Avenger: A Halflings Novel Part 21

A cold, concrete floor inside a jail cell-sized cage was his new home. The entire room had finally emptied of people, and he was alone. He tipped his head up in an attempt to a.s.sess the extent of his injuries. Every muscle ached with each breath, but he willed himself to draw the next. He could taste blood through lips too swollen to be his own. His limbs were bruised and maybe some were broken. Wounds took longer and longer to heal. This is worse than death.

After the last beating, he'd been thrown behind the thick metal bars. t.i.tanium, of course. Sitting on the floor beyond the cage, and just beyond his reach, was a gla.s.s of water. He scooted painfully to the bars, lugging his dead weight. He couldn't move his lower body, so he pulled himself forward with his hands, dragging his legs behind him like a kite tail.

Am I paralyzed? He forced the terrifying thought from his mind. Zero, the gimpy-legged Halfling. As if he wasn't enough of a misfit already.

At the bars, his head fell forward until it was resting against the cool metal. He could feel the t.i.tanium zapping what strength he had, but the water was so close. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to concentrate on Vegan. He couldn't access her face. Or her laugh. With his eyes closed, all he saw was fist after fist coming at him, paired with the clatter of bones cracking and breaking, and the scent of blood.

A chair sc.r.a.ping the floor drew his attention. He turned his sore neck toward the noise.

Expensive, pointed-toe shoes. Perfectly worn-in jeans. Until the guy squatted - putting himself at Zero's level. If only I could raise my head enough to make out a face. The guy must have been in the chair until he'd come closer, quietly sitting there watching the Halfling suffer. Now he was about five feet away, sitting on his haunches and studying his captive.

"We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Damon Vessler," the man said, hands planted on his knees. His gaze roamed over Zero. "Oh dear. It would seem as though my boys got out of hand. I'm terribly sorry." He smiled as if apologizing for b.u.mping into someone at the grocery store. "Now" - he tilted back slightly - "you must be the one they call Zero. I hear you run the network."

Zero swallowed dry, sandpaper air and glanced at the gla.s.s of water.

"Would you like that?" Vessler pointed. "Tell you what, share a bit of information with me and I'll give you the water."

"Give me the water," Zero rasped. "And I'll use the gla.s.s to slit your throat."

Vessler's nostrils flared. "You're not playing very nice." He pulled a gold toothpick from his shirt pocket and slid it into his mouth. "Doesn't Zero mean nothing?" Vessler's eyes flashed. "One minus one?"

"Yeah," Zero said in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. "And you want information from me. What does that make you?" He chuckled, winced. "Oh, I know. Less than Zero."

Vessler shoved off the floor. Smooth leather shoes stepped toward the gla.s.s of water. Drawing back, he kicked it at Zero.

Gla.s.s shattered when it hit the bars. He closed his eyes in time to avoid the shards as they flew at him. Water and bits of broken gla.s.s splashed his face.

"What was all that computer equipment doing in your underground s.p.a.ce? Is that where you run the network?" Vessler demanded. "And what's the network's purpose?"

Zero sucked the bits of water from his lips. "Computers? Is that what those were? I thought they were just bulky paperweights."

Vessler erupted. "Don't play games with me, boy!"

Zero grinned. "That's Lost Boy."

Vessler strode to the bars, grabbed Zero's arms, and yanked. Zero's head clanged against the t.i.tanium, sending a shock wave through his already-aching system. Again, he tried to conjure the image of Vegan.

Vessler grabbed him by the throat. "Tell me what you know."

Choking, Zero tried to pry his fingers beneath Vessler's powerful hand. Vessler squeezed harder.

Black spots materialized before his eyes. Everything started to fade ... fade ... "All right," he said, words barely a whisper. "I'll tell you."

Vessler dropped to his knees to look Zero eye to eye. "What do you know?"

"I know ..." Zero rubbed a hand across his throat. "I know ..."

Vessler's gaze was wild as he visibly held his breath.

"I know ... zero." He slid back from the bars before Vessler could grab him.

Vessler roared and thrust his arm through the bars. Face wedged against the t.i.tanium, he managed to snag Zero's collar and the necklace beneath, using both to drag him back to the bars. After manacling Zero's wrists, Vessler dropped to the floor, pressed his feet against the cage, and jerked Zero's head into the bars again and again.

Slam after slam, Zero felt metal smash his face and collarbone. Finally, Vessler stopped, focusing with terrifying steadiness on the necklace from Vegan. Zero began reconsidering his vow not to bawl, because if Vessler knew how to use the necklace, Vegan could be drawn into this pit as well. Zero couldn't let that happen. He had to protect her.

"What's this?" Vessler asked, back to his sorry-I-b.u.mped-into-you-at-the-grocery-store voice. "Did your mother make that for you?"

Zero's face, arms, and shoulder hurt so bad he thought every bone must be shattered. But how could he resist such an opportunity? "News flash, Einstein. We're orphans." He coughed. Searing pain jolted him with each movement. "Gotta hand it to you on the beating, though. You're pretty strong. Bet you're taking steroids." He tsked. "Nasty thing, those steroids, but I hear all Halfling wannabes do them."

Vessler shook with anger.

"Hey, I don't blame you. If I was just a human, I'd be upset too. Can't leap, can't fly. No ability to heal yourself. It's okay that you want to be like us. It's just sad that you never will. Sorry, poser."

Vessler's nostrils flared.

"Poser. You know, someone who poses as something they're not. Halfling wannabe. Or should I just call you Wannaling?"

Vessler's veins began popping from his neck and arms. He grabbed the necklace from Zero's throat and threw it to the floor. "You know nothing of my plan."

The pearled amulet broke. Thank the Throne; Zero would rather die than put Vegan in harm's way. "Really, Vessler? I know you're genetically altering horses."

"And do you know why?" Vessler dragged the chair over and sat. "Technology is a dangerous partner. It can let you down if you become too dependent on it."

Zero glanced behind Vessler, where a line of computers and medical equipment sat at the ready. "For a guy who doesn't like technology, you certainly have enough of it surrounding you."

"For a purpose. Technology is destined to implode. And do you know what will matter most when it does?"

"Enlighten me," Zero said, coughed, then pressed a hand to his ribs to block the pain shooting through them.

"Whoever carries the biggest sticks."

Zero rolled his eyes. "Right. And mutant horses can carry really big sticks. Do you want to call the loony bin or should I?" Every inch of him hurt, but if he could keep Vessler talking, maybe he'd reveal his plan.

"The horses will carry my army of Darklings."

Zero scoffed. "Darklings? Are you kidding me?" But on the inside, his heart dropped. This is how Nikki fit into Vessler's plan. And the horses made some sense, in a way. But Vessler wasn't telling all his secrets, because horses against tanks ... well, no chance there. His mind went back to the technology statement-how it was destined to implode - and with terrible clarity he saw the other end of Vessler's plan, how the electromagnetic studies the Halflings had uncovered on the Omega computers played into the world domination agenda. All at once, he felt sick and frustrated by his helplessness. Just keep it together, Zero. "That sounds like a bad sci-fi movie t.i.tle, dude. I think you better lay off the He-Man drugs. They're affecting your brain."

Before Vessler walked from the room, he ground his heel into the necklace. The bits of gla.s.s crunched until only powder was left.

After he left, Zero tried to reach the dust that remained. Pressing a shattered cheek into the bars, he stretched, but his index finger barely touched the broken leather cord. "Come on," he whispered. And tried again. But just like Vegan, the necklace was out of reach.

Finally, he gave up. Hopelessness overtook him. He dropped his head and let the tears fall.

Chapter 22.

When Nikki arrived at the lab, a guy dressed in black pants and a black dress shirt stopped her as soon as she entered the parking area. Big surprise there. The wind hit her from the east, carrying the scent of horse manure. Then she caught a glimpse of the magnificent animals Vegan had talked about. She stopped and stared in awe until her escort shoved her forward, prodding her with something hard.

She flashed him a dirty look. "Give me a second, okay?" Nikki pulled two pencils from her back pocket and threaded them through her hair to trap the runaway strands at her nape.

Moments later, they entered the lab. They snaked through a long tunnel punctuated with light from windows along both sides of the pa.s.sageway. She glimpsed the laboratory rooms beyond, painted stark white and containing computers that twinkled from the four corners.

For the first thousand feet or so, the rooms looked like what she'd expect of any lab. But as they walked deeper into the monster's belly, rooms glowed with strange lighting, and scientists actually became creepier looking.

They pa.s.sed one room where she viewed a row of cages. Human-sized cages. She looked away quickly. She couldn't be sure, but from the corner of her eye she thought she saw human remains on an examination table in the corner of that room.

Finally, they stopped. "Arms out," he said, and when she obeyed, he patted her down, obviously searching for weapons. The gorilla-sized guard in the dark clothes pressed his right wrist to a glowing blue square on the door. Click. It slid open. As far as Nikki could tell, this was the only door that operated like that. The others had an open entrance - something she'd made a mental note to remember in case she got a chance to escape.

Vessler greeted her with a smile. "My lady," he oozed, sitting behind a granite desk.

Anger rushed through her; his lies and phony affection boiled beneath her skin. She pulled in breath after breath, praying for peace. She couldn't lose it right now - it wouldn't help anyone. With that thought, the peace she'd requested flooded her consciousness like water to a sponge, saturating her to the very core of her existence. I can do this. I'm on the winning side.

"They've ruined you," he said with a sneer. "I can see that pathetic attempt to stay calm when you should be trying to kill me." He leaned forward, pressing his elbows onto the desk. "But it's a lie, Nikki. The only peace is revenge."

"And you're nothing but a liar. So I guess you'd know."

A half smile tilted his hardened face. "We could sit and debate this all day long. It doesn't change the fact that you're a poor, pathetic orphan."

Pride surged within. "No I'm not. I'm a Halfling."

He folded his fingers together and rested his chin on his thumbs. "About that ... I'm afraid you don't know the whole story."

She felt the blood draining from her face. Vessler saw it too. He always knew how to get to her. This was it: the answers to the truth about her childhood. She sank into the chair across from him.

He took such pleasure in her weakness. "Years ago, oh, I suppose nearly twenty now ..." He paused and unwrapped a gold toothpick.

She steadied herself by gripping the chair arms.

"Time sure flies, doesn't it? Seems like only yesterday we were at my beach house. You loved that home, didn't you, Nikki?"

She recalled the soaring ceilings painted with splashes of shadows as the sun tilted, the miles of white sand kissed by the sea, the explosive sunsets displaying every color in her artist's palette. Yes, she loved it there.

His chair creaked as he leaned back. He stuck the toothpick into his mouth. "Of course you did. Who wouldn't? I'd rather hoped to give it to you."

She crossed her arms. Was he actually going to try to bribe her with a house? "I don't want anything from you. You're a monster, Damon."

He laughed. Long and loud. "No, my dear, I'm not. But you are." His grin faded. "You want answers. And I'm the only one who can give them."

How did he always know?

"When we first became reacquainted, I said you didn't have a poker face. The questions are killing you, aren't they? Not knowing? Don't worry, I understand your inquisitive nature. It's how I engineered you. Lucky for you, I'm more than happy to unfold how my vision for you began two decades ago."

She nearly gave in, but something surged within her. Something new and fresh and full of power. Vegan's words echoed in her head. She sprang from the chair. "You overestimate yourself, Damon. I don't want to know. Because what I was in the past doesn't matter. It's what I am now that counts. Save your pathetic words. I'll never be suckered by you again."

Vessler's nose twitched. Irritation flew off him in glorious waves. No, she wouldn't make it easy on him. And she wouldn't be a victim. Not ever again.

"Enough of the past, then. Let's talk about the future, shall we?"

Her interest sparked and she knew he'd seen it. "The future you have planned for me will never happen, Damon."

He leaned his weight on the desk and narrowed his gaze until his eyes were cold black slits. "But don't you want to know why, for seventeen years, I've had you trained to be a warrior? Made sure you knew how to defend yourself and had the abilities to kill anyone that gets in your way? Even the motorcycle. What decent parents let a seventeen-year-old have a street bike as her only means of transportation?"

She sat down and remained statue still. Her knuckles soon ached from the grip on the chair.

"Your eggs will be harvested. They'll provide the DNA for an army. You, Nikki, are special. Worth more than a thousand other Halflings."

Deep and penetrating horror enclosed her heart. "Who - who knew about this?"

"Everyone in my employ." Then his eyes widened and he leaned back in smug satisfaction. "Oh. You meant your new friends. Well, they were able to access a good portion of my private records." He sat quietly, clearly letting this new realization settle in for her, letting its uncertainty torture her. Then he shrugged. "I'd guess they all knew."

Nikki tried to swallow. Tried to breathe.

"I suppose they wanted to keep it from you. Figures. Self-preservation and all."

"What do you mean, self-preservation?" They knew. Mace, Will, all of them. This was the giant secret they were keeping from me.

"The army you and I create will easily have the power to destroy every Halfling on the planet."

"No. You're talking about DNA and creating more Halflings from eggs ..." Nikki stood, shook her head violently. "No. That would take years."

"Actually, not as long as you would think." He stood as well and walked around the ma.s.sive desk. Barely a limp in his walk. "My scientists have developed a way to rapidly age humans - or Halflings, as the case may be. Once you're on board, we can look at the completion of our army within about five to six years."

Nikki's voice lowered, and she felt it turn deadly. "There is no power on this earth that would make me join you."

Vessler motioned behind him, and a barrel-chested man dressed in black stepped toward her. Before she could react, he slung a metal vest around her chest. She struggled as the clamps tightened. Her arms were free, but she wasn't able to fight. Nikki tried to flex her shoulder blades in the same manner she had a thousand times since she realized she had wings as a way of making sure they really were there, were really hers, and wouldn't disappear. But the metal squeezed so tightly she couldn't move a single muscle. It was excruciating, knowing she lacked the ability to unfurl her wings. It was almost like being shoved into a room that was too small and being trapped inside as the walls squeezed in.

"Sorry about that. Can't have you leaping to safety," Vessler said. He wiped the gold toothpick on his sleeve then stuck it into his shirt pocket.

She stared down at the metal surrounding her midsection.

Vessler came around the desk and propped his weight against it. "I guess you're wondering how we got that on you so quickly. t.i.tanium." He reached to touch her, and she flinched. "It will keep your wings from opening. And as a surprising benefit, that amount of metal slows your reflexes. Since you're destined to be difficult, I can't take any chances. Would you like to go visit your friend now?"

A chain dangled from the front of the wingcuff. He grabbed it and jerked her toward the door. She felt like an animal at the circus. No - circus animals got better treatment than she was likely to receive.

Nikki clenched her teeth to keep from crying out when she saw Zero. One eye was swollen shut, his mouth had a dark line of blood streaming from it, and every inch of his exposed skin sported different shades of purple, yellow, and red. Never had she seen someone so badly beaten.

Damon and his goon dragged her through the lab room to the far wall, where Zero lay on the floor of the cage. By her estimation, she was in the last room of the entire lab. Damon threw her in with Zero and slammed the door shut.

She spun to the bars. "Damon, let him out." She rattled the cage and pleaded. Too late, she remembered the bars were made of t.i.tanium, and she felt her energy wane. "On the phone, you said I could take his place." Panic threatened to overtake her. Vessler had no intention of releasing Zero.

He stopped and turned back to face her. "See, that's the problem with trusting the bad guy. We lie." He shrugged and cast a pitying glance at Zero, who lay curled in a fetal position on the floor. "I hope you'll choose to work with me. Zero, he was quite uncooperative. But you, my lady, it would be a shame to mess up such a perfect face." As the implication settled in, a slow burn rolled down her throat. He'd torture her if he had to. He'd use whatever means possible to twist her into the monster he needed. Getting her here was one more attempt at turning her into a dark creature. And once again, she'd have to find a way to fight.