Advance (Animus Book 4) Read online

  “Is the Jolt finally kicking in?” Kaiden asked and earned a toothy smile from the grunt.

  “Kane’s still got some if you’re looking for a lift,” he offered.

  Kaiden released a single sarcastic laugh. “Nah, I’m good. I’ll drink like a fish, but I need my shooting hand to remain solid. It won’t do any good if my shots keep spasming.”

  “Lightweight.” The merc chuckled and continued down the hall.

  “Where are you going? Do you know where this thing is?”

  “I’ll start kicking doors in. I’m bound to find it sooner or later,” he called back and poised at the first door to do exactly that.

  “Hodder, calm down,” Lazar demanded. “You’ll get your fix, but it’s better to not bring this whole jungle down on top of us.”

  “Bring on whatever,” the mouthy merc retorted. “I can take it. Maybe I’ll even haul a few of the mutant carcasses back and earn some creds from the labs back home.” He shrugged. “You’re the boss, but make sure we find something. I gotta fever, you know?”

  “No kidding,” his leader grumbled.

  Kaiden shifted his machine gun into a more comfortable grip. “At least he seems in better spirits than before.”

  “He’s got a party going on in his head, only no brain cells were invited,” Lazar muttered which prompted a snicker from Kaiden. “Hey, kid, so you think you can use that fancy EI of yours to get us a map?”

  “I can, but I’ll need a system to plug him into. I doubt Axiom has the layouts of their facilities on the extranet. Chief, do you have any ideas?”

  “Check around. Fancy places like this usually have a directory or kiosk in the front. If it’s still functional, I can download the map or schematics and get us a course,” the EI suggested.

  Kaiden nodded and exchanged a nod with Magellan. The bounty hunter walked past him and Kane and took his place beside Lazar. “The details said that it would be kept in some sort of storage unit in the cryo-bay,” the merc leader informed them. “This place is running on minimal power, which makes me wonder if whatever they are looking for is even good anymore.”

  “The container itself is temperature-sealed and insulated, with coatings and protection well above what we’re used to. I’ll give Axiom and their ilk this—they’re thorough.” Magellan studied the cracked and dilapidated corridor. “Perhaps not wise, though. But I’m sure one of their suits is learning that hindsight comes at a high cost, even fiscally.”

  Lazar chuckled and fumbled for another cigarette. He offered one to Magellan, who nodded appreciatively. They lit up using Lazar’s flame and watched as Kane walked past them to Hodder, who now did a little jig in place as his excitement built and the drugs coursed through his veins.

  “You seemed to be stuck with rather interesting company,” Magellan observed as Kane and Hodder jested with one another. “But you have their respect. It must have cost you a lot.”

  “Fire Riders are a simple bunch. I’ll stay with them to the bitter end, but we’re basically barbarians with laser guns and explosives,” Lazar confessed. “The strongest comes out on top. I got my position through battle and killing a couple of my superiors. As for the cost…” He lifted the gauntlet on his arm “Let’s just say that this isn’t an accessory.”

  Magellan nodded and took a quick puff. “I noticed the attachment stitching along the rim. I figure you can at least make enough from this to get a regrowth treatment or perhaps nano-repair. I don’t need the credits so I can throw some your way at the end of this. Think of it as hazard pay for getting caught up in my troubles.”

  “Nice of you,” Lazar acknowledged and took a long drag, “I’ll take you up on that. We’ll discuss the incidentals on the ride back. But, from your tone, I’m guessing you really do think your target is here?”

  Magellan placed the cigarette back to his lips. “There are still no guarantees, and my EI hasn’t picked anything up but the scents and markings of mutants but… Call it a gut feeling.”

  “Then I’ll keep watch. Gut feelings can be more useful than any radar or scanner,” Lazar stated.

  “Hey, I got a map.” Magellan and Lazar stepped forward as Kaiden returned. “Good news and bad news. The cryo-bay is a straight shot from here.” Kaiden had Chief bring up a large display of the biodome’s interior. Seeing it, Hodder and Kane walked over to join them. “The bad news is that it crosses right through this area.” Kaiden pointed to a circular room at the end of the hall, “There are enough sensors left in this place to show life signs, and we have a fair number all in this room. The rest of the place is virtually clear, except for the occasional lifeform along the far side.”

  “They must have set up systems to repel the mutants, although they didn’t do much good,” Magellan mused.

  “They still have a few emitters blasting those high-frequency sounds that drive away most mutants, along with others emitting smells,” Chief explained. He assumed the form of a smaller version of himself on top of the map and looked at Kane and Hodder. “I’m surprised the two of you can stand being in here.”

  This earned the EI annoyed looks from the mercs as Kaiden smiled under his helmet. “Anyway,” he continued as Kane leaned over and flicked the holographic sphere. “You can either push straight through or try to go around. There isn’t a back entrance or anything, but there might be a damaged wall on the sides that you can blast through. But that would probably attract all the mutants in the dome to you anyway, not to mention anything else outside that can withstand the repellents— Would you quit that?” Chief yelled, and his brow furrowed angrily as he looked at Kane.

  “It seems the mutants are adapting, as they are wont to do.” Magellan sighed and flicked his finished cigarette away. “I agree that we should head straight there. There’s little point in luring more potential problems here. Do we know what is waiting for us or is it merely vague lifeforms?”

  “Shriekers, like we guessed. A small colony of them,” Kaiden answered.

  “Oh, they are gonna shriek all right,” Hodder declared with a smile. “Come on, Kane. Let’s go run out the squatters of this fine facility.”

  “But what about…you know?” Kane sounded worried, but Hodder waved his concerns aside.

  “Pop another jolt or something, man. You’re ruining my wave. Let’s get a ruckus going.”

  Kane was still for a moment before he shook his head and ran off, clasping his cannon. Kaiden turned the map off as Lazar walked ahead. “You’re with me, kid. The two jitter brothers will blow them up as soon as we open the doors, you and I will take out as many as we can while they charge, and Magellan… Watch our backs.”

  “Sounds good to me,” the bounty hunter agreed and followed with his rifle at the ready.

  Kaiden could feel his excitement build again. Mutant-slaying was a badge he had earned, and he was happy to be able to put it to use.

  Hodder and Kane stood on either side of the doors to the lab. The larger man settled his finger on the trigger as he looked at Kane, his face grim but steady. They glanced at Lazar, who held his heavy machine gun beside Kaiden who held a thermal ready in his hand. The merc leader nodded at Kaiden and Magellan, who responded in the affirmative before he gave Hodder the go ahead.

  The merc grinned broadly and pressed the trigger to charge his cannon as he and Kane turned and kicked the doors open “Wakey, plasma bakey,” he hollered as he and his partner fired two volleys of plasma charges from their cannons. A loud, piercing, carnal cry resounded as the charges connected and massive explosions scattered through the room.

  Kaiden waited for the blowback to die down before he activated his thermal and threw it in. Lazar fired as Hodder and Kane moved in while their cannons charged again. Kaiden raised his machine gun and strafed the room as he and the merc leader followed. Magellan’s rifle pounded from behind.

  The room was dark, and if it weren’t for the bright flashes of the cannon fire, he would have upped the light sensitivity in his visor. Instead, he traced along the fl
oor and halls with the flashlight on his helmet as another shot of cannon fire erupted on the other side of the room. He spotted their targets. The shriekers stood between five and six feet tall and were covered in black fur tinged red with the dried blood of their prey. Long tails whipped behind them, and deep yellow eyes surrounded black irises. Two of them stared at Kaiden and bared their long, curved teeth. They emitted a high-pitched cry—the piercing shriek for which they were named—in an effort to frighten or stun them.

  “Chief, activate sound dampeners,” Kaiden ordered. Their cries were immediately muted, as were the shots from his gun. He eliminated the one on the left with ease as the other charged. Kaiden was able to fire two shots, one to the arm and the other to the shoulder. It swerved to the side and dashed along the ground before it leapt at the wall and used it to bounce off and tackle him. He landed and yanked out his blade quickly as the shrieker bit into his opposite shoulder. The armor cracked as it tried to sink its teeth into his flesh.

  Kaiden dug the blade into the beast’s back and dragged it down to its waist. The shrieker screamed and held on, but its head raised and gave him enough time to rip the knife out and drive it into its chest. They flipped, the shrieker now under him, and he drew Debonair and shoved the barrel on its forehead to fire three quick shots. He pushed off the body and scrambled to his feet to retrieve his Tempest.

  “Help!”

  Kane backed away from a group of four shriekers which stalked him, his cannon useless as it was venting. Kaiden spun and dropped to one knee. He fired at the group and dispatched two of them in a flurry of laser fire before his own weapon overheated. One of the shriekers hurdled over Kane and glowered at the ace, who began mentally counting down until his machine gun could be used again. The other shrieker continued its pursuit of the skinny merc. Lazar and Hodder were both too busy to lend their aid. Then, before the shrieker could pounce, a shot rang out and its head burst apart. The remains slumped to the floor. After a second shot, Kane’s pursuer also dropped. Magellan stood in the corner and gave him a quick salute as he turned to fire at the remaining horde.

  Before Kaiden could wave back, Chief yelled into his ear, “Kaiden, above!” He looked up as more shriekers descended. “Shit! Guys, look up.”

  “Hodder! Now!” Lazar ordered.

  “Got it, boss,” he responded as he turned a knob on one of the belts along his chest. “You guys have thirty seconds to get your asses out of here. This place is going to blow.”

  Kaiden continued to fire and a shrieker dropped dead out of the mid-air. The others simply jumped down instead of climbing.

  “Kaiden, behind you is a room, and the doors still have power. I’ll cast in and lock them.” He looked back as the others retreated through the door they had come from. He was too far away to sprint to it, not with the number of mutants in his way. He nodded, ran into the small room, and smashed his hand on the console to close the doors behind him. Chief left his HUD for a moment before a click and shudder heralded heavy bars that crossed the doorway. The shriekers pounded and slammed against the doors as they emitted screams of rage. The frame warped against the assault. A large explosion all but shattered his eardrums, even with the dampeners on.

  Smoke floated in through the cracks above the doors. He heard nothing but the ringing in his ears for a moment before it faded slightly. Pieces of debris crackled and thumped as they fell in the Lab room beyond.

  “Crazy bastard,” Kaiden muttered. “But at least we don’t have to deal with those monsters anymore.”

  An arm wrapped around his shoulders. “You guys made a hell of a racket.” Kaiden leapt instinctively aside and drew Debonair. He aimed it at the stranger in the room.

  “You woke me up from my nap. Did you have to kill all of them? It seems like a waste. They make a good meal.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Kaiden demanded. The lights in the room were fairly dim, but he could make out some details. The stranger was tall with tanned skin and a lanky physique and short blond hair. His long arms and legs suggested an athlete but his thin torso was noticeable even in his light armor which glimmered golden, indicating its shielding. He wore a visor or shades with pointed edges over his eyes and sported a lackadaisical grin on his face.

  “Me? I’m merely a traveler, looking to see what I can find that tickles my fancy.” He rubbed the back of his head and his neck cracked as he shifted it from side to side. He yawned before continuing, “I guess you guys are a retrieval team? Maybe not. You’re too well-armed. Those pansies usually have stun guns and tracer rifles which aren’t exactly built for mutant killing—or any killing, for that matter. For all the smarts those nerds in the labs are supposed to have, the muscle only helps the theory of Darwinism.”

  Kaiden, despite the friendly demeanor of the man, felt uneasy. For a moment, he wondered why he was apparently simply hanging out there. Then it dawned on him, and the chill returned. He raised Debonair to fire, but before he could pull the trigger, the stranger had closed in. His arm was forced behind his head and his shots went uselessly into the wall. His adversary slammed something into his chest and he heard a hum as surges of electricity danced along his armor. The barrier shattered, and he felt the full surge of electricity course through his body. The man flipped him, his thin physique belying his strength. He slammed Kaiden into the ground and followed by smashing his boot into his helmet.

  “A little quick to the trigger there, Ace.” He knelt and forced Kaiden’s head to the ground. “But I guess that’s what I get for losing my manners. My name is Gin Sonny.” Kaiden’s breath hitched.

  “Tell me, kid…” He continued to push Kaiden’s head against the floor. “How did ya get here?”

  Chapter Four

  Two Months Earlier

  The gates to Nexus Academy’s entrance opened, and the eager student body swarmed in. A cacophony of cheers and conversations created a jovial atmosphere. Students, wearing their Academy jackets that displayed their year and division, filed quickly into groups as friends met others in their new year and caught up.

  Kaiden looked around and absorbed the pleasant feeling of familiarity as a returning student rather than being bussed in as a last-minute recruit like the previous year. Some students stared or gawked at him, and he allowed himself a small smile. He had wondered how many top scores and records he had to establish to make a name for himself around there. It was satisfying that he’d achieved a little celebrity status. Now, he simply had to keep it up.

  He heard his name shouted. Even with all the voices talking at once, this one was unmistakable, mostly because he called him “mate.”

  “Flynn, is that you?” he shouted, and his gaze swept the crowd. A shaggy blond waved his hand a dozen or so yards away. Kaiden returned the wave as Flynn and Amber made their way over.

  “Hey, Kaiden, how was your break?” he asked.

  “Good. I kept busy and could have used more than six weeks,” he admitted. “It hardly feels like I left at all.”

  “At least you didn’t have a chance to rust,” Amber responded. “Unless you’ve been eating bonbons this entire time.”

  “He’s more of a sucker kind of guy,” Chief interjected as he popped into visibility.

  “You’d better be talking about candy,” Kaiden huffed and regarded the EI with playful anger.

  “If that’s the pet name you decided, sure,” he chirped.

  “That’s a little low-brow for you,” Kaiden sneered. “Are you already hitting the bottom of the barrel? You’ve only been active a year, shiny.”

  “If you didn’t mess up so much, I wouldn’t go through my A-material so quickly,” Chief retorted and twirled for emphasis.

  “Hello again to you too, Chief,” Amber said.

  “Howdy, Amber, Flynn. How y’all doing?” he asked.

  “Better, now that we’ve actually arrived. Our flight was canceled and we only got to Seattle yesterday, then had to make the trip here a few hours after landing,” Flynn mumbled. “But I guess I can
’t complain. Marlo had to drive all the way here. He stayed and worked with his uncle in Arizona over the break. Apparently, he’s in the World Council Military.”

  “Where is that big, lovable goof anyway? Y’all are usually tied at the hip,” Kaiden asked.

  “I don’t know. He said he saw Luke and went to grab him but kinda got lost in the shuffle.” Amber retrieved an EI pad from her pocket. “Hey, Luna?”

  “Yes?” a light-blue nymph-like EI with wireframe wings appeared. “Do you want me to look for Marlo on the network, miss?”

  “I might have mentioned it before, but that is a nauseously cute EI for what we usually do,” Kaiden pointed out.

  “Hey, I ain’t complaining. Besides, not every EI can have my swagger,” Chief stated.

  “You are a damn ball.” Kaiden deadpanned and stared in response to the EI’s glare.

  “It looks like you don’t need to, Luna.” Amber smiled and waved. “I see them. Hey, guys!”

  “What’s up?” Luke shouted. Cameron, Raul, and Marlo joined the group.

  “Que Pasa,” Cameron said and shook hands with Flynn. He gave Kaiden a brief, stern look that the ace returned before he smiled and offered a fist. Kaiden knocked his own against it in greeting. “It looks like the gang’s back together—the good ones at least, except you, Kai.”

  “Keep talking that shit and see if I back you up the next time you have a team of droids after ya,” he warned sarcastically,

  “Good to see you all. Now, we’re only missing Chiyo, Silas, Izzy, and the Tsunas,” Flynn remarked. “It should be easy enough to find them.”

  “Genos messaged me a few nights back. Apparently, the Tsuna report to the dorms first thing. They have some upgrades scheduled, and we’ll have more than twice the number of Tsuna students this year. Evidently, they thought the first year was a great success.”

  “Well, if most of them are half as good as Genos and Jaxon, they’ll make fine additions.” Luke beamed and knocked his shoulder against Raul’s head. “Would you quit messing with your hair?”