They wheeled to a stop, almost halfway across the bridge. Red Pack circled the atvs, settlers surrounded by natives. The two groups of ferals stopped one-hundred meters away from the group on either side, waiting for some signal. Brutus opened a line to Command. 616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYrz572Pq3
"Command, this is Pack Alpha. We are surrounded by hostiles on open bridge, swimming is not an option, please advise, over."
"How many hostiles Pack Alpha?"
"Hundreds, maybe over a thousand, maintaining space at one hundred meters roughly, is artillery an option?"
Command didn't respond for a few minutes.
"Negative, no assets within range, no options have presented themselves here, you are on your own, Red Pack, good luck."
"Big spit" they all muttered.
Brutus stood up from behind his vehicle, and ordered the four chaingunners to split up and have two to each of the directions on the bridge. Lucius would take most of the grenades into the center for the mortar they packed along. The rest would split up evenly. In case they got overrun, they were to get to either side of the bridge, and jump off, using their arm-grapples to hang from underneath, safe until the horde moved away. As they moved around the circle, the ferals stayed put, watching.
Marcus finally examined them without having to shoot at them or on the back of a speeding vehicle. Tattered strips of clothes hung off their hides, corded muscle lay under the lean skin. Hair in tangled knots, nails crusted with dirt, at least he hoped that it was dirt. Thanks to the surgeries, all of Red Pack had over twenty-six vision. The greatest feature that unsettled him however, was that all the ferals all moved with the same purpose, synchronized, almost. Galba, forgetting to take himself off the main com, swore to himself.
Looking up, Marcus saw black shadows floating overhead through the dying rain, turning lazy circles above. Livia, featureless behind her mask, stared at him. when he looked at her, she turned away. What is she doing that for? Bigger question, what are they waiting for?
Far, far away, a long, raw throated scream sounded across the bridge. The call immediately followed up by all the animal-humans surrounding the small circle of teenagers, the sound followed by the tide of ferals. The screams and savages were answered by the buzz and brass of the guns. Marcus fought the kick of his rifle as it roared into the crowd. A man, wearing the remains of a business suit, knocked down, a woman taking his place, so many.
The gunners sprayed hot brass as they cut swathes into the attacking mob, a cone of death marked by tracers. Marcus worried his barrel would overheat, but figured at the range he was firing, accuracy would not matter. Grenades plumed above the heads of the ferals, momentarily pressing a circle into the masses before being replaced by fresh bodies. Soon a ridge of bodies built up around the circle, slowing down the animals.
Marcus ejected his fourth to last magazine when the chainguns roared to a halt, their users picking their rifles up for use. Brutus asked for a status report, and by his response after they reported in, Marcus knew Brutus was scared, which frightened him more than anything. Brutus always beat everyone else, and nobody doubted his superiority. As the mass slowly closed towards the circle Brutus told them to hop the bridge, grenades clearing a brief stretch of the sides. Marcus vaulted his atv dashing for the edge, feeling the animals behind him pursuing. Livia right on his heels as he dived over the concrete barrier. Twisting like a fish out of water, he reached back and flexed his forearm. A hiss, and then a sudden jerk from his arm running through his body.616Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCYnhj8nNE
There they hung, thirteen black spiders over the running water. They began to banter and congratulate each other on spending Pax dollars. Brutus suddenly cut through the chatter addressing Marcus on a private line.
"I've been waiting for this Marcus."
Why talk to me alone? "yeah me too, getting a piece of the action."
"That's not what I mean, kid. You are going to get one of us killed someday, and I am not going to let that happen."
What the hell? Whats wrong with him, what did I do?
"You were the first one to wake up Marcus, the first one to survive the treatments, but that means jack to me. You could end up leading the Genesis. That's going to be me. Good bye Marcus."
Marcus remembered the training day when Brutus had promised to kill him, and as he opened his com to the main channel, his Alpha drew his handgun and shot Marcus through his forearm. Drilling his grapnel pack and tearing his arm apart. Screaming, the boy fell towards the water. Black trailed by red, falling into blue.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
