Chapter 22 Gnnar
I checked the security system one last time before taking to the air to give the area a final once-over. This was one of four hidden emergency entrances to the stronghold. Nova Vita knew about the main one since they’d delivered the females for our yearly rut there.
That one was large enough to drive transports and shuttles into, and led to an opulent meeting room we’d used whenever we had to meet with Nova Vita representatives. It was the only part of the stronghold we’d allow them to see. They didn’t know that section was separated from the main fortress by a long corridor that could be sealed off at either end and flooded.
There was also the exit out to the valley, which we often used since we encouraged warriors and human females who lived with us to spend time outdoors. Both species naturally produced vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. That entrance was well protected since it was the meeting junction between all six of our hidden warships.
Then there were the four hidden exits. Like the main entrance, they were protected by long corridors that could be sealed off and flooded. They weren’t in any of the maps we’d distributed to the human women living here either. They were there for absolute emergencies, but the goal was never to use them at all.
I had just started to head back to the valley when a bright flash filled the sky. It started at one point, then it spread until it was all I saw. Then, as quickly as it started, it was gone.
I knew in an instant what had happened. One of my interceptors had found its target, causing it to explode just out of range of the stronghold and the human settlement. As the very air molecules around me shuddered, I squinted through the blinding flash, trying to estimate where the impact had happened.
Our shield system was designed to intercept and destroy any missiles or drones from reaching both the stronghold and the settlement. Originally, it only covered the stronghold, but extending it out to the settlement had been easy. With Penelope often working there, Vostak had insisted on it.
It was similar to the shield we used on Kadri to protect the capital. The one on Kadri would intercept dozens of missiles and aircraft simultaneously and could rearm in a matter of minutes. This one was less impressive but still very effective. It worked like a net of protection. The missiles would explode at the edge of the net, close enough to rattle the settlement but do no damage.
But before the rumbling could stop, there was another blinding flash as another interceptor found its mark. I dropped down low over the treetops and pushed myself to fly faster. One interceptor might mean we’d stopped a single shuttle or missile. Multiple meant we were under attack.
I landed in the valley at a full sprint and was soon inside Krxare’s office. Our champion’s eyes were glued to his screen, his features grim.
I’d known this day would come, but I’d never have guessed it would be so soon. For once in my life as a warrior, I did not wish for war, not now that I’d just found my mate. I wanted peace so we could grow our lives together.
And the worst part of it all? Dana was currently in Ellaston, and I was here. As much as I wanted to drop everything and fly to her now, I knew that I could do more to protect her here. I had to rely on the shield system to keep her safe until we had a plan.
The door slammed open, and Trsak stomped in. His mate Kat, former assistant to a Nova Vitan councilor and the reason we had access to top-secret information in the first place, was with him. They both looked like they’d barely got their clothes on before coming here.
“We came the moment we saw the flash,” Kat said, slightly out of breath. “It’s not the nukes. Those haven’t been launched yet.”
She was referring to the warheads Nova Vita had pointed at the stronghold and Ellaston. Well, technically, they were now pointed at an empty part of the ocean. Kat and Trsak had gone in using Councilor Dubois’s access to change it. Then, they masked the new location so they wouldn’t know until it was too late.
Knowing the way Nova Vita operated, they wouldn’t use those warheads until it was absolutely necessary. Those weapons would spoil the bounty of our mountain and ruin the very thing they wanted.
“Where’s Vostak?” Krxare demanded. “I want to know the status of our shield. They will attack again when they realize their weapons have been nullified.”
Nova Vita wasn’t going to give up so easily. Not with their eyes on the ore in this mountain. Not with the anger they had for the defectors who dared to choose another life.
My communicator vibrated with a message from Dana saying that they were loading all children and noncombatants into a transport bound for the stronghold now. She was disappointed that she wasn’t allowed to stay to report on the situation since she’d had no weapons training.
I knew that her noncombatant status wouldn’t last long, however. Many of the females living at the settlement insisted on fighting for their home, right along their male counterparts. It was admirable. Humans might not be built as strongly as we were, but they were tough mentally, and that made all the difference.
But right now, I was secretly relieved. She would be here in the safety of the stronghold soon.
They must have timed the attack during the rut, thinking we wouldn’t be able to help. That was utter folly. We were all itching for a fight during this time.
The door slammed open, and Vostak stormed in; he looked like he’d flown here as fast as he could. “We have to send help now. It’s not just the failed missile attacks. They had super soldiers waiting. They used bombs that released something into the air. Those who breathed it in have turned against their friends. It’s chaos.”
“Grtirr and I both have resistance to the chemical,” I said. “So do several other warriors we ttested it on. And a few of the human females do too.”
“Collect the warriors and go help them however you can,” Krxare ordered.
I hurried out of his office. Finding the warriors I needed was quick, as they were already outside waiting for a report. It wasn’t long before we were suited up and flying in formation toward the human settlement.
But when we arrived at the settlement, we found no one to fight there unless you counted the settlers affected by the chemicals who were being restrained by the rest of the villagers. Igor stood just outside one of the buildings minus his usual helmet and with a feral-looking Annabel scratching and kicking in his arms. Fido and Kong patrolled the edge of the village. Some of the buildings were on fire, and there were people running around, trying to put them out. There were no signs of the transport. They must be already on their way to the stronghold.
I landed, my eyes scanning the confusion for Dana’s face, but it was Mark who approached, looking harried.
“The soldiers just left.” He sounded out of breath. “They marched in after the explosions went off, fired the gas canisters, caused a bunch of shit, then left. I’m not complaining. We’re having enough trouble controlling the ones affected by the chem—”
Before he could finish, a male who was being restrained broke loose. He screamed as he charged Mark, fists swinging wildly. Mark dodged, and I caught the affected male, holding him so he couldn’t hurt himself or anyone else. The male’s eyes were glassy, and he did not respond to any attempts to communicate.
“They almost look rabid,” Mark said. “Fuck! This better not be some accelerated form of rabies. No fucking cure for that shit.”
I’d heard of this Earth disease. It sounded like a nightmare.
“No, this is not a pathogen,” Grtirr said, stepping close with a length of cord to help bind the male safely. “It’s more like a mind-altering drug. We developed a serum to counteract the effects of the berserker drug.”
“Berserker drug?” Mark raised a brow at the human word.
“That’s what Sami and Macey called it,” Grtirr said.
“Sounds about right. Thank fuck you already have a serum.”
“We don’t have enough for everyone, but I can synthesize more.”
“Let’s get everyone secured first,” Mark said. “Then we’ll figure out who to dose.”
We got to work, setting up a makeshift infirmary in the common building. It wasn’t the type of work I was used to. I was used to fighting, not healing. Throughout all of it, I couldn’t help but feel a sense that something was off, but I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, nor could I verbalize the feeling.
The last affected settler was Annabel.
“Good work, Igor,” Mark said as he took a still-struggling engineer from the super soldier’s arms. “I guess the chemical didn’t affect you.”
“My system detected it, and I held my breath until it was too dilute to be effective.” Igor’s eyes never left Annabel.
“How long was that?”
“Five minutes.”
“Jeez! Five minutes!”
“I didn’t know what to do when they started retreating. I didn’t follow them.”
“That’s okay. You were busy helping Annabel. You did good, Igor.” Mark patted him on the back. “One of the drones is following them.”
“Negative,” Igor said. “They took it down. I lost contact with it just outside of the settlement.”
I’d almost forgotten that the super soldier could connect mentally with all the devices in the village.
Mark squared his features. “I see. Well, you still did good.”
My communicator buzzed from my belt, and I picked up to an agitated Vostak. “Is the transport still there with you? It hasn’t arrived yet. Penelope is on it.”
My stomach sank. The transport should be there by now.
“What now?” Mark dragged a hand over his hair.
“The transport is gone.”