Freelancer (21 page)

“The last time I trusted this girl, we ended up being arrested within minutes of following her plan,” Jim said, the hostility in his voice was not helping the situation.

Several of the hacking drones successfully brought an armored SWAT van into Kari’s control. It had taken longer than she would have liked, but the vehicle hadn’t had many weak points. She immediately instructed the van to ram some of the lighter enforcement auto-autos out of the way.

“At least she tried to help us escape,” David said. “We were sitting ducks when doing what you thought was best.”

“David!” His mother’s voice was chastising.

Kari had lost six cheetahs, but she now controlled two vans that were knocking auto-autos out of their way. Each time they smashed into a vehicle, several officers dived for cover, disrupting their own firing line. The vans didn’t share the auto-autos’ anticollision code and thus had no problem pushing aside anything. The last of the SWAT team and enforcement officers were huddled into a corner under heavy fire. Kari ordered half of her remaining cheetahs to drag the fallen officers from the path.

What if some of them were crushed by the vans?
The question hurt.
I’ve killed someone. I must have. I’m a killer.

“No, it’s the truth, Mom. Kari is trying to save us, and Dad isn’t helping,” David said.

“I just want to know the plan. Is that so crazy?” his father asked. “She’s not even listening to us, anyway.”

I’ve killed people.
Kari wanted to turn herself in and order all her vehicles to stand down. This crime was different from hacking; this was taking someone’s life. Somewhere, a family would be without a dad because of Kari.
It was an accident, though, if anyone got hurt or killed in all of this. I didn’t want this situation to happen. I didn’t want any of this to happen. I wish there was another way to do this. . .

Auto-autos began to move forward through the freshly cleared compound exit as Kari’s cheetahs knocked out the last of the SWAT members. She had lost eight cheetahs in the battle but only two hacking drones. The officers had been focused on bringing down the cheetahs but hadn’t realized that the real weapons were the drones commanding them.

It’s not my fault we’re in this situation.
Kari knew, however, that she would have to face this eventually.
Not now. I’ve still got to finish this.
The auto-auto slowly accelerated as it passed through the hard-fought exit, flanked by a dozen cheetahs, twenty or so drones, and two slightly damaged, heavily armored SWAT vans. Auto-autos carrying former prisoners filed out after her. They were joined by hundreds of escaped prisoners leaving on foot.

“I’m taking you to the Middle States,” Kari said, her voice as lifeless as she felt. That silenced the family feud between David and his father. In the silence, one of David’s younger sisters started to cry.
You choose now to start crying?

“How?” Jim asked. “We were under the impression that the borders are closed.” His voice was more controlled and polite, now that Kari had answered his question.

“We’re going to punch our way through the front lines,” Kari said.

“What?” David and his parents said at the same time.

“We’re going to go straight through the front lines. We don’t have any other options. I believe we can do this; you’ll have to trust me. Now, please excuse me, as I need to take care of a few things.”

Kari focused her attention once again on her command drone. The auto-autos had all gone in different directions as soon as they left the facility, scattering to wherever the Middle State sympathizers felt like they had the best chance at hiding.
Most of them are probably like David and his family. And who knows how many people like me—people who just wanted to help—have been unlawfully arrested? That’s worth something, right? That’s worth fighting this battle over.
Their auto-auto was the only one that was heading directly for the border, which meant it was the only one approaching the military checkpoint a few miles ahead.

Kari ordered the SWAT vans to barrel through the checkpoint and was happy to find little resistance. Her small army of cheetahs and drones hardly had to break pace to subdue what little enforcement personnel were present. Kari wasn’t sure whether to be relieved that it had been nearly deserted or concerned that she no longer had an excuse not to talk with David’s family. Their bickering had quieted down, but it wasn’t resolved. The tension in the vehicle was waiting for an excuse to erupt into another shouting fest.

I can do plenty of other things, I guess.
Kari checked the map again; they had been making better progress than she’d hoped for. The border to the Middle States was less than an hour away. From what she had been able to discover online, this particular border point between North Carolina and Tennessee wasn’t being hotly contested, and the defenses on both sides were fairly light. However, the armies on both sides of the border were extremely close to each other here as only a few miles separated them. Kari would have to make it a mile past the coastal force’s camp before she could reach the Middle States’ army. It was the closest the two sides came along the entire border, and Kari thought it was her best chance to make it to safety.

I don’t know anything about war or strategy, but I know a bit about security and keeping people out.
Kari hoped that was enough for them to avoid running into the middle of a pitched battle. The sides were close, but no conflicts between the armies had been reported here.
I hope they’re content to fight battles elsewhere
. She also hoped that the information she was basing this decision on was correct. At first, she’d been glad for the break in action because it gave her a chance to catch her breath. Now, however, sitting in the auto-auto and seeing David and his family nervously try to comfort each other in fearful silence, she decided she preferred the action.

Reports of the outbreak were starting to surface over the networks. It was the middle of the night, but the news was alarming enough that it was already circulating. All the reports linked the action to Middle State insiders who had infiltrated the prison and orchestrated the outbreak.
I guess that’s the easier explanation than they locked up the wrong girl’s family illegally, and she hacked them because of it
.
Enforcement had no official comment, but that was typical.

One of David’s sisters started to cry again because she wasn’t able to fall asleep or understand the situation. The sounds of David’s parents trying to comfort their daughter were reassuring to Kari.
Maybe this is all worth it. Middle, coastal, what does it matter? We’re all just people trying to get by; we just happen to be some people who got caught in the center of all this mess.

“How much longer?” David whispered to her.

“We should make it to the border in a few more minutes,” Kari whispered back as she turned to look at him. He was sitting close to her, and he smiled as she spoke. Kari allowed her natural eyesight to take over the majority of her vision.

“I never thought you’d personally drop me off in the Middle States when you suggested I go there,” David said, his voice hushed but lighthearted.
Is he flirting with me right now?

“What can I say? I had to get rid of the only person who ever beat me in a drone fight,” Kari said.
Am I flirting back?

Before David could reply, the auto-auto notified her of a transmission. Only enforcement could send incoming calls to an auto-auto. Unfortunately, there was no way to reject a call from enforcement.

“Miss Tahe?” Henderson’s voice was loud and recognizable. David’s family looked around, concerned.

“Glad to hear you’re OK, Marshal Henderson. You weren’t looking too hot the last time I saw you. I was concerned,” Kari said.

“We have military-class drones locked onto your vehicle right now,” Henderson said. “Stop the auto-auto immediately, or we will open fire.” David’s siblings screamed, and his parents looked panicked.

“You’d open fire on an auto-auto filled with children?” Kari said, disgusted.

“I’d open fire on a fugitive stealing military secrets for the enemy,” Henderson said.

“I’m not stealing anything for anyone.” Kari focused on the drones flying around the car. She ordered them to fly higher in the air. If the military drones were to open fire, it would be from high elevation, and her drones might be able to intercept some of the fire.

“It’s clear which side you’ve chosen. I can’t allow you to give them the new drone technology that belongs to the United States,” Henderson said.

“Pull over,” David’s father ordered. Kari ignored him.

“I’m not on any side, Henderson, I told you that. I’m not going to give the Middle States anything. All I’m doing is taking my innocent friends to where they will be safe and together.”

“If you’re not working with us, then you’re against us,” Henderson said.

“That’s a narrow and sad way to see the world, my friend,” Kari said. “There are two teams in your game, but there are millions of people who don’t want to play and who are just trying to get by.”

“Collateral damage,” Henderson replied coldly.

“Pull. Over,” Jim said again, this time more forcefully.

Kari searched the sky desperately for any sign of drones but found none.
Is he bluffing?
It was possible the drones were far enough away or stealthy enough that she wouldn’t be able to see them. But she and the Pratts were only minutes away from entering military-zoned land.
Would they risk firing heavy weaponry this close to their own men?

“People are never collateral damage, Henderson.” Kari breathed in deeply. “Do what you have to, but know that I’m no Middle Stater, and I’m not going to give them anything, just like how I didn’t want to give you anything.”

David’s father tried to move across the vehicle to force Kari to pull over, but his wife held him back.

“Udarh! Send the orders to have the drones destroy the fugitive’s vehicle,” Henderson said, his voice spiteful. Kari scanned the skies again, ordering her drones to intercept any sort of attack by any means possible. David’s family was in a panic. Kari knew that her drones wouldn’t be able to stop the heavy fire from military-grade drones, which were massive airplanes capable of destroying cities blocks at a time. She’d pull over once she saw the first signs of being fired upon.

“No. She’s right.” Kari heard Udarh’s faint voice as she was about to order the auto-auto to stop so David’s family could run.

“What?” Henderson screamed. He sounded rabid.

“I’m redropping the communication bubble. There’s no way to send the order. I’m sorry, Ka—” Udarh’s voice was cut off as the communication bubble severed all transmissions from the prison.

Bless you, Udarh! I always liked you.

David’s siblings cheered, but his parents looked sick. David himself looked a little faint, but his face implied he had known this was going to happen. Kari hated that look.

“We did it!” the kids yelled.
Not quite yet.
Kari refocused her attention into one of her drones traveling above the auto-auto. She immediately noticed a military blockade forming down the road. She was still a few miles away from the official border.

“Hold on,” Kari said. She ordered the auto-auto to a halt, causing it to skid to stop. Up ahead, a wave of soldiers had blocked the road. Each of them was supported by several drones, which Kari suspected were of her own invention. Behind the soldiers stood two full-size combat mechs. They were scary looking in her simulations; in real life, they were absolutely terrifying. They had enough firepower to blow her auto-auto to pieces a hundred times over.

“What is it?” Stacy Pratt asked, trying to be brave.

“Some . . . turbulence,” Kari said.
This is insane.

Kari ordered her drones to fly high above the mechs and soldiers and wait in the air.
If those soldiers’ drones find my hacking drones, they’ll tear them to pieces with their stingers. I suppose I need a distraction.

Kari sent her dozen cheetahs charging in at full speed. The mechs raised their giant, mechanical blaster arms and unleashed fire. Kari could see the ground tear apart beneath several cheetahs as they exploded into fragments. Inside the auto-auto, the sound of the fight was clear and ominous, and the light from the explosions flashed a deep orange in the windows. David’s siblings started crying again. The remaining cheetahs returned fire, focusing on the ground soldiers. The bullets and energy weapons illuminated the dark, night sky.

Kari’s hacking drones, which had been hovering above the soldiers, descended to meet the cheetahs that were falling quickly to the mech fire.
Now!
Kari sent her drones to target the mechs.

“What’s going on out there?” David asked. Kari watched as the cheetahs dodged the mechs’ explosions and the soldiers’ fire. Several cheetahs dived into the front lines of the soldiers, even as enemy drones that Kari had designed were swarming them and striking them with stinger attacks.

Her hacking drones made it to the mechs and latched on.
Come on . . . come on.
Her cheetahs were almost depleted, and most of the drones that had been controlling them had gone down with their hosts. Kari sent the armored vans forward. She wanted to keep the soldiers’ attention distracted.

“We’ve reached the border,” Kari said between sending orders. The auto-auto was far enough away that they couldn’t make out most of the explosions and gunfire through its tinted windows, just the flashes of light and combat noises.

“Are we going to be able to make it through if they’re already fighting?” David asked. His confidence in her seemed to waver a little more with each explosion.

A mech came online for Kari to control.

“Yes!” Kari cheered, unable to contain her excitement. She ordered the mech to turn and blast the blockade ahead of her to pieces. It lowered its guns and opened fire directly in front of itself. The explosion sent chunks of cement barriers flying through the air. A second later, the other mech came under Kari’s control.