10

Jake walked behind the others with Dr. Snowden as they stuck along the small concrete walkway that lined the side of the abandoned subway. Although his helmet had night vision, it was not as good as what he suspected the others had. He realized he was far outclassed in fighting skill, equipment, and experience. Even Dr. Snowden, who he thought might get rattled, stood strong in the face of so many wererats. Whatever he had faced before, the wererats did not intimidate him.

Emily swiveled her head from side to side and fidgeted with her PSD.

“Don’t tell me you have the jitters,” said Dr. Snowden.

Emily turned her head, then slowed up to walk alongside Jake and Dr. Snowden. “No … but this subway … reminds me of the one on the prison planet. Dark, weird sounds, and similar architecture.”

“Prison planet?” asked Jake.

“It’s a long story. The tunnel I was in there was similar to this one. I also had to deal with some shadowy creature who I fought … and then killed. My first one.”

Jake gulped. “What type of creature was it?”

Emily looked down. “It’s … hard to describe. Imagine a tall scarecrow with a suit and sharp claws. Oh, and a stretched clown face with sharp teeth.”

“You’re kidding me,” said Jake.

“Nope, but that paled in comparison to what was to follow.”

Jake sighed. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”

Dr. Snowden’s eyes settled on Emily. “I am too.”

Emily smiled. “It’s in the past. I learned from it, adapted to the situation, and have evolved.”

“Good philosophy,” said Jake. “You all are a lot more badass than I thought. I feel useless down here.”

Dr. Snowden rested a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Not at all. Your presence here is appreciated.”

“You sounded just like Evaran then.”

Dr. Snowden raised his eyebrows. “I’m not, as you put it, that badass.”

Evaran turned his head sideways as they shared a laugh.

After twenty minutes, they reached the first platform. They paused at the edge of it, and when V verified it was empty, Dr. Snowden, Emily, and Jake took a break on the benches lining the walls. Evaran and Lee stood a bit away in front of them while V hovered above.

Dr. Snowden lowered his helmet and took some deep breaths.

Emily scooted next to him. “The tunnels were a little claustrophobic.”

“Yeah. I’m just glad there’s a little more space out here.”

Jake stretched and ran his hands over his lower legs. “You seemed really calm back there.”

Dr. Snowden tapped his helmet. “This probably obscured my true reactions.”

Jake nodded.

Lee motioned at Dr. Snowden. “Whatever experience is triggering your anxiety must have been powerful.”

“Dying tends to do that.”

Lee tilted his head. “Dying?”

Dr. Snowden looked down for a moment, then back at Lee. “Well … before we came back to Earth, we came close to dying.” He cast a sidelong glance at Evaran. “I can’t go into details but … that is something that no one should ever have to experience, or if they do, they shouldn’t live afterward to remember it.”

A silence fell over the group.

“It is the past, and all we can do is look forward,” said Evaran. “In time, you will overcome it.”

“I know,” said Dr. Snowden. “I just wish time would hurry up.”

Jake turned his head toward Emily. “Did you experience that too?”

She shook her head. “I was knocked out.”

“Ahh,” he said.

She looked around and rubbed her arms. “This platform reminds me of where I fought that creature on the prison planet.”

“This path we have taken is full of bad memories, it would seem,” said Lee.

“Nonetheless, we are close. One more platform, and then we are there,” said Evaran.

Dr. Snowden stood. “Enough sitting for me. I’m ready to go.”

The others followed Evaran and Lee as they pivoted and headed off.

After another twenty minutes, they reached the edge of the second platform.

Evaran raised a hand, and with his other hand, he showed a projection of the stairways that led away from the second platform.

Two heavily muscled men wearing boots, jeans, and black shirts with a gold emblem on them stood near it. One was smoking while the other leaned against the wall.

“V, disable them,” said Evaran.

“Acknowledged.”

Jake watched V approach the men in stealth mode.

V extended two arms toward the men, then faded in and fired a stun beam from each arm.

The men collapsed.

Evaran waved forward as he strode into the second platform. He scanned the men and then faced the group. “They are out. I do not know how long they will be in that state, though. We will need to seal the back door, and possibly deal with them on the way out.”

“You’re not going to kill them?” asked Lee.

Evaran shook his head. “If you know of my history, then you know that is not how I operate.”

“Just checking.”

“Have you met a future Evaran that does things like that?” asked Jake.

“I can’t say either way,” said Lee.

“Nor should you,” said Evaran. “Past events involving me that I am unaware of are my future. It is best not to know it until it is time.”

Jake looked down. “I … sorry.”

“It is okay,” said Evaran. “V, scout ahead.”

“Acknowledged,” said V as he shimmered out of view and flew up the stairs.

Jake wondered what previous events, if any, Evaran had been involved with that Lee would know about. Maybe when Lord Noskov was awake, Jake could ask about it.

After a few minutes, Evaran gestured up the stairs. “V said there was only one more guard before reaching the back door. The guard has been neutralized.”

Everyone followed Evaran as he bounded up the stairs. A few hallways later, they were at Safrica’s back door.

Jake wrinkled his nose as the smell of garbage assaulted his senses. Two large bins resided on either side of the metallic door in front of them, and a dim red light glowed from above. A wall console sat to the side of the door. A maintenance alley ran off to the side. He figured that was used for garbage collection.

Evaran walked up and scanned the incapacitated guard. “He has a pass we could use, but I will use my UIC to access their system.” He placed his UIC on the console and, after a moment, focused on the group. “I am in their system now and can operate the automated front and back doors. Lee, I would suggest you take V with you when you go in. He can stealth and provide backup in case it is needed. We will wait out here for the all clear.”

“It won’t take long for the club to clear,” said Lee, inspecting his wrist device. “It’s almost eight p.m., but it usually doesn’t fill up until around nine p.m. The regular contract killers will clear out pretty quick. I’m guessing … will let you know when to close the front door and then enter.”

“That is correct.”

Lee craned his neck toward V. “My friend, are you ready?”

“Analysis. I have your top.”

Emily shook her head.

Lee grinned as he took one last look around, then opened the door and headed in.

Evaran pulled out an orb and tossed it up. It hovered midair and showed the view from V.

Jake noted that even though there seemed to be only a few patrons inside, the air was filled with a light mist. The sound of some type of dance music blared out, and the lighting was sporadic.

The main room Lee entered was large. It had two stairways on the back end that led up to a second level. The open area had a few people dancing, while others sat in booths.

Jake was not surprised that the booths were not connected. Each one was like an island and looked like it was meant for privacy, which was to be expected in a place like this. It would be a good place to do contract negotiations. He had seen similar setups in the Seceltor Empire when doing cargo runs.

Lee walked to the center of the room and held up a badge. “This is an inspection by the Helian authority. Leave now.”

The music came to a screeching halt as the lights went up. Patrons grabbed their things and began to file out. Several men approached Lee.

“I like Lee, he’s smooth,” said Jake.

“Yeah,” said Emily. “He’s calm under pressure, that’s for sure.”

“Let us hope that Claw did not leave with the others,” said Evaran. After five minutes, he looked around his ARI, then said, “Per V, the population has decreased to five people. Time to seal the front doors.”

Lee observed Claw’s enforcers as they approached him. They wore brown boots, jeans, white shirts, and puffy vests. One had on a baseball cap turned backward. He recalled interrogating them when he had visited Safrica for the murder of Manager Roz, a close friend of his. They had grown up together on their home world and crossed through to Earth together when the Helians invited them. To be alive on a world full of life was intoxicating, even if the life was made of solid matter.

“What’s this about?” asked one of the enforcers.

“I’m here to talk with Claw,” said Lee.

“You said this was an inspection,” said the other enforcer.

“I lied. I wanted the club cleared, though.”

The enforcers shook their heads.

The one on the right gestured at Lee and said, “You still think Claw was involved with the murder of that manager?”

“No, that investigation has been settled. The work of an … unknown killer … outside your club.”

The enforcer sneered. “Yeah, what a shame.”

The other enforcer laughed.

Lee gritted his teeth. “Get. Claw.”

One of the enforcers grabbed a cell phone out of his pocket. He swiped at it and then typed a message. He looked back up at Lee. “He’s on his way.”

The other enforcer walked up to the entrance door and tapped at the console on the wall. “What the hell is this? Damn door is jammed.”

The enforcer near Lee eyed him. “Know anything about that, slick man?”

“I do … but I’ll wait until Claw is here to explain.”

A man strolled down the stairs.

Lee knew it was Claw immediately. The combat boots, loose slacks, and baggy shirt never seemed to change. Dreadlocks ran over Claw’s fair-skinned head, and the assortment of weapons on his sides and back were meant to be a deterrent, nothing Lee had not seen before.

“Well, well, well,” said Claw as he reached the ground floor. He stood before Lee. “If it isn’t Manager Lee. What is it this time? Someone else get killed?”

The enforcers laughed.

“I need to know what you know about Bruno and Red Lightning.”

“Oh, really?” asked Claw. He bobbed his head for a moment. “Never heard of them.”

“We have images of them visiting your club. Is it possible … that you don’t know when powerful Wildborn visit? It could be possible since you seem to lack any knowledge of what goes on around here.”

Claw licked his lips. “And what if I do know of them? What then?”

“I’d like to know any information you have on them.”

“You know … you got some balls stepping foot back in this club,” said Claw, wagging a finger at Lee. “But you know what? I think I can do better than give you information.” He tossed his hand out to the side. An enforcer handed him a cell phone. Claw tapped at it and held it up to his ear. After a moment, he said, “Yeah … some manager the Helians sent is looking for information on you and Red Lightning.” Claw nodded as he eyed Lee. “Yeah, by himself.” Claw looked at the ground. “Uh-huh. All right. See you then.” Claw smiled. “You can ask them yourself now, manager.”

“So be it.”

“I don’t think you know what you just did.”

“We’ll see,” said Lee. He looked up.

Evaran and the others entered the room.

Claw and his enforcers pulled out their weapons and took aim.

Lee gestured at the others. “This is Evaran and friends. They’re the ones who wanted the information, but thank you for setting up a meeting. That was unexpected.”

Claw pulled the cell phone out.

Evaran aimed and hit Claw and the enforcers with a repulsion beam, sending them sprawling to the ground. As they began to stand back up, V hit the two enforcers with a stun beam. Everyone assembled around Claw.

“Ev … Evaran?” asked Claw with wide eyes. “You’re a fairy tale, man!”

“I assure you I am not. I appreciate you setting up this meeting for me. I will give your regards to Bruno and Red Lightning.”

“What … what are you going to do to me?”

“I apologize for this, but you must be incapacitated,” said Evaran. He aimed at Claw and fired a stun beam.

Claw went limp.

“C’mon,” said Lee. “We can put them into a storage room and lock them there.”

Evaran grabbed Claw and tossed him over his shoulder. Lee grabbed one enforcer, and Dr. Snowden and Emily got the other enforcer.

“Lead on,” said Evaran.

After they got Claw and his enforcers stashed away in a storage room in the back, they assembled in the main area.

“We wait now,” said Lee. “What’s the strategy? I expected to get information on Bruno and Red Lightning, not actually see them.”

Evaran pointed to the second level. “Dr. Snowden, Emily, V, and Jake will head to the second level. Their goal is to neutralize Red Lightning. If you can give one of your paralyzing devices to them, they can apply it to her. I doubt stun beams will work on her, so it will need to be up close and personal.”

“You can count on us,” said Emily.

Lee admired how eager and willing the others were to help Evaran.

Evaran cleared his throat. “For Bruno, it will be me and you. Bruno is strong but slow, from the reports I saw. I will distract him, and you can use your paralyzing agent on him. Once they are secured, we can leave the way we came.”

Lee rubbed his chin. “I wouldn’t underestimate Bruno.”

“I am not, but he has not faced someone like me.”

Lee swept his gaze across the group. “All right. We have a plan. Everyone to their positions.”

The others shot up the stairs to the second level and ducked behind the covered guardrail.

Evaran and Lee stood in the main open area facing the door.

“You ready for this?” asked Lee.

“I am always ready,” said Evaran. “Once this is over, I will help you determine who killed your friend.”

Lee felt a pulse of emotion sweep across the organic parts of his robotic body. “I … I appreciate it.”

Evaran nodded.

After twenty tense minutes, a pounding rang out from the front door. Emily could still feel the nanobots from the fight with the wererats. She was ready for Red Lightning. Emily’s eyes focused on the opening door.

Bruno and Red Lightning entered the room. The door slid shut behind them.

They wore the same outfits from the projections Emily had seen at Lord Noskov’s base. Bruno was a bit larger in person, and Red Lightning was a bit smaller.

Bruno turned around, then spun back to face Evaran and Lee. “So … Manager … you’re not alone. Who’s this clown?”

“I am Evaran.”

Bruno dipped his head toward Red Lightning. “Well, damn. Here I was thinking I was going to kick the shit out of a manager, but now find out I can finally settle who’s stronger between me and Evaran. Tired of hearing how dangerous you are. Screw that.”

Red Lightning grinned. “This’ll be over quick.” She raised her hands and pointed them at Evaran and Lee. Red arcs of electricity began to form on her hands.

Emily turned her head toward Dr. Snowden and Jake. “That’s our cue. V, distraction hologram on the other side of the room.”

“Acknowledged,” said V.

Emily aimed her PSD at Red Lightning and then fired a repulsion blast.

Boom!

Red Lightning went tumbling back into the door.

“The hell was that?” asked Bruno as he turned to look around.

Emily and the others rushed down the stairs toward Red Lightning.

Bruno pointed at them. “Handle that shit!” He rushed forward toward Lee and Evaran.

“I … got them,” said Red Lightning in a strained voice. She propped herself up and fired an arc of electricity at Emily and the others.

The electricity touched their shields and dissipated.

Red Lightning’s eyes widened. “Impossible.” Her attention focused on a large grizzly bear that appeared out of thin air and rushed toward her. “Bruno!”

Bruno paused to see what was going on.

Lee kicked out one of Bruno’s legs, causing him to fall.

Emily fired sticky globules at Red Lightning and covered her in a white, gluey substance.

Red Lightning tried to move in the mire that covered her. She was able to kneel, but it took some effort.

Emily and the others rushed toward Red Lightning with shields out front.

Lee approached Bruno, but held back as Bruno jumped up and began to swing wildly. Lee dodged the swings and got in a few blows.

Evaran attacked from the other side, and together with Lee, they began to push Bruno back.

“Enough!” said Bruno. He backhanded Lee, sending him sprawling.

Bruno then focused on Evaran and swung at him. Bruno’s fist collided with Evaran’s shield, pushing Evaran back. Bruno kicked out at Evaran, who caught his foot. With a flip, he sent Bruno falling to the side.

Lee got up and ran back over. He tried to jab Bruno with the paralyzing device, but Bruno was quick to react.

Bruno reached up and grabbed Lee’s hand, and forced him to drop the device. “Paralyzing agent. I don’t think so, manager man.” He tossed Lee into Evaran and then stood up. With his eye on the device, he hustled over to step on it.

Evaran, with his utility handle now a staff, shot a grappling beam at Bruno. When it connected, Evaran pulled Bruno back. Evaran untangled himself from Lee and, with a kick, sent Bruno sliding across the floor.

Emily smiled when she saw V fly in at full speed behind Red Lightning.

V hit Red Lightning in the back, causing her to fall forward and stick to the ground.

“Cover her!” said Emily.

Dr. Snowden fired more sticky globules on Red Lightning, completely covering her.

She tried to get up again, but she was stuck to the floor. A bubble of the sticky globule pulsed red before exploding, freeing her hand. “Enough!” She shot a red arc at Emily, who slipped to the side and then used her shield on the next beam.

Emily got close to Red Lightning and stabbed her with the paralyzing device.

Red Lightning stopped moving.

Emily turned her attention to Bruno, who was fighting both Lee and Evaran in close-quarters combat. As strong as Evaran and Lee were, she could see Bruno was a bit stronger. Evaran and Lee were blurs as they dodged Bruno’s punishing blows.

Bruno grabbed Lee and tossed him across the room again. Bruno then bull-rushed forward and grabbed Evaran in a bear hug. Evaran tried to break the embrace but was crushed against the wall, causing it to fracture.

Lee pointed at the paralyzing device on the ground. “Get it!”

Jake was the closest and hustled toward the device. Once it was in his hands, he rushed in to jab Bruno in the back.

Bruno spun around and slapped Jake across the room.

The device fell from Jake’s hands as he went flying.

Emily’s blood boiled. She pointed at Dr. Snowden, then at Jake. “Check on him!” She charged in and began a series of strikes with her staff, causing Bruno to spend time deflecting them. V was flying above and shooting stun beams, but they had no effect on Bruno.

Lee joined Emily, and together they began to push Bruno back.

Bruno punched Lee in the chest, causing him to go sliding back. “You’re all over the place, manager man!”

Emily could see Bruno was enjoying this. Maybe he loved a good fight as much as she did.

“Nighty night, little girl,” said Bruno with a devilish grin as he approached Emily.

Bruno went to grab Emily, who dipped to the side and batted him with her staff. He looked up in surprise as he slid back. As he began to charge forward, a yellow beam wrapped around one of his arms. Evaran appeared next to him and began to weave his way around him, working his baton so that eventually Bruno was wrapped up.

Bruno struggled to move. He fell forward when Emily shot sticky globules at his feet and Evaran pushed him over.

Lee ran up and plunged the paralyzing agent into Bruno’s neck. After a moment, Bruno went limp.

Everyone rushed over to Jake.

“He’s got a pulse, but he’s barely conscious,” said Dr. Snowden.

Jake groaned as he rolled on his back.

Evaran scanned Jake. “He will be okay, maybe with some bruises. We are lucky he does not have any broken bones. His suit is sturdier than I expected.”

Lee sighed. “I don’t think I could have taken both of them.”

“Now you will not have to,” said Evaran.

“You’re an impressive group,” said Lee. His eyes scanned Emily. “You’re a lot tougher than I expected. I think you even surprised Bruno.”

Emily raised her head a little.

Evaran pointed at Bruno and then Red Lightning. “Lee, use your magnetic restraints on them. I will carry Bruno and you can carry Red Lightning. I will need to neutralize the sticky globules with a heat beam. Emily, Dr. Snowden, you two can help Jake.” Once everyone got moving, he cleared the sticky mess off of Red Lightning.

Lee applied the magnetic restraints and then slung her over his shoulder. “They’ll be out for quite a while. We need to get them back to my base.” He tossed the second set of restraints to Evaran.

Evaran cleared the sticky globules from Bruno’s feet and then slapped the restraints on him. Evaran then slung Bruno over his shoulder, causing Evaran to bend for a moment, and then straightened up. “He is heavier than he looks.”

Emily helped Jake stand and then slid his left arm around her shoulders. Dr. Snowden got the right arm.

With one final look around, Evaran gestured out the way they came. “Let us go.”

They exited Safrica. The guards were still unconscious when they got the landing platform. An hour later, they arrived at the entrance to Beezlo’s tunnels.

Evaran knocked on the wall segment.

After a moment, it slid to the side. Krogus eyed them and then talked into a small device. After ten minutes, Beezlo and heavily armed wererats appeared.

Beezlo’s eyes widened. “You … you subdued them.”

“We have,” said Evaran. “Per the agreement, we wish to leave via your tunnels. Safrica’s back entrance is open, and Claw and his enforcers are unconscious in one of the rear storage rooms. The front door is sealed, but you should be able to unlock it with Claw’s passes.”

Beezlo showed a toothy grin. “Ahh. Well, I definitely don’t want to be on your bad side.” He tossed his right hand out, and the wererats cleared a path. “You may go.”

Evaran bowed slightly. The others followed him as he stepped through.

The wererats had begun to pour through the entrance into the subway.

Emily did not think Claw would have a merciful end, but given what she had observed, maybe he did not deserve one. The fight was tougher than she had expected, but she remembered fighting Seeros from a previous adventure, someone who was probably just as tough.

It pained her to think Jake was hurt, and he had no nanobots to help heal him. Her eyes misted at how courageous he was, trying to help Evaran without a moment of hesitation, even at the possibility of losing his life. It should have been she that had gone for it, but Jake was the closest and had moved before she could even locate the device. She stumbled, causing Jake to fall forward, but Dr. Snowden was able to keep Jake from hitting the ground.

“Careful, we’re not trying to hurt Jake,” said Dr. Snowden.

“You’re all right,” said Jake.

Emily focused her attention on the path. “Sorry about that. Was just thinking.”

“Lot to think about.”

“Yeah. Let’s just get out of these tunnels.”