The Search for Gram (19 page)

“How much further?” Night asked.

“None; we’re here,” said Trella, walking alongside him.

The tunnel extended into the darkness past where she had stopped. On the wall was a small outcropping of rock, the same as hundreds of others they had passed along the way. This one was different; Trella pulled on it, and a six-inch cube slid out of the wall. Reaching in, she pushed a button on the left side of the hole, and, with a small ‘click,’ a doorway appeared in the wall next to it.

Trella pulled the door open and stepped aside. “We think this is the lowest level of the jail,” she said. “We haven’t explored any further, because we didn’t want to get caught and let the Efreet know we had access.”

A ‘boom’ reverberated through the tunnel from behind them.

“Shit,” said Night. “There goes the element of surprise. Wraith, Zoromski, take point.” Staff Sergeant Ji-Woo and Staff Sergeant Zoromski moved to the door. “Trella thinks this is the lowest area of the jail, so we may need to go up to find our folks. Be on the lookout for stairs or doors that might lead to stairs.”

The two soldiers entered the jail complex and found themselves in a 10-foot square cell. The sole occupant was a skeleton in the corner. The dank, musty smell of decay permeated the area.

Wraith crossed the cell to the door. Testing it, she found the door was locked.

“Really?” asked Zoromski. “Who locks a door they aren’t using?”

Wraith nodded toward the skeleton. “Maybe they just locked the door and left the person over there to die.”

“That would suck.”

Wraith nodded as Night approached, rifle at the ready. “What’s up?” he asked.

“It’s locked,” said Wraith. “Since they already know we’re coming, want me to blow it?”

“Quickly,” replied Night. “I expect we’ll have company soon.”

“I can take care of that,” said a new voice. Night turned to find one of the Aesir. “Landslide?”

“Indeed,” said the Aesir. He put his finger next to where the bolt extended from the locking mechanism. While the Terrans watched, the bolt dissolved to a fine powder, and the door eased open an inch.

“That’s pretty handy,” said Zoromski.

Night looked at Landslide, reassessing his earlier thoughts. He quickly came to a conclusion and nodded. “Thanks,” he said in apology. He turned back to his troops. “What? Are you guys waiting on an engraved invitation? Let’s go.”

Caliph’s Retreat, Wendar, Day 2 of the Second Akhet, 15th Dynasty, Year 14

“I’m not sure I like the tone of that, mate,” said Rock. “What do you mean, ‘We get to continue living?’”

“Ever since you crossed into our universe, you have been slowly dying,” said Vizier Kawab. “I cannot confirm it for a fact, but I know that when we send people across the border for long periods of time, they eventually sicken and die. At first, we thought it was some new disease they had contracted, and we wouldn’t let them return because of it. They all died. It wasn’t until much later that we realized we are just not completely compatible with your universe.”

“And you suspect we are similarly incompatible with your universe?” asked K-Mart.

“I do,” replied Kawab. “If there is something that keeps us from staying in your universe long-term, our universe probably does the same to you. To avoid the effects, you will have to spend time across the border periodically or you will die. And while you’re there…”

“We could accomplish your mission for you,” finished Rock.

“Exactly,” said the vizier with a Sila version of a smile.

“What do you know about the prisoners or the race holding them?” asked K-Mart.

“The race holding them looks more like you than us,” said Kawab, “especially your hands. They also have fleshy appendages for grasping things, not bone like us.” He clicked his talons together in emphasis.

“We call ours, ‘fingers,’” said Chomper.

“Ah…fingers,” Kawab. “I will try to remember that. Yes, the race across the boundary is very much like you in form; however, they are enormous. They are almost three times your size.”

“Giants!” said Rock.

“The Jotunn,” agreed K-Mart, nodding his head. “We figured as much. Let me guess, the new race of prisoners also looks like we do, but they are a little smaller and either green or black in color.”

“With pointed ears,” added Hooty.

“Yes, the reports indicate they are green-skinned and have pointed ears,” said Kawab. “How did you know?”

“The prisoners are our allies on the other side of the boundary,” replied K-Mart. “In fact, the reason we came here is that we were searching for them.” He looked at the other Terrans. “Looks like we found them.”

“Yeah,” said Chomper; “too bad there’s no way to let anyone know.”

“So you will go then?” asked Kawab.

“Yes,” said K-Mart as the rest of the group nodded, “we’ll go.”

The vizier smiled again. “I rather thought you might.”

The sound of gunfire reverberated through the cell block. “
We’ve found the stairs,
” commed Wraith, “
but we’re taking fire. Literally, fire!
”

Night approached the staircase at the passageway’s “T” intersection as a wall of flames came shooting down it. The fire cleared and Staff Sergeant Zoromski leaned in and fired a burst up the stairwell. He quickly ducked back as another sheet of flames roared down.

“They’re hard to see up there,” said Zoromski. “There are several wearing some sort of black armor. Looks like they are heavy on flamethrowers.”

“No kidding,” Night stuck his head in the stairwell, then dodged back out of the way. “They’re going to be tough to kill up there.” He switched to his comm. “
Nelson, we need you up front.
”

“
On my way.
”

Night checked the passageways which ran left and right. “
Wraith,
” Night commed. “
Take half of Alpha Squad and check the passage to the left. Gunnery Sergeant Bryant, take the other half and go down to the right. See if you can find us another way up.
”

“I’m here, sir,” said Sergeant George Nelson.

“Good,” Night replied. “There are a bunch of Efreet up the stairwell, wearing some kind of armor. See what you can do about thinning them out some, would you? Beware, they have flamethrowers.”

“I can take a little bit of heat,” the cyborg replied. “As long as I don’t have to stand in it too long, I shouldn’t get all melty.” He unclipped two boxes from his back and laid them aside. “I’ll be even better without these,” he added.

Nelson walked over to the stairwell. 10 stairs went up to a landing, and then the stairs looped back to the right as they continued up. “Be right back,” Nelson said as he passed Zoromski.

Unlike the other soldiers who leaned into the stairwell to fire a burst and then withdrew, Nelson charged up the stairway to the landing and rounded the corner. He was met with a wall of flame and burning fluids. His sensors indicated the fluids were sticking to him and burning at a temperature that was much hotter than expected.

His proto-skin was already starting to gel as his Mrowry autocannon came into line with the fire he was taking. He swept the barrel of his weapon back and forth across the top of the stairwell, and the flames ceased. Realizing he was still on fire, he ran back down the stairs, dropping his weapon as he reached the landing. Throwing himself to the floor, he rolled back and forth, trying to smother the flames. Whatever liquid the Efreet were using was difficult to extinguish, causing him to have to lay flat on his stomach for several seconds to put it out, which allowed the fluid to burn his back until he could flip over.

Zoromski and Staff Sergeant Rainer Koppenhoefer charged up the stairs, with most of Bravo Squad in trail.

As Sergeant Nelson got to his feet, Night could see several places where the metal substructure of his back was visible.

“That was kind of hot,” Nelson said. “I could feel my brain cooking.” As he spoke, his nose drooped to below his mouth, and the right side of his face sagged noticeably.

“I’m amazed your rifle didn’t blow up,” said Night.

“The autocannon is tough,” said Nelson. “The Mrowry know how to build them. The ammo in Tanker’s weapon would probably have cooked off. You’re lucky you had me.” He attempted a smile as he re-clipped the two boxes to his back, but only succeeded in jiggling the proto-flesh a little.

“
We’re clear up here on the next level,
” commed Staff Sergeant Zoromski.

“
I copy,
” commed Night. “
Wraith, Mongo, have you had any luck?
”

“
None here,
” said Wraith. “
I’m at a dead end.
”

“
Me too,
” added Gunnery Sergeant Bryant. “
Dead end.
”

“
All right, come join us on the next level,
” replied Night. “
We’re moving up.
”

“The queen hungers,” said the colonel, touching both claws to his chest.

“The eggs hatch,” replied the captain and lieutenant in tandem, mimicking the gesture.

“I need you to take a squad to the airfield,” said the colonel to the lieutenant. “Something is jamming our transmission, and we need to get the alert shuttles launched immediately.”

The captain looked out the window and could see smoke rising from several places. “What is happening?”

“The Sila are revolting,” said the colonel. “We must put them down, and put them down hard. Lieutenant, take no chances along the way; kill any Sila you see. Let them experience the penalty for their insolence.”

“As you command,” said the lieutenant.

“What about the prisoners?” asked the captain.

“Kill them. Kill them all.”

“
This level is empty
,” commed Staff Sergeant ‘Hoofer’ Koppenhoefer. “
We have come to another set of stairs.
”

“
Hoofer, Wraith, up the stairs,
” said Night.

“
Gluck ab!
” they chorused. Reaching the top of the stairs Hoofer turned left, and Wraith turned right…and came face to face with a squad of Efreet. Although the reptilian Efreet were fast, Wraith was faster, and she emptied the entire 20-round magazine from her FAL rifle into the group. “
I’m out!
” she commed, diving for the floor to give Hoofer a clear line of fire.

The former German Kommando Spezialkrafte trooper had already turned, and he fired his Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle into the two Efreet still standing. Hearing movement from further down the passage, he added a 40 mm grenade from the under-barrel launcher. The shock wave echoed down the passage as it exploded, and he could see dust coming down from the ceiling in a number of places.

Wraith saw movement from behind the German. “
Hoofer, look out!
” she yelled, frantically trying to reload.

A wall of flame engulfed Hoofer, and the smell of charred meat filled the passageway.

Gunnery Sergeant Bryant dove up the remaining steps and fired down the hallway as Hoofer collapsed; Wraith finished reloading and also fired. The smoke cleared to reveal two dead Efreet, hit in numerous places.

“
Medic!
” commed Wraith.

Within seconds, the Ground Force’s medic, Sergeant Burt Yankiver, was at Hoofer’s side.

“Can you save him, Yank?” asked Night.

“If he were in a suit, maybe,” replied Sergeant Yankiver. “As it is, all I can do is make him comfortable.”

“Do what you can,” said Night.

Gunfire echoed from the floor below. “
We’re getting hit from behind,
” commed Sergeant Rick ‘Happy’ Day. “
They’ve got some kind of – fuck! – flechette thrower. Corporal Holm is down. Holy shit! We need some help back here!
”

“
I’m on it, sir,
” commed Master Gunnery Sergeant Hendrick.

Fuck, thought Night. What else could go wrong?

“
Hey mon,
” commed Sergeant Andrews, “
has anyone seen the elves?
”

Caliph’s Retreat, Wendar, Day 7 of the Second Akhet, 15th Dynasty, Year 14

“We normally cross the boundary here,” said Vizier Kawab. “It is protected from prying eyes and comes out in a safe area.” Another male approached the group. “This is Hori,” Kawab added. “He will be your guide.”

“How well does he know the area?” asked Hooty.

“He is our most experienced guide,” said Kawab. “Hori has been across the boundary more times than anyone else.”

“Hori, are you familiar with the plan?” asked K-Mart.

“I am,” said Hori. “We will go through to the other side. It will take me two trips because I can only safely transport two at a time. Once we are all on the other side, I will lead you to a hill that overlooks the prison complex, so you can see if the prisoners are the ones you call ‘Aesir.’”

Vizier Kawab walked a little way from the group and then turned and asked, “Lieutenant Knaus, could I have a word with you in private?”

“Sure,” said K-Mart. “Be right back.” He walked over to join the vizier.

“Right,” said Rock to Hori, continuing in K-Mart’s absence. “We’ll see if there is any way to get close enough to talk to them. If so, we will attempt it. If not, we will come back and work out what to do next.”

“Got it,” replied Hori. “I am ready when you are.”

“Just a second,” said Rock, “we still have one more issue to decide.”

“Whether to wear the suits or not, aye?” asked Hooty. “I still say we should wear them.”

“They will give us
some
protection,” said Rock, “but they really don’t offer the same combat capability as the suits the platoon wears. They probably won’t stop a bullet or laser.”

“Yeah, but they give us some extra processing power if we have to learn a new language,” argued Hooty. “They also have a limited pharmacopeia if we need that, too.”

“I think we ought to conserve the batteries on them as much as possible,” said K-Mart, rejoining the group. “We don’t know how long we’re going to be here.”

“In the interest of time,” said Rock, “why don’t we vote. My vote is ‘I don’t care.’”

“I want to wear them,” said Hooty.

“I’d rather not wear them,” said K-Mart, “but then again, it really doesn’t matter that much to me.”

“I’d rather wear them,” said Chomper, “but I’m like K-Mart; it doesn’t really matter either way.”

“Okay,” said Rock, “the ‘ayes’ have it; we’ll wear them.”

The suits had been brought out earlier and checked; it was only a couple of minutes before everyone was dressed and ready. “We’re ready, Hori,” said Rock, “let’s go.”

Hori brought out a short golden rod with several buttons on it. “I need to be in contact with the first two people that are going.”

“Good luck,” said Vizier Kawab. “May the Protector watch out for you, in this world and the next.”

“
Asp 08
leads the way,” Rock said as he put his hand on Hori’s arm. “Let’s go, K-Mart.”

K-Mart placed his hand on Hori’s other arm and nodded once. “Let’s go kick some giant butt.”

Hori pushed a button on the rod, and the three vanished with a flash.