C h a p t e r X

B e y o n d R e a s o n

Jade sighed, marching up to the front.

She clasped her hands behind her back, looking out at all the faces across the large room. Many she knew from her childhood, others she had fought alongside on the battlefield. Others still she hadn’t even learned their names.

But here they were, looking back at her, waiting for the orders they knew she was about to give them. And there was no point in prolonging this anymore.

“Today,” she began, “we’re hitting Kenzi’s North Bay base.”

Several people groaned. It was nothing new; they were always hitting that base. It was Kenzi’s single strong hold on the continent, and her command post for North American operations. These were usually the same people that constantly harassed her base, so it was no surprise that they occasional got orders to return the favor.

“But not like before,” she continued. “This time…we’re capturing it. We’re kicking them out, and sending Kenzi a clear message: we can and will hurt you.”

Some nodded, others voiced their excitement. It wasn’t often they went charging in all guns a blazing. Still, she noticed several of the younger ones shaking nervously. Although strong, her teams never captured bases. Their missions were just to make the enemy’s life a living nightmare. To suddenly ask this of them was practically signing their death certificate.

“Don’t get cocky, though. Our edge is surprise. While you guys sneak in for the attack, I’ll be marching some of you around the grounds outside. The enemy will be so focused on what the hell we’re up to that they won’t know what hit ‘em.”

“You’re not coming with?” piped up a short kid in front.

Jade smiled reassuringly, ruffling his hair. “It’s just part of the distraction. If they see me, then they won’t think we’re right on top of them. Besides, you’ve got a great C.O. leading you in.”

“Ain’t that right!”

Jade cringed at the sound of the new voice. She slowly glanced over her shoulder to see Mark Koch in full gear, strutting up on top of her crate-stage like some kind of celebrity.

“All right, dogs; let’s show that little bitch hiding in her comfy palace what real heroes look like!”

Several more people cheered.

Jade had to give him credit; although probably the single hardest person she had to work with, he knew how to get the people going. They’d follow him into battle, all right.

Jade took center stage again. “I want two groups; at least fifteen strong for the distraction. The rest of you…” she sighed. “Suit up, and make sure your guns are loaded.”

The room quickly dispersed, and Jade found herself standing alone. She was a little disappointed that she wouldn’t go into battle with them today. It was Kaitlin that had decided to use the distraction method, and she had to agree that it was a smart one. It always felt like her enemies were watching her; following her. But she wanted to be there, fighting for the cause.

Jade trusted her troops, though, and knew that they could do well without her. After all, she had trained them and with them for months on end. But she had to admit, she needed to pick a leader; someone she knew she could trust her life with. Someone who would lead them like she would.

Unfortunately, Jade had promised Mark that she would allow him to command for her, if the need arose. He was an old friend from Pierre, whom she had dated on and off for two years.

And sadly—regrettably, she had never gone back on her word since this war started.

“Hey Jade, can I talk to you?” She heard the all too familiar voice call from somewhere off to her right.

She sighed, walking over to where he stood in the shadows. “What do you want, Mark? Shouldn’t you be planning your strategies?”

“Yeah, I know. I just…I just need to talk to you,” he explained. There was a worried look on his face; a very different change from his usual cocky arrogance.

“About what?” Jade was getting a little annoyed. This was not the time for his games—which, knowing him, was all this was.

“I just need your advice about something. ‘Cause you are like one of the best girls out here. I trust you. I can talk to you,” he told her, flashing the look that she fell for almost every time.

It worked. Jade melted a little, and nodded. “What is it? You can talk to me. Don’t worry.”

“It’s just…” He struggled to find the right words. “There’s this…girl. She’s a commander…and she’s hot. So, what’s your policy here about commanders sleeping with their soldiers?” He grinned, no doubt hoping she would find it funny.

Jade scowled and rolled her eyes. She was the only female commander in the base, so he had to be talking about her. “Oh yeah, this is a good time to be talking about screwing a chick. We’re going into battle, and as usual, you’re too busy being horny to care. Hello? You’re going to be leading this battle. I can trust you with that, can’t I?”

His grinned never wavered. “Doll, of course you can.”

“You swear? You’re not just going to be thinking with your dick? I mean, I know that’s a stretch from the usual, and it will be hard for you. But you have to think. People’s lives are at stake. Not just your virginity,” she spat, knowing his weak spot.

He covered her mouth with his hand. “Babe, shut up. I do have a reputation around here to uphold.” He looked around quick to make sure no one had overheard.

Jade laughed. “You’re actually letting that lie go on? That’s stupid. They’re saying you’re a man whore. I mean, I understood when we were in school, but we’re in a war now. There’s more important things than who’s getting boned.”

“Hey, doll face; it’s me. And it’s only a matter of time before the rep is true. So come on…just go with it. Okay? But…” His look suddenly softened again. “Will you help me get her?”

“No. I won’t. And no, I won’t, to answer both of your questions,” Jade replied. And then, a devious grin appeared on her face, which quickly faded.

“What was that look for?” Mark asked in confusion.

“Well, I was going to yell out the truth that you were a virgin, but, since you are leading the army today in battle, I figured I’d let it go on for a little while longer. So you’re not the laughing stock.”

“Bitch,” he muttered.

Jade recoiled. “Excuse me?! Who’s the one letting you lead her army? Huh?! I don’t have to. You’re just an immature, horny jerk. I have half a mind to order one of the other soldiers to castrate you. That’s not outside of my power, you know…”

“Oh really? Really?! I don’t see that happening. You know why? Because you still want me. Look doll face, we broke up. Sorry. That’s not happening for me. You’re pretty, but just—”

“What?” Jade interrupted. “I still want you? I dumped you, remember?”

“Well, that would explain why I guess I would still bone you. If you wanted…which, you do. You know you do,” he responded, getting uncomfortably close to her, and putting his hands on her shoulders. “So what do you say?”

She punched him; hard, and in the gut. “FIRST, I say screw you! And no, that is not an offer! Second, I HAVE A NAME! Use it! And third, you have no right to be talking to your commanding officer like that. Next time, there will be punishment.” She turned to walk away. “Oh, and by the way; you have a battle to be leading. Better hurry your ass up. And…don’t die," she added with sneer.

She stomped off, leaving him to catch his breath.

“You’re not my doll face anymore,” he muttered to himself. “And where the hell did you learn to hit so hard?!”

Jade was fuming, walking nowhere in particular, trying to calm herself down. In her fury, she ran into someone. She looked up to see Brian standing there.

“Oh…sorry Brian,” she muttered.

“No big. What’s up?”

“Planning a murder…of a previous boyfriend. Want to help?”

Brian got a weird grin on his face, which he quickly tried to conceal. “You and Dan broke up?”

Jade laughed. “Ha, that’s a good one. No. Mark…he’s being his usual asshole-ish self.”

Brian shrugged, pulling her into a hug. “Screw him. He’s just a jerk.”

Jade sighed, hugging him back. “Maybe, but that jerk needs to get us a victory today.”

Jon remained frozen still against the rooftop. Watching carefully through an M82, he could see a narrow view of the large hill the base was buried in. Up top he could see at least fifteen men in full gear, marching in some kind of battle exercise. No doubt it had attracted the attention of everyone at Kenzi’s base across the city. Whenever there was troop movement on the outside, something was up.

It didn’t help that Jade herself was standing out there in the open, obviously directed their formations.

Jon contained his feelings, but couldn’t help drift over to where she stood. He zoomed in closer with his scope, getting a better look at her face.

She was even more beautiful now, becoming a young adult. The face had become much rougher, but more defined. She had been shaped like just the rest of them through the horrors of war.

And it was his fault.

I’m sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to do the right thing. I’m sorry that you ever had to go through this. I’m sorry…

He immediately stiffened up, his mind being swept up by some thread of time not yet in existence. He reached out and grabbed it, seeing a clear image come into his mind.

Jon spun around, taking into view the dull, concrete structure sitting in the industrial center of North Bay. Aside from a few turret emplacements around the roof and grounds, it looked like nothing special. But this was the one place in North America Kenzi had bothered committing a command center with a full complement of soldiers.

He smiled, and relaxed slightly. A moment later, multiple rockets raced forward on all sides from concealed positions on the ground and from rooftops. Large clouds of smoke and concrete were thrown up into the air. All the exterior turrets were leveled. As the ash settled, soldiers poured in through the shield, most yelling out a war-cry.

Although clever, their response time wouldn’t be fast enough. There were too many traps, too many backups, too many ways for them to die…

Screw this.

Jon got to his feet, putting the M82 on his back, and whipped out an HK416 Assault Rifle. His body shifted through time and space, jumping back into Einsteinian reality inside the Control Room. His gun flashed, and the remaining higher-up’s blood splattered on the floor. Jon dropped the assault rifle and took out his revolver.

The first problem would be the security network. Automatic defenses would start up, emergency backup would be called for, and recorded footage would be saved. That would be naughty.

Jon slammed a small, gray disk on the main computer terminal, and then backed off. There was a violent wave of static, and all the electronics died as the EM pulse fried everything.

Now onto problem number two.

He jumped again, this time arriving in a secure vault in the basement. Situated in the middle of the room was a large, cylindrical device with wires pouring out of the casing. A timer on the side was counting down from eight minutes.

This time an EM bomb would only set the damn thing off. After a little debate, he decided to get creative.

Jon wrapped his arms around the tarnished silver casing, and leapt through time.

There was the brief sensation of falling. Wind ripped at his clothes as he fell, a vast body of water suddenly stretching out beneath him. The much heavier nuke quickly slipped out of his grasp. Before jumping again, he watched it splash into the Pacific Ocean.

An instant later he collided roughly with solid ground, scraping his knee. He stood up to his full height, shaking off the minor bought of disorientation.

Now standing in the furnace room, he walked over to a large generator in the center. Through the semi-transparent casing, he could see luminous colors of pulsing energy on the inside. Jon glanced around at the control panel, eventually selecting a master power switch.

There was a groan of machinery, and the generator gradually died.

Satisfied with his work, Jon moved himself to the rooftop of a nearby warehouse, and observed the fruits of his labors.

Realizing that the shield was down, concourses of resistance soldiers were now transporting in on the grounds outside the building. He could only guess how many more were arriving straight inside.

A series of windows on the second floor shattered, and thick plumes of black smoke poured out. It didn’t take long for a large gathering to start crowding in the main cargo yard out front. All the soldiers held their weapons high, cheering and yelling victoriously.

For once, Jon felt good inside.

Sometimes the good guys deserve a win.

He glanced up at the roof, noticing suddenly four new figures arriving. He frowned, pulling out the M82 for a better look.

Through the scope he could make out the no doubt cocky grin of Mark Koch.

“Son of a bitch,” Jon muttered lowly. He flipped on a laser mike attached to the rifle, and scratchy audio filled his ears.

“Dude that was fan-freakin’-tastic!” said one guy. “How the hell did you pull this off?”

Mark shrugged. “That’s why that bitch Jade should’ve put me in command a long time ago. I make victories.”

Jon growled, his finger hovering closely over the trigger. Oh, it would be so easy.

“Neh, maybe now she’ll learn something,” muttered another.

“She better,” Mark said. “Because tonight I’m getting some one way or another.”

Another thread of time passed through Jon’s peripheral consciousness, and he grabbed it whole-heartedly.

He could see Jade; she was walking down a dark passage way, probably inside her base. No. She wasn’t walking; she was storming off. And he soon saw why.

Mark quickly caught up, grabbing her by the shoulder, and turning her roughly to face him.

“What?!” she yelled.

He leaned in to kiss her, but she managed to pull away.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” She slapped him. “So help me, you’ll never command troops—”

Mark grunted impatiently, and dragged her in through the nearest doorway. It led into an empty soldier’s quarters. He shoved her flat against the single bed, and then climbed on top of her.

Jade was screaming now. “Get off of me! GET OFF!”

He covered her mouth, and leaned down to whisper something.

“Just shut up, K? It’ll make this easier…”

Her eyes went wide as he pulled of his shirt.

“Nooooooooooooooo…!”

Jon shook his head, discarding the image. He dropped the rifle, and unsheathed his Katana.

In a burst of white light, he appeared on the roof right in front of Mark.

Mark leapt back. “Shit!”

The other soldiers whipped out their sidearms, but Jon side-stepped their first shots. He jumped; nailing the first in the kidney, then jumped again and shoved the blade up through the second’s ribs. He stopped in front of Mark again.

“Jon?! What the hell are—?”

Jon growled. “YOU BASTARD!”

He slashed horizontally across Mark’s chest. Using the momentum, Mark spun and Jon slashed his Achilles tendon.Mark cried out in pain.

“Don’t you dare touch her!”

He raised the blade as Mark dropped to his knees. Jon was shaking; intense, fiery anger flowing through him like it had only a handful of times before.

He had hurt her. He had stolen her. And he even fought by her side. But there was no way Jon would ever let him do that to her.

“I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO HURT HER! SHE SHOULD NEVER BE HURT AGAIN!”

Jon roared, swinging the blade hard.

Mark’s headless body collapsed on the ground.

Jon lowered the bloody sword, huffing angrily in shortened breaths. He stared down at the lifeless body, all the hatred he’d ever had for him slipping off into nothingness.

“I will not allow it.”

And then he was gone. On the grounds below, the soldiers were still cheering.

A series of loud cracks signaled the start of the battle.

Thomas hurried, knowing he had a good five minutes at the most before one of the booby traps went off. Everyone inside might remain distracted, but not for long.

He rushed forward, briefly brushing with the evergreen trees around him. After a moment he passed out into the open, into a clearing. Jade’s little distraction force was too far south and on the other side of the forest, so it was unlikely he’d be seen here.

Hopefully.

About a third of the way into the clearing, and surrounded by overgrown grass was the access hatch. It looked like nothing more than a water meter man-hole.

He carefully pulled aside the metal cap, and found the ladder down. A short climb later, and he dropped down into a tight, dark corridor. Piping snaked along the walls and ceiling. A few yards in he felt a static tingle as he passed through the shield.

Almost there.

Soon after he arrived at a secure doorway, which he made short work of with a System Hijacker.

Now came the hard part.

With the battle in progress, the building would be essentially empty. As long as he avoided command centers, it was unlikely he’d run into anyone wandering around. It was time for Jade’s reputation of running a tight base to make good.

Turning down a particularly wide hallway, he hesitated, a small alarm beeping in his ear piece. He checked the timer on his Remote; the digits read zero.

Thomas glanced up at the ceiling, almost expecting the whole corridor to rock violently. The calm silence felt even more unnerving.

The battle must be going very well for the Gang.

He continued forward, finally arriving at a series of block corridors. On each side were doors to someone’s room. One of them had to be Jade’s.

Luckily for him, it turned out to be well marked. The previous Canadian forces to use the instillation had put a plaque on the Commanding Officer’s private chambers. It was at the very end of one corridor, and on the plaque, someone had scratched Jade’s name into the metal.

Thomas jiggled the knob, found it unlocked, and crept in silently.

There was a large, mahogany desk near the front of the room, and a single bed at the very back. Filing cabinets, book shelves, and a single, ratty wardrobe were scattered about the remaining spaces. Old piles of clothing lay at the foot of a closet, and various photos donned the walls.

Thomas hesitated, glancing across several of the faces. Most were taken during the war, and quite a few had faces he knew well from Pierre. But a few were back from the old days; one in particular showed her and Brian Donahue standing outside Riggs.

He shook his head, turning to the messy desk. After jabbing a Hijacker into her computer, he glanced around the items scattered about it. An old, marble notebook immediately caught his attention. The outer cover was completely covered with pen doodles from years of use.

The first pages had been ripped out, but flipping through a few more, Thomas raised an eyebrow. It was a diary.

“Snowing today, it’s weird…snowing used to be happy. Snow used to be wonderful…but, of course, it was white back then. Now it’s only white as it falls. The ground here at the base is so trampled from soldiers marching relentlessly over it that nothing grows anymore. It’s just dirt. And when it snows, that dirt turns to mud…making it almost unbearable to be trapped here.

But it’s worse when there’s a battle, because not only then is it muddy, but it’s dyed a pinkish red from all the soldiers, my former friends, blood. Picture having to walk through that, everyday. Yeah, it pretty much sucks.

I wish we didn’t have to fight…I feel like, every time I order them into battle, I’m condemning them to death. And I just hate it, I feel like a horrible, terrible person for it…am I?

Look at me. This is pathetic. I need to get a grip. No more talking about depressing war talk. I’ve got to keep some sanity here. Let me think,

Well, Brian came up today. It was great, he’s really fun, ya know? He’s a sweetheart…Let me see, what did he say? Oh yeah, it was… ”

Thomas grunted, flipping through the pages further. It was weird, after all the years he knew her, Tom never really had gotten to know Jade. Sure, he had trusted her, but had she ever confided in him?

No, he thought to himself.

It was a strange feeling, reading her personal thoughts. Knowing what she thought. Names leapt out at him every now and then; names of faces he had visited death upon. One of them had to know something. So, he flipped through the little book until he got to another date.

“June 14th. It’s my birthday today, and a certain former best friend of mine certainly didn’t forget. Though, I really, really wish she would have. For my “Present” she sent an army three times the size of the normal battles. It was freaking brutal. But we survived. I didn’t think the “Super-sized” army was really in regards to my birthday until I saw Kimmi. Yeah, that’s right…Kimmi. I’ve never seen her in battle before.

Anyways, she came to me unarmed and said, ‘Kenzi says Happy Birthday dear friend. She hopes this battle is a suitable gift.’ (Which, if you think about it, is really super cheesy…which is why I couldn’t really be mad at that. HAHA) And with a sick laugh she vanished. The rest of the enemy army left right after her.

After we cleared the dead out, things went back to normal. Dan was supposed to be here, he promised he would spend today with me, but…I haven’t seen him at all today, and it’s almost midnight. Ugh…

Brian DID remember my birthday today though, and came up and spent the day with me. We had a fairly good time…”

Thomas flipped aside another large group of pages, and glanced up briefly at the computer screen. He wasn’t too thrilled to see that his search engine was turning up empty handed.

Shit.

He glanced down again at the notebook, and his mouth dropped open.

“—the day on Sinai. How the hell did we even survive that? Surrounded, outgunned, and pretty much condemned to death. But…out of nowhere…someone…saved us.”

Thomas stared at the page in fixation. He nearly dropped the notebook in surprise when his Remote beeped again.

Flashing across the screen was a new Priority Task, straight down from command. The battle at Kenzi’s North Bay base was practically over, and the resistance was winning. Kenzi’s surviving forces were ordered to get the hell out of there.

He ripped a handful of the pages from the notebook, and stuffed them in a vest pocket. He then pulled out the Hijacker, and made his way out the door. His time was up.

Thomas checked to see if he was alone, and then made his way forward quickly.

A door opened on his right abruptly, and Kylor Knox stepped out into the hall. He froze at the sight of Thomas.

“Oh fu—”

In one fluid motion, Thomas pulled out his Desert Eagle and fired off a single shot. Kylor flew back against the wall, collapsing in a heap. Blood flowed freely across the floor.

“Piss off,” Thomas muttered.

fin