Time War: Invasion by Nick S. Thomas

came from, but with wheeled vehicles, and the quantity of soldiers between us and there, it'll feel a whole lot longer than you think."
    "If you were Villiers, where would you be?"
    Beyett shook his head.
    "Somewhere deep in the heart of Germany. Somewhere far from the risk of attack from the air, and where he can work, develop, and scheme. Perhaps even right by Hitler's side."
    "You think he could have wormed his way into government that easily?"
    "You know what Hitler was always obsessed with? Among other things."
    Corwin shook his head.
    "Wonder weapons. Villiers could have promised him the Earth, and actually delivered on that. I've no doubt he will be up there at the top."
    Corwin shook his head. "We were so close. I had him in my sights, so close to ending it all, and now this. Everything we ever worked for has counted for nothing."
    "No, not nothing," replied Beyett, "All that work has led to us. We are the sole creations and endeavours of the civilised and free world. It is a massive burden to endure, but it is ours to carry."

     

Chapter 5

    The sun was finally going down, and they were all restless and waiting for some sign of the beginnings of an operation. None of them was used to having to lie in wait for anything. Hunter couldn't help but stare at Frasi. The man appeared little older than him, but they were nothing alike. He wanted to follow in Corwin's footsteps with all his heart, and he couldn't see how anyone else wouldn't. Frasi sat on the perimeter of them all, out of talking distance from the rest. Though everyone knew that with his hearing he probably heard everything they said.
    He was alert and on watch all the time. He came across as feral in many ways, barely speaking or interacting with them in any way, and yet his loyalty appeared unflinching. Hunter couldn't resist going over to talk to him and try and glean some sense of his character from him. Frasi didn't turn to look at him, but it was clear he was aware of his approach in his peripheral vision. Hunter knelt down beside him and hoped for some words to come, but they didn't, not from Frasi.
    "You don't like people all that much, do you?"
    "I don't hate people. I just feel better when they aren't around," he replied sternly.
    Hunter was taken aback by the comment and took it as his cue to retreat back to Corwin, who was smiling. He had not heard the words, but could already see in Hunter's face he had been sent packing.
    "Not the most talkative of people, is he?" Hunter asked, sitting down beside Corwin.
    Corwin's smile dissipated as he explained.
    "We found Frasi in some wasteland of a city. There was just nothing left, nothing but him. I don't know how he survived or how long he had been there. He will never say, and I'll never push him."
    Hunter's face turned to stone, realising how inappropriate he had been.
    "But he's one of us? An ape?"
    "Who knows what he is? He's certainly got enhanced abilities from somewhere. When he found us, he tried to steal from us. Just food, and almost got away with it, till Lecia put a shot through him at two hundred metres. We didn't know who or what he was, but clearly he didn't mean us harm. We patched him up and gave him a few days’ rations and went on our way, but he tagged along with us. Stowed away in a box on the back of my DART. Crazy son of a bitch rode in that box for hours. He's not left our side since."
    "So he's not even officially part of the Regiment?"
    "Officially?" Corwin smiled, "Nobody is gonna stir up trouble for a man who chooses to go fight and do everything he can for those around him. Anyway, none of that matters now. We're all strangers lost in a foreign world together. Maybe knowing we all share that same feeling will bring him some peace."
    Corwin instinctively looked down at the pad on his arm once more as he had so many times recently. He wanted some news, some information, but there was nothing. He felt completely blind and deaf to the world without the technology they so