Perdition (Dred Chronicles 1)

“I’m fine with you,” he said.

More proof he’s not as crazy as he seems.

Dred had no intention of getting in the line of fire, but she wanted to see the action, so she crept forward, keeping her movements slow and steady. Peacemaker units tracked humans two ways: via infrared and by sudden movement. She didn’t think this one would disregard the two targets close by to come after her, though. So it should be fine.

She made it to the corner in time to see Jael run at the Peacemaker; it leveled its weapons on him. This thing had three of them—a rifle so powerful it was known as a Shredder, an actual cannon mounted on its chest, and an energy gun that could fry you like a side of meat. Though she’d seen him do some impossible shit, it seemed likely he’d only get himself—and Einar—killed. Projectile rounds slammed the ground and somewhere ahead of them, she heard defense mechanisms kick to life.

“Dammit.”

“The turrets are live,” Wills said. “And I suspect this part of the ship might be in lockdown.”

“Force fields,” she guessed. Then she offered the alleged madman a hard look. “It’s all bullshit, isn’t it? Your crazy act.”

“Not always. But most of the time? Yes.”

“Why?”

“It keeps me safe. People are superstitious about harming the infirm and insane, even in here.”

“I try to keep people from knifing each other in Queensland,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean you know about everything that goes on in the dormitories or in the halls at night. Remember, this is still a prison.”

Before she could reply, a boom called her attention back to the fight. A smoking hole in the wall behind them testified to the strength of the laser on the Peacemaker’s left limb. Jael was still moving, though, and so was Einar. The former had his shirt off for reasons incomprehensible to Dred. What they thought they could do when they got to the thing, though—Jael leapt, answering her question. He dropped his shirt over the Peacemaker’s visual sensors, which would screw with its targeting.

“Help me with this,” he said to Einar.

To her astonishment, they circled the bot, then took up a position to the side, at the wrong angle to be blasted, and snagged the Shredder. She could tell by the bulging of their arms that they were using all their strength; the Peacemaker caught on too slow and tried to spin, but she couldn’t imagine it had been programmed for a couple of lunatics trying to pop its arm off. So the movement actually helped them, providing more leverage at the weakest point, against the soldered joint. With a shriek of grinding metal, the limb wrenched free.

“Get back!” he shouted at Einar.

Then he opened up on the Peacemaker, emptying the chambers at the thing’s head. The first volley of ammo pinged off the bot’s armor, but the next round dug in. The Peacemaker’s chest opened and the cannon fired. The wall exploded. Beneath a smoldering shrapnel rain, Jael dove and rolled, coming up on one knee. He unloaded the rest of the ammo while Einar assaulted the thing from behind. The big man might be strong enough to break the laser, but she doubted it would fire, as it must be wired into the Peacemaker’s power source.

Einar pulled and pulled at that arm, but he wasn’t strong enough alone. “A little help?”

Jael dropped the Shredder, as it wasn’t piercing through the bot’s armor. He came in low and got behind the machine. With his added force and the Peacemaker fighting every inch they drew it back, it wasn’t long before the laser bent until the next shot would probably make the thing explode.

“See if you can get it to cycle with the laser,” she called.

Dred had no idea how, but Jael did. He snatched his shirt off the thing’s head, so it could see its targets again. Since he and Einar were standing adjacent, the laser was the closest and most feasible weapon. Instinctively, she fell back around the corner, trying to avoid the fallout, and footsteps pounded in her direction. As Einar slid down beside her, she heard an incredible boom. When Jael staggered up, he had a hole in his chest, the skin blackened and charred. That would’ve killed anyone else, she thought. Dred could actually see inside his body, damage to his organs that should’ve been permanent and fatal. The hallway beyond smoldered.

“Why didn’t you run?” she demanded, catching him as he collapsed.

“Just need a second. I’ll be fine.”

Dred cupped his shoulders. “Why?”

“Had to make sure it used the laser, so I stayed close. Otherwise, it might’ve shifted to the chest cannon and shot Einar.”

“So you did it for me?” the big man asked.

“Don’t take it the wrong way. It doesn’t mean we’re in love.”

“I owe you,” Einar said quietly.

Dred knew just how significant that statement was. Einar didn’t offer his loyalty or a personal marker lightly. Whatever came next, Jael could expect the big man to watch his back. It took a lot to impress Einar, but Jael had gotten the job done. They actually did it. They defeated a Peacemaker with their bare hands. She’d never heard of such a thing. The armed units had a reputation for being unstoppable unless you had equal firepower.

As she held Jael, his internal damage resolved, new tissue replacing burned flesh, then the hole in his chest grew smaller. It was insane and hard to credit, but the process took less than fifteen minutes, eventually leaving no trace on his skin. Without thinking, she touched his chest, feeling like she was losing her mind.

She pulled him to his feet with a shake of her head. “What about blood loss? Are you weak for a while after you’re injured?”

“My red blood cells reproduce at an accelerated rate. In an hour or so, a lab test wouldn’t show any signs that I’d been shot.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

But Einar did. “Those were some smart-as-hell tactics out there. Where did you serve?”

It was a personal question, but Jael didn’t seem to mind. “I’ve fought all over, but most recently, Nicu Tertius. I was one of March’s Maniacs.”

“Bullshit,” Einar said. “That would make you at least a hundred turns.”

Jael turned blue eyes to Dred. “How do you feel about May-December relationships?”

Part of her wanted to say she didn’t believe him. Without access to Rejuvenex, there was no way he could look as he did, fight as he did, and claim such age. But she’d learned better when it came to him.