The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(91)

Chapter 26



Sometimes the truth brought no comfort. Dwayne stared out the window of his office at The Bastion and wondered if the future was as bleak as it appeared. The plans for the evacuation to Section A were finalized and preparation was underway. Each of the Constabulary mini-stations scattered across the city were fully stocked with electro-shock rifles, riot gear, and tear gas. Patrols had been steadily, but discreetly increased. Even the notices that would be sent to the select few chosen to survive in the dying city were prepared for delivery at a moment’s notice. His thoughts lingered on his children for a second before focusing on the great wall in the distance.

Somewhere beyond that wall was the only woman he had truly ever loved, and he was powerless to help her.

Maria’s news about the previous attempts at creating Boon soldiers had been disconcerting enough without the additional information about the Inferi Anomalies. He could tell by her expression she had been keeping more from him. Something about the tilt of her head and the way her eyes shifted when he asked her how she was doing had revealed more than she intended.

Something was horribly wrong.

His chest ached with the thought of her far beyond the wall and untouchable. The longing he felt for her was so intense it hurt.

Maybe this was what the commandant had wanted him to uncover. The truth about the Inferi Boon and their mission. She had hinted none too subtly that there was a good probability that the mission could fail and that the Section A fallback plan would be implemented. Perhaps she knew about the failed missions and suspected that this one would also fail. Maria was concerned with the acceleration of the plans to clear the valley. He had not told her about the food shortage or Section A.

With a sigh, he realized they were both starting to keep secrets from each other.

It was plausible that the hastening of the mission was due to the food shortage and the anticipation of implementing the Section A fallback plan. But in light of the new information about the Anomalies, Dwayne feared it was because the SWD believed that the Boon would devolve into Anomalies as well.

He wished he had asked Maria more questions.

Behind him his door sounded. He knew it was Petra arriving for their daily meeting. She was unhappy with him. Though she hadn’t said anything outright, it was clear from her manner that she knew he was not being completely forthcoming. It was difficult to see her struggling with the planning of Section A. None of her family was on the evacuation list.

“Come in,” Dwayne called out.

The door opened and he pivoted about to greet Petra.

Instead, Commandant Pierce stood in the doorway.

“Sir?”

“I need you to accompany me to the SWD headquarters,” she said, her beautiful face impassive. “There’s been an incident.”




*




Maria scanned their location in the valley again and was satisfied to see that there was no significant migration of the remaining Inferi Scourge hordes. Being able to utilize the carrier’s equipment was a godsend in these circumstances. Every night Omondi was demanding higher and higher kill numbers. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she was beginning to feel tired.

Of course, over the last few days she had started to feel a lot of things that had been absent since the SWD had made her Boon. Denman was scanning everyone on a daily basis. So far Maria was the only one that was dreaming and showing any noticeable differences. Perhaps it was her imagination, but the strange numbness that had encompassed her since her transformation felt like it was fading.

Dr. Curran was not very obliging with any hypothesis she had as to what was occurring. Denman cursed his basic field kit and wished he could be assisting her. Maria just wanted to know what was happening. Would they end up Anomalies, or worse? And was there a cure?

“Cormier, it looks like we have a clear path for five miles. Once we hit the five mile marker, come to a stop. We’ll have to deal with that cluster on foot,” Maria said.

“Yes, sir,” Cormier answered and swung the carrier onto the cleared road.

The chatter behind her was muted. They had already been working for most of the day. They were all mentally and emotionally exhausted. With so much of the valley clear, they just wanted to finish their mission and go home. With the end so tangible, so close, it made the days seem longer. They had already been working for ten hours, but had another twelve hours before they faded from the world.

Maria wondered if she would dream again.

Her wristlet chimed. It was a call from Chief Defender Omondi. It requested a secure connection. Maria tugged her helmet out from beneath her console and slipped it on. She quickly patched the call through to her helmet’s feed. Omondi’s face appeared on her visor, battered, torn, and flecked with blood.

“Vanguard Martinez, I need you to immediately re-route your squad toward the hydroelectric station. We’re presently pinned down and need backup immediately.”

Her fingers dashed across the screen on her console, quickly scanning for a clear path to the hydroelectric station. Omondi’s squad had done a good job clearing the way. Only a few patches remained, but they wouldn’t be able to drive all the way to the station without risk of being overrun. There was still a large horde to contend with that was located near Omondi’s location. The carrier would definitely rouse them. She quickly did the calculations on how long it would take to reach the station.