by Taylor Buck
Kelly chuckled and her face softened again. She let out a long sigh as if she were releasing the anxiety from her body. “I can’t believe we did this…I feel like such an idiot,” she said shaking her head.
“We didn’t know. You can’t help but be curious when you come across something that bizarre,” Bennett answered, half to console her—but he really meant it.
“Do you think Rick got out?” Kelly asked.
“I certainly hope so. That guy is a robot himself. I’m sure he found a way out of there ok,” Bennett said.
Bennett wasn’t actually optimistic about Danner’s outcome, but he didn’t want Kelly to lose her hope. She needed to be optimistic right now, whether or not the truth backed it up. Sometimes situations call for a pinch of positivity to mask the ugliness of reality.
“Rick had unfinished business to deal with. Hopefully those guys got what they had coming,” Bennett said.
“Well…I’m just glad you’re ok,” Kelly said and smiled.
Her eyes sparkled emerald green in the sunlight. She had dirt smudges all along her arms and around the wound on her forehead. Her muddy hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Bennett didn’t know if it was the trauma they had just experienced or if he just hadn’t realized it, but Kelly looked different now. Either that, or he was looking at her differently. She seemed so grown up—so strong and capable now. Like she suddenly became a woman in front of him.
Bennett knew Kelly had long been a woman at twenty-seven, but he had always seen her as his best friend’s kid sister…
She was different now...brave...and stunningly beautiful.
Bennett was seeing her with new eyes and it was stirring up new sentiments—emotions that Bennett had long suppressed. He had never pursued a relationship with anyone because his constant need for change and his love for adventure had always succeeded his love for a partner.
But Kelly had a love for life…and a quest for adventure, just as Bennett did.
Could she be the one to seek new adventures with? Was his love sitting right next to him?
Bennett felt his heart beating fast. He looked down, half expecting to see it jump from his chest. He didn’t know whether to attribute his newfound realization to “real love” or just a gushy side effect from the conolidine.
Regardless, he looked at Kelly differently now. There was no denying it. He had strong feelings for her—feelings he may have had all along. Bennett sat there quiet for a moment then suddenly felt the need to tell her. He instantly became nervous and found it hard to speak. The words were right on the end of his tongue, and yet they couldn’t make their way out. Finally, he mustered the courage.
“Kelly…I…”
Bennett’s words were cut short as the E-ATV was smashed from the side sending them both flying through the air. The E-ATV turned up on its side and took a nosedive into a bed of black lava rock…the razor sharp rocks devouring the vehicle and smashing it to pieces. Kelly landed on the path while Bennett was flung clear into a nearby Hibiscus tree. The soft tree broke his fall, and Bennett struggled to free himself from the branches. He got to his feet and looked back toward the path. Kelly was laying face down on the ground, just beginning to pick herself up. The juggernaut emerged from about five feet behind her
…as if it appeared out of thin air.
It walked up to Kelly and stood over her body. Bennett watched in horror as it jerked its head forward, producing a long, sharp object from its mouth.
CHAPTER 49
CERTA FACILITY, SOUTH HALL
16 OCTOBER, 7:35 A.M.
Danner had about a thirty-second head start. He had duped the robots into looking away and used the opportunity to slip through the hallway door unnoticed. His petty trick had worked, however he knew the juggernauts wouldn’t fall for it again. Braden had likely altered that command on the spot, right after it had happened. Now Danner found himself sprinting down the long hallway, which led to the lab.
The morning light outside filtered in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows lining the corridor. Thirty seconds wasn’t enough to get him far. Danner needed to find a way to lose the juggernauts immediately. He looked along the wall and his eyes eventually rested on a red fire extinguisher.
Here they come.
He heard a scurrying down the hall behind him…the juggernauts had exited through the door and were in quick pursuit. Danner ripped the fire extinguisher off the wall and slammed it against the window. The glass bowed and rippled slightly from the blow, but stayed in tact. Danner struck again—this time producing a round fractured web in the glass the size of a baseball. The third strike sent the sheet of glass exploding outward. Danner jumped back and shielded his face as the large pieces showered down, cascading over the side of the building and embedded in the soft ground below. The glass shrapnel protruded up from the ground like razor-sharp spikes.
The juggernauts were closing in. Danner tucked the machete through the back of his belt, then he reached out and grabbed ahold of the massive pillar jutting out from the face of the building. He was able to swing his body around the large pillar just as the juggernauts reached the opening in the glass. They skidded to a halt just shy of the edge.
Danner knew they wouldn’t be able to follow him outside. They weren’t capable of enduring a vertical ascent such as this, even with their exceptional traversal skills.
He reached out his leg and secured his footing on a chunk of limestone rubble. Although he was hanging off of a sheer glass wall, the pitch on the front of the building was 70 degrees—not a completely vertical climb. The large Greek pillars and exposed rubble along the way allowed for hand and footholds too. Danner was grateful for the holds at the moment but usually scoffed at the sight of the bizarre architectural embellishments.
They were the result of Dr. Perry’s strange obsession with the “golden age” of Greek culture. He was infatuated with the ancient empire and obsessed over it. He never missed an opportunity to quote Socrates, Plato or his favorite—Aristotle. Danner himself wasn’t well-versed in Greek culture, but he had heard enough quotes to acquaint himself quite well with the philosophical trinity. Perry never ceased to follow up a quote with the name of its author—as if he were quoting chapter and verse from the Bible.
His persistent quotes stuck in Danner’s mind.
The energy of the mind is the essence of life.
He thought of another. No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.
Danner laughed internally as the latter words took on an entirely different meaning based on the situation he was now in.
Danner ascended the ruins carefully. He was battling extreme exhaustion, but somehow he managed to place one hand above the other and use his leg muscles to keep climbing. Danner knew how to dig deep. His time in Delta put him in situations where he had to reach deep down into the depths of his very being to survive. Delta training allowed him to operate efficiently on very little food and sleep. Right now, he had had neither in over 48 hours.
He secured his footing on a spear protruding out from the hands of a Greek soldier. The soldier’s eyes were intricately detailed, capturing the fierce, primal nature of battle. The positioning of the soldier showed that it was in mid throw. Danner used the soldier’s face as a foothold and grabbed a hold of the pillars lining the peak of the façade. With one final push, he reached the roof of the building.
He pulled himself up and looked around.
From on top the helicopter landing pad, Dr. Perry was locked on Danner.
Eyeing him like prey.
CHAPTER 50
CERTA GROUNDS, ALPHA SECTOR
16 OCTOBER, 7:45 A.M.
Bennett watched as the bizarre events unfold before him. He needed to act quickly, but he felt half entranced with the juggernaut’s actions. He watched as Kelly tried to push herself u
p—only to be shoved down by the robots balled foot.
Move it Tom! Kelly needs you.
Bennett shifted into gear. He reached out and retrieved the shotgun from a few feet away. Bennett raised the shotgun and aimed while the robot produced the needle from its mouth.
Don’t shoot, Tom.
You’ll hit Kelly.
Bennett knew it was useless. The shotgun would blow a hole in both of them from here. He didn’t have the option of an accurate weapon at the moment. He needed a precise shot. The blast from the shotgun was like using a flamethrower to light a birthday cake.
He acted instinctively—without thought.
Bennett threw the shotgun to the ground and charged the juggernaut. The robot snapped his head in Bennett’s direction and saw him approaching. Then in one smooth, precise action—it injected the needle into the back of Kelly’s neck, just below her hairline.
“Nooo!” Bennett bellowed in protest as he barreled toward the robot. The needle had entered Kelly’s body for a mere fraction of a second before Bennett wrapped his arms around the juggernaut’s frame and ripped it away. He rolled over the top of it, grabbed ahold, and threw it off—as a lineman would take down a receiver. The juggernaut crashed through the trees and met hard with the jagged lava rock on the bed below.
Bennett immediately looked down at Kelly to see if she was ok. She was flaccid. Her eyes were shut and her body was slumped onto the path.
Kelly needed his help. But first he needed to shut down the robot.
Bennett ran over and grabbed the shotgun. Then he ran back and placed himself between Kelly and the robot. The juggernaut had righted itself and spun around. It shot off the line like a greyhound at a race—straight at Bennett. Bennett crouched and steadied the shotgun. He fired off a round, which the juggernaut sidestepped and avoided like it was steering around a pothole in the road. Another blast split through the air, hitting the juggernaut in the breastplate and causing it to trip up briefly, but continue on.
It was still coming.
Bennett knew he had to wait until it was close. Only a shot from close range would do any considerable damage. He had no idea what part of the robot to aim for.
There had to be an area of weakness…
He decided he would shoot for the undercarriage. It was the only place he hadn’t landed a shot yet. Unfortunately, it would also be the hardest shot to place.
The juggernaut raced forward, covering ground in blazing speed. Bennett could hardly keep it in his sights. He would wait for the robot to jump—then look for a clean shot.
But the moment never came. It rushed at him with intent to smash through him. Bennett couldn’t wait. He fired.
Headshot.
Lead pellets hammered into the strong head casing, splaying the metal sharply outward.
It kept coming.
Bennett cocked the gun again and heard the sound of an empty chamber…seven shots.
No more.
He was out of ammo.
It was too late. The juggernaut closed in. Its head lowered, leading its assault with the shards of shrapnel protruding from its head.
Bennett braced for impact by ducking down and covering Kelly’s body like a human shield. He held her tight.
Suddenly a jeep roared out of the trees and broadsided the juggernaut slamming into its right side and sending it sprawling back into the bed of lava rock. The massive blow split the side of the robot open sending its life unit flying through the air before it dashed to pieces in the rock bed.
The robot was obliterated.
Detective Lee brought the Jeep to a halt just inches from where Bennett was crouched down. Lee hopped out and drew his gun. He assessed the form of the robot, finding it inactive and no longer a threat.
Bennett bent down and cradled Kelly in his arms. He checked her pulse.
“Is she ok?” Lee asked.
Bennett looked inquisitively at the man before him. “Who are you?” he asked.
Lee flashed his badge to Bennett.
“She’s alive, but she needs a hospital,” Bennett said.
“The ranger station’s not far from here. Lift her into the jeep and I’ll take you there,” Lee said.
Bennett hoisted Kelly’s body into the back of the jeep. He crawled in back with her, cradling her body. Lee started up the jeep and set off down the path.
“Do me a favor and keep a lookout for more of those things,” Lee yelled back to Bennett.
Bennett nodded. However, he found it impossible to focus on anything else but Kelly right now. She was losing color. Her lips were a shade of light purple and her skin was pale. Her breath was also short, her chest barely moving up and down. Bennett felt Kelly’s phone vibrating in her pocket. He pulled it out—it was Kam. Bennett answered the phone.
“Kam?”
“Mr. Bennett, I have good news,” he said.
Bennett sighed. “Good. I could use it.”
CHAPTER 51
CERTA FACILITY ROOFTOP
16 OCTOBER, 8:00 A.M.
Perry held a pistol in his left hand. Danner couldn’t make out the caliber from where he was standing, but it appeared to be a .22 cal. It was an interesting choice considering the .22 wasn’t the deadliest of weapons. Sure, it was lethal, but it typically required multiple rounds to take down a human.
Danner couldn’t help but credit the choice to Perry’s background. Possibly the influence of British cinema? 007 used a .22…maybe it’s an English thing. Considering Danner was armed only with a blade—Perry still had the upper hand.
Danner approached cautiously, keen to keep outside of Perry’s range.
“There’s no way out from here. Your chopper’s destroyed,” Danner said. Delivering the information as if Perry had already lost. He was moving to a psychological “high ground”.
“A true travesty. That bird was dearly close to me,” Perry said and looked in the direction the helicopter had fallen.
Perry stood at the top of the helipad. His gun hung loosely from his left hand. The heavy rain had returned and was beating down upon the roof in a rhythmic patter. Danner moved along the base of the stairs, his machete still tucked securely in his belt behind him. He walked to the front of the stairs, which led up to the helipad.
“I trusted you. You know that? Everything you were doing here…I knew you were working outside of the parameters that the Defense Department had set, but I never said a thing. I even covered for you. And now this?” Danner shook his head.
“Rick, I feel I need to be frank with you,” Perry said rubbing the stubble around his chin. He stood upright as if he was ready to deliver a speech. “I know you’ve always stood by me. I think you should know, however, that I’ve been aware of Braden’s actions for quite some time. In fact, I’ve encouraged him to push his testing into precarious territory.” Perry stopped and looked at Danner over the top of his horn-rimmed frames.
“You see Rick, I’m not going to be around forever. As innovative as my attempts at life extension are, they are still just beyond my reach.”
He paused a moment and let out a heavy sigh. “I’m getting…old.” He sounded pained, as if talking about his age actually sped up the aging process.
“But I’ll be damned if I don’t see this project through to the end. I’ve invested too much into it and there are too many skeptics doubting me…attempting to infect their pessimism into everything I do. I won’t have it.”
He stuck his chin out, firmly.
“Now I’ll admit that I’ve kept certain information obscured. I have concealed the actual progress of the juggernauts from some.” His eyes widened. “I had to. There’s no way we would’ve gotten this far keeping within the absurd guide rails the Defense put in place. They were outrageous! Suffocating any degree of scientific progress!”
Perry’s voice rose over the sound of the rain. Danner was working his way forward. He had climbed the bottom two stairs and was inconspicuously making his way forward.
“You had to have known it would come to this. Braden’s completely lost it. Whatever he’s done to hotwire his brain has destroyed any degree of human empathy. He’s a psychopath and he’s killing people like they’re…lab mice,” Danner yelled.
“I’ll deal with Braden. He’s still part of my plan—my link to them as I calibrate the program.”
Danner continued forward. “Aren’t you concerned that Braden will take control of the project? Given his abilities, he could easily steer this in his favor. He’s got…absolute control over those things.”
“That’s not the issue here, Rick. Braden’s job is to communicate with the juggernauts, and I control Braden. You don’t think I would have developed Mindgate if I couldn’t gain control of the host at leisure, do you?”
“You’ve got the shot?” Danner asked.
“I invented it, of course I’ve bloody got it,” Perry spat angrily. “I can tap into any door in MindGate at any time,” he said defiantly.
“Call it my skeleton key,” Perry said in a low graveled tone. “Braden was supposed to keep things under control—but he failed. As a result, a juggernaut stopped taking orders and began operating independently. Furthermore, a civilian died, which escalated the need to capture and retrieve it. So I had to come in and take control of the mess.”
“And that’s why you involved me?” Danner asked.
“It’s simple. We needed somebody to find Lorry. You were the only one who could do that effectively, and quietly,” said Perry.
“So you were planning on using me to get the robot back, and then you were going to kill me to tie up the loose ends,” Danner growled.