Trapped in Time-Extinction (17 page)

Maxius sighed, “I was reluctant to accept him initially, but I do agree now. He’s a real asset.” Maxius put his head cover back on and watched the ships being prepared. It wouldn’t be much longer before the wind shifted.

• • •

“Rory.”

Rory turned around, “Yeah, Mindy?”

“Is it too late to join your warriors?”

“We’re having difficulty hugging the terrain and sweeping up on the wall. Do you think you can do it?”

“I’d really like the chance to try.”

Rory stared at Mindy and after a moment said, “Why are you doing this?” Mindy shrugged. “I’m serious, Mindy. You need to tell me or I won’t accept you.”

Mindy looked up and then said, “Rory, that slave…”

“Her name is Olivia.”

Mindy blew out a breath and said, “Olivia is right about what she said about me. I’ve forgotten what it means to be a warrior. I achieved my rank and then decided the work was over. What good are warrior skills if they’re not used for the right reasons? It’s time I paid my dues to the Community.”

Rory stared into her eyes and after a moment smiled, “We can always use a Master Warrior. There’s just so few of them. Go over and join Bart on top of the cliff. He’s about to make another run at the wall.” Mindy walked over to the edge of the northern wall and jumped off. Her glider snapped into place and she flew to the top of the cliff in four easy spirals. Rory shook his head. He had forgotten how good she was with a glider.

He watched Bart’s unit jump off the cliff. They dropped quickly toward the ground and began skimming along the sand about ten feet in the air. The unit pulled up on their gliders and all of them stalled before they could go over the top of the wall; all of them except Mindy. She shot up off the sands and cleared the wall by a foot as she turned and flew along the wall toward the cliff. She turned at the last moment and spiraled up to the top of the cliff. Rory shook his head and hoped she could teach his warriors what she did. In less than a week, his warriors were skimming over the wall. Mindy was finally making a difference.

• • •

Rory walked through the gate to the inner walls and saw Tyler approaching from the southern wall. He waited and Tyler joined him. They walked toward the Holy Cave and Rory saw Tyler’s nervousness. “Tyler, there’s no reason for you be anxious around me. What happened between you and Mindy was probably the best thing for her.”

“Why do you say that?”

“When Olivia knocked some sense in her, she joined my forces and has made a huge difference in preparing my warriors. She’s forgotten about herself and is working hard to make sure all my fliers are ready to attack the harbor cannons. She hasn’t even noticed that they are coming to really care about her. She’s a better person.”

Tyler nodded and stuck out his hand. Rory took it and shook, “Thanks, Rory. I’ve always respected your opinion and your abilities.”

“I’m not a Master Warrior. I’m too heavy for a Cursor to haul around.”

“Some earn it through testing, Rory. You’ve earned it through your actions.”

Rory slapped Tyler on the back and said, “I hear you’re carrying some oil bags with you.”

“Yes, I am.”

“What on earth do you intend to do with them? I would think the extra weight isn’t worth the effort of taking them.”

“I just have an idea and want to be able to try it.”

Rory stopped and Tyler stopped with him. “Tell me what you’re thinking?”

“Do you remember when you went over all the defenses the Destroyers have waiting for us?” Rory nodded. “Well, I remember that you mentioned that there are gunpowder storage facilities spaced at regular intervals against the base of the coastal wall.”

“They have pulleys that lift the barrels to the top of the wall.”

Tyler nodded, “I believe you said there were about thirty of them.”

Rory thought for a moment and closed his eyes. He opened them and said, “There’s thirty eight of them.”

Tyler smiled, “Thanks for remembering.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“Rory, what’s going to happen when my Warriors arrive at the wall and open fire on the guns with their beams?”

Rory visualized the action and said, “You’ll have to kill every person on the wall or they’ll turn the spitters on the sources of the red beams.”

“They won’t need the spitters, Rory. How many Destroyers armed with rifles are going to be at that wall?” Rory shook his head and Tyler said, “It could be as many as a hundred thousand and we’re going to have to focus on the guns. My warriors are going to be shot at by thousands of Destroyers who are very accurate with their rifles. They’ll see our beams and they’ll quickly learn to fire at the source of them.”

Rory shook his head, “And there’s going to be less than two thousand of you to face them.” Tyler nodded. “So what are you planning?”

“I’m going to have a hundred and sixty fliers, now that I know there’s thirty eight storage facilities along the wall, launch off the end of the forest wall and fly over those storage facilities and drop oil on them once we arrive within three hundred yards of the wall.”

Rory nodded, “And you’re going to shoot fire arrows at the facilities.”

“That’s my plan.”

Rory stared at Tyler and said, “Please tell me you’re not going to be one of those firing the arrows.”

“Would you send your warriors in and not be willing to take the risk with them?”

“Tyler, those powder facilities will blow out from that wall a lot further than three hundred yards.”

“Rory, I don’t see any other way to do this without losing most of my warriors. I’m having the bulk of them stay with Olivia to go to the Care Center.”

“What does she think about this?”

“I can tell she doesn’t like it but I have to give her credit. She respects the fact that I have to do it with my archers.”

Rory shook his head and thought about the plan. There was no way the archers firing on the powder facilities would survive the blast. Rory turned to walk toward the Council Meeting and looked at Tyler, “How many Master Warriors do you have?”

“Four hundred; why do you ask?”

Rory smiled and told him.

• • •

“Hey, Mindy!”

Mindy turned around and saw Jake and Francis running toward her, “Yes?”

“The two Groups that are going to attack the coastal cannons are having a get together at the weapon storage facility. We want you to come with us.” Mindy started shaking her head and Francis said, “I am not going to allow you say no. There are too few women as it is. I can use the support.”

Mindy chuckled, “Francis, since when do you ever need support?”

“I mean it, Mindy. What are you going to do at this moment?”

Mindy tilted her head, “I don’t know. I guess I was going home to rest.”

Francis took her arm and said, “That’s what the night is for, sister. Come on.” Mindy shook her head and said, “Alright, alright, you don’t have to squeeze my arm like a pod.”

Jake grabbed her by the hand and said, “We need to hurry, we don’t want to miss any of the fun.” He pulled Mindy and all three ran toward the storage facility.

They arrived and they heard the warriors inside already singing at the top of their voices. Mindy smiled, “One would think they could carry a tune.”

Jake laughed, “They can when they’re sober. Come on.” Jake walked forward and opened the door. Mindy stepped up to the entrance and paused. The singing stopped when the door was opened. Francis pushed her through the door and she stumbled into the room. The room erupted into cheers and Mindy’s eyebrows lowered. She saw Rory walking toward her with a smile and the room grew silent when he arrived in front of her.

“Mindy, the warriors in Johnathan’s and my groups want you to know that they are grateful for all the hard work you’ve put in getting them prepared for the coming mission.” Rory looked around the room as he said, “All of us feel like you made the difference in getting us ready to attack the Coastal Cannons. The Warriors had this special arrow made to show you their appreciation.” Rory handed Mindy an arrow that was coated in gold. Engraved on it was, “We’ll follow you anywhere.” Gold was one of the rarest metals used by the community and Mindy knew how much the arrow had cost the warriors. She took the arrow and pulled it to her chest as her tears ran down her cheeks. The room exploded in cheers and Rory leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She grabbed him and wrapped her arms around his chest as she wept. The cheers doubled in volume and Rory whispered in her ear, “I’m so proud of you.”

Mindy held on to Rory. It was the first time her brother had ever told her he was proud of her. Even when she received her Master Warrior’s rank, he had not said it. She released him and warriors ran up and asked her to dance as the music started. She was danced off her feet but she held on to the arrow the whole time and felt her heart singing.

Finally, Mindy begged to sit down and the warriors reluctantly allowed her. She took off her shoes and rubbed her feet. She looked up and saw Gordon sitting across the room by himself. She left her shoes, walked over, and sat down beside him. She noticed he was wearing a standard warrior’s uniform, “You weren’t able to find anyone to join your wing?” Gordon shook his head. “Why not?”

Gordon sighed and said, “After the week ended and I lost my rank, I went to see the warriors that had been in my wing and asked them why they left.”

“And?”

“They told me what a bastard I was.”

Mindy shook her head, “I imagine that was hard to take.”

Gordon nodded, “It was, but they were right. I was so full of myself that I lost sight of what got me promoted to begin with.”

“What was that, Gordon?”

“I would help the warriors in my wing to get better. Most of them became good friends and all of them told me, after the fact that they were ashamed of what I had become.” Gordon looked Mindy in the eyes, “Maxius was right, I’m not ready to command anyone.”

Mindy stared at Gordon and saw herself in him. “Gordon.”

They looked up and saw Lance Adams standing in front of them, “Yes?”

“My Commander has requested that you be reassigned to his group. Group Commanders Rory and Johnathan have agreed to allow you to go if you choose to do so.”

“Why would Tyler want me?”

“He has an assignment that requires Master Archery Skills. I should tell you in advance that it is incredibly dangerous.”

Gordon stared at Lance and said, “Am I needed to save lives?”

Lance tilted his head, “Yes.”

Gordon stood and smiled, “Then I’m your man.”

Lance smiled and handed Gordon an object. Gordon looked at it and sat back down in his chair. Lance said, “You will meet with your wing in the morning to start training. You don’t have long so make the most of the time you have.”

Gordon nodded and clutched the object tightly in his hand. Lance walked away and Mindy said, “What did he give you?” Gordon opened his hand sand showed her the silver disk of a Wing Commander. Mindy smiled, “How do you feel about serving under Tyler?”

Gordon looked at her and said, “You need only to read the arrow you were given.”

Mindy smiled and leaned forward and hugged Gordon’s neck. “Come see me when this is over.” Gordon smiled and nodded.

Rory watched what happened and smiled. Now Gordon was ready. Rory looked at Mindy and saw her staring at him. He looked at Gordon and nodded. Mindy nodded in return. Gordon was different. Rory had just confirmed it. He wasn’t a Tyler, but he had talent in abundance. She took his hand and led him over to her shoes. She put them on and led him toward the door. Gordon’s eyes narrowed, “Where are we going?”

“You heard Lance say your mission was going to be incredibly dangerous, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes.”

“I don’t think I want to wait until all this is over. We should make the most out of the time we have.”

Gordon’s eyes softened and he shook his head, “Mindy, I don’t deserve you.”

Mindy put her free arm around his waist and said, “No, it is I that don’t deserve you. Let’s try to work hard to make it work.” Gordon stared into her eyes and smiled as they left the building. Mindy said, “By the way, that isn’t a Wing Commander’s disk.” Gordon’s eyes narrowed and he looked at the disk again. He turned it over and his eyes widened as Mindy said, “You are now a Group-Unit Commander. You’ll have more than two hundred fliers under your command.” All Gordon could do was shake his head. Mindy saw his fear at failing again but she knew that his fear would prevent it. Like her brother, she saw he was ready.

• • •

Andy looked at the flag on top of the cliff from the platform leading up to the cut in the cliff wall and saw it blowing toward the east. It had moved back and forth from east to the west for a week, but now it constantly blew east toward the Destroyers. Maxius, Mark, Harvey, Tyler, Rory, Johnathan, Zeck, Steve, and Annelise stood around him staring at the flag. The group was silent as they stared up at the flag as thousands of warriors were gathered below them. Andy turned and said, “It’s time. We’ll launch one week from today. Make sure all your groups are ready and on board.”

Andy looked at the gathered warriors and raised both hands over his head. The roar was instant, as the warriors ran away to notify every one of the coming war. A priest ran up the steps and stopped in front of Andy. “It’s time. Melody has started her labor.” Andy ran down the steps following the priest. The entire group followed him as the Community’s drums began beating the rhythm of war.

• • •

Andy lay beside Melody and looked at his two daughters. They were unbelievably beautiful. Melody was resting and her eyes were closed. Andy couldn’t stare at them enough. He heard Melody say with her eyes closed, “The one in my right arm is Linnae. The one in my left is Harmony.”

Andy leaned over and kissed Melody gently on the forehead. Melody said, “Haven’t you learned what lips are for?” Andy chuckled and kissed her on the mouth. Melody opened her eyes and smiled, “I was so hoping they would come before you left.”

Andy nodded and said, “They are so incredibly beautiful, just like their mother.”

Melody sighed, “I am a wreck at the moment.”

“I think you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Andy looked at the babies, “How are you going to tell them apart; they look exactly alike.”