Take Back the Skies (38 page)

‘The other five nations seem to be doing just fine ruling themselves. All you've done is make things worse! Anglya can't prosper if its children are machines!' Cat snarled.

‘Its children aren't
all
machines, my dear. Solely the common ones, except for Alexander, who will become their leader. I would have killed the commoners, anyway. Those dirty scum don't deserve to live in our country. No, we shall fill the country with only those of our own pure blood. But what a shame – a child to combine the Hunter, Ingate and Gale lines would have been the perfect heir for our perfect country,' he said with a frown.

‘All people in Anglya are descended from the First Men,' Cat recited, as she had learned as a young child in school. It was one of the few things every Anglyan child was taught, regardless of class or status. ‘Even the commoners. Our blood is no purer than theirs.'

Thomas glared at her, his dark eyes flashing in anger.

‘
How dare you speak such blasphemy!
' he hissed, slapping her sharply across the face.

‘Don't you touch her!' Fox roared, earning a slap himself. As both boys began to struggle, their captors clapped hands over their mouths, silencing them.

‘It's not blasphemy if it's the truth!' Cat argued. ‘Where did the commoners come from, if not the First Men?
Everyone knows the Firsts were the only ones on Tellus and everyone is descended from them. The sole reason the aristocracy are any different is that we're more directly related to them!'

Thomas hit her again, and as her head jerked there was a spark from her coat opening. She froze, panicking, as Thomas eyed her suspiciously.

‘I wonder where that little spark came from?'

As he spoke, several more sparks occurred, and Cat cursed as Thomas grabbed the source, yanking harshly on the video recorder. It sputtered and died in his hands, issuing pale violet-grey smoke from its film casing. She almost wanted to cry: it had ruined the footage! She just hoped Fox was recording everything. Her audio recorder was still in place, but without visuals it was useless.

‘What's this, then?' Thomas queried, studying the video recorder intently. He let out a chuckle. ‘A miniature newscast recorder! Oh, how very sweet! I suppose you've been doing this for a while, you sneaky little brat. Was it you who blew up our Breningarth compound?'

‘I saved the children you hadn't touched and got enough evidence to make sure you won't touch any ever again,' she spat fiercely.

The dark-haired man snorted, dropping the video recorder to the ground and crushing it beneath the heel of his boot.

‘It
was
you, then. How very … heroic. I must admit, it tickles me to know our brave young
prince
was rescued by a street rat and a little girl!' he cried with a laugh. ‘But I can't let this continue, I'm sure you understand.'

For the second time that week, Cat found herself facing the barrel of a gun. Her heart pounded; there was no one to save her this time.

‘Any last words, little girl?' Thomas taunted, his smirk widening. He flicked the hammer back.

Cat opened her mouth, and closed it again. Should she tell Fox she was sorry, that she loved him? Ask him to apologise to the rest of the crew? Make some comment about how Thomas wouldn't get away with what he was doing?

Before she could decide, she heard a shout of anger and a curse from behind her, and saw Thomas's eyes widen for a fraction of a second. She heard a sharp bang and felt her shoulder jerk back, then she was falling limply to the floor.

Cat didn't dare open her eyes, not wanting to see if she was bleeding. But … she didn't feel any pain. Was that what it felt like getting shot? She lay still, eyes clenched shut, waiting for the explosion of pain she assumed would accompany a bullet ripping into her flesh. Nothing came, and she frowned, opening her eyes warily. Immediately, her eyebrows rose, and her jaw dropped.

The only blood in the room was coming from the hole in Thomas Gale's waistcoat, just a little to the right of his heart. The man had fallen to his knees, and was grinning even as foamy blood bubbled from his lips, dripping down his chin.

‘My children … will succeed … where I have … failed,' he rasped, more blood dribbling from his mouth with every word, and Cat watched in horror as the dark-haired man
began to laugh, falling backwards in a sprawled heap and laughing maniacally until his body grew still.

Looking up, she gasped when she saw what had been going on behind her. Fox and James were both free, their guards slumped unconscious on the floor, and Fox was standing with his gun raised in the direction of Thomas's now lifeless body. The two aristocrats were huddled protectively in the corner with the mechanics, and Fox turned his weapon on them as he crouched at Cat's side.

‘Are you all right?' he asked.

She smiled at him, squeezing his free hand.

‘Fine. Are you going to make a habit of saving me?'

‘Only if you're going to make a habit of needing saving,' he retorted.

‘Uh, Fox, Cat? I don't mean to alarm you, but … help?' James called, his voice several octaves higher than normal. Both teens looked immediately at where James was standing, beside the table that Alexander lay on. Purple steam was streaming from a small chimney on the boy's neck, and the gears on his chest plate were ticking slowly. ‘I'm … quite sure this isn't meant to happen.'

‘He's been woken. He was never meant to be woken – he's not ready!' one of the mechanics cried out in alarm, rushing forward to look over Alexander's half-metal body. Cat jumped as the door opened forcefully, then laughed in relief when Matt stuck his head in.

‘Found you!' he exclaimed happily. ‘The Mericans are about five minutes away and we've already set up a zip-line.' He turned, looking back into the corridor behind him. ‘Hey, lads, I've found them!'

‘Mericans are coming?' one of the mechanics asked fearfully, and Fox, who had stood up, nodded sharply.

‘The entire world knows what you've been doing. It's over, you've lost, but if you cooperate with us now, your sentence may be less harsh,' he informed them curtly. The entire group didn't hesitate in raising their hands in surrender.

As Matt entered the room again, Ben and Harry arrived hot on his tail, and grinned when they saw the three teens.

‘Was wondering where you three had got to! Everything all right, lass?' Harry asked in concern, seeing Cat on the floor. She nodded, allowing Fox to help her up.

‘We need to find the rest of the children,' Matt told them. ‘See if … see if any can be saved. Cat, Fox, James, you wait here and greet the Merican soldiers when they arrive,' he added with a frown, ushering Ben and Harry from the room.

Cat nodded, walking with shaky steps towards the door.

‘How many are here in the skyship, do you think?' she asked, leaning into Fox. He frowned, kissing the crown of her head.

‘Far too many, whatever the number. But at least they won't be joined by any more.'

Neither of them saw the movement behind them, and Cat screamed when another loud gunshot went off. Glancing around frantically, her eyes widened when she saw Alexander sitting up on his table, the gun mounted on his bronze shoulder plate smoking. Turning around, hoping desperately the bullet hadn't hit anyone, she screamed again when she saw the red stain seeping rapidly through the
back of Fox's shirt. He frowned at her in confusion, then looked down at himself and saw the gaping hole in his stomach. His head lifted, and his gaze met hers, eyes wide.

‘… Oh,' he breathed, sinking to his knees.

Cat choked back a sob and dropped to the ground, pulling Fox into her lap, stroking his hair.

‘Shh, easy, just relax, everything will be fine,' she said in a strangled voice, looking up at James, who was staring at her and Fox in shock. ‘Get help! Get a doctor! There has to be one somewhere on this bloody ship!'

Three of the mechanics had instantly rushed to Alexander's table, and one of them reached into the uncovered chest plate and ripped several gears from the mechanism. Alexander froze, the eye-lights behind his mask going blank. Another mechanic bravely broke away from his fellows, reaching out to grab James by the arm.

‘I'll take you to our ship's doctor, but …' his voice trailed off as he looked at Fox.

‘He'll be fine if you get him a doctor! So go!' snapped Cat, and both James and the mechanic left the room. Cat looked back down at Fox, who was deathly pale, his lips tinged blue. She pressed her hands against the wound in his stomach, remembering that pressure helped to slow bleeding.

‘Cat, stop,' Fox breathed, and she levelled a glare at him.

‘No! You're going to be
fine
, Fox. Just … stay awake.'

His blue eyes were knowing, and a little bit sad, and Cat knew then that he wasn't going to recover from his wound. A sob tore from her lips, and she pressed her lips to his copper hair.

‘Cat, listen to me,' he murmured, drawing her gaze. ‘I love you. I will
always
love you. But … I won't be here for you.' He paused, choking out a weak chuckle. ‘We could've had years. Decades. Bloody government.'

She shook her head insistently, kissing his forehead.

‘No,' she muttered stubbornly. ‘Hold on until the Mericans come – they'll help! Just … don't leave me, Fox.'

‘Not really my choice,' he pointed out drily, slumping further into her lap. ‘Be happy, Cat. Our war is over. We won.'

‘I
can't
be happy without you, I
won't
!' Her voice was full of anguish as she held him closer. He managed a barely there smile, and Cat tried to ignore the blood spilling between her fingers.

‘You have to try,' he told her urgently. ‘I'm sorry. I … I wish I could stay, but I can't.' His words began to slur, and Cat felt hot tears dripping down her cheeks, landing on Fox.

‘Don't leave me,' she begged, kissing his cold lips. ‘Please, stay with me.'

‘You know … James isn't so bad. He'd look after you, at least,' Fox said hoarsely, coughing. When he coughed, blood spattered on his chin, and Cat wiped it away.

‘Don't you dare!' she sobbed, holding him tight to her, as if letting him go would mean him disappearing forever. In a way, it did. ‘Not now. I don't care about James. He's not you!'

Fox's lips twitched upwards.

‘You don't have to. Just … be happy.'

He leaned up with what little strength he had left, pressing his lips to hers. She held the kiss for as long as she could, ignoring the taste of blood, even when he went limp and his chest stopped heaving for breath. Feeling the tears dripping from her chin, she broke away, burying her face in Fox's neck, wishing she could feel his pulse, or smell his unique scent of fire and tyrium that she always associated with safety and warmth.

All she could smell was blood.

‘Cat?' She didn't turn at the familiar voice, hearing the gasp that told her Matt had realised what was wrong. She hadn't heard him come back. ‘Oh, gods, Cat … Fox?'

She shook her head, answering the unspoken question as another sob escaped her.

‘Storms. I … how?'

‘Alexander,' she told him quietly, pointing at the now lifeless mecha-soldier on the table. ‘Shot him from behind.'

She felt a large hand on her back, and leaned into Matt's arm, still not letting go of Fox's body.

‘Gods, I never thought … I thought we were safe. I thought we were done with this,' he muttered, his cheek pressed against her hair. ‘Cat, I'm so, so sorry, sweetheart.'

A siren began to wail, and Cat winced.

‘The Mericans are here,' Matt murmured, making her scowl.

‘Too bloody late, aren't they?'

‘Cat, we need to find the others, there's nothing we can do for the kids. They're all brain-dead, technically dead. The only reason they're still moving is their machinery. We're getting ready to hand things over to the Merican soldiers.'

Cat shook her head, clinging tighter to Fox's body.

‘I'm not leaving him,' she insisted. Matt squeezed her shoulders.

‘Just let me pick him up, Cat. I'll be careful, I promise. But we need to go upstairs, and you can't carry him,' he reasoned, his voice low.

Cat bit her lip, but eventually nodded, letting Matt take Fox from her lap. The muscular man cradled the limp body protectively, bracing Fox's head in the crook of his arm.

Slipping the satchel over Fox's head and slinging it over her own shoulder, Cat stayed close by, walking at Matt's side, her hand gripping Fox's.

They took the pulley-lift, Cat wordlessly cranking the lever to raise them to the upper level. When the gate pulled back, she met Ben's eyes, and felt the tears start anew.

‘Matt, what are you …' Ben trailed off when he saw the blood covering Fox's stomach and Cat's hands. ‘No. No, no,' he murmured, shaking his head. ‘It can't be true. Tell me that's not what I think it is.'

Matt shook his head, his eyes earnest and tearful as they locked with Ben's.

‘I'm sorry, Benny,' he said hoarsely, and Ben's face crumpled. Stepping out of the lift, Cat allowed Ben to run a gentle hand through her hair, pulling her close. But her eyes didn't leave Fox's body.

‘Oh, Cat,' Ben breathed, letting her go when Harry approached, flanked by soldiers in the red and white uniform of the Merican army. The man slowed when he saw Fox lying in Matt's arms, all colour draining from his face.

‘Harry …' Matt shook his head sadly; he didn't need to say anything more. Harry swallowed tightly, his eyes glistening.

‘He can't be … bloody hell. How am I gonna tell Alice?' he choked. ‘Cat, lass, what happened?'

‘One of the mecha-soldiers woke up … shot him in the back. I tried, I tried to help, I sent James for a doctor, but … it happened so quickly. He wouldn't stop bleeding,' she sobbed, gripping the cold hand that didn't grip her back.