Disclaimer: Still don't own the characters. Square does.
Author's Note: Yay! Next week, I no longer have to make unnecessary 30+ mile trips to get to a computer that can upload! Perhaps that will improve my updating skills… And I know this chapter isn't the greatest… Action isn't something I write well at the moment. I'm still refining my technique. Strangely, this reminds me of the rescue in Star Wars, hence Dr. Sid's comment.
Heh. This is my longest OOTA chapter yet, isn't it?
OUT OF THE ASHES
Chapter Fourteen
Rescue Run
Chaos raged around Major Boyer, who ignored the pitched battle around him. Ash had rooted out another nest of Phantoms that had taken up residence in New York before the USMF had taken control. A massive tentacle whipped over Boyer's head, ruffling his white-blond hair, but he kept his attention focused on the small hand communicator. "As you can see," Boyer said to the holographic face hovering just above his wrist, "we've had multiple Phantom encounters, during which Project Ash has proven his effectiveness."
Boyer didn't even flinch as the Phantom nearest him, its tentacles reaching for him, was suddenly engulfed in a globe of water, which only dissipated after drowning the creature within.
"I'm impressed." The voice sounded quiet and tinny through the communicator, and Boyer had to lift it close to hear. "But what about the rebels?"
Boyer's lips curled. "The rebels… yes…" He began walking away from the midst of the battle, cautiously navigating the rusted debris hidden in the shadows of the city's lower level. Behind him, Ash was striking out randomly, a crazed rictus grin stretched across his features. "Ash has managed to locate several," Boyer said, "but we still haven't found the leader."
The miniature face growled in irritation. "Stop wasting your time with these damn Phantoms and find the rebels! They're the biggest threat to our plans."
And the Phantoms aren't? Boyer thought irritably as the screams of a dying soldier reached his ears. Idiot… "We're doing what we can. And if the Phantoms destroy everyone in the city, all our plans would be for nothing," Boyer said coolly. Just because these new Phantoms don't fit with his plans, he wants to pretend they don't exist!
The noise around him began to fade as the last Phantom, one of the graceful Snakes, writhed and twisted in agony, breath gurgling from its throat and blood-tinted foam spewing from its jaws. Ash stood in front of the beast, laughing as the crimson spittle splashed across his face as the creature's thrashing weakened.
Poison. Water. Lightning. Fire. There seemed to be no end to the elements Ash commanded. He enjoyed his power, reveling in the various ways to kill he had at his command.
"If you'll excuse me," Boyer said, not even bothering to feign politeness, "the battle has been won, and I need to take care of matters."
"Of course," the other said, his image vanishing.
Ash stood in the middle of the battlefield, his eyes roving the bodies for survivors. He seemed able to pierce the shadows that perpetuated the lower city – the ground level ancient city over which the raised barrier city had been built – where any of the other soldiers would have needed lights. Boyer quickened his stride, knowing that, if Ash didn't find another foe before the major could calm him, he'd begin attacking the soldiers.
"Ash," Boyer said, gently placing a hand on one bony shoulder. "That's enough."
Ash whirled to face him, his eyes glittering and fire sprang to his fingertips. He seemed poised and ready to strike.
"They're gone," Boyer continued, his voice uncharacteristically soothing. "Stand down."
Ash clenched his fists, quenching the flames. He held his hands stiffly at his sides, and his entire body was rigid with his defiance. But he was obeying Boyer, for now. The major wondered how long that would last.
"There will be more fighting later," Boyer said. "You still need to find those rebels who've been causing so much trouble."
"Now?" The voice was almost plaintive, like a child demanding something he'd been promised.
"It's late," Boyer said. "The soldiers are exhausted, even if you aren't."
"I don't need guards," Ash stated. "They slow me down, and hold me back." Boyer stared; that had to be the most coherent thing he'd ever heard Ash say. Slowly, his brain was recovering from the surgery, it seemed.
"You do now," Boyer said firmly, gripping Ash's arm and leading him from the scene of the carnage. Around him, the soldiers packed away the spotlights they'd used in the near-dark battle. "But when you recover – "
There was a flash, and a column of white light coruscated around Ash, encasing him and obscuring him from view. Then the light flowed upwards and vanished, leaving Ash trembling in its wake, unhurt, but shaken up for the first time since Boyer had known him.
I've seen that spell before… It's the one that rebel used on that bug Phantom a few days back… It fried the Phantom, but why didn't it harm Ash?
"He's here," Ash said through gritted teeth, and flames danced around his fingers.
"Find him," Boyer snapped. "Maybe we can end this now."
* * *
The trip to the base hidden outside Philadelphia was used to refine the team's rescue plans. Aki ignored the strategy session, sitting in the Copperhead's co-pilot seat next to Neil. She'd heard it all before, and there was little she could offer. Besides, she could monitor it through the radio she'd been equipped with, as Neil obviously was.
Their plan was weak at best, but no one could think of a better idea. Sneaking into a fortified military base had nearly been impossible for even a Phantom, so that was out. And obviously they weren't just going to walk in and place everyone under military arrest with General Ryder's orders… they were only four against who knew how many. And while Jane's powers would give them an edge, there were still too few of them.
So they were going to bluff. It was one of the reasons they'd chosen a Copperhead to approach the base in, and why Aki had been equipped with uncomfortably heavy Deep Eyes armor. It was Ryan's hope that they could convince the gate guards they were reinforcements, and thus could infiltrate the base.
" I know the captain could have come up with something better," Ryan had said apologetically.
"Don't worry," Jane had replied. "You're doing great. We'll do it; you'll see."
Aki was skeptical. Maybe they could fight their way past the gate guards if the bluff didn't work, but once they breached the base, all hell would break loose.
"Check it out," Neil murmured from beside her. Below them, as far as the eye could see, was a vast plain of grass, swaying in the wind. "Whatever happened to us sure was good for the earth."
Aki agreed; despite these new problems with the Phantoms, the planet hadn't looked this good in a long time.
Ryan came in to the cockpit. "Set us down in the nearest clear zone," he said. Neil nodded, keeping his eye on the scanners for a place to land.
"Why are we stopping now?" Aki demanded.
"We're not going to go charging into an armed military base without proper preparations," Ryan explained. "We didn't have time to do some things when we were… borrowing the Copperhead." He sounded a little sheepish at that last.
"I have to change the ID transponder on this so it can't be traced back to Ryder," Neil said. "And we're going to get the latest satellite pictures of this place to see if the defenses have changed since Ryder's boys checked it out." Neil fell silent as he piloted the ship to an area of barren rock.
"How close are we to the base?" Aki asked as she, Ryan, and Neil returned to the ship's troop transport area, where Jane was waiting, a holographic map before her.
"About five miles," Jane said. "According to satellite, the base is still only minimally defended – no flyovers, no armed patrols, just the barrier, which is active, and guards set along a solid concrete fence topped with barbed wire. There are two Copperheads along the stretch between the barrier and the inner fences; that's probably where we'll have to set down."
"Sneaking in definitely would be out, then," Aki sighed. It would have been easier than the dangerous bluff they were pulling.
"Especially if we wanted to be air-born," Neil said. "If we had to leave this place on foot, we'd be screwed. At least this way, we can have the Copperhead within reach."
"Once we retrieve the doctor, we can blast our way through the barrier, since there won't be any need for subtlety then." Ryan eyed the satellite-generated map unhappily. "But it's up to you to get us in, Neil."
"Are you up to it?" Jane's face seemed strangely concerned, Aki thought. Neil seemed unaffected by the woman's feelings, however.
"No problem. I just convince the scanning devices by the guard that we're someone we're not, and they let us in."
He makes it sound so simple, Aki thought.
"One thing, though," Neil said a little hesitantly. "What about the Black Boa?"
Aki had been rather shocked when Neil had announced, as they were "borrowing" the Copperhead, that he had set Aki's ship's autopilot so it would accompany them. He'd mentioned the possibility of using it as a decoy during their escape.
"I had her set down about two miles from here," Neil continued. "She'll be ready when we need her. Do you see a better place for her?"
"I don't see why we need it at all," Jane said.
"I don't trust this," Neil said softly. "Something tells me it's… wrong."
Jane looked up sharply when Neil had mentioned "something. How was that significant? Aki wondered.
"The Copperhead may be lighter and better armed, but it can easily be tracked. If there's trouble, we can transfer to the Boa and leave them all behind."
"Doesn't that seem a little paranoid to you?" Jane asked.
"It's better to be safe," Ryan said. "So much can go wrong with this that anything that can improve our chances is worth it. And, like Neil said earlier, we can use it as a decoy. All right; as soon as Neil alters the Copperhead's identification signal, we're off."
* * *
Before she had pulled on her helmet, Ryan had caught the concerned look Jane had flashed Neil. So much of this depended on him. Jane had taken Ryan aside while Neil and Aki had been in the cockpit, and she'd pleaded with him to rethink this, to find a way that didn't rely so much on the tech. She wouldn't say why she was so concerned, but Ryan received the impression that something about the tech spooked her.
What was it about him that caused so much alarm? Perhaps Jane just feared Neil would freeze up again. Ryan had no such concerns; he'd known Neil too long, and he suspected it was only the manifestation of powers that had halted Neil. After all, discovering one has incredible abilities was enough to give anyone pause, even if he had known such abilities existed in others.
And, try as he might, Ryan had been unable to think of a better plan. Without proper reconnaissance, he knew little about the place. There was so much he could have overlooked; so much that could go wrong. He'd told Jane earlier that he wasn't fit to lead this, that he wasn't the captain. She'd reminded him there was no one else who could do this.
He just wished he had more time! The base's small barrier, brightly illuminated, was rapidly growing in their view. Almost there… Aki wouldn't hear of it when he'd suggested putting it off for a day. She was desperate for her mentor, who she unshakably believed would solve all their problems.
Well, the situation was getting worse, Ryan had to admit to himself. And General Ryder had seemed almost… urgent when it came to getting out of the city to rescue Dr. Sid. Things could be much worse than Ryder had let on.
"Sir?" Neil's voice drifted through the com. "They're gonna let us in, and we're to report straight to the gate guards to prove our credentials."
So far, so good, Ryan thought. He looked towards Aki, almost indistinguishable from Jane in her full body armor and helmet but for her slumped posture. He hoped she could handle this. The doctor had proven her courage, but she had gone through a lot in the past week. Could she handle the pressure?
The Copperhead suddenly slewed sideways, and Ryan snapped out a hand to catch Aki before she could tumble off the bench. "Sorry… Snake Phantom," Neil explained. "Almost there."
Neil deftly guided the ship through the opening before setting it down in an area that must have been designated for them. "All right," Ryan said. "This is it. Just like we planned it."
"Right," Aki agreed softly, as the others crisply responded, "Yes, sir!"
They left the Copperhead, marching up to the gate. Aki, unused to the heavy armor, lagged slightly behind, but she seemed determined to keep up. As agreed, Neil led the way, because it would have seemed awkward to let a lower-ranked soldier handle their identification. This way, he looked like he was in charge. Fortunately, except for ranks of lieutenant and above, there was no way to determine Neil's status by looking at his armor.
I hope they don't ask why we lack a ranking officer… Ryan watched as Neil confidently strode up to the gate's computer, placing his body between the terminal and the guard.
The guard, while not unaware of their presence, seemed to pay little attention to them. It's true… if we look like we belong, no one notices us! Neil had once told him how, in his younger years, he'd managed to sneak around the HMA by looking like he was on official business and was supposed to be there. Ryan had laughed until Neil had urged him to sit down and take notice of just how many people there were around them. Ryan had been stunned; he hadn't been paying the slightest attention to those around him, except when it came to those acting oddly. It's a military thing, Neil had said.
Speaking of which… Ryan heard a sharp hiss from Neil. Ryan tried not to jerk his head to the tech and alert the guard. "What's wrong?" Ryan murmured through the private channel.
Neil stripped off his glove, holding it to the palm reader, much to Ryan's alarm. This hadn't been part of the plan! "This could be easier than I thought," he said, his voice strangely choked.
The gate opened before them, accepting Neil's print. The guard seemed to accept this, granting them access without question.
"We're in," Ryan said.
* * *
Something was happening. Dr. Sid had known something was wrong when Major Boyer had come in the other day, hastily confiscating all the notes and samples he had given Dr. Sid. At first, Sid had feared he was no longer useful was about to be terminated, but the major had left without a word of explanation, and Dr. Sid hadn't seen him since.
He wouldn't have minded; the major's presence chilled him, but the loss of all that fascinating research upset Dr. Sid. He had only his memories and theories now. He glumly wondered if he would ever be involved in scientific research where he could publicly reveal findings instead of storing them in memory.
But that was beside the point. There was something going on today, the old scientist could feel it. Except for the soldier who had silently delivered his food tray, Dr. Sid had heard no one outside his room. The dead silence was unnerving. Perhaps the major is preparing for my execution…
He sat in the silence for hours, left with nothing to do but eat and sleep. Even his small terminal had been taken from him. He was left to amuse himself with the enigmas Boyer had presented him with. What were these green spirits? And could the people of New York truly have come alive? If only he were free to find out. If only he had never allowed those soldiers to divert their course to investigate something… unusual they'd sighted. If only he hadn't left the heartbroken Aki… Aki… How is she faring? She must be frantic with worry…
The clattering of armored soldiers down the corridors came to him, sounding unnaturally loud after the silence. Dr. Sid listened, realizing with a start they were coming straight towards him. Escorts? Am I being evacuated too, finally? Dr. Sid knew much of the base had been emptied. Perhaps they had been under attack, and now that the battle was over, they were coming back for their prisoner.
If he were younger and stronger, perhaps he would have made an escape attempt. Instead, he resolved to take whatever came at him with dignity.
There was a moment's hesitation, then the door slid open, revealing four soldiers in Deep Eyes gear. One of them came straight towards him, shuffling awkwardly in the armor. "Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?" Sid quipped dryly, knowing the reference was beyond this younger generation. But this soldier was behaving so oddly…
"What?" came the baffled voice. One hand came up, unlatching the nightmarish helmet. "Sid!" Aki cried, brown eyes taking in the sight of him as if she'd feared she'd lost him for good. "You're all right!"
"Aki?" He couldn't believe it. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think? We're here to rescue you!" one of the other soldiers chimed in. "And we'd better get going; they won't be fooled forever."
Now Sid could only stare. The speaker had sounded like Neil Fleming. "Who…?" Dr. Sid began.
"We'll explain later," the tallest soldier, who sounded like Ryan Whittaker, interrupted. "Neil's right."
So it was Neil? But… Dr. Sid had seen the young man's body through the cameras on the runway. He'd been killed…
"Neil? Ryan?" He turned to the final soldier, who hadn't yet spoken but could only be… "Jane?"
"Later," Jane said, grabbing his arm. "Let's move."
They pulled him into the corridor, still empty of all signs of life. "It's too empty," Dr. Sid murmured.
"You get that feeling, too?" Ryan countered.
They hurried forward, Jane's arm on Sid's pulling him along. They came to a large door which slid open at Neil's touch, then closed automatically behind them. Ahead was another, similar door, down a hall with several branching corridors. Dr. Sid guessed this was the laboratory area, kept sealed from the main part of the base.
Neil reached the door first, pressing his palm to the plate. Nothing happened. "They've figured it out and cut my clearance!" Neil hissed. "Figures. This is the perfect place for an – " A spray of bullets shredded the wall beside them. " - ambush," Neil concluded.
"Get the door open," Ryan said. "Aki, Doctor, get behind us. Jane, we're providing covering fire."
Pulling their woefully small pistols, they began to return fire. Dr. Sid held tightly to Aki, who had placed him behind herself and the protection of her armor. Neil seemed to block out the battle, concentrating solely on the door's control panel, which he ripped open with his knife. His fingers rapidly flicked in and out among the wires, and he grunted when a short burst of electricity caught his fingers. "Always happens," Neil muttered to himself. The door slid open, and the tech pushed Sid and Aki through. "Ryan! Jane! Get through! I'm gonna try to seal the door so they can't come through!" Ryan directed Jane to pass through, and the woman reluctantly obeyed.
The door's panels began to slide shut, and Ryan hurried through, followed by Neil. There was a staccato of gunfire, which ricocheted harmlessly off the doors. Suddenly Neil let out a yelp.
"What's wrong?" Jane demanded. Dr. Sid turned to see the young man pass through the rapidly closing doors, barely clearing it in time.
"It caught my heel," he said. "Just surprise me, is all. Now let's get moving!"
As Dr. Sid turned away, he thought he saw a dark splash of blood at the door's edge. But he was rushed down the hall by the others, and hadn't been able to check for certain.
To Be Continued…