part0028

G eneral Solon strode into the main lab eager for some good news. It had been a few hours since the samples had been taken from Stryder and he wanted to know what progress had been made. He could have contacted the lab from his office but he wanted to see first-hand what was happening. In his long experience he knew that a face-to-face consultation would yield better results from subordinates.

“So how’s it coming, what progress have you made on the samples?” he asked with a sense of urgency that made everyone present sit up and take notice.

“Actually it’s gone quite well. I’ve managed to isolate the genome responsible for...”

“In plain language, please! Have you got a workable serum?” Solon said cutting him dead.

“Well, obviously we would have to do some tests before...”

“Have you got a workable serum or not? Remember Doctor, these men are all volunteers.”

After some hesitation he said, “I can’t sign off on this until I’m sure.”

“Then make sure, you have one hour, then you start injecting the team,” Solon said, and with that he turned on his heel and walked towards the door. He stopped just before leaving, turned and looking at the dumbstruck lab technician and said, “Get to work Doc, the clock is ticking.” He was gone and the door closing behind him emphasised the end of the conversation.

Inside the apartment Joanne Watkiss was sitting on her bed still crying. She had been distraught since the news had come into Col Sec HQ that Stryder had been captured and that the Alliance had got hold of the access codes to the tracking chip in the Neural Implant every Col Sec employee had. The tracking codes were unique to the Delta Recon Marines and had been Col Sec’s ace in the hole.

She knew, of course, how the codes had fallen into the possession of the Alliance, because she had handed them over. She was so distraught that she was considering suicide. She doubted she could face her employer, General Sinclair, who had placed his trust in her. The thought of being sent to a penal colony made her sick to her stomach.

She was contemplating what to do when the call came through.

“Joanne, are you alright? When you didn’t show up for work I was worried.” Temic feigned concern easily, he was a master at deception, having made it part of his job.

She was startled at first, wondering how he knew she hadn’t gone to work, then pleased that he was enquiring about her. She knew he worked for the Alliance, if she had had any doubts before, then his recent actions had destroyed them. She had given him the codes and Stryder had been captured. It didn’t require a degree in Quantum Physics to work out that he had to be responsible. The question now though was what was he doing here, at her apartment?

Not knowing what to do, she replied carefully, saying, “I’m fine, what do you want David?” trying to keep the concern out of her voice.

“I’ve come to see if you’re alright. Can’t a man show concern for his woman now?” Temic replied, hoping that would suffice.

“Yes, of course he can, it’s just that you’ve never called me your woman before and you’ve always kept your distance from my home.”

“Well, I think it’s about time to change that, don’t you? It has been long enough, don’t you think?” he said hoping that she would let him in. He could get in on his own, but he didn’t want to leave any signs of forced entry for when the authorities arrived in a few hours.

Momentarily she allowed her emotions to get the better of her and she operated the lock on the outer door to the stairwell but by then it was too late.

Temic heard the door lock release and he pushed open the door to enter the foyer. In front of him was the stairwell that led up to the third floor where her apartment was located.

It will all be over very soon , he thought as he took the steps two at a time.

MATT HAWK ARRIVED AT the same apartment block just as Temic was half way up the stairs to Watkiss’ apartment. There was a car parked outside the building and he knew instinctively that it belonged to whoever had come to kill her. He got out of his own car and ran to the door. Accessing a secure channel through his NI he said, “Miss Watkiss, my name is Hawk and I’m from Col Sec. I’m here to protect you.”

“Col Sec? Why would you be here to protect me?” she asked, trying to keep up the pretence of innocence.

“I believe you may have handed over data to someone who works for the Alliance, data of a sensitive nature and now that person has come to kill you. I’m here to prevent that from happening,” he replied.

“What do you intend to do, prosecute me?” she asked not denying her crime.

“Let’s talk about that when I’ve got you safely out of there. Your safety is my main priority at the moment,” he replied then added, “Now open the door.”

“I can’t go to prison,” she said, her voice full of fear.

“Trust me; if you don’t let me in that won’t be a problem because you’ll be dead. Now let me in!” Hawk said allowing his voice to rise at the end to emphasise the danger she was in.

She didn’t want to believe him, yet found it impossible not to. She operated the door lock, allowing him entrance to the building.

Hawk ran through the door checking his pistol as he also took the stairs two at a time.

He rapped his knuckles on her door to indicate his arrival, startling her.

“Who is it?” she said before realising she’d spoken.

“Who do you think it is sweet one? It’s me, the man of your dreams,” he said injecting a note of humour into his voice hoping to put her at ease.

“David!” was all she could say. If what Hawk had said was true, and she had almost convinced herself of the validity of his words already, then she had to stall him until he got here.

“Yes, David, who else were you expecting?” Temic replied getting a little testy. He wanted this done and dusted so he could leave for the spaceport. Why was she acting like this? Had someone got to her? If they had, then it added a whole new dimension to the situation, one that he wasn’t too happy about.

He took out his pistol, a Magerov P9, standard issue for Alliance armed forces. It was larger than the Sig P996 but worked on the same principle, delivering a larger shot capability. He pulled back on the slide at the top to prime the battery clip. Selecting full power he rapped on the door once more and said with a bit more force, ”Come on Joanne, open the door.”

Behind the door Joanne Watkiss was beginning to panic, her breathing was getting faster, her pulse rate was quickening and she was beginning to sweat. Accessing her NI she replied to the last call, Hawk .

“You’d better hurry he’s at my door now,” she said not bothering to keep her voice low as panic tightened its grip on her.

Temic heard her through the door and stepped away levelling his pistol at the door lock. His time had run out and his suspicions had just been confirmed. There was someone on the way to help her.

He fired his Magerov P9 at the door lock blasting it apart in a shower of sparks. The door slid open.

Joanne Watkiss stood in the centre of the room her hands bunched into fists near her mouth, abject terror in her eyes as she stared death in the face.

“Hello, Joanne, aren’t you pleased to see me?” Temic said with a snarl across his lips.

She let out a scream as he levelled his Magerov P9 at her in preparation to fire.

HAWK WAS ONE FLIGHT down from them when he heard the door lock explode. Increasing his pace he powered up the last few stairs knowing that if he got there too late he had failed not only Joanne Watkiss, the unwitting pawn in this power play, but Captain Stryder too.

He was not about to let that happen.

The scream alerted him to her plight and he pushed himself to his absolute limit, sprinting up the last few steps. Reaching the top of the landing he saw a man outside a doorway aiming a pistol towards the inside of the room.

He’d already got his own pistol out and primed. If he shot the gunman, he’d lose his chance of finding Stryder; on the other hand he couldn’t allow him to kill a defenceless woman.

Deciding what to do in a flash, he made his move.

Watkiss saw Temic’s finger start to tighten on the trigger and she knew what was about to happen. She had hoped that her saviour would get there in time to help but it seemed that wasn’t to be. She would die there and then in her apartment.

The blast of the pistol going off was as loud as anything she had ever heard. She expected excruciating pain like she’d never felt before, but flinching reflexively as she expected the shot to hit her, she was amazed that she felt nothing.

She glanced up and saw a shower of sparks erupt at the side of the door next to Temic.

Temic was about to fire He had his target in his sights when he heard another shot. The plasma bolt struck the doorway at the side of his head showering him with sparks from the impact.

He turned to see a rather large man standing almost at the top of the landing with a pistol in his hand.

It must be her rescuer.

Turning quickly, Temic dived into the room just as his attacker fired once more.

Hawk fired another shot just to discourage and rattle him. The more he thought about his own safety the less he would think about killing the Watkiss woman.

He still had to get up there quickly though or he’d be too late.

Watkiss had flattened herself against the far wall as Temic came bursting into her room. The gun in his hand looked huge and powerful and the mere sight of it scared the crap out of her.

Temic rolled to his feet then ran farther into the room. He narrowly evaded Watkiss as she dodged out of the way and pressed herself against the wall to his left. He turned to face the door from where his immediate threat would come. Whoever her rescuer was, he would be coming through the door any second and he had to defend himself. The woman could wait until he’d taken care of this fool.

Hawk came storming up the last few stairs his pistol aimed ahead of him in a double-handed grip. He stopped as he had a clear view into the room. Temic was standing there in plain sight, his pistol aimed straight at him. Then he fired.

Hawk dived to the left. The pulsed plasma bolt flew past so close he felt the heat from the blast sear his flesh.

Hitting the floor he went into a roll and came up on one knee, his pistol out in front.

“This is not gonna be easy,” he said to no one in particular.

Knowing time was against him he peered around the doorframe to see the gunman turn towards the woman, his pistol aimed directly at her.

Temic had fired at the hulking brute and was amazed at the reflexes of the huge man. No one should be able to move that fast, especially one so big.

He had to finish what he came for and then he’d take care of the big lummox.

Taking his eyes off the doorway he turned towards his original target and aimed at her head.

He couldn’t miss .

Hawk fired around the side of the door jamb; deliberately aiming high, yet close enough to Temic to put him off what he was doing.

The bolt passed by him so closely it seared the cloth on the shoulder of his jacket. Spinning round just after firing at Watkiss, he aimed his pistol at where he thought the shot had originated.

Hawk dodged back behind the door jamb just as the bolt struck the wall at his side and passing through the open doorway.

Temic howled in fury at not being able to complete his mission and he stormed towards the doorway firing continually in an attempt to destroy the wall Hawk was using as cover.

Hawk had to get back behind the door jamb as fast as he could to evade the plasma bolt shot at him. He knew it had been fired blindly but wasn’t about to take the chance of a random hit. Then the firing started and there was nowhere for him to go.

With each successive shot from the Magerov P9 more of the wall was blasted away along with any cover he might have had at the start. As chunks of masonry were blown apart, holes started to appear, getting closer with each passing second.

He had to do something, but his options were dissipating as rapidly as the wall in front of him.

“I have no idea who you are but you’re going to die right now!” Temic shouted above the sound of gunfire. He continued to fire as he approached the doorway, each shot blasting away more and more of the wall. His next two or three shots would blow away what was left and he would be able to kill his attacker.

Hawk had to do something, he couldn’t let this continue and he wasn’t about to let this asshole get the better of him.

Rolling across the floor and into the doorway he fired his own pistol at the legs of his attacker.

Temic saw him come into view too late to do anything about it. The blast from Hawk’s pistol struck him halfway between his right knee and foot knocking him over as the bottom half of his calf was almost blown away in a shower of blood and tissue.

Hawk continued his roll past the doorway and got to his feet the second he heard his attacker scream in pain. Framed in the doorway he had his pistol trained on the prone form of the Alliance soldier who was holding onto his bleeding leg.

When Temic saw Hawk he pointed his Magerov straight at him.

“Don’t!” commanded Hawk as he aimed his own pistol directly between Temic’s eyes.

It was a standoff. Who would fire first?

BELIEVING IT WAS SAFE her anger got the better of her. Watkiss had watched the exchange in abject terror. The thought that the man she loved had duped her to betray the Confederation and was now here to kill her was all too much. Her anger erupted like a volcano and she rushed at the prone form of her former lover screaming at the top of her lungs.

“How could you, you animal!” she shrieked punching and slapping at him as she fell upon him .

Temic fended off her attack and grabbing hold of her he pulled her down on top of him, one arm around her throat whilst the other held the Magerov to her head.

Hawk saw what was about to happen and was powerless to prevent it.

“Back off or she dies right here and right now!” Temic growled through the pain from his leg.

“Now just hold on. You know I’m not gonna let you out of this room alive if you harm one hair on her head. You know that right?” Hawk said. He kept his pistol centred on Temic’s forehead.

“You aren’t in a position to negotiate. I’m the one with the gun to her head, don’t forget that.”

“I disagree, you have nothing to bargain with. If you kill her then whatever leverage you think you have will be gone. I’m in control here, I have the power to either end your life or allow you to live. If you let her go I’ll let you live, but if you kill her then you’ll be dead one second later.”

“You need me alive for what you think I can tell you about the whereabouts of your Captain Stryder. I know nothing, and even if I did, I’d never tell you.”

“Are you telling me you have no idea where he’s been taken?”

“Why would they tell me, that part of the operation was on a need to know basis?”

“I suppose they kept it from you just in case this happened?”

“You’re not as stupid as you look are you? So you see I am in control. ”

“Wrong,” Hawk said and shot him once in the centre of his forehead. The back of his head exploded backwards in a mist of blood and gore.

Watkiss was released and she screamed as she realised just how close she’d come to being killed.

Hawk accessed a comm channel through his NI and called Gemmell. “Sir, we have a problem,” he said.

“Yes, sir, we’ve got a batch of the serum ready but I can’t guarantee the results, not without the proper testing,” the lab tech replied with a trace of fear in his voice.

“That’s what these boys are here for Doc, for the testing. Now let’s continue shall we?” Solon said as he indicated five soldiers who had followed him into the lab.

The soldiers, having walked into the lab in single file, stood ready for whatever was going to be done to them. They were all hard faced, tough looking young men no more than twenty-five years old.

“Continue Doctor, the Alliance will owe you a great debt of gratitude if these tests are as successful as I hope them to be,” General Solon said as he stood to one side.

The lab tech had readied a series of hypo sprays for immediate use and with the General watching began to administer the serum to the neck of each soldier.

“Good, good. Let me know the second we have some results. Monitor them closely Doctor, your reputation rides on this, as does my career,” Solon said as he turned and left the lab.

The lab tech watched him leave having completed the injections. He hoped they worked too; this was a huge risk. It was not one he would not normally take, especially when it involved someone else’s life. The General though was not the type of person one said “no” to, not if life was something he wished to cling on to.

He turned to the lab tech standing just behind him and said, “Monitor their vital signs closely, the moment we have anything I want to be informed.”

“Yes, Doctor,” replied the tech as he watched his boss walk towards the door.

“I’ll be in my quarters. I just need to lie down for a while,” he said then turned and left the lab.

He’d pondered how to get out of his cell for the last few hours and all he’d come up with was that it was impossible. There was no way he could see of escaping without any weapons.

He would just have to wait until they came for him and hope that a chance arose once he was out of there.

NORSKY WAS IN HIS QUARTERS contemplating the evening meal with Hardy when he was notified of new orders concerning Stryder and her, which would be issued to certain personnel on the base. It was a little bit of a shock even though he had half expected it. They had been listed for termination pending the results of the serum tests to be carried out by General Solon’s personal guard.

The news hit him like a fist in the guts. Hardy was to be terminated! The feelings he felt for her came to the surface making him feel sick at the thought.

What could he do to prevent it happening? Wracking his brains for some solution to this new problem he began to pace up and down his quarters. Nothing seemed to work out of all the scenarios he came up with and each one was discarded with equal rapidity.

There seemed to be nothing he could do to prevent their deaths and then it occurred to him that if he approached the problem from a slightly different angle then he might just come up with something that could work.

The tests would be concluded soon. He had tracked the lab’s progress through a remote monitor and so would have to move soon before the order to terminate was carried out.

The injections had been administered and they were simply waiting for the serum to begin taking effect. From the lab records he knew that would not be long. They must be expecting positive results because more of the serum was to be produced from the blood sample they had taken from Stryder. From this, a batch of replicated blood had been produced so that they had an almost endless supply from which to produce the serum.

Things were progressing quite nicely which could only be regarded as bad news for Stryder and Hardy .

If he was going to do anything, he would have to do it now.

Making a decision fast, he knew once he made his move there would be no going back. What he was contemplating was tantamount to treason and if he went through with it, he would end up a wanted man.

He had to ask, was she worth it? He would lose everything he had worked for, trained for and loved about the Alliance. It would all be lost to him, forever.

There was only one answer he could come up with. He had no idea how it had happened, but he had fallen for this woman, he loved her. He could not stand by and allow her to be killed, even if it meant he would lose everything he had. If he had her at his side then all the rest didn’t matter.

The decision was made; he had to save her.

Foregoing all the plans he had thought of for the night, he left his quarters and headed straight to where he’d left Hardy.

INSIDE HER QUARTERS Hardy had been pacing the small room wondering what she could do. She felt trapped and it was beginning to get to her. Low in her stomach she could feel panic begin to bubble up and threaten to engulf her. It didn’t seem there was anything she could do to escape. Having evaluated her situation she came to the conclusion that she was royally screwed.

After her brief conversation with Stryder her spirits had lifted slightly, but it had been a while now since she’d heard from him and despair was beginning to set in again .

When the door to her quarters suddenly opened she thought Kurt had been as good as his word.

Spinning around to greet him she exclaimed, “Kurt, you c- You!” as she saw who it was.

Norsky couldn’t help but show the hurt he felt as he heard that name, and then as her expression changed, it was like she was turning a knife in his gut.

“No, Miss Hardy I’m afraid I can’t help your friend, but I can help you,” he said quickly entering the room.

“I don’t understand?” she replied as she watched him.

“You will be terminated shortly, you and your friend. I’m here to help you escape,” Norsky explained.

“Good, let’s go get him then, no doubt we haven’t much time,” Hardy said as she made her way past him towards the door.

“Excuse me, didn’t you just hear what I said? I can’t help your friend but I can save you,” Norsky reiterated.

“Well, that’s not good enough, either we all go or we all stay. No, we all go or we all die!” she said stepping up to face him looking him in the eye, her gaze not wavering at all.

“You would die for him, you love him then?” he asked.

“We are both Recon Delta and we don’t leave a fallen comrade behind” she replied evading the question.

“Yes, but do you love him?” he asked again.

There was a pause until finally Hardy said, “That’s none of your business,” watching for his reaction hoping that his feelings for her would outweigh his patriotism.

She readied herself to take action just in case he would not go along with her wishes. Balancing herself lightly on the balls of her feet, she was ready to move in any direction. She waited hoping that he would agree and help her to free Kurt, but if she had to she would attack him and then go to find Kurt on her own.

Norsky was going through hell in his own head. On the one hand, he wanted to get her out of there and out of danger but on the other hand, he was loyal to the Alliance. He had grown up and been nurtured by the Alliance his entire life and if he helped this woman he would be betraying all that he believed in. It was a quandary that seemed to have no answer. How could he choose between that which had nurtured him and the woman he loved? It seemed an impossible choice but he realised it was one he had already made just by standing there. He had chosen the woman he loved.

“Okay, let’s go, we haven’t got much time,” he said.

They walked down the corridor and luckily for them, met no one. When they came to a corner Norsky stopped her and turning to her said, “Wait here, there will be guards outside his room. If they see you they will ask questions.” Hardy nodded her approval and watched as he rounded the corner on his way to Stryder’s cell.

The second Norsky was out of sight she accessed a combat channel through her NI and said, “Kurt, we’re coming to get you out of there. The door will be opened in a moment, be ready to move.”

Stryder heard the call and prepared himself, not questioning the veracity of it for he knew it to be true the moment he recognised the voice. All his senses went into overdrive, ready to move in an instant. His hearing picked up the approach of footsteps. He felt his pulse quicken as adrenalin flooded his bloodstream ready for the upcoming action .

Outside the door two guards stood dressed in battle fatigues with blast-resistant body armour and combat helmets. As Norsky turned the corner and walked towards them they turned to look in his direction eyeing him warily. When they recognised him their stances altered slightly, becoming more relaxed as they saw he was no threat.

“I’ve come to take the prisoner to General Solon’s office; he wants to question him further,” he said amiably.

“We’ll have to check first, sir, you understand,” replied the guard standing to the right of Norsky.

Before he could access the comm channels Norsky struck, slamming the heel of his hand into the throat of the guard to his left then punching the other guard full in the face slamming his head back against the wall. Both guards went down quickly and he opened the door to Stryder’s cell.

“Come on Captain, it seems my loyalties have changed,” Norsky said.

Stryder came at him with surprising speed, his right hand balled into a fist striking him square on the jaw rocking his head backwards with such force he was sent staggering across the corridor to slam into the wall opposite. Norsky was caught completely off guard by the speed of the blow and could do nothing to dodge or block it. His head hit the wall across from Stryder’s cell further adding to the effect of the punch. He slid down to the floor as his eyes rolled up inside their sockets and he was out for the count.

Hardy came around the corner the second she heard the commotion just in time to see Stryder calmly strolling out of his cell. Without turning to look at her he said, “What took you so long?” He knew she was there without the need to look.

“I got caught up in traffic,” she said with a smile beginning to blossom across her full sensuous lips.

He turned to look at her and smiled.

“C’mon, more guards will be coming soon so we need to get the hell outta here. Grab their weapons and let’s go.” He stooped down to retrieve the pistol and assault rifle from the nearest guard while Hardy did the same with the other one.

“Where to now, Kurt?” she asked

“I seem to remember the route we came in by, so all we need do is retrace our steps back to the entrance and the spaceport where we should be able to find our transport off this dump,” Stryder said with complete confidence.

“And what if we meet some opposition en route?” Hardy asked more than a little concerned by the simplicity of his plan.

“Simple, we remove it,” he said as he started to walk off.

“Er, please tell me you’re not planning on us taking on the entire base on our own?” Hardy said catching up with him.

Stryder looked across at her and his smile told her all she needed to know. He was just going to barrel his way through and anyone who got in his way had better watch out.

“Oh shit!” she said. She jacked the slide on the assault rifle to prime the battery clip and was ready to go.

“Have you any idea where we’re going?” she asked as they steadily made their way down the corridor.

“Yes I do, strange but I seem to remember clearly everything from the moment when we arrived,” Stryder answered .

“How do you mean, strange?”

“Well, I wouldn’t normally remember details with this much clarity. I remember every step of the way in here and that’s unusual for me. I’ve normally a good memory but this is like I’ve got double my normal capacity. Normally I’d remember certain details that blend together to give a mental picture that makes the whole, but this is phenomenal! Every single detail is etched into my memory like an engraving, a permanent record of our journey through this base.”

“Well, it should help us find our way out but what good will it be if we meet any resistance?”

“We’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“That could be sooner than you think,” Hardy said as they neared the end of the corridor.

Stryder put his hand up to shoulder height, his fist clenched in a Marine signal to stop the advance. He was using hand signals, which told Hardy they must be quiet so as not to alert the enemy. They both stopped in their tracks and Stryder’s brow knitted as he concentrated. He was listening for something; Hardy realised he was listening for any sounds around the corner out of sight.

Stryder held up two fingers indicating that there were two people approaching from the direction they were headed.

Hardy brought up her assault rifle ready to fire and Stryder did likewise.

NORSKY REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS , saw the two guards he’d taken care of and knew he was in deep trouble. Stryder had got the better of him and was on the loose in the base somewhere. There were two courses of action he could take; the first was to raise the alarm and take his chances with General Solon and the subsequent consequences and the second was to find Stryder himself and carry out the termination order. In that way he might negate the consequences or at least lessen them.

Slowly he got to his feet, a little unsteady with the after effects of the blow from Stryder. Norsky was still trying to decide what to do when a third choice came to him. He could raise the alarm and still go after Stryder himself. With the alarm raised, the base would be closed off and it would make chasing him down a little easier.

With that choice he covered all the bases and kept his ass covered too, the best he could under the circumstances. Accessing his NI he called the base security centre and raised the alarm.

Within seconds the audible alarm was screeching throughout the integral speakers situated throughout the base.

WHEN THE ALARM WENT off Stryder and Hardy looked at each other, an unspoken thought passing between them. They knew the shit had just hit the fan and an almost impossible task had just been made even harder.

Stryder went around the corner fast. There were two guards in front of him. They had stopped as they received instructions on the alarm status over their NIs. Stryder fired his assault rifle on burst fire sending several shots of pulsed plasma into the two unsuspecting soldiers. The energy blasts stitched across the two soldiers chests cutting them open as they were sent flying backwards in a mist of blood. They were dead before they hit the floor.

Hardy was just a step or two behind Stryder unable to match his speed. It was over by the time she reached his side.

“Wow! You don’t take prisoners do you?” she said as she viewed the aftermath of his little action.

“Not got the time here. Things have just got worse,” he replied, concentration knitting his brow as he listened, trying to pick out sounds beneath the strident alarm.

“We’ve got company coming?” Hardy looked both ways down the corridor to see what he meant; when she saw no one she looked at him quizzically.

“Some soldiers are coming at us from both directions. I can’t make out how many, the alarm’s messing with my hearing but I know they’ll be here in less than a minute,” he said when he saw her expression.

“You can hear that, above this noise?” she said incredulously.

“Yes, don’t ask me how but my hearing, along with my other senses, was boosted with the original test and somehow they’ve gone off the chart since being here. Anyway haven’t got time to ponder that now, we have to move.”

“Where do you suggest if they’re coming at us from both sides?” she asked urgently.

“We need a map of this base,” he said stating the obvious.

“What if we try to access the main computer?” Hardy suggested. Stryder thought about it for a second then said, “ Might work, but we’d have to distract them from searching for us, give them something else to think about for a while.”

“What have you got in mind?” Hardy asked hoping he would come up with a plan soon because she had nothing to offer. All her training meant for nothing at that moment, her mind was a blank as panic was beginning to grow inside her.

“First things first,” he said as he strode towards the edge of the corridor. He leaned back against the wall at the edge of the corridor, his assault rifle held high across his chest, and she could tell by the expression of intense concentration on his face that he was listening to the sounds of the approaching soldiers. Suddenly, he strode around the corner, his assault rifle aimed down the corridor and he fired a continuous stream of pulsed plasma bolts which stitched across the soldiers’ chests sending them flying backwards in a mist of expelled blood. If they had been wearing body armour they would have survived the attack, as it was, they only wore regulation uniforms, which were no protection against the high intensity bolts.

Stryder walked down to them to check their vitals and to search for something.

“What’re you looking for?” Hardy asked as she followed him down towards them.

“The security codes for their combat comm channels. If we can access them, we can cause all sorts of mayhem until they realise their system has been compromised,” he replied from his squat position as he checked the fallen soldiers.

Standing to his full height he said, “Nothing, damn!”

“Have you tried accessing the comm channels anyway?” Hardy asked what seemed to her an obvious question. He looked at her as if she had lost a cog, then a thought occurred to him.

“Never thought of that,” he said and concentrating he accessed his NI searching through the comm channels available to him for one that he could use. All this information was downloaded directly to the brain so that it seemed like a thought.

“Any luck?” she asked and with a wave of his hand he quietened her. He probed the channels for one particular channel that would give him the results he required. They were slightly different to those used by the Confederation, similar in most ways but different enough so that any interloper or hacker would be spotted by the security protocols and it was these protocols that he was desperately trying to avoid. The particular channel he was searching for would give him access to all the security personnel on the base and he could direct them to bogus locations and, most importantly, away from them.

A smile suddenly crossed his face, followed by deep lines of concentration across his brow as he connected to the channel he had been searching for.

“All personnel report to the main lab area immediately!” he ordered. Then turning to Hardy with a broad grin on his face said, “Done!” Beads of sweat spotted his forehead, a testament to the fierce concentration and mental effort required to fulfil the task just completed.

“Are you sure?” she asked a little dubiously.

“I’m sure. I’m monitoring the channel so if anyone on the base uses it, I’ll know, just like using our own combat channels when a unit is in action and the members of that unit are linked. I’m now linked to their combat channel with one notable exception,” he explained.

“They don’t know I’m logged in.”

“How is that possible? I thought it was set up so each member of the unit knew where the others were for logistic reasons?”

“Not sure how I’m doing it, I just know that I’m shielding my presence from the others. Don’t knock it; if it works it can only be good for us.”

“That means you have much greater control over your NI than they realise, you must be able to access parts of your brain that were never deemed possible before,” she observed.

“You could be right; it’s a fact that we only use ten per cent of our brain’s capacity so perhaps with the enhancements I can now reach some of that hidden potential. Anyway that debate can wait until we’re outta here. Let’s concentrate on getting to the spaceport and off this planet. Once we’ve done that we still have to navigate our way through Alliance space.”

“Yep; we’ve got to get to the border so Col Sec can come and get us,” she said, which brought a surprised look from him.

“Are you serious? You know the rules; if we get captured we are forgotten. There will be no rescue attempt. They’ll be changing all the security protocols we know in case they sweat them out of us. If they even thought about coming after us where would they start to look? We’re deep in enemy space and any encroachment would cause an interstellar incident that would lead to all out war. Col Sec is not about to put all those lives on the line for two Marines. We know the score, you and me; we are on our own. As much as I hate to admit it, it’s up to us.”

Hardy was taken aback slightly, she had thought about what he’d said, knew the truth of it but had kept some hope alive that if they managed to escape from the base, that there was a chance they could be rescued. It was that glimmer of hope that had kept her going. Now though, that hope had been shattered by his harsh words, words that crushed every last vestige of hope remaining in her and she visibly collapsed from the inside.

Stryder saw it and reached for her placing a hand on her shoulder softly saying, “We’re not dead yet though, I didn’t say we won’t get out of this, I just said we can’t rely on Col Sec to come for us.”

With tears brimming in her eyes she choked back the panic and fear and said “But what can we do?”

“We get the hell off this planet and then find our way home, or at the very least back to Confederation space, the rest will take care of itself.”

She nodded her head slowly as the panic receded, warded off by his confident words.

“Okay,” she said gathering herself again, summoning up reserves of courage even she didn’t know she had. Once more, standing tall and proud, she was ready to continue the fight.