Theyare known simply as: The Americans.
Theexciting sidequel to DEAD MECH takes you on a hellride throughEurope, Asia and beyond as American Ghost Heather Walton must saveher family, her friends, and an all important cargo, as all Americansstruggle to maintain their place in a world where the powers that beno longer want them. And will stop at nothing to put an end to theirstanding and their very existence!
Haven'tread DEAD MECH? Not a problem! The Americans is a stand-alone novelthat takes place at the same time as the events in DEAD MECH. Readeither one first then get ready for the third and final book in theApex Trilogy, Metal And Ash, coming in the Fall of 2012!
Prologue
The members of the League of Monarchs were not pleasedwith the director and their holographic images showed it plainly.
"As I have said, Your Highnesses, the Three haveassured me that everything will be in place soon," Mr. Geinplacated. A small, middle-aged man, pudgy about the waist and neckand director of the League of Monarchies Security Division (LOMSD),Mr. Gein stood before the holo-projections of all the reigningmonarchs of Europe, trying not to sweat through his suit coat.
"But, you have been saying that for weeks," EmperorRenaldo Giraldi of the Holy Roman Empire insisted. "We are tired ofthe delays!"
"Yes, Mr. Gein," Empress Natalya Tartorov added."When you first approached us with the Three's proposal to removethe Americans from power and free the LOM and all of Europe fromtheir oversight and martial authority, you promised us it would be aspeedy process with little to no effort on our part."
Mr. Gein held up his hands. "I understand yourfrustration, but this is happening quite fast despite the enormity ofthe task," he responded. "It must be done correctly or we willnot get a second chance, and the LOM will be left open for Americantakeover under the Articles of Sanctuary." The monarchs grumbledand complained, but none offered any other solutions or withdrewtheir support. "Please, my Lords and Ladies, it will not be longbefore everything is set in motion. You can expect results within theweek."
"We had better," growled Queen Constancia De Riveraof Spain. "Remember, Señor Gein, it is your neck on the choppingblock, not the Three's if this all falls through."
The bureaucrat gulped and tried to smile, but it justmade him look pain-stricken. "I understand, Your Highness, and Ihave always taken that into account. Thank you."
The monarchs conferred with each other briefly and oneby one signed off, their holographic images fading from theconference room.
When he was finally alone, Mr. Gein stepped to thesideboard and poured himself a generous amount of gin. He downed thedrink and quickly refilled.
He activated his com. "Get me Mr. Continental rightnow!" He didn't wait for a response, downing and refilling histumbler yet again. He took a seat at the conference table andloosened his tie. "This had better work or the Americans will ownus all … "
"It'll work, Gein," a woman said from the shadows.
The director jumped, spilling some of his gin. "Jesus,Isley! How long have you been lurking there?"
The woman laughed. "Since before your holo meetingbegan. You really should look in the corners when you enter a room."
"Yes, well, I was never very good at field work. Ileave the security to folks like you."
"Folks like me? Mr. Gein, we've known each other fora very long time and you still don't trust me?"
"On the contrary, dear," Mr. Gein answered, fixingMs. Isely a gin also. "I trust you completely. You just scare theshit out of me, is all."
Ms. Isely took the offered glass and nodded her thanks."Scare the shit out of you? I'll take that as a compliment."
"Please do." Mr. Gein raised his glass. "To abrave, new world!"
"Cheers," Ms. Isely responded, clinking her glassagainst his before downing the gin. "Let us hope the Three knowwhat they are doing.
Chapter One
"While the surface records were very authentic, uponfurther investigation it appears there is no true record of yourexistence, Ms … Kramer?" the warden said, his eyes focused onHeather Walton. "I'm guessing Kramer isn't your real name?"
Heather looked about the room. Not a bit of biochrome insight. She reached out, trying to feel any she may not have seen, buther body wasn't responding, at least not to any externalstimulation.
Theyknow,she thought. Timeto go to work.
"You did an excellent job of getting yourself thrownin here without attracting too much attention." The warden's fistwas strong and swift and Heather's head rocked back. "But we'reused to dealing with people like you. We've had the training."
Yep, theyknow.
"You'll find there isn't a scrap of BC on thisentire level. Even your shackles are made of good, old fashionediron. Struggle as you like, you are in that chair until I saydifferent." The warden grinned, his tea-stained teeth barelyvisible in the gloomy light of the cell.
Heather spit blood onto the floor and smiled, matchingthe warden.
"Something funny?" the warden asked, looking back atthe four guards standing behind him, all extremely muscular and onlywearing a basic uniform, unadorned with any BC. They were preparedfor Heather's biochrome manipulative skills. "They aren'tlaughing, so I guess not."
"As far as you know, Ghosts don't exist," Heatherlaughed. "You know that, right? And you've never had one in thisfacility before. I know that for a fact."
"I thought you just said Ghosts don't exist?" thewarden smirked. "How can you know we've never had one here ifthey don't exist?"
"Because you're still alive," Heather glared. "Youreally need to scan better."
"Scan better? I believe our security is more thanadequate." The warden shook his head and motioned for a guard tostep forward. The large man closed in on Heather, his eyes glintingwith violence. Before he could throw the first punch, Heather startedto retch, her torso convulsing as if she would suddenly vomit.
The guard stepped back and looked to the warden. "Ididn't touch her."
"I can see that!" the warden shouted. "Is shechoking? Check her!"
The guard stepped forward again and grabbed Heather bythe jaw, twisting her head back and forth. "What you got in there?Spit it out!"
Heather's retching stopped immediately, obvious shehad thrown something up into her mouth.
The guard reached out and started to pry Heather'smouth apart.
"No! Wait!" the warden ordered, but it was too late.
A thin microfilament of biochrome shot from betweenHeather's lips, piercing the guard's left eye, shooting out theback of his head. A second microfilament worked its way down herface, shoulder, arm and began to work at the shackle on her rightwrist.
"Kill her now!" the warden yelled to the remainingguards and they lunged for Heather.
The microfilament in the dead guard's skull retractedand Heather turned her attention to the other muscled men. She spatquickly and the lead guard fell, his chest pierced by BC. Heatherretracted again and repeated the motion on the next guard. The lastguard was on her before she could spit again, but the shackle on herwrist clicked free and she had him about the throat, crushing hiswindpipe instantly.
The warden lunged for the cell door, his hand reachingfor the simple alarm switch in the tech-free cell, but was tripped upby the line of biochrome now held in Heather's right hand.
"No. Please stay. We have work to do," Heathersnarled as the shackles on her other wrist and ankles fell away.
Two fists to the warden's face and he was stunnedquickly. Heather patted the man down and smiled when she felt thecomforting presence of BC. "Hip replacement? Did you think Iwouldn't notice that?"
The warden's screams never made it passed his throatas Heather slammed her elbow down onto his Adam's apple. His eyesfilled with terror and pain as she formed the BC microfilament into ascalpel and began slicing.
***
The teenagers filed into the classroom, their voicesraised in heated discussions about the latest music, holos andweekend social events.
"Settle down, all of you!" Ms. Tinsdale barked fromher desk. "You may chat after class."
The boys and girls frowned and their voices graduallylessened to whispers as they took their seats.
Ms. Tinsdale stood up and began making notations on thedata board once everyone was seated. The class waited patiently forher to finish, none of them pleased with the words that lit up on theboard.
***
Heather tossed the warden's severed hand and pluckedeyeballs aside, no longer needing them to bypass the security, andducked under the oncoming guard's swing. She brought her fist upand BC shot out, wrapping about the man's neck as she rolled hershoulder, tossing him over her back and onto the corridor's floor.The guard's neck snapped easily, the sound echoing off thecorridor's walls. Heather had the dead man's biochrome baton inher hand and swinging before the second guard registered what washappening. His face caved in from the impact and Heatherinstinctively ducked, letting most of the blood spray over hershoulder. Heather didn't like blood.
Grabbing the second guard's baton as well, Heathershoved through the corridor's security door before it could close,the biometric alarms locking things down as soon as the guards'pulses no longer registered in that level's security system.
"They go to all the trouble of having a BC-free leveland then screw it all up by letting monkeys carry BC batons up here,"she muttered to herself. Seven more guards rushed towards her fromdown the hall, covering the ten meters between them and her quickly,their batons ready. "Bureaucratic amateurs."