Aimee ran towards him, but he held up a hand. “Get back!”
Alex drew a small knife and hacked at the limb but when he pressed down, the flesh would give a bit, and not allow the blade to bite. He felt the thing began to pull at him; he needed to brace himself, and he turned and tried to walk back further into the cave. Each step was impossibly hard, and the thing simply brought more and more power to bear on him, canceling out his effort. He knew it had been playing with him. The force on his arm increased, and he began to slide backwards. The tusk began to dig through his cave suit. The game was obviously over.
Then a sharp pain ripped through Alex’s head, and suddenly the pressure on his arm was gone. He brought his hands up to his ears, grimacing.
Aimee was beside him in a second. “What is it?”
“Something… a sound.” Alex moaned. It felt like an icepick being jammed into the center of his brain. He went to his knees, and then buried his forehead to the ground, groaning.
Aimee followed him down. She looked up, then around. “I can’t hear anything.”
“Ultrasonic.” He lifted his head, his eyes streaming, and blood at his nostrils. Behind him the questing tentacles had begun to quickly withdraw.
After another few seconds they were gone, the sound shut off, and with it went the pain. Alex eased back up, and took his hands away, blinking.
“The sound, it’s gone.” He looked around. “And so is the creature.”
Aimee helped him to his feet. “This is no ordinary cave.” She turned. “And maybe whatever that sound was, scared the orthocone away.”
“Maybe.” Alex looked down at his arm. There was a ring cut from the tough material of his suit, and his skin was raised and raw. He lifted his head. “And maybe it just knows another way in.”
CHAPTER 49
Aimee let go of Alex and looked up at his face. He hadn’t changed. He had the same brutally handsome features, the same eyes that saw deep inside her. He returned the gaze, his expression suddenly hardening.
“You shouldn’t damn well be here,” he said.
Her mouth momentarily dropped open. “You’re right, I shouldn’t.” She folded her arms, her jaw set. “And neither should you. After all you’re dead, remember?” She pushed him hard in the chest. “Or at least that’s what you wanted me to think.”
“That wasn’t in my control.” Alex rounded on her. “You have bigger priorities than this.” He waved an arm around. “Or me.”
“You dare…” Her teeth clamped. “You have no idea what I have done to be here.”
He leaned towards her, lowering his voice. “You left Joshua unguarded. That’s what you’ve done.”
She felt the anger boil over. “I left Joshua? You goddamn left us both.” She couldn’t help her voice rising, and could feel the stares of the group. “You left us both, when we needed you most.”
“No, I didn’t.” Alex pulled back. “And you had someone.”
He knew, she thought. How? Aimee tilted her head, stepping in closer. “You’ve been watching us… or did that Jack Hammerson run tabs on me and keep you in the loop?”
He began to turn away, but she grabbed his arm and tugged him around. “Peter looked after us when I needed support. He was a father figure to Joshua, but never his true father. Where were you?” She stepped right up to him. “Where were you?”
Alex put a hand out and eased her back a step. “You should have married him. Joshua needs that permanency… so do you.”
That was it. Aimee swung at him. “You son of a bitch.”
The blow caught Alex on the shoulder and bounced off. Aimee felt her hand throb with pain, but her anger wouldn’t subside. She wanted to hit him again, hurt him.
“Yo.” Casey Franks sauntered over, followed by Rhino and Blake. “What kept you, boss?” Her bloodied face was pulled up into its usual sneer. Her eyes went from Aimee to Alex, as she stepped in between them.
Alex shrugged, looking relieved at the distraction. “A mile or so of ice and rock, a sea serpent or two, miles of jungle.” He smiled flatly. “The usual.” Alex held out a fist to her.
“All in a day’s work.” Casey bumped knuckles. “Good to see you.”
Alex did the same to his other HAWCs, who grinned like they’d just been given a reprieve from death row. He looked down again at the HAWC woman’s battered face. “How you doing?”
Casey grinned back. “Me? Fine, I was ugly to start with.”
Rhino put a large hand and on her shoulder. “But it’s what’s inside that counts, right, Franks?”
Alex laughed. “For most people.” He nodded towards the group standing in the dark. “Let’s see what we’ve got.” He took a few paces towards them, but paused to look back at Aimee.
“We’ll finish this later.”
You bet we will, she thought.
“Come forward,” Alex said, his voice echoing in the smaller cavern.
All eyes shifted from Alex to Captain Wu Yang. He and his remaining men stayed in the shadows. Around them the cavern was heavily overgrown with hanging lichen and mosses, things that had grown over many millennia to obscure walls that seemed unnaturally flat. Beneath their feet a layer of dirt couldn’t conceal ancient tiles. Unlike most of the caves leading down, this one smelled damp, earthen, and of something Alex could only just detect — the hint of metal rusting somewhere far away in the dark.
“Now,” Alex said.
Captain Wu Yang was the first to step from the shadows, his gaze unflinching. Alex noticed his gun was still in his holster. He had two remaining soldiers with him. The captain squared his shoulders and folded his arms. There would be no apology from this man, nor would Alex have expected one. As far as he was concerned, he was just doing the job ordered by his country.
Yang made no move for his gun, but his soldiers still had their rifles cradled. Alex’s team now had no armaments, other than knives.
“Lower your weapons.” Alex had his HAWCs spread to either side of him, and he could feel the waves of fury radiating from them. The power imbalance would not be tolerated for long.
Yang didn’t flinch, and his men didn’t move. Alex knew they understood him.
“Hey assholes, you heard the man.” Casey walked forward, eyes blazing. She looked like she wanted to settle a few scores right here, right now.
Alex grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. He turned again to Yang. “Lower them or I’ll take them from you.” He stared from under lowered brows. “And I will hurt you.” Alex looked over his shoulder to the cave entrance. “Then I think I’ll throw you all outside to play with our new friend.”
Yang’s eyes remained fixed on Alex, but he could almost hear his mind ticking over, perhaps remembering what he had seen this new American soldier do to his giant, Mungoi. He turned and spoke a few words. His men didn’t hesitate to comply; they placed their weapons on the ground — rifles, handguns, and knives.
Alex looked each of them in the eyes. “If you want to live, you will take orders from me.” He waited until there came a near imperceptible nod from Wu Yang.
Alex continued to hold the man’s gaze. “Now, I’ll take the grenades.”
The soldiers looked to Yang who frowned and shrugged.
Alex chuckled, but with zero humor. “I know PLA each have a Type-86 grenade. They’re minifrags full of nice ballbearings and with a wide burst radius. Hand them over, now.” Alex curled his fingers. “Quickly.” He tilted his head, seeing the walkie talkies on their belts. “And take those off… I’ll have them as well.”