CHAPTER SEVEN:
'Memories'
When the Life-Pod had hit solid concrete Renn had thought herself done for, but somehow the steel frame absorbed most of the shock from the crash. Hauling herself from the wreckage, across the now pitted and scarred ground, she had found herself in Badnarik, on the Sypharium Troops side of the large hill that occupied this half of the bay.
Having heard voices speaking in a mixture of Russian and English, she had dived into the long grass, and hid there for several minutes, before the patrol had passed.
On seeing that the base was under a constant barrage by other members of the
Now, she crouched behind a pile of ammunition crates, her dented blaster in her hand, and a face filled with grim determination.
Launching herself at the Artillery that stood behind the pile, she shot the first two sentries, while the third ran for help. After loosening a few shots in his direction, she let him go; her job would not take long.
Renn fired round after round into the mechanism box, happy that the Artillery had gone silent and that the Alliance vehicles were moving farther up, now reaching the bottom of the hill.
From her right came a shout of anger, and two men clad in the uniform of Sypharium Officers were dashing towards her, armed, and beginning to shoot at her.
Realizing that any resistance would be met with death, she turned and dashed down the only exit that she could see; the entrance into the main Merczateer complex.
She continued to run, down corridor after corridor, hearing doors slam behind her as young soldiers eager for promotion joined the pursuit for her.
An alarm began to ring, but it seemed distant, all that mattered to her was the glimmer of light at the end of this seemingly endless hallway. It was a window.
Throwing caution to the wind, Renn jumped through the glass, hearing a satisfying sound as it broke around her.
Hurling herself into open air at last, Renn dashed towards the
Pilots and Marines alike stared in disbelief at this battered, mud-stained figure in the clothing of one of their own jumped from enemy lines into their midst.
From further up the hill came a cry of triumph, and the now-fixed piece of Artillery began to spew shells towards the Alliance Republic figures, gravity finishing the job off.
As Renn watched, unable to move or turn her gaze away, half of the whole company was blown to pieces; makeshift tents and tables went flying, ships exploded, and the air stank of engine fuel.
Terrified, the pilot of the remaining drop ship began to initiate takeoff procedures, lifting off into the sky, leaving his comrades far behind on the war torn Badnarik beachhead. Several tried to jump onto the still-empty loading ramp, but most of the Alliance Personnel, like Renn, just stared, open mouthed, at the pilot’s display of supreme cowardice.
Alliance Republic Interrogation Room, The Woofer:
Proteus Hand groaned.
Every inch of his body ached, and it seemed it would continue to ache for a long time yet. His mind drifted slightly from the dark concrete cell to a scene from his past; a woman gazing lovingly at him, telling him something important. If only he could remember who she was…
His thoughts were returned to the pain when the nearest Intelligence Officer punched him in the head.
The one seated across from the table looked at him questioningly, and Proteus realized that he had been ignoring any attempt made by this particular officer to communicate with him.
Those eyes..
Her turquoise eyes glinted at him this time, she no longer looked joyful, but terrified. They stood together with another figure who crouched behind him, looking defeated. With shock, he realized who it was; Jim Herbst.
The Intelligence Officer slammed his fist down on the table.
‘Do you even understand me?’
Proteus stared ahead of him dumbly. Deep in thought.
A child.
He had had a son, this woman had been his lover. Why did he not remember any of this?
The scene changed once more; he stood in Lurdan Huszar’s Office, in Full Alliance Republic uniform, they were arguing.
Lights. Blinding lights.
Endless days, spent in a room, with machines wired into his body.
Proteus jolted awake once more, his eyes losing the light as fast as it had appeared.
He had lost the memories again.