Metal and Ash (Apex Trilogy) (45 page)

The Pope thought for a moment then nodded. The two men watched each other.

“It is customary to shake hands after an agreement,” the Mayor said.

“I am not comfortable with your level of surveillance,” the Pope said as he extended his hand. “That will have to be part of what the tribunal works out.”

“I agree 100% with that,” Capreze said as he took the Pope’s hand and shook it. “But until then we have a war to fight. I’ll need your best people inside for the briefing. As long as you can spare them and still keep the undead under control.”

The Pope gave a long whistle that built in pitch until it couldn’t be heard again. The mass of deaders stiffened then dropped to the ground as one. They sat, crouched, lay in silent stillness.

“And I never thought the fucking creep factor could get higher in the waste,” Masters said. “I was wrong.”

***

His legs went out from underneath him and he collapsed onto his office floor. “Why are you just telling me now?”

“You were in the middle of negotiating with the Pope,” Jethro replied. “That involves the survival of everyone. I thought it best to wait.”

“Jeezus…,” Capreze gasped. “Oh fuck. This…this can’t be real.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Jethro said. “I have Matty on the com. Should I put him through?”

“Yes, please,” Capreze said weakly. “Give us a moment.”

“Yeah, sure.”

The com squawked briefly then Mathew was talking a mile a minute.

“Slow down, Jespers,” Capreze ordered. “Start from the beginning.”

Mathew did.

Capreze felt sick. He’d dealt with a lot of loss in life, it was the nature of being a mech base commander, but to lose Rachel? He didn’t know if he could survive that.

“I…I have other news,” Mathew said. “Beth Laughlin is with us. She’s the clone.”

“The clone…,” Capreze repeated quietly.

“Of…Rachel, sir,” Mathew said. “She looks just like her. It’s…freaking me out.”

“And she’s coming here,” Capreze stated.

“Yes, sir,” Mathew said.

“Com me when you are aboard Captain Styles’s aircraft,” Capreze ordered, trying to get his head back in the game. “It’ll be good to have you back here, Mathew.”

“Yes, sir,” Mathew replied. “It will be good to be back.”

“Fly safe,” Capreze chuckled hollowly. “Never thought I’d say that.”

“Never thought I’d hear it

***

“Is he injured badly?” June asked Harlow.

“Just his stupid pride,” Harlow replied over the com from the Railer train. “And he won’t stop bitching.”

“Sounds like he’s fine then,” June laughed. The laugh died quickly though. “Listen, I don’t know if you’ve heard yet or not.”

“Heard what?” Harlow asked. “Is Mitch alright?”

“I knew you still cared,” June said.

“Of course I care,” Harlow responded. “I love the asshole. He just needs to man up. He’s not listening, is he?”

“No,” June replied. “I’m pretty sure he’s taking a nap.”

“Of course he is,” Harlow snorted. “So what’s the news then?”

“Rachel and Themopolous didn’t make it,” June said.

“Oh fuck,” Harlow whispered. “How? What happened?”

“I don’t know all the details. Matty is on his way back with two Americans. Captain Styles is picking them up.”

“Wait, what?” Harlow asked. “Who’s picking them up? In what?”

“We have aircraft on our side,” June said. “It’s mindblowing.”

“Aircraft? How is that possible? I thought aircraft couldn’t work in the wasteland because of the thermals and waste storms.”

“With the shield down that changes the thermal issue,” June explained. “And it sounds like most of that was bullshit anyway. The UDC’s complicity with the outside world to keep movement of the population under control. Easier to maintain quarantines and also to lock down borders.”

“Makes sense,” Harlow said. “Not surprised.” Harlow was silent for a minute. “So does that make you Chief Medical Officer?”

“Temporary and by default only,” June said. “I defer the major stuff to the Railer medics, but Capreze has said I’m in charge of the infirmary and make the last calls.”

“Wow.”

“No, shit,” June sighed. “So what’s your ETA?”

“We’ll be there by morning,” Harlow said. “In time for another beautiful day in the wasteland.”

“See you then.”

“Yeah, you too.”

***

“We have com again,” Marcus said as Jenny watched the wasteland pass by her cabin window. “Want me to patch you through to Capreze?”

“Yeah,” Jenny said. “Please.”

“Done,” Marcus responded as he tapped at his tablet. “Let me know what you need from me. Sun’s about to set and we’ll have topside gunners watching the waste. Don’t need a night ambush.”

“No, we don’t,” Jenny nodded. “Thanks, Marcus.”

Marcus smiled and shut the cabin door as he left.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Capreze asked. “I know you went deep, but this lack of communication is not acceptable.”

“What’s wrong?” Jenny asked, hearing the pain in Capreze’s voice. “What happened?”

“I can’t talk about it right now,” Capreze said. “You’ll be filled in when you get here. What’s your ETA?”

“Dawn,” Jenny said. “Dog may be there sooner. The Cyces have more maneuverability. He’s cutting across terrain we can’t.”

“Dog? Cyces? What the fuck is that all about, Timmons?”

Jenny filled in the commander about her last couple of days.

“That matches what the Mayor told me,” Capreze said. “Ok. I can deal with that.” He was quiet for a minute. “How are you holding up?”

“Sir?” Jenny asked.

“How are you doing? You up for what’s ahead? I’m going to need a strong leader with the Railers. Marin is good, but she’s a mechanic at heart. I’ll need her in the hangar with Jay. You’ll have to be on the front lines with your people.”

“I know that, sir,” Jenny replied. “And I’m ready. My dad trained me for this. I’ll hold up and do him proud.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Capreze responded, a slight hitch in his voice. “Get some sleep. We go to war first thing tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir,” Jenny replied. “Goodnight, sir.”

“Goodnight.”

Fifty-One

The night fell from the east across the wasteland; a shroud of blackness that covered the damaged land and its people. For those that took the time to look up they would have seen a brightness, a shimmer, to the stars like they’d never seen before. The shield gone, the air was moving in ways it hadn’t for generations. Clouds began to form slowly in patches, gaining momentum, combining into fronts that were only known in stories.

The wasteland was breathing again.

And so were the inhabitants.

Survivors across the land took deep breaths of air that no longer tasted of only dust and decay. They sucked in the raw air, unchanged by shield filtration and ionization, and remarked to each other how it tasted different. Those that were isolated, cut off from the events that unfolded, couldn’t put their finger on it, couldn’t explain it, but they knew something had changed. The physiological fog of the wasteland lifted and many began having thoughts like they never had had before.

Hope.

The change wasn’t as dramatic for all. Many were too occupied with basic survival to stop and take stock of what their bodies were noticing. But their subconscious minds, the part of them that connected directly to the land, knew. And that knowledge worked its way into their beings.

As the night rolled across the land, everything was transformed. Nothing was left untouched. For better or worse, the wasteland would never be the same.

***

Dog’s tinted faceplate kept the last rays of the sunset from blinding him then switched to night mode, turning the wasteland before him into an illuminated vision of green and white and shadows. Various readings popped up, showing him the temperatures of different areas; whether there was movement or not; the general location of the other riders that surrounded him; and much more data that he really didn’t care about.

All Dog cared about was getting to the Stronghold and getting ready to kill some deaders. The Mayor had informed him of what was marching across the wasteland towards the Stronghold. And Jenny had let him know about Rachel and Themopolous.

The fact that thousands of armed, and apparently self-aware and cognitive, deaders were coming at them wasn’t what bothered him. That he could handle on any day of the week. Life in the wasteland was always one big fucking fight after the next.

But Rachel had been is his mentor when he’d first arrived at the mech base as the Rookie. Her gone hit him hard and he struggled to swallow the pain, to push it down deep into that place where he kept his rage. He knew it would fuel him as he fought, but he wasn’t a total idiot. He’d feel it later.

If he survived.

And he had no intention of doing anything but.

***

Jay slammed his spanwrench against the wall, his face red, his body tense with rage. “Are you all fucking stupid? Don’t answer that! Because the fucking answer is yes! Bunch of fucking Railer morons! What did I say? Huh? What did I fucking say? I said to get all of the mechs prepped, not just one for each pilot! If they need a backup I want it ready! I want it already loaded on a fucking train car and speeding towards battle! You! Yes, YOU! Why are you washing that mech? WHY?! Do you think that will increase performance? Are you trying to blind the enemy with a shiny exoskeleton? WHAT THE FUCK COULD BE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?! And you! Don’t think I didn’t see you take that fucking twenty minute nap! If I didn’t need every pair of hands I’d walk you out to that mass of deaders out there and feed you to them! I bet they’re real hungry right now! Where the fuck do you think you’re going? I don’t give a shit if you have to shit! Did I say it was potty break time? You’ll shit in your pants until we get this fucking work done!”

***

June lay in the semi-dark of the infirmary, tucked in a corner on one of the cots. She stared at the small shadows on the ceiling, her hand absently stroking her growing belly. She glanced at the cot next to her and the sleeping form of Stan. She wondered how he’d react to a new baby. He wasn’t hers biologically, but he hadn’t left her side since escaping the Boiler village and she knew he thought of her as more than just a surrogate mother.

She loved the boy and would do anything to keep him safe. But the day that loomed wasn’t about her, it wasn’t about Stan, it wasn’t about any single person in the Stronghold.

It was about everyone in the wasteland. And, if what she’d been told was right, it was about every one else in the world.

June had to put personal fears and insecurities aside. She had to step up and be who everyone needed. She would be the first line to keeping people alive once the chaos and violence started. In her youth, hell, just a few months ago, she would have shied away from the pressure. All she cared about then was stealing Matty from Rachel.

Rachel.

That hurt.

They had patched things up and June knew that Matty was Rachel’s and never would be hers. But now Rachel was gone… Did she dare let her mind drift that way? Did she even have a chance to think that Matty could see her as something other than a comrade in arms?

She didn’t kid herself. That part of her life was over. She had Stan to worry about and a baby on the way. A baby conceived by rape in a time of terror and violence in her life.

No, it wasn’t about her. Not anymore. And possibly never again.

***

As she absently stroked Beth’s sweaty forehead, Melissa glanced up and caught Mathew watching her.

“What?” she asked as she leaned back in one of the oversized seats in the BTT. Styles was in the cockpit, door wide open, singing some tune at the top of his lungs as he flew them back to the Stronghold. “Say it if you got something to say.”

“What’s she like?” Mathew asked. “Beth.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know.”

“To see if she’s like your Rachel?” Melissa regretted the words as she saw the pain flash across Mathew’s face.

“Yeah,” Mathew replied. “I just…I just want to know.”

Melissa eyed him for a moment, unsure of what to tell him. He had a perception in his head that she doubted would match who Beth was. It had taken Melissa months, and more than a few near death experiences, to really get to know Beth. How could she explain that to a total stranger?

“She’s sweet,” Melissa started. “But she’ll rip your face off if she has to.” Mathew smiled. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “Keep going.”

“Well, she cares,” Melissa continued. “She cares a lot. Probably too much. She’s beyond loyal, even when I was being a total twat. She can fight like a motherfucker. That girl has gifts with BC like you’ve never seen. Uh, well I guess you haven’t seen any at all.”

“I watched you tweak that skiff. Like that?”

“Sorta,” Melissa said. “Except Beth can do it with her mind without touching it. It’s like she’s connected to BC on a psychic level.”

“Technopathy,” Mathew said and nodded for her to go on.

“Yeah, that.” Melissa looked down at Beth. “She’s so sad, though.”

“Like how?”

“Like she knows she doesn’t belong. Like she has a secret in her that she can never share. I don’t know. She’s always been that way. It’s as if she’s resigned to die at any moment. And she knows that no matter how much she lives, how much energy she pours into living, it’s all for nothing.”

“You love her, don’t you?” Mathew asked.

“Don’t get pervy,” Melissa snapped.

“And don’t get all defensive,” Mathew returned. “You love her like family is what I meant. Like blood.”

“Yeah,” Melissa answered without even thinking about it. “That’s because she is family.”

“I get that,” Mathew yawned. “Thanks for telling me everything.”

“Is she like your Rachel?”

“Maybe,” Mathew shrugged. “A little. But I’m sure she’s totally her own person. Genes don’t make who you are. Your life does.” He yawned again. “And your family.”