Chapter 13 #2
Given there was a more than decent chance her intentions were to ensure she wasn’t forced to accompany me on the journey, I grinned. “Ladies first.”
We didn’t have time to play this game, although I’d paid close enough attention to the entrance door.
Unless the intruders had explosives and didn’t mind attracting Night Dwellers and thunderbirds, the massive winged creatures known to frequent the area, the bastards were merely on an expedition for now.
Her usual huff brought a smile to my face, but she stormed into the room, nodding toward a table where the duffel bags had been tossed.
From there she moved toward a bank of weapons stored inside the room.
The number and type were impressive, more firepower in one location than I’d seen other than in two places.
One being Freedom City number one and the other inside the building where I’d recovered. No wonder she didn’t want to leave. She was sitting on a goldmine. There were differences, weapons that had been placed there prior to the war and those collected along the way.
While I jerked open the bags, she selected two assault rifles just as at least two dozen men and women piled into the room.
They didn’t need to be told what to do. Whether at her direction or someone else’s, they’d prepared through drills.
Now carrying my selected weapons and extra ammunition, I hoisted the bags into one hand. As soon as I closed the distance to where she was standing, she bristled.
“I need to see what we’re dealing with.”
A little thought went into deciding if I was allowed before she nodded. “Don’t touch anything.”
Vicious rounded the corner as he passed an intersection, heading to another part of the compound. “The heat seekers indicate a large group. Heavily armed.”
“Then I guess we have our hands full.”
“You can sit this one out, Rage,” she insisted, refusing to stop while tossing out commands she truly believed I would follow.
If she believed her long strides would keep me from following, she was wrong.
Soon we were inside the security room, which was somewhat impressive.
Why computers had been placed in the hold I didn’t know as they sat dark and unusable, but a screen was highlighted in a bright green, flickers moving across the landscape surrounding the bunker.
When the blips became stationary, it was a clear indication that whoever was outside was hunkering down.
Lying in wait in preparation of the hatch being opened in the daylight.
A classic maneuver, a telltale sign of basic gangs moving from one compound to another, killing and scavenging before continuing on. Dangerous, yes, because they were unpredictable, some potentially carrying diseases that were even deadlier.
“What are your orders, Commander?” Thomas finally made an appearance. While he was doing his best to ignore me, I was given the opportunity to pay closer attention.
She leaned over the console and her hesitation presented an opportunity.
“Divide and conquer,” she answered, keeping her sole attention on the screen.
I moved beside her, lowering my voice. “They have you surrounded, Star. They’ve done this before, moving from place to place.
There will be no survivors. If I am correct and you are their target, no one will be left alive.
If you open the hatch and allow your soldiers to handle the situation, they will die.
So will everyone you consider your found family.
Your men and certainly none of your women can handle them. ”
“You underestimate them.”
“Do I? Thomas was injured, presumably in the war but I will bet prior. In the years since, he’s barely able to function with that arm, the neuropathy in his fingers making him incapable of feeling pressure of a trigger.
Jack’s tentative actions mean he will hold back, hoping someone else will take the shot.
And poor Mark is so incensed by taking commands from a woman that he won’t have your back. How am I doing so far, princess?”
She sucked in her breath, leaving the pause longer than necessary. For all her attempts at highlighting her bravado, which I found exciting, it was her short stretches of vulnerability that attracted me the most.
Not because I considered her weak, which wasn’t true. But because her attention to detail, her ability to listen even when she wanted to shut down an irritation meant she was a great leader. At least when not trying with her full scope of detachment to prove herself as such.
“What do you suggest?”
“A shutdown. If we have heat-detecting sensors, you should assume they do as well. Lights off, time passes. They will believe they arrived without being seen.”
“How do they know for certain we’ll open the hatch?”
I shifted so she was forced to see my face. “Your attempts at hiding your outdoor activities and the path used to head into the city are admirable, but there was likely enough twilight to gather interest. Then they easily ascertained your group doesn’t remain locked inside.”
“Alright. Then what?”
“Then my men handle exiting the hatch under the cloak of darkness, attacking while they are asleep. That way if anything goes wrong, you will be protected.”
“You mean caged lions.”
Her words almost caused a reaction, a desire to touch her face, but I refrained at the last second. “They’ll grow bored and you and your village will be safe.”
Every muscle remained tense, the air in the room growing stagnant. “Why would you help us? Why do you give a damn?” Another challenge and one with a sharp glare.
“Whether you choose to believe it or not, because that’s what I, along with the men accompanying me, were programmed to do.
And make no mistake, Star, we are very good at what we do, enough that I can offer we’ve yet to lose a man in our efforts.
While it’s apparent you still consider us monsters, creations of the vile people who put us in this position, I assure you I know otherwise.
In truth, at this point you should as well. I’m simply a man following orders.”
She acted as if she wasn’t going to take my advice, especially when pressured by Thomas.
“Commander, the people are getting restless.”
“In a minute, Thomas.” Her growing frustration was bringing out her greatest fears, putting them on display for all to see. It was apparent by the flash in his eyes he wasn’t used to her uncontrolled reaction.
“Yes, sir.” He stormed back to his former position.
His clear act of disrespect was grating on my nerves.
Her fingers were wrapped around the edge of the table.
“And you know what, Rage? I’m no longer that little girl who needed big strong arms around her.
When I was little, I cried, begging the kind people looking after me to let me see you.
One day, I even tried to search for you, almost getting myself killed in the process.
That’s when Peter told me you’d moved on.
That you didn’t want me. After that, I learned not to trust almost anyone, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight to protect these people.
I’ll do anything it takes to make that happen.
Including killing the man who saved my life if necessary. I just want that very clear to you.”
Every snap of her head that forced me to catch her expression caused another layer to be peeled away. Every challenge was an admittance.
I threw up my hands. “Did you ever stop to think he was doing so to protect you? You weren’t ready for your destiny.” My words were laced with acid, the woman ridiculously hardheaded. “Suit yourself, princess, and we’ll do what we can to provide protection. I can’t make any promises.”
“Damn you, Rage. Damn you to hell. Fine. We’ll do it your way.
” She had a dramatic way of keeping her distance while fighting her emotions.
Her actions were admirable, especially given the circumstances.
But her recklessness and refusal to allow anyone to help her would get her killed.
How long had she been fighting to keep them together?
Her found family, which was the only thing she’d truly wanted.
I watched as she gave limited commands to Thomas and the others, moving with taut precision while doing everything to disguise her fear. A crowd had gathered in the hallway, every face filled with uncertainty.
“The Savages are in charge of the operation. We will hold our position and lights out. You will follow Rage’s orders.” She moved away before anyone could ask questions.
They bombarded her with them anyway.
“What do you mean we’re following their orders?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Commander. They do not belong here.”
“Enough!” she hissed.
While they followed her for a few meters, I headed into the corridor and toward my men.
“What in the hell is that about?” Blade asked as he flanked my side.
“A compromise.” I handed Wrath the bags. “Two hours. Then we eliminate the threat.” We’d run enough drills together to work as a well-oiled machine, even with scenarios like the one we were facing.
Yet tonight it felt different, more like starting over from scratch.
The first mission had almost been my last, a gang very much like what we were likely to face attacking out of nowhere with sledgehammers and tire irons.
I’d allowed myself to get wedged into an enclosure that had exposed my weakness.
Claustrophobia.
I’d almost lost my shit before managing to find my weapon and blow a couple of heads off.
“I’m heading to the area below the hatch. Just in case.”
The Savages nodded, the men of the compound acting as if they weren’t going to let me pass. Thomas waved them on, still carrying the weight of distrust, but that was fine. The feeling was mutual.