Countdown by John Walker (feel good fiction books txt) 📗

Rita followed, rushing after him. He kept ahead of her but only just. They reached the passenger area. She reached, grabbing his jacket. He slipped out of it like a snack, spinning as he did with a right hook.

Fading back, she narrowly avoided the blow. That momentary dodge allowed him to dart out of arm’s reach. She kept after him until they got to the bridge. Two seats sat at the nose with two behind them facing the left and right.

Loch lunged for the pilot’s chair, slapping a panel. The thrusters came alive as Rita grabbed him again, spinning him around. He kneed her in the side. She absorbed it, slamming her forehead into his face. A gurgle burst from his throat as his nose broke. He grabbed at her throat, but she batted his hand away, drawing back for what would likely be a coup de grace.

“Autopilot engaged,” a computer voice said as the ship pulled up suddenly, climbing.

Rita lost her balance. She grabbed at the seat… missed… slammed against the wall. Loch managed to remain in place, bracing himself while clinging to the console. They were heading for orbit… which didn’t bode well. If Zem remained true to his word, they’d be under fire any moment.

I need to get on that damn comm! Rita shuffled away from the door, to the other wall. The g-force made it difficult, possibly impossible for someone without an ether dose. When she reached the consoles, she shoved away to get ahold of the chair. An alarm went off, a constant rapid buzz, possibly a target lock. I need to move faster.

“We’re halfway there,” Loch said, “no guns yet. Your friend lied. And when we get where we’re going…” The vessel quaked, cutting him off as they shook violently. His look of triumph turned to horror, eyes bulging. “He actually did it! That son of a bitch is trying to kill us! What the…”

“Level us out,” Rita demanded, “get me on the comm or we’re both done. You hear me? Do it!”

“Hold on!” Loch shouted, shifting himself into the seat. He grabbed the controls, looking about frantically. “I don’t know how to disengage the autopilot! I… I don’t know how!” A second blast smacked them, this one hard enough to send them careening to the left.

Rita tensed up against the g-force, the constant rattling, the swift motion as they began to spin. We’re going to crash. She made a lunge for the pilot’s seat, catching the back with her left hand. Her right slipped. “Pull me up!” She shouted. “Loch! God dammit, pull me up!” He didn’t respond… and they continued to plunge toward the ground.

Chapter 9

Zem watched the screen, shaking his head when the yacht took off. What the hell is this guy doing? He turned to Torrence who shrugged. The turrets engaged, firing an initial volley. The first two attacks missed, but the third struck home. That wasn’t enough to bring them down and the ship didn’t evade… it just kept heading up.

“Autopilot?” Zem asked.

“Probably,” Nostros said. “I’d say…”

“Hey!” McCully shouted, “kind of need some help out here, guys!”

Nostros headed for the door. “I’ve got this. You might want to reach out to the ship. Find out what’s going on there. We still haven’t found Rita.” He left.

Biggun leaned back, hands behind his head. “Seems to be working as far as I’m concerned. Loch ain’t gettin’ out of here. You guys were true to your word. I’m damn impressed, folks. More than you know.” He turned to Zem. “Shame about your pal though. Since you’ll have come all this way for nothing.”

Zem grabbed Biggun by the shirt, dragging him out of the chair. He slammed him into the console, staring into his eyes. “You want to talk any more shit? I got no reason to let you live, prick.” He socked him in the gut before tossing him on the floor. When he turned to Torrence, she looked away, accessing the terminal.

“Uh… yacht,” Torrence said, “this is the command center. You are coming down hard. We’ve disengaged the turrets, but you have got to level off or you’re going to crash. Please respond right away. Hello?”

Nothing came through.

“Can you lock on?” Zem asked. “Access their autopilot from here? Maybe we can bring them down remotely.”

“Someone might be able to do that,” Torrence said, “but that person sure as shit isn’t me. I’m not that good with computers.” She tried the comm again. When she finished the message, she gestured to the door. “You might want to check on them. Sounded bad if McCully was calling for help.”

“Keep trying to reach them.” Zem paused as Biggun crawled to his feet. The man scowled at him, wearing a dangerous expression. “Sit your ass back down. Right now.” He secured the man to the chair. “Until we’re done with this, you can be locked down. I don’t need you causing trouble.”

“What if I get shot? Move me to some cover, man!”

“No one’s coming in here so be quiet.” Zem moved to the hall. “Keep an eye out for him, Torrence! I’ll be right back.” He stepped out, finding McCully and Nostros leaning out to lay down heavy fire in the hallway. They faded back to cover as a barrage of at least five guns blasted the wall, turning the air into sparks. “How many can there possibly be?”

“A lot,” McCully said. Off in the distance, turrets opened up again. This time, they had to be shooting at the vehicles approaching the front gate. Unlike the regular small arms, they let off a high-pitched sound when they deployed, echoing all around the area. These added to the ones shooting at the yacht, plunging the compound into a real state of conflict.

“Nostros,” Zem said, “loop around. Flank them. McCully, keep firing even if you just poke