A normal group of murderers would retreat.
Dred found that thought macabrely amusing as she fought. While Mungo had the numerical advantage, Dred’s people were better equipped and trained. But the cannibals were utterly insane, and Mungo was the worst of the lot. It was a miracle his own men hadn’t killed and eaten him turns ago. But maybe that was the method to his madness.
“You can’t take Queensland,” she shouted at the mob. “You’re not even close to our borders, and there are defensive measures.”
They can’t take your territory, but they can gut you.
It was just bad timing that they’d managed a strike as her squad limped away from a battle with Silence’s assassins. There weren’t many aliens left though they were fighting valiantly all around her. The last Rodeisian roared in challenge and took out two mongrels in one blow. Dred was close enough to catch the snap of bone.
Mungo’s orders came as a snarl. “Cull the Dread Queen. Then kill her.”
His cannibals responded at once, surging toward her in a massive wave. There were a lot of men fighting, and now all of them wanted her head on a pike. Keelah and the Rodeisian stepped into their path, then the rest of the Queenslanders followed suit. The sight might’ve been unlikely, but they were set on defending.
“Go. We’ll hold them here.”
“I can’t,” Dred protested.
Keelah snapped, “If you fall, Queensland is lost. It’s your will that holds the place together, and my people will have no refuge. This madman is clever enough to know that if he can take your head, he wins. So go.”
As Mungo snarled in frustration, Dred sprinted for the hallway. The chains weighed her down, but she didn’t let them slow her. At this moment, she felt every sacrifice that had carried her to this point, as if they were etched upon her skin. The battle rang out behind her, and she put distance between herself and Mungo’s red tide. Memories haunted her of what she’d seen in Munya: necklaces of teeth and the knives sharpened from human bones, cups carved of the skulls of their victims, red blood drunk down from the grisly goblets while laughter rang out.
Maybe we’re wrong to fight. Maybe it’d be best if the Conglomerate ended us.
But she couldn’t make that choice. Not now. Not when so many lives had already been dashed on the cliff of impossible hope that some of them would survive. We have to beat the odds, or it’s all been for nothing. She had faith that the Queensland force could defeat Mungo and his goons now that she wasn’t there as a target.
Should make my way back to Queensland. I think it’s—
Dred skidded around a corner, her boots loud against the metal flooring. So it wasn’t noise that gave the other woman away, but more of a feeling. She whirled low, just in time to avoid the garrote. Silence sprang at her, undeterred by the near miss. Dred read death in the other woman’s eyes. She’d known the bill would come due for the way she’d rejected the Handmaiden’s offer of alliance.
“Fine, let’s have this out now.” She lashed the chains before her, keeping the other woman at bay.
Dred scanned Silence from head to toe, checking for poisoned blades or other hidden threats, but the length of wire was the only weapon she spotted. That doesn’t mean she’s not dangerous. She was ready for the fight of her life. The woman hadn’t earned the title of Death’s Handmaiden by letting her enemies live. Then Silence’s gaze flickered over Dred’s left shoulder. It was obviously a ploy—and she thought so until the other woman sprang away, putting some distance between them. Her retreating footsteps were eerily quiet.
Fear quickened her heartbeat as Dred turned to greet the new menace. Vost stood with two of his men. All three of them were armed, laser rifles trained on her chest. Mary curse it. But there was nothing to do but feign composure. If they wanted her dead, they’d have opened fire when they came upon her and Silence.
“It appears the odds are in your favor.” Sounds of combat came from a few corridors away, where her people were fighting Mungo. It was a few paces to the cover of the corner. Chances were good that she’d take at least one hit, but the armor might compensate. But if she retreated the way she’d come, she had no way to be sure how the battle was going. She might end up crushed between Mungo’s forces and the mercs from behind.
They like that tactic.
“Appearances can be deceiving, especially here. For all I know, this is a trap, and your men will unload on us in a few seconds or bomb us from above.”
“Anything is possible,” she said.
It was a bluff, obviously.
“What the hell’s going on?” a merc demanded.
Vost held up a hand. “There’s a reason you’re not in charge, Duran.”
It was a handicap not to be able to see their faces when they could read hers, so she tried to maintain a neutral demeanor, hoping they’d assume this was a trap. “Why don’t you find out my intentions? Take one step closer. Just one.”
“Bullshit,” the other merc said. “You’re alone. You only have those chains.”
Dred smiled. “Bet your life on it? Your transport made a beautiful boom.”
“That was clever,” Vost said. “Ruined the docking bay, too.”
“Why are we talking?” she asked.
I’d give a lot for the rifle I gave to Martine. But even if I were better armed, my chances wouldn’t be good against three. I barely made it out of that first fight with Vost.
“I’m taking your measure. And you’re taking mine.” There was a grudging respect in the merc commander’s tone. That surprised her. “But we have unfinished business, don’t we? Weapons down, men.”
Damn. I’m in no shape for a rematch.
The soldiers lowered their rifles without bitching. She supposed they didn’t see her as a serious threat, but snap judgments like that had gotten their unit in serious trouble over and over during this conflict. Time to gather some information about their intentions. Dred would be surprised if the grunts knew what their commander was about.
“Did you drive Silence away on purpose?”
He parried with a question. “Did you need saving?”
“Hard to say. I’ve never fought her. I’m competent, but death is her specialty.”
Vost inclined his head, as if she’d said exactly what he expected. “Yes, I intervened, though not out of altruistic motives.”
“Welcome to Perdition.”