Page 36 of Resolution
Melly! Sweetheart?
Jeff’s voice in her head woke her from a drugged sleep and she startled, caught in her blankets. Jeff?
What’s wrong? You don’t sound well. His voice was anxious and concerned.
Rough day in the lab yesterday. Please tell me you’re here to get me out, please. She wasn’t ashamed to beg.
Yes, we’re attacking in ten minutes. I need you to get to the big room with the children. It’ll be relatively safe there—we’re not going to target it.
Heart pounding, adrenalin spiking, Melly sat up and reached for her shoes. She had many painful places all over her body where the scientist had drawn his samples but she was relieved to find she could move more easily. I’m locked in.
I know. Cody’s drone mapped out the whole place for us and captured the enemy’s routines. It’s coming to let you out in a minute. You’re going to have to run to the kids.
She moved to stand beside the door, on the alert for anything to happen. There was a scratching sound and then the lock exploded inward, luckily missing her by a few inches. The door swung open and Melly raced into the corridor, which was empty. Sprinting as best she could, buoyed by adrenalin she headed for the big dorm room where all the children and Sandy were held. On my way.
Coming around the corner on the last part of her journey, she ran right into a Khagrish guard, falling from the impact. His reflexes were thrown off by the collision with a prisoner who wasn’t supposed to be where he’d found her. Before Melly could try to cajole him or take any action, his skull exploded on one side and she knew Cody’s drone had taken action for her. She made it to her feet, hanging onto the wall for support, as falling hadn’t helped her pain levels any and grabbed the blaster from his holster. Clutching the weapon, more optimistic about her chances now, she covered the rest of the distance to the big cell.
The drone destroyed the lock to this door as well and she was inside a moment later. The children had been asleep and Sandy emerged from her semi-private cubicle in a night gown and robe, rubbing her eyes. She stared at Melly with wide eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re about to be rescued but things are going to be noisy and dangerous first. Get dressed. We have to gather the children in the safest spot and wait this out.”
“Who’d rescue us?”
“My husband and his men. No time to talk now, get moving.” Melly gave her a small shove and then walked to the first set of beds. She shook each child’s shoulder gently as she told them to get up.
Once Sandy rejoined her, having hastily dressed, the two women gathered all the scared, puzzled children into the farthest corner of the room and Melly set the older ones and Sandy to building a makeshift barricade. She rushed to the cell door and did her best to drag a table or two to block access, hoping the Khagrish would be too busy to worry about their prisoners once the attack began. She was more concerned about the infected, who would surely break out of their enclosure during the bombardment. Her one blaster wasn’t going to help much.
Jeff? She said as she surveyed her handiwork and prepared to join the children and Sandy.
Yes? Not long now. We’ll be dropping the first bombs in thirty seconds.
Can you keep the infected from swarming us here?
We’ll do our best. I have one flyer tasked to run protection over you.
She wondered how many flyers he had and where the assets came from but had a more immediate concern. You know where all the human prisoners are?
Other than you and the children? Yes.
I saw them yesterday. Melly blinked back sudden tears, remembering the misery she’d witnessed. They’re all infected. It’ll be a mercy for them if they don’t survive today.
Got it. Thanks for the intel. Love you.
I love you too, she responded as the earth shook under her and the sound of multiple explosions temporarily deafened her. Faintly she heard the children screaming across the room and she ran to join them. A further explosion, much larger than the first set, nearly knocked her off her feet but she made it over the barricade and cuddled several terrified toddlers while the others pressed close around her and Sandy.
“We’re getting out of here today,” she said in a loud voice, trying to be reassuring. “Those explosions are my husband and his friends out there. Keep your heads down until I give the word for us to be on the move.”
Melly heard the roar of the APC’s megacannon, astonished Jeff had managed to bring the vehicle all the way to this remote location. She was grateful for it.
A woman’s scream sounded in the corridor and as Melly peeked over the barricade at the back of the room, she saw Dr. Mercattor clawing at the doorway. “Let me in, they’re coming,” she shrieked. “The infected! The bracelet’s not working.”
Melly hesitated for an instant, remembering the woman’s cruelty and choice to join forces with the aliens against humans but then she climbed over the tables crammed together and headed for the door, blaster in hand. Once Jeff and his men arrived, they could take the doctor into custody and she could stand trial for her crimes. As she reached the doorway, she heard the growls and moans of the infected. Mercattor grabbed at her arm across the barricade.
“Get me inside, quick.”
Melly wrenched herself loose and tried to clear the way one handed, keeping her blaster at the ready. She shot the first infected to come around the corner but then five more arrived. Melly retreated, taking targeted head shots. Mercattor shot a terrified look over her shoulder and screamed as two infected fell on her, dragging her to the floor in the hallway. Melly fled to the barricaded area and took her stand behind it as the children and Sandy cowered away, pressed against the wall.
