The pitter-patter of bare feet on the iron floor caught his attention and he turned just in time to see Johanna, running full on for him. She jumped and he caught her.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He stood there, still as stone at first, but slowly he wrapped one, then another arm around her, held her tight, and kissed her back.
Whistles and hollers erupted down the corridor.
Dorian felt himself smile as he set her down. He quickly let it fade as he turned and walked through the hatchway toward the waiting soldiers and helicopters.
Martin opened his eyes. His head was clear. He could think again. Kate was there. He was in a lab, or a hospital. A man leaned over him. Martin knew him. A memory came to him; he had spoken with the man over a videoconference. The doctor was the researcher in China, who had conducted the trials on the Bell. Dr… “Chang,” Martin said, his voice raspy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Awful.”
He heard Kate laughing, and she stepped closer to him. “At least you know how you’re feeling. That’s an improvement.”
He smiled at Kate. He wondered what she had done to save him. Had she risked her life? He hoped not. It would be a waste. He had so much to tell her, so much she needed to know. “Kate—”
The ship shuddered, and Martin was thrown across the room. He slammed into a steel refrigerator and dark spots crowded his vision.
CHAPTER 53
Outside Ceuta
Northern Morocco
Dorian watched the wooded expanse fly by below him. Ahead, through the helicopter’s windshield, he saw flashes in the distance, like fireflies in the night. Soon they would join the battle, and victory would follow soon after.
He pulled his helmet on. “Comm check, Strike Team Delta, this is General Sloane.”
The four helicopters answered his call.
Sloane relaxed against the seat cushion. He watched the flashes a while longer and wondered what Johanna was doing, what she was wearing, what she was reading.
What was happening to him? Attachment. Sloppiness. Weakness. He would have to get rid of her when he returned.
The first bullets sprayed the metal scaffolding as David and Kamau reached the bottom.
They formed up, standing back to back, pressing into each other just enough to know where the other was, and opened fire. The empty shells fell to the ground as they jerked left and right.
Immari infantry poured out of the barracks surrounding the command tower, and David and Kamau cut down wave after wave of soldiers. But they kept coming. If the Immari reclaimed the command center, they would likely repel David’s forces and hold Ceuta. A group of Immari soldiers took up position across the yard and began focusing their fire on David and Kamau.
David began sidestepping to the building opposite the control tower, hoping to get to cover. Kamau matched his movements.
David’s earpiece came to life. “Achilles, Ajax. I have the Myrmidons. We’re closing on your position.”
“Copy, Ajax,” David said. “The sooner the better.” He fired another blast until his automatic rifle clicked. He quickly reloaded and opened fire again.
Three massive explosions lit the night sky, then rose into a fire that burned over the water. Dorian could see the outline of Ceuta base now.
“What the hell was that?” Dorian asked.
“Probably another rail gun barrage from the wall,” the pilot said.
“Probably not, you idiot. It’s burning over the water. Who fired those shots?”
“The attacking tribesmen?” the pilot half-said, half-asked.
Dorian’s mind raced. These barbarians—on horseback. Would they attack an incoming plague barge? Unlikely. Something was wrong.
“Strike Force Delta, hold your position, repeat, halt your assault on Ceuta.”
The helicopters flew on into the night, barreling toward the burning base and the mysterious fire in the water.
He grabbed the pilot’s shoulder. “Take us down. Take us down.” The pilot complied, and the helicopter nose-dived into the trees below.
“Strike team—”
The lead helicopter exploded and the two beside it instantly burst into flames. Shrapnel sprayed Dorian’s helicopter. The rotors sputtered and it began to spin. Smoke filled the cabin and Dorian felt flames and heat from the top of the helicopter. The trees rushed up and he felt branches reaching in, and then he was flying, falling, outside the helicopter.
David fired the last round from his rifle, and drew his sidearm. They were coming too fast for him to keep up. Kamau spun around and fought side by side with him, cutting down a row of soldiers rushing out of the barracks. They were never-ending.
David’s sidearm clicked. He didn’t have another magazine. Kamau stepped in front of him and continued firing.
David activated his radio. “Ajax, Achilles. The Trojans are about to overrun our position.”
Kamau slammed back into him, throwing David to the ground. He could hear Ajax responding in his earpiece, but all the words were lost. He grabbed Kamau’s rifle and began firing from the ground, then got to one knee. How many rounds did he have left?
He glanced back at Kamau. He was writhing on the ground. David tried to turn him over, hoping to see where he had been hit.
Kate struggled to get up from the floor. The ship was shaking too much. The wail of bending steel was almost deafening. She felt for the pack at her back, making sure she still had it. She crawled over to Martin and pulled him into her lap.
Another shudder rocked the ship, and she was thrown across the room. The scientist, Chang, caught her, breaking her fall. “Are you okay?” he shouted.
The sprinkler system came on and the ship’s alarms rang out.
The door swung open, and Shaw ran in. “Come on. We need to get to the lifeboats.”
The European scientist followed close behind him. He surveyed the room in horror. “Our research!” he shouted to Chang.
“Leave it!” Chang yelled.
Chang and Shaw took Martin, and Kate followed them.
Bullets whizzed by David from behind and he spun, ready to fire, but it was Ajax and the Berber forces. They rushed past him, consuming the Immari soldiers.
David pulled Kamau to the building wall and rolled him over. There was no blood. Kamau looked up, shaking his head. “Got my vest, David. Just knocked the wind out of me.”
Ajax and the Berber commander converged on their position. “What’s our status?” David asked.
“We’ve almost got control of the citadel,” Ajax said. “They’re starting to surrender, but a few units are fighting to the last.”