Coda

Chapter 28

Coda

She threw her passport out onto the platform as the doors to the train closed. She took a seat, leaning her head back against the wall of the cabin. Shima closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. The train car she occupied alongside Locke was empty and quite, A grim contrast from what Locke was looking at through the window of the train as it moved along the tracks.

“Are you alright Shima? How have you been holding up?”

“Yeah, I just need a minute to catch my breath, I damn near had to scrap my whole way to the station.”

“Where is Kezonto, If I get to him in time, I can stop this.”

Shima opened her eyes, lowering her head as she looked over in Locke’s direction.

“I don’t think that’s possible, and neither do you.”

He was listening, although his attention was elsewhere. The madness in the streets, Rexlacon’s speech, everything Haiden was saying. She was right, this wasn’t just her fight, it was everyone’s fight. There were so many questions still left unanswered, he didn’t know where to begin. All he knew was he needed to reach Kezonto, sooner than later.

“You didn’t answer my question, Shima, where is he?”

The train car swayed slightly to the left, and to the right. The brakes screeched as the A.I. computer applied them.

“You think seeing Viyah, will stop him.”

She questioned, her eyes lowering, a mix of emotions swirling inside of her. Locke watched as the train pulled into the next station and the announcement came over the loudspeaker.

“Now entering Bayview, doors will open on the right side of the train. Please grab all belongings before exiting the train, thank you.”

The train platform was empty; Locke stuck his head out looking left and right. Not a soul in sight, so he stood up straight and the doors closed.

“No, it will only get him killed, Shima, if they are to reunite it has to be after we escape this place.”

“I never experienced that type of essence before, when I was around her everything just melted away Locke, her vibrations are like a high I can’t explain it.”

This caught Locke’s attention, and he turned to face Shima, curious as to what she was going to say next.

“The same vibrations I’ve been feeling from Kezonto ever since we got to Busaya. I’ve felt from her the same essence corruption Kezonto utilizes I’ve seen her mistakenly harness. It’s just weird”

“You should see her with children and animals.”

Locke knew exactly what Shima was talking about, for him it was subtle. So, with Sensory like Shima’s it was expected that she felt Autumn’s essence differently.

“And the sacred ink, where is it.”

“It’s with him, I used it for tattoo ink on his back.”

“Are you serious?”

“Hs idea, not mine.”

“Get ready Shima.”

She looked over her shoulder as the train car pulled into the station. It slowly crept to a stop, and its doors started to open. Locke slowly inched into his fighting posture and Shima grabbed hold of a railing and pulled herself up, looking out the window of the train car at the assortment of madness happening on the platform of Bayfront station.

The door to the train car slid open, and rebels scrambled into the train, Locke and Shima eased up realizing they didn’t recognize Shima. The two of them watched as mechs slaughtered soldiers and peacekeepers while other rebels stripped them of their weapons and provided cover for the mechs. The doors closed and the train started moving again returning to the surface and the mayhem choking Busaya. The once quite train car was now loud and rambunctious with celebration by the rebels.
“HA, HAAA, look at them robos go, tear their asses up”
“Rexlacon sure did work his magic.”

many of the rebels occupying the train looked out at the night streets of Busaya, Laughing and mocking the new Aurora soldiers battling for their lives

. The two of them said nothing, standing back-to-back, watching the rebels closely. The train cut through the heart of Central Orchard, riding along the elevated rails.

“Two-bravo, fifth train.”

“Check.”

“Confirm target.”

“Young female, blue denim vest.”

“You got the green.”

From a distant roof, Daphane lowered her binoculars, and Gabe secured the butt of his high caliber rifle into his shoulder. Ever so slightly he pivoted his rifle, training his crosshairs on Shima. He applied pressure to the trigger, just at that moment Shima looked directly at him through his scope. He stopped himself, tilting his head away from his scope.

“You missed your opportunity, why didn’t you shoot?”

She looked at Gabe who was dumbfounded by something. He looked at her and shook his head, standing up from his prone position.

“I was about to pull the trigger when I could have sworn, she started looking at me right in my eyes.”

“You’re making me jealous; come on we can catch them at three-delta if we hurry.”

“These eyes are only for you, come on baby.”

Gabe teased, giving Daphane a firm slap on her backside, the two of them racing to Delta-3, one of the sniper zones they had mapped out.

“Locke, when I tell you to run, you start running and you don’t slow down for anything.”

“Mind explaining why?”

“There is a sniper out there with eyes on us, he hesitated, I was able to catch his essence signature he is moving with another person.”

“Got it.”

Locke turned around facing the same direction as Shima, the train car was still filled with excitement, a excitement that was about to be short lived. The train emerged from the concealment of the tall buildings and into the open. Making its approach toward Applegrove station.

“Now.”

Shima lunged forward and started sprinting with Locke right behind her. They dodged and weaved around the rebels in their way, shielding their faces from the shower of broken glass. One by one rebels around Locke and Shima had portions of their bodies blown apart by stray sniper fire meant for her. Shima lowered her shoulder and burst through the door connecting the train cabins. She broke into a full sprint once inside the next car. With no one in their way Locke and Shima were able to outpace the sniper, only stopping when the train car became pitch black. Lights alongside the tunnel illuminating the train car as they rushed past.

“Entering Applegrove, doors will open on the left side of the train, please take all your belongings before exiting the train. Thank you.”

“They are still following us.”

Her eyes followed Gabe and Daphane through the thick concrete walls of the station. She was growing annoyed by these bothersome flies. Neither of them stalled and exited the train, rushing for the stairs leading to street level. They didn’t bother with descending the stairs normally, instead one after the other, they leap down the spiral stairwell. Landing side by side they rushed out into the streets of Applegrove.

***

He wiggled his mechanical fingers, finally regaining control of his prosthetic.

“We have regained control of the southside, yes sir every mech and drone it was a total lose.”

Obsidian listened in on the conversation between a grunt and his commanding officer. He watched as soldiers piled up the dead bodies, a mix of citizens and rebels. He paid particular attention to how they treated the bodies of their fallen brothers and sisters. Sliding off the medical gurney, Obsidian grabbed his rifle. Checking his ammo count he inserted the magazine into the rifle, Jerking back the slide.

“Does anyone have intel on what is going on outside the district.”

“Nothing Sergeant, we in the dark here sir, Captain has sent scouting units out to send the word to fall back to the southern district, that’s all I know.”

Without their tech the soldiers seemed lost and disorganized. Not Obsidian he knew what to do and had no commanding officer. His commanding officer was in danger, and he had no way of contacting him. He raced off, heading north toward the Bayview district.

“Sergeant! Where are you going! Let us back you up!”

the group of men and women that Obsidian questioned raced after him. Not wanting to stand around sitting on their hands they decided to follow Obsidian, the man the raced into the gathering like a bat out of hell. Obsidian battled furiously through the streets dropping any rebels or mech that crossed his path. He slid into cover and reloaded his weapon, throwing it over his shoulder, he took out his sidearm. Peering out of cover and discharging shot after shot. He strafed across the street and the countless bodies sprawled about. One of the soldiers with him tossed a grenade that emitted a high frequency blast that took out some of the surrounding mechs.

“We need to move fast sergeant, the situation in this district is unmanageable.”

His small squad of soldiers took up firing positions along the streets, securing their position from rebels and mechs alike. They created a fire line providing cover for soldiers tending to the wounded and citizen fleeing toward the south. Obsidian and his rag tag group of followers abandon their positions once they citizens were cleared, and the wounded were secured. One of the soldiers provided cover while Obsidian and the others darted to the safety of a nearby alley way. He lowered his rifle and turned around racing to catch up to Obsidian and the others as they moved north.

***

“Keep an eye out for any type of surveillance drone, they have to be tracking us somehow.”

Locke followed behind Shima as she cut into an alley, stripping a soldier of his rifle and gun butt him across the face. He didn’t stand around to make sure the man was down for good and chased after Shima. She was still tracking their pursuers, noticing that they had managed to get ahead of Locke and herself somehow.

“How is that possible?”

Shima stopped in her tracks at the mouth of the alley, jerking back into cover. Chunks of concrete shattered around Shima, throwing her hands up she shielded her face from the debris of the bullet’s impact. Locke finally caught up to her, pulling her away from the alley head as the sniper fire intensified. Together they observed the damage from the high-powered rifle. Locke looked around and didn’t see any drone tailing them, then toward Shima who was watching the snipers every move.

“Move now, were out of their line of sight.”

“Make a break for the library, we can close the distance between us inside there.”

“Good Idea Locke, what way we can take that rifle out of the picture.”

The two of them rushed across the street and up the staircase of the library. Locke kicked the door down easily and ran into the main hall with Shima right behind him.

“Stop, they changed course.”

Gabe stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder at Daphane, watching as she surveyed her drone surveillance as it followed Locke and Shima entering the library. The drone, disguised as a small insect hovered around them watching their every move.

“They took refuge inside the library, how they are anticipating are movements is beyond me, they must have some type of tracking tech assisting them.”

“If they are inside the library I won’t have any good sniper lanes, and we can’t waste time waiting them out.”

Gabe fiddled with his PCD and within seconds his high-power rifle disappeared in a stream of light particles. For a moment the particles spiraled in the air in front of Gabe, consolidating and forming a battle rifle that was more suited for the environment inside of the library. Daphane did the same, a hi-tech helmet materialized on her head at the push of a button. With her new optics, her hands were free to arm herself with a rifle of her own.

They jumped from the roof of the building adjacent to the library, landing in the streets below. They didn’t feel the impact thanks to their suits and rushed through the fighting happening in the streets. Up the stairs of the library and through the front door. The pair moved in cautiously, their rifles drawn as they surveyed the front lobby of the gigantic library. Their suits simulated the lighting of their surroundings, camouflaging them. They pointed their rifles in the same direction; the sound of shattered glass echoed through the library.

“What are you doing?!”

“I got rid of the little bug they were using to tail us with. As well my friend Haiden really wanted to get this book on display. Saying something about its significance.”

Locke stuffed the book in the waistband and tightened his rope belt, securing it to his body.

“Ever the opportunist, tighten up they are making their way over here.”

“I can’t see a thing in this lighting.”

Locke complained, him and Shima ran in between the giant bookcases. Soon bullets started ripping through the books, showering the two of them in a confetto of shredded literature.

“ Don’t stop, once we hit the corner take a sharp right.”

She turned right and ran into the study hall portion of the library. Sliding over the table she grabbed a handful of pens. Locke was right behind Shima, sliding over the granite table he pulled it over to provide cover. Gunfire from the two soldiers bounced off the thick slab of granite as they entered the study hall. Slowly they flanked around the granite table. Gabe was shocked when neither Locke nor Shima was behind the cover. He was forced to focus again when the screams of Daphane made his stomach drop. Her rifle fell to the ground, grabbing hold at the pen that was penetrating through the lens of her goggles and piercing her eye. She yanked it out, and her helmet disappeared into particles of light as blood and mucus oozed from her eye socket.

Gabe couldn’t reach her in time before Locke punished him with a round house kick that sent the soldier barreling across several tables. Knocking over lamps and a various assortment of books and paper. Daphane grit her teeth pushing aside the painful throbbing of her eye. She covered her eye and tried to focus through the crippling headache she was experiencing. Looking for Shima with one good eye, Daphane was caught off guard when Shima approached from her blind side. Thrusting a clenched fist into her cheek just as Daphane sensed the incoming attack.

She braced herself, staggering back, she attempted to draw her sidearm, but Shima kicked at Daphane’s hand forcing her pistol back into its holster. She went for another punch, Daphane blocked it side stepping Shima and creating distance between the two. After that punch from Shima, she saw double, her head was throbbing, and she knew she had to be concussed.

He was about to fire, but Locke was closing the distance too fast. He switched up his strategy, swinging his rifle behind his back he engaged Locke in close quarters combat. At first each man was parrying and dodging each other’s strikes. Then they were matching each other blow for blow with Gabe seemingly absorbing all of Locke’s body shots. He landed a Heavy knee and haymaker that sent Gabe stumbling back a few steps. Locke solidified his fighting stance, easing his breath as he started channeling his essence. Gabe’s battle armor was negating his normal attacks, so he had no choice but to use essence to reinforce his strikes. Gabe inched closer, cautious he watched Locke’s movements waiting for a moment to strike.

Shima ducked under a strike from Daphane, kneeling her in the stomach. Grabbing a handful of hair, Shima shifted her leg behind Daphane, and hip tossed her toward the ground. Still maintaining her firm grasp on Daphane’s short hair. She grabbed at Shima’s hands as she pulled her up off the ground, before dropping an essence reinforced forearm across Daphane’s chest. She hit the cold ground hard with a thud that echoed throughout the study hall. Shima stood over the Daphane as she slowly staggered to her feet. Shima Punched Daphane in the stomach again, grabbing hold onto her head and smashing it into the nearby granite table. Delivering the final trauma needed for Daphane to black out.

Shima didn’t waste any time and charged in on Locke and Gabe’s fight. Kicking him in the side she sent Gabe crashing into a table. He wanted to regain his fighting stance but Locke and now Shima were relentless in their assault, double teaming the man till he collapsed on the ground.

“Come on Shima, that’s enough they won’t be following us anytime soon.”

She stomped Gabe in the face one last time before heading Locke’s words and they two continued in their mad dash toward Keyon. Gabe slowly started to move and regained his vision. It was hard to breathe, His ribs were on fire, and he had an intense tingling in his fingers. His hands were broken. He turned over and crawled over toward Daphane. She was faintly breathing by the time he arrived. But by the time he was holding her hand in his, she had passed away due to her injuries. His eyes filled with tears, as he held her lifeless body in his arms. Shouting filled the study hall as rebel and mechs hunting down military members stumbled across Gabe and Daphane. He just looked at them for a second then went back to his beautiful wife, not carting about his fate. They had no sympathy and didn’t hesitate and riddled the soldier and what remained of his wife with bullets.
Locke and Shima didn’t look back at the sound of the gunfire and pushed forward toward Keyon and the founder.

“You could have shown a little restraint.”

“They weren’t showing us any restraint .It was them or us Locke and you know that.”