“The inner man answers when adversity knocks.” B. E. S.

Heaven and Besh hurried the King and Queen down the long hall, careful not to push them beyond their limit. A sense of silent urgency held fast the four of them. The heavy door was just ahead when the voice of Simone came quietly into their mask amplifiers.

“We’re back,” she said softly. “Coming your way.”

Heaven peered from the heavy door to see Simone and Olaf rise from a crouch and approach the door. Heaven said, “We have the package.”

Simone answered, “Let’s not waste time.”

Besh guided David and Elizabeth by their arms as he followed Heaven. Simone led the team cautiously back into the warehouse and stopped behind stacked crates. She signaled Olaf to assess the immediate area. Olaf inched forward and looked through an opening between crates, returning an all-clear.

Simone turned to Heaven and gripped her shoulder. “Olaf and I will deliver the package. You two finish the job. Our window is shrinking.”

Heaven answered, “Aye!”

Just then a light began to spin in the ceiling; a shrill but subtle alarm came to their ears. Olaf peeked above a crate and immediately ducked back as energy bolts struck the crates.

Simone swore. “Damn!”

“Company,” said Olaf, pulling the Over Under from his robe.

As Olaf stood in a pause and fired, Simone and Heaven pulled their big guns and took position. Besh pulled David and Elizabeth close. Return fire splintered the crates. Olaf tossed a zit, and the team ran to another stack of crates. The exit was near, but dark brothers poured through the double doors with fearsome war cries.

Olaf tossed three zits at once and followed with Under fire. Simone jumped up and strafed the brothers with Over fire. Heaven stood behind a tall solid stack of crates and reached around to fire when an energy bolt struck her weapon and threw her against the rough wall. Elizabeth whimpered as Besh leaped to help Heaven. Besh quickly pulled gauze from an inner pocket and reached for her bleeding hand.

She grabbed the gauze from his hand, and snapped, “I got this! Shoot the bastards!”

Besh pulled his Over Under and took Heaven’s place behind the splintering crates. As Simone tossed zits and Olaf strafed the enemy, Besh glanced quickly between the crates. Many dead brothers lay bleeding in the open area while others came through the double doors. Taking a deep breath, Besh sprinted past short stacks of crates to Simone’s position. As he did, he fired Over and Under simultaneously.

Besh looked back and saw that David and Elizabeth had run to Heaven. Behind the low crates, Warrior trotted over to Besh and sat. Heaven readied the King and Queen for the short sprint, and Simone made the call. Olaf, Besh, and Simone laid down a continuous stream of Over fire, while crouched, Heaven led the King and Queen quickly to the new position.

There was a stark silence in the warehouse. The exit was a short run from the crates, but the distance would leave them vulnerable. Besh fully understood the situation. He pulled his Mask and handed it to the King. When Heaven followed suit, Besh pulled her close to Simone and spoke decisively.

“Take the King and Queen home,” he said. “I’ll cover.”

Heaven answered, “I’m staying. You need help.”

Heaven stood with her Over Under in the crook of her wounded arm. The severity of the pain was evident in her face. His emotions were in overdrive. He wanted the King and Queen safe, but he also wanted Heaven to be safe. He knew she would not listen. Besh appealed to Simone.

“Take Heaven and go,” he said urgently.

Heaven answered defiantly, “I got this.”

Besh felt his answer was overly stern, but it needed to be said. He looked Heaven closely in the face and all but shouted. “You’re wounded. You’re useless.”

Besh turned and fired beyond the crates. “Go!” he yelled.

Olaf led the King and Queen. Simone shoved Heaven ahead of her. As the door closed behind them, the Over Under ceased to function. With ammo spent, Besh considered using the charger. Instead, he tossed the Over Under and pulled his handgun. The warehouse was hot; sweat stung his eyes. He spied a loader and considered his options. He looked down at the dog that sat patiently beside him.

“Warrior,” he said, lifting his gun to the ready. “Kill!”

Saltry checked the panels; all was ready. Standing behind him, looking out through the front view, Driscoll called to Hack, “Anything?”

Hack answered calmly, “Asking me twenty times won’t do anything but get on my nerves.”

“Let me know the minute you see them,” said Driscoll in her commanding voice.

Hack responded, “You’ll be the first to know.”

Just then, the voice of the King filled the ship. “We’re in position, and I’m not in the mood for bad news.”

Driscoll answered, “Nothing yet, Your Majesty.”

The King shot back angrily, “Driscoll, why are you even there? You should be leading the team.”

Blushing, Driscoll swallowed her first response. “Someone has to command this end.”

There was a tense pause. The King said in a low voice, “If my friend does not return, I will be less than pleased.”

Hack cut in, “I have eyes on the package.”

“Bring them home,” commanded the King, and ended his transmission.

Saltry stood from his seat. Driscoll pushed in beside him straining for a glimpse of success. Hack said, “I count five. One wounded. The old man and the dog are absent.”

Driscoll swore under her breath, “Damn!”

Saltry turned and said to her, “He still has to disable the device.”

Driscoll stared hard into Saltry’s eyes. She nodded and turned away. She called to Hack, “If they’re alone come down and make ready.” She turned back to Saltry and ordered, “Open the back.”

The back opened slowly, allowing the foul stench of Uswaan into the ship. Driscoll busied herself with the seats and loose gear. Saltry called her with excitement in his voice.

“I see them.”

Driscoll clutched the back of his seat. She could see team members running fast down the uneven and treacherous trail. They stumbled; they righted. They held the King and Queen between them protectively. She clenched and unclenched her fists. They were just too slow. The package slowed them down.

Driscoll pulled her handgun and called to Saltry, “I’m going out.”

Warrior, growling, walked through the dead as if daring them to twitch. Besh followed, wiping sweat from his face. They walked through the room just beyond the warehouse. The dead littered the floor before them, as they moved to the next door. A quick peek beyond showed Besh the hanger.

A large round ship sat in the hangar with military and dark brothers hiding behind crates. In the open with legs spread possessively, and arms folded, an officer dressed in olive green and an over-large cap, stood exposed, tempting fate.

The officer called loudly, “Intruder! I speak your language. Desist. Let us speak. Face to face.”

Besh pulled the charger and pressed the opposing studs between his finger. The jolt threw him against the wall. Then, he dropped the charger, and his eyes focused.

The parasite called out happily, “I got you, buddy!”

Simone and Olaf sat secured in their seats. Saltry bent and kissed Simone’s cheek with a relieved smile, and returned to the open cockpit. As he strapped in, Hack finished the dressing on Heaven’s wound and strapped in beside her.

Driscoll asked in a worried voice, “What’s taking him so long?”

Heaven asked angrily, “Whose idea was it to assign him the injector?”

Driscoll spun on her heels and glared as one accused. She was caught between the King’s expectation and Heaven’s ire. Heaven’s eyes filled with tears as she continued.

“You should have given me the injector,” she said in a hurt voice. “I am the most expendable member of the team.”

Driscoll walked back to Heaven, stood, and stared hard at her. She replied sternly, “No one is expendable.”

Heaven filled her lungs, ready to fire back. Driscoll bent forward to receive the blast and return it with interest. Saltry called from the cockpit.

“I see the dog,” he said standing.

Driscoll ran to the cockpit and looked through the front view. The dog was running past the tall rocks that marked the halfway point. Heaven unstrapped and squeezed anxiously between Saltry and Driscoll. They strained for sight of the old man. Instead, they saw a large round ship rise out of the black cliffs.

“Shit!” exclaimed Saltry. “That’s big.”