Page 37 of Resolution
The infected were distracted by the unfortunate Dr. Mercattor for a few moments but then more arrived, shoving bodies against the flimsy wall Melly had constructed with the tables and chairs. They seemed confused by the barrier but inevitably the ones behind pushed the infected in front over. Melly shot off a series of blasts, aiming for the legs, trying to at least slow the wave down.
We need help in here, she screamed over the subaural com.
On it, came the reply but from who she couldn’t say.
Shots were fired from behind the clump of infected, thinning the crowd and as the few still standing turned to attack the new threat, the broken ones crawling toward Melly and the children continued their painful forward progress.
Then Jeff, Cody and Trent were in the room, dispatching the infected Melly had wounded but not been able to kill and the battle was over.
Melly rushed to Jeff and clung to him, ignoring the hard planes of his battle armor and the ichor splatters. “Thank the Lords of Space you’re here,” she cried. He held her tight as if he’d never let her go.
Hand under her chin, Jeff lifted her head and kissed her with wild abandon, a hard, claiming kiss that spoke of his fears for her and his joy at having found her more or less safe. Staring into her eyes, he said, “Can you ever forgive me for leaving you here?”
“I understood, there’s nothing to forgive,” she said. “I’m free now.”
“And we need to get out of here,” Cody said. “Good to see you, doc.”
“We took care of most of the infected outside,” Jeff said, “But this bunch headed straight for the kids.”
“I hope none of their family members are in the group,” Melly said, horrified at the idea. Dr. Ybidliuz had said the Khagrish were trying to create infected with a higher level of intelligence and she wondered if the ones who’d attacked this room had had a twisted idea of reclaiming their children.
Jeff took her hand and stepped closer to the children. Sandy had risen to her feet and the three oldest were flanking her, holding broken chair legs as makeshift weapons. “I’m Captain Pearson,” he said, “I’m Dr. Jericho’s husband and my men and I are going to get you out of here. Can you form a line, hold hands and we’ll walk you out to the flyers?”
“Is it safe?” Melly asked. “What about the Khagrish?”
“Neutralized,” he replied in a tone that made it clear the Khagrish would never be a problem again.
Although she was wracked with aches and pains now the adrenalin of the fight was over, Melly helped Sandy gather the children and the two women made sure the ones who’d had any personal possessions left gathered them up. Then Jeff and Trent escorted them through the mess of dead infected, instructing them to keep their eyes on Melly or Sandy.
Melly paused at the entrance to the room while Sandy and the soldiers kept the line moving. Dr. Mercattor lay sprawled on the floor in a bloody mess, her face set in an expression of surprise. There was a plump black satchel on the floor close to her and Melly grabbed it, catching up to the column as they went outside.
“You may want this,” she said to Jeff, indicating the satchel. “I’m guessing she was trying to save her notes and possibly data files. There might be useful information about the outbreak.”
“Quick thinking, doc. Can you keep it until we’re home? Cody’s going to try hacking what’s left of the alien IT systems here before we leave and I bomb the entire site into oblivion but you’re right, she may have saved valuable data.”
They walked to where the flyers were parked and Melly was awed at the level of destruction which had been achieved at the alien lab, which lay in smoking ruins. The Khagrish flyer was reduced to a few unrecognizable fragments in a big crater.
“We started with taking their air capability out,” Jeff said when he saw her glance at the smoldering hole in the ground. “Followed by bombs on other strategic points, like the barracks and mess hall. Brought up the APC to take out the infected and what small resistance the guards here managed to mount. Then the team went inside what’s left of the place and took out anyone hiding. Dropped a direct hit on the main lab, where you were yesterday. Confirmed three kills there.”
“Ybidliuz? The guy in charge?” she asked, concerned he might get away in the chaos.
“No more worries about him,” Jeff said, mindful of the children walking beside her and not wanting to be too graphic. “Verified his identity from the lab coat and the hair.”
Melly was surprised to see two military flyers resting on the ground but now wasn’t the time to ask questions, as a spurt of blaster fire from the lab complex reminded her. “What’s the plan?” she asked Jeff.
“Split the group in half, you take one in my flyer and Sandy here takes the other group in Zach’s over there. Any medical issues we need to know about right now?”
“No, I’ve been doing checkups as best I could the last few days. A few things I’ve flagged to treat if and when I ever got my hands on med equipment but nothing dire. What are we going to do with them?”
“The Mayor of Millersville agreed to take them in and distribute them among willing families in town.” Jeff shrugged. “I know it’s hardly ideal but under the circumstances it’s the best I can do. We’re not equipped to run an orphanage at the ranch. I’ve got other priorities right now.”
“I’ll stay with them,” Sandy said, speaking up for the first time. “The children trust me and I can help get them into the right family situations.”
“I appreciate that. Les McDaniel is here today, by the way,” Jeff said. “Right now he’s inside the complex with the mop up squad but you’ll get a chance to see him later. He and Devora were worried about you.”
“They’re good people,” Sandy said.
Tamsyn Wendover came running up to embrace Melly. “I’m so glad you’re safe. We were all so worried.”
