As the days passed, Kinson was pleased to see their efforts making a difference in the outcome of the war. Every once in a while, Andres would offhandedly remark on some strategy the military chose that seemed to directly counter Earth's actions. Kinson smiled every time as he traced it to some key intel they had discovered while watching a deathdream. It seemed the Alliance typically had the advantage in any given situation, although they certainly had their fair share of battle scars. As Kinson traveled through Colony, his heart fell any time he saw a yellow ribbon posted on the door of a house. Even some of the university housing units, numbers few as they were, bore a yellow ribbon. Even so, the loss expressed in the ribbons paled in comparison to the tragic deaths he personally witnessed of the men and women those ribbons represented.
Once a week, Colony hosted a series of drills to prepare for the unlikely event the armies of Earth ever personally invaded the city, or even conducted a bombardment from space. Although most of the city was underground, weapons equipped on spaceships were advanced enough to threaten even the deepest sub-basements of the BPI.
During one such drill, Kinson and the rest of the deathdreaming department were gathered in the deepest basement in their own bunker. Each of the departments had once reserved, but they were rather fortunate, due to their small numbers. It was roomy, even.
The bunker itself had walls reinforced to the point that Kinson doubted Griffon could even break through them, but when he asked, the man himself gave a smile that sent shivers down his spine. There were enough supplies to last them for several weeks, which included armaments and munitions fit to arm a small detachment. A radio connected them to the other shelters, but they rarely used it even during the drills. Just a simple check-in to report no issues with the raid. They had power and lighting, which Kinson heard came from a backup generator buried nearly a quarter mile below the lowest floor. The entire building was off the main city grid, actually, and entirely self-sufficient energy-wise.
He had just settled onto a comfortable couch when the radio began to crackle. Kinson frowned and jumped up, unable to hear anything through the static. Honestly, hearing static was surprising enough, in this day and age, unless the radio was damaged.
"Might need a new radio," Luthier said off-handedly.
"What's wrong with it?" Andres looked up in concern.
Kinson picked up the small, handheld radio and shook it, but the static only crackled louder. "It just turned on. Maybe someone's trying to contact us? These things are so outdated. Can't they use something a little more modern, or at least include caller id?"
He had meant the question seriously, but Andres just chuckled. "Perhaps. But, these things aren't so old as to give us static," His eyes suddenly narrowed," Unless…"
"It's being interfered with," Griffon finished, already opening the weapons cache.
Kinson's heart sped up. "Why would they attack us when we're in a bunker? Shouldn't they know we do drills?"
Andres shook his head and shrugged. "Not sure, but they definitely know our drill schedule. It's not like we can block information with the technology everyday citizens have access to."
"It's more likely they're after something specific. Something that can only be gotten if everyone's hiding away," Griffon speculated.
"But what? Isn't the research from the BPI shared between all branches? They could just buy or even raid it on their own." Luthier said.
"Unless it's not the information, but the source," Andres said, face hardening. "And there aren't too many ways the BPI helps with the war effort."
"Only one, as far as I know, if you ignore the research that's gone into developing psionic weapons." Griffon pulled a pistol out and handed it to Kinson.
Kinson took it, gasping as the cold metal touched his fingers. The gun felt much cooler than it normally did. Still, he wasn't an amateur anymore, and his grip was steady.
"Wait, why did you give him a gun? What are you guys talking about?" Panic was evident in Kael's voice.
"Kael, do you remember that very first meeting we had?" Andres asked suddenly.
"Yeah, that's where you introduced everyone," she nodded uncertainly.
"You talked about your reluctance to involve yourself in matters related to war. I'm very sorry." Andres bowed his head deeply.
"What? Why? Wait… no. You can't be serious. I had nothing to do with this!" she shrieked shrilly.
"Please, calm down. I'm sure they won't bother involving us women in the back," Rachel tried to soothe her.
"Calm down? If you're saying what I think you are, Earth's launching an attack to try and capture or remove us!" Kael pointed an accusing finger at Andres. Despite her firm expression, she couldn't hide the tremble in her outstretched hand.
Andres nodded. "I'm afraid this might happen. Fortunately, at my request, we're in the most secure location of the BPI with the strongest psionic on Titan."
Kinson couldn't help but glance at Griffon, who nodded. "Although our communications are jammed, there won't be any secrecy for them once bullets start to fly. We only have to last long enough for Winston to gather security and drive them out."
"But this is the military we're talking about! Now some civilian security," Kael protested.
Luthier smiled and gestured at Griffon. "If this is civilian security, sign me up! There are plenty of powerful psionics stationed here, just for this occurrence."
Andres scratched his chin. "The thing I don't get is why they think they can succeed. I'm confident that the intel Earth can gather, and there's no reason they don't know what we just discussed, if not more. What gives them the confidence to pull this off? Furthermore, the passages of the Lower BPI aren't released to anyone who would leak them. When the war started, those who could were purged by psionic interrogation. How could they even find us?"
Kinson felt a chill go down his spine. "I think I know someone who can navigate down here. Someone evil, who's done it in the past."
Everyone looked at him in surprise. Then, Griffon nodded. "I think I know who you are talking about.
"I'm sorry, but is anyone else in the dark?" Kael asked, frustrated.
"I'm talking about Tarken, the space pirate with deep connections. You know, the one who kidnapped Kinson and his friend in broad daylight?" Griffon chuckled shallowly. "It would be quite worrisome if he's somehow connected to this mess.
"The pirates wanted to group together and work towards causing a war. I guess they succeeded," Kinson rubbed his head. "Apparently, they wanted to profit from the opportunities created by the instability.
"Hopefully, this is just one of their opportunities, and their gang hasn't joined up with Earth. Although small in number, never underestimate a pirate's connections or abilities, especially when their back is to a wall," Griffon added.
"So what should we do?" Kael asked, her initial anger replaced with worry.
Before anyone answered, the radio abruptly went silent once more. Kinson picked it up but found static when he tried to radio anyone else. "Someone must have been trying to warn us but gave up. Or perhaps it was resolved."
"I would that to be the case. We'll know soon enough, though. If our suspicions are correct, we can expect someone to say drop by for a chat in a minute or two. I've left clear verbal instructions not to communicate with us except by radio until the drill is over, so no one friendly will come knocking," Andres said confidently.
"Uh… that seems nice now, but why?" Luthier asked, sitting up.
Andres chuckled lightly. "I've always been prepared. I suppose being a weak psionic on the battlefield didn't help with that paranoia."
"Battlefield? I thought there hadn't been a war in hundreds of years?" Kael asked, suddenly. "Even my brother… passed away fighting against terrorists, or pirates, as you call them."
"There were a few hostile factions of significant strength I was assigned to suppress," Andres said softly. "We don't hear about it, and never will. Earth's had a history of bullying those who don't conform.
"I've participated in more operations of that nature than I care to admit," Griffon agreed.
Kinson's eyes lit up as he suddenly recalled what Tarken had said earlier. "Is that where the name "Reaver" came from?"
Griffon's expression tightened, and he looked uncomfortable for the first time Kinson could recall. Was that… sadness?"
"Yes, that was a title I acquired back then. I was much more reckless and lacked restraint in my earlier days. It wasn't unfair to compare me to a reaver at work in the fields. Lesser psionics simply cannot compare or even fully comprehend the power of higher classes. A battlefield is a place where that is especially evident."
Although the lighter conversation eased the atmosphere, Kinson still jumped when a hard rap sounded throughout the room. Everyone's eyes flew to the door, then settled on Andres. Andres shrugged, then snapped, joining everyone's souls together. This binding felt different than when they enter the deathdream together. Kinson was intimately aware of even the thoughts and intentions of others. He could feel Kael's fear, Luther's trepidation, and Griffon's quiet confidence. He knew Kael was planning to run to the back of the room with Rachel before they even moved.
Griffon took a deep breath, as though relishing the feeling. "I had nearly forgotten what this felt like. Truly remarkable."
"It's a small thing, really. You'll be doing all the hard work. Now, at least, we won't get in each other's way." Andres replied.
"Well, I'm joining Kael and Rachel in the back. Fighting isn't exactly my thing," Luthier said and ran back.
The knock sounded again, although this one was more prolonged, drawn out over the course of several seconds. Kinson strained his ears but was unable to understand the middle shot coming through the reinforced door.
" Do you think it's them?" he asked, looking between Griffon and Andres.
Andres nodded slowly. "it should be. I wonder if they can beach the door?"
Griffon grunted in agreement, then threw a glance back at Luthier, Kael, and Rachel. "If they do, we need to take the fight into the hallway. It will make it easier to connect with reinforcements, and keep our backline safe."
"Okay. What should I do?" Kinson asked, fingering the trigger.
"Try and stay back. I know you're used to people shooting at you, but this isn't a deathdream where things will end easily. Things will only end until we kill them, they kill us, or either of us gets a chance to escape. Let me do the fighting. You and Andres can support from a safe distance," Griffon said sternly.
"I'll make sure no one flanks us from the other side." Andres volunteered. "Some might have gone further than our door only to double back once they find us."
"Focus on our safety. If you get in trouble, I'll be there," Griffon assured them.
Kinson nodded. As though waiting for them to finish their plans, a massive explosion rocked the room. The door blasted inwards, spinning around as it smashed towards them. Kinson nearly fell back in surprise, heart leaping in his throat as the three-hundred-pound projectile reached them.
Right before it struck Griffon, the man calmly raised a hand. The door abruptly stopped, deforming around his outstretched arm like paper. Kinson stared in shock as the superhuman casually tossed it aside and faced the door.
Several masked figures watched, their eyes just as wide as Griffons. Behind them, Tarken scowled. "It's them. Capture them all. Kill any who resist."
Before he could finish speaking, Kinson had already raised his pistol and fired. The bullet flew past Griffon's head and smashed into the chest of the front invader, sending him spinning back into his comrade. A blood-curdling scream echoed from his lips, and blood leaked around his mask as he coughed. The man he crashed into threw him off, raising his gun. Conduits on the side of the barrel glowed blue, and it released a stream of psionic bullets. Griffon raised his hand and a wall of fire appeared, intercepting the attack.
"Get back!" he cried as he leaped through the flames and disappeared.
Judging from the shouts on the other side, there were more than a handful of soldiers out in the hallway. The sound of gunfire quickly erupted en mass, sending deafening shockwaves throughout the underground passages. Kinson smiled. Help was on the way, no doubt.
"Nice shot. Watch those three," Andres jerked his head towards the back.
"Got it. Get out there!" Kinson cheered him on.
The fiery wall died down, but the doorway was empty. Four more corpses lay slumped over in varying positions where Griffon had thrown them. One still breathed faintly, But Kinson sucked in a breath as Andres casually stepped over him and fired a shot down. The breathing stopped.