That was not to be. The other Recon swerved around the corner. In the passenger’s seat, I could see the man with the blond crew cut and a long scar, even from the side mirror. The driver’s eyes were wide and fearful. Brux looked murderous.
We exited the layer of red fog, finding ourselves very close to the desert floor. The snow petered out, replaced by red rock, dirt, and barren Waste. We made one final turn, and it was a straight stretch to the desert flatland.
Then, I heard a popping noise. I turned, and the low hum of the pressure chamber became a high whir. The pressure needle on the fuel gauge swerved down.
“They must have hit something,” Makara said. “We’re losing pressure.”
“What does that mean?
“It means we’re going nowhere.”
Behind us, after another round of shooting, I heard the tires of Brux’s Recon squeal. Samuel had blown out one of the tires. The vehicle swerved, and flipped on its side. It slid down the hill, past us, even as our Recon slowed to a halt and the electronics powered down.
Makara braked, bringing our Recon to a halt. She hopped out of the vehicle, pointing her pistol at Brux’s vehicle, the bottom of which now faced us.
I got out on my side, and followed Makara’s example, pointing my gun at the raiders’ crashed vehicle. Samuel faced the turret toward the downed Recon.
It was time to meet Brux.
Chapter 24
Nothing happened for a full minute. We just stood there, pointing our guns, waiting for anyone to come out. The wind blew, blowing dust across the scene.
After waiting a while, I was beginning to think they might be dead.
But quick as a flash, Brux showed himself and fired a few shots. Above us, we heard Samuel give a loud yell.
Brux slipped behind the downed Recon, a smile on his lips.
“Samuel!” Makara said.
Samuel grabbed his shoulder and dropped inside the cargo bay. Makara and I jumped inside. He was sitting in the corner next to some supplies, holding his right shoulder and grimacing.
“Oh my God,” Makara said.
She ripped down the first aid kit hanging on the wall.
Samuel winced. “Pressure… put pressure on the wound…”
Makara ripped open her bag, taking out a shirt. She placed it on the wound, where blood gushed out at an alarming rate. Makara put her full weight on it. Samuel groaned.
“Alex, find the congealing agent,” she said.
I opened the first aid kid, digging through it. I found a tube of liquid that had the word “congealer” on it.
“This it?”
Makara snatched it from me. She took off the shirt, and squeezed the clear jelly onto the wound. Samuel hissed with pain. She put pressure back on the wound.
“That should help,” she said.
Samuel waved her away. “It’s nothing. Let me hold the shirt.”
“Samuel, you’re in no state…”
He pushed her off with surprising strength, holding the shirt. “I will be fine for the next few minutes. You have to deal with Brux.”
Makara nodded. “You’re right. But, how?”
I was afraid to step out of the cargo bay. Surely, their sights would be trained on the back, the only exit. Stepping out there was sure death.
“I have an idea,” I said.
Both Makara and Samuel looked at me.
“The pressure tank…has it lost all pressure?”
“No,” Samuel said. “There should be some fuel left.”
“Don’t strain yourself, Samuel.” She turned to me. “Alex, what’s your idea?”
“Hydrogen.” I tapped the tank. “There’s still plenty of it in reserve. If we can take the tank and throw it out the back, it will roll down the hill. If one of us shoots it…”
Samuel smiled. “Boom.”
“But how will we get away without our own pressure tank?” Makara asked.
“We can salvage the tank off the other Recon afterward.”
“If it doesn’t blow up in the process,” Makara said.
“That’s a risk we’ll have to take,” I said. “This is our only option.”
Makara nodded. “Let’s do it.”
Getting it out was easy – the pressure tanks were meant to be easily installed and removed. The thing was heavy. It took both me and Makara lifting it to get it to the back of the Recon.
We looked at each other.
“Ready?” I asked.
Makara nodded. “Let’s hope this works.”
We tossed it out, making sure it was horizontal to the slope. We gave a few seconds for the thing to roll down the hill.
“Now,” I said.
Makara stepped out the back, and started to fire. I jumped onto the turret, and didn’t bother with the heavy gun. I aimed my Beretta toward the tank.
They were hiding. We met no resistance as I opened fire.
My bullets connected, and the tank lit up like a torch. A giant mushroom of fire shot upward, forcing the downed Recon backward, causing it to roll on its top.
I jumped down from the turret as Makara joined me. I took out my handgun. It was time to finish the job.
As we wheeled around the vehicle, we found both Brux and his crony lying on the ground. The crony lifted a pistol. I shot him dead before he had the chance to fire. He went limp, and relaxed against the earth.
Brux was a few feet off, his skin cracked and charred. His entire body was shaking. He reached for his gun, just a few feet off. Makara kicked it far away.
“Ma…Makara…” Brux said, lifting an arm in surrender.
Behind us, the fire of our improvised bomb still crackled. It was nowhere near this Recon’s hydrogen tank, so we were safe for now.
Makara walked by his head, pointing her gun down. “Don’t try anything, Brux. You’ve had your time to try.”
“I…I won’t. Please…have mercy on me, Makara. I’m sorry. Take me back to Bluff…I’ll give you money, anything you want.”
Makara scowled as her eyes considered. Surely, she couldn’t be…
The bullet went right into Brux’s forehead. His entire body stiffened, then was still. His vacant eyes stared upward.
The wind blew cold as Makara spat on his face.
“Come on,” she said. “We need to rescue that other tank.”
I followed Makara into the upside down Recon. Thankfully, the cargo bay had been left wide open. Together, we removed the tank. Hydrogen gas hissed into the air from the fuel line. It would only be moments
