The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(118)

Lindsey’s final thoughts were

Oh shit.



*



“Mother?” an electronic voice queried. “Mother, are you awake?”

Lindsey groaned.

“Mother? You have sustained dire injuries. Shall I call for assistance?”

Peeling her eyes open, Lindsey gazed up at the aerial drone hovering over her. Beyond the insect-like robot was a gray sky and tall buildings. Her body ached and there was a strange humming in her ears. Whatever she was lying on was vastly uncomfortable. What was even more annoying was something very heavy pinning her legs. Shoving herself up on one elbow, she observed she was in a long, narrow alley that ended on both sides with tall barricades. Also, she was lying on bodies piled at the bottom of a long garbage chute. Without a dumpster in place, the corpses of the dead squad members and broken equipment littered the ground.

It was Carter’s corpse lying across her legs. With a grunt, she pushed him off with her hands. He’d tried to stop the Gaia Cult and failed. Now she regretted all her angry thoughts directed at him. Had he been part of Dr. Curran’s plans all along? Or had he acted on impulse? Had Lindsey’s taunt maybe compelled him to action? It was hard to know, since the big man was dead.

“Teeny?”

“Yes, Mother?”

“I need a date and time.”

The aerial drone responded and Lindsey swore.

“Fuck. I’ve been dead for a day.”

“Though your vital signs are cause for concern, you’re not dead,” the aerial drone assured her.

“Yeah. Not now. But I was.”

Lindsey touched her chest. Dried blood covered the black jumpsuit and the ragged holes showed where the bullets had pierced her. Poking the tip of her finger through the fabric, Lindsey touched the healing wounds beneath. They hurt, but not nearly as much as when she’d received them. As she scooted off the heap of corpses, bullets skidded off the black fabric of her clothing. Apparently her healing body had discarded them.

She was Inferi Boon.

Lindsey giggled at the ridiculousness of her new state. Was this how Maria had felt? Raking her hands through her short hair, Lindsey stood over the deceased and felt like laughing again. She should be dead just like the rest of them, but instead, she was alive because of Dr. Curran’s meddling. Guilt, fear, and relief fought for dominance of her emotions. Instead, she ignored them all and concentrated on what she had to do.

“How’d you find me, Teeny?”

“Your wristlet reactivated.”

Swiping her screen, Lindsey was relieved to see it was functional again. Maybe dying had reset it and removed the suppression program Carter had written. All the corpses had their armor and weapons removed, but Lindsey decided to check them for anything she might be able to use. When her search turned up empty, she set her hands on her hips and peered down the alley. She had plans to make, but first she needed some information and supplies.

Lindsey picked a direction and started walking. Though slightly disoriented and sore, her mind was already spinning out possible courses of action.

The aerial drone dropped to the ground and padded along behind her on its long legs.

“Why are you walking, Teeny?”

“I require refueling for flight. I’ve been preserving my reserves while searching for you.”

“We’ll take care of that soon,” Lindsey promised.

The clacking noise of the drone trailing her was a little distracting, but she was actually glad for its company. Reaching the end of the alley, she climbed onto the barricade and peered over to see a thick mass of Scrags gathered near the shattered entrance of the rescue center. The tiltrotor had probably dragged them to the area.

Even though some of the creatures were within five feet of her, none of them paid her any heed. Lindsey pulled herself on to the top of the cement wall, careful to avoid the rusted razor wire. Fear chewed on her nerves, yet she had to know if she was truly Inferi Boon. Teeny crawled up next to her and perched at her side.

“Prepare to open fire, okay?” Lindsey said.

“Yes, Mother.”

“Hey, f*ckers!” Lindsey shouted.

A few Scrags looked up sharply, but didn’t appear to register her appearance.

“Okay, so I’m either a ghost or Inferi Boon.”

“You are Mother,” Teeny informed her.

Lindsey grinned at the drone. “Yeah, I am. Let’s try this again.” Lindsey picked up a small chunk of the crumbling cement barricade and threw it at a female Scrag. “Asshole!”

The Scrag spun about, eyes searching for prey, but dismissed Lindsey’s presence.

“They don’t see me as human, do they?”

“No, Mother. They’re ignoring you.”

“Well, that answers that,” Lindsey said, grinning with satisfaction. With a delighted smile, she jumped off the wall and into the horde.

Teeny followed.



*



“How long?” Solomon demanded.

“Do you want it done right, or quickly?” Dr. Curran replied.

Torran looked up from his corner of the confinement chamber. He’d been sitting with his eyes closed and hadn’t seen the former chief defender enter the lab. The short woman’s shoulder was heavily bandaged and she had dark circles under her eyes. Yates stood behind her in full armor. Evins, dark hair standing on end and looking very bleary-eyed, sat in the corner, watching Curran with his weapon leveled at her. With half the Cultists dead, the survivors were stressed and weary.