Chapter 7 [Shell Shocked]

Capricorn 15 / 2261 13:45

This entire time walking, I could see the Legends shadow right behind me. It was hard to fight my instinct to attack him. I worked alone for years on end. His shadow reminded me of someone sneaking up on me.

"Ugh." I stopped and spun. The Legend paused and took a step back. Being unable to see his face made it nearly impossible to see what he was thinking. "I can't have you following me. Either walk beside me or in front. I'm going to stab you if you keep stalking me."

His head jerked back before tilting to the left. I rolled my eyes and waved him forward.

"Beside me or in front. You're not a soldier, you're a Legend. Now I don't know your rank, so either you're my equal or above me. Pick." I snapped. He glanced at the ground beside me then, in front of me. I could almost see him thinking. He took two steps forward and stopped beside me. I took a quick breath and nodded. "Okay. Equal. Let's go, Legend."

I looked up at him, noting how tall he was. At least a foot taller than me. He looked down at me and gave a quick nod. I smiled under my mask and returned the nod. Equals. At least legally, we were classified as the same type of soldier. Enhanced soldiers.

"The base is just over this ridge," I told him. He nodded, and we crept to the top of the ridge. I laid on my stomach, waving for the Legend to do the same. I looked over the base below us. The station was built into the side of a mountain, almost invisible from the air. It was by far the smallest base I had seen. I struggled to remember my history lessons. Minerva base... built by Author Selene in the 2210s. Selene likes secret passageways. The building was made of Earthen stone that was brought to the planet a hundred years before. The base had a fifteen-foot wall surrounding the main building. The main building was mostly carved into the mountain. The most secure place was at the deepest point, the jail cells. All that sounds easy, it would be, if not for the mass of Legion swarming the base. "Bloody hell..."

I rubbed my forehead and sighed. Then I tapped open my bracelet. I clicked on the mission file and skimmed it over. It said nothing about a Legion army being here.

"Well, this collection mission just got interesting," I muttered. I glanced at the Legend and smiled. "Maybe my skills won't be useless, after all."

The Legend tilted his head to the right and tapped my back where it was sliced open. Pain flashed through my back and up to my skull. I flinched and rolled onto my side.

"Ow." I snapped, hitting his arm. "Jackass."

I heard a muffled sound. He shook his head slowly and bowed it. I fought against my own laughter and looked back at the base. The majority of the aliens on the walls was Zerians. Only a few Jareians and some Lunias on the wall.

"Okay. Author Selene built the base, he had a knack for building secret passageways. I'll sneak around and try to find an entrance. You stay here. I'll figure out if Greflin is here and if he's alive. I'll bring him out, and we leave." I said. I rolled back onto my knees. The Legend tapped my arm, making me look at him. He nodded to the base. I followed his gaze and saw the Legion jumping into action. They spotted us. "Bloody hell."

I heard hisses from my left. I turned and saw a group of Zerians approaching us. Two raised a familiar weapon. A Hurrikan. It was pretty much a supercharged rocket launcher. A favourite of the Zerians.

"Ethan move." I snapped. I swung my rifle around and fired at the lead. Ethan jumped to his feet. "The mountain, go!"

I hit the lead Zerian in the head, and he dropped like a load of stone. I took a step back, my feet sending up a wave of ash. I glanced at the base. The Legion were getting organized and aiming their weapons. My body moved on instinct. Without thinking, I raised my rifle and picked off two of them. The kick from the gun sent a shock through my body. More blood rushed from my wounds. I gritted my teeth.

"Bloody hell." I breathed. I turned back to the approaching group in time to see them raise the large gun. Rocket launcher. "Damn."

I spun and sprinted. I heard the casing fly through the air. Listened to the rocks get thrown the minute it hit the ground just a few feet behind me. Then I was flying through the air. I hit the ground.

A loud snap ran up my right arm before it went numb. I tasted blood. For a few seconds, I could only stare at the dirt in front of my face. My lungs spasmed as they struggled to get enough air in. Finally, I took a gulp of air in. I dragged my arms under my body and raised my head. A ringing in my ears deafened me. I took another breath as a shadow crossed my vision. It took me a second to realize it was the Legend kneeling in front of me. I felt his gloved hand on my cheek. Even though the fabric I felt his warmth. I struggled to focus my stunned mind. He stared at me for a moment before raising his head to look at the approaching Legion. He dropped his hand to my arm. I forced my mind to focus.

He took my uninjured arm and pulled me to my feet. Once up, I was able to remember how to move. I looked at the group of Legion as two struggled to reload the massive weapon. The ones on the wall were firing at us. Energy bullets streaked through the air at us.

"Go," I commanded. As one, the Legend and I turned and ran. I heard the energy bullets hit his suit with quick explosions. I glanced back at him. He followed precisely one stride behind me, taking the shots that would hit me. I faced forward again and scanned the numerous caves that dotted the cliffs. My mind raced as I analyzed each one. One near the bottom was oddly round. There. That had to be it. "Here."

I dove in the cave, skidding to my knees. I heard the rocket launch fire again. I curled into a ball as a weight pressed down on my back. A millisecond later I listened to the rocket hit the cliff. The rocks under me shook. A strangled yelp escaped my lips. I covered my head with one arm and squinted my eyes shut. Rocks began to fall. All-round me, the cave entrance collapsed.

Dust slipped under my mask into my nose and mouth. My heart pounded in my ears. Death by a cave in. How pathetic. What felt like hours passed until the rocks finally settled. When I was able to turn my sense outward again, I heard harsh breathing. I raised my head and smacked it off something metal. Legend. I reached out with my left hand and felt around my small cove. I found one of his hands, braced against the ground.

"Are you okay?" I whispered. His helmet brushed my ear as he nodded. I listened to his breathing, which was picking up the pace. My mind flickered to the psychology lessons I attended. This type of breathing was associated with fear, not pain. Pained breathing is more like hiccups. Hissing for a breath. This was normal breathing but sped up. I laced my fingers through his and gave it a quick squeeze. "It's okay. Give me a minute. I'll figure this out. Calm down."

I felt him nod again. A Legend scared of enclosed spaces. Odd. I pulled my hand free and felt the rocks around us. The Legend made a cove around me, meaning he was holding at least some stones on his back. Which way was the tunnel? I don't think I turned when I landed, so it had to be in front of me. The fire began to race up my right arm. I couldn't see it in the dark, but I could guess at the damage. I twisted until my head was against the Legend's chest and kicked at the rocks in front of me. I heard the rocks shift above us. I froze and listened. All I could hear was Ethan's panicked breathing.

"Can you hold it?" I asked. He braced his arms closer to me before nodding. I pinned my damaged arm to my stomach and kicked again. A few rocks fell away, creating a small hole. I worked on kicking the others away until the hole was big enough for the Legend to crawl through. "Okay..."

I winched as I rolled back to my knees and crawled out. Then I turned and watched the Legend follow me. The rocks fell as he got out. One hit the back of his leg and made me flinch. I could still hear his sharp breathing.

"Hey, it's okay. We're out. You're out." I said. I raised my hand and reached for his arm. I paused just before I touched him and pulled away. He bowed his head. "We're fine... It's okay."

After a moment, he raised his head, and I couldn't hear his breathing. He met my gaze and gave a short nod. I tilted my head at him and frowned slightly.

"A Legend with a fear of enclosed spaces. I feel like there's a story there." I said. He only stared at me. Then he reached up and flicked on his flashlight, blinding me. "Ow!"

I covered my eyes with one hand and blinked hard. When my eyes adjusted, I looked around the cave with the new light.

The stone was black, seeming to absorb the light from The Legend's visor. At first glance, there was nothing special about the walls. At least until I looked closer. The wall rose in even ridges in a circular pattern. I ran my hand over the stone.

"Hey, check it out." I raised my eyes, following the ridges around the cave. He traced the lines on his side. "This isn't a natural formation. It had to have been caused by a drill."

I looked deeper into the cave. Legend's light swung around as he followed my gaze. The cave continued deeper into the mountain, heading upward.

"The secret passage," I whispered. The Legend looked at the wall then at me. The light blinded me again. I flinched and raised a hand to cover my eyes. "Ready?"

The light bounced as he nodded. We turned and crawled up the narrow tunnel.