Strike (21 page)

Kent looked to Olivia, took a deep breath to calm himself, and said, “No, I just want to make sure we all know the score. I already followed you through the gates of hell once, Tucker. There’s nobody I trust more than you. If you’re in, I am too.”

I looked to Olivia.

“So?” she said. “What’s it going to be?”

Every eye in the room was on me. Even the three skeptical Sounders seemed to have softened. Once again, I was put in the position of having to make a decision that would determine our fate. Only this time it wasn’t just about us, it was about the past and the future of two entire worlds.

Unlike every other decision I had made, this one I had total confidence in.

“What do you say, Tucker?” Olivia asked.

I looked to my friends and said, “I say . . . we’re going home.”

T
he orange coveralls.

It wasn’t until I saw them that the reality of what we were about to do really hit me. Slipping back into that dreaded uniform brought home how I was living in a world that was not my own. The number on my back marked me as a hated enemy, though I was given a different number in case my original 0311 was on some “most wanted” alert list. To anybody who cared to take a second glance at me, I would look like any one of a thousand other detested prisoners.

What couldn’t be seen were the two pulsers that were hidden in my sleeves.

“Is it wrong to think I look good?” Kent asked.

He was wearing Air Force camouflage fatigues. So was Tori.

The plan was to have them pose as soldiers who were moving me through the Bridge on the pretense that I was a prisoner being rotated back into the colonization camp. If anyone stopped to ask, that was their story. Two uniformed soldiers, Sounders, were coming along for the ride. Not only did they know procedure, their mission was to protect us and get us back through time and then out of the prison camp. If all went well, they would commandeer a vehicle to transport us through the desert and to a rendezvous with SYLO.

If things went south, they would run interference.

“You look great,” I said to Kent. “Makes me want to shoot you.”

“Good, that’s what I was going for,” he said.

“It gives me the creeps to wear this,” Tori said. “Like it’s Halloween and I’m dressed up as a mass murderer.” She held up her own pulser and added, “But I like
this
.”

We were still in the basement of the Sounders’ building. Once we agreed to go through with the plan, things happened fast. While we got changed, the word went out to Sounders on both sides of the Bridge to be aware that we were coming through and to be prepared to provide whatever support they could to make sure we made it safely back to the twenty-first century and out of Bova’s camp. These brave people were about to risk their lives because of their convictions. Not only were they putting themselves in danger, if the plan actually worked and the Bridge was closed, those who stayed in 2324 were sentencing themselves to live in the nightmare world of the twenty-fourth century. A ticket to life in the past must have been a huge temptation, but for these noble people it wasn’t enough to justify the brutal actions of their government.

Worse, in order to secure the dome, they would have to reveal themselves as rebel Sounders. When the dust settled, they would surely be arrested. Or worse.

The word “hero” is overused. But in this case it totally fit.

Colonel Pike and Captain Sokol entered the dank basement in a hurry. It felt as though the clock was ticking—fast.

“These are communicators,” Sokol said, handing one each to Kent and Tori. “Don’t use them until you’re through the Bridge. We can’t risk the signal being picked up here. We don’t have to worry about that in the past. It’s set to a frequency that only our people monitor on that side.”

“What are we supposed to use them for?” Tori asked.

“To let you know of our progress,” Pike said. “We are set to move here. Once I give the command, many parts will be set in motion. We will breach the depot and secure one of the nuclear devices. Once we move it into position, we’ll arm it and seal off the dome.”

“Uh, won’t the Air Force try to stop you?” Kent asked.

“Of course,” Pike replied. “Surprise is key. The closer we get to detonation before the military comes down on us, the better. We’re prepared to defend the dome and provide cover for the engineers but there’s no telling how long we’ll be able to hold out.”

“This is going to happen whether or not SYLO comes on board,” Sokol said. “Once we commit to grabbing one of the nuclear devices, we’ll have to follow through to the end. Obviously we stand a better chance of success if SYLO can secure the Bridge from the other side.”

“What makes you think they can do that?” I asked. “Even if they agree to it? They’ve attacked that camp a bunch of times and the Retros always turn them back. They can’t compete with those drones.”

“They won’t have to,” Sokol said. “That’s my job. I’m taking a team through the Bridge to seize control of the command center. The drones are controlled from a bunker near the dome.”

“You’re going to ground the drones?” Tori said, incredulous.

Sokol said, “That’s what the communicators are for. I’ll let you know as soon as we own the sky. Be sure to mention that to Captain Granger, would you? My guess is no military commander would stage a ground assault as long as those drones protect the dome. I’m sure it’s why they haven’t tried it yet. But once the drones are no longer a factor . . .” He smiled and shrugged.

“We’re asking you to do a lot,” Pike said. “But you can see how critical it is for SYLO to secure the dome.”

“Not to put any more pressure on you,” Sokol added, “but we don’t have much time. The Air Force is gearing up for their next assault. It could come as early as tonight.”

That news hung heavy in the air.

“We will get underway at seventeen hundred hours,” Pike said. “Five o’clock. We will secure a device, move it into the dome, and detonate it at exactly eighteen hundred hours. Six o’clock.”

“Nine hours from now,” Kent said soberly. “That’s all the time we have to get back there and convince SYLO to attack.”

“No,” Pike said. “Nine hours until the bomb goes off. SYLO would have to stage an attack long before that if they’re going to control the dome.”

“Oh, better still,” Kent said sarcastically. “Wouldn’t want to make it too easy.”

“We have no choice but to go by that schedule,” Sokol said. “Once the next Air Force campaign begins, the dome will be overrun with personnel and equipment and we won’t stand a chance of getting the device inside. It’s now or never.”

“Six o’clock,” I said, soberly. “It all works back from then.”

“Set your watches,” Kent said.

Two Sounders entered the room. Both were armed with pulsers.

“This is Chief Brock and Master Sergeant Sanchez,” Sokol said. “They’ll be your escorts.”

Brock was a short guy with flaming-red hair and freckles. He looked like an overgrown kid. A big strong kid. Sanchez had dark skin and tight, curly black hair. Both of these guys looked like they could run through a brick wall.

“Whoa, what about Olivia?” Kent asked. “Isn’t she coming with us?”

“That wouldn’t be wise,” Pike said. “She’s known. The attack on her apartment proved that.”

“So, she’s staying here?” Kent said with growing concern. “That means when the Bridge blows she’ll be stuck in the future.”

“I’m sorry, Kent,” Pike said with genuine sympathy. “I know you have all grown close, but we can’t risk jeopardizing your mission.”

Kent stared at the floor, his jaw muscles clenching. It looked like he was swaying, as if unsteady on his own two feet.

“Can we at least say goodbye to her?” I asked.

“Of course, she’s right outside,” Sokol said. “I’ll send her in. Make it quick.”

Pike, Sokol, and the two Sounders left the room.

I had no idea of what to say. I had expected Olivia to be with us. If anybody earned the right to have a shot at escaping the brutal future, it was her.

“All set?” Olivia said brightly as she stepped into the room.

“I’m not going,” Kent said. “Not without you.”

Olivia smiled sadly, walked to Kent, and hugged him.

Kent wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight.

These two really did have a connection. She might have been messing with me for fun, but it was clear her heart belonged to Kent. They stayed locked together like that for several seconds, neither wanting it to end.

“You have to go,” Olivia said. “These guys need you. We all need you.”

“It’s not fair,” Kent said, holding back tears. “You deserve to go. You earned it.”

“Yeah, I did,” Olivia said. “But the Retros know I’m a Sounder. It would be crazy to risk it.”

She was right. We all knew it. Kent probably did too, but he didn’t want to accept it.

“There has to be another way,” he said with a note of desperation.

“If you’ve got an idea, I’m open,” Olivia said.

He didn’t.

Olivia pulled back and held him at arm’s length. When she looked at him, I saw how much she truly loved the guy.

“It’s come down to this,” she said. “This is your chance. You’ve got to be strong and step up. Do it for your dad. And your mom. And for me too.”

Kent bit his lip and nodded. This was killing him.

Olivia let him go and turned to Tori.

“When I grow up, I want to be just like you,” she said.

Tori didn’t know how to react so she just smiled awkwardly.

“You’ve been our heart from the beginning,” Olivia added. “And our conscience. Please don’t stop now.”

Tori took a step forward and hugged Olivia. These two never got along, but in the end they developed a genuine respect for each other.

“I couldn’t have done what you did,” Tori said, her voice cracking. “Or what you’re about to do.”

“I could say the same thing about you,” Olivia replied. “Good luck.”

They pulled away and Olivia faced me. There were tears in her eyes.

“I think I’ll miss you most, Scarecrow,” she said.

“Shut up,” I replied.

“C’mon, I love that movie! It was the first one you took me to. Remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. You said it was hokey.”

“It was,” she said. “That’s why I loved it.”

She stepped forward and the two of us hugged. She held tight and softly whispered, “Take care of them.”

All I could do was hug her tighter.

“Time to go,” Sokol said, leaning in the door.

Olivia pulled away from me and straightened up.

“I’m not going to be sitting around just watching all the fun,” she said. “I’m on the nuclear team. Front-row seat. So do me a favor and cover my butt from the other side, would you?”

“Done,” Kent said with total confidence.

There was an awkward moment of silence while we all stared at one another. I finally broke away from the group and headed for the door.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going home,” I said and walked out the door without looking back at Olivia. To see her again would have torn my heart out.

Colonel Pike was outside of the room with Brock and Sanchez. I stood next to her, waiting for the others to follow.

Tori came out, followed by Sokol.

We all stood there, waiting. Wondering what Kent was going to do. It was a very long thirty seconds before he stepped out of the doorway. Alone.

“What are we standing around here for?” he declared. “We’ve got a war to start.”

Pike led us up and out of the basement and into the early morning sun. A military transport vehicle was waiting for us on the street, its musical engine already humming. Sanchez went right for it and got behind the wheel. Brock rode shotgun.

Colonel Pike stopped next to the vehicle and pulled something out of her pocket that she handed to Kent and Tori.

“Identification badges,” she explained. “Put them on now.”

“Hey, that’s my picture,” Kent said. “How did you get these?”

Pike shot Sokol a bemused smile.

“It’s good to be a Colonel,” she said.

“Do whatever Brock and Sanchez tell you to,” Sokol said. “Those two are the best, and just a little bit dangerous.”

“I like that,” Kent said.

“If all goes well, there will be a vehicle waiting for you outside the dome on the other side of the Bridge. They’ll take you out of the camp and you’ll be gone before any of the guards realize what happened.”

“And if all doesn’t go well?” Tori asked.

Sokol shrugged and said, “Then shoot your way out.”

That gave us all a moment’s pause.

“What happens once we’re out of the camp?” I asked.

“You tell us,” Sokol said. “We don’t have any way to contact SYLO. That’s why we need you.”

I didn’t point out that we didn’t know how to make contact with them, either.

“Eighteen hundred hours,” Pike said. “That’s when the curtain goes up. If SYLO doesn’t step in, it’ll be a very short show.”

“All we can do is try,” I said.

Pike had said all she needed to say. She looked at each of us and softened a little.

“You’re just kids,” she said, mostly to herself.

“Badass kids,” Kent said.

Sokol held back a chuckle.

“No words can say how honored I am to know you,” Pike said. “Good luck.”

We piled into the car. The last one in was Kent, who looked square at Sokol and said, “You better stop those damn drones.”

Sokol didn’t respond. He didn’t need Kent to tell him what he had to do.

Kent got in the car, slammed the door, and we took off.

I looked back at the building to see Olivia appear in the doorway. She didn’t wave. She just stood there with her hands on her hips, watching us. For a second I imagined her standing on the porch of the Blackbird Inn, wearing a red bikini and holding a tray of ice tea for Quinn and me.

I wished I hadn’t looked back.

We drove silently through the filthy streets, each alone with our own thoughts. My mind was strangely blank. I didn’t want to stress over each possible scenario because there was no way to predict what we would face. It was more about clearing my head, preparing to roll with whatever came our way, and trying not to hyperventilate.

After driving for what seemed like only a few seconds, Brock turned back to us.

“We’ll park a hundred meters from the dome and walk the rest of the way on foot,” he explained. “Standard escort formation around Pierce. Sleeper and I in front, Berringer and Sanchez behind. We’ll go through a checkpoint where they’ll scan your badges. Our orders have been input into the system. There should be no problem. Do not speak unless asked a direct question. Remember, we’re escorting a prisoner to the forward camp. That’s all you need to say. I’m the officer in charge of the transfer. All questions should be directed to me anyway. Understood?”

“What happens after we get through the Bridge?” I asked.

“We’ll track down transport and drive out of the camp,” he replied.