6

S tryder followed Tchercovic through the hatch. He saw him go through the outer hatch into the walkway umbilical that led to his ship, when suddenly the station’s alarms went silent.

Startled by the sudden quiet Tchercovic spun around and saw Stryder standing there, large as life in spite of having been shot twice.

Stryder’s NI tingled and he said, “Kind of busy right now.”

Sinclair’s voice came through clear, as he said, “We’ve managed to regain control of the computer and reversed the reactor from going critical. You just need to retrieve the project data now.”

“I’m on it, sir,” Stryder replied. He smiled because some of the pressure was off, although his task was still far from easy. He was still facing a determined, armed enemy with no means of defending himself. It could get interesting.

“I had no doubt that you would be able to crack my code, although I never thought you’d have had the time,” Tchercovic said, bringing up the Sig P996 to point directly at Stryder. “No matter, I’ve got what I need, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me,” he added .

“You’ve shot me twice Howard, and I’m still here, so there seems to be nothing you can do to stop me,” Stryder replied.

“Is that a fact? Perhaps a headshot might stop you. It should at least slow you down enough so I can reach my ship,” Tchercovic said as he aimed the Sig carefully at Stryder’s head.

The walkway umbilical was basically a tunnel. It was large enough for the loader to transport cargo from the docking bay to a waiting ship, or vice versa, but a tunnel nonetheless. There was effectively, nowhere for him to hide.

It had already been proven that he couldn’t dodge the plasma bolts, so he knew he was in trouble.

His only chance lay in the fact that Tchercovic had said he would try for a head shot, the most difficult shot to make with a moving target. Even a marksman would find it tricky, as it was the smallest target to hit, so he planned to make it even more difficult for him.

Seeing it as his only option, he adopted a fighter’s stance. Dancing from one foot to the other, his weight evenly distributed as he balanced lightly on the balls of his feet he began to bob and weave. He moved up and down, then left and right, presenting a frustratingly elusive target. Then he started to approach the Black Knight.

Tchercovic saw what Stryder was trying to do, so he fired.

His first shot missed, the plasma bolt searing the hair on Stryder’s head as it passed harmlessly on the left. He fired again, more carefully this time and again it missed.

Stryder was getting closer with every shot; soon he would be within arm’s reach. He had to stop him .

He fired again and again as he began to allow panic to set in. His aim became more and more erratic, and then finally, his battery clip was empty.

In desperation he threw the useless weapon the fifteen or so feet now separating them. Deftly Stryder caught the Sig in his right hand and tossed it straight back catching Tchercovic full in the face.

Stryder closed the distance between them before the Black Knight had recovered from the blow.

Stryder grabbed him by the front of his shirt then delivered a thunderous right punch, hitting him flush in the face. As his nose broke blood spurted out, cascading over his face and, for good measure, Stryder hit him again.

Releasing his grip, Stryder allowed him to fall to the floor stunned.

Quickly he searched his prone form and found the data card that was loaded with everything from the project. Getting up, he started to walk back towards the hatch.

Tchercovic began to revive and saw Stryder walking away. He knew he must have the data card and, seeing his Sig within reach, took his chance.

Picking up the fallen weapon and ejecting the spent battery clip, he inserted a fresh one from his back pocket and then pulled back on the slide to prime the clip. This gave him another twenty shots, which would be more than enough for what he needed.

Getting to his feet he prepared to shoot Stryder in the back .

Stryder heard the battery clip being ejected and another rammed up into the grip of the Sig. Then he heard someone shout, “DOWN!”

As Stryder dived for the floor a high energy plasma bolt shot over his head and struck Tchercovic full in the chest, throwing him several metres back towards the outer hatch on the walkway umbilical. Blood from his wound traced an arc through the air.

Stryder looked up and saw the Marine standing in the doorway of the hatch sighting down the barrel of his assault rifle. As he brought the weapon down he looked at Stryder and smiled.

“The alarms went silent, which meant we were out of danger from the reactor core going critical and you were walking from him holding a data card. I assumed it safe to say you didn’t need him alive any more. Was I right?” he said, his smile fading slightly.

Getting to his feet Stryder smiled and said, “You were right, and thanks.”

“Stryder to General Sinclair, the data card has been retrieved and Howard is dead, sir,” he said using his NI.

“Good work Captain, bring the data card here and I’ll debrief you.”

“Sir, can the debrief wait? I’d like to get back to bed,” Stryder said.

Laughing, Sinclair said, “Okay Captain, I think you’ve earned it. See you at o eight hundred.”

Stryder looked at the Marine. “I’m bushed. Hey, I never got your name.”

“Captain Storm sir, call sign Guardian,” said the Marine .

“Guardian?” Stryder enquired.

“Yes sir, my men gave it to me, said it was because I always looked out for them,” Storm told him.

“Well, I can certainly vouch for that. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a pillow on my bunk that’s got my name on it,” Stryder said as he led the way out of the docking bay.