Chapter 73 “Those are bad odds...”

Sara walked the quiet streets of Shadowtown. The civilians had evacuated, yet hundreds remained to fight. All of them busy with the preparations, none of them speaking beyond what they needed to say.

She looked in on the hospital. Volunteers setting up a triage station on the ground floor. Next she stopped by the restaurant turned munitions factory. Rosie’s pet robot unscrewed detonators from the top of artillery shells. Proctor Reed and his team turned them into ied’s.

Outside Lady Avalon and her retinue worked with gas axes and hammers. Slicing through thick metal and mounting handles. Others sharpened and maintained all manner of exotic melee weapons.

Shadowtown’s robotic labour force helped prepare defensive positions outside the eastern gate. Between them and Recon, the gate had been all but blocked off. A narrow maze of rubble filled blocks in its place.

The noise picked up at the southern gate. People ran ammo tins back and forth. Suzette gave orders like an officer, keeping the scribes busy. Hunters sharpened their spears. Sara shook her head with amusement, seeing the sign above Styx and Acheron’s shop. She liked the idea of those two out here, giving the Brotherhood a face.

“My old drinking buddy.” A voice rasped behind her.

“Hello Virgil.” Sara still found it jarring to talk to him, but found herself oddly pleased to see him. Even if he was smoking while carrying a crate of demolition charges.

“Got what you asked for.” He set the box down by Suzette. Sara saw how they looked at each other. The only ones not frightened. It gave her hope.

“You got time to fit it now?” Sara wanted it done.

“Yes sir general sir.” He struck a mocking tone, then started walking. “Come on, ain’t got all day.”

Sara followed Virgil into the Ghoulhouse. Dark and dingy, most of its residents already gone. She’d once been tasked with drawing up an assault plan for this place. She doubted they’d have been welcomed if she’d carried it out. The thought chafed at an already sore spot.

“It’s in the back, wait here.” Virgil headed into the back room, leaving her in his shop. Anything even remotely offensive had been taken. Sara couldn’t help flipping through the comics.

“Here it is. Fabricated it myself.” Virgil placed a metal pipe on the table, along with a spool of wire and a soldering kit.

“He’s on his way, sent him round back. Didn’t think your friends would appreciate a T-60 rolling through their halls.” Sara said with a smile.

“You going soft on me Blondie?” Virgil asked flippantly, but with an expression of thanks.

“How much for these?” She pulled the stack of comics from behind her back, almost sounding casual.

“Barbarians at the gate and she wants to buy comic books.” Virgil flipped through the stack with his good hand. “Rare comic books at that.” He took a step back and lit a cigarette. “Things from before are priceless. Precious and fragile. They need to be treated with respect.”

“You’re right.” Sara took his meaning. The contradiction of her beliefs and her experiences did not sit well.

“Take ‘em. Treat them with respect.”

She waited with Virgil outside, talking about comic books. "You're full of shit.” Sara said with a grin.

“Straight up. Bought it at auction.” Virgil seemed not to care if she believed him.

“How much?” She asked.

“Four.” Virgil had a hint of pride in his voice. Sara let out a long whistle.

“Four million for a comic. Even if it was Unstoppables number one.” Sara knew she’d never see that in the flesh, speaking to someone who had still left her impressed.

“I wanted to tell you how sorry I am, about Robco.” Sara took the opportunity to offer her condolences. “John said you were close.”

“He was a good man.” Virgil took a long slug from a whisky bottle. “They all were.” He held out the bottle. Sara threw the coffee from her mug and held it out.

“What do you mean?” Sara asked, drawn by the odd statement.

“After The War, after I changed, I was alone.” Virgil seemed amused by that for a moment. “I was lost for a long time. When I came here I worked in the bot shop, with Bill. Robco’s grandfather.” Virgil lit a smoke while Sara did some rough sums. “He wasn’t much older than you.”

“Cancer took Bill before his time.” Virgil continued. “His son Will raised a family, then he passed. I watched his son do the same. Now he’s gone too. Like so many others.” Virgil looked drained, like all those years had caught up to him. Sara had never considered the toll of their longevity, the pain of outliving everyone they knew. She felt ashamed, and a great pity for someone who’s company she enjoyed.

The whirring stomp of her father’s power armour announced his arrival. He hoped out, hovering over Virgil. “You worked on these before?” Her father asked, seeing how quickly he stripped the plates from the arm.

“Once or twice.” Virgil seemed amused by the question. “Eyes.” They turned away as Virgil welded the pipe to the back of the armour.

“Dad, look.” She felt like a girl again, showing her father the comics.

“I don’t believe it! I’ve been looking for that one since…” He let his mask slip. “Since before I married Brandon.” They shared a quiet moment.

“You sure about this?” Her father asked.

“If she says she can do it, she can..” Sara had no doubts.

“Alright, try that.” Virgil stepped back, hinging up the arm in a very familiar manner. Her father reached his arm in. “Twist.” A light on the pipe went blue. “Good, it’s set.”

They walked back round to the southern gate. “You know, I knew a man who served under Maxson.” Virgil said, bringing them to a stop. He lit a cigarette, dragging out the moment. “Said he was a self righteous prick.” Sara put herself between her father and Virgil. “His words. And given the man that said it, quite the compliment.” He pulled at a tarp to reveal a stack of military issue crates. “I’m assuming you know how to use these.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Sara opened the metal crate, finding a row of black rectangles. She yanked one free, worked the cocking handle. “Lightweight frame, carbon fibre body. Titanium housed crystal array. And just about the only thing those hacks at General Atomics did right.” Virgil looked at the elder. “Bots kept this place safe for a lot of years. I’ve been buying up energy weapons for decades to keep them out of the wrong hands. Now I’m giving them to you.”

“We will put them to good use. You have my word.” The elder beckoned over a knight and gave orders to hand the laser rifles out.

Sara snagged another rifle and went to find John. By the eastern gate, Recon had claimed the Bathhouse for their own. She asked after Rosie and got directed to the hospital. She hurried over.

She found John on the second floor, slumped in a chair outside a screened off bed. “How’s Rosie?” Sara asked.

“I’m fine.” Rosie answered from behind the curtain. Sara peered through a gap and caught sight of her bare back. Deep black bruises in the shape of a swollen hand. She’s seen injuries like that before, only not on anyone still talking.

“Lucky to be alive is not fine.” Charlie stepped out, looking tired.

“Got you something.” Sara kicked John’s boot off his knee, jolting him up. “You know what it is, right?”

“AER Nine laser rifle.” John took the weapon he’d never seen before, working the mechanism in a smooth motion. “Thanks Boss.”

“Burns when it hits, harder for them to heal from.” She tried to lift his spirits, but he looked rattled. She turned as Rosie stepped out, her anger infectious. “I’d have snagged you one…” Sara waited for the answer her uncle undoubtedly taught her.

“Sometimes the old ways are the best.” Rosie slung her antique rifle. “Right Janey?” Sara flinched as the bot clanked out.

Sara left them to rest, running into Matthew on the stairs. “You got a minute?” He asked awkwardly.

“Sure.” She looked around, opting to sit where she stood.

“We never seem to get much time together. It’s always something.” Matthew took her hand. “I want that to change.”

“I’d like that.” She rested her head on his shoulder, like she used to.

Hurried footsteps soon interrupted the moment. “They’re here.” Sara looked Matt in the eye.

“We’re going to make them pay.” He looked more focused than she’d ever seen him before.

Sara made her way to the southern gate, heading up to the top of the garrisoned gatehouse. She stood by her father. The flat open space stretched out before her. No wind and a cloudless sky. Nothing seemed to move, except the horizon.

“We’re outnumbered five to one.” Her father said as he looked through the binoculars.

“Those are bad odds...” Sara made sure those around them heard her. “For them.”

The writhing wall of green came to a stop. Rough hewn, steel plate helmets. Scrap iron bolted into mutated flesh. “People of Shadowtown.” The amplified voice came from everywhere.

“Tornado to all callsigns. That’s Jones. No shot.” Rosie snarled over the comm.

“Look upon this form.” Jones continued. “I was a man once. Until the Brotherhood made me into this!” He roared, delivering the supposed revelation. “Send out these invaders. These fascists who care nothing for your lives. When they are dead, my brethren and I will leave you in peace. You have ten minutes.”

“I told you.” Her father smiled as they suited up.

“You did. Are you sure about this?” She’d hoped he’d been wrong.

“Cut off the head of the snake.” Her father looked every inch the man she’d known. “There is no finer weapon in this world than a sworn knight of the Brotherhood. Ask them for the impossible and they will deliver it. Lead them Sara, and they will follow you through hell and back.” He took a deep breath. “I know I failed you. Failed Bran.” She started to protest but a raised hand stopped her. “I’m sorry. I love you.”

“I love you too, Dad.” She handed her father the sword that bore his name. “Now bring me that fucker’s head” She knew anger would serve them both better.

“Yes sir.”

A lone knight walked out from the fortifications. A single man advancing towards an army of monsters. He strode out unhurried and unafraid. Every set of eyes on him. From the seething mass of mutants, one pushed forward. The animalistic creatures enthralled to him.

Elder Maxwell took off his helmet, looking upon the face of his creation. “What I did to you was unspeakable. A crime against humanity.” The elder looked into the yellow eyes, seeing the true horror that lay behind them. “But what you have done, this madness. This is the virus, twisting your mind to spread itself. I offer you the mercy of a quick death, so that you might find peace. A kindness you have not shown others.”

“Amber.” Jones growled, pacing like a chained beast. The elder didn’t understand. “Her name was Amber. You will beg for her forgiveness before you die.”

“His name was Brandon.” Elder Maxwell put on his helmet and drew his sword. “You’ll remember it because I’m going to carve it into your flesh.” He planted his feet, stood ready.

Jones lurched violently. The elder countered with swift strikes, sparking off the crude armour. Again Jones lashed out. This time the elder’s sword found flesh, leaving a deep slice on the green arm. Jones stopped moving, sneering as the wound healed in seconds.

Repeated savage blows hit nothing but air. Each one dodged and countered with a glancing slice at the chinks in the armour.

“I am what you made me.” Jones taunted as his cuts healed. “You will come to…” He seized his chest, burning with pain.

“I bet you didn’t know that your kind are impervious to every poison known to man. Even mercury in the blood.” A bead of liquid silver dripped from the edge of his blade. “It clumps and clots in the veins, blocking arteries. Then it gets to the brain.” The elder held his sword out at Jones. “I did offer you the mercy of a quick death.”

Sensing he no longer had the upper hand, Jones crushed a tin can on his belt, wreathing him in smoke. And unleashing his army.

The elder ran for Jones, finding nothing. He hit the emergency switch added this afternoon, trusting in Brandon’s team. The pipe welded to his back fired with a muffled plunk, launching a grenade like round straight up. It burst to reveal an expanding balloon, pulsing with a strobe light, supporting a cable attached to him.

Elder Maxwell felt the ground shake. “Forgive me Bran.” He said to himself and readied his sword.

“Tornado inbound.” Her voice came over the comm, Brandon’s last gift to him.

Rosie had been perched in the open cabin of the Velo, high above the chaos below, trying to get a kill shot. She saw the signal go up and closed the door. “Alright Red.” Virgil came over the radio. “This thing was built to do this, sort of, keep steady.”

“Got it.” Rosie tilted the engines and went into a dive. “On target.” The Velo picked up speed. “Deploying.” The airframe juddered as the front prongs extended, disrupting the aerodynamics.

“Slow it down Red.” Virgil ordered from his position in the Tower. Knowing that this could easily kill the elder.

“Copy.” She fought back her instinct and slowed, dropping further. Suddenly the rendered target line vanished. “Lost target.”

“I told him to stay still! The suit telemetry can’t keep up.” Virgil paused, uncharacteristically so. “Mark two eyeball Red. You got it.”

“Copy.” Rosie dove into the dreamlike state. A danger in the fast moving aircraft, a slight touch could have a drastic effect. She stayed as still as possible, muscles burning with unspent energy. Her eyes darted through the sky, moving too low and fast for the balloon to be of use. A ripple of movement caught her attention as the cable shook. Rosie ripped herself out of the dreamlike state, banking sharply. An audible twanging crack sounded as she felt the Velo drag.

“You got him, hit it Red!” Virgil gave her conformation and Rosie slammed the throttle up.

The Velo roared forward under strain. Plucking the elder from certain death like a hooked fish. Rosie flew right at the Tower. Holding her course and nerve until she felt the release. The burst of speed wrestled her for control. She yanked the stick back, trusting in the numbers scrolling down her vision. The Tower shook as the Velo climbed parallel to it.

“Didn’t I tell you to read the fucking manual!” Virgil screamed with exhilaration. “Listen to this!” He switched the comm to the sound of cheering.