“That doesn’t look good,” X said.
The clang of metal on metal signaled the start of the first matches. The sparring brought shouts and cheers. These youths would join an army of over a thousand warriors spread out over the oil rigs, outposts, and remaining fleet of warships.
X couldn’t see them, but the Lion, Mercury, and Star Grazer all cruised outside the barrier of the Vanguard Islands. Each was manned by a hundred sailors and soldiers, patrolling for defectors and other threats.
The clank of metal and wood on the deck was another reminder of how outnumbered X and his people were. Lieutenant Sloan and her new sergeant, Wynn, were doing a fine job. Recruiting sky people who needed jobs since the Hive’s decommissioning, they had grown the militia’s ranks to just under a hundred, but the disparity was still huge. Even with almost a fourth of the sky people serving in the army, if the Cazadores decided to break the truce, they would have an overwhelming advantage in numbers.
A boat pulled up alongside the warship, and a dozen more Cazador warriors climbed a rope net to the first deck. These weren’t just grunts, either. The rest of the Black Order of Octopus Lords had arrived.
General Santiago, Colonel Forge, and Colonel Moreto set off across the deck with a squad of warriors in full armor. Black capes fluttered behind Forge’s and Moreto’s shoulders. Santiago’s cape was blazing orange.
Escorting the officers were eight Praetorian Guards in black armor.
“What are they here for?” X asked.
“To have a look at the ‘fresh meat,’ as you called them,” Rhino said.
X suddenly didn’t feel so safe. He hadn’t even told Sloan or Wynn he was coming here. But a glance at the sky eased his mind.
Discovery hovered at three thousand feet above the water. The ship could strike at a moment’s notice with a variety of missiles, bombs, and twenty-millimeter Minigun fire on any Cazador ship that might threaten it.
And X had made sure all antiaircraft weapons on the islands were under his control. The thirty-millimeter cannons were now manned by several of his most trusted militia soldiers.
The Cazadores had the numbers, but the sky people had the firepower.
“So, you going to tell me why you’re really here?” Rhino said.
“You don’t miss much, do you?” X said. “That’s why I like you.”
“Thank you, King Xavier.”
X sighed, wondering whether he was making the right decision. The only way to know was to ask for advice—and then try to listen to it, for once.
“We fought together to take this place back from a mad king,” X said. “You helped my people even when it meant fighting your own, and now I need your help again.”
“I serve at your pleasure,” Rhino said, bowing slightly.
“I appreciate that.”
“I saw, and see, a great warrior in you, Immortal. You are the only one who can lead both our peoples to prosperity. Tell me what I must do, and I will do it.”
“I want you to lead an expedition by sea to Rio de Janeiro.”
The thick brows squeezed together. “King Xavier, I am honored to be considered for this mission, but I do not think leaving your side would be a good idea.”
“I know I have enemies,” X said, glancing at the officers on deck. “I see the way some of them look at me. Even the new warriors are suspicious.”
Colonel Vargas joined the other officers on the deck. They all were looking out over the rail at two speedboats flanking a fishing boat. The three vessels appeared to be heading for the warship Elysium.
“Who’s that?” X asked.
“The first challengers.”
“Challengers…” X spotted cages on the deck of the fishing boat, and he wasn’t surprised to see the pale, dead-looking flesh moving inside them.
Rhino said, “I will have to oversee this personally, King Xavier.”
X nodded. “We can discuss this mission later. Meet me at the capitol rig when you finish here.”
Rhino thumped his chest. “I’ll make sure you get to a boat safely.”
X laughed at that. “Brother, I’ll be fine.”
“I know, but I’m coming anyway.”
They walked back to the deck where the two hundred youngsters, some of them bloody now, stood at attention. A crane had lowered chains to the fishing boat. Once they were secure, the first cage rose from the boat.
The Cazador officers walked over to watch. They nodded to X—all but Vargas, who looked away.
A muffled screech came from the Sirens inside the rising cage. The veterans operating the crane swung the load onto the deck.
“Back, back!” Rhino yelled.
The trainees didn’t need to hear it twice, not even Felipe. But like the Cazador officers, the boy wasn’t looking at the Sirens. They were staring at X.
He took in a deep breath, filling his lungs. He would never grow tired of the fresh salt air. After a decade in the wastes, this was as close to heaven as he had ever been.
And it was why he had to do this.
X gave Rhino his helmet. “I’ll take the first one,” he said. “Tell them to hold the second cage on the boat below.”
“¿Qué?” Rhino said. “I mean, what?”
X gestured for the sword on the belt of a veteran standing a few feet away. The soldier unsheathed it and handed it over.
“The knife, too,” X said.
He tucked the knife under a strap on his armor, then walked toward the cage as two veterans guided it down.
Rhino called out orders in Spanish.
The cage clanked onto the deck, and the veterans picked up the same black electrical cattle prods they had used on X back in Florida.
He readied his sword and nodded at the two men. Neither looked to Rhino for approval. At least they respected him. Now it was time to earn the respect of these youngsters.
All the trainees were hanging on his every move, and while the eyeless female Siren couldn’t see him, it could hear and smell him just fine.
It sniffed the air, tilting its head as he moved. Listening, sensing, anticipating.
They were matchless hunters, designed to survive in a postapocalyptic world—the ultimate cazadores.
Dropping to all fours, the beast moved with his steps, sinewy muscles flexing under pale, leathery skin.
The gag in its mouth would prevent it from screaming or sinking those jagged teeth into his flesh, but there was nothing to stop the long razor-edged claws from slashing his throat or spilling his guts on the deck.
The beasts hadn’t been fed in a month, though, and this one was clearly weakened, its ribs and bony back protruding. Even these genetically modified human descendants had to eat.
One of the guards unlocked the cage, attracting the Siren’s attention. X raised his sword. The instant the lock clicked, the monster slammed into the door, swinging it open.
X would have finished the beast right away, but he had to put on a show, and the recruits needed to see how these creatures fought. So he pinked it on the arm, just enough to draw blood and piss the thing off.
The monster slashed at the air, dangerously close to the crotch of his armor. X jumped back, prompting cheers and shouts from those assembled. He would have loved to see the look on Rhino’s face.
A gust of wind sprayed X with rain as he drew the Siren away from the center of the deck, toward the bow. It followed him upright instead of on all fours, moving faster than he would have thought considering its weakened condition.
The creature sprang through the air.
X ducked and raised the tip of his sword from a squatting position, opening a gash in the creature’s belly as it vaulted over him.