Sooner Dead (Gamma World) - Mel Odom [90]
“No. But I knew about him anyway. Who told you?”
“Dr. Trammell. How did you know about the other fractoid if they didn’t tell you?”
Scatter held his hand up level with his face then blew. Fine, silver dust blew off his hand for an instant. Then he made a fist and drew the nanobots back to him. “Dr. Pardot was marked by—”
The screech was so painful that Hella had to cover her ears. “I take it that’s someone you know from your world.”
“We had never met, but I know him, yes. I read his history. He was a very good man.” Scatter paused. “Dr. Pardot is marked by warning nanobots that broadcast a constant stream of information about the deceased as well as the danger declaration. The other fractoid marked him at some point.”
Stampede growled in the back of his throat. “Marker buoys.”
Scatter thought briefly then nodded. “Yes, they serve the same purpose.”
“If no one on your world is violent with anyone else, why would you have something like that?”
“We knew we were not alone in the universe. Even though we had not branched out into space, the people who designed these bodies knew we would need ways to defend ourselves. Knowledge of enemies is paramount. The marking system was simple and direct.”
“And only other fractoids can read it?”
“As far as I am aware, yes.” Scatter reflowed and suddenly stood looking back toward camp. “I should really return. Dr. Pardot sleeps fitfully at best. But I wanted to warn you that they may turn against you.”
“We’d already figured that.”
“I thought you might, but I wanted to let you know you were not alone.”
“Thinking of leaving?” That surprised Hella to a degree.
“I fear I cannot at this juncture.” Scatter hesitated. “There are a number of reasons that I must stay till the other fractoid is found. I still wish to return to my world. I have hopes that Dr. Pardot and Dr. Trammell will at least provide a path for me to follow that will allow me passage.” He paused then stuck out his hand. “I bid you good luck and good hunting. Neither malice nor murder.”
Stampede took the hand and shook it, and Hella did the same. Scatter’s hand was cold and hard, and she felt the familiar tingle of her nanobots acknowledging him.
In the next instant, Scatter turned into a silvery cloud and floated rapidly back down the hill like fog.
“Hella. Wake up. We’ve got company.”
Before she could shrug away from Stampede’s grip on her shoulder and roll over to pull the blanket over her head, Hella heard the thrum of powerful engines rolling through the swamplands. The sound was distant but close enough it had to be investigated, especially since they’d heard nothing but the expedition since they’d entered the wilderness. She slid out from under the covers, grabbed her rifle and slung it over her shoulder, then pulled on her boots.
By that time Stampede was already through the tent flaps.
Hella followed him, taking two steps to every one of his to match his stride.
Riley and his hardshells shifted through the camp as well, taking up positions along the outer perimeters.
“Who is it?” Riley stood encased in his armor.
Stampede waved the handset radio that connected him to the security team at Riley. “Hella and I are going to take a look. We’ll let you know when we know.”
“I can come with—”
“No. You stay here. If I need you, I’ll let you know.” Stampede ran past the man. “Keep everything here locked down tight in case we have to hold a perimeter.”
Ten minutes later Hella sat hunkered down on a bluff overlooking the trail that cut through the Amichi Mountains. The expedition had traveled hard the past two days to reach their present location. They’d also left the trail behind.
Early dawn lay over the land, cloaking the trees and brush in darkness that pooled over the ground and made most of the forest’s features blend. A line of lights ran along the trail, though, winding around the morass of swampland that spotted the forest.
Hella focused her binocs on the riders, knowing from the engine sounds that they were motorcycles and ATVs. She wasn’t surprised