The Spartan of Apex - 9

Chapter 10

257 cursed as she reached over her shoulder. That knife was still stuck in her and she couldn't quite reach the handle. The pain seared through her veins. She could feel her ribs aching.

She was so focused on that and the pain, she didn't hear the commotion outside slowly fade away.

Schmotz wiped his own curved blade clean on his pants as he headed across the armory. The dog whined and circled around her.

It had to come out. Especially if she wanted it treated.

He didn't give her any real warning. She looked up at him and he reached behind her. Grabbed the handle. Yanked.

The blade slid out with no hindrance. 257 cried out and bit her lip. She cursed a few more times and held her shoulder.

Boots stomped into the doorway. 

Their HUDs lit up with new red dots.

As soon as that knife was completely free of her skin, Schmotz threw it into the doorway.

"Guys, ar---" Wilhelm nearly screamed. He ducked down just in time for the knife to soar over his head.

And into the throat of one of the mercenaries behind him. 

"Jesus! Schmotz!" Wilhelm squealed. "Fuck! Friendly fire!"

257 pursed her lips. Twisted them. It took every ounce of strength to not burst out in laughter. She should have been pissed. He just signed the death warrant of one of their own!

Schmotz shrugged. They shouldn't have come running in like that! Wilhelm was lucky it wasn't him.

"Medic!" One of the mercenaries screamed. "Medic!" The others turned to help the newly injured.

Wilhelm groaned. "Get back to Janik," he threw his hands up and turned to help with the wounded.

"Goddamn," 257 nudged Schmotz's arm. "That was a lucky shot."

He grunted.

"You can't do it twice!" She winced then and squeezed her shoulder. "Son of a bitch."

Schmotz headed out the door and around the others. 257 hurried to catch up to him. 

They reported to Janik and were given some time to patch up wounds. When everyone was situated, they left their own dead in the rubble of the camp. Abandoned to the scavengers of the area.

There was no explanation. No congratulations. They finished their job. Packed their things. Moved on. There was no further thought about it. In fact, Wilhelm and their driver, Axel, had a pleasant conversation about old girlfriends. Schmotz sat there silently as he always did. With how motionless he was, he may have been asleep.

257 listened in to the conversation, but this wasn't a topic she was too familiar with. The idea of dating, as these two went on and on for hours, was way over her head. 

She watched out the side window. They drove for a full night. Around bends, up hills, through rivers…. Sunrise to sundown. The radio never sparked. No sighting of enemies. 

Then they crossed the line. The invisible line all alpha hunters followed. That border between territories. They had gone so far west they left 163 and 171's territory. 

Now they were in a territory that belonged to a pair of alphas that were neither friend nor foe. This wasn't Apex territory. In fact, they wouldn't find any trace of Apex here unless it was a convoy passing through.

Maybe they would pass through as well.

Late into the night they stopped to set up camp. Right in the middle of the territory.

257 hurried to Janik and Artyom who were up the western perimeter. They had been discussing their next step when she approached.

Schmotz was right behind her. Tasked with keeping an eye on her at all times.

"Captain, Major," she said.

"What is it, LT?" Janik asked, crossing his arms.

"You've put us in a potentially dangerous spot," she stated. 

"How so? Seems safe enough. We have tree coverage this time."

"This isn't Apex territory." She explained, "there's a little leeway there. This is the Order's and I know these guys."

"I'm afraid I'm not following your concern."

"Janik," Artyom bit back a chuckle, "clearly you remember how alpha hunters operate?"

"Refresh my memory. I don't work with alphas much."

"We control territories," she raised a brow. How could he not know? "Usually assigned by our COs. We protect and manage our own territories. If this was an Apex region, then I could negotiate with the alphas. But this isn't Apex now and I know these alphas well enough to know they don't take kindly to strangers."

"If it was just us, we'd be fine. As long as we cause no trouble," Artyom added, "but we have two alpha hunters with us. If the others catch wind of it, they'll probably attack."

"You know these other alphas. You said it yourself." Janik looked at her. "I have faith you and Schmotz can handle it."

"Sir, with all due respect, you have no clue what could happen." 257 shook her head. 

"Are you afraid?"

"Cautious." She held her rifle against her chest, "if they entered my territory, I'd shoot on sight. From a mile away."

Janik laughed at her. "I'm sure you would." He thought for a moment, "you two will need to keep an eye out then. Hit them before they hit us."

257 and Schmotz stepped away to leave them to discuss their plans. 

257 groaned and grumbled. "Fucking ridiculous. No respect!" She took out a pack of cigarettes. "Hunter my ass. Who the fuck knows about alphas and doesn't understand the rules?!"

Schmotz kept his arms hugging his rifle against his chest. 

"We," she gestured at him and herself, "shouldn't be here without a damn good reason." She rubbed her mouth and bit into the end of a cigarette. 

They headed to the western side of the camp where they took a seat in the dirt. At least they had the high ground, but 257 didn't know this territory well. 

"Any idea what we're doing here?" She asked as she passed him a cigarette.

He shrugged.

"Yeah, what was I thinking?" She rolled her eyes behind her visor. "Even if you knew, you wouldn't say shit."

Great, was he going to have to listen to her bitch all night?

He watched her pet the dog. She didn't seem to have much more to say. She looked out over yonder to keep watch.

"If you want, I'll take the first watch," she said after a while.

He set his rifle down in his lap.

"Is that a yes? No?"

He messed with the rifle. Popped it apart to start disassembling it.

It must have been the hundredth time she watched him do it. Sure, it was better than doing nothing at all, but it was driving her insane. Constantly disassembling, cleaning, reassembling. He didn't do anything else!

She didn't even think about it. Before he got it down to smaller pieces, she smacked the stock of the rifle. It clattered out of his lap. All he was left holding was the upper receiver.

"Fucking quit!" She snarled.

He glared at her from behind his visor.

"I'm gonna shove it up yer fucking ass." She groaned. "There's better shit to do! You haven't even fired it in two days! Look at it!" She pointed at the rifle laying in the dirt. "Y'could fuckin' eat off that!"

He picked the rifle up and set it back down in his lap. He watched her as he set the upper receiver down and dug his fingers into the opening of the lower.

With a curse, she sat up on her knees. Snatched the upper receiver and the rifle up. She quickly snapped the receivers together.

Schmotz grabbed the rifle to yank it out of her grip. She hadn't seen his attempt and since she didn't let go… she went with the rifle.

She nearly fell into his lap! She caught herself by his knee.

She sat up and swung. Before she could even get in a full swing, he shoved the end of the stock into her visor.

257 hit the ground on her rear.

"The fuck you think you are?" She growled.

"Shut up." He grumbled.

"Ah, that the only word you know?"

"It's two words." He corrected.

She punched him in the shoulder. "I ain't takin' English lessons from a fuckin' kraut!"

He waved her off.

"Don't you fuckin' dismiss me!" She smacked his hand down.

Schmotz was getting to his wits end with this woman. She was constantly picking a fight with him and thus far he had managed to de-escalate it. She had an attitude with everyone here. She didn't seem to care about trying to make friends. When it came down to him, however, it felt different. She was hot then cold in the blink of an eye. 

Maybe it was what she expected or wanted. Alphas were prone to high aggression. He understood that much.

Maybe he would have to fight her just to put her in her place.

While he thought about it, she had looked off to the hills. Her posture softened.

She stood up and dusted her hands off.

"I'm going to the bathroom." She stated and headed into the camp, her wolf hot on her heels.

Schmotz looked out where she had been looking. His nightvision didn't pick up anything at all. Strange how she would just drop the subject. She had a good habit of staying on point.

After a few minutes, she hadn't returned.

He checked his radar. He should have seen a green dot around the other side of camp. Instead, the dot was far from the camp. Out to the west and down in the lower hills.

This bitch had snuck away!

He cursed under his breath. Scooped his rifle up and hurried down the hill.

257 hadn't even gone to the bathroom like she claimed. She used it as an excuse to get away from him. She had seen something he didn't. The other alphas. Now she was gunning it straight for them.

She made her way through the unbeaten path. Almost a mile away from the camp. 257 assumed no one knew she had gone away. Everyone else was sleeping after all and Schmotz was dumb enough to believe her lie.

There wasn't much of a clearing in the brush to get to. She only knew she got to the right spot when her HUD flashed with two red dots.

There was a rustle out of sight. The dog growled.

"7?" Came a voice.

"It's me!" She called.

"Oh, good!" He stood up and stepped out of his hiding spot. "I saw the dog and got worried."

"What the hell are you doing all the way out here?" Another man stepped into view a little further away.

"Y'know, job this and job that." She shrugged and pulled her helmet off. "It's nice to see a familiar face for once."

The taller man patted her shoulder. "It's nice to see you, too, sis." He grinned and took his own helmet off. Those green eyes of his shimmered like emeralds in the moonlight.

They may have been alphas, but the only other similar thing about them were the Galea IV helmets. Their seaweed green uniforms were much tighter than hers. Their exoskeletons even had a few extra metal plates for the shins and arms.

"Are you all right?" The other asked.

"Goin' crazy, if I can be honest." She frowned.

"Apex has you with a bunch of no names again?" The green-eyed one adjusted his rifle to sit better under his arm.

"Mercs!" She snorted. "I'm the lucky one that has to deal with it." She lit a cigarette, holding her helmet against her side with an elbow. "It's fucking bullshit, man."

"3 and I ain't got much going on right now." The shorter one said. "Top got us on standby. Expecting a surge of Russians to come through soon."

"Thanks, but I think I can handle it." She smiled. "I just don't know how much longer I can pretend. I need more information, but it's all under lock and key."

"Who was that guy you were with? You got a new partner?" 3 asked.

"Fuck no!" She spat. "That fuckin' sorry excuse… I don't really know who he is. These mercs had him already." She shrugged. "They call him Schmotz. I think he's some rogue alpha Apex ain't aware of yet."

"Weird they'd give an alpha a name." The other crossed his arms. "You sure he didn't follow you?"

"Why would he? He ain't good for much."

"Come on," 3 smirked, "it's 7! You think anyone can sneak up on her without the dog knowing, 9?"

"I just don't want you to blow your cover, bro'."

"Speaking of covers," she stepped up to 9. "Do you happen to have anything to spare?"

"You're actually in luck." He reached over his shoulder for the small backpack. He pulled out an old book. Tall, but not too thick. "It's in French, unfortunately, but it's some biology book."

257 took it and looked at the paper cover. "Might be useful. Not too old either."

"Yeah, sorry for that." 9 cleared his throat. "3 decided to trip me when we were crossing a river. Bag ain't waterproof."

"It's not like I pushed you!" 3 laughed. 

"You might as well had!"

"Hey," 3 looked down at 257 while she skimmed through the book. "You have a plan, right?"

"Infiltrate. Assassinate." She shoved the book down into one of the pockets on her leg. "These guys are targeting Apex, but I think there's more to it than malicious intent."

"Best to aim for the head then," 9 nodded.

"That's my thinking." She agreed. "Thing is, we're moving pretty weird. I can't find a pattern. They attack everyone no matter the side, but I've seen them make trades with both sides. Not to mention the assaults seem to be random."

"Humans don't act out randomly," 3 shook his head. “You need to get in close with their leader.”

She wretched at the thought. “He’s unbearable! I’d rather cut his throat open with my nails, man.” She rubbed her mouth. “You should have heard the speech he gave me to ‘convince me to join them.’ A bunch of lies and false promises about better lives.”

“Another one of those holier than thou guys.” 9 rolled his eyes.

3 brushed his fingers over 257’s arm. He looked off behind her. Her hair stood on end. Like a sixth sense tingling away at her fingertips. 9 reached for his pistol. He didn’t hear what 3 did, but he knew the look well enough.

“Not followed, huh?” 3 whispered to her.

“Come out!” 9 slowly approached the shrubs 3 had been eyeing. 

“H-hey, wait!” 257’s warning didn’t come soon enough.

Schmotz stood up from where he was hiding, only meters from them. 9 was practically on top of him, but that close range wasn’t enough. Schmotz grabbed 9’s pistol, while punching him square in the throat.

9 lost his grip on his weapon. 257 was there in time to grab the pistol and Schmotz’s hand. 9 safely backed up only to get replaced by 3 who didn’t even let Schmotz assess his new situation. Ducked beneath the incoming fist, he twisted the pistol around to break it out of 257’s grasp. 

Schmotz aimed the pistol at 3. 257, deciding it was best to avoid the power method, jumped in front of him. 

“They’re allies,” She stated sternly.

His finger slipped off the trigger.

“He knows, 7.” 3 said.

“He’s one of us!” She snapped. “We’ve got to stick together.”

Schmotz studied the look on her half-metal face. The way those polychromatic eyes trembled as they looked up at him. Fierce as a wildfire. 

257 slowly reached out to touch the slide of the pistol. When Schmotz didn’t stop her, she gripped it. He let her take it to return to 9.

“Do you really trust him?” 3 questioned.

“Sven likes him,” She grinned.

“Y-you can’t use a dog as an ascertainment!”

“It’s not like he’s gonna tell anyone.” She scooped her helmet from the dirt. “He can’t speak.”

“He’s a mute? Apex just left him like that?” 3 raised a brow.

“Damn, what the hell did you do?” 9 wheezed as he rubbed his throat.

Schmotz shrugged.

“It ain’t like he can answer you!” 3 laughed.

“All right,” 257 slipped her helmet on. “Thanks for the help. We oughta get back before Janik notices.”

Schmotz watched her walk back the way they had come. He looked back at the other two then followed her and the dog.

“They’re old friends of mine,” She explained once they were earshot away. “Known them all my life.”

He unsheathed his karambit from his shoulder. Reached around her. The silver, curved blade brushed across her neck. She stopped walking. The dog whined and growled. 

257 held up two fingers pressed together. The dog sat down, but kept its eyes on Schmotz.

“So,” She lifted her chin. “We got a problem?”

Schmotz knew now that she couldn’t be trusted. And he was beginning to fall for it. She was a dirty rat. 

"You can't seriously believe him," she said. "It's not any better here! Fuck, man, it's worse if you ask me."

She lifted her heel. Schmotz pushed his other hand into her back. She couldn't move without him letting her.

"He's using you! You ain't nothing, but an old beat up tool he's gonna toss out as soon as he's done. You'd be better off going back to Apex."

He squeezed the handle of the knife.

"No." He spat.

"No?" She dared to spin around on her heels. She held her hands up for him to see.

Schmotz hardly budged. He kept his free hand right where it was, now against her chest plate. He pulled the knife from her neck and flipped it around for a proper grip.

"You ain't that fuckin' stupid, bro'," she glared. "Yer unaccounted for! You stay out here with these deadbeats and you will be hunted down." She almost smirked. "When they do come, you'll see how Janik holds his promise."

"Apex can burn in hell," he growled.

"Oh my God," her hands fell to her sides. "Here I thought you had something against me. It's the flag I fuckin' bear though, huh?" She pointed at him, "Apex saved yer goddamned life!"

If 257 couldn't be trusted, then it was Schmotz's job to take care of it. For the sake of his mission, he would have to kill her. How could anyone hold Apex in high esteem? Just the thought of it made his blood boil.

257 had enough of his bullshit. He wouldn't give her answers. He wanted to hold her at knife point. She kept up a strict kill-them-before-they-kill-me attitude.

She struck like a wound up snake. Went for his knife to shift his focus. Then threw her good shoulder into his chest plate. 

He lost the karambit, but so did she.

Without the worry of a knife, their scuffle was more of a wrestling match. She struck him or at least tried to. Schmotz countered everything she threw at him. 

Then a joint effort to trip one another put them both in the dusty dirt.

257 ended up on top of him. She punched him in the helmet.

"Don't make me kill you, Zero." She growled.

The dog bounced around them. It whined and barked. The poor thing didn't know what to do. It had its orders to sit and stay, but its master was in danger.

Schmotz laid there beneath her. He watched her, expecting to take another hit.

"We're brothers. We gotta stick together, but if you get in the way of my job, I will skin you."