Chapter Nine
V released the detonator and it fell to the floor of the car. The rumble from the exploding antenna below vibrated the cold coffee in the cup holder attached to the dash. His eyes scanned the sky above the fire and the smoke, searching for the Kang Tao AV. He located it after a few moments and a surge of hope snaked his spine when the AV faltered precariously in the air for a moment as the EMP wave crashed over it. However, the hope retreated as quickly as it had come when V realized the vehicle had recovered and seemed to be continuing on its planned trajectory–now with increased speed.
"Panam!" he said. "The engines are still runnin'. Fuck! They're gettin' away!" His eyes were still glued to the AV, panic rising now in his gut.
"They're going nowhere," said Panam. She opened the door and climbed out of the Thorn.
What the fuck was she doing? He was afraid to take his eyes off their target, afraid to lose it. Soon, it'd be out of range. "We gotta go after it!" V called out the window.
"Give me a moment," Panam responded. Sounded like she was somewhere behind the car, rummaging in the back.
V climbed halfway out the passenger window and angled himself toward the bed of the Thorn. "Panam, what're you doin'?"
She didn't respond, but marched toward the edge of the ridge in front of the vehicle. She carried a heavy piece of equipment, but V couldn't quite make it out from where he sat. When she reached the edge, Panam hefted the equipment onto her right shoulder with considerable effort and he could now see it clearly. It was a massive bazooka, almost the same size as she was–must have been what was in the heavy crate he'd carried out of the Aldecaldo camp, before they'd hit the Raffens in Rocky Ridge.
Panam planted her feet, scanned the horizon with the launcher, braced herself, and fired toward the AV. After the projectile was released, she tossed the weapon to the ground, stepped back, and watched the sky. Despite himself, he found the whole thing incredibly attractive. He focused himself and watched the sky as well, praying the rocket would hit its mark. "Come on…" he muttered under his breath.
The sky lit up once again in a brilliant display of fire and shrapnel as the AV exploded. Panam pumped her fist and said, "THAT'S how you do it!"
V's heart raced. They were too close now to fuck this up. "It's losing altitude!" he said, retreating back into the passenger seat just as Panam positioned herself behind the wheel.
"We got the bastard!" she said.
Not yet they didn't. "Let's go!" said V.
Panam backed the Thorn away from the edge of the ridge and floored it in the direction of the falling AV.
"No way it stays in the air after a blast like that," V said. There was no way, right?
Panam shook her head. "They either land, or crash."
A short burst of static emitted from the dash of the Thorn, followed by a familiar voice. Mitch. "You catch that?" he said. "Over."
Another familiar voice piped in–Scorpion this time. "Yup. AV, unmarked. Losing alt–where?"
V's stomach dropped. Panam scrambled to open the channel on her radio. "What the hell are they doing?!" she said.
They hadn't told any of the Aldecaldos about their plan, so it was likely they'd seen the falling AV and taken it as an opportunity for scrap, or maybe to help somebody in need. Fuck. Mitch's voice crackled once again through the radio on the dash, his words punctuated by bursts of static. "I'm finishing…at the generators. Follow 'em, I'll be on my way in a bit. Battery should sort it–"
Panam pressed the input button on the radio, and when she spoke, her words seemed to tumble over each other. "Mitch! Scorpion! It's Panam! Don't go near that AV! I repeat–do NOT approach the AV!"
Scorpion's voice came back over the radio, but it was pretty clear he hadn't heard anything Panam had said. "–on the way, or I'll start the party without you."
Panam pressed the input button again. "It's Kang Tao! Wait for me! Or better, get the hell out!" The path before them opened up as they reached the bottom of the ridge, and Panam accelerated the Thorn, the engine issuing a high-pitched whine.
"I don't think they can hear you," said V. "The pulse must be interfering."
Panam growled and gripped the steering wheel tighter. At that moment, a beep from the dash. "I have three on radar!" yelled Panam, her eyes darting between the radar screen and the path before them.
As quickly as he could, V jacked his personal into the dash and connected to the turret. The drones were fast, moving in short bursts up above the Thorn. Beyond the darting turrets firing on them, V could see the AV, still losing altitude. V got to work taking down the drones, but something was off. There was some sort of a delay in the turret. He couldn't hit anything. After a few off-target rounds, the turret went limp and stopped responding to his commands. "Panam!" he yelled. "Problem! Not shooting!"
"Shit! It's jammed again. I'll fix it. Hold on tight, going on autopilot."
Through the eyes of the turret, V saw the hatch on top of the Thorn pop open. Panam stood up on the driver's seat, the upper half of her body leaning out the hatch door toward the turret. She held a screwdriver in her right hand and began stabbing at the base of the turret with it. He'd be surprised if her method of repair was gonna work. The drones were still firing sporadically at them. Luckily, the Thorn was much faster than she looked, and the velocity of the vehicle made them a difficult target to hit.
"Panam…" he said urgently.
"I know!" she said. "The fucking latches don't want to open!"
She tossed the screwdriver aside, and it skittered across the top of the Thorn before disappearing off the side. "Just a second," she said, making adjustments at the base of the turret with both hands and an apparently tremendous amount of effort. At last, the turret came back online.
But it was at that exact moment that V heard the awful whir, ping, and rip of a bullet as it ricocheted off the top of the Thorn and tore through Panam's side. Panam flew back, her arms went limp, and her head and shoulders hung backward off the edge of the car. Crimson spread slowly across the exposed skin at her waist, to the edges of her shirt and jeans.
V felt as though all of the blood had been sucked out of him, a jolt echoing from the center of his spine to the top of his head and down to his toes. Fuck!
"Panam!" He jacked out of the turret, his vision returning to him in the passenger seat of the Thorn. He reached across and grabbed Panam by the legs, carefully lowering her back into her seat, as bullets pinged against the outside of the car, the drones still firing on them from above. He reached up above Panam's head and closed the top hatch.
He grabbed Panam's face with both hands and gently shook her head as he called her name. Fuck. Fuck! Don't be dead! After a few seconds that felt like years, her eyes opened, and V drew his hands back. He sighed with relief.
Panam groaned and reached a hand toward her wound, wincing as it made contact. She looked down at her waist, at all the blood. "It's nothing," she said. "I'm fine." Her voice was weak.
"You don't look fine," said V. Her skin was pale, her hands shaking. He searched the console and the glove box, looking for a MaxDoc.
"The door," said Panam.
He opened the small cubby inserted in the passenger door and found what he was looking for. He reached over to Panam, who was leaning forward with a pained expression, her arm wrapped around her waist. V placed his left hand on her back, between her shoulder blades. "Ready?" he asked.
Panam nodded.
With his right hand, V plunged the MaxDoc injector into Panam's stomach, and pressed the button to release the medication. Once it had all passed through the needle, he removed the injector and tossed it to the floor of the car. V kept his eyes fixed on Panam for the next few seconds as her breath evened out, and she sat up straighter. He removed his hand from her back.
More bullets ricocheted off the Thorn, reminding V of the threat still hovering outside. He jacked back into the turret, shot down the remaining drones, and pulled back out. It didn't take long now that the turret had been fixed. Panam was completely upright now, her hands gripping the steering wheel, back in control once again. She was going to need more care once the booster wore off, but it would have to do for now.
V scanned the horizon out the windshield, but couldn't see the AV anywhere.
"It's behind that hill," Panam said, pointing straight ahead and to the left. "I think it's finally down." She paused and her breath hitched. She groaned.
"Are you okay?" V asked.
"I'll live," she said.
She'd better.
Now that they were closer, V could see a massive plume of thick, black smoke over the next hill. Heavy gunfire in the area carried its way to them.
"Something's not right, V," Panam said. "Did you hear those shots? Something happened to them!"
V balled his fists, trying to stay calm. "Let's check it out," he said.
Panam stopped the Thorn just before cresting the hill. An outpost of red rocks to their left provided cover from the wreckage below. V noticed another Kang Tao drone, hovering in patrol over the downed AV. He inserted his personal link into the dash once again. "Connect me to visuals on that drone," he said. "We need to get our bearings."
Panam tapped on the console, and a few moments later, V was seeing through the eyes of the Kang Tao drone. He quickly scanned the area where the AV had gone down. It was difficult to see through the smoke billowing up from the wreckage, but he was able to make out a couple of security drones, bots, and a hefty launcher on top of the AV that still looked functional. The drones and bots were in a defensive formation, awaiting reinforcements. As the drone V was hijacking drifted through the smoke to the other side of the transport, he was able to make out a couple of Aldecaldo bikes, a car, and a scattering of lifeless bodies in the dirt. Fuck.
V jacked out of the drone before seeing any more and found Panam angled toward him, watching him. "Well?" she said. "What did you see?"
"Not gonna be easy," he said, and told her what he'd seen. He made a choice to leave out the dead Aldecaldos, swallowing the guilt.
Panam looked down at her hands which rested in her lap. "V, if they got the Aldecaldos…If they got Mitch and Scorpion, I can't…I don't…" Her voice quivered.
Before he could give himself a chance to overthink it, V reached over and grasped one of Panam's hands in one of his own. "I know," he said. "I know." He hoped to God that none of the bodies he'd seen belonged to Mitch or Scorpion. Even so, Panam was gonna be hurting either way. Whoever'd been killed, they would still be alive if not for V and his desperate search for Hellman. "Mitch and Scorpion are alive. I promise we'll find them." He knew it was a promise he shouldn't make because it was not one he was sure he could keep.
Panam nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Okay, here's the plan," said V. "You stay in the car, and I–"
"No. I'm going with you."
"Panam, you're hurt. Wait in the car. I'll try to take 'em out."
"I…" Panam sighed. "Fine. But I will cover you from here."
V released Panam's hand and nodded. As long as she stayed away from the wreckage until it was clear, he was satisfied. Besides, the odds were very good that he would need the backup. "Good idea," he said. "Let's move."
He exited the Thorn. Panam grabbed the rifle and began climbing into the nearby outcropping of sandstone for a vantage point and cover. She was limping ever so slightly. V pulled out his pistol and made his way into the ravine below. He was careful to avoid detection by the Kang Tao patrol until he could stake out a solid position, which he soon found behind a large boulder that allowed him a clear view of the drones and bots while still protecting him from the AV launcher. He crouched with his back pressed against the surface of the boulder, pistol at the ready, and looked up at Panam's location. He gave a slight nod before exiting from cover and firing at the nearest drone.
They were able to make quick work of the bots and the drones between the two of them. Just as the last robot crumpled at the knees and tumbled to the ground, a thunderous burst from the launcher fired on the boulder he'd been using for cover, turning it to dust and sending V flying face first into the dirt. Fuck. He hurried to his feet, searching for more cover before the launcher had time to fire on him again. There was nothing–not that he could reach before being blown to smithereens, anyway. His only chance was to run straight toward the AV. If he got close enough, the launcher wouldn't be able to reach him. The angle would be too tight.
V ran as fast as he could, leaping over debris and bodies along the way. He could hear a hum building from the AV as the launcher geared up for another burst. Only a few more yards. V dropped to the ground and slid, his left foot making contact with the side of the AV, followed by the rest of his body soon after. The launcher fired, decimating a cluster of sagebrush he'd just run past. He stood up, pressing himself as flat as he could against the surface of the AV. There was no way the launcher would be able to get him from here. He inched his way around the back of the AV and to the other side, where he was able to locate the control panel. He hacked it without much difficulty and disarmed the launcher. He slid to the ground and hung his head, legs bent and arms resting on his knees, catching his breath. Before long, he heard a panicked cry from the other side of the AV. It was Panam.
"Oh, no, no, no…"
He got up and rushed back around to the other side. He found Panam on her knees, hunched over one of the bodies resting in the dirt. He stopped a few paces behind her and a pit opened in the center of his chest. It was Scorpion–his arm implant had been mostly shredded, his right leg was almost completely gone, and dark blood pooled beneath his limp head. This was all his fault. V inhaled and took the final steps toward Panam, knelt beside her and braced himself.
Panam folded forward, her forehead coming to rest against Scorpion's lifeless chest, and wrapped her arms around her head. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. V reached for her, but stopped short. "Panam, I–" What could he say? I'm sorry I got your best friend killed? He died so that I might not have to? How many others had died?
V stood and scanned the bodies of the other Aldecaldos. "Panam!" he said. He knelt back down and put his hand on her back, which was still trembling. "Mitch. He's not here."
Panam sat up straight. With a few more hitched breaths, she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and stood. V rose with her. They turned toward the AV, then looked at each other. Panam's eyes were red and swollen. She looked angrier than he'd yet seen her. Without a word, she strode toward the AV and he followed suit. She drew a pistol from the back of her jeans and leaned against the AV, to the left of the cockpit door, ready to infiltrate. She looked at V and jerked her head toward the door. He knelt down, gripped the edge of the door with both hands, and slid it open with all his might.
On the other side, the AV pilot held Mitch in a chokehold with a gun to his head, using him as a shield. Mitch appeared calm, but in a split-second once-over, V noticed the way his fists were clenched. Panam rounded the doorway and aimed her weapon at the pilot while V hurried to his feet and drew his own weapon. The pilot shuffled back a few steps, adjusting his grip on his gun and licking his lips. "Stand back!" he shouted. "Toss your weapons! Or I'll shoot!"
"Easy," said V. "It's not too late for everyone to walk outta this alive."
At V's words, the pilot's grip on both Mitch and his weapon relaxed just enough, and V took advantage of the opportunity. He exhaled, and time seemed to slow as he pulled the trigger, a bullet wedging itself right between the pilot's eyes. Mitch stumbled forward as the pilot collapsed, and he was caught by Panam.
After a few rounds of deep breaths, Panam released Mitch and asked, "Are you all right?"
Mitch stepped past V and out of the cockpit. He leaned over for a moment, resting his hands on his knees. "Eh, just some scratches," he said.
Panam stormed over to Mitch and shoved him. "You fucking morons!" she screamed.
Mitch didn't appear angry at all. His eyes flickered to Panam's injury, and he pointed. "Did you get hit?" he said. "Hang on, I'll patch you up." He reached in his side pocket for a spool of gauze.
Panam turned away. "It's nothing," she said. The anger had sifted out of her voice, and all that remained was pain. "Let's go."
Mitch took a deep breath. "We couldn't retreat, Panam. They regrouped so fast. Started shootin' rockets an' shit. I lost everyone." His voice broke and he looked at the ground, hands on his hips.
Panam collapsed onto a nearby weapons crate that must have tumbled out of the wreckage and held her head in her hands.
Things were quiet for a beat before Mitch knelt in front of Panam, on her level, his brow furrowed. V lowered himself to sit next to Panam on the crate and cleared his throat. "Scorpion, the rest…I'm sorry we didn't get here sooner."
Panam didn't move or make a sound.
"They were good people," said Mitch. "Great people. They didn't have to die here."
Panam glanced at Mitch. "I should have stopped him," she said.
Mitch shook his head. "I tried. He wouldn't have listened to you, either. Never was much of a listener."
Panam peered over her shoulder in the direction of Scorpion's body. "Stubborn bastard," she said, with a short, bitter laugh that didn't sound much like a laugh at all.
"Why are you out here?" Mitch asked Panam, eyeing her.
Panam looked to V.
"I, uh…" he began. "I need the guy they were transporting."
"They took 'im," Mitch said. A sneer crept across his face. "In our cars. They were heading west." His sneer was replaced by a revelatory expression. "So you're the ones who hit 'em with that EMP?"
Panam gave a sad nod.
"Yeah," said V. "We tried to warn you, but couldn't connect."
Panam lifted her head. "If they took your cars, we might be able to follow their tracks." She sounded invigorated.
We? Was she really still planning on helping V find Hellman?
Panam looked into Mitch's eyes. "I will find those sons of bitches," she said. "I swear."
Mitch reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "Do. I'll call the crew, get all this cleaned up." He stood and folded his arms.
"We'll leave my ride here, just in case," Panam said. "Just watch the gun, it likes to jam." Panam rose to her feet and turned to V. "We'll go by bike."
"Sounds good," said Mitch. "You're coming back for her, right? Your ride?"
"I promise."
Mitch nodded and headed toward the ridge, searching for a stronger signal to call the Aldecaldos on the holo.
"Let's get going before they send a rescue party," said Panam. She walked toward the orphaned Aldecaldo bikes. V stood from the crate and followed close behind.
"Panam…" he started. "I–you don't–I understand if–"
She stopped walking so abruptly that he almost ran into her, and she turned to face him. "I keep my word." She didn't sound angry, just firm.
"Scorpion and the rest…I recognize that it's my fault, and I can't tell you how sorry I am," he said. He studied his feet and clasped his hands behind his back. When he'd lost Jackie, the pain was unbearable. And he'd felt such an overwhelming wave of anger toward the people he held responsible for it. But in this case, he was the responsible party. The thought of Panam holding him in the same regard as he held the likes of Dexter DeShawn–that was nearly just as unbearable. "If you'll allow it," he continued when she didn't say anything, "I'd like to do everything I can to help you settle the score with Kang Tao."
"I will destroy them. Every last one." A pause. "But, V?" her voice softened as she spoke his name, giving him the courage to finally meet her eyes again. To his surprise, her expression matched her voice, both colored with a certain tenderness that he did not expect. "You and me? We're in this together. To the bitter end."