The outer airlock door rotated open, and six Chariots leapt out. For Zed, it felt like the start of the Earth Rise Day race. Hopefully, this drive would have a happier ending. At least today they could see the enemy. No more hiding. Johns and his people were not getting on that rocket.
The Monstros were still visible in the distance. Zed guessed that they were probably halfway to the launch site now. Thankfully, the Chariots were fast—faster still when piloted by a reckless teenager with payback on his mind.
“Hang on, Baat. Have you ever seen how fast these things can go?”
Before Baat could respond, Zed twisted both wrists forward, sending the Chariot barreling down the well-worn road. The three-legged machine automatically lowered the central carriage as it accelerated.
Zed risked a glance at Baat, who had a goofy grin on his wrinkled face. It felt like getting a glimpse of his friend’s younger self.
Focus, Zed. Focus.
The other Chariots were just behind them now. Zed turned on his CIG’s ID overlay. His heart sank when he saw Janice piloting one of the six. He knew Janice was the best driver, but he was hit with instant flashbacks of driving with Alina. He refused to lose any more friends.
Zed turned back to the rear of the Monstro he was closing in on. There was no point in focusing on anything but the chase right now. Johns had to be stopped, and he would be the one to do it.
Baat opened a channel with the group. “Janice, if I might ask, how much line is there in these hook guns?”
“Oh, right. Sorry, I should have told everyone that from the get-go. There’s about 50 meters of cable. Not a ton, but if you can get in close, it should be enough to tangle up the wheels. The Monstros play it pretty safe if they sense too much tension on the axle. If you can get enough cable in there, the motors should just turn off.”
“Let’s test that theory!” came an enthusiastic and unmistakable voice. Zed looked to his right and saw the text “Jonah Gruene” hovering above the head of one of the drivers that was fast approaching one of the lagging Monstros.
“Hang on, Cal,” Zed heard Jonah say over the voice link. “When I say go, you shoot your shot, and not a moment sooner. I’m gonna get us in there close enough to kick the tires. We’ve only got one shot at this, and I intend to have a good story to tell at the end of the day. You got that, Cal?”
Presumably, whoever Cal was nodded because, a moment later, Jonah pushed his Chariot to the max and came so close behind the Monstro that his front wheel legs actually straddled one of the massive tires. He backed off a few meters as his gunner took careful aim.
A shudder ran through the Chariot as the harpoon gun fired. Miraculously, it landed a direct hit on the small section of the Monstro’s exposed axle. As the cable wrapped around the spinning axle, the spool fed out the line at a terrifying rate. For a moment, Zed was certain it would run out of line and pull the entire Chariot under the wheel.
At what felt like the last second, the Monstro lurched as the back left motor froze up. In turn, the Monstro swung violently, its front tires riding up onto a large boulder just off the road. There it stopped, but the driver hadn’t given up just yet.
The front tires turned back and forth as the clearly inexperienced person at the wheel attempted to maneuver free while dragging one locked tire. Given enough time, he would loosen it and make his escape, however slowly.
Quick-thinking Jonah didn’t give him the chance. He pulled his Chariot to a stop beside the Monstro and dismounted. With a few Martian hops, he reached his target: a control box on the underside of the giant vehicle. Jonah crouched in his turtle suit. Whatever he was trying to get at was made difficult by the constant back-and-forth motion as the driver persisted.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
As Zed drove by, he watched in horror as the beached Monstro lurched and broke free from the boulder. As it turned, it put Jonah directly in the path of one of the still-working back tires. Zed could tell that Jonah saw the danger because he threw himself toward the control box with a final, desperate kick. A moment later, he vanished from sight, and the Monstro ground to a halt.
“Jonah! Are you there? Please respond.” It was Commander Jones’ voice cutting in on the audio link.
There was a moment of silence, and then a strange noise. Was that laughter?
Jonah’s adrenaline-fueled giggling was interrupted by a coughing fit. “Yeah, I’m here, Commander. But I’d sure appreciate it if someone could back this tire off me. It didn’t get me too bad, but my suit is pinned at the chest. I’ll be damned if these turtle suits don’t live up to their name.”
There was relieved chatter on the radio. Commander Jones cut in again. “There will be time to celebrate victories later. That’s one down, two to go, people. Help is on the way, Jonah.”
Zed grinned at Baat and turned his attention back to the Monstro ahead. They were only a couple of hundred meters behind it now. As the gap closed and the target grew, so did Zed’s confidence that they could do this. That he could do this. That Johns really would meet justice.
“Alright, Zed, based on what just happened with Jonah’s attempt, let’s try something a little different,” Baat said, adjusting his grip on the makeshift harpoon gun.
“What do you mean? It was close, but it did work.”
“Yes, but if it hadn’t been for that boulder, the Monstro would likely have dragged them the rest of the way, or Mr. Gruene could have just as easily been crushed. I think we can avoid both of those outcomes.”
Zed found Baat’s suggestion annoying, which didn’t make sense because there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. It made good sense. No, what bothered him was that he hadn’t thought of it. And why hadn’t he? He was the one with the brainpower. Shouldn’t every possible option have occurred to him first? Zed took a breath and let his thoughts clear as much as he could while still maintaining control of a speeding three-legged Chariot.
Sure enough, a better solution flew to the front of his mind without hesitation.
“We should target the front tires and mess with steering as well,” Zed said.
“Why, yes, that’s right. I think we’ll have much better odds,” Baat laughed. “Great minds think alike, young Zed.”
Zed veered off the path slightly and pulled into what he hoped was the Monstro’s blind spot. The last thing he wanted was to get sideswiped.
“Pull forward just a
bit,
and I’ll line up my shot,” Baat said as he brought his helmet forward and looked down the length of the harpoon.
Zed complied and tried his best to hold the Chariot at a steady distance from the front left axle.
“Steady. Almost there,” Baat breathed. “Just a few more seconds.”
Zed risked a glance at Baat to try to gauge when he would fire. That turned out to be a mistake. As he turned back to what was in front of him, he saw the front tire of the Monstro twitch in his direction. His reflexes took over, and he twisted the steering dials hard in the opposite direction. The Chariot was a few meters away from the Monstro before Zed realized the fake-out. It was too late.
The Chariot jerked forward, and right as the harpoon lodged itself in the upper edge of the Monstro’s left side.
“Shit,” Baat said.
Zed’s shock at hearing the old chaplain swear was almost enough to distract him from the fact that they were going to be in serious trouble if he didn’t act fast.
Now I know what a fish on a line feels like, Zed thought as the Chariot repeatedly pulled up short on its tether.
Janice had done her work well. Both the harpoon and the gun held firm. Zed finally managed to get the Chariot back up to speed and close enough to the Monstro to allow for a little slack as long as he could match its movements. That was proving to be a big if.
“We’ve got to cut ourselves free!” Baat said as he reached for the tool compartment. He pulled out a drill and started working on the bolts that held the launcher in place.
“But Johns will get away!” Zed said. He realized he was almost screaming. They had been so close. He couldn’t just give up now. “I have an idea. Hold on.”
Zed swerved toward the Monstro and pulled the Chariot into a precarious position between the front and back tires.
“Baat, take the dials, quick!”
Baat grabbed the dials on the sides of the control console. The Chariot shimmied as he regained control. Before anyone could protest, Zed stepped up onto the top of the Chariot. Without hesitation, he launched himself at the harpoon that was protruding out of the side of the Monstro. He grabbed hold of it and swung forward with all the grace the turtle suit could afford. As his momentum carried him forward, the low Martian gravity allowed him enough lift to get a leg over the top. He struggled to pull himself the rest of the way up and felt the harpoon begin to come free. With a final, adrenaline-fueled push, Zed flung himself the rest of the way over the edge, an arm and leg still dangling over the side as the harpoon detached and clattered to the ground.
To Zed’s relief, Baat pulled out from between the tires and retreated to a safe distance.
I sure hope Commander Jones didn’t see that, Zed thought. No doubt there were going to be a few more lectures in his future—assuming he survived what came next.