Drenched and cold, she broke the surface and began retching, spilling lake water and bile down the front of her suit, only to be washed away by lapping waves. Weak, tired, and emotionally and physically drained, Keryn struggled to the shore and crawled onto the soft sand.
She wasn’t sure how long she lay in the sand before a shadow covered her. Looking, she tried to block the harsh light that fell over her and saw a black uniform and white Avalon wings-Victoria.
“Get up,” she said calmly but firmly.
Keryn awkwardly climbed to her feet and stood before the instructor.
“You’re a damn fine student and great soldier, but you still can’t get past the idea that every possible angle is a threat. Sasha didn’t beat you because she’s a better flier. She didn't beat you because she’s a better shot, either. The truth is, she didn’t beat you. You beat yourself.
“Take tonight off and do some soul-searching. Find out what drives you to stay at the Academy. If you can’t find a good reason to be here, feel free to stop by my office tomorrow and turn in your letter of resignation.”
Keryn stared at the ground, unable to make eye contact with the disappointed instructor. Seeing no reply would be forthcoming, Victoria motioned toward the bus. “Get on the bus and get some sleep tonight. You’re dismissed, Cadet.”
Keryn walked to the bus in shame, ready for a ride back to the Academy. More than anything, she wanted a warm shower and a night to herself, to soul-search, as Victoria called it. Keryn wondered if there was something driving her to stay at the Academy. When she left her home world, she assumed it was destiny when she was accepted into the prestigious school. She wondered if it wasn’t just disdain for the Wyndgaart way of life. Though she hated to admit it, maybe Sasha was right. Maybe Keryn didn’t belong at the Academy.
I could’ve helped you back there, the Voice offered.
“Go to hell.” Dripping wet, Keryn climbed into the bus.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Did I hear gunfire?” Vance asked over the force-wide channel. “Who fired?”
“I heard it, too,” Dallis replied, “but no one reported firing shots.”
“Find out who fired….”
“Michael,” Halo interrupted, “two of your soldiers’ vital signs just bottomed out.”
“Who?” He felt the situation slipping out of control.
“Roberts and Gythrun. They flat-lined within seconds of each other.”
Vance hastily motioned Decker and Dallis to join him. “Who has eyes on our point men?”
“I did,” Decker admitted, “but we were receiving interference from the buildings in the business district. I can’t pinpoint their exact location.”
Dallis shook his head.
“Halo,” Vance said, switching channels, “do you have eyes on either of them?”
“I’m sorry, Michael, but I lost them once they went inside the building. I’m working off satellite imagery, so I can track you only when you’re visible from space. Once you’re inside, you’re on your own.”
Vance pulled his mike away from his ear and stormed away from the others. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”
Regaining his composure, he returned to the group and readjusted his microphone. “Platoons Two and Three, hold your position. We have a situation.”
“Anything we can help with?” Onclav asked, his gravelly Lithid voice carrying clearly over the radio.
“No. Just hold tight right now.” Vance’s voice calmed, and a hard look came to his eyes. “We’re going in to the area directly ahead, then rendezvous at the outpost on the far side of the city.”
“Roger that,” both warrants replied.
Vance scanned the collection of soldiers and team members holding their positions on both sides of the street. Rubbing his black beard absently, he looked at the behemoth buildings looming nearby.
“What are you thinking, Sir?” Decker asked.
“I’m thinking that an intelligent man doesn’t march forty healthy soldiers into an area where two have mysteriously died. An intelligent man turns around, gets back on the ship, and blows the whole city straight to hell.”
“But we aren’t going to do that, are we?”
“I wish we could, but we have our orders.” He felt slightly dejected. “Whatever information is in the military outpost, we need it. If we hadn’t been ordered to scan the city, I would’ve just landed near the outpost, taken what we need, and left.”
“No one ever accused the infantry of being smart, Sir,” Decker joked.
Vance caught himself smiling. “Get the men ready to move. Something’s in the business district, and we’re going to find it. Then we’re going to kill it.”
The infantry and Vance’s team broke from concealment and moved carefully down the road, scanning for any signs of movement from the buildings. As the long shadows of the skyscrapers began to fall over them, the group slowed, taking time to search every potential ambush location thoroughly.
Searching the next three blocks was arduous and took nearly an hour-and-a-half before Vance was confident whatever was in the city was still ahead, not flanking them to come around behind. Raising his hand in a fist, he halted the group. Soldiers melted into the shadows, finding defensive positions until given further orders.
Dallis and Decker joined Vance, who stood defiantly in the middle of the street.
“Our time of stealth and subtlety are over,” Vance said bluntly. “Decker, split your men into groups of four. I want sweeps conducted of all buildings, floor by floor. Either find me something to shoot or the bodies of our fallen soldiers. I also need one soldier to act as spotter for my sniper. Normally, I’d have one of my own pulling that duty, but I need Yen on the ground with me this time.”
“No problem, Sir,” Decker replied. “I’ve got just the guy.” Pulling his microphone away from his mouth, he called for one of his men.
An Uligart broke from cover and hurried toward them. Vance, meanwhile, motioned Ainj to join them, too.
“Ainj, this is….”
“Topher Reese,” the Uligart responded, a look of stern consternation on his face.
“Reese will be your spotter and cover your six,” Vance said. “I want you on top of one of these buildings, ready to cover us on the ground. You need anything from us before you take off?”
“No, Sir.” Ainj adjusted the straps on his mesh vest, having forgone the heavy body armor the others wore. Aside from being constrictive when he tried to fire, the body armor weighed him down to the point that his hollow bone structure couldn't support the weight when he tried to fly.
“Good. Move out, and be ready for anything.”
As Decker called out commands to his men, splitting them up and supervising their entry into nearby buildings, Vance switched his microphone to the team’s internal communications channel. “Rally on me.”
The other five team members broke from their positions and hustled to Vance. All saw his concerned expression, which seemed drastically out of place.
“Bad juju, Boss?” Tusque asked.
“Yeah.” His eyes never left the towers looming over him. “Bad juju.”
“Where do you need us?” Eza idly spun his ax with one hand.
“Here, on the ground.” Looking around, Vance pulled them closer, so the infantry couldn’t overhear them. “Nothing against our brethren here, but, if things start to go bad, I want you all on the ground, so we can beat feet to the outpost.”
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” Nova asked.
“Maybe.” He couldn’t shake the memories of the lost teammates over the past seven years. The sense of dread burrowing deep into his gut made him want to ensure his current group didn’t meet the same fate. “Nova and Yen, you two take north. Tusque and Eza, head south. Ixibas, you’re with me as reserve. Any questions?”
They shook their heads and adjusted their weapons.
“Then move out.”
Vance stood in the middle of the street, savoring the ambient light filtering between the buildings. Decker and Dallis, having established a search cordon, joined him and Ixibas on the road. Minutes dragged painfully by, as infantry soldiers searched each of the twenty-story or taller buildings floor by floor. Minute after minute, Vance asked for updates and received the same reply-no sign of the missing men or any enemies.