Valkyrie Hunter

It was still dark probably only a handful of hours before dawn when we slipped out of the apartment through the back door past piles of trash. I was uncertain we were doing the right thing. Walla had insisted we go and reluctant as I was to have both women with me I’d get lost within a few blocks. There had been a lot more patrols on the street I guess my attack on the Prophetess had stirred up a hornet’s nest. The only reason that hadn’t stopped me from forbidding Walla and Anhild’s involvement was the fact that Walla had told me she had a solution to help me escape the city. The streets were dark with very few lights and those scattered far apart.

Walla halted, I halted a few steps behind her my hands clutching a coil assault gun in my hands. Both Valkyrie carried Seven Double ’M’s. I had lost one but they had more. I hadn’t asked them why.

“We need to go two blocks to the garage,” Walla whispered. “Keep your head down and stay away from the light.” She whispered to Anhild. “You keep behind Gwen.” Her next words were for me. “And Gwen if I say run, run. Don’t stop to protect us. I know you’ll try. Don’t waste your life. What you have needs to get to the Elders.”

“If there is a fight?”

Anhild stopped me before I could say anything more. “We’re old. You have a whole life a head of you. This is your mission. Get the data to the Elders and for the Mother’s sake do it in one piece.”

The practical part of my mind agreed although my heart didn’t. They were both right but not in the way they thought. I needed to get the data to the Alliance if the Rhosani and the Black Stripes were here they need to be stopped. Damn the Elders and their comms block it complicated things. Walla was right I had to get out of the city. She was confident that I just needed to escape. Walla and Anhild had spent a lot of time altering the coat I wore. I had a number of what the Confeds called data slices sown into the coat in case I got captured which Walla assured me was something I had to avoid. The coat was the one I’d used when tried to escape earlier only to find myself back on their doorstep. The rest of my clothes were the ones I changed into after my shower. Clan colours but concealed under the coat. Both Valkyrie wore dark heavy coats.

We dashed from dark patch to dark patch our ears alert to sounds around us. The rumble of engines ahead had us darting into an alley. Another dead end alley with no way out except the way in and totally lacking any sort of cover.

“We’re trapped,” I whispered.

“If they can’t see us we’re not here,” Anhild assured me. She pulled a box from under her coat. It was the size of her hand. “Won this off a Ezaran in a bet,” she said.

I couldn’t see her face it was too dark for that but I was sure I heard a smirk in her voice.

“What is it?”

Anhild didn’t say she placed it on the floor in front of us facing the entrance to the alley. “Stand back”

The ground shimmered but I couldn’t see a difference.

“Now be silent otherwise you’ll break the illusion,” she warned us.

Just as she said that the engines halted outside the alley. There wasn’t anywhere to hide the alley was too empty for that. I saw several Valkyrie stand in the alley their flashlights sweeping down the alley. The beams of light never reached us.

“Clear!” one shouted and the lights turned off.

I heard the engines start up then fade into the distance. I realised just like the illusion of Alliance Dropships descending on Saros this had been one of those. Denassi’s illusion had been so realistic that I had as had the Black Stripes believed it was real. They had fled leaving their dead behind. Had things gone differently I would have never met Ljufu and discovered the plot to discredit the Alliance. A horrific plan to destroy the city and Xenai’s ship. Then blame the Alliance making seem as if the ship had fired on the city and the Planetary Defences had responded. I’d stopped their plans them and I had to stop them now.

Anhild reached down to pick up the box then promptly dropped it with a curse.

“Sorry, should have warned you about that. Denassi did the same with his illusion.”

“Denassi, sounds Ezaran?” Walla asked thoughtfully.

“Denassi was part of my investigation team.” I told them about Saros and the plot to discredit the Alliance and my warning to Ljufu. I hoped she was all right and that Monica and Alicia were on there way to her. With the comms blackout I had no way of knowing anything beyond what I could see with my eyes.

“I see,” Walla said. “The Mother of All sent you to us in our hour of need.”

There wasn’t anything I could say to that. I had dark suspicions that the Valkyrie Mother of All was a First One. Then I had no conclusive proof and wasn’t going to break Walla’s faith by voicing my doubts.

“How far,” I asked before things could get anymore complicated.

“Not far,” Anhild said. “Best we hurry.”

Anhild finally picked up the box and we left the alley hurrying down streets. We may have escaped an encounter but I was sure there would be more. We had to get off the street as soon as we could.

Walla halted in front of what seemed to be a set of roller doors set into the front of a building. She halted and selected one near the centre and pressed her thumb against a small console beside the door. I was expecting the door to screech as it rose but it travelled on silent guides. We entered a rectangular room. In the centre was a cloth-covered mound. The rest of the room looked like a typical mechanic’s workshop with tools and ground car parts on benches. Walla closed the door behind us and turned on the lights. I blinked at the sudden influx of light. Anhild hurried forward and pulled the cloth off the mound. Underneath was a wheeled ground car in dark blue. It wasn’t a modern one but looked like it had been built in the last fifty to a hundred years.

“She’s fast and turns on a drop of spit,” Anhild said proudly. “I’ve spent years doing her up.”

“Anhild’s car will get you out of the city,” Walla said to me her voice brooking no dissension.

I was a bit wary about a self-driving car. I guess I couldn’t get rid of my Imperial heritage. “You sure?”

Walla seemed to get my implication. “I see. Don’t fret it isn’t an auto drive. You do know how to drive?”

Anhild looked at me concerned. “I hadn’t considered that?”

“I’m an Imperial I feel a lot better with a car I can drive than one that drives itself.” But I didn’t I felt guilty taking Anhild’s pride and joy knowing it might be damaged or destroyed.

Somehow Anhild saw though my true reluctance. “It only a ground car. I can rebuild. You on the other hand won’t get far without it. Take it Gwen I insist.” She handed me the keycard for the car. “Please take it and go with the Mother’s blessing.”

Walla opened the door and I slid into the driver’s seat knowing that they weren’t going to be moved on this. Every moment I hesitated the likelihood of discovery grew larger.

I familiarised myself with the control finding familiarity in the console design. Luckily for me it was a one I’d driven before. Although the console was for a different ground car Anhild had done an excellent job in making it all fit. Which made it all the more difficult for me to get going. The practical part of my mind approved and again my heart objected.

“I…!” I stuttered into silence at Walla’s stern look.

“Good bye and go with the Mother,” she said.

“Take care Gwen,” Anhild said handing me a data slice. “I’ve programmed the best route out of the city. Just follow the route and stay safe?”

Reluctantly I put the keycard into its slot. The ground powered up with a muted roar. Walla opened the roller door. I had no choice but to leave. My last sight was both Valkyrie waving me goodbye. With that thought in mind I headed out.