“Stand behind me, Cam,” Roen said, hand on Cameron’s chest, pushing him against one of the stacks of catalysts.
Cameron looked over at Jacob, the two men with him on one side and the three on the other. “Dad, there’s too many. You’re going to need me.”
“I got this, Cam.”
Roen needs to get over himself if you two are going to get out of this alive.
“Tell me about it. Story of my life.”
Take out the other guards first. Then with two versus one, you might have a fighting chance.
“Roen Tan,” Jacob called from the doorway as it clicked shut behind him. “Remember me? You do, don’t you? I can tell by the fear in your voice. Have I haunted your dreams all these years? Rest assured, this will be the last time we ever meet.”
“I’m sorry,” Roen yelled back. “My memory’s a little fuzzy. Who are you again?”
“I was the boy who beat you to within an inch of your life. That was a long time ago, old man. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Oh yeah, you’re that punk with the grand-daddy issues. Well, come on then,” Roen yelled. He turned to Cameron. “Watch the other doorways. Shoot anything that walks.” Then he knelt down and whispered into the comm. “Jill, we have a situation. Might need you to bail us out. Jill?” He put both hands over his ears and concentrated. “I can’t make out what she’s saying. It’s louder than Wembley Stadium on the other end. Something about a counterattack. We’re on our own, buddy.”
Blitz the northern end and run. That is your only chance.
Roen whispered into Cameron’s ear. “Here’s what I want you to do. Guard the center area and use the stacks for cover. I’ll take out the enemy at the north end and then we sneak out.”
What? That will never work. What a dumb plan.
“Dad,” Cameron said. “You can’t keep trying to coddle me. You need me.”
“Roen Tan,” Jacob barked again. “I have an offer for you. I’m walking in now.”
Roen and Cameron both stuck their heads above the pallets like gophers out of the ground and watched as Jacob sauntered in. “You mean like last time, when we put our guns down and fought it out like we’re no better than the animals?”
“Actually, Roen Tan,” Jacob said, “you tried to shoot me when I offered.”
“Oh yeah. I did, didn’t I? Oops. That kind of dampens the trust in our relationship, then.”
“I’m still willing to offer you a deal.” Jacob had reached the first row of pallets, still looking relaxed. The two Genjix soldiers behind him stayed at the doorway.
“What do you have in mind?” Roen asked.
“First of all, Roen Tan, show me your hands. Both of you.”
Roen raised the rifle until it rested on the pallet and aimed it at Jacob. “Okay, what next?”
For a man who had a rifle pointed at his head, Jacob was very relaxed. “Fair enough, Roen Tan. Here’s my offer. Surrender your rifle and pistols – I know you must have two – and come out with your hands up. I beat you to death in front of your boy, and then he will be free to leave. I will even guarantee his safety out of this base.”
That made Roen pause. “So my life for his? That’s it? That sounds surprisingly… reasonable.”
“He can’t be serious!”
He is playing for time. I hope.
Cameron looked over at his father’s face and could tell that his dad was actually considering it. He had the worst poker face in the world. “Dad,” he hissed. “You’re not actually considering this shit, are you?”
“Watch your mouth,” Roen said absently, his eyes still locked on the Adonis. “So my son walks right out that door. I put my guns down and surrender, and then you do whatever the fuck your sadistic mind can think of. That’s it?”
Jacob smirked. “No, he stays while I beat you to death. I want him to watch you die slowly and painfully while I break you bit by bit. I want the image of your death branded into his mind for the rest of his life. I want the face of his father’s killer to haunt his every waking hour. Then perhaps he will know a little of the pain you caused me.”
Cameron’s blood turned to ice, and he felt a chill move through his body. This Jacob guy was completely unhinged. Even the thought of leaving his dad with him made Cameron want to throw up.
“Tao, do something!”
We need to see what your father decides. Unfortunately, that could be the best option. Otherwise, I doubt any of us will walk out of this room alive.
“You fucking suck sometimes, Tao.”
Roen is right; when did you get such a mouth? I know your father, though. He is up to something. Be ready.
“You really didn’t take my advice when I told you to date, did you?” Roen was saying. “That’s probably a blessing for the girls. Look, Jacob, you have some serious issues.”
Jacob shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Make up your -”
Roen pulled the trigger. A single shot echoed across the cavernous room. Unfortunately, Jacob was either expecting it, or all the rumors about Adonis Vessels being superhuman were true. He tilted his head just slightly to the left and the bullet whizzed by his head into one of the containers behind him. That’s when the short-lived negotiations dissolved into a fracas.
“Get Cameron on the level, Tao,” was all Roen shouted as he swung his rifle to the left and took out one of the Genjix guarding the doorway. Then he aimed upward and shot out the four giant warehouse lights directly above them. The center of the room went dark.
Opposite side now! Get some distance from your father. Hide between the pallets. Keep moving. Stay inside the black.
Cameron swung to his right and shot off three groupings, all missing. He ducked and moved down the aisle, finding moments to stick his head out and potshoot the men guarding the door. The Genjix there were at a severe disadvantage, standing in the light without cover. All Cameron had to do was wait until he had a good shot and get them from the shadows. Even then, he missed several more times before he finally nailed two of the guards at the north end of the wall. The last one, realizing his bad positioning, charged forward toward the pallets and disappeared around the corner.
Cameron pulled back and saw Roen and Jacob running around the square pallets and shooting at each other, the gunfire like a strobe light in the darkness. Every time Jacob turned in Cameron’s direction, Roen would try to suppress him and draw him back. Cameron couldn’t quite make out how the fight was going. He could only see the action unfold in the brief flashes of light.
Do not worry about your father. He can keep Jacob busy. It is up to you to take out the other Genjix.
Cameron moved his attention to the guards at the southern end. He scampered to the edge of the pallets on the other side and caught both guys right as they were creeping toward him. He took them out easily.
As he was making his way back to the northern wall, he accidentally walked into the remaining Genjix. The man must have crept up on the other side of the pallet. The two bumped into each other, startled, and then opened fire simultaneously.
Fortunately, Cameron got the first shot off and hit the guy in the face. Unfortunately, the Genjix got his off as well. The bullet struck Cameron’s rifle and ricocheted into his chest. The impact was enough to knock him onto his back, skidding him several meters until his head bumped against one of the pallets. Luckily, the advanced body armor prevented the bullet from penetrating his body.
Not so lucky was the feeling that someone had just whacked him with a baseball bat. It hurt so badly, he momentarily blacked out. Writhing on the ground, his vision was blurred by hundreds of sparkling explosions. He actually thought for a moment he had died and that it was Tao floating above him.