The Phoenix Reckoning (The Phoenix Conspiracy Series Book 6) by Richard Sanders Page B
Authors: Richard Sanders
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to protect the king.
“This man is in need of immediate medical assistance,” said Sergei. “Stand aside.” The guard didn’t budge right away, so Sergei pushed him, and the group of them loaded the king into the back of the van.
“What happened?” demanded the guard, following them.
“Rogers fell from the fifth level all the way to the bottom. I need to get him to the hospital.”
“But Rogers isn’t on duty today,” said the guard. “I’m quite sure of it.”
Oh no , thought Hadriana, they’ve got us!
“What is your name, soldier ?” barked Sergei.
“It’s Smith, don’t you recognize me, sir?”
“Smith. Good. I’ll need to know who to reprimand later for being so callous about a comrade’s serious injury. Now, stand aside and let us take him, or else—if he dies—it will be your fault. And I will make certain the king knows who is to blame.”
This seemed to intimidate the guard and he backed down. Not questioning them again until Sergei had taken the driver’s seat, Oliver the passenger’s seat, and the rest of them were loading into the van.
“Why are all of you going?”
“Shift change,” said Sergei.
“You have to hold your stations until the next shift arrives,” said the guard, confused. “And that shouldn’t be for a few more hours.”
“I’m in charge of security, and I require the assistance of these men elsewhere for an operation that is classified. And one of them is dying as we speak!” Sergei spoke with absolute confidence and so much authority that Hadriana nearly believed what he was saying. “Now, I want you and the others to guard this entrance until I return with the next shift. After I leave, no one goes in or out. Am I making myself clear, soldier ?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” the guard said. He then looked to the other guards, who, behind their helmets, were no doubt as confused looking as they could possibly be. “You heard him. To your posts!”
That was the last Hadriana heard from the guards, as Sergei closed the window and drove off. As the van sped for the exit, Sergei radioed in for them to open the gate and let the van through immediately, due to a medical emergency. They followed his orders and, by the time they reached the gate, they were able to pass right through, without losing any speed. After that, Sergei really stepped on it, taking the corners as fast as he dared, racing to get to the nearest private skyport.
“I give it five minutes before they realize what’s happened and sound the alarm,” said Sergei. “Once that happens, everything will be on lockdown planet-wide.”
“How far away are we from the skyport?”
“About five minutes,” said Sergei, swerving onto the curb to get around a stalled vehicle, and then with a thud they were back on the road again.
Every new street, every new corner, Hadriana always expected to see flashing emergency lights, or some other government vehicles coming up from behind or blockading them from the front. We have kidnapped the king , she thought to herself, the realization only now dawning. If that isn’t a capital crime, I don’t know what is .
They reached the skyport and Sergei drove right onto the tarmac and into the launch bay, not stopping until they were next to a shuttle. Its engines were prepped and running; true to his word, Sergei seemed to have everything planned out.
They loaded the king into the shuttle and got into it themselves. With a sudden lurch that nearly made Hadriana vomit into her helmet, they lifted off into the air. Once they were high above the city, Hadriana finally saw evidence that they’d been found out. The streets were being blocked off and emergency lights could be seen, like a flood of tiny colors scattered all around the capital. No doubt the ongoing riots had helped tie down government forces long enough to aid their escape.
“There are two small interceptor shuttles launching from the military skyport fifty miles from here,” reported the
“This man is in need of immediate medical assistance,” said Sergei. “Stand aside.” The guard didn’t budge right away, so Sergei pushed him, and the group of them loaded the king into the back of the van.
“What happened?” demanded the guard, following them.
“Rogers fell from the fifth level all the way to the bottom. I need to get him to the hospital.”
“But Rogers isn’t on duty today,” said the guard. “I’m quite sure of it.”
Oh no , thought Hadriana, they’ve got us!
“What is your name, soldier ?” barked Sergei.
“It’s Smith, don’t you recognize me, sir?”
“Smith. Good. I’ll need to know who to reprimand later for being so callous about a comrade’s serious injury. Now, stand aside and let us take him, or else—if he dies—it will be your fault. And I will make certain the king knows who is to blame.”
This seemed to intimidate the guard and he backed down. Not questioning them again until Sergei had taken the driver’s seat, Oliver the passenger’s seat, and the rest of them were loading into the van.
“Why are all of you going?”
“Shift change,” said Sergei.
“You have to hold your stations until the next shift arrives,” said the guard, confused. “And that shouldn’t be for a few more hours.”
“I’m in charge of security, and I require the assistance of these men elsewhere for an operation that is classified. And one of them is dying as we speak!” Sergei spoke with absolute confidence and so much authority that Hadriana nearly believed what he was saying. “Now, I want you and the others to guard this entrance until I return with the next shift. After I leave, no one goes in or out. Am I making myself clear, soldier ?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” the guard said. He then looked to the other guards, who, behind their helmets, were no doubt as confused looking as they could possibly be. “You heard him. To your posts!”
That was the last Hadriana heard from the guards, as Sergei closed the window and drove off. As the van sped for the exit, Sergei radioed in for them to open the gate and let the van through immediately, due to a medical emergency. They followed his orders and, by the time they reached the gate, they were able to pass right through, without losing any speed. After that, Sergei really stepped on it, taking the corners as fast as he dared, racing to get to the nearest private skyport.
“I give it five minutes before they realize what’s happened and sound the alarm,” said Sergei. “Once that happens, everything will be on lockdown planet-wide.”
“How far away are we from the skyport?”
“About five minutes,” said Sergei, swerving onto the curb to get around a stalled vehicle, and then with a thud they were back on the road again.
Every new street, every new corner, Hadriana always expected to see flashing emergency lights, or some other government vehicles coming up from behind or blockading them from the front. We have kidnapped the king , she thought to herself, the realization only now dawning. If that isn’t a capital crime, I don’t know what is .
They reached the skyport and Sergei drove right onto the tarmac and into the launch bay, not stopping until they were next to a shuttle. Its engines were prepped and running; true to his word, Sergei seemed to have everything planned out.
They loaded the king into the shuttle and got into it themselves. With a sudden lurch that nearly made Hadriana vomit into her helmet, they lifted off into the air. Once they were high above the city, Hadriana finally saw evidence that they’d been found out. The streets were being blocked off and emergency lights could be seen, like a flood of tiny colors scattered all around the capital. No doubt the ongoing riots had helped tie down government forces long enough to aid their escape.
“There are two small interceptor shuttles launching from the military skyport fifty miles from here,” reported the
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