35. Troubling developments
“Sixth, come in!” — this time Dan only destroyed the radio chip and recovered his drone again before he ran away.
- “Sixth, come in!” — this time Dan only destroyed the radio chip and recovered his drone again before he ran away.
Knowing this time more than one person will go check out the place. He needed to pick them out one by one to stand a chance. Fortunately none of them had weapons on them. He could not be sure that is true for all his pursuers though.
- “Seventh, eight and ninth, are you above? Come down to my position.” — at least the voice wasn’t aware Dan could listen in.
Just saw a silhouette sliding down to his floor using one of the maintenance ladders. Barely had time to jump behind a corner, before the shape turned around. Too late to realize his mistake, he chose the wrong side and stuck between rubble and the arrival waiting to be discovered.
The sensation standing on the falling floor gave Dan an idea he didn’t consider before. He put down his hand and pushed strongly to the floor. He could feel it, it was very weak and had to concentrate. Rhythmic bumps, gradually stronger. He quickly tested with his own step, unable to do it with full weight in his weird position. So he estimated it. The bumps got stronger and stronger, he readied his crowbar again.
The silhouette touched its waist when a dark blob appeared in front of him, frozen into the posture for eternity. The heavy crowbar hit right into his face and knocked the body on its back. Dan checked its waistline, his gauntlet found a heavy metallic object. Helmet sensors helped with the darkness and outlined a pistol. A cracked software running it, connected automatically to whoever touched it and displayed full clip.
Attaching the pistol to his own waistline, using the universal tool-belt. Civilian tech wasn’t that different from military applications with many things having dual purpose. And profit, it was cheaper to mass manufacture the same design.
Using his new found capability of tracking footsteps in vacuum, Dan avoided the confrontation with the remaining two guys passing by him. Not really a shooter himself, wasn’t confident he is able to shoot two targets under pressure.
- “That is it? Only you? Where is Seventh?”
- “Dunno, haven’t seen him and doesn’t answer on radio.”
- “Hey, boss, Fourth and Second seems their heads are bashed in. Wasn’t accident.”
- “So this guy is killing us. Get yourself together. Let’s go to the computer core and shut it down finally.”
- “Boss, Fourth’s radio chip is missing.”
- “Understood.” — long silence followed. Dan knew he lost his advantage.
- “Dan, the jig is up.” — heard the familiar voice no addressed to him.
Otherwise only silence meant the logical response, they switched to a random frequency. Probably had no time or the tools to rotate encryption keys in the field, he may find the new frequency with time. So he ran a cycle algorithm, fortunately he had a second slot in Fourth radio chip, able to listen to the original at the same time.
At least he knew where they are about to go. Without the computers, he will never know the content of what they want. And may just take time for them to hunt him down. Maybe he can trade? The info for his life?
Seemingly the data wasn’t that important for them. As the contact he tried to sell it wanted to kill him anyway after a few files. Why was he even hired for this data if they don’t want it? It was a job Fred found, retrieve a data package from a passenger and just deliver it to his contact. Simple, yet doesn’t make sense now.
As his thoughts raced on about what is going on, his hand raced to position traps as he retreated toward the computer cores. If he would just know the content, would be easier to connect the dots. Arrived at the computer core and he double checked, the control frozen, but the user interface still showed progress updates.
However what Dan saw just sent chills down his spine. Still a week left from the estimation. He can’t stay down here for a week and protect the computer. Looking around to take in the slightly more brightness of the computer screens, then dropping onto the floor under the weight of his own thoughts.
So many dead along the wreckage of the largest cruise ship ever built. And we are still fighting among ourselves killing even more. Friends, crew, passengers, dead, injured or still fighting to escape, survive. Ava’s face popped into his mind, the blue eyes he will never forget. What is with her? Haven’t seen in a month, maybe more, at least felt like. Maybe won’t see her again.
He needs to go on the offensive. Knock out the henchman and capture the boss. Or to kill him. Usually there is always at least one more boss up in the chain.
Near the computer cores, the hall started to brighten up. Not much, just barely enough to see live wires and silhouettes without extra flashlight. Machines started up sending vibrations through the floors and walls, drowning out everything else.
Dan thought they must be starting the ion drives. Unable to use his trick anymore, he set out the drone for patrolling the nearby corridors. Soon the gravity started shifting. The forward thrust building up ever so slightly as the Giant was pulled away from the moon it tried to kiss. Wasn’t enough to turn the gravity entirely, just had to walk in an awkward angle.
Working at the docks, he was able to quickly stabilize himself in the new situation. His opponents, struggling with the situation, one guy tripped over a bulkhead on their way. Dan noticed the silhouettes, still too far to engage, so he merged back into the shadows. Outmaneuvering them with the criss-crossing. He only saw two silhouettes though. One took a left, they separated.
His chance to pick out one of them rose quickly, tripping the unfortunate soul and shooting his back twice. Third time. Just in case. He had a full clip too, each holding fifty shots, Dan had no reason to spare. Instead he went for sure eliminations. The months of being on the run, hiding, the stress and fears, doubts sent him over the edge. The first time he felt nothing while doing a terrible thing to another human.
The second silhouette moved with its gun drawn. Pointing at everything as he slowly approached the computer core. He needed to get beyond the hall, even with a gun, to actually able to damage the core. A bright flashlight pointed into the goon’s eyes prompting him to start empty his clip. The full automatic mode throw up metal so fast, the gun started to glow in the dark.
Then the silhouette dropped to the floor, next to the unrecognizable drone parts. With two holes in his head, presenting no more danger to Dan. A momentary pinch and pain in his shoulder surprised him. Rolling around the corner just in time to avoid multiple bullets to the head.
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