image
image
image

Twenty-one

image

Agent Denton arrived at the hotel and set a box of Kevlar bulletproof vests down on the hotel table.  He left the room and returned to the parking lot.

Carpenter reluctantly handed a bulletproof vest to Daniel, Lydia, Johanna, and Lucas.  He said, “I suppose there’s nothing I can do to talk any of you out of this?”

“No,” Daniel said.  “We survived worse in Pittsburgh.  We worked best as a team.”

Carpenter shook his head and finally, he handed the last vest to Nancy.  “I still don’t see the point in taking Nancy along with you.  She’s still a child in my eyes.”

Lucas slipped his vest on.  “She’ll go with me by boat.  We’ll re-enter the cave.  When we find Helmsby, she can lead him back to the dock.  I want them safely out of TransGenCorp before the meltdown process begins.”

Carpenter looked at his watch.  “The sniper team is already in position.  We should reach the gates in thirty minutes.”

“Good.” Daniel said.  “Make sure we get through the front doors before the snipers fire a single shot.  And by all means, don’t let the outside guards circle in behind us.”

“I will definitely alert the SWAT commander.  National Guard units are positioned two blocks away.  They will move on my signal.”

Denton entered the room with another box.  He placed it on the table.

“Kat,” Carpenter said.  “Distribute the ear mike receivers to them.  You’re automatically linked to us with these.  We can hear you and give you instructions if necessary.”

Kat took Julia aside and said, “Gil will stay here with you and Felicia to make sure no one comes through the door.  We’ll have more agents posted outside.  Use the radio to contact us if necessary.”

Julia nodded.  “Thanks.”

Carpenter said, “Tyler, you and Kat can drive Nancy and Lucas back to the marina.”

“Sir,” Tyler said.  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to ride with Agent Denton.”

Carpenter glanced at Kat.  She looked shaken about his request.  He nodded.  “Okay, fine by me.  Kat, you and I will drive them.”

Kat forced a smile.  “Okay, sure.”

***

image

Idris met Benson at the genetic soldier incubation chambers.  Idris stared at one of the glass cases.  He said, “How about we put these soldiers to the test?”

Benson’s eyebrows rose in question.  “What do you mean?”

“I have arranged for Daniel and the others to meet with Dr. Helmsby.  I need some of these men brought out of incubation so we can test their prowess.”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

Idris’ eyes narrowed.  “Why?  They’re fully developed.”

Benson sighed and shook his head.  “Their bodies are fully developed.  Not their brains.  Not their minds.  You can’t rush the development of a neurological organ like the brain without risking cataclysmic malfunctions or abnormalities that could induce permanent comatose victims.  It takes weeks, perhaps months, of mental conditioning to program their memories, instincts, and military tactics.”

“So out of all the men we’ve created, you’re telling me that none of the one hundred forty men are usable yet?”

“We have six out of chamber that are currently undergoing Phase III mental expansion.”

“Good.  Suit them up and tell me when they’re ready.”

“Sir, I must warn you.  They’re far less prepared than the one the cat killed.”

“The cat was a shifter.”

“True, but it was also an animal he’d never seen before.  His curiosity probably helped get him killed.  Why not bring in some outside guards to comb the halls?”

“Can the six men fire a weapon?”

Benson nodded.  “Yes, of course.  With remarkable accuracy.”

“Then that’s all I’m interested in.  It’s enough.”

“But why?”

Idris smiled.  “They’re Helmsby’s co-creation.  Before he and his daughter die, I want to make certain he did his job properly and didn’t skimp on the science.  If he did it correctly, I don’t have any more use for him.”

Benson grimaced.  “Without them being fully developed and if they fail, you’ll never know.”

“Just have them ready.”

Idris turned and walked away.

***

image

A patrol guard stopped Idris in the hallway and told him that Nancy had escaped.

“That’s impossible!”  He shook his head and bit down on his cigar.  “Was the door locked?”

“Yes.  Still closed and locked.”

“What about the ventilation system?  Did you check the screen?”

“Yes.  The screws are bolted tight.  The door lock hasn’t been manipulated.”

“What about Lucas?  Have you checked his room?”

“I’m headed that direction right now, sir.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

When Idris noticed the door to Lucas’ room was ajar, he stopped mid-stride and pulled his 9mm.  The guard beside him did the same.  Although he expected the room to be empty like Nancy’s he also remembered how Lucas had used guerilla tactics when he escaped TGC the first time.  In desperate circumstances, Lucas was cunning and had even killed some of Idris’ best men, which was a reason he treasured having Lucian—a spawn with similar talents.

Had Lucas not stolen the most valuable possession in TGC, Idris would have killed him days ago.  Now that opportunity might have passed him by.

The guard pushed the door inward with his boot and aimed the gun across the room as the door gap widened.  The door thudded softly against the doorstop.  Idris stepped into the room.  Seeing no one, he holstered his weapon.

His eyes surveyed the room.  On the bed lay the metal cuffs and a key.  Above the bed, the battered vent cover teetered by a couple of bent screws.

Idris fumed.  His seething anger flushed his face red.  A swollen vein pulsed in the center of his forehead.  He faced the guard with a narrowed glare.  “I thought her air vent was sealed shut.”

“It is, sir.  I swear.”

Idris thrust a finger toward the vent.  “How do you explain that?  That’s the point of entry soldier.  Only she would have been narrow enough to come through the ventilation system.”

“The vent in her room is sealed.”

Idris took a deep breath and then exhaled cigar smoke.  “Very well.  If that’s true, someone has turned on me and helped her escape.  Review the surveillance tapes.  Find out who visited her room last and report back to me.  I want that person dead.”

“Yes, sir.”  The guard turned and ran down the hall.

Idris dialed an extension number on his cell phone.  “Benson, are those men suited up and ready?  Dammit, get a move on then.  There’s a change in plan.  Instead of positioning them on the ground floor, here’s what I want you to do . . . ”

***

image

Lucian drove through TransGenCorp’s security gate and parked in the lot closest to the front entrance.  He wondered if the old man he had stolen the car from had gotten home safely.  Remorse gripped him.  He hoped that when he had fired the gun above the man’s head that nothing serious had happened to harm him.  The man might have been frightened into a panic attack or worse—a heart attack.  But car theft had been Lucian’s only option to get back to TransGenCorp quickly.

He sat in the car for several seconds.  It dawned upon him that this was the first time he was actually concerned about the safety of another human.  This new emotion was something he’d never felt before, but still, his urge to rid his vengeance by killing Idris seemed justified.  He understood that he must prevent further torment from his superior.  Not just for him, but for any others in the future.  Death was the only way to stop Idris.

Lucian put one gun behind his belt and tucked the other in the front.  He grabbed a paper bag and tucked it under his arm before getting out of the car and entering TGC.

The seated guard at the front desk entertained a brief conversation before Lucian crept into the neighboring silent hallway.  He paused outside a door midway down the hall and looked both directions before he entered.

Once inside, Lucian hurried across the room and pulled a key ring from his pocket.  He inserted a key into the door and turned.  The lock clicked.  He twisted the knob and stepped inside.

Lucian smiled.  “Remember me?  It’s me, Lucas.  You remember?”

“Yes.  You . . . shot me.”

“No, that was my clone.  I’d never hurt you,” he lied.

He opened the bag and took out a foil-wrapped chocolate bar.  “I bet they don’t let you have these, do they?”

The timid hand snatched the bar from Lucian and bit a large chunk and chewed.

“That’s good, isn’t it?  It’s okay.  Idris won’t know.”

“I . . . hate . . . Idris.”

“I know and I understand why.”

“I hate him.”

“I know, Kyle.  That’s why I’m getting you out of here.”

***

image

Kat and Carpenter drove Lucas and Nancy back to the marina.  Kat worried over how badly she had hurt Tyler.  His request to ride with Denton certainly raised Carpenter’s curiosity, but he hadn’t questioned her about the situation yet.  However, she couldn’t forget the look in Tyler’s eyes.  Of course, she didn’t know if there ever was a way to let someone down easily when they held affection and interest in you.

Lucas pointed to the dock where they had left the boat.  Carpenter stopped the car and said, “Are you certain you want to use the back entrance into TGC?”

Lucas picked Rex up off the seat and shrugged.  “There’s really nothing else we can do.  As long as they believe we’re in their custody, it’s best not to show ourselves at the front gate.”

“And if they’ve discovered your escape?” Kat asked with worried eyes.

Lucas smiled.  “Then it’s going to be one hell of a game of hide-and-seek.”

“Keep your ear mics in place.  If anything dangerous occurs, I’ll contact you.”

Lucas nodded.  “Much appreciated.”

“Keep a close eye on Nancy,” Kat said.

“I’ll protect her with my life.”

***

image

Daniel pulled to the TransGenCorp security gate.  Tyler and Denton drove past and parked across the street.  They were to wait for Carpenter and Kat to return from the marina.  And then, under Carpenter’s command, all chaos ensued.

Johanna wiped her sweaty, restless hands on her pants.  The confidence she had wielded at the hotel room faded.  Fear tainted her eyes.

“There’s still time for you to back out, Johanna,” Daniel said.  “You don’t have to go inside.”

She stared through the gate with narrowed eyes.  “Yeah, I do.  For Mike and Clint.  They died because Idris wanted me dead.  I have to do this.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded.  “I’ll be okay.”

Lydia, however, showed no emotion whatsoever.  Her solemn eyes studied TransGenCorp’s gate guards, then, without turning her head, she located the closest perimeter guards.  Her right hand was hidden inside her jacket pocket.  Daniel knew she was holding her gun.

Lydia’s eyes reflected a coldness that brought chills up his spine.  She looked nothing like the tired lady that had arrived at the hotel room.  Never had he seen her like this.  She appeared more sinister than her clone that had bested Johanna three years earlier.  She meant business, and he was truly glad she was on his side.

An armed guard approached the driver side door, so Daniel lowered his window.

“Daniel Hutchinson?” he asked.

“Yes.”

The guard motioned his comrade inside the glass booth.  “Dr. Helmsby is expecting you.  Head right in.”

The gate arm lifted and Daniel drove through.  He looked at Lydia in the rearview mirror.  When her eyes met his, he said, “That was a little too easy.”

She gave a single nod and said, “I agree.”

Perhaps Daniel was more apprehensive on this visit than the previous, but all the guards focused their attention on his vehicle as he drove through the parking lot.  Their glares indicated their inner hunger to kill.  They didn’t possess a macho guard attitude.  Harsh coldness reflected in their angered eyes.  All they needed was a signal to fire and without any hesitation they would carry out the order.  Daniel began to doubt they’d leave TransGenCorp alive.

“They’re watching us, Dan,” Johanna said nervously.

“You noticed that, too?”

“Yes.  I’m not very comfortable.”

“Yeah, but we can’t turn back now.”

Johanna nodded.  “I know.”

Morton crawled out from beneath Daniel’s seat and hopped up beside Lydia.

“Did I miss anything?” he asked.

“Not yet, my little friend,” Daniel said.  “But if you want to see a lot of heated action, I believe we stepped into the right playing field.  We’re dead in the middle of it.”

“I’m up for that,” Morton said.

Johanna cringed and said, “Did you have to use the word, dead.”

“Sorry,” Daniel replied.

“I’m too uptight right now,” she said.

“I understand.”

Morton grinned.  “The only dead will be those who attack.”

“Let’s hope so,” Daniel whispered.  But, for some reason, he didn’t think that would be the case.

***

image

Yvonne checked the ammo clip in her 9mm.  She smiled at Helmsby.  “There’s something more about Nancy’s escape that I didn’t tell you.”

“What?”

“When I sent her through the ventilation system, I gave her directions to where Lucas was being held.  I also gave her a key to unlock his restraints.  So if Nancy is with Daniel, Lucas is too.”

Helmsby was stunned.  “Then why the hell are they coming back here?”

“My guess is to rescue you.”

He shook his head.  “Why?”

She smiled and said, “Why wouldn’t they?”

Helmsby shrugged, obviously at a loss for words.

“Do you think they’ll bring guns?” she asked.

“Definitely.  Why?”

“Come with me.  They might get through the gate with them, but they will never get past the metal detectors down on the ground floor.”

Helmsby took brisk steps to keep up with her.  She turned into the main hall that led to the front entrance, and the seated guard spotted Helmsby behind her.  The guard rose and aimed his gun at Helmsby.

“Put down the gun, Henry,” Yvonne demanded.  Her voice was steady, and the gun in her hand was even steadier.  She had a clear shot at the man’s forehead.

“Yvonne! What the hell is he doing out here?  You know he’s not supposed to come anywhere near the front doors.”

Helmsby stopped walking.

“He’s with me, Henry, so put your gun down.”

Henry didn’t flinch at her order.  Thick veins bulged in his neck.  “I have my orders, Yvonne.”

“I have mine, too.  Back down now, or I swear I’ll kill you without another warning.  I outrank you so holster your weapon.”

Frustration built and flushed Henry’s face red.  His brow furrowed and his lower lip trembled.  Tears welled at the corners of his eyes.

“Do what you have to do, ma’am,” Henry said.  “But my orders are to shoot Dr. Helmsby on sight if he comes anywhere near the front desk.  You know what happens if I don’t carry out that order?”

Yvonne’s jaw tightened.  “I know what will happen if you attempt to carry it out.  Think about it.”

Tears streaked his face.  “Damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.  It’s that kind of decision you cannot win.”

Henry’s hand shook.  For a moment, he looked as though he might comply, but then his jaw tightened.  His trigger finger moved.

She fired without another word of warning.

Henry collapsed to the floor, dead.

“Yvonne?” Helmsby said with surprise.  “You . . . killed him.”

She turned and shook her head.  “Don’t question it.  He wouldn’t have backed down.  He was going to kill you.  Besides that, he was right.  Idris would have killed him for not carrying out the order.  He took the quicker route by having me kill him.  I’m not proud that I had to, either.”

“I know,” Helmsby said.  “But now, Idris will . . .”

“Kill me?” she laughed.  “I don’t plan on staying here.  Whenever your friends arrive, I’m leaving with you.  I don’t know what their plan is, but I do know one thing.”

“What?”

“They aren’t going to march you out the front door.  If Henry was willing to die, you can bet the perimeter guards will fire without question.  The only reason we came this direction was so I could shut off the metal detectors.  While I’m at it, I’ll turn off the surveillance cameras, too.”

Yvonne squatted down behind the desk and flipped off two long rows of switches on a control panel.  She popped open the circuit box on another panel and pried two breakers from their connections.  She slid them into her pocket.

“Let’s go,” she said.

“What about him?  Won’t the outside guards come inside?”

“Fortunately, the outside glass is mirror tinted.  No one saw him fall.  The sound of the gunshot probably wasn’t even heard outdoors.  His body should also keep your friends more cautious when they enter.”

Helmsby noticed movement outside the front door.  He pointed, at first in fear, and a couple seconds later, he smiled.  Daniel pulled the door open, letting Johanna and Lydia step inside, and Morton pattered in behind them.

Once the door closed behind Daniel, Yvonne locked the doors.  “This will buy some additional time,” she said.  “Should anyone inside set off alarms, I don’t think the outside guards will stay out there long.”

Helmsby rushed to Daniel, shook his hand, and then he embraced him.  “Is Nancy okay?  Where is she?”

“She’s with Lucas.  They’re coming by boat.”

He frowned.  “Boat?”

“They’re going to enter through the docks on the lowest level.”

“She’s coming back here?  Why?”

“For you.”

“But why?  I can leave with you.  That doesn’t require her to be here.”

“She’s going to lead you two back to the docks while the rest of us stop Idris.”  Daniel looked at Yvonne.  “There’s only one problem.”

“What?” she asked.

“Lucas doesn’t know how to get from sublevel 3 to sublevel 2.”

Yvonne smiled.  “Easy enough.  At least we know where to meet him.”

Johanna cringed when she saw the dead guard behind the desk.  “What happened?”

“Insubordination,” she replied.

“I see.  Pretty strict repercussions,” Daniel said.

Yvonne shrugged.  “It seems I’m the only one here willing to die to protect Bob.  The rest are willing to die trying to kill him.”

Morton sat and licked his forepaw.  His eyes glowed crimson red.  “We’re here now, so let’s even the odds.”

***

image

The fog lifted from the river, but the thick gray sky brought a new threat of intense thunderstorms.  Lightning forked the distant sky and the subtle echo of angry thunder shrouded the hope of sunshine.

Rex placed his paws on the side of the boat and watched the choppy water. Lucas kept the engine at a moderate speed.  The afternoon wind blew mist over them.  Nancy huddled under a plastic tarp while Lucas steered the boat.

Her teeth chattered as she said, “Did your father ever spend a lot of time with you when you were young?”

“We hunted and fished a lot.  Why?”

“Just curious.  My father has never spent any real quality time with me.  He kept my nose buried in books all the time.  Scientific books.  Nothing else.  We never really did much together outside of him tutoring me.  I wish he was more compassionate with me than to his scientific discoveries.”

Lucas glanced at her from the corner of his eye.  “After the past three months of being kept away from you, I believe he’ll be more than ready to spend time with you.”

“Maybe.”

“Separation and isolation changes people.  It makes you realize how important certain people are in your life and how much you value them once they’re gone.”

“Like Lydia?”

Lucas grinned.  “Exactly.  I’m speaking from my own personal experience.”

When they approached the mouth of the cave, he killed the engine.  The boat maintained enough speed to coast to the docks without the aid of paddling.  Had they not exited from the cave earlier, he’d never known the open rock crevice was there.  The huge tree pine branches along the edge hung like curtains and concealed the opening.

Before they reached the dock, Lucas turned the boat around so Nancy wouldn’t have to whenever she and Helmsby departed.  He gave her a quick rundown on how to start the engine and how much to push the throttle.

Lucas took the gun from behind the boat seat.  After their earlier confrontations, he expected the docks to have more guards posted.  But apparently, no one had patrolled since he and Nancy escaped.  All that remained of the dead, mauled guard was his clothes and a few bones.  The shifters had returned to wherever they had come from.

After Lucas placed Rex on the dock, he climbed out and helped Nancy step up.

Lucas lightly tapped his earpiece and said to Carpenter, “We’re inside.  All’s clear at the docks, so we’re heading up.”

“Good.  Keep us posted.”

Lucas pointed.  “We take the stairs.  I don’t know where the sloped corridor goes, but we both know that’s where the shifters came from.”

The stairwell lights were still on as they headed up.  When they reached the dead soldier, his remains horrified them.  His forehead was a sunken pool of pinkish brown goop.  His skin was leathery and shriveled like a raisin.

Nancy looked at Lucas.  “What caused that?”

“I don’t know.  Let’s go find your father.”

“Is it contagious?”

“I hope not.”

***

image

Lucian led Kyle to the chemical storage center.  The shelves were lined with glass bottles.  Some contained dry chemicals.  Others liquid.  Vials and flasks covered the tables and countertops.  Several Bunsen burners were set up for use, but none were lit.

Kyle’s weak deep-set eyes studied the room with great interest. Dark circles puffed beneath his otherwise bright eyes.  Walking was difficult for him, almost painful.  What little energy he possessed was expended by the time they reached this room.  Even with his clothes on, anyone could tell how emaciated his body had become.  He wasn’t anything more than a skin-covered skeleton.

A door slammed farther down the hall.  Lucian placed his hand on his gun and headed for the door.  “Stay here, Kyle.  I’ll be back in a few minutes.  I promise.”

Kyle didn’t reply.  He leaned against a table and struggled to keep his balance.  The second sublevel had a nine-room floor grid.  The blueprint for this floor looked like a tic-tac-toe board because of how the two sets of double halls intersected.

Lucian had left Kyle in the south center room.  The slamming door sounded from the far north end of the hall.  The north central room was the main computer center—the brain of TGC—where all the research data was stored.

The door directly south of the computer room was one of Dr. Benson’s labs.  If the door that slammed was the main computer room, it meant Idris was possibly there.

Lucian pulled his gun and headed to the north end of the hall.  Before he reached the first intersecting hall, an armed man stepped into view.  Lucian sensed immediately that this wasn’t a regular hall patrol, but a genetic soldier like himself.

The soldier was armed with a military assault rifle. Lucian didn’t understand why this man was stationed in the hall.  These soldiers were engineered for assassination squads.  Why waste their value using them for patrollers?  Having one in the hall signified that TransGenCorp was under attack.

Lucian wondered if Idris considered him a threat now that he had returned, especially since he had not reported his failure at Lydia’s house.  Had word gotten back to Idris about Brockton supplying Lucian with the small case of enhancers?  If so, that was enough to infuriate Idris and send him further over the edge.  Total disregard for a direct order made Lucian an enemy.  Idris wasn’t one to forgive offenses, and any enemy must be killed.

Lucian suddenly found himself worrying about Brockton’s welfare and how far Idris’ punishment might have gone for the scientist.  He realized that Brockton was the only person in his life that he could esteem as a positive parental role model.  Idris never held those qualities.  Before Lucian could dwell on that thought, or how to find Brockton, the soldier in the hallway must be eliminated.

Lucian wished he had a better weapon, but he wasn’t one to turn and run.  Instead, he crouched and slid his back against the wall.  The soldier never noticed him.

The more he thought about the soldier, the more he believed it possible that this man was placed here to stop Lucian from finding Idris.  Idris overreacted with heavy-handed threats.  However, Lucian had discovered that Idris was also hasty in his thinking processes.  He never mapped out his plans or goals.  He acted with rash decisions, which caused Idris to reap more failure than success.

Lucian didn’t have time to ponder over the soldier.  For a moment he thought he might sneak by the assassin without being seen.  Something crashed in the room where he had left Kyle.  The noise caught the soldier’s attention, and the man quickly turned.  He noticed Lucian, raised his rifle, and without question or word, he squeezed the trigger.

Instinct had taught Lucian a lot during his six years of life.  The man shooting was an infant compared to Lucian.  When the trigger tightened, Lucian dropped flat to the floor on his stomach.  He rolled quickly, came to his feet, and fired.  The bullet struck the man in the side of the head.  His assailant collapsed, and three more soldiers rushed into the cross section of the halls.

Two rounds hit the floor, flaking bits of tile into the air.  Lucian turned and bolted toward the chemical storage room.  He dove for the open door threshold and slid out of the line of fire.  He spun around and slammed the door shut.

Kyle lay on the floor beside the table.  He wasn’t moving.  He didn’t seem to be breathing.  His condition was much worse than Lucian had anticipated.  Apparently before Kyle had fallen he had grabbed a stainless steel tray of utensils for support.  The contents were spilled across the floor.  Lucian hurried to him and placed two fingers against Kyle’s throat to check for a pulse.

“Dammit!” Lucian closed his eyes and shook his head.  “I’m sorry.  I should have gotten to you sooner.”

A rush of anger and remorse flooded through him.

The thudding rhythm of heavy boots marched down the hall and stopped outside the door.  Lucian didn’t have a key to lock the door, and even if he possessed one, the thick wooden door wasn’t enough to stop gunfire from splintering through.

He rummaged through drawers and the cabinets.  He found a glass gallon bottle of ether alcohol.  He took the bottle and a cloth towel.  After twisting off the lid, he tucked one corner of the towel into the mouth of the bottle until only one-third of the cloth remained exposed.

The doorknob turned.  He lit the towel.  When the door burst open, he heaved the bottle across the room.  The glass shattered against the wall, igniting the alcohol, and splashing liquid flame down the soldier’s body.

The man recoiled, screaming in pain.  He batted at the licking flames.  Lucian raised his 9mm and fired a round through the man’s forehead.  His flaming body dropped backward and fire leapt off him onto the second soldier’s legs.  This man ignored the fire and raised his rifle.  Lucian dropped behind a table.

As the soldier approached, Lucian slid to the edge of the table and fired two shots into the man’s leg.  The soldier dropped to one knee.  Realizing his pants were burning and melting into his flesh, his eyes.  He dropped his rifle and patted at the flames.

Before the third soldier entered the room, Lucian made his attack.  The man fought to extinguish the flames without any success. Lucian kicked the man in the chest, knocking the man backwards onto the floor. Lucian grabbed the rifle.  With only seconds to spare, he pulled his knife from his ankle sheath before the next man entered the room.

Lucian flung the knife, fast and hard, and it lodged in the man’s heart.  The man’s eyes grew larger, and he fired three rounds into the ceiling before collapsing to the floor.

Lucian took his handgun and fired a round into each soldier’s head.  It was the only method he knew that killed a genetic soldier like himself.  Severe head trauma was the most difficult injury to heal.  Most often, it proved fatal.

These soldiers guarding the hallway were neophytes.  Their forced maturity made them incapable of quick thinking.  It didn’t guarantee that they couldn’t kill him though.  Lucky accidents could happen.  He had to keep his wits keen.  Any distractions meant death.

With rifle in hand, Lucian slipped to the edge of the door and peered into the hallway.  Another man fired.  The bullet grazed the wall just inches about Lucian’s head.  Bits of concrete block exploded.  He ducked back into the room and a second shot struck where his head had been.  He propped the rifle against a table, pulled his handgun, and heaved one of the dead soldiers up, carrying the man’s corpse to the door.  Using the man’s body for a shield, he stepped into the hallway.

Three rounds lodged into the dead man’s chest, which gave Lucian enough time to fire four rounds of his own.  Two hit the assailant’s stomach while the last two went through his forehead.  He dropped the dead body shield to the floor.

“Time for you, Idris,” Lucian whispered through clenched teeth.  “It’s time you die.”

He stepped into the hallway intersection, and another soldier struck him in the jaw with the butt of a rifle.  Lucian staggered backwards, seeing flashes of light beneath his closed eyes.  He blinked several times to clear his vision and steadied himself on one knee to keep from falling.  His adversary kicked him in the face.  Blood splattered into the air from his mouth and nose.

Lucian growled and gnashed his teeth.  The soldier came straight at him again.  For a moment, it seemed the room spun in strange colors

This soldier was different from the others.  He didn’t want to use his gun for a quick kill.  Instead, he lusted to inflict as much pain as possible.  While Lucian’s vision continued to dim, the man kicked him again.  Lucian toppled backwards.  He rolled, tried to gather himself, but he wasn’t given enough time to get to his feet.  The soldier grabbed Lucian’s hair and slammed his face onto the floor several times.  The hallway grew darker.

Lucian shook his head, rolled, but instead of getting to his feet, he mule-kicked the man with both feet, striking the man’s sternum.  Ribs cracked.  The impact lifted the man into the air.  He landed on his back and his head struck the side of the doorframe.  His rifle skidded down the hall.  He paid no attention to his loss of weapon and was back on his feet in an instant.

Lucian struggled to stand, but before he attained his balance, the man pulled a long blade from his belt sheath and smiled.

Lucian reached down and yanked his knife from the dead soldier’s chest.  A sick, sucking sound smacked as the flesh released the blade.  Blood dripped on the floor from the tip of the knife.  With a firm grip on the handle, Lucian faced the genetic soldier.  The man showed no fear, but then, neither did Lucian.  They faced one another and paced in a circle.

The man made a wild swing.  A flash of silver glistened beneath the fluorescent lights.  He lunged for Lucian’s face, but Lucian parried the attack, slashing his enemy’s forearm.  Dark blood pooled in the deep laceration.  Small streams of crimson spilled from the wound.  Beads of blood dripped and splattered on the floor.

The soldier’s face revealed no pain, no concern.  He gritted his teeth and stepped forward, making another advance.  Metal cut through the air.  The blade split Lucian’s shirt but missed flesh.  The soldier came again, with an overhead slice.  Lucian sidestepped and flayed open a deep gash in the man’s gut.  He didn’t wince.  He simply smiled.

The man should have been in serious pain, but he seemed to be enjoying the fight and challenge.

Lucian attacked with another solid thrust, and then back-slashed a sharp cut that peeled a thin line down the soldier’s forearm.  The soldier countered with a swift kick to Lucian’s stomach.  Lucian doubled over, and the man attempted to slash Lucian’s throat.

The blade came in an instant, moving rapidly, but Lucian pulled back.  The knife swooshed through the air.  For a brief second, he wondered if he could kill this man.  Again, he moved on the offensive, slashed forward, and metal scraped metal as the soldier parried his attack.

Lucian aimed high, and then slashed low on a quick retreat.  He gashed a deep laceration across the man’s left thigh.  Blood came quicker from the gaping wound.  The soldier paused to inspect the damage with wide eyes.  Even though the severed tissue was repairing, the blood flow was faster than the flesh regenerated.

Panic finally claimed the man’s face.  His inferior training proved that he wasn’t a seasoned warrior.

Lucian wiped blood from his nose with the back of his hand.  He inhaled through his mouth.

Blood flowed heavily down the man’s leg.  The cut had gashed through his femoral artery.  In spite of the damage, the man still moved forward, but weaker, slower, and more cautious than before, which allowed Lucian to block oncoming attacks easily.  Another five minutes and the soldier was dead anyway.  Without blood, even a genetic soldier couldn’t survive.

Lucian smiled.

The soldier’s face paled.  His strength vanished.  A pool of blood covered the floor beneath their feet.  The soldier stared narrowly ahead—blankly, absently.  His knife dropped from his hand and clanged on the floor.  Another minute and he fell face forward.  Lifeless.

Lucian leaned over to catch his breath.  He wiped blood on his shirt and sheathed his knife.  If this was the best Idris could do, Idris was dead.