Chapter 36
"What is that?" Wendy asked in amazement as she watched Lex dress.
Lex had asked Bridger earlier for access to the recovered cargo from the Viper Team's downed sub. He'd readily agreed and Lex had been able to retrieve her case with her equipment.
She'd quickly donned her black body suit, and was now in the process of pulling out the accessories.
"Talamyte body armour," she replied with a grin. "One of Reuban's little inventions."
Wendy examined the pieces dubiously. The chest piece, thigh and calf pieces and arm bands looked frail and delicate due to their silver filigree design. Although they looked stylish, Wendy doubted they would provide much protection.
Lex hid her grin as she reached for the first piece of armour. Upon contact with her body, the silver metal liquified, expanding and curling itself around her lower leg.
"That's extraordinary!" Wendy gasped as the subsequent pieces melted against Lex's body in a similar fashion.
"You ain't seen nothing yet," Lex chuckled. Pointing to a high beam at least fifty feet above their heads, Lex crouched and then leapt into the air, landing on the beam with a thud. Wendy's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
Returning to the ground, Lex handed her a wrench laying on one of the cargo crates. "Throw it at me."
Wendy frowned but did as Lex asked, gasping when the wrench was deflected away from Lex by an invisible shield.
"Not only does it greatly enhance my own physical strength, it also acts as a barrier against weapons. Puts the odds in my favour."
"I don't
suppose you
have any more
of those for
the others,
huh?"
A coldness settled into Lex's green eyes. "There won't be anyone left alive to hurt them."
Wendy shuddered, not only from the glacial deadliness in Lex's voice, but also from the empathic emotions of anger and hatred she was receiving. Lex meant every word. There would be no-one left standing in her wake. "Killing isn't the answer, Lex."
Lex looked up into Wendy's blue eyes. "Most of the time you're right. But in this case, it's the only thing that will put an end to this guy's madness. He's more dangerous than any weapon that exists. He brainwashes the weak minded and threatens innocent people. He's a heartless, manipulative liar that will stop at nothing to get his way."
Wendy frowned and dropped her gaze to the floor. Lex sighed before continuing. "Wendy, arresting him and putting him away won't stop him. Even isolated, he'll have power. His people will make him a martyr and fight twice as hard. The only way to put an end to his reign is to put an end to him."
"But can you live with that responsibility? Of having made that decision?" Genuine concern shone in her eyes.
"Can I live with the knowledge that families, children, can go to sleep at night safe in the knowledge that some psycho isn't aiming a nuclear warhead at them?" Lex asked softly. "Yes."
Wendy looked at Lex and smiled gently. "Then you're a lot braver than I am. Bring them home safely."
Lex returned the smile gratefully before heading for the launch bay where Bridger had transportation waiting for her.
Lex settled the armoured headpiece into place as she entered the launch bay. Bridger looked up at her approach, Crocker at his side.
"Here, you'll need this," Crocker said holding out his laser gun.
Lex smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks, chief, but I'm already armed."
Crocker frowned as he quickly scanned her and found no obvious weaponry, but accepted her refusal gruffly.
It was Lex's turn to frown as she looked at the large launch waiting for her. Turning to Bridger, she spoke. "I thought we agreed that I would use the Stinger and you would send over the rescue launch once I gave you the all clear?"
Bridger nodded. "We did."
"Then why is this launch ready, but the Stinger's still in its cradle?"
"Because we couldn't all fit in it," Reuban said from behind her. Lex turned to find Sean and Dorion standing beside him.
"I can't ask you to-"
"You didn't ask, we volunteered," Sean replied as he walked past her to the launch. "Besides, your resignation isn't official yet."
"And everyone knows you're a lousy pilot!" Reuban laughed, heading into the launch.
Lex turned and looked askance at Dorion. He remained silent, returning her gaze with his own dark, piercing eyes. Without a word he walked past her and disappeared into the launch.
"And the fun begins," Lex muttered as she joined her team mates for one last mission.
"What is that?" Wendy asked in amazement as she watched Lex dress.
Lex had asked Bridger earlier for access to the recovered cargo from the Viper Team's downed sub. He'd readily agreed and Lex had been able to retrieve her case with her equipment.
She'd quickly donned her black body suit, and was now in the process of pulling out the accessories.
"Talamyte body armour," she replied with a grin. "One of Reuban's little inventions."
Wendy examined the pieces dubiously. The chest piece, thigh and calf pieces and arm bands looked frail and delicate due to their silver filigree design. Although they looked stylish, Wendy doubted they would provide much protection.
Lex hid her grin as she reached for the first piece of armour. Upon contact with her body, the silver metal liquified, expanding and curling itself around her lower leg.
"That's extraordinary!" Wendy gasped as the subsequent pieces melted against Lex's body in a similar fashion.
"You ain't seen nothing yet," Lex chuckled. Pointing to a high beam at least fifty feet above their heads, Lex crouched and then leapt into the air, landing on the beam with a thud. Wendy's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
Returning to the ground, Lex handed her a wrench laying on one of the cargo crates. "Throw it at me."
Wendy frowned but did as Lex asked, gasping when the wrench was deflected away from Lex by an invisible shield.
"Not only does it greatly enhance my own physical strength, it also acts as a barrier against weapons. Puts the odds in my favour."
"I don't
suppose you
have any more
of those for
the others,
huh?"
A coldness settled into Lex's green eyes. "There won't be anyone left alive to hurt them."
Wendy shuddered, not only from the glacial deadliness in Lex's voice, but also from the empathic emotions of anger and hatred she was receiving. Lex meant every word. There would be no-one left standing in her wake. "Killing isn't the answer, Lex."
Lex looked up into Wendy's blue eyes. "Most of the time you're right. But in this case, it's the only thing that will put an end to this guy's madness. He's more dangerous than any weapon that exists. He brainwashes the weak minded and threatens innocent people. He's a heartless, manipulative liar that will stop at nothing to get his way."
Wendy frowned and dropped her gaze to the floor. Lex sighed before continuing. "Wendy, arresting him and putting him away won't stop him. Even isolated, he'll have power. His people will make him a martyr and fight twice as hard. The only way to put an end to his reign is to put an end to him."
"But can you live with that responsibility? Of having made that decision?" Genuine concern shone in her eyes.
"Can I live with the knowledge that families, children, can go to sleep at night safe in the knowledge that some psycho isn't aiming a nuclear warhead at them?" Lex asked softly. "Yes."
Wendy looked at Lex and smiled gently. "Then you're a lot braver than I am. Bring them home safely."
Lex returned the smile gratefully before heading for the launch bay where Bridger had transportation waiting for her.
Lex settled the armoured headpiece into place as she entered the launch bay. Bridger looked up at her approach, Crocker at his side.
"Here, you'll need this," Crocker said holding out his laser gun.
Lex smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks, chief, but I'm already armed."
Crocker frowned as he quickly scanned her and found no obvious weaponry, but accepted her refusal gruffly.
It was Lex's turn to frown as she looked at the large launch waiting for her. Turning to Bridger, she spoke. "I thought we agreed that I would use the Stinger and you would send over the rescue launch once I gave you the all clear?"
Bridger nodded. "We did."
"Then why is this launch ready, but the Stinger's still in its cradle?"
"Because we couldn't all fit in it," Reuban said from behind her. Lex turned to find Sean and Dorion standing beside him.
"I can't ask you to-"
"You didn't ask, we volunteered," Sean replied as he walked past her to the launch. "Besides, your resignation isn't official yet."
"And everyone knows you're a lousy pilot!" Reuban laughed, heading into the launch.
Lex turned and looked askance at Dorion. He remained silent, returning her gaze with his own dark, piercing eyes. Without a word he walked past her and disappeared into the launch.
"And the fun begins," Lex muttered as she joined her team mates for one last mission.