HELIX (a technothriller)

5 - The Forest

The whistle sounded through the forest.

In the darkness, the recruits drew their compact Glock 19 pistols. The objective of this exercise: at least one Firebird recruit must cross the beacons at the finish line without being hit. Stopping them from doing so: trained special forces soldiers.

With her thumb, Olesya flipped the stud on her holster. She drew and aimed low. The pistol's slide was pale blue, chambered with electro-rounds. They didn't penetrate their target, but they were tipped with four-pronged electrodes that delivered a nasty electric shock, enough to cause what their instructors called neuromuscular incapacitation. It was enough to drop the target—and disable their firearm for the remainder of the exercise—but not enough to kill them.

Olesya breathed in the winter air. It smelled of the giant trees around her, their trunks surfacing from damp undergrowth and twisting skyward. She looked up to see them disappear into the midnight fog.

From the front of the squad, Ark shot her a stern glare through his mask before nodding to the rest of Firebird. Everyone wore safety goggles and a blue vest that identified them as members of the same squad, although in this darkness the blue seemed almost gray.

They assembled into a line and Ark closed his eyes. Everyone remained still, waiting. Firebird didn't have compasses to guide them, and there was no visible moon to orient themselves. Thankfully, Ark's magnetoception afforded him a precise sense of direction. He closed his eyes for a moment, found his bearing and then opened them. He pointed ahead.

Xiu moved behind Olesya, taking rear security, while Damien took the scout position ahead of the squad. Everyone else moved in single file with space between them. Olesya watched as Damien slipped into the darkness and Ark followed him, leading the squad carefully in his wake.

Olesya listened to the soft squishing sound of their boots on moss and undergrowth. The forest itself was silent, making her skin prickle.

Ark issued a slight correction and Damien adjusted his bearing. Ark's hand fell to his side. It was shaking.

Olesya strained to listen for sounds around them, half-expecting an ambush. Her nose was cold and she resisted the urge to sniff. It wasn't long before Damien led them to the edge of the forest and a road. Without a word, he lay down quietly.

Firebird Squad followed suit and flattened out prone, inching forward to him. Ark's sister, Val, was looking ahead with her enhanced vision. Olesya crawled forward, her elbows moving over damp ground.

'What can you see?' Ark asked quietly.

'Small town in the distance,' Val said. 'Gas station, some abandoned shops. Taller buildings ahead.'

'How tall?'

'Three levels, I think.'

'Did they say anything about a town in the middle of the forest?' Damien asked.

Jay shook his head. 'They don't say much of anything.'

'It doesn't matter,' Ark said. 'What's here is here and we get through no matter what.'

Jay nudged Damien. 'We're not out of the woods yet.'

'That was terrible,' Damien said.

'Quiet,' Ark told them. 'Right, open ground from here to the gas station. We make a run for it and use the station as cover. Once we see more of the town, we can plan from there. If anyone disagrees, now's the time to say so.'

No one disagreed.

'Good,' Ark said. 'Move in groups, cover your front and sides.' He paused and turned to Olesya. 'Don't screw this up.'