Thrive in Catastrophe Chapter 68

Heine gripped his back and picked him up. As the electricity gathered between them, Xiao felt that he was born to belong to Heine.

He fell back onto the mattress and his wrists were captured and pulled up over his head. He helplessly lifted his face toward Heine, but he moved away.

His eyes were liquid and his mind was consumed with the desire to reach the heights of Heine, even if he could only glimpse the sky that surrounded him.

His breathing began to slow and his thoughts began to fall into place.

Then Heine pressed him tightly against himself, his body crowding out all the s.p.a.ce between them.

His arm wrapped around him, the pressure did not release until he finally spoke.

"Do you know who is kissing you?"

"..." Xiao Yan opened his mouth with a rough breath, "Heine Burton."

Heine's knuckle traced his lips, the gentle gesture in complete contrast to his powerful commanding voice.

"Always remember that you kiss me for me, it has nothing to do with the x-virus."

His mouth dusted kisses on his face and then palm of his other hand reached down and slid into his pants. The intensity and shock of his touch paralyzed Xiao. His legs and lips parted as his breath froze in his chest. His confused stare mingled with Heine's icy blue eyes.

Xiao opens his mouth to yell, but could only emit strangled sounds as Heine's fingers wrap around him.

Heine's mouth move across Xiao's lower lip, as he struggled to deepen the kiss Heine raised his head and he was only able to make contact with his throat.

All of his blood seems to pressure and boil under Heine's movements. Everything flows rapidly and feelings spark through him with such speed he can't keep up or resist. His feet writhe on the sheets, his calves brushing against Heine's body. Each time his leg rubs against Heine, his kiss gains force and the tempo of his hand increases. Everything within Xiao coils and tenses until he suddenly is pushed over the edge. The sky erupted in his eyes, his breath rushed out in one forced pant. His gaze was unfocused and hazy as the world melted around him.

Heine's body lifted off of him and moved back to the sofa. Heine closed his eyes and leaned his head back, sighing with such heaviness as though the last vestiges of his restraint were barely contained.

Xiao's breathing finally calmed and evened.

As the world sharpened into view, he looks over at the distinct features of Heine, the amalgamation of all his desires and hopes.

But...

What just happened?

Xiao pressed his face against the bed and felt between his legs. His hand came up wet and he looked around, surprised that he was in his room.

When did they come back here?

How did he come back?

He stepped off the bed and nearly crumpled to the floor, before gingerly propping himself up. He looked over at Heine, who did not stir in the slightest.

He steadied himself using the wall and trudged into the bathroom. Walking into the shower, he stood there as the water flowed atop his head.

He knew he was struggling, everything was falling out of his control.

This night, he could not sleep at all.

Every thought and fiber of his being was immersed in the sensation of kissing Heine. His eyes are always tracking Heine, even in complete darkness he is all he can see. Xiao has desperately tried to ignore this fact, but the closer he gets the more he cannot deny the existence of his feelings.

Xiao thought to himself, it is finished.

He did not sleep for the rest of the night.

Early the next day, Gordon was leaning in his chair listening to music. His eyes were closed in contentment and the fragrant scent of black tea permeated the air. He put on some music and a leisurely melody filtered through the morning. The stillness seemed to echo throughout the Shire.

A moment of total calm.

Then the entire headquarters shook violently.

Just as the generals raised a brow, the alarms sounded.

"Alarms - Alerts - A3-A6 in the military control zone have encountered an aircraft attack!"

"Alarms - Alerts - Aircraft attack-C20 Citizen's Living Area!"

"Alarms - Alerts - Aircraft attack-E6-E9 in the citizen's living area!"

Major General Gordon shot up from his seat as the liaison officer rushed in. "Reporting to Major General. The entire Shire is in emergency state."

"Maya! Maya - what's going on?!"

Maya, who had followed the officer into his office looked increasingly nervous. "Reporting to Major General. Six aircraft have lost control after entering the Shire. They are launching missiles into the city."

The holographic image displayed the chaos of the previously peaceful Shire.

The citizens, accustomed to a life of calm, are faced with constant missile attacks. Buildings collapsed all around, the sound of the devastation was deafening and the explosions rocked the whole city. The armed forces were already dispatched to begin evacuation procedures.

This is the first attack in the city in over two hundred years.

The Air Force sent an aircraft to fight against it.

The Shire is completely in chaos.

"Six aircraft have been hijacked by the Surge. They continued on past the parking platform, after they entered the city..."

"How did they enter through the secure channels. Was the tower commander negligent? We can't even get our people out."

"A shutdown code was initiated, no one in the tower thought anything of it." The officer saw Gordon's expression twist scarily and immediately stopped speaking.

"Is it so hard to shut them down? Just capture the driver and invade!" Maya sneered. Obviously the Surge had discovered and exploited a loophole in their security. No matter the armed forces or the Academy, no solution is suitable for the situation. Ervel had predicted there was a small chance of the Surge using such a method. They had discussed this gap in security a mere six months ago, it seems Ervel's prediction had come to pa.s.s.

Suddenly the face of the Secretary of Defense Kasbin cut into the display with an anxious expression.

"Major Gordon! Please dispatch a special mission force to the presidential palace immediately! Above all we must guarantee the president's safety!"

Suddenly the door of one of the aircraft shot open and zombies came flooding out. The minute they saw living bodies, they went mad with hunger; their terrifyingly shrill shrieks saturated the air.

They watched as the ordinary armed forces attempted to engage. They were no match for the zombies. They had very little experience and in less than a minute, more than a dozen soldiers lost their lives.

Major Gordon laughed bitterly. "What about the zombies? You want us to ignore civilians?"

Just as he finished speaking, the door to another aircraft burst open and nearly a hundred zombies descended onto the city.

Cries of fear echoed , hitting a fever pitch as the world exploded in blood. They all watched a civilian's body being brutally torn apart on the displays.

"Of course, the safety of the people is important too!"

After that, the minister's communication disconnected.

Major General Gordon snorted. "This old guy is something, pushing all the problems onto me!"

"Please give an order." Maya said coldly.

He immediately connected to the special missions. "Third, fourth and fifth teams are to immediately report to the presidential palace. Colonel Jane Wallace will take command. First and second teams dispatched, Winn will command. Begin clearing the city starting in Area A. Sixth and seven teams, led by Major Ling will clean up Zones D and E."

Xiao Yan sat in his lab, completely immersed in his studies. Something felt off and he used his research to distract him from the nervous energy building up within him.

The minute his mind drifts to Heine, he can't help but imagine the feel of his mouth. He shakes his head of the thoughts, he urgently needs to verify his research results. He has to move from any probability of failure and provide 100% affirmative results to the Central Academy of Sciences.

He knows that Heine is guarding the edges of his thoughts, maybe he has even slipped into his subconscious. It is not like his inexperienced self would be able to tell. If so, is he feeling his uncontrollable feelings?

Outside the door, there is an emergency transfer of special forces personnel.

Winn's team pa.s.ses by his door. Mark and Liv give him a thumbs up sign from the door.

Heine's expression did not waver in the slightest. In front of Xiao Yan, he exhibited nothing but a calm collectiveness. He raised his wrist to him mouth and spoke into his com device. "Follow the orders from Headquarters."

"Yes."

Mark and Liv looked at each other with each other. With such a large deployment, the headquarters was probably empty.

In less than a minute, the entire special mission unit headquarters became terribly quiet and tense.

Occasionally a bomb would sound off. A missile directly hit the west wind. As it exploded, the ground moved and the building rattled. The display data was interrupted at the strike.

Even though Xiao was deeply immersed in his project, this a.s.sault startled him out of his singular focus. He disconnected the terminal and removed his connecter. He looked over at Heine.

Heine's eyes sank into a heavy blue and his hands gripped his knees. Xiao could feel the momentum of his vigilance. He was readied for battle.

"what happened......"

Although the broadcast alarm sound has stopped, the red first-level warning signal is still flashing.

"The Surge organization hijacked six aircraft."

Xiao Yan's fingers trembled.

He remembered hearing that if an air raid occurred inside the city it would be like setting a bomb off in a soda can. The effect would be catastrophic.

For so long the Shire has been diligent with its military's strict security along it entry and exit.

Obviously those security measures have failed.

You enemies will always search out your weaknesses, when you stop doing the same you must pay the price.

It's just that this price...is so unexpectedly steep.

No one knows how this all started an no one knows how it will end.

Another explosion rocked the building and Xiao raised is head. He knows that the construction of the headquarters is particularly stable. Even if the inner portions are compromised, it will maintain its structure. However, under such a siege, Xiao doesn't know what to expect. His system is independent and he cannot see what is happening outside.

He starts to switch the displays, but as his finger hovered over the b.u.t.ton, Heine grabbed his wrist.

"Don't look out there. Don't worry about it."

Xiao Yan met his steady eyes and nodded. Looking at the devastation would only unnecessarily fl.u.s.ter him. He trusts that Heine to accurately judge every situation.
___
Gordon frowned as he viewed the battle on his screen. Five of the aircraft have released zombies, they are relentlessly tying up his special forces. Their air force finally shot down three of the craft in one relay.

The zombies climb from the wreckage and the special forces are there to meet them. Rotting fluid and pus splash through the air and the civilians, who have been sequestered from the outside, got their first glimpse of the zombies. They couldn't stop screaming and the children's faces were soaked with mucous and tears.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wallace please report your current position!"

"General I am by the president. He is safe and sound, we are arranging for his refuge underground."

"Good." Major General Gordon nodded.

"It's not good at all. I have nothing to do. There is no use for me here."

Major General Gordon sighed helplessly.

"Protecting the president is your task. The less you have to do, the more secure the president it."

"Right but is my dear Xiao Yan all right? Colonel Burton should be protecting the president. I am willing to protect Xia around the clock!"

"Fix your tone and don't throw around Heine Burton's name in front of the president"

It was at this time that the alarm sounded again.

"Alarms - Alerts - two aircraft are approaching headquarters!"

The general eyes widened in alarm. "s.h.i.t! Shouldn't their goal be the presidential palace?"

The automatic defenses of the headquarters activated and opened fire on the approaching craft.
___
At this point, Heine suddenly stood up.

"Grab whatever you think is of the most import and destroy the data. We are leaving now."

Xiao hesitated and Heine hurriedly threw his reagents at him then he entered a code into the system. The screens all displayed the same prompt with a red background.

Execute Data Destruction?

It is at this moment that Xiao Yan understands the situation has reached critical ma.s.s.

"It is your research, you decide if you want to leave any trace of it."

Xiao quickly entered ok on the screen and inserted his micro disk into a syringe. He looked at Heine. "I stored everything here. If I am..If something happens, I hope someone will be able to continue my research."

Heine grabbed the syringe and injected it so that the disk was implanted under his muscle.

"I'll take it, only because you don't need to waste time sorting through the data after this storm has pa.s.sed."

After saying this, he grabbed Xiao's wrist and left the lab.

Xiao Yan clenched his left hand, a small bottle of transparent pink solution was tightly gripped in his palm.

The craft collided with the headquarters and the walls begin to collapse as the high density t.i.tanium creaked under the strain. The sound pierced through his ears and Xiao instinctively covers them.

The door to the craft opened and more than a dozen armed men file out.

___
"Major General! The headquarters is understaffed! You must evacuate!" Maya watched the scene until the connection was interrupted by the opponent's blade.

Major Gordon got up and suddenly thought of something, "Xiao Yan!"

"Colonol Burton is already headed toward the evacuation channel with him;"

Major General Gordon left the office quickly, and Maya led the six special forces outside the door to escort him.

___
Xiao Yan's ears rang and his head buzzed. Heine threw him over his shoulder and ran forward. His heavy steps jostled against Xiao's stomach and the discomfort sends nausea washing over him. Nothing matches the horror that is screaming in the depths of his brain though. His every nightmare is playing out in perfect clarity.

A figure moved through the air and shoved off of the side wall. Their blade moves through the air with such speed that the metal seemed to heat amid the friction.

Heine pivoted to the side and pulled out his blade, with a backhanded stroke the metal glinted and arced toward the a.s.sailant.

They avoided the strike and land close by.

Heine sets Xiao down and he sees that the Surge a.s.sa.s.sin is a young woman. Her golden hair is tied tightly behind her head, and her combat uniform highlights the lines of her firm figure. Bright red lips and striking eyes look steadily at them.

The woman holding the blade stopped and looked at Heine. She flashed him a charming smile.

"Well well. It turns out I get to play with the famous Heine Burton. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Claire."

Claire?

Xiao inhaled sharply. Clair was one the most elite killers in the Surge. She was nicknamed the Witch, as countless souls had fallen beneath her blade, including the former commander of the special task force, Major General Smith.

"What do want with the special mission unit?"

Liv and Mark stood in front of Xiao and Heine, their stances vigilantly poised for battle.

"Ah, it's not really a big deal. Out head just wants a new pet. Can I take him?" Clair coiled her hair around her finger, no one took the casual gesture lightly. Mark and Liv's hands tightened.

Xiao's heart screamed in sorrow. They had entered the headquarters to capture him. He was the reason for all of this.

Heine said nothing as Liv sneered at Clair. "So much effort to create such chaos and you don't event target the leader. You wanted to clear the building of special forces. Now you want us to hand over Xiao to you and complete your mission? Do we look stupid?"

"Ah..."Clair shook her head. "If you aren't stupid, why is the building empty?"

Xiao's hand tightens on the syringe in his hand. He can't let himself be a burden to Heine.

Heine pushes his hand down and whispers. "Not now, It's not the time."

As soon as his words fell, he picked Xiao up and ran full speed.

Clair didn't expect Heine to rush straight at her. She swung her blade to block him, but he was too fast; Liv and Mark block the downward motion of her weapon.

Heine reached the end of the channel and pressed the lock b.u.t.ton. The channel closed, isolating Clair, Mark and Liv on the other side.

Heine put Xiao down and pulled at him to continue moving.

"Don't worry. Clair is not Liv's better."

Not to mention Mark also fought alongside her.

As they reached a laboratory door, Heine suddenly slammed Xiao back into his arms as a blade jutted out from the opening, narrowly missing Xiao.

"Oh, oh, I almost stabbed the little pet in the head."

The sliding doors were leveraged completely open by their blades and two youths came running out. They looked identical. Twin brothers.

"Ah, look it is Heine Burton. They say this guy cannot be beat."

"One on one maybe, but brother we are not alone, there are two of us."

Ice slid over Xiao's heart, how many people from the Surge were in the building?

After all this destruction, their only goal was him?

The two men moved forward slashing and screaming. Their actions were erratic and frightening.

Although Xiao was the goal, they swung their blades at him without hesitation, forcing Heine to focus on protecting Xiao Yan.

The brothers thought they had the advantage, but Heine's attacks were too unpredictable. No matter if it was speed or precision, they simply could not match Heine's skill. If they had not been watching each other's backs they would have fallen to his blade in one strike.

They focused on relentlessly attacking Xiao Yan. Their blades breezed by his neck several times. They seemed intent on taking his head, but their aim was actually to contain Heine's attacks.

Suddenly one of the brothers was pierced through the chest, Heine kicked the blade in further and the other brother attacks. Heine showed no mercy and kicked his neck with such force an audible crack echoed as the vertebrae broke.

No matter the x-virus, it was a lethal strike.

"d.a.m.n-" The brother's eyes are red and wet. He grabs the blade and begins to pull it from his chest. Heine does not give him the opportunity to heal. He lifts his arm like a G.o.d of death and blood splashes outward. Heine calmly flicks the viscous fluid off of his blade and picks Xiao up again.

"Let's Go."

As they ran, Xiao suddenly stopped at one of the rooms along the hall.

"How many more..." he muttered to himself.

It was Casey's room. Everyone was evacuating, but had Casey gotten out?

The door was only half closed and the moment he pushed it fully open his lungs felt as though they were torn from his chest and he couldn't drag in a breath.

Casey lay against the bed with lips trembling in pain. As he sensed someone enter the room, he struggled to raise his eyes. The moment their gazes met, fear and death collided. He was pierced through his stomach. The blade was still embedded and the blood stained the sheets red. The color was brilliant and deep enough to tinge Xiao's gaze and slice his world open.

"Casey!" He rushed over and went to inspect Casey's abdomen.

"My brain..is...still..."

"It's still there! It's there!" Xiao dragged his palm to the back of Casey's head, where the wound would be if they had taken his brain. He rubbed the spot rea.s.suringly.

"That's good..." Casey's head began to sink down, as though Xiao's arrival had eased his worry and his strength went along with it.

"Stay with me Casey! Look at me!"

This was not just anyone this was Casey!

The strong willed boy who was always thinking about him! His only friend in the Shire!

Xiao Yan was always concerned for him.

He cannot die! He is so young, so full of potential.

Xiao Yan looked desperately at Heine. "You can save him! Like you did me, right?"

Heine quickly walked up to Casey, just as his finger touched his cheek, Heine's brows sharply drew together.

His arm slammed against Xiao Yan and he stepped back, before clumsily colliding with the half open door.

"Heine?"

Xiao was wracked full of anxiety, he didn't understand Heine's strange behavior.He reached a hand out toward Casey, but Heine yanked it back with more force.