Chapter 13. Return
Imperial and Krenyo stared back at the walker, it’s black souless eyes looking towards them expectantly. Benu rose and stepped towards them, shoving pieces of equipment back in his pockets.
“What do we do?” he asked flatly.
“Well, we stay here we die. We go down there we die. Either way, we’re dead. It’s just a matter of where and how many of them we take out with us.” Imperial said it matter of factly, no hint of fear evident in his voice.
“Let’s head back down,” said Krenyo, “I’d rather face the walkers blasters then get bitten by those things.”
“Yeah, but where are they?” Benu’s question hung over them for a few seconds. Silently the men ignored it and headed towards the ladder.
Once on the ground, the three men could hear the hum of the walkers engines, yet it made no move towards them and its weapons remained silent.
“What’s the story Imperial?” asked Krenyo, barely more than a whisper.
“No idea. Looks like it just wants us to stay out of the garage.”
Another scream echoed round them, bouncing back from the facilities walls. There was a smell up here, death and decay hung in the air. They were close.
“Cack it,” said Benu, rising to his feet, “I’m moving round.” The three of them moved cautiously towards the walls of the main building, scanning for the creatures and keeping an eye on the ATST. It made no move towards them, just turned its head to watch them as they first reached the wall, then backed round a corner out of sight.
After a few minutes progress they reached the rear of the sensor station without incident. There was only a small stretch of wall between them and the ladder to the top of the roof, a stretch of wall that contained a doorway leading to the main hangar.
“Ok, Ben first, then me then Imp,” Krenyo gave the order quickly, the three crouched down in a more stable firing position with weapons at the ready. The other two men nodded then Benu stood and ran silently to the ladder, not stopping to glance towards the doorway.
“GO!” He shouted as he reached the ladder and jumped up, grabbing the rungs and hauling himself up as quickly as he could. Another of the creatures screams pierced the night as something hit the ladder a few feet before him.
“GO!” Shouted Krenyo from below. Benu pulled himself up the ladder faster, trying to give the two men following him more room to climb up. Another heavy thud against the ladder told him that Imperial had made it past the door as well. This was the most dangerous part of journey, climbing the ladder they had to shoulder their weapons, they were exposed and defenceless.
Another scream, but it wasn’t the piercing shriek the undead creatures made, this was a human scream. Benu didn’t look down, he just kept climbing, one hand after another, feet banging hard against the heavy rungs.
“They’re on us!” shouted Krenyo, he half turned on the ladder as he looked down, with one arm hooked behind the ladder he twisted away from the wall, using his free hand to reach for his weapon. Imperial was struggling below him, one of the creatures had reached up and grabbed his leg, biting hard in to it. It wore a rebel uniform, soaked in blood. More of them were assembling around the foot of the ladder, reaching up over each other to grab at Imperial.
Krenyo tried to aim at them, Imperial stared up at him trying to pull himself free.
“Do it!” He shouted at him, “Cacking shoot me!” There was real fear in his eyes now, as more of them bit into his legs, pain streaking across his eyes. Something bounced past Krenyo and he looked up as Benu shouted down.
“CLIMB!”
The explosion rocked the air and the blast wave pushed Krenyo hard against the ladder. The two men pushed themselves faster up the ladder as more of the creatures appeared below them and howled. The base of the ladder had been destroyed by the blast preventing them from chasing their prey.
As he rounded the top, Krenyo saw Benu sobbing against the side of the control room wall. He walked over and knelt in front of him, “Ben..”
“It was Gwynzer. It was Gwynzer that attacked Imperial. They’re all dead”
Krenyo reached forward and smacked him across the face hard.
“Save the cacking pity,” he snapped, “you’re not the only one that lost friends tonight. I have too, but I haven’t got time to babysit you. Get on your feet and get inside.” He stood and walked towards the door, leaving Benu gazing after him in shock.
Krenyo banged on the locked door as another scream echoed up towards them, he knew there were other ways up to the roof and he didn’t intend to be caught outside when the creatures got here. “Hey, let us in!” he shouted, “We made it.”
Benu joined him as the door opened and the two men stepped inside. A small array of consoles lay in the center of the room and the five Imperial soldiers were sat around them.
“Well done,” said one of them standing up, “I am Commander Tarketh, which of you is the Rebel leader?”
“I am,” answered Krenyo stepping forward, blaster raised.
“There is no need for that, I assure you. Lower your weapons men.” The Imperial Officer gestured to his small group to lower their weapons, which they dutifully did.
Benu and Krenyo did the same, yet still maintained some distance from the Imperial troops. The room was heavy with the musk of men who hadn’t washed in days. A small stack of supplies lay in one corner, evidently the Imperials had enough warning to prepare for whatever had happened here.
“How long have you been here?” asked Krenyo, eyeing Tarketh suspiciously.
“10 days.” Tarketh glanced at one of the consoles then looked back towards Krenyo. “You want to know what happened, I understand that. I’ll tell you all I know, we have time. The creatures have retreated back to the hangar, no doubt they will be waiting for instruction before attacking.”
Benu frowned, “Instruction from what? Or who?”
Tarketh grinned, cold and menacing. “Their queen of course. There are some supplies there, please, have something to eat and I shall tell you everything.”