The Red Phoenix 12: Strength Comes in Numbers (42 page)

He stepped down a few rungs then fired the freeze gun, turning the drain cover into a block of ice. It steamed as sharp icicle-like spikes stuck off the top. He fired his machine gun, breaking the ice drain into multiple pieces, causing some of the jagged pieces of iced-over metal to shower on him and the clones in the shaft.

***

Braddock and Osborne, standing near the entry of the laser beam field, perked up, hearing the sounds of machine gun fire close by.

“Did you hear that?” asked Braddock.

“Sounded like an Mp5, boss,” Osborne answered.

“Yeah, about sixty-five yards that way,” Braddock responded, pointing towards the control room.

“Somebody is in the arsenal,” said Osborne.

“Let’s move!” Braddock ordered, hurrying towards the control room door.

***

Chris and the others climbed out of the drain, spreading out in the arsenal bay. Chris gazed in awe at the two rows of nuclear missiles while the clones looked over the arsenal.

“Wow,” said Chris, feeling the sides of one of the missiles. “I’ve never been this close to so many of them.”

“The nuclear weapons, I presume?” asked Kerry.

“Yeah, looks like we made it to the arsenal on level minus seventy-nine,” he answered. “Before anybody else that is.”

“The humans really value these, don’t they?” she asked, running her fingertips along the side of one.

“Oh yeah, these represent power,” Chris replied. “A lot of power and whoever has the most power is the strongest, in theory anyway.”

“Because they can destroy things?” she asked.

“Absolutely,” Chris replied. “They can destroy a lot of things like cities and towns full of people, entire countries, in fact.”

“So the humans have the ability to destroy their own world?” she asked.

“Twenty-five times over,” Chris answered.

“What is the point of that?” she asked.

“That has been the longest ongoing debate between the people and the Department of Defense,” Chris replied. “Manufacturing these is tremendously costly.”

“Is our nation the only one that possesses these missiles?” she asked.

“Oh no, many countries have them around the globe,” Chris answered.

“What is to stop the humans from launching them at each other?” asked Kerry.

“World peace is something that people continue to strive for but it doesn’t mean they’ll always have it,” Chris replied.

“If world peace is such a priority, what is the point in having them?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”

“Because sometimes the wrong people are able to take power and control of a nation then become a threat to the rest of us,” Chris responded, caressing the side of her face.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“It’s like you’re back from the dead,” he answered, trying to hold back his tears.

Chris stared at her for a short time then moved in to kiss her. Their lips were just about to touch as they closed their eyes. 

Suddenly, a machine gun fired, sparking bullets on the wall above the missiles. Braddock and his men rushed into the room with their guns on Chris and the clones.

“Hands behind your heads!” Braddock commanded.

Chris and the others, stunned at the sight of the soldiers, didn’t move. They were instantly surrounded with fifty guns pointed at them.

“Now!” Braddock commanded.

“Do as he says,” said Chris, interlocking his fingers behind his head.

Osborne and other soldiers rushed in, taking their weapons from them, putting them on their knees.

“Keep your hands behind your heads,” said Osborne to the clones in a crusty voice.

Braddock walked up to Chris and removed his helmet and gas mask.

“Chris Michaels,” said Braddock with a smirk, aiming his gun at him.

“Who are you?” asked Chris, looking up at him.

“I am Commander Stephen Braddock.”

“Let me guess, Special Forces?” asked Chris.

“A special unit,” Braddock replied, rubbing his go-tee, walking behind Chris.

“What do you want from me?” asked Chris.

“I was sent here to end you and Siddoway after I deactivate this arsenal, among other things,” Braddock answered. “It’s a lucky find to have you here.”

“Look, I didn’t do any of this,” said Chris in a hard tone. “You have Alex Siddoway to blame for destroying the Red Phoenix.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re perfectly innocent, Michaels,” stated Braddock, looking over the clones that were still on their knees in a surrendering position. The problem is the government will never see it that way.”

“I swear, none of us had anything to do with the explosion,” said Chris. “I even tried to stop Siddoway, in fact.”

“Why do all these young men look the same?” asked Braddock. “They’re wearing tactical gear. What unit are they with?”

“They’re my sons,” Chris answered.

Braddock and Osborne glanced at each other.

“Your sons?” asked Braddock, noticing Kerry. “All ten of them?”

“Yes,” Chris answered.

“And I suppose you’re their mother?” asked Braddock with a smirk.

“I am,” Kerry answered.

“Hey boss, I heard rumors that there was some kind of clone lab or something going on here,” Osborne muttered in a quiet tone.

“Clones?” asked Braddock.

“How else do you explain it?” Osborne answered. “Look at these boys. There’s no way this lady popped them all out. Maybe she’s one too?”

“Looks like you’ve truly been into the devil’s business, Michaels,” said Braddock, moving closer to him.

“Yeah, well it beats the military,” Chris replied, sounding coy.

“Idiot,” said Braddock, striking Chris on his shoulder with the butt end of his weapon, dropping him to his knees.

“Ah!” Chris groaned.

Braddock grabbed him by the throat, pulling him face to face.

“Please! Don’t hurt him!” Kerry cried.

The clones hardened their faces, looking for an angle to attack, but knew they were grounded.

“Michaels,” said Braddock, clenching his throat with his muscular forearm. “I don’t care about the sick, twisted freak show you created in some lab in this place. What I want is
the box
.”

“What box?” Chris gasped.

“The box of lightning you and Siddoway used to blow up this facility.”

“I don’t … know … anything about a … box,” said Chris, trying to breathe as his face turned red.

Braddock struck him in the face, forcing Chris to his back. Chris lied back, catching his breath as his jaw swelled in pain.

“Lying isn’t going to score you any points with me,” Braddock stated.

In the background, Siddoway and Twelve glanced at each other, gripping their weapons.

“You remember when I said I was going to do something crazy?” Siddoway whispered to Twelve.

“Yeah, what about it?” asked Twelve.

“Here goes,” Siddoway replied.

“I’ll come with you,” said Twelve.

“No, just stay undercover,” Siddoway stated. “We may need a surprise element later,” he added, moving towards Braddock.

Chris climbed up to his hands and knees, rubbing his cheek.

“Where’s the box?” Braddock asked in a hard voice, kicking Chris in the ribs, forcing him to the floor.

Braddock glared at Chris as he held his ribs in pain.

“Stop it!” Kerry cried.

Braddock grabbed Kerry by the back of her hair, lifted her up, then put his combat knife up to her throat.

“No, wait!” said Chris.

“Tell me where the box is, or this clone bitch dies first!” said Braddock.

Chris felt the anxiety of death and defeat come over him. He was beaten and there was no way out.

“Where is it?” Braddock screamed, pressing his blade against Kerry’s throat.

“That’s far enough, Braddock!” said Siddoway, pointing his gun at Braddock’s head.

Osborne and the rest of the soldiers turned their heads, stupefied.

“Let her go—now!” said Siddoway, removing his gas mask, his muzzle right behind Braddock’s ear.

“Siddoway?” asked Braddock, keeping still, sounding stern as he shoved Kerry from him.

“How the hell did you get in that uniform?” Osborne asked with his gun on him.

“You tell your men to drop their weapons, Braddock, or I splatter your brains all over these missiles,” said Siddoway, positioning himself behind Braddock for cover.

“Commander?” asked Osborne.

“Don’t listen to him,” Braddock stated. “Somebody just shoot this prick.”

“You sure about that, tough guy?” asked Siddoway.

“You’re a scientist,” Braddock stated. “You don’t have the balls to kill anybody.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Siddoway responded. “After all, I’m wearing one of your men’s clothes and pointing his gun at your head, Commander. I’ve also been charged with murder and I’m solely responsible for all the deaths here at the Red Phoenix. I’m as close to a mass murderer as you can get.”

“He’s got a point, boss,” said Osborne as he and the soldiers kept their guns on Siddoway.

“If you’re going to do it, Siddoway, then do it,” said Braddock.

“Bad choice,” Siddoway replied, pulling the trigger.

The gun clicked. Braddock flinched.

“What?” said Siddoway, pulling the trigger again and again.

Braddock turned to him with a mean look, clenching his fists.

“Oh damn,” Siddoway said in whispery voice, horrified.

Chris lowered his head, knowing all hope just flew away.

Braddock gnashed his teeth as he turned, striking Siddoway square on the nose, sending him back against a wall. Siddoway collapsed, dropping his weapon, numbed senseless from the pain. Braddock picked him up, struck him several times in the chest like he was a hanging punching bag then punched him again in the face, sending him face-down to the hard floor with a bloody nose and bleeding mouth in front of Chris.

Siddoway looked up at Chris and Kerry with his bloody face and a swelling eye. Chris couldn’t help but feel empathy, watching him get a ruthless ass-kicking. Braddock chuckled in the background with his soldiers as they watched Siddoway crawl on the floor in agony.