The Search for Gram (20 page)

The lights snapped on again and booted feet could be heard approaching quickly. Calvin looked through the gaps between his fingers while his eyes adjusted and saw the leader and six of the armored Efreet. No taser troops? That couldn’t be good.

The Efreeti captain said something to Master Chief. “It appears the resistance has started, because he said the citizens are in revolt,” the caliph translated. “He also said we shouldn’t get excited because we will be dead long before any of them can get here.”

“Wouldn’t you like to come in here and kill me yourself?” asked Master Chief.

“He said that while it would be fun, he doesn’t have time for you,” said the caliph. “He is leaving to deal with your friends but wanted to see you burn, first.”

The captain stepped out of the way and motioned his troopers forward. Three approached each of the cells. While two stood at the ready, the other unlocked the cell doors. As the doors opened, the Efreet in front of the cells each took a step forward, arming their flamecasters as they stepped into the cells.

“
Maximus!
” yelled a voice from behind the Efreet. The air shimmered, and the Aesir team appeared, Farhome towering above the rest.

Over nine feet tall, Farhome stepped forward into Calvin’s cell and took one of the armored Efreeti’s heads in each of his oversized hands. Farhome slammed them together, then dropped their inert forms to the floor. With a giggle, he tossed a sheathed sword to Calvin.

Landslide appeared next to the two Efreet in Master Chief’s cell. Before they could move, he touched the trigger mechanisms of their flamecasters, then dove to the side. Both tried to pull the triggers, but found them locked in place.

With a command in their own language, flames covered the armor of the remaining four Efreet, and they stepped forward to engage the Aesir.

The two facing Landslide reached forward to grab him in a burning embrace, but their flames suddenly extinguished.

“Oh, you like fire, do you?” asked Captain Nightsong from behind them as he stuck a finger into the joints of their armor. Both Efreet began screaming as flames appeared inside their armor, and their skin started to melt. Unable to escape the flames, they dropped and tried frantically to put them out by rolling on the floor.

Master Chief and the Aesir jumped out of the way of the slashing tails; the vizier remaining in the corner out of the way. Steam poured from the joints in the armor as the Efreet cooked.

The Efreeti trooper outside of Master Chief’s cell saw the battle going against them and turned to run. As he passed Landslide, the Aesir reached through the cell bars from his knees to slap the tanks on the Efreeti’s back. The trooper made it four more steps before the tanks began falling apart. A hole appeared in the left tank, which was apparently the propellant for the flamecaster, as the escaping gas spun the Efreeti around to slam into the wall. With a splash, the bottom of the fuel tank fell off, and the trooper was doused in flammable fluid. Something sparked as the Efreeti slammed into the wall again, and he was transformed into a seven-foot tall tower of smoke and flames. The Efreeti screamed as he righted himself and ran down the hall, trailing smoke. Blinded by the smoke, flames and pain, he ran full-speed into the wall at the end of the passage. The Efreeti fell to the floor and lay still, flames crackling over his body as the rest of the fuel and flesh was consumed.

The final trooper charged into the cell, intending to kill the caliph, but was intercepted by Calvin who jumped in front of him. Calvin drew the sword, a rapier, from its sheath. As he brought the rapier to the ready position, the blade burst into flames and began glowing a bright blue down the length of its silver surface.

Faced with the rapier, the Efreeti stopped and grabbed the handle of his flamecaster. He brought it up to fire, but was hammered down from behind by Farhome with a double fist. “Oooh, hot!” cried Farhome. He began blowing on his hands, which had been singed by the flames on the Efreeti’s armor.

Seeing no way out, the Efreeti captain grabbed the seemingly defenseless Cyclone from behind and put a knife to her throat. The Aesir smiled in his grasp and brought a finger up to the knife while her other hand reached back to touch the captain on his nose. As the circuit closed, 75,000 volts flowed through the captain, and all his muscles spasmed. Cyclone pushed backward to the wall so the captain wouldn’t fall and continued to electrocute him. Turning her head, she watched until smoke began to trail from the corners of the captain’s eyes before she released him. The Efreeti fell to the floor, dead.

In four seconds, it was over.

“You have interesting friends,” said the caliph as a silence fell over the cell block. “I take it the dark one is the one you call ‘Night?’” he asked, looking at Farhome.

“No,” said Calvin, “these are some of our allies; Night is even more deadly.”

“I am sure there is a story there,” said the caliph, “and I would like to hear more about it later, but I need to go join my people and oversee the revolt. You will remember the Efreet accusing me of plotting to overthrow them? We were.”

“I believe Night and the rest of my troops will be here in a few seconds,” said Calvin as gunfire sounded close by. “If you wait a minute or two, we will have their support, too.”

“I know where they are,” said Captain Nightsong. He began walking down the passage. “This way.”

“Thanks for the sword,” said Calvin to Farhome as he stuck the rapier back into the sheath.

Farhome transformed back to his normal size. “Heehee, that was the sword I stuck through your foot,” he said. “I thought you’d like it back.”

“The flames were a nice touch.”

“Flames?” asked Farhome, suddenly serious. “I thought you did that. The flames weren’t mine.”

“
Ostrich has two flechettes in his leg,
” commed Corporal Michael ‘Gooch’ Higuchi, the Space Force’s medic. “
I’ll have him patched up in two minutes. Homey and Milly are both down.
”

With Hendrick directing, the firefight on the lower level was over within 30 seconds. Another six Efreet were dead, but the new flechette guns had not only claimed Corporal Steve Holm, but also Sergeant Milissa Story. Both were relative newcomers to the platoon; unfortunately, combat had a way of singling newcomers out. Corporal Pat ‘Ostrich’ Burke was another newcomer; at least he would live to fight another day.

“
I’ve got the next staircase up,
” said Wraith. “
Captain Train, you’ll want to come see this. You’re not going to believe it…
”

Damn it, what now, Night wondered as he sprinted toward the front of the group. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said as he came upon Captain Nightsong leading Calvin, Master Chief and a number of civilians down the stairs.

“Probably,” said Calvin, “but then again, so probably will the rest of us.”

“What the hell happened, Skipper?” asked Night.

“It turns out there’s a little more to an Eco Warrior team than meets the eye,” replied Calvin. “They saved us just before the Efreet could roast us with their flamecasters.”

“Flamecasters, huh?” asked Night. “Are those the things they’re using as flamethrowers?”

“Yeah,” said Calvin. “In addition to working like flamethrowers, they can also shoot fireballs with them, and the troops can cover themselves in flames. They’re pretty nasty.”

“I know,” said Night, “We lost Koppenhoefer to one of them.”

“Damn,” said Calvin. “That’s not a good way to go.”

“No it’s not,” agreed Night. “One also melted most of the face off Sergeant Nelson. The Efreet have some sort of flechette thrower, too. We’ve lost a couple of troops to them.”

“Shit,” said Calvin. “Well, let’s regroup and get the hell out of here. We need to get the caliph back to the castle, so he can direct the civil insurrection that’s going on.”

“Sorry, sir, but that will not be possible,” said Yokaze as he ran up. “We were attacked by a group of Efreet coming from the castle, and when Tanker shot them, one blew up. The tunnel collapsed, and the roof caved in on him. We can’t get out the way we came in.”

“I’m pretty good with dirt,” interrupted Landslide; “maybe there’s something I can do.”

“At least 50 feet of tunnel collapsed,” said Yokaze. “How long will it take to get through that?”

“Hmm, that will take…a while,” said the Aesir.

“There’s got to be another way out of here, right?” asked Calvin. “The way they brought us in?”

“You were kind of out of it when they brought us down here,” said Master Chief, “but I was paying attention. I think I can get us back out.”

“Great,” said Calvin, “let’s go. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got some payback to attend to.”

14 Herculis ‘a,’ Unknown Date/Time

“That’s awful,” gagged Rock as they materialized. “I think I’m going to be sick. How are you doing?”

“My stomach’s pretty good,” said K-Mart. “I’ve had a lot of practice flying with you.”

“What’s that supposed to–” Rock stopped as he threw up.

“I’ll be right back,” said Hori. “It gets easier the more you do it.”

“God, I hope so,” said K-Mart, before he, too, threw up.

Hori reappeared several seconds later with Chomper and Hooty.

“Okay,” said K-Mart, once Chomper and Hooty’s stomachs had settled from the trip, “we’re ready.”

“Follow me,” said Hori. “It’s not far.” He led them through a forest of something that looked like fir trees but were much larger; most were over 20 feet in diameter and soared several hundred feet into the sky. There was snow on the ground, and the temperature hovered around freezing.

“I’ll bet you’re glad you brought the suits now, aren’t you?” asked Hooty.

“I don’t know if I’m glad,” said K-Mart, “but I’m certainly warmer for having brought them.”

Hori pointed to a large hill in front of them. “The facility is on the other side of the hill. We will want to be quiet from this point on.”

Talking ceased as the Terrans worked their way up the hill. Without the cover of the trees, the snow was almost a foot deep.

“Gah, I hate this stuff,” said Chomper under his breath.

“What’s wrong with…snow?” asked Rock, his breath coming out in puffs of steam as he climbed.

“Spent a lot of...time in the jungles…growing up,” said Chomper. “I’m just…more used to the heat…I guess.”

The group slowed as it neared the crest, and then everyone dropped onto their stomachs and crawled forward to look over the hill.

“Holy shit,” said Chomper. “That place is huge!”

“No kidding,” said K-Mart. “Although I knew they were giants, I guess I never really thought about what that meant. Crap! That building is over 50 feet tall…and it’s only two stories. Words fail me. It’s…it’s enormous.”

The jail was centered on a large stone building in the shape of an “X,” with each leg nearly half a mile long. Almost 60 feet high, it only had two rows of windows. The building was surrounded by a 30-foot high fence that had rolls of some type of wire, probably barbed or razor, on top of it. There was an exercise yard big enough for four or five games of football to be played simultaneously. Guard towers with alert guards were in the corners of the fence, as well as several other places on each side. It would be a hard place to sneak up on.

“Movement, right side,” noted Hooty. A door had opened, and 50 green-skinned people came out, followed by 10 of the Jotunn with giant two-headed axes on their shoulders. If they seemed worried about being outnumbered 5-1, it wasn’t apparent in the way they carried themselves.

“They look like little bugs next to the Jotunn,” said Chomper.

“They look miserable,” said K-Mart. “They’re all huddled in little groups. None of them have coats, and they don’t look like they’re used to the cold.”

“Yeah,” said Rock, “those are the Aesir. If they’ve got the prince, that’s where he must be.”

“Prince?” asked Hori. “Nobody mentioned we were looking for a prince.”

K-Mart glared at his pilot before turning to Hori. “No, we’re really not looking for him,” K-Mart said. “I doubt he even survived, as badly as his ship was shot up. Besides, he’s only some sort of minor prince of the Aesir; barely even worth worrying about.”

“Oh,” said Hori, sounding disappointed.

“All right,” said Hooty, “I’ve seen enough. Let’s get back so we can decide what we want to do.” Catching a look from K-Mart, he added, “That place looks pretty impregnable; I think we should probably just write them off.”

The group slid backward away from the crest of the hill, and Hori led them back the way they’d come.

“Why do we have to go back to where we came in?” asked Hooty. “Why can’t we just jump back from here?”

“It’s safest to exit where you came in or from one of the other surveyed points,” explained Hori. “Although we believe the two planets started out the same, sometimes there are differences in elevation between the worlds. For example, if we dug a pit in our world and then transported from inside the pit, we would end up below ground when we got here.”

“How would that work?” asked Chomper. “Would you displace the ground? Or would you become part of the ground?”

“I don’t know,” said Hori; “no one has volunteered to find out. Perhaps you’d like to try it?”

“No, I don’t think I would,” replied Chomper. “I’ll stick to where we came in.”

“If you remember, we also entered in a forest,” added Hori. “I imagine transporting into the space occupied by a tree would be similarly fatal.”

“I think I liked transporting in space a whole lot more,” said Chomper. “There’s a lot less shit to run into.”

The group walked the rest of the way in silence.

“Well, I have some good news and some bad news,” said Hori as they reached their destination.

“What’s that?” asked Rock.

“Well, the good news is that we’re where we need to be to transport back to our world. The bad news is you won’t be coming back with me.”

“And why exactly is that, mate?” asked Rock.

“Because you’ll be staying with us,” said a deep voice. Seven of the Jotunn came from behind the trunks of the large fir trees.

If the giants looked big from the crest of the hill, they were even more impressive up close, and the Terrans’ jaws dropped. Fully 16 feet tall, they were enormous. Each weighed over 2,500 pounds and carried a double-headed axe, which was bigger than the Terrans were tall. The giants also smelled, badly, and the pungent aroma encircled the Terrans as the giants blocked off their avenues of escape.

The group was trapped; there was nowhere to run.

“What the hell?” asked Rock, nervously eyeing the giants as the ring around the Terrans closed.

“The fact of the matter is that we can’t have you propping up the caliph,” said Hori. “Your arrival has threatened to undermine all our plans.”

“What plans?” asked Chomper. “Who do you work for?”

“Who do I work for?” asked Hori. He pulled out a length of cord and wrapped it around his upper arm. “I work for Grand Vizier Nefermaat. Who he works for is not my place to tell. Suffice it to say we were jumped by a group of giants, and I alone got away with my life.”

“I’ll kill you, you bastard,” yelled Hooty. He took two steps toward Hori but was swept off his feet by the blade of one of the Jotunn. Not swept off his feet, saw K-Mart, but cut from his feet. The giant axe sliced completely through Hooty’s torso, and the top half went spinning off while his legs and feet were left to collapse in the suddenly crimson snow.

Blood and guts sprayed everywhere.

K-Mart and Rock threw up; Chomper alone was left standing to glare at Hori. “I’ll fucking kill you for that,” said Chomper. “If it’s the last thing I do.”

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t think you will,” said Hori. He turned to a Jotunn wearing a chain mail shirt. “These people said that one of the Aesir you have is a prince. I don’t know how important he is, but I figured you would like to know.”

“You have done well, little one,” said the Jotunn. “I look forward to many more profitable ventures with you.”

“And I, as well,” said Hori. He checked the tourniquet on his arm and then drew a knife from his belt. “This is the part I hate most,” he said, slicing the knife across his arm. Blood poured from the wound, and he tugged the tourniquet tight, stanching the flow of blood. He walked over to Hooty’s legs and wiped his knife off on Hooty’s suit before sliding it back into its sheath.

“I
will
fucking kill you for that,” repeated Chomper.

“Sure you will,” said Hori. “Bye-bye.” He pulled out his golden rod, pushed a button and was gone.

“Well, little ones,” said the Jotunn with the chain shirt, “it appears you are going to be our guests. Would you like to walk, or do we have to carry you?”