Have Mercy (Project Alpha, Book Two)

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An
Excerpt From: HAVE MERCY

Copyright © N.J. WALTERS, 2009

All
Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter
One

Earth
2133

Logan hunkered down behind the metal skeleton of some
sort of vehicle, an ancient relic of a bygone era. The rusted remains didn't
give him much protection, but it was better than nothing. He stared at the
building in front of him and swore under his breath. Someone had found his
current hideaway.

He
had a dozen of them scattered across the outer city. It was inevitable, of
course, that someone would stumble across one of them. Not only was the
security police searching for him, but the outer city was also populated
with bands of people who lived and survived in this desolate place. Sure,
someone was bound to find one of his safe places eventually. That didn't
mean he had to like it.

He let
his eyes glide over the surrounding area. It wasn't an inspiring sight.
Wars, natural disasters and disease had transformed the planet more than a
hundred years ago. When the dust settled, the world was left divided into
two sections. The rich and privileged lived inside the Gate--a high-tech
shield that protected the enclosed city from contamination from the
outside. It was climate controlled and almost impenetrable--the ruling class
lived inside the safe confines. Everyone else resided in the outer city in
poverty, filth, disease and lawlessness.

He'd
lived inside the Gate up until a few months ago, a living experiment of the
Piedmont Corporation and the Ruling Council. He was an Alpha. More
precisely, he was Alpha Two. He'd been hatched in a lab and brought up under
the tutelage of scientists whose goal was to make him strong and impervious
to pain. Thanks to genetic enhancements, his senses were more acute than a
normal man's, his reflexes faster, his body stronger, faster to heal. A microcomputer,
which was part of his brain, allowed him to learn at an incredible speed,
to calculate odds and make decisions in the blink of an eye.

In
short, he'd been bred to be the perfect assassin, a killing machine with no
equal. Intelligent, ruthless and adaptable, Logan, and the other Alphas,
had been a weapon of the Ruling Council.

But
then things had started to go wrong.

The
microcomputer in his brain, which was supposed to allow the scientists at
the Piedmont Corporation to manipulate him, had come under Logan's control.
It hadn't happened all at once but was a slow process. It had taken him
years of constant practice to finally gain complete command of his own
mind.

Logan
was an Alpha, which meant he didn't take orders well. In a world divided
and constantly at war, he'd become a liability, a very dangerous one.

Orders
had come down from General Caruthers--the bastard who'd controlled his
actions for years, sending him out to assassinate political enemies and
those who spoke up against his power--the Alpha Project was to be
terminated. That meant he and the other remaining Alpha, Tienan, were slated to be destroyed.

It
would have happened too, if not for the help of Kathryn Piedmont. A
brilliant scientist and daughter of one of his enemies, Kathryn had treated
him with respect and kindness. For the first time in his life, he'd felt
like a real person. She'd risked her life to save both him and Tienan.

He'd
loved Kathryn, in his own way, drawn to her kindness and inner beauty. He'd
made love with her one memorable night, but they were not to be. Still,
that night had left him with a yearning to have a woman of his own. Someone
to love him. Someone he could love and trust in return.

It was
naught but a fantasy. His path was one of death and destruction.

He and
Tienan had chosen to fight against the injustice.
Their goal was simple--Destroy the Piedmont Corporation and bring down the
Ruling Council and the Gate. No small task, but one to which they were both
dedicated. There was nothing else for them. They had no home, no family.
They knew no other life than fighting and killing.

He
missed Tienan. As a rule, Alphas didn't get along
well with other Alphas. They were bred to be leaders, not followers, and
they often clashed when put together for long periods of time. The
scientists at the lab had kept them separated for the most part. He hadn't
even met another Alpha until he'd reached his teens. By then he was much
too strong and too advanced to train with even the most elite members of
the security force. That's when he'd met Tienan.

They
were the same height but Tienan was leaner than
he was. Prettier too, or so Logan had liked to tease him. Tienan had dark hair, olive skin and classic good
looks. Logan had blond hair, blue eyes and fair skin, his features best
described as craggy.

They'd
become sparring partners and then friends. He might not officially have any
family, but Tienan was his brother. Over the
years they'd sweat and bled together. Finally, they'd escaped together.

For
safety's sake, they'd split up once they were in the outer city, meeting
once every week at a predetermined location. Tienan
hadn't made the last check-in and Logan was worried.

Now
this.

As he
watched, Logan spied several men moving around inside the building he'd
chosen as his own. He had supplies stored in there that he didn't want to
lose. Food, weapons, blankets and other necessities were scarce. His eyes
narrowed as he left the relative protection of his hiding spot and crept
closer. Giving his enhanced senses full rein, he surveyed the area. He
could hear the intruders rummaging around and talking to one another.

The
stench of unwashed bodies and garbage assailed his nostrils. That was one
of the drawbacks of having an acute sense of smell. He blocked out the
unpleasant odors and concentrated on his uninvited guests. They seemed to
be a random group who'd just happened to stumble on this place. His bad
luck.

Sliding
his hand into his pocket, he drew out a piece of chalk and drew a large X
on the side of the building. It was a signal to Tienan
that this place had been compromised. Slipping the chalk back into his coat
pocket, he turned his back on the building and headed to another one of his
safe places. He'd come back in a day or two and see what supplies, if any,
were left. With any luck, they wouldn't find everything he'd stashed away.

He was
close to the Gate and had to be extra cautious moving through the streets
and alleyways. There had been a lot of activity these past few days. Much
more than usual. With Tienan missing the
scheduled rendezvous, Logan was concerned. He figured Tienan
must still be alive or the security force would have decreased their
patrols instead of increasing them.

It was
time to lie low for a few days. Decision made, Logan shouldered his pack
and loped down a deserted alley, heading away from the Gate and the inner
city. It was a good time to explore the north edge of the outer city. He
hadn't been there yet.

Ever
cautious and aware, he sank back into the shadows as several groups of
people hurried through the streets, carrying all their possessions and
pushing wagons. Probably on the run from the damn security police. He'd
seen this particular scene played out many times in the past months and it
never got any easier to watch.

Sure,
there were criminals roaming the outer city. He'd come across men who would
kill their own mothers for a crust of bread or gut a man for the boots on
his feet. But there were honest folks too. People with families and
children who were just trying to survive as best they could. It was for
them Logan fought. And if he happened to eliminate a few of the nastier
criminals along the way...well, he wasn't going to lose any sleep over it.

Making
his way to another one of his nearby hideouts, he stuffed some extra food and
clothing in his pack, secured a roll of blankets to his back and headed
north. He walked all day, stopping only occasionally to drink from his
canteen. His stomach growled, a stark reminder that he hadn't eaten since
early this morning.

He
glanced up at the sky. The sun was sinking and would set within an hour. He'd
find a safe place to spend the night and then he'd eat. He took a moment
and simply enjoyed the feel of the light breeze against his cheeks. After
spending most of his life imprisoned in the sterile environment of the lab,
Logan reveled in every sight, touch, taste, sound and scent. Being in the
outside world was still a delight to his senses. Even after several months.

The
air was thicker here, not as clean. The world was darker, the city often
covered in a combination of smog and fog. Sometimes it settled low and
stayed for days. Then it would lift and the sun would shine.

Logan
loved the sunshine. He could lie on an abandoned rooftop for hours, soaking
in the warm rays. He'd gotten a sunburn the first
time he'd done it. Thankfully with his healing abilities, his skin had been
back to normal the next morning. Since then, he'd been a bit more cautious,
but he couldn't resist the lure of the sun.

Then
there was the sunset. When the sky was clear and the sun sank in the
evening, the horizon would turn various shades of orange and yellow and
sometimes red. It was spectacular. He'd never seen a sunset until a few
months ago. Intellectually, he knew what it was, had learned about it while
locked away inside the lab, but he'd never experienced the splendor in
person.

He'd
take the rough danger of the outer city over the pristine world inside the
Gate any day. Out here, life was precarious but he was free. Inside the
Gate, the Ruling Council and the General controlled everything. Sure, the
air was pure and there was ample food and clean water, but it came at a
cost.

The
hair on the back of his neck stood up. Logan immediately sank into the
shadows, crouched low and studied his surroundings. Burned-out buildings
and tumbled-down houses sat side by side with empty lots of cracked
pavement. He heard the faint scuff of a boot. Then another. Someone was out
there.

Then
he heard the metallic clink of metal on metal and the familiar sound of a
gun being cocked. Logan didn't move, barely breathed as his mind quickly
calculated his best escape routes and his chances of survival. As the
seconds ticked by, he was able to make out more sounds. This was more than
one or two men with antique hunting rifles or guns they'd liberated from
security patrols.

His
suspicions were confirmed when he caught a glimpse of several uniformed men
skulking through the empty lot in front of him. Security police. Caruthers'
men. An entire unit from the look of things.

He had
to move. And fast. If he stayed where he was there was no way they'd miss
him. His brain quickly calculated the best route for him to take. Without
further thought, he exploded from his hiding space and raced toward an
alley. Darkness was falling fast, which was in his favor. He'd almost made
it to the opening of the alley when a shout rang out.

"Over
there!"

Logan
pushed harder as gunfire erupted around him. Bullets pinged off the brick
building beside him. He felt a sharp sting in his arm and another in his
leg. Ignoring the pain, he dug deeper, finding a reserve of energy, using
the burst of adrenaline rushing through his body to force himself to push
on. If he stopped he was dead.

Or
worse.

If
they captured him alive he could look forward to days, weeks or even months
of torture at the hands of General Caruthers. His and Tienan's
escape had been a slap in the face to the General. You didn't cross him and
live. He'd want to make Logan an example to all his enemies.

Footsteps
pounded behind him. Something hit him high and hard in the back. He
stumbled, but picked himself up and kept going. Blood was pouring down his
leg and arm. He ignored it. There was no time to stop.

He
breathed as slow and deep as possible as he ran, pushing himself as hard as
he could. His lungs burned. His heart pounded. Sweat coated his body,
soaking through his clothing. He ignored all discomfort. Survival was all
that mattered. He glanced at the buildings as he flew by them, checking his
location on the run. Turning sharply, he got back on course, heading north.

He had
no idea what was up that way, but the security police rarely ventured too
far from the inner city. Even for them, the outer city was a dangerous
place at night. As if in answer to his pleas, the sun finally sank below
the horizon.

Logan
now had the advantage. Even in the growing gloom, with his superior
eyesight, he could see where he was going. The security police could not.
Ignoring the pain in his limbs and the fatigue pulling at him, he kept
going, dodging in and out of buildings and down streets and alleyways. He
needed to find somewhere safe to hide so he could tend to his injuries.

As he
ran, the night began to blur around him. Sweat beaded on his forehead,
rolling down his temples. The salt made his eyes sting. He blinked, but the
world didn't get any clearer. His brain knew he was close to passing out.
His body wouldn't quit.

He
could no longer hear any footsteps behind him. Logan sighed with relief and
that second of inattention made him stumble. He barely caught himself
before he ended up facedown on the ground. It was
getting hard to stand with each passing minute. His left leg was weak and
threatened to buckle beneath his weight.

Dragging
himself a few more steps, he stumbled again. This time he couldn't catch
himself in time. The ground rose up to meet him as he slammed forward. Pain
shot through him, making it hard to focus. He clenched his teeth, breathing
through the worst of it.

He
noted somewhat clinically that he was cold, his body wet with a combination
of sweat and blood. Logan was weaker than he'd ever been in his life. He
was a phenomenally fast healer, but even he couldn't survive if he lost too
much blood.

Digging
his good hand into the ground, he pulled his body forward. The remains of
an old shed were a few feet away. He had to get there. If he stayed out in
the open, he was dead. Of course, he was leaving a trail of blood behind
him that even a blind man could read. But even the less-than-perfect
protection of the dilapidated shed was infinitely better than passing out
on the side of road.

Concentrating
all his energy, he pushed onward. It felt like hours had passed when he
finally dragged his body behind the dubious shelter of the shed wall.
Sighing with relief, he laid his head on the ground. He'd rest for a minute
and then tend to his wounds.

Voices
woke him.

"Is he
dead?"

"I don't
know."

Logan
felt someone nudge his leg.

"There's
an awful lot of blood." The first speaker sounded like a young boy.

"Mercy."
The second speaker sounded a bit older, also male. Logan wanted to tell him
that there was no such thing as mercy. Not in his world.

He
must have passed out again. When he woke this time, he was no longer on the
ground. The air around him was warm, not cold and dank. He kept his eyes
closed as he listened, trying to get an idea of where he was. A fire
crackled nearby, adding the aroma of wood smoke to the pleasant smell of
cooked meat.

The
longer he was awake, the more aware of his surroundings he became. He was
lying on something soft and he was totally naked but for the blanket
covering him. He was also strapped down, his wrists and ankles anchored to
whatever he was lying on. His left arm and leg ached, but he ignored the
discomfort, concentrating on trying to figure out where the hell he was.

He
opened his eyes a crack and stared up at a wooden ceiling. He was obviously
a prisoner, but of who? And where was he?

Letting
his eyelids fall closed again, he racked his brain, trying to stir his
memory. The last thing he remembered was the sound of two young men talking
about him. He had a vague memory of soft hands and an even softer voice. A
woman?

Frowning,
he tried to shift his position. His back throbbed, more of a dull ache than
an acute pain, and he remembered a bullet catching him high on his
shoulder. He frowned, wishing he could flex his muscles to find out just
how bad the damage was. He didn't think it was too serious, but it was impossible
to tell for sure strapped down to a bed.

The
air in the room shifted. He felt someone moving toward him, heard the light
shuffle of shoes against the floor. A sweet scent tickled his nose. He
tried to place it but couldn't. A hand rested on his forehead. It was soft,
feminine and...familiar.

His
cock stirred, a sure sign that he was no longer
looking death in the face. He yearned to push his face closer toward her
hand, to feel her touch on his forehead, his chest and much lower. His
erection pulsed in agreement. Curiosity got the better of caution and Logan
opened his eyes and stared into the face of his captor.

He was
wrong. He'd died and gone to heaven. A blonde-haired angel with pale blue
eyes smiled down at him.

Then
his angel spoke. "Good. You're finally awake."