The Between (Earth Exiles Book 3)

By Mark Harritt

Hunted through the mountains, Mike and the team are faced with an unrelenting enemy. In a bid to save the innocents, Mike and his team might have to sacrifice everything, including any chance they might have of making it home. With a growing threat, they face betrayal within and without, and old enemies may become unwilling and unwitting allies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Harritt
• Release date: Jan 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463422632

Mark Harritt

Mark Harritt is currently an over the road Truck Driver who is frequently found at the end of a 400 to 500 mile day trying to peck out one to two thousand words on a new book. He’s an Army paratrooper with a background in intelligence operations. He spent six years in Iraq and Afghanistan, in uniform and out. Currently, his greatest challenges are black ice, lake effect snow, and uploading word documents to E-reader format, all equally treacherous endeavors. His greatest hope is to write stories that his readers enjoy.

Book preview

The Between

This book is the third in the series, Earth Exiles. The first book is

‘On Distant Shores.’

Copyright 2015 Mark Harritt

Table of Contents

Title

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilog

Chapter One

Hollow was the only way he could describe how he felt. Mike sat in the slow transition of dark to light, twilight to dawn, emotionally exhausted, staring at the shattered radio that Rob had been carrying, blood on his hands. He looked at the body and the muddy, bloody ground around it. He was always amazed at how much blood the human body held. He saw it time and time again, people he’d killed, other soldiers who’d died. It was a lot more personal this time. This time it was Rob. They’d survived a lot together, and one stray bullet had taken him from the team.

One stray bullet.

The team had been elated with their success until they realized that Rob had been shot. Rob’s death hit him hard, like a punch in the stomach. He felt ashamed, survivor’s guilt. He had no tears for his friend as he looked at Rob’s unmoving body. He’d lost friends fighting the Sunni and Shia in Iraq, and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Unable to mourn, he wondered if all that death had changed him.

Mike was frustrated, horrified and angered by the turn of events. The ground and trees around Rob didn’t even look like they’d been touched. It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. They hadn’t been expecting a walk in the park but they didn’t think they’d be walking into combat. They’d just wanted to move up into the mountains and find a better place to live, one where they didn’t have to worry about the gigantic predators of the low lands. They’d hoped to establish trade with Matki’s people. Robots and grey men wanted to kill them, and still, Mike didn’t know why they were being targeted.

He knuckled his eyes and then studied Rob’s face. Another father that would never know his child. Mike was so tired of this, lives that had been shattered by war. Michelle would be devastated, especially now, after she and Roberto had made up. That was going to be one tough conversation.

Mickey was inconsolable. His face glistened in the dawning light, wet with tears. He and Rob had been inseparable. They’d been friends and drinking buddies for years, starting in the 82nd Airborne, through to their assignment to the Delta NEST team.

Mickey had been heroic in his efforts to save Rob. He’d applied every trick he’d learned when from his rotations in the Chicago emergency rooms. It just wasn’t enough. If he’d had a twenty-first century hospital to work in, he might have saved Rob. The bullet had nicked an artery, and Rob bled out, going into shock quickly, too quickly for Mickey to save him.

Everett’s voice broke the silence of the night, What do we do now?

Mike raised his head and wearily looked over at Everett, Well, we’ll have to bury him here. If we ever get a chance, we’ll come back for him.

Mickey’s big hands clenched in fists, emotion raw on his face, Dammit, dammit, dammit! He looked up at Mike, We aren’t even supposed to be here! This ain’t our place! What the hell are we doing here? Mike knew that Mickey was talking about the time travel that had dumped them into the future. A freak accident with experimental equipment had sent the team and an entire Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, facility far into the future.

Mike knew that nothing he could say would console Mickey, What can we do, Mickey? We didn’t ask for this, but here we are.

Fuck you, Mike, Mickey’s hands clenched and unclenched. He didn’t say anything else. Mike knew that Mickey was pissed at the world in general, not at him specifically, so he didn’t reply.

Tom came walking back to the group. He hadn’t said a word since Rob died, even more quiet than usual. Mike was worried about him. What the hell could Mike say to Tom, though, with his own lack of reaction to Rob’s death? He knew that people dealt with grief differently. Tom had dropped back into hunter mode. He’d gone out with Matki and some of the tribe members to scope out the landing zone where the grey men had infiltrated into the forest.

Mike looked up at him, What’s up? He was almost surprised when Tom answered him.

Tom shook his head, They were gone by the time we got there. I guess they weren’t expecting the explosions, got antsy and decide to get the hell out of here.

Mike slowly stood up, brushing at the blood stains that covered his uniform. He knew that they were permanent and would never disappear completely. As he stood, Matki appeared out of the brush. Mike looked at him, Matki, you know your tribe can’t stay here, right?

Matki nodded, Yes, the grey men knew right where we are. They know we’re here. We have to leave.

Mike put his hand on his friend’s shoulder, I’m so sorry about this. We brought them here.

Matki shook his head, not willing to allow Mike to take the blame, This is not your fault. I was with you. They tried to kill us with the mechanicals. Then they tried to kill us as we left the old city. And now they’re here, trying to kill us. Matki looked into Mike’s eyes, If they want war, we will give it to them. But first, we need to move our women and children away.

Mike motioned for Matki to follow him. Tom fell in behind them. Mike walked back to the bodies lying in the dirt. The grey men had gone down hard, most of them wiped out by the claymore, and then the follow-on assault with the grenades. The few that had been able tried to get away but had been gunned down or killed with atlatl darts.

Mike walked to one of the corpses. He bent down and picked up the gun that the grey man had carried. He turned to Matki, Well, if you want to fight a war, we have supplies for you. Mike held the grey man’s gun out, Tom, you think you can figure out how this works?

Tom took the weapon from Mike and looked at it, Yeah, I’ll take a look at it. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. Some things are pretty basic.

Mike pointed at Matki, Okay, when you’re done, you need to teach Matki how they work so that he can teach the rest of his tribe.

Mike turned back to Matki, Make sure your tribe doesn’t touch the firearms until Tom takes a look at them. Some of them may be inoperable from the claymore or grenade shrapnel. Once Tom gives you the okay, we can train your tribe members how to use them. They can start stripping the bodies of clothing and other gear, like the knives. He thought about it for a moment, And leave those other things, the ones that look like flashlights, alone until Tom gets a chance to check them out.

He looked at both of them, This has to go quick. The women and children need to start moving before dawn. They can use the cover of night to get as far away from here as possible. Send some of your men with them and send them to a place where you can find them. The rest of your men will catch up after they get all the weapons from the grey men.

Everett and Mickey walked over. What are we going to do, Mike? Everett asked.

Mike looked at his team, We have to do something to draw them off. It will be a slaughter if we don’t. I don’t know how many of them are going to infil this area, but we need to draw their attention away from the women and children.

Matki placed his hand on Mike’s forearm, you won’t be the only ones. I’m staying, and I’ll get a few more to work with us.

Mike shook his head, Matki, you don’t have to do that. Your family needs you.

Mike, you don’t know this area. We do. You need our help, Matki pointed out.

Everett broke in on the conversation, Mike, he’s right. He knows this area, we don’t. We could walk into a box canyon with no way out. We’d be trapped.

Mike cursed, I don’t want to get you caught up in this, Matki. We brought you back so that you could be with your family. I never intended for this to happen.

Tom spoke next, Mike, you need to listen to Matki. We need their help. They know the terrain.

Matki nodded, And, Geonti and Caul know it even better than I do.

Mike was torn. He looked at Mickey, the only one that hadn’t said anything, What do you think?

Most of Mickey’s tears had dried, and he wiped the rest away with his rough, callused hand. His face grew grim, and a growl rumbled up from deep in his chest, I want to kill every last one of them.

Mike nodded, So do I.

He paused and ran his hand through his hair. He had no choice, not if he wanted to save the rest of the team, Okay, first, we need a place to bury Rob where he won’t be disturbed. Then we need to check the new weapons. After that, I’m going to hand out our trade knives to anyone that wants them. They may need them soon. Then, we hand out the spoils of war.

What do you want to do about the grey men? Everett asked.

Strip them, leave them where they are. Maybe their corpses will make the others reconsider, Mike mused.

You really think that?

Mike shook his head, No. I wouldn’t if it was my men. I’d go after who did it with everything I have.

Everett pointed at Mike, How do you want to play this? We can’t go at them head to head.

Mike thought for a moment, Well, I think we’re going to have to play this like the Apaches did. Snipe and move. Hit them when they’re in small groups. We don’t want to slug it out, toe to toe. We don’t want them to fix us in position, because they’ll be able to overrun us. Since we just took out a platoon of their men, they’ll bring in something bigger next time. I want to keep them on edge. We’re going to have to throw in some tricks from the Viet Cong as well.

He spoke to Everett, you’re the explosives guy now. Figure out how much we have and the best way to use it.

He turned to Tom next, same as usual. You’re going to engage them at long distance.

Tom nodded, Okay, I can do that. I think it’s in our best interest to wound instead of kill.

Mike agreed, Yeah, that’s standard Viet Cong tactics. One wounded and his buddies have to take him off the battlefield, taking them out of action as well.

Mike put a hand on Mickey’s shoulder, You need to carry Rob’s ‘203. Tom will have a weapon for standoff engagements, and I need you to carry one as well.

Mickey hesitated, and then nodded.

He turned to Matki, Matki, you’re going to carry Mickey’s rifle. Caul and Geonti get new weapons from the grey men. He hesitated a moment, Matki, we need a remote place to bury Rob. I want to make sure the grey men don’t dig him up.

Matki nodded, I know a quiet place. They will never find him there.

Mike looked at the team, I know we don’t want to do this, but we have to leave him here, at least for a little while.

Mickey shrugged, emotions warring across his face, It’s not like we have a dust-off to take him home. Let’s get started.

Mike turned to Matki, You need to get the families moving.

He turned and walked back to Rob’s body, studied his quiet, pale face, and then looked back at the team, Okay, let’s get moving. We have a war to fight. I want payback.

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Russell Landberg was walking through the tunnels when he saw Joan and Michelle talking. Immediately, his hackles rose. He hated those stuck-up bitches. He hated most of the women here, but the team whores were the worst. Still, for now, he kept his feelings to himself.

As he walked toward them, he noticed that Michelle looked upset. Joan was trying to console her.

Joan put her hand on Michelle’s shoulder, Look, you don’t have to worry. They know what they’re doing. If anyone stands a chance, it’s Rob and the team. You know they’re the best at what they do.

Michelle nodded, but Russell could see that Joan’s words weren’t having the desired effect. Something was definitely wrong. He didn’t like them, but information was always important and acquiring information had helped him survive political infighting among the staff on old Earth. He put on his best face on to conceal how he really felt and walked over, Hey, is there anything I can do to help? Is something wrong?

Joan looked at Russell. She hesitated for a moment, not quite willing to confide in him. Then she shook her head, No, it’s okay. It’s just that it’s been a few days since we heard anything from the team.

He smiled at them, Well, they’ll be okay. They’re pretty well trained. Besides, it’s not like they’re down here fighting dragons. Hopefully, it’s not that dangerous up in the mountains.

Once again, Joan looked conflicted, Well, they’ve run into some trouble.

Russell let a concerned look play across his face, Really? What’s going on?

Michelle suddenly started crying again. Joan put her arm around Michelle’s shoulder and turned her towards the women’s rooms. As she walked, she smiled at him over her shoulder, I’ll tell you later Russell. We need to be going.

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble, he called after them.

Joan didn’t turn around, waving a hand at him over her shoulder

The look of concern dropped from Russell’s face, replaced by a sneer. Personally, he could give a damn about the team. He was so tired of everyone kissing the team’s collective ass. Russell couldn’t stand them. Plus, every damn woman here wanted to jump in the sack with them. He couldn’t get any action at all. Women he’d known for years just pretended he didn’t exist. It damn well pissed him off. He didn’t like the idea of spending the rest of his life not getting laid.

With luck, the team was dead already. Of course, if that happened, it didn’t necessarily mean that one of the women would be his. There were still too many men in the compound. Some of them were older, but the odds weren’t exactly in his favor. The old guys like Humpreys didn’t matter of course, but there was still a lot of competition. Too bad there wasn’t a way to even the odds.

Russell turned and started walking, and then, started thinking. He pondered the future and started running scenarios in his head. He thought about ways to take care of some of the competition. As he walked, ideas started coming to him. There might be a way, but he would need some help. He wasn’t the only one in the compound that didn’t have a girlfriend.

Some of the other guys were a little more vocal about the fact that there weren’t enough women to go around. Some of them were pretty upset about it. One of them worked security. Russell knew that there was no way he could take advantage of the situation by himself. If he could get a few others on his side though, there just might be a way that he could take advantage of the team’s absence.

In fact, if he did it right, even if the team survived and made it back, they might be too late. If Russell could take over before they came back, there would be nothing the team could do. The mechs were still in the compound. The team couldn’t fight the mechs. The team might survive what they found in the mountains, but they would have a hell of a surprise when they got back. Russell started whistling while he walked, deep in thought, and started making a list of men that he might be able to use.

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Dappled sun created a checkerboard of shadow and light across the pine needles on the ground. The trees at the back of the compound that masked the box canyons swayed slowly in the breeze. Birds twittered as they flitted from tree to tree and bushy tailed rodents ran around trying to find nuts to hoard. It was times like this that Jennifer could almost imagine that she was back home on old Earth. If she could just stay in these trees, she could almost imagine the horrors of the past year hadn’t happened.

There was so much to do. They had to find more food. The engineers and fabricators were trying to create elevators to lift everything to the top of the cliff. It looked like the Ancient was sniffing around the valley again. God alone knew what that demented dragon had in mind for the future. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good for the compound.

She tried to clear her mind. When things became too complicated, she liked to come out here to walk and be alone for just a little while. Back on the wall and in the tunnels, there was always someone around. She just needed a little time alone, to recharge her batteries and think about the world.

It was hard to enjoy her surroundings today, though. Her thoughts continually went back to Mike. Their time together had been too short before he left. Now, she was worried about what she’d heard, the running fight with the robots and the grey men. At least here in the compound, with the wall and the mechs, they were somewhat safe. Out there, or, more precisely, up there, in the mountains, Mike and the team were fighting a war. To make things worse, nobody from the team had called in recently. She was worried and would continue to worry until she heard from Mike again.

She sighed. This world was intense, with its giant predators, and now, robots and grey men. They had the dragons to contend with, and now, it seemed like they were going to be at perpetual war on this world. They just needed a place to go, a place where they could isolate themselves from the predators, and hopefully figure out the future.

Hey, El Tee.

Jennifer jumped. She wasn’t expecting anyone out here. She peered through the trees and saw Joseph sitting on an old tree trunk lying on the ground.

What are you doing out here, Joseph?

Joseph smiled. He had a small stick that he was turning over in his hands, Nothin’ much, just thought I’d come out here and hang out for a bit.

Jennifer’s tension eased a little. She didn’t relax completely, though. For some reason she couldn’t explain, deep down, she didn’t trust Joseph. There was something about him, a hidden quality that made her uneasy.

On the surface, Joseph was an okay guy. He was very easy to look at. Back on old Earth, he’d had women lined up to go out with him. Still, he wasn’t her type. He wasn’t the smartest guy. He was a pretty face with a good body, but there was no depth there. Not much of a deep thinker, and kind of shallow emotionally. Not a guy that she would ever be interested in. Not that she would have contemplated it back then, because he was enlisted and she had been an officer.

Joseph stood up slowly, and stretched, showing his physique. He didn’t have his uniform blouse on, just the t-shirt. A lazy smile played on his face, and he walked over to a tree between them, lifting his arms to put his hands on a branch. He leaned forward, smiling. The muscles on his torso strained the thin fabric of the t-shirt.

Jennifer quickly became uncomfortable with the display, and she crossed her arms. She suddenly realized that there wasn’t anyone else around and that they were alone. She had her pistol holstered on her belt, but that didn’t assuage the uneasy feeling she had. Unconsciously, she stepped back a few feet. She saw something change in the demeanor of his expression. His eyes narrowed, and the smile changed slightly, as if a mask had dropped away.

Now, El Tee, there’s no reason to be like that, he said, softly.

Like what, Jennifer asked, challenging him.

You don’t look so friendly now, he answered.

I’m not used to being surprised in the woods. There’s rarely anyone out here. I came out here to be alone, Jennifer put the emphasis on alone.

Joseph’s voice was still soft and low as he spoke, Why, Jennifer, that’s just not friendly at all.

She didn’t like the intimate way he said her name.

Joseph, I don’t know what you’re doing, or what you’re thinking, but I’m a married woman.

He nodded, Yeah, I know, to Mike. That’s B.S., though. Can’t get married out here, ain’t no preachers.

Jennifer was confused by this statement, but she gained courage when he spoke Mike’s name out loud, Mike wouldn’t like it if he saw you out here like this with me.

A lazy smile played across Joseph’s face, Like what El Tee? We just out here talkin’. Nothin’ wrong with talkin’, is there?

She didn’t like what she saw in his face. The smile didn’t extend to Joseph’s eyes. She was reminded of a snake sizing up prey. She decided it was time to leave, Joseph, I’m going back to the compound.

His arms came down from the branch, and he spread his hands wide in a conciliatory gesture, Sure, El Tee, no problem. You’re free to do what you want to do. He put emphasis on the word ‘free.’

For some reason that she couldn’t quite put her finger on, that phrasing was odd to Jennifer, but she didn’t care as long as she was able to walk away. She stepped back a few more steps, put the bole of a tree between him and her, and then turned to walk away. She listened for the sound of footsteps, but she didn’t hear any. She made a beeline for the clearing, to get out of the woods as quickly as possible.

Well, she wouldn’t be doing that again. Joseph didn’t openly do or say anything that was threatening, but she wouldn’t be walking by herself out here anymore. She walked out into the sunshine of the open clearing, thinking about what Joseph had just said, wondering why she was so uneasy about it.

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Om Varee sighed as fingers dug into his shoulders. He reached over and picked up a glass of iced wine. He sipped the liquid and felt the coolness spread down his throat and into his chest. He reached up and slipped his fingers in between those of his masseuse.

You are divine, He whispered to her.

Of course, I am. That’s why you married me, Jhani replied.

I believe he married you for more than just your skills as a masseuse, Jhani.

Om Varee looked over at his first wife, Mara’a. She rose from the dark leather chair she’d been sitting in and walked over. She walked behind Jhani, and then around her, placing one finger on Jhani’s right hand, tracing from the hand, up the arm, across her shoulders, and down the other arm to rest lightly on the hands of Om Varee and Jhani.

The difference between the two was striking. Mara’a was tall, lean and elegant, her waist length black hair a dark curtain that did nothing to hide her sensual figure. Jhani was shorter, athletic, a compact bundle of muscle and intense energy. Her light brown hair was cut short