Chapter Seventeen

LAZ

I had forgotten how much easier combat was when people worked together. In the corridor before me, a dozen Xylo soldiers lay on the dirty floor. I stepped carefully over the one in my path, avoiding the puddle of blood coming from the wounds on his throat. My hand signaled to my squad, silently directing them to conceal the bodies in case we needed to make a rapid retreat.

If everything went to plan, we would be in and out of this place in an hour. We had split into four teams for this part of the operation, evenly dividing our forces into units led by myself, Dallas, Kraig, and King Jacquim. The different groups of troops were independently responsible for eliminating the soldiers on the outskirts of Synic's fortress. After we had taken care of the enemy forces, we were supposed to reunite and infiltrate the core of the lair together.

In theory, we would escort the hostages to safety after surrounding Synic and his remaining soldiers. The best possible scenario involved Synic's surrender. None of us wanted to get into a firefight with civilians at risk. After his arrest, he would be arraigned, tried, and sentenced.

In theory.

But one thing I knew about Synic was that bloodshed was inevitable.

Synic's bizarre avian obsession was on prominent display through the ghastly aesthetics of his headquarters. He chose to show headdresses made from exotic bird feathers on the ragged walls. A collection of moldy and deformed stuffed vultures with multiple heads and appendages hung from the leaking ceilings. Strangely there were no live birds, rodents, or even insects.

Everything in the underground chambers had the scent of death, even the technology. The rooms contained a lot of equipment, but what was here seemed to be on its last legs. Synic's technicians had left carts with missing wheels and disemboweled shuttle parts to rust in random corners of the building. It looked as if Synic had once enjoyed top-of-the-line toys, but he had neglected them over the past few decades.

My communicator vibrated, playing an incoming message from Dallas. "General – we are in position and are now on standby."

"Copy that." I held the communicator close to my mouth and spoke quietly into the microphone. "Stand down and wait for my call."

A few of my men moved at my command, slinking off to search for any other ways to get more information about Synic's defenses. I instructed the rest of my men to fall back in the tunnel and enlisted the help of Wyla as my backup. The young nineteen-year-old soldier was small but made up for what she lacked in size in speed, agility, and a supernatural ability to focus. She was also one of the best shots I had ever seen and competent in hand-to-hand combat.

Wyla and I headed west down the tunnel, counting the air ducts until we found one that lead to Synic's security control room. I crouched down and boosted her off the ground. She pulled out a drill and started unscrewing the bolts. Squeezing her fingers through the grills, she wrenched off the vent opening and shined a light into the duct tunnel. Wyla shook off the dust from her bright pink hair.

"It smells worse than the men's bunkers in the summertime, but it's clear."

"Good. You've shared a room with Kraig for two consecutive summers. I'm sure the odor won't be a problem for you."

Wyla rolled her eyes. She shimmied up the duct and extended her arm to me, helping pull me to her level. I took the light from her and moved to take the point. We moved down the tube, looking through the vents underneath us and using the rooms as markers.

I stopped when I heard a noise behind me. Wyla was loudly clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Had I missed something? She moved her chin down, motioning to the vent between us. I was thankful there was a lot of background noise. The hissing and clanking from the aged pipelines behind the walls masked the sounds of the ducts groaning from our weight. I put my head close to the grill to get a better view.

The security control room was directly underneath us. The walls contained several flat screen monitors featuring live camera feeds from all over the lair. We had wondered why our entry had been relatively effortless, and how we could gain access to the compound without triggering any alarms. Now I knew why.

The soldiers manning security were neglecting their duties. Some of Synic's guards had their monitors set to games or configured to display underground fight club matches. The ones who weren't near computers were wasting time in different ways. Some were playing with a homemade brown ball made from metal scraps. Others read magazines while chugging back bottles of liquor.

"Check out the asshole on the far right," Wyla whispered. She wrinkled her button nose and made a disgusted face. "He's either the most stupid or most admirable Xylo on the planet. I can't imagine anyone pursuing such bold extracurricular activities on company time."

Curious, I steered my eyes to the soldier Wyla indicated and laughed. His desktop featured a full-screen slide show of overweight Xylo women posing in schoolgirl outfits. However, with every passing photograph, it became more difficult for me to determine if the subjects were actually all women. The bony guard rocked back and forth in his chair, noisily sucking on his teeth and rubbing the crotch of his pants like he was trying to put out a fire.

"It's time to put an end to this party." I removed my laser pistol from my holster and turned off the safety. Wyla twisted a silencer around her drill, unscrewing the bolts from the vent. As she removed the last bolt, the guard with a penchant for male and female Xylo jerked back in his seat. He looked around him wildly until his eyes latched onto the wobbling grill of the vent duct overhead.

The Xylo screamed a warning. The other guards rose out of their seats at once, scrambling for their weapons. They weren't fast enough. Wyla and I opened fire, striking all the soldiers at the control station before anyone could ring an alarm. The guard on the far right keeled over and slid down his seat, perishing with a tent in his trousers.

"Watch out!"

Wyla and I rolled away from the vent opening as the remaining Xylo retaliated with weapons fire. We pulled ourselves out of the way just in time - one of the soldiers hurled a metal ball in our direction. A thunderous explosion echoed through the vent and a noticeable dent from the collision appeared only a few centimeters from Wyla's nose.

I retreated, narrowly missing the solid line of fire. A trail of bullet holes stopped shortly between my legs. When I looked up, I saw the shells embedded in the ceiling were still smoking. There was a pause of silence. I assumed they were reloading. We moved back to the opening for our chance to retaliate.

Wyla pointed her weapon away from the soldiers. She peered into the mirror, studying the positions of the remaining Xylo. Tapping two fingers against her raised fist, she told me two guards were on my side, and one on hers. I nodded in reply, showing her a countdown with my fingers.

I squeezed one eye shut and gazed intently into my scope. Aiming it at a soldier taking cover behind a file cabinet, I breathed out slowly and pulled on the trigger. It was a straight shot between the eyes, splitting open the back of his head. He lurched backward and smeared the walls with his blood as he slunk to the ground. Wyla had already eliminated her two soldiers in half the time it had taken me.

"I know there's one more," Wyla muttered, holding her laser pistol to her chest. She squinted into the vent. "Come out and play, you elusive piece of shit."

My ears perked up at a faint ticking sound in the room. "Is that a bomb? With a timer? How primitive."

A pale fist reached out from behind a couch, tossing a palm-sized red ball in our direction. I grabbed Wyla and yanked her to my side of the vent. The explosive flew up and landed next to my feet. As the lights on the circular disc began blinking erratically, I reacted without thinking. I snatched up the bomb and threw it back where it came from, behind the couch.

"Let's move out of here!" I shoved Wyla forward and started crawling. Wyla and I made it about twenty feet before the bomb detonated. A tumultuous bang from our rear made the ventilation tunnels begin to sway. The odor of burnt rubber and filled the air. We kept our eyes straight ahead, crawling further away until the tube stabilized.

"That was close," said Wyla, wheezing. "Should we proceed to the core chambers, General?"

I opened my mouth to give her the okay, but I swiftly fell silent at the activity below us. I heard a familiar voice that sent chills down my spine.

"I told you bastards to get your fucking hands off me!"

I waved at Wyla and made eye contact with her, gesturing with my gun. She nodded, silently inching over to work on the next vent cover. I leaned toward the hole in front of me, fighting against panic and attempting to observe the scene unfolding in the corridor.

Two Xylo guards had their arms hooked under Gabriella, dragging her behind them. She kicked out her legs repeatedly in futile desperation, trying to get a grip on the floor with the heels of her feet. I inhaled sharply, feeling my muscles start to flex when I saw the red marks on Gabriella's neck. Her head turned from one side to another as she looked for any way to escape.

"I said, let me go, you alien motherfuckers!"

"That's enough out of you." The guard on Gabriella's right swung his fist and clipped her in the mouth. I growled, looking over at Wyla, who was easing out the final bolt from the cover. Wyla nodded at me, set a line against the edge and jumped out of the vent, attacking the soldiers from above. She didn't even unclip the rope from her belt before she kicked a soldier in the jaw, knocking him off his feet.

I jumped down from the ceiling, prepared to fight the remaining Xylo. But as I turned to Gabriella with my body tensed to lunge at the other guard, I discovered that Gabriella had taken care of herself. She took advantage of Wyla's distraction and bit down on the guard's hand. He cried out in pain, releasing his prisoner and starting to look at his arm.

The distraction helped me approach from behind. I aimed my laser at the back of his head and executed him. Gabriella started shaking when she saw me.

"Take it easy." I caught Gabriella as she teetered backward, helping her regain composure and keeping her upright. "Are you all right?"

"I think so. I'm okay." She massaged her jaw with a groan. "I don't know what happened. I should have told you when I saw those guys snooping around the shuttle, but I panicked and tried to run. My jaw hurts."

A loud crack came from behind me. Wyla rose from the ground. She dusted her hands nonchalantly and stepped away from the limp-necked guard.

"Don't worry, General. I'll take care of her."

"You're coming with us. Stay close to Wyla, and keep your eyes peeled." Gabriella nodded. "Whatever you do, try to stay out of sight and avoid any confrontation."

I slid against the wall with the barrel of my laser pointed out. When I was sure there were no other soldiers around, I motioned them over. Even though Gabriella was taller than Wyla by a few inches, Wyla took control and guided Gabriella along the corridor behind me.

We crept down the empty passage towards the core chambers, only stopping when we heard distant chatter. I signaled for them to halt and leaned against the wall for a better view. Three soldiers paced around an industrial sliding door which served as one of the entrances to the chambers. Dirty windows provided a murky glimpse into the room holding the hostages.

I motioned to Wyla, assigning her to the opposite wall. We fired at the three guards. The guards slumped to the floor and expired instantly; they never knew what hit them. Wyla and I tiptoed to the doors and peeked through the smudged windows.

Synic's crew was still cleaning up the aftermath of our previous rescue mission. Soldiers worked on machinery and transported raw materials to all levels of the chamber. On the floor, a team of technicians was restoring Synic's weapons and equipment.

The hostages drew attention from my eyes. They were difficult for me to miss, somehow remaining apart from all the distractions in the background. The brides lay in cages suspended from a rail on the second story. Below them, the construction crews had worked to excavate a hole, exposing a pit of sulfurous lava flowing underground.

The beautiful bride on the leftmost cage wept as she stared at the hissing pit below her. The human in the center relentlessly paced inside her cage as she twisted the ends of her bright copper hair. Gabriella's friend, Cheyenne, occupied the final cell. She slouched against the back of the cage, resting her head on her shoulder at an awkward angle. I saw a faint hint of dried blood under her nostrils.

I spotted Synic standing on a platform next to the lava pit, talking with a group of Xylo officials. I slowly looked over the scene again, taking note of all the potential targets. One of the soldiers on the ground had a card that I thought would open the door. Wyla led Gabriella to cover as I activated my communicator.

"Is everyone in position? Let's go."

The heavy metal doors groaned and started to open after I held the ID card next to the scanner. My men burst in from all directions, starting the raid.

The scene changed in an instant. On all levels, Maztek soldiers appeared, shoving the Xylo thugs against the wall. King Jacquim, Dallas, and Kraig moved toward Synic and the officials, raising their weapons and surrounding them. Two brides dropped to their knees and placed their arms over their heads; Cheyenne did not move. Synic raised his hands in surrender and urged his companions to do the same. The perplexed officials reluctantly followed suit.

King Jacquim broke away from the rest of our military. With his gold laser pistol glittering underneath the lights, the king marched toward Synic, only stopping when he reached the platform. He had acquired a pair of restraints somewhere.

"Synic, I am afraid it is the end of the road for you. Hand over your hostages and surrender to us. Let me tell you how this is going to work. As long as you and your men come peacefully with us, there will be no problems. We have you surrounded. It would be foolish to try anything."

It was impossible to decipher what was going on behind Synic's expressionless mask. Synic hung his head in defeat, taking a step forward.

"I don't think so." Without warning, Synic spun around and made a motion with his wrist, pulling a Maztek laser pistol into his hand. Apparent drawing a weapon was the signal for the Xylo resistance force to start fighting back. Synic opened fire around him, and a hail of suppressing blasts came from overhead. They hit two of my men on the second level. I saw their bodies topple over a railing, and I knew they were dead before they even hit the ground. Pandemonium exploded in the chamber, with Xylo and Maztek forces clashing on every level.

Dallas was still injured but extended his wings, grunting as he forced himself into flight. He soared directly to the hostages. Veins popped from his arms as he lowered the cages one at a time to the ground. Two of my men snipped off the locks on the first two cages, picked up the occupants, and headed for the escape hatch.

Overhead, Dallas pulled Cheyenne out from her cage himself. He scooped her into his arms as her thick black hair swept across the floor. As she slowly regained consciousness, Dallas spread his good wing and folded it over her. He made his way to the escape hatch after the other brides, firing at the guards in his path.

A Xylo soldier charged at me, swinging with an iron morning star over his head. But when I shot him in the chest, he fell to the ground. I pulled the spiked mace out of the soldier's grip and flung it in Synic's direction.

The morning star wasn't designed as a throwing weapon. Instead of smashing into Synic's face, it smashed into his cloak, tangling its spikes into the hem. The unexpected weight pulled Synic to his knees. I jumped at the chance to attack and pounced on top of him. I pinned Synic's arms against his body with my legs, immobilizing him as I reached for a set of handcuffs.

This close, I realized there was something odd about Synic. He was more slender than I would have expected. Did he wear a cloak for dramatic effect, or was there a reason he concealed his body? With a frown, I reached for his mask, sliding it off his face and letting it slide into the lava below.

The tyrant in front of me had a smooth face, and sleek, straight black hair. Synic didn't need the mask for health reasons after all. Synic needed the mask to conceal the fact that she was a woman.

I didn't think she was much older than myself. She was definitely from Xylox, but the years spent behind a mask had protected her from the physical deformities common to a native. Her gray-tinged skin revealed red and pink veins in her body. She had wide pupils, so large that they almost drowned out the whites of her eyes. Her eyes defiantly stared at me.

Her gender was irrelevant. Woman or not, this person and her family were responsible for all the Maztek lives needlessly lost and irreparably damaged from the Xylox wars. On a personal level, thoughts of Gabriella, Marshall, Upa, and father sprang to my mind. Thousands of families broken forever.

Synic cried out in anger. "Unhand me, you blood traitor!" Without the voice distortion behind the mask, her voice sounded eerily childlike.

I held Synic's wrists together with one hand, ready to apply the handcuffs, when Gabriella's screams rang out behind me.

"Laz! Look out!"

A shadow loomed behind me. I had to release Synic and roll off her. On my back, I could see what the threat was: a bulky Xylo soldier, unarmed but ready to kill with his hands. I pulled out my pistol and shot him twice in the chest. He fell backward and crashed to the ground, twitching.

"Oh my God!" Gabriella cried out behind me. "Laz, are you okay?"

I leaped to my feet as I caught sight of two soldiers approaching Gabriella. I needed to protect her more than I needed to feed my lust for revenge. I fired at the new threat and reached for her arm, pulled her in tightly.

"What are you doing here? Where's Wyla?"

"I don't know."

The sound of a door closing made us both turn our heads. We saw part of a torn red cloak slip through an escape hatch.