The Pack (23 page)

Shamira responded, “We need to sabotage all of Renu's holdings, but I don't want innocent people to get hurt. Anthony knows the best places to attack, and we can send the younger kids to place time bombs in different locations. The only problem is - how will they get the firepower and initiate the bomb sequences?”

“I have some miniature computerized beetles we used to burrow underground for some of our experiments. I could program them to go to certain locations and blow up. They're extremely combustible. We can put the younger kids in strategic positions to help warn the endangered people in those locations to get out. These kids are survivors and have been practicing escaping out of difficult situations for years. Niles, one of the older runners, can organize them. Also, we still have a lot of kids on the inside that are willing to destroy the holdings in which they have been captives,” Valens said while crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Our time is up, Valens. Let's go meet with the others,” she said and attempted to walk past him to get to the door. He moved in front of her quickly to block her departure.

“No, Shamira. Our time together is just beginning. I'm never going to leave your side… never,” he said and looked steadily down into her eyes. He slowly stepped out of her path while she hurriedly walked to the front room to meet with the others.

Her eyes landed on Anthony when she entered the front room where a large gathering of kids was anxiously waiting for her to arrive. Anthony looked at her with his deep chocolate brown eyes and nodded his head in respect. Mitch came up beside him and repeated the gesture of acceptance of anything asked.

She took a swallow and nodded her head in return, then looked around the room at the solemn but eager faces of the kids surrounding her. Without seeing him, she knew Valens came up
behind her. His quiet presence reassured her friendship and bond with these kids that had joined the fight against the men that had changed Mars into a prison instead of a home.

Shamira looked into the assembly of kids. “We're running out of time and have to act quickly to bring Monev down. I'm going to need everyone here to stay alive and join us in bringing down the entire operation. Monev is built on the oppression and abuse of kids like you and me, and it ends now. We're not weak. We can all fight back, especially when we do so together. I'm honored to have your trust and will do whatever I can to see this through.” Shamira smiled at the kids staring at her in agreement.

“I'm ready, Shamira. Let's do this!” Anthony responded with a punch of his fist in his hand.

“We're going to have to attack every holding they have where we have eyes and ears. Valens, what places don't have any kids on the inside?” she asked, turning her eyes to Valens as he stepped around her.

Mitch stepped up. “We don't have anyone in Olympus Mons or the Outlands, where we broke in and got surveillance. That facility is strictly for their adult captives. They don't seem to hold kids there or even to want them there.” He folded his arms in thought.

“They don't hold kids there, but they do have a runner there at this moment that would run sabotage for us,” Hedi added as she came into the room with her long red hair swinging behind her.

“Good, Hedi. Recruit him. Valens will send his beetles in for
attack to all of their holdings, and I plan on sending some trusted Security Force members to save the prisoners held in the Outlands,” Shamira said, then turned to Valens.

“Hedi, did you get any information on a possible connection between Cal Long and Renu?” Valens asked as he glanced at Shamira, who moved closer to him and Hedi.

Hedi smirked and smacked her teeth. “Boy, have I hit a gold mine for you. There was nothing in the databases here on Mars. Heck, I couldn't find anything in the Earth's system either. Then, on a lucky gamble, I tapped into Earth's archives and destroyed records databases. Seems like the word ‘destroyed' just means well hidden to the Earth officials. Turns out that Cal Long and Renu have a longstanding history with each other,” Hedi said with a lift of her eyebrow.

Anthony grunted. “Girl, will you stop with the teasing! We're all on the edge of hell here,” Anthony said with an angry frown on his face. However, Shamira noted the frown didn't continue in his eyes as he squinted at Hedi.

“Hold your horses, bullhead. I was going to tell you, but it's just too golden to spit out. Here is the scoop. Cal and Renu are twin brothers!” Hedi said, then paused for effect as she put her hands on her hips and nodded. She was proud of herself, rightfully so.

Shamira shook her head in disbelief. “Brothers? What the freak? Were they both groomed for the Security Force Elite?” Shamira took a deep breath to calm her shock.

Hedi rubbed her hands together, eager to share her secret knowledge. “The records prove they were both destined to be in the Security Force initially. Their parents were part of the original founders on the Earth rebirth team that came up with the concept of the Mars project. An assassin killed the parents when the twins were around three years old, and the boys were placed in the program that groomed the Mars Security Force Elite. All seemed to be going well for the double duo, but soon, trouble appeared when they got older. Renu proved to be the evil twin when he killed two fellow trainees that were their main competition for the leader of the Security Force Elite team on Mars.”

Hedi put her hand on her hip and walked close to Shamira. “Renu was just fourteen when he murdered those kids in their beds. He escaped and lived underground for about two years until he got caught robbing a bank. Cal Long, the good son, went on to become the successful prodigy he was groomed to be. His brother served his time for his crimes and appeared to be completely rehabilitated, which got his sentence greatly reduced. Since he was a juvenile when the crime was committed, he received mind reorganization and was released by his eighteenth birthday. Renu's juvenile record was wiped clean, and both his and Cal's records were sealed,” Hedi said with a smirk.

“I'm impressed, Hedi. I've been trying to figure out how to get that information for weeks,” Shamira said with a look of deep respect when she smiled at Hedi.

“What can I say? A girl's got to have some mad hacking talents to stay alive these days. Bringing big men to their knees might be your forte, my BFF, but hacking into systems to obtain unsuspecting victim's money is what Monev trained me to do,” she said and smiled back at Shamira.

Shamira's heart melted with the thought of Hedi calling her “BFF,” her “best friend forever.” Shamira pondered on it, remembering when she thought she would never have friends. Now she had so much more than friends. She had loyalty and friendship that would last a lifetime. It was a dream she had never let herself wish for, and now that it was here, she was too scared to trust it.

“That still does not solve the mystery of how Renu got enhanced. The Security Force Elite didn't receive enhancements until they went through their acceptance ceremonies. Also, none of them knew they were going to be enhanced. They were trained in all arts of war but with their enhanced strength only during the two years after their acceptance into the Security Force Elite. Now the mystery is - does Cal know his brother is the leader of Monev? Is he protecting his brother, working with him, or opposing him?” Shamira pondered while she bit her bottom lip in confusion.

Valens added, “None of those options sound promising for Mars. I hope Cal is not privy to the fact that the leader of Monev is his brother. We have to get the facts before we attack a leader of the Security Force Elite. That would be considered treason, and we would be the ones placed in the executioner's Waters on Earth for all
of our hard work at bringing Monev down.”

Mitch hit his fist to his opened palm. “Screw! Looks like either way, something fishy is going on. I don't like it, but we can't wait around to figure it out either. Ryan called and tipped us off that Renu is fully recovered and angry as hell. He knows who Shamira is and wants her dead. He has sent Strong's crew to get her at any cost. Ryan said his and the others' alliance with us has still gone undetected, but he doesn't know for how long. Renu has increased surveillance. He said he got a tip from Vinny, a runner for Monev in the Outlands, that they are preparing to question the kids that were recently recruited. The vibe is that our days are numbered. Renu is evil enough to round up the remaining kids and terminate them simply for thinking about retaliating against Monev. We don't have much time, and Ryan wants to know what he can do to help,” Mitch said solemnly.

Shamira's shoulders fell. “Okay. Let's go question the scum. Everyone else get the beetles ready to attack. We attack tonight. Hedi, find someone capable of directing the younger kids where to release them and send them out to prepare to do damage. Then come and join us in the lab,” Shamira said before she turned and followed Valens to the lab.

Upon arriving in the lab, Shamira watched while Valens activated the large wall screen that displayed their three captives in a vertical line down the left of the screen. The right side of the screen showed vitals for each captive.

“I had Matt here take one of your truth ticks and manufacture a gas that I can release in the cylinders,” Valens said while he typed in the command. The gas released into the cylinder holding the angry and restrained prisoners. She glanced over at the curly haired
teenager sticking his chest out beside Valens with a grin on his face and figured that must be Matt. Glancing around, she realized several other teenagers were standing around.

“Thanks, Matt,” she said and smiled at him. His cheeks instantly turned pink with a flattered blush.

“Okay, we're on. They're awake, angry, and drugged—just the way we want them,” Valens said while giving Shamira the direction to start questioning.

Shamira turned back to the screen. “Fisher, what do you know about Renu?” she asked clearly while she studied him for signs the truth tick gas was working.

“Go to hell. I ain't telling ya nothing. You don't know who you're dealing with, little girl,” he snarled.

“Okay. He's not ready.” Shamire looked away from Fisher. “Slasher, what do you know about Renu?” She noticed his eyes were dazed from the affects of the drug.

Slasher looked dazed with saliva dripping from his slack mouth. “We met on the run. Been friends since the beginning. He followed the plan to a tee, and we became kings… kings of our own world,” Slasher forced out while fighting to keep his words within.

“How did he bring down the Security Force Elite members?” she asked.

Slasher's head fought side to side like he was trying to regain control over his words. “Virus… it infects their suits, makes them weaken, but only for under a minute before their nanonytes
regenerate and counteract the virus. We put pain modulators on their skulls to immobilize them. They're drugged into constant pain to confuse the nanos into thinking the body is being attacked by multiple strains of the virus. Perfect… it was a perfect plan from the beginning.”

“Are they still alive?” she asked, hoping for the best.

Slasher grunted. “Not for long. We tried to get all the information from the ones we captured, but they all hold different parts of the passwords and codes that control the Security Force computer systems on Mars and Earth. We need information from just a few more Elite to have it all. They're supposed to die, but we couldn't cut through the suit. We have to cut them at the neck. It's planned and has to happen soon. Got to get them all before Renu finds out the deed is not done. It was to happen tonight, after all the Sector leads were captured.” Then, he slumped forward as his mumblings slurred and he fell victim to the side effects of the gas.

“Fisher, how did Renu plan Monev's domination of Mars? How long? Why?” she demanded.

“Don't know. He never tells all. He gathered us and told us to be good if we wanted to be rich. I listened. He's convincing, especially when he kills. He enjoys it so,” Fisher said groggily.

“Where are they holding the kids they captured?” she asked, realizing her time for this little interrogation session was running out.

“Olympus Mons,” he said while his eyes started to glaze and
tear from the effects of the drug.

“What about the Security Force members? Where are they? Where!” she said forcefully.

“Outlands… deep in the underground chambers. Ugh,” he forced out as spittle came from his swollen lips.

She knew she was running out of time before he succumbed to the effects of the drug. “Are all the kids alive that were captured from the Security Force Elite families?” she forced out, trying not to give in to the emotion of fear she felt contemplating his answer.

“Maybe, or maybe not. All kids work the mines, and if they are strong, they survive. If they ain't worth the fight, we kill them. We don't care whose kids they are. Mining dream is our gold mine. They all work to stay alive,” he spat out, as his eyes closed and the drug took effect.

“Thor! Where are the kids held in Olympus Mons? How can I get in undetected?” she yelled at the screen and watched as Thor's head jerked up at her request.

“Kids held underground tombs… they take the tunnels up into the mountain and around the top of the volcano. If they survive the day of work, they go back to the tombs where they're locked into their cells. Maybe they get fed if they meet their quota. If not, they get beaten, maybe killed. Most get beaten. I like the beating part and the killing too. Sometimes I get to help with that,” he said with a sadistic grin on his face.

“How can I get in undetected?” she demanded again, trying
desperately to get him to answer before the drug knocked him out. She wanted to hurt him for the way he taunted her even while under the influence of the drug.