Dead Mech (16 page)

“Yeah?”

“Stay on mission and out of the plazas and
markets. There’s a bug going around, hitting folks hard.”

Jay glanced at the Rookie. “Thanks for the
heads up, Scog. Later on.”

“Roger that.”

***

June groaned as she awoke. The base of her
skull felt like she was on fire and searing pain overwhelmed her
entire head, neck and spine.

“Well, looks like nap time is over,” she
heard the Boss say next to her. She tried to turn her head and
screamed from the new agonies that ripped through her.

“Oh, I’d stay still for a bit,” the Boss
said. “You’re going to hurt for a while.”

Realization slammed into June’s conscious
mind. “I can’t feel my legs,” she croaked.

The Boss laughed. “Yeah, that happens.
Should go away soon. If not, well…”

***

The Foggy Bottom transport gates opened,
allowing the security ATV and mechs to enter the scan yard.

“Afternoon, pilots,” a voice greeted them
over the com. “I’m Security Officer Xiang. I need to run a full
contaminant scan of your mechs before proceeding to the hangar. As
you may have heard, we are having some type of outbreak here and we
need to detect and isolate any further issues. Shouldn’t take more
than 30 minutes or so. Sorry for the delay.”

“Got it. Thanks,” Jay responded, then
unlatched his harness and kicked his feet up. “Might as well get
comfortable.”

***

Proximity claxons sounded.

“UDC train ETA is 15 minutes,” Jethro
announced over the com.

Capreze switched to an open channel. “Okay
base, I want everyone in place and ready. We have one shot at
making this work or we’ll end up with an entire UDC division down
our throats. You know your places. Let’s do this!”

“Um, let’s do this?” Rachel said from
Capreze’s office doorway.

“I haven’t had to give a rousing speech in a
while. Cut your old man some slack.”

Rachel crossed and hugged her father.

“What’s this about?” Capreze asked,
returning the hug.

“Just in case.”

***

“Who’s the new guy?” asked the security
officer at the admin desk.

“Rookie,” Jay answered.

“Figured that much since new guys tend to be
rookies,” the officer said sarcastically.

“Which is why we call him the Rookie,
dumbass,” Masters said, stepping around Jay to face the
officer.

“Fuck, should have guessed it’d be you this
time, Masters,” the officer growled.

“Good to see you too, Rodriguez,” Masters
growled back.

Rodriguez and Masters locked eyes.

Jay cleared his throat. “If you guys are
done touching dicks, can we move on?”

“You know the rules.” Rodriguez buzzed them
into the city/state proper.

***

“Keep the com open until after all UDC
personnel are off that train then shut it down,” Capreze ordered
Jethro. He turned to Mathew as the pilot was climbing into his
mech. “Stay hidden. Once Jethro jams communications, you are on
your own. Get to the first city/state you can and find out what’s
going on. We need details and data if we are going to piece this
together.”

“Yes, sir,” Mathew responded, powering up
his mech. Rachel entered the hangar and gave a slight wave. Mathew
smiled and nodded then engaged his mech’s legs and walked into the
wasteland.

***

“What was that about?” the Rookie asked,
tossing his bag into the back of the SUV the pilots had been
provided with.

Jay tossed his in behind, gave a small laugh
and moved to the driver’s seat. “Ask tough guy there.”

The Rookie stepped aside as Masters threw
his pack in with the rest. “Old acquaintance.”

“Ha!” Jay barked. “That’s what you’re going
to tell him? Holy shit! That’s rich!”

“Fuck you Rind,” Masters growled.

“Fine, I’ll tell him,” Jay said as Masters
climbed into the passenger seat, the Rookie took the back seat.
“That was Harlow’s ex-husband.”

Masters glared.

***

“What did you do to me?” June asked,
starting to shiver.

“Look at that! You have chill bumps on your
skin! That’s a great sign. You should be up and walking in no
time,” the Boss laughed, placing a rough hand on June’s back. “Not
to mention the other activities I have planned.”

“What did-” June started, but a fierce slap
on her exposed ass stopped her.

“I heard you the first time, bitch,” the
Boss growled. “I just made sure that little chip in your head
wouldn’t bring any visitors.”

“You disabled my Reaper chip?”

“No, I removed it.”

***

The SUV sped through Foggy Bottom’s busy
streets, dodging scooters, vendor skiffs and pedestrians.

“In a hurry?” the Rookie asked Jay, holding
onto his oh-shit handle for dear life.

“Med center closes in ten minutes. We need
to get this supply req in ASAP or we’ll end up here an extra day,”
Jay answered.

The Rookie turned his attention to Masters,
who was staring out the side window, lost in thought.

“So Harlow was married before you met?” the
Rookie inquired.

“When we met,” Masters answered gruffly.

“Ahhhh…That would explain the
hostility.”

“Yep, that would explain it,” Masters
agreed.

***

The UDC train powered down and the doors to
the two cars behind the engine opened. Twenty UDC troops stepped
onto the platform from the second car and surveyed the scene. Their
commanding officer walked to the first car.

“Clear. You may disembark now.”

Two med techs exited the first car, each
carrying a medium sized titanium case.

Capreze crossed from the hangar. “Evening.
Welcome.”

“Sergeant Major Crowley, sir. I’ll be
overseeing the inoculations,” the troop officer said, offering a
salute which Capreze promptly returned.

“Excellent. If you will all follow me, I’ll
show you where you can set up.”

***

The Boss left June to shiver and shake on
her own. She tried to huddle her body against the wall for warmth,
but even the slightest movement made her head explode and she cried
out.

“There, there now, dear,” a woman’s voice
said, as June felt a blanket being draped across her. “This will
help. I know how it is.”

“You had this done to you? Who are you?”
June asked, unable to turn her head to see her visitor.

“I was the one with the knife, sweetie. I
took out your chip... I used to be a UDC doctor.”

***

Lights flashed behind the SUV.

“Shit!” Jay yelled. “We don’t have time for
this.”

Masters glanced back at the FBPD cycle
closing in on them. Its siren sounded twice then held when Jay
didn’t pull the SUV over.

“Fuck ‘em,” Masters said. “Head to the med
center. I’ll talk us out of it.”

Jay laughed. “You think Rodriguez hasn’t put
you on the ‘fuck with’ list? Good luck.”

“Fuck ‘em,” Masters said again.

“Good plan. Way to think it through.” Jay
shook his head.

“Um, can mech pilots be arrested?” the
Rookie asked.

“Yes,” Masters and Jay answered in
unison.

***

“This should be enough space,” Capreze
stated as they entered the mess. “We have coffee ready if you’d
like.”

Sergeant Major Crowley surveyed the room and
motioned for his team to take up positions. Two groups broke off
and spaced themselves evenly about the walls, carbines lowered, but
at the ready. “We aren’t allowed to fraternize. Coffee won’t be
necessary.”

Rachel approached Crowley with a steaming
mug. “You don’t have to talk to us, but I’d hate for you to pass up
the best coffee ever.”

The aroma from the mug made Crowley’s eyes
widen. “That does smell good, pilot.”

***

“I shot the req to your tablet. It’ll tell
you who to ask for,” Jay said, watching the FBPD officer in the
rearview monitor. “Make it quick. We got some drinkin’ to do.”

“I don’t know. Last time I drank with you I
ended up banished on this trip with you two,” the Rookie
laughed.

“Banished?” Masters asked, sounding pissed.
“I was at the base for six months before Capreze let me make a req
trip, so shut the fuck up.”

“Just hurry,” Jay said as the officer tapped
roughly on the driver’s window. Jay looked to Masters. “You’re
on.”

***

“Ma’am, I think I speak for all of my men:
this is the best damn coffee ever,” Crowley stated and each of the
UDC soldiers lifted their mugs in salute.

Rachel grinned. “Well, drink up. I’ll be
sure and send some with you.”

“Thank you.” Crowley downed his coffee and
the other soldiers followed suit.

“We’re ready,” a med tech said.

“Commander, please send in your staff.”

“Of course, Sergeant Major. They should be
along in 3…2…1.”

One by one the soldiers began to sway then
drop. Crowley tried to lift his carbine, but failed, falling
unconscious to the floor.

***

“We’re closed,” the receptionist called out
as the Rookie walked into the med center lobby. “Emergencies go to
FB general.”

“I know, sorry. I’m with…I’m a mech pilot. I
just need to drop off a supply req to a Doctor…” The Rookie fumbled
with his tablet, looking for the name. “…Lisbon?”

The receptionist looked up suddenly at the
mention of Lisbon’s name. “Oh, I’m sorry, Doctor Lisbon is no
longer with us.”

“Oh…transferred?”

“No, you misunderstand. Dr. Lisbon passed
away last week.”

“Really? Sorry to hear that,” the Rookie
paused. “Then who do I give the req to?”

***

“How long have you been here?” June asked
between the waves of pain shooting up and down her spine.

“Forty three years, six months and seven
days.”

June gasped. “My God…You didn’t try to
escape?”

The woman laughed. “Of course, but there’s
only two ways out: death or banishment into the waste.”

“No one’s ever escaped?”

“One. My grandson. I was able to help him
leave. But my son took my feet for it when he found out, so I
couldn’t follow.”

June cried out as feeling returned to her
legs. Pain flayed her nerves open and set them afire.

***

Masters was standing outside the SUV,
talking with the FBPD officer when the Rookie came out of the med
center.

“Here he is, Officer,” Masters grinned,
nodding towards the Rookie.

The Rookie stopped short as the FBPD officer
came around the SUV and approached him, retinal scanner in
hand.

“Let him scan you so we can get moving,”
Masters smiled. “He just needs complete records for his
report.”

“Please hold still,” the officer commanded
placing the scanner close to the Rookie’s right eye.

The scanner bleeped sharply and the officer
checked it, puzzled. “That’s strange… This says you don’t
exist.”

***

The two med techs stood frozen.

“Rachel, would you mind showing these two to
a holding cell?” Capreze asked.

“Gladly,” Rachel answered, pulling her
sidearm and gesturing for the techs to move.

“We are supposed to report to the train
pilots within the hour,” a tech stammered.

“You can report to them right now. They’re
waiting for you in the cell,” Capreze said.

Rachel ushered the techs out the door as
Bisby came in. He glanced at the soldiers. “That’s some powerful
coffee,” he laughed.

“This plan is stretched thin, Biz. I hope we
can pull it off,” Capreze sighed.

***

The officer scanned the Rookie again with
the same result. “Nope, you’re still a ghost. Shoot me your ID
validation codes, sir.”

Masters stepped next to the Rookie. “Is this
necessary, Officer? I mean, we both check out” –Masters motioned
towards Jay who in turn waved enthusiastically- “I’m sure it’s just
a record keeping glitch.”

“Your code, sir?” the officer insisted. The
Rookie looked to Masters who just shrugged.

“Um, sure.” The Rookie tapped at his tablet.
“There you go.”

The officer studied his own tablet. “Looks
in order. Sorry to bother you Pilot-”

“Are we done here?” Jay interrupted.

***

“My legs are burning!” June cried out.

“That’s just the nerves turning back on. The
pain is a good sign,” the woman soothed.

“Fuck you it’s a good sign!” June
yelled.

“Removing a Reaper chip is not easy. You are
lucky to be alive, let alone feeling anything.”

The pain subsided and June took deep
breaths.

“Better?” the woman asked.

“Yes, barely.”

“It’ll go away.” June heard a chair scrape
the floor. “I’ll be back with some food and water. Don’t try to
move. You aren’t out of the woods yet.”

“Woods?” June asked.

“Just something my grandmother would
say.”

***

“That was weird,” Masters said as the three
pilots drove on. “Never seen a scanner glitch like that.”

“That’s tech for you,” the Rookie quipped.
“By the way, Lisbon’s dead.”

“What?!?” Jay nearly shouted. “Dead? What
from?”

“Don’t know. Receptionist didn’t say.”

“Who’d you give the req to?” Masters
asked.

“The receptionist. She said she’d pass it on
and have everything ready by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Excellent. Then let’s get this show on the
road!” Jay whooped.

The Rookie caught Masters eyeing him.
“What?”

“I’ve just never seen a scanner glitch
before, that’s all.”

“You already said that.”

“I meant it.”

***

“It’s up to the two of you now,” Capreze
said, handing Jethro and Themopolous each a titanium case. “I hope
you can figure this out.”

“We’ll try, sir,” Themopolous said.

Capreze stepped to the door. “I’ll be with
the pilots securing the UDC troops. Com me if you find anything.”
He looked them both in the eye then left the exam room.