Jeanne G'Fellers - Sisters Flight (24 page)

"Mae
would know." I flexed my hands, wishing I had a better grip. My hands were
relatively painless, considering, but they were so wrapped that I couldn't flex
very much. Agustus had done a good job making sure I did as she instructed—too
good since I needed to grip the weapons controls.

Myrla
wiggled her fingers at me but stopped when she remembered my hands. "You
need help?" She undid her strap and came to my side.

"I
can do it." Though I tried not to, I winced when I tried to grip the
buckle.

"Let
me." She took the strap from me and latched it into place. "Can't I
ease your pain?"

When
she stood, I reached my hand to her face. "I know you want to help, but
I've got to be able to focus."

She
kissed my leather-wrapped palm. "Are you sure you can handle the
weapons?"

"No
one else besides Genevic is trained," I said. "And we need her to
pilot, remember?"

"If
you're sure." Myrla touched my face then returned to her seat, where she
passed me a helmet.

"Put
this on. I want to see your expression."

"Why?"
I raised a brow at Myrla. "It doesn't look special."

"Just
do it."

"All
right." With a bit of effort and another wince Myrla fretted over, I
pulled the helmet over my head. "You happy?"

Myrla
tapped the side of my helmet, and a clear face shield dropped across my face.
"Now I am!"

"Hey!"
I touched the helmet in the same place and the shield disappeared. "You
could warn a woman."

"The
technicians are amazing. They used a drawing from the computer and material
from the salvage. It'll keep our faces warm."

"I'm
sure it will." I leaned toward Myrla to touch her thigh. "But
thoughts of you are enough to keep me warm in any weather."

"Back
ten minutes and already fresh!" Myrla slid on her helmet. "Just like
you." She grinned through the lowered shield.

"Would
you expect anything less?"

"I'm
here too," said Genevic through her headset. "Just wanted you to know
that I can pick up most everything."

"Like
I haven't heard enough of you and Bella lately," said Myrla with a laugh
of her own. "You ready, Genevic?"

"As
I can be."

"Let's
get moving then!" I squeezed Myrla's thigh then sat back in my seat.
"Power up?" I asked Genevic.

"Thought
you'd never ask." Genevic activated the main control and the helm burst to
life.

"Main
power activated." The computer chirped in our earphones. "Auxiliary
power has been diverted to the emergency engines. Firing sequence will begin at
helm command." Under us, the generators roared to life, a sound we had
become acquainted with from the common mess, but one that the Autlachs across
the field had never experienced. They scrambled about, torn between flight and
fight. Myrla watched through the short-range scope and explained the chaos in
detail. We already had the enemy on edge, a good thing considering what else we
had planned for them.

"We've
got enough power for hover, short flight, scopes and the guns, but not much
more." Genevic piped. "You two okay?"

"I'm
so damned scared that I might piss on myself any moment," I said as the
generators began to roar all the louder.

"But
other than that, I guess I'm fine."

"I'm
fine too," said Myrla.

"We're
holding for the signal," Genevic returned her gaze to the helm while I made
an effort to become reacquainted with the gun controls, reminding myself that
while they were infinitely more complicated than my musket or the more advanced
six shooters carried by higher ranking Barrier Troopers, the craft's weaponry
operated on the same principle: aim, squeeze and fire. I flicked on the
targeting screen and checked my arsenal. Tara's shuttle had never been intended
for battle, but it did contain a small weapons complement—a half-dozen of what
the computer called pulse bombs and a .50 caliber machine gun with 20,000
rounds. There was also a laser torch whose original intent had been rock
cutting, but the technicians had seen its alternative use and had placed it
among the arsenal as well. I chose the machine gun and stood at the ready, meditating
with my eyes open while I waited. I prayed for those who had died, for
forgiveness for the lives I might soon take, and for my Taelach family,
thanking the Mother Maker for allowing me to see them again and asking her for
the opportunity to continue doing so. Somewhere in the meditations Myrla's hand
gripped my forearm. She said nothing and offered no real phase, but her
presence spoke more than words. I sent phase wave after wave of appreciation
showering through this connection until a single burst of fire streaked into
the Aut line. Our signal.

"There
it is!" Myrla released my hand as Genevic powered the engines, creating a
sinful roar and vibration. Smoke blew from beneath the shuttle, catching dust
and debris that washed over Stiles and the ground crew, forcing them to turn
away. We lurched forward then back then began to rise, teetering back and forth
as Genevic became accustomed to the controls. "It wasn't this hard to keep
level during Captain Tara's simulations!"

"Those
simulations weren't for these modifications!" I clutched the helm.

"The
Auts are already scattering!" cried Myrla through the earpiece.

"Yes!"
Genevic loosened her safety belt, planted her feet and stood, at which point we
leveled off. "I got her!" She pulled the controls upward and our rise
accelerated, halting at one hundred meters above the volcano dome's upper rim.
At that height, Gen fired the positioning thrusters and the shuttle rotated,
giving the helm a clear view of the pass. The spectacular chaos taking place below
us became worse when I dropped three bombs into the middle of Longpass's
troops. When the air cleared, the remaining Auts were literally falling over
each other in their attempt to get away. Those who didn't run were doing one of
two things— praying in a prone position or clambering for the closest shelter
available, the caves. Snipers picked off most of those heading into the caves,
while ground troops pursued those who'd been missed. I unloaded a few hundred
rounds on the ground near the praying, and they retreated as well, many
dropping their weapons as they ran from the battlefield. Sister fighters armed
with guns then charged the battlefield, firing on any Aut who didn't stay face
down. Within an hour, Longpass's army had fallen back into the pass, where they
rushed for the other end, doubling and tripling on nassies in their hurry to
retreat. Sisters kept them moving with gunfire until we were certain every one
of Longpass's men were either dead or begging to be spared from our terrible
magic.

"We
did it!" I dropped my hands from the weapon controls.

"We
won!" Myrla raised her face shield to blow me a kiss.

Genevic's
mouth curved into a grin as she squinted at the horizon. "We're really up
in the air, aren't we?" Heat rose from the generators beneath us, past our
feet and across the deck, where it collided with the air aloft, creating fog, a
fog that turned black when smoke began billowing from one of the generators.
"Criminy!" Genevic dropped her gaze to the helm. "I gotta shut
down number eight. It's leaking oil."

"Can
we fly without it?" I glanced at Myrla.

"Not
at our present height. I suppose we'd best land." Genevic braced her legs
against the bottom of the helm. "I'm taking us down."

"Well
done!" Harlis headed the crowd that waited for us when we disembarked.
"Congratulations." She shook Genevic's hand, kissed the back of
Myrla's palm, then looked over to me. "Serpent born women are a breed
apart, aren't they?" she said with a wink.

"They
most certainly are." I grasped Myrla about the waist, pulling her close.
"And this one is mine." I spun Myrla into Genevic's extended hand.
Watching Myrla move, my appreciation for her grew even more. She had grown into
a lovely woman. She was intelligent, inquisitive, brave. The Serpents should be
proud of their contribution. Kaelan and Jewel— Kaelan! "My, in all the
confusion I totally forgot to tell you something!"

"What
would that be?" She spun out of Genevic's touch to Harlis's waiting hand.

"We
brought Kaelan back!"

Myrla
stopped mid-spin. She stared at me until Harlis nudged her then she flew into
my arms to bury her face in my cloak. "I suppose this Kaelan is someone
important in your lives?" asked Harlis.

Myrla
nodded against my shoulder. "She's my broadback raiser," she
whispered. "Rankill’s too, when she left her Aut beginnings."

"Interesting."
Harlis called for one of her runners. "Escort lady Myrla to—" She
looked to me. "What is her current location?"

"Someone
grabbed her for the front line as soon as she came out of triage."

"Triage?"
asked Myrla.

"She
had a newborn sister and an Aut girl named Olitti with her. She wanted to make
sure they were okay before she left them."

"Olitti?"
Myrla's hand flew to her mouth.

"Then
by all means, Myrla, go find those children. Kaelan will return to the line as
soon as she can." Harlis motioned for her to be on her way, but Myrla
hesitated, looking up at me.

"Aren't
you coming?"

"You
go ahead without me." I kissed her forehead then stepped back. "I'll
be along soon enough."

Harlis
nodded her agreement. "The Troopers are required elsewhere."

"I'll
be along as soon as I can." I urged her to follow her escort, but Myrla
needed no further encouragement. She followed the lanky runner, trotting to
keep up with her lengthy strides. As soon as she was out of earshot, I turned
to Harlis. "Troopers are caving for Longpass's stragglers, aren't
we?"

"You
saw then." Harlis cleared a path through the crowd as we walked.
"We've no idea how many are hiding. Did your vantage point give you any
idea?"

"I
saw a few crawl off," I said. "But I can't be sure how many or which
caverns." Genevic and I shed our extra layers as we walked. Somewhere
along the way, various runners caught up with us, updating Harlis, handing us
canteens, lanterns and other supplies, including several sticks of chalk.

"We're
going to sweep the caverns," said Harlis.

"All
the caverns?" Genevic took a swig from her canteen.

"Caverns,
grottos, passageways, connecting tunnels," said the clan leader over her
shoulder. "Toilets. They could be hiding anywhere."

"Good
thing the new sewers haven't had time to gunk up." Genevic half-laughed.

"We've
already got people down there," said Harlis dryly. We'd reached what
remained of the Bowriver public grounds, which was crowded with both Troopers
and civilians commandeered for the search. I looked but didn't see Kaelan in
the crowd. Harlis climbed atop a pile of rubble and called for silence.
"No time for formalities or proper organization. Longpass scum is inside
our caverns, hiding in our homes, waiting for us to gain a false sense of
security. Each civilian is to pair with a trooper. Leave no hole unexplored, no
grotto unsearched. Be quick but methodical and mark each searched area with an
X." Someone said a quick prayer, and we dispersed. Genevic grabbed up the
first civilian who looked competent. When I turned to do the same I found
myself face-to-face with Archell, whose expression neared panic.

"They
said Archell must search too," his voice trembled. "I can hold a
blade. I should not be afraid." He held out his hand to show me the
dagger, which hung loosely in his palm, as if he thought it might burn him.

"Not
you, Archie." I took his knife and shoved it into my belt. "You're
not a fighter."

"All
must come, Rankil dankle." His relieved expression betrayed his words. "All
but the sick and the young."

"You're
not going," I said and turned him back toward the evacuation caverns.
"We need someone to make a song about this day, someone to help the young
ones remember our victory."

"But
who will go with you, Rankil dankle? Who will keep you safe?" He reached
for his knife, but I stepped away.

"No."
I pushed his hand back. "Let me keep
you
safe this time. Go
back."

Someone
in the background yelled for us to join the search, but I blocked Archell's
path to the caverns. "Is there a problem?" Harlis was advancing on
us.

"He
shouldn't be here," I told her when she came close enough. "Tell him
to go."

Harlis
shook her head. "We need every able body. Unless you find someone to
replace him, he goes in with you."

"He's
not up to battle," I said. "He's not cut out for it." I spun
Archell back toward safety. His expression grew beyond fear, beyond confusion,
and he sank to the ground at our feet, mumbling in the rhyme that defined his
unique condition.

"Get
him up!" Harlis pointed to Archell. "I cannot make exceptions on
this." We all looked up as a scream rose from the caverns.