Sarah7

Ch 29

“Sarah, Sarah. Something is coming, fast.” It was Max’s voice in her ear. She sat bolt upright in her tent and leaped out the front flap. Her senses were going into overdrive and her heart was already pounding.

It was the middle of the night. The campfire was at a low ebb and Sarah could hear the sounds of night animals all around her. The sky was clear and full of twinkling stars.

She sensed more than saw Max near the edge of the camp. He was moving in stealth mode with no lights and his armor was dull and dark.

She ran swiftly to Creed’s tent and hissed “Creed! Something’s coming.”

Creed slid out of bed quickly without a word and grabbed his chest armor and sword.

“I’ll wake Captain Danner. You go with Max.” He whispered.

She nodded - her eyes were wide and glistening in the faint firelight.

She knew this was going to happen eventually. She just dreaded this first encounter. They had been traveling for days, drawing closer to the Vixen base, and had carefully crossed several scout lines already. Max had no discernable scent so he had reluctantly carried the others over the lines and erased all traces of their passing.

They had already had a few close calls, where the mantis-like creatures had been moving silently in the forest. Only a quick warning from Max had saved them.

The heavy tar smell was growing thicker with each step they took, and assaulted Sarah’s enhanced senses. She realized that this smell was probably a defensive adaptation- since it masked other smells and caused confusion in their enemies.

Tonight was different. Somehow they had been careless, and now things were going to get much harder.

Sarah lithely stepped over to Max and entered the chamber in his back. She slid into her enhanced awareness easily now and spotted three heat signatures moving toward them with a speed that sent chills down her back. They were fast!

“Max, this is it. Are you ready?” She called.

“Sarah, this is why I was created. My readiness is without question.” Max replied dryly.

“Max, I need to teach you how to use one word where you think ten are needed.”

Sarah became focused, calm, and alert. She felt guilty about the fact that she never felt more ... alive ... than she did right now.

She reached around as Max/Sarah and made to grasp the hilt of Orna, planted firmly in the ground a few paces away. Her awareness jolted as Max balked at her motion. He froze.

“Max! What are you doing? We move now!”

“He is afraid, Sarah. Afraid of what you and I might do.” Orna said somewhat despondently into her earpiece.

Max replied,“I am not afraid. We can take these creatures without the Weapon’s help. ”

“Max!” Sarah cried out in frustration. Before she could argue further their time ran out.

The Vixen arrived, moving with incredible speed. They were Scouts, with huge oversized crablike legs ending in sharp points. The ground erupted behind them with dirt and dust as their legs tore into the ground.

They did not hesitate. They each angled their trajectory like heat seeking missiles and one struck Max with full force.

The first Vixen’s carapace shattered from the impact, but it still managed to knock Max/Sarah head over heels.

Sarah cried out in anger and frustration. Instinct took over. She flipped Max over and back on his feet in one smooth motion.

One Vixen was down, keening in pain, but the other two had circled back around and came up to Max/Sarah more cautiously. Normally their smash attacks would rip their enemies apart, so Max was something new to them.

A targeting reticle overlaid Sarah’s visual display and immediately locked on target. She bit her lip and issued the mental command. Blasters emerged from Max’s shoulders and opened fire on the closest creature.

The first blast ripped a hole in the exoskeleton of the closer Vixen. Subsequent blasts tore the creature apart.

Max/Sarah turned to target the last creature but it jumped straight up into the air. Giant wings unfurled with an angry buzz that jarred Sarah’s teeth even through Max’s armor.

She sent off several wild shots - ignoring the targeting reticle - but the Vixen spun and twisted in the air frantically. A frantic heartbeat later it was out of range.

“No! We lost him!” She cried, and pounded Max’s fist into the ground. The impact sent chunks of earth flying all around her.

Creed and Captain Danner appeared on her viewfinder.

“You let it get away!” He yelled.

Sarah emerged from Max and landed in the ground. Creed paced over to the still keening Vixen and deftly removed it’s head with a swing of his own sword.

“Why didn’t you use that Weapon of yours?” Creed asked.

“I tried! Max wouldn’t let me. Max! What is wrong with you?” She stomped around to stand in front of the mech.

“I was protecting you. Using Orna without proper training would risk you losing control. You could have killed the Vixen, but destroyed your companions in the process.” Max sounded defensive, almost plaintive.

“We could have died anyway! I just don’t understand! Why do you keep acting like this? It’s like - You want me to fail?”

‘You’re going to have to tell her someti-’ Orna said directly to Max, so only he could hear her.

“No!” Max cried out in response to them both. “This is too soon! It is not right. You are the last hope. And you are throwing it away!” Max turned and stomped away, knocking down trees and brush like toothpicks in his path.

Sarah stood there, her mouth agape and her body quivering with emotion from the battle.

“We better get back and break down the camp. That damned Vixen scout is going to come back with friends to stop our little excursion real quick if we don’t keep moving.” Creed said gravely.

Sarah followed Creed as far as the camp, then grabbed Orna.

“What are you doing?” Creed asked.

“I’m going to find Max. I need to get some answers.” Sarah replied.

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