Negation Force by Anthony James

Author:Anthony James [James, Anthony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-23T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“More bodies,” whispered Lieutenant Maria Cruz.

She didn’t need or want to examine them in detail. A repeater weapon had ripped the two humans to pieces, leaving bloody chunks spread across the floor. It was hard to tell if they were male or female, though enough of their uniforms remained to tell Cruz these were civilians rather than soldiers.

She tipped her head to one side and listened carefully. There were noises which seemed to come from all around, some far away and some at an indeterminate distance.

Realising she and Keller were exposed in the middle of the corridor, Cruz advanced quickly. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest and so heavily it felt as though she was being punched on the inside of her ribcage. She tried to put her training into practise. Long, deep breaths, she thought. Keep my mind focused. Death is death. It comes to us all.

Something clicked inside her mind and body. The beating of her heart slowed, dropping close to a normal level. Slightly elevated. That’s to be expected. She saw things in greater detail – the tiny imperfections in the bare, metal walls. Scuffs on the carpet tiles. The rapid flickering of the lighting further along the corridor. The faintest of humming from the gauss rifle’s coils and the metallic odour which it expelled through tiny vents on top.

“It’s the second right turning, remember,” whispered Keller. He sounded sick to his stomach.

At the first right, Cruz heard something – footsteps either coming or going. She leaned out carefully and quickly withdrew her head. She made a signal with her fingers which she’d learned in training, letting Keller know there were two enemy soldiers twenty metres away and walking in the opposite direction to their position. He stared at her blankly.

She put one finger over her mouth. “Shhh.”

He nodded in understanding.

Cruz leaned out again. The light was poor, disguising some details and altering others. The two enemy soldiers continued at a measured pace, heading away. From the back they were nearly the same as the one she’d killed earlier – grey skin in parts, alloy plates and patches of ragged, filthy hair. With disgust, she realised their bare skulls were exposed. Trying not to think too hard about it, she squinted past them – the corridor turned right a little further along and she hoped they’d follow it until they were out of sight.

She waited a long ten seconds. The sound of footsteps receded further and Cruz risked another look.

“Gone,” she whispered, closing her eyes in relief and breathing out.

She didn’t hesitate - three quick strides took her past the opening to the corridor. Keller followed, one of his feet making a loud scrape across the floor in his haste. He cringed, whilst Cruz was once again left regretting her decision to allow him to come along.

The second right turn was another twenty paces away. The corridor continued past, reaching a T-junction at the end.

Once again, Cruz checked carefully before heading along the turning. It

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