Helix: Episode 5 (Inversion) by Nathan M Farrugia

Author:Nathan M Farrugia [Farrugia, Nathan M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anomaly Press
Published: 2018-01-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sophia steered the Defender out of the market square, only to find the road barricaded by police filtering people through for inspection. A mass of tourists, locals and Purity supporters had collected beyond it, impeding Sophia’s escape.

‘The police have blocked all the exits,’ Olesya said, consulting one of the modified iPhones Sophia had given her.

Sophia hit the hazard lights and blasted the horn. The crowd slowly peeled apart, allowing her to push forward as far as the barricade. She hit the horn again.

‘Let us through,’ Sophia said under her breath.

‘I don’t think that’s going to happen,’ Olesya said.

Damien’s voice crackled in her ear. ‘Damien to Sophia. We’re off the roof and we’re tracking the train.’

‘Good. Direct us there,’ Sophia said.

‘The train is ten klicks north-north-east of you. Aviary added it to everyone’s maps. Keep an eye out.’

The police officers observed her through the windshield. One of the officers said something into his radio; probably reporting to his commanding officer. Sophia waited a moment, her pistol wedged under her thigh.

‘What’s the plan?’ Olesya said.

‘Talk our way through,’ Sophia said. ‘With a heavy American accent.’

‘And if that doesn’t work?’

‘I’ll need your help shooting them all.’

‘This is Czarina,’ came a voice over the air. ‘We made it out.’

‘This is Olesya, copy that. Ark, what’s your locstat?’

‘This is Ark,’ he said. ‘We’re clear.’

‘Jay here. We’re clear too. Andrey’s gone to ground.’

‘Copy that,’ Olesya said. ‘Wait for your orders.’

Sophia looked at her. ‘Do you know what those orders are?’

‘I will once we get out of here.’

‘What about the cloaked figure?’ Sophia recalled the mysterious watcher from the town hall. ‘Do you know who that was?’

‘I couldn’t see,’ Olesya said quickly. ‘What happened to you in the crowd back there? Sounded like you were having a panic attack.’

‘I haven’t even started to panic yet.’ She caught Olesya’s gaze. ‘I’m fine, seriously.’

Olesya broke her gaze to check the side mirrors. ‘Good, because it looks like we have a problem.’

The cluster of people wanting to get out of the square had closed behind them. But beyond them, a fresh squad of GROM soldiers moved in.

Sophia assessed their options. They couldn’t go left or right. Both ways were blocked by shopfronts: on the right corner, a clothing store; on the left corner, a sushi bar. That left them two options: reversing into the soldiers or driving through the police. Neither was particularly preferable; both would incur civilian casualties, and not every casualty would be a Purity supporter.

The soldiers had split into two and were moving around the Defender. One team stopped at Sophia’s nine o’clock while the other headed to the front, her one o’clock. Their angles were precise. They knew the Defender was stolen.

Sophia checked the rear-view mirror again. Another Defender was approaching.

‘If you back out now, we could try another corner,’ Olesya said.

‘They’re all cordoned. You said so yourself.’

‘Whatever move you make, make it now.’ Olesya glanced at her. ‘Show me what you can do.’

Sophia turned the wheel. ‘Oh, I will.’

She roared the Defender left, scattering civilians and soldiers.

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