Battle Earth: 12 (23 page)

Sarik began to circle the opening amongst his warriors that had become their arena. Taylor could already tell from the way he moved that he was an experienced and well-trained fighter.

What the hell have I got myself into?
Taylor asked himself.

He remembered when he first fought in hand-to-hand combat with a wounded Mech warrior in France, and it was a terrifying experience then. Despite all of his experience, this was every bit as frightening as that had been. Sarik led with his hands high and palms down like a Thai boxer. He suddenly jabbed forward with a quick snap with his left that struck Taylor’s jaw and caused him to recoil back.

The impact was so hard he felt it in his neck, but he had barely seen it coming. He stumbled two paces back before regaining his footing. Just as he had recovered, the creature came at him again with a powerful hammer blow. Taylor raised his left arm to parry, but the power was too much. The impact drove through and struck him in the head and forced him down onto one knee. While he was still stunned, he felt the creature’s knee drive into his chest, and he was flattened to the ground.

Taylor coughed and tried to get to his feet, finding blood on his hand as he cupped his mouth. He thought back to the training sessions he had with Jafar, and wondered if his friend had gone too easy on him. He got to his feet and immediately found Sarik bearing down on him again. The creature delivered four straight punches in quick succession. The first he stopped, the second drove into his stomach, the third he just managed to dodge, but the fourth struck his stomach again, and he felt the wind come out of him.

He collapsed back into a seated position. Sarik appeared to wait for him to stand. It was clear that for anything he might have been, the creature was at least sporting.

“You’re good,” Taylor said, blood dripping from his mouth, and he began to smile.

He knew he couldn’t beat Sarik in a stand up fight, and all of the equipment and technology he had gotten accustomed to wearing had given him a false sense of security in that regard. He shook his head to wake himself up, and knew now that he had to take a different approach.

Sarik came at him again with a powerful push kick. This time he didn't try and take the force of the blow. He leapt aside and punched forward into the creature’s flank. The impact hurt Sarik, and he folded slightly and brought his head down to Taylor's level; an opportunity he was quick to take. Taylor swung with all his force and connected with the creature’s flat nose. It was like hitting iron. Pain soared through his arm, but the creature staggered back a few paces before regaining its balance.

Taylor's confidence was back now as he approached the alien. Sarik lashed out at him with a quick jab. He ducked under and drove an uppercut into the towering creatures' stomach, but as he rose up to strike again, the alien retorted with a head butt, following it with an elbow that knocked Taylor onto the flat of his back. A stamp attack came next, and he rolled out and onto his feet just in time.

Taylor had just a few seconds to catch his breath before the alien came at him again. He spun out from one of its strikes and tried to back fist Sarik in the head, but the creature pre-empted him and moved in, locking him in a bear hug. His was an iron grip, and Taylor struggled to get free. He could feel the energy being sapped away from him as he tried to fight the grip. He looked down at the huge feet of the creature either side of his. He raised his right foot and drove his heel down with all his force onto Sarik’s foot that seemed to be covered with nothing more than the fabric of his suit. Sarik let out a groan in pain.

Taylor seized his opportunity as he felt the creature’s grip weaken. He took hold of one of the fingers on Sarik’s left hand that held him in a vice grip. With a firm grip around the creature’s finger, he snapped it back so that the finger broke. The creature’s grip was broken, and he pushed out and away. He watched in amazement as Sarik took hold of his crooked broken finger and snapped it back into position without showing any pain at all.

Sarik stormed forwards and threw a straight punch. Taylor avoided it but landed in a standing bind. Sarik drove his knee up so high it struck Taylor's chin. The impact snapped his head back and almost knocked him out, and he knew he couldn't take another like it. He dropped down and took hold of Sarik’s legs and pulled them out from under him. The back of the alien’s head landed hard against a rock and stunned him. It was the chance Taylor needed. He dropped down onto the alien and drove punch after punch into his face.

Just when he thought he'd won, the alien threw a wild hook that knocked him sideways, and he rolled over and finally climbed back onto his feet. Sarik was back up now also, but he was looking weary and weak. Taylor took a deep breath and approached fearlessly. Sarik threw a heavy strike towards his head, but Taylor ducked under and around and leapt onto his back in one swift manoeuvre. He had the alien in a chokehold now, and he held on for dear life.

Sarik reached around and struck him, but the hits were weak compared to what Taylor had been dealt earlier in the fight. Finally, the alien dropped to its knees and lost its strength. He let his grip go just before the alien passed out, took a step around, and dealt a crushing hook into Sarik’s face. The force of the impact almost broke Taylor's hand, but Sarik collapsed onto his side with blood seeping out from his mouth and nose. He was gasping for air and painfully lifted his hand up to ask for Taylor to stop.

Taylor staggered back a few steps and could feel his knees were weak. His ribs hurt like they were bruised or broken and his face numb from the impacts. He took a few paces forward and loomed over the defeated alien.

"Do you submit?"

Sarik looked up and nodded. He showed no shame or disappointment in his defeat. Taylor extended his hand to Sarik and helped him to his feet.

"So?"

"If we follow you, then it is until Erdogan is dead, or we are."

"That's the plan," said Taylor.

"Then yes. You have my word, and that of all here. We will follow you."

Taylor nodded in appreciation before looking up to see the disgruntled and worried faces of Jafar and Irala still watching in overhead.

"You can't trust them, Colonel."

Taylor looked up to see Irala standing over him. He was sitting and resting from his wounds, trying to get a little peace. He turned away and watched Sarik and many of his Sampions step out from an armoury building. They were now fully armoured and equipped, and more of them flooded in there to do the same.

"You of all people should know the dangers of having such a formidable number of the enemy among us can be," added Irala.

Taylor noted that Jafar was standing over him also.

"Not you, too?"

"Irala is right. I know you think Sarik and his force can aid us, but they may just as well try to kill us."

"You tried to kill me when we first met," Taylor said accusingly, "and so did you," he added, staring at Irala.

Neither of them looked convinced.

“You’re just gonna both have to take a leap of faith, just like I have.”

“And if that leap takes us to our deaths?”

“Then it won’t matter, Irala, because then you won’t have anything left to worry about.”

It didn’t convince either of them, but he found it almost funny. Sarik strode over to them. He was even more intimidating now that he wore his armour. It was the close fitting and intricately designed suits reserved only for the finest of Krys warriors. His armour was a satin black with just a little shimmer.

“You can’t keep that look, you know. You’ll be shot at by every man and woman in our armies.”

Sarik nodded. He raised his left forearm and pressed a few buttons on the control pad. His armour faded to white, and the others soon followed suit. It was an amazing sight, and Taylor was speechless.

“We fight for the white man, so we wear white in your honour.”

“Not all white!” Silva shouted in response.

Taylor stood up and looked in amazement at their new allies.

"Do you know where Erdogan is?"

"No," Sarik replied quickly, "but I can find out."

Taylor froze as he heard the words that were like music to his ears.

"How?" he asked urgently, "How quickly?"

"A day, maybe."

"Anything you need is yours. Just find him."

"You wish to kill Erdogan and to take his throne?"

Taylor nodded.

"Many have tried. None have survived."

"It's the only way to end this war."

"If you wish to win, yes."

"You seem pretty certain?"

"If you cannot change something in the course of this next week, you will lose."

"You seem pretty sure on that?" King asked, strolling up to Taylor.

"Erdogan's jump gateway is days from completion, and should you present any chance of winning, and even if you can stop it, Lord Erdogan will not let you have this world. He would rather see it burn than for you to seize it from him."

"What are you saying?"

"The Kiyamet."

Taylor could see Jafar knew exactly what Sarik was speaking of.

"Erdogan would not destroy this paradise world," Jafar insisted.

"If the choice was to destroy it or concede to Colonel Taylor and the rest of the humans, yes he would."

"What the hell is this Kiyamet?"

"A device buried deep below the surface of a world. When activated, it will systematically destroy the atmosphere so that nothing living can survive. Whatever planet is struck by the Kiyamet is uninhabitable for thousands of years."

"And he's building one of these things here?" Taylor asked.

"It is already built and ready to be activated."

Taylor's face went white as he considered the prospect of the weapon being activated.

"Scorched Earth? Just like Demiran tried?" King asked.

"I thought Erdogan was above such tantrums?" Morris said.

"Pride," said Silva, "He doesn't believe he can lose, and this way he wins no matter which way it goes."

Taylor thought about everything he was hearing. He wanted to take it to the commanders of their forces and fleet, but he knew what had to be done, and that he had to be the one to do it. He turned back to Sarik.

“Whatever you have to do, find him. Twenty-four hours, that’s all you’ve got.”

Sarik nodded and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Irala asked him.

He stopped and turned back around in surprise.

“I cannot find him here. I will take ten of my people and discover his location.”

Irala looked to Taylor for him to intervene.

“What? We either trust them or we don’t.”

He could see that no one trusted them, and he doubted the decision himself but knew it was their best, and probably only hope. Sarik looked to him for approval, and so he inclined his head and watched his latest ally leave.

“You can’t be serious?” Morris asked, “You know they can’t be trusted, and the first thing you do is give them this much responsibility? First thing they’ll probably do is to tell Erdogan where you are. You know how much Erdogan wants to see you dead?”

Taylor agreed, but he was soon distracted by the realisation that he was the greatest bait of them all.

“How many of us do they have to kill before you realise they cannot be our friends?” Morris asked after he didn’t get an answer to his initial questions. Taylor merely pointed to Jafar.

“You know how many times that alien has saved my life?” Taylor whispered, “You know how much he has done for our cause? More than you ever have or ever can hope to. Don’t like trusting someone new? Join the club. Present me with a better idea, and I’ll think about it.”

Morris said nothing, and Taylor moved back to King.

“We’re holding here. Secure the area.”

King nodded and didn’t even attempt to question the orders. Taylor gestured for Jafar to walk with him, and he took a few paces away from the group that was hanging on to his ever word.

“Do you think I can trust this Sarik?” Taylor asked quietly.

“I do not know. He appears honourable, but we will not know where his loyalties lie until we see proof.”

“That’s a big help.”

Jafar said nothing.

Several hours had passed, and the sun was low in the sky. They had seen no enemy presence or attempts to retaliate, as they would have expected. Taylor sat on the rooftop of an apartment building in the city centre and was just staring up into the sky. The stars were becoming visible. He wanted nothing more than to have Eli at his side. Finally, it was his comms bleeper than interrupted his dream, and he activated the video display. A screen projected before him. It was the bridge of the Diderot, with White and Lasure looking in at him.

“Colonel Taylor, we are glad to hear of your successful operation in Warsaw, but we have been informed that you have recruited enemy forces. And not only that, but that you have set them free to act at their own will,” said Lasure.

“Not their own will,” he replied.

“…And that you have been withholding vital information from us,” White added.

He got up and walked to the edge of the rooftop and took a deep breath as they waited for him to go on.

“I have a question for you both, and I’m guessing you understand now that this situation is far more serious than we thought. Do you want Erdogan dead?”

“Of course, but…”

“But nothing,” Taylor interrupted, “He has eluded us all this time. We keep pushing, and it’ll be the end of us all. But there is one thing I can guarantee he wants just as much as this world…me.”

“What are you saying, Colonel?” General White asked.

“If we keep pursing Erdogan, we will lose. He has outsmarted us at every stage, and any sizeable operation to track him down he will see through every time. I want to go in, as bait.”

“Alone?” Lasure gasped.

“Sarik, the alien officer I freed, I believe he can get me to Erdogan, along with a few of my people.”

“It’s suicide.”

“No, General, to carry on with our current course of action is suicide. I am sure Morris has already informed you of this doomsday weapon Erdogan has installed on our planet. We can’t win this through conventional war.”

“Going after Erdogan like this, you won’t survive it.”

“No, probably not, Admiral.”

“And you think you can beat him?”

“I have a fighter’s chance, and it’s a damn sight better than anything else we can do.”

All of them went quiet for a moment, thinking over what he had said. White broke the silence.

“Has it really come to this? Is our only hope left in a handful of men throwing themselves into the hands of the enemy, and hoping to kill him by some miracle? After everything, is that what it comes down to?”

“It’s that simple, yes,” replied Taylor, “I have a chance at this, and whether you accept it or not, I am going to give it a shot.”

“You’ve accepted you might not come back from this, but what of the men and women you expect to go with you?”

“They know as well as I do, General, that without this it is all over anyway. They’ll stand with me until the end.”

“Okay,” Lasure finally conceded, “I don’t like it, but I guess we have no choice but to give it a shot. What can we do?”

“Just keep doing what you’re doing. Attack ground targets and put pressure on the enemy, but not so much that Erdogan presses the button. Other than that, leave it to me.”

“If what this alien has told you is right, you’re our only hope,” added White.

“And if he lies and is drawing you into a trap, we will lose more than we could ever afford to.”

“Admiral, it’s not over until I kill that bastard. It doesn’t matter what it costs, I will not be done in this life until he is dead.”

“You have our approval, Colonel,” said Lasure, “and we will do as you ask. Good luck.”

Taylor ended the transmission.

He looked up at the sun casting its final rays on the hills in the distance, and he revelled in the peace and tranquillity that the night would bring.

“So it’s all on us?” King asked.

Taylor turned in surprise as he had thought he was alone.

“I’ve got to do this, and I won’t ask any one of you to come with me. Any man or woman who goes down this road does so of their own free will.”

“Come on, Taylor, don’t give me that shit. Save those speeches for the rest of the Regiment, you don’t need to convince me. I know what needs to be done in this war. I knew the day it started. I knew what had to be done the day we disobeyed orders and flew to Europe to save your ass, and we did.”

“Yeah, you did,” replied Taylor with a slight chuckle, “You were our guardian angels that day.”

“Still are. You’re a credit to the Corps, Colonel, but you needed the Rangers to carry you.”

That remark made Taylor laugh out loud for the first time in a long while. He turned and leaned over the ledge and looked down into the street. King joined him. They could see a few dozen of their own and almost as many of the Sampions.

“Look at us,” said King, “We’re the most ridiculous make up of a regiment that ever existed. We’ve got people from a dozen nations and services, and fucking aliens. Aliens? You know how crazy that would have sounded a few years ago?”

Taylor smiled.

“It’s crazy, and it shouldn’t work, but it does, because at the heart of it we have you holding it all together. I don’t know what great creator or God chose you, but you were always destined to end this war,” said King.

“Fate?” Taylor asked, “I don’t believe in it.”

“Yeah, well suck it up, because she believes in you. The things you’ve been through, the things you’ve achieved. No human could have done it. With crazy luck, you might have achieved a quarter of what you have, but not this. You were born for this, and I’m honoured to walk beside you to the very end of whatever destiny was laid down for you.”