.” Summers gestured at the open forest around them.

  “But if I’m like you . . .” Asle rubbed at her neck. “If I’m . . . different now, I could hurt them . . .”

  Summers paused at that.

  It was a valid point. Summers wasn’t even sure if his “problem” was under control. If Asle was left alone, who knew what could happen, given enough time?

  “What about the rest of you?” Summers turned to Pat, Orvar, and the twins. They stood a few feet away, watching for anything coming their way.

  Pat blinked.

  “We’ll do as you command, Commander.”

  The others nodded, as if that settled the matter.

  “Of course, you will.” Summers turned to Synel, speaking in Nos. “You really think the base is our best chance?”

  Synel put a finger to her chin in thought.

  “Yours? No. You could run back to the city and live long, prosperous lives. With your weapons and power, it would be likely you’d make it. It’s the best course of action for both Asle and I.”

  “I appreciate the honesty?”

  “You should. It’s a rarity.”

  Summers sighed.

  Asle still looked at him, clearly trying to put on a brave face. He didn’t disagree with Synel, but they had a long road ahead of them. Hopefully, a lot could still change.

  <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

  After another few days on the road, nothing had changed.

  “Saw a couple birds earlier, but not much else.” Cortez hefted her gun, looking off into the distance.

  “Figures.” Summers watched the horizon, pushing down a pang of hunger. “Well, there could still be something out there.”

  Considering that they were near what was probably the largest body of fresh water around, they’d expected to have run into something by now.

  It was eerily similar to the canyon they’d found the fog in. Only on a much, much grander scale.

  The hamr didn’t seem to differentiate between species—though, from what little Summers could parse from his memories, he was fairly certain it needed people. Bottom line was that is spread like a virus, and had probably had more than enough time to take root in the local ecosystems. Since everything needed to eat . . .

  The only real question was what happened to the infected?

  They’d stopped on a small hill overlooking a clearing around the river. The forest was thick, old wood that made traveling all that much harder. On more than one occasion, Summers had needed to kick a fallen tree off the road. Though that was, admittedly, pretty fun.

  He dug into the worryingly light pack at his horse’s side, pulling out the last of their MREs—a burrito bowl.

  Part of him was a little sad to see it go.

  Asle moved beside him, digging through her own pack. Summers thought for a moment before tossing the package to her. MREs had been more or less safe for him, so it followed that it should be the same for her. And she seemed to like them.

  “Thank you.” Asle gave Summers a half bow before she started to unwrap the package in her lap.

  He’d noticed she’d been unusually quiet since they left the village. And it was clear she was still more than a little tense.

  Summers sat beside her.

  “You doing okay?”

  She nodded.

  Summers glanced over at Pat and Orvar. They were eating together by the horses, as if it were just any other day.

  “To die in battle is an honor,” Asle prompted.

  Summers turned back to the girl, confused.

  “What?”

  “My dad told me that.” Asle fiddled with the package, tearing it open. “They aren’t afraid, because their . . . souls will be honored.”

  Summers watched the girl skeptically.

  “Was your dad a soldier?”

  “No. Not . . . he was a chief. . . . they�
��re supposed to fight.”

  “Oh.” Summers pulled over his pack. “Is that something you wanted to do? Fight?”

  Asle hesitated.

  “I don’t,” Summers explained. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not afraid to fight. Or die. Well no, that’s a lie, I’m absolutely terrified, but I’m not about to let you show me up.”

  Asle only smiled as Summers continued.

  “Point is, this was always just a job for me. Something I did so I could get my life on track.” Summers pulled a piece of hard tack from a pouch and took a chunk from it.

  “I don’t like hurting people.”

  “I know. So, what do you want to do then? You’re gonna have to have a plan when we get through this, right?”

  Asle seemed uncertain for a moment before she nodded again.

  “I liked it when we were traveling. I liked exploring, and meeting new people.”

  Summers allowed himself a moment to think about that. Despite everything that had happened, and discounting the parts he’d been fighting, or the running for his life bit, it had been fun.

  “Yeah, I liked that, too.”

  “Contact!” Cortez yelled from the other side of camp.

  Summers immediately stood, lifting his weapon and heading over to Cortez’s side. Asle gave a brief expression of worry before Pat and the others moved to cover her and Synel behind the mounts.

  Summers saw a single figure breaking the horizon—completely normal, save for the almost comically large arm at his side, one that was clearly not his own. He was dressed in the rough, earth-toned clothing Summers had come to associate with the elves. A local.

  As Summers watched, the man made no move toward them. He just stood there, watching from the tree line.

  “Leave, or we will open fire!” Nowak called over in Nos.

  The man didn’t move for several long seconds.

  Nowak glanced at Summers. Summers gave a small half-shrug.

  “Sounded like you said it right.”

  “Hey, asshole!” Cortez yelled in English. “Get out of here!”

  After another moment, the man turned, walking back into the trees.

  “Huh,” Summers remarked. “I guess he didn’t want any trouble.”

  <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

  “There’s another six, near as I can see.”

  Cortez climbed down from the tree, landing with a soft thud.

  It had been half a week since they sighted the strange elven man watching them. Now, apparently, more of his friends had shown up. A lot more.

  “Five on the other side,” Nowak called out.

  “What the fuck are they doing?” Summers watched the distant men.

  “Waiting, seems like.” Cortez watched the group staring at them from the tree line. “Could always shoot ’em,” she offered.

  “At that distance, even I could only get one or two, at best.” Summers eyed the men. They were at the extreme range for their rifles. He didn’t think that was a coincidence.

  “No,” Nowak cautioned. “You remember what that thing in town did? We kill one, there’s a good chance the others will just pick it up and get it moving again. Besides which, we’re traveling light. We don’t want to have to deal with one of those big fuckers.”

  “Yeah, but there’s a good chance they’re just waiting for reinforcements to rush us,” Summers countered.

  “How are they talking to each other?” Cortez looked at the small group of people on the horizon. “It’s not like they have radios.”

  “I don’t know.”

  Nowak considered that.

  “We’ll rest tonight. I want to try outrunning them in the morning.”

  “You want us to sleep with those things watching us?” Cortez looked skeptical.

  “We need the horses to rest. They try to rush us, they got a lot of ground to cover. Plenty of time to put them down.”

  Summers thought for a moment, bringing his gun up to look at the closest men through his scope.

  There were a few soldiers mixed in with the elven company. None of them wore any kind of expression. More importantly, though, he could see what they were looking at.

  To Summers’ surprise, every single one of them was staring right back at him.

  Chapter 39: Long Road

  Summers and the others left early the next morning. At the speed they were going, he was fairly confident their newfound stalkers would be left in the dust. Oddly, he’d noticed they hadn’t really tried to follow. Instead, they seemed content to watch them leave.

  Cortez rubbed at tired eyes from beside Summers. The whole group looked more than a little haggard. He hadn’t gotten much sleep, either, which made him question the sight in front of him.

  “Guys . . . tell me you’re seeing this, too,” Nowak called out.

  “Yeah . . .” Summers stood beside his horse, looking up.

  “Is that a fucking tank?” Cortez asked.

  It was, in fact, a fucking tank. Or half of one, at least. Its turret was pointed at an almost perfect ninety-degree angle, with treads poking out from a small rocky outcropping, one that was very clearly not large enough to hold a tank.

  “Did . . . it get buried or something?”

  “I don’t think so.” Summers studied the rocky protrusion. Even from this angle, he could see the rear treads poking out the bottom of the formation. It looked like chunks of metal had rained down below it.

  It was as though it were growing out of the stone.

  Summers rode closer to the outcropping, struggling to balance on his horse for a moment before hopping down, looking at the odd metal pieces scattered around.

  They were in chunks. Cleanly cut at odd, sharp angles.

  They reminded him of what happened when they first got here, of how the creature that had wiped out the 63rd was left neatly cut into small, distinct cubes, after Summers destroyed the machine that got them here.

  “Hey . . .” Cortez called over. “I think we got another problem.”

  Summers followed Cortez’s gaze. There was a small, hunched man far in the distance. He looked bone thin, his skin an almost onyx black, and behind him were a dozen men.

  But the real problem was the large, white-feathered creature towering over them.

  It looked like a dragon.

  A giant, white, mostly dead dragon.

  “Well, that’s not good.” Summers stared back at the group.

  He hadn’t seen them approach. Yes, he was tired, but that thing was massive. There was no way it should have been able to sneak up on all of them.

  “Need a plan here, Sarge.” Cortez hopped down from her horse, eyeing the massive creature in the distance.

  “I’ll get the right side. Summers, think you can take the guy in the center out? Go for the legs. We’ll run while they’re licking their wounds.”

  “Not a problem, Sarge.” Summers shrugged the rifle on his shoulder, looking down the scope at the thin man in front of them.

  He ignored the others as Nowak began to shout orders to the rest of the group. He sighted in on the man, then fired a short burst.

  Almost immediately, Summers saw the thin man’s hand move, just slightly—then something slammed into him.

  “Fuck!” Summers rolled with the impact, feeling as if someone had hit him with a sledgehammer. “What the hell—?”

  Summers turned to see the others looking at him, weapons ready. There was nothing behind them.

  “Where’re the shooters?” Cortez moved to cover behind her horse.

  “I can’t see where it came from,” Nowak called out.

  Summers reached to the back of his vest, feeling three new holes below his shoulder. Exactly as many shots as he’d fired.

  He’d been at the front of the group. There was no way someone could get an angle like that on them. Not unless they were in the sky, and it was clear.

  Then he felt it. The strange vibrating sensation he’d recognized from when they’d first arrived in this world. In the sky,
about a dozen feet away from them, was a small portal. He could see the thin man’s face smiling back at him.

  He looked back just as Cortez was lining up her shot.

  “Wait!”

  Cortez fired. Summers darted forward, tackling the woman just as another stream of fire impacted the ground where she’d been standing.

  “What—?” Cortez didn’t get a chance to finish as the dragon roared. Summers felt a rush of air wash over the group.

  “Sarge, we need to start running. Now!”

  They didn’t have the tools to take down anything near that big. And if his theory on the thin man was right, they didn’t stand a chance of killing him like this.

  Nowak hesitated a moment before yelling to the others.

  “Head north. Go!”

  They ran.

  <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

  “There was a tear in space?” Nowak leaned back against the cliff wall, trying to get his bearings.

  “I don’t know. Maybe a wormhole or something? Like the one that brought us here,” Summers explained. “We can’t hit it like that, not if it’s gonna throw our own fire back at us.” Summers dug out the now broken plate on his back. It had been shattered into a million pieces. The tough, gray skin beneath it had already started to bruise.

  The fact he’d never gotten around to removing that skin had likely saved his life.

  Summers leaned against the small alcove they’d taken refuge in.

  For the last seven hours, their group had been hounded by the beast-like men. They always kept a distance, but Summers was certain they’d come eventually.

  Thankfully, the large forest and cliffs must have made it hard for the dragon to move, because it hadn’t caught up to them. Yet.

  He’d guessed they’d wait for Summers’ group to fall asleep, or for enough of their own to show up to overwhelm them. To wear them down.

  Judging by the state of their group, it was working.

  “We can’t keep this up.” Cortez looked back at the road they’d come from.

  They hadn’t seen anyone for the last hour. Presumably, they’d lost them. But given what Summers suspected, it wasn’t going to last.

  “I think they’re communicating somehow.” Summers looked up at the others. “Waiting for more to show up, just like we thought. If something can control the people it’s infected, that would explain that port town. All of that happened at the same time, like it was coordinated.”