Rebel Heart

The bombing of the town of Randolph stopped an hour before dawn. At the first drop of laser missiles, Brady had figured there was one thing that would make the fed jets target the inconsequential town, and it was Lana.

"I called it off," Tim said. "You have no idea what that took."

"I imagine knocking off a few more people allied to Greene. I don't think you called in this strike," Brady answered, looking over the flattened city grimly.

"No one we're supporting did. Brady, I don't need to tell you that there are more rats in the fed ranks than I can find. Assume you're being tracked as well and act accordingly." The frustration and anger was back in Tim's voice. Along with it was another emotion: worry.

"If she's here, we'll find her," Brady assured him. "At least we know she's alive."

"Or was."

"Brady out." He motioned the PMF members behind him towards the city.

At his request, Charlie had called in everyone in the area to help the survivors. Dan and Elise rolled up on a military transport, and Brady waited for them as the others moved into the town.

"There's nothing left," Elise said, distraught.

"Not above ground," Dan replied. "You're forgetting the underground railroad."

Elise appeared relieved then frowned. "Why hasn't she contacted any of us on her net?"

"Because this is what happens when she does," Brady said. "Tim confirmed she'd logged into a database from here. One of Greene's moles caught it." He started forward, anxious to see if the underground railroad survived the onslaught.

"Entrance here," one of the soldiers called, looking up from the subsurface monitoring device in his hand. Several more joined him to clear out debris and the remains of a building.

Nothing stood. Brady repositioned his weapons so he could help and began slinging debris away. His body was starting to feel the strain again, but he pushed himself on. Within half an hour, the metal door leading to the tunnel system was cleared away. One of the soldiers blasted it with concentrated laser. It took four strikes before the door caved with a crunch.

Brady was the first in. He dropped to the ground. Two soldiers stood near the tunnel entrance nearby, weapons raised. He lifted his hands.

"Everyone alive down here?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," one answered and lowered his weapons. "Is it over?"

"For now."