Michiko saluted.
Devika pulled out three pairs of handcuffs and hooked her handcoil to her belt.
One-by-one, she arrested Florian, Tatiana, and Huxley, and she read them their rights. Then, with Michiko’s help, she guided them into the airlock and secured them in chairs, handcuffing their legs to the chairs. The trio hung their heads and said nothing.
“Let’s go,” Devika said, motioning to Grayson and Keltie, who followed her onto the ship.
“Let’s fly, Eddie,” Devika said.
“On it,” Eddie said, turning the ship.
Smoke rubbed his wrists as he charged through the halls of the executive wing.
He ran at full speed, heard the sonic-pitched whine of a corsair engine.
He burst into Florian’s office, where the security guards were cowering on the floor.
The windows were broken. Gun smoke was thick in the air.
And then he saw it—a blue corsair disconnecting from the broken windows.
A quick glance.
Florian inside, handcuffed.
And…
An Indian woman dressed in all black. He knew her.
He'd tried to kill her once.
The bay door on the ship was closing slowly as it pulled away.
Smoke burst into a run, jumped onto the lip of the window, and he dove.
Through the sky.
Eighty-eight stories in the air.
He reached out his hands, focusing on the edge of the bay door, trying not to look down at an inevitable death below.
He grabbed onto the bay door, and at the last moment before it closed, he flipped inside.
24
“Whoa,” Grayson said as Smoke landed in the airlock.
The cyborg punched the ground, then looked up at the team. His blood-shot eyes made him look even crazier than his photos.
Grayson stepped backward. Eddie, Michiko and Keltie retreated into the shadows of the airlock.
“I-It’s him,” Michiko said. Her voice was frantic.
“Who?” Grayson asked.
“He’s…he’s the one…who killed—”
“He caused the massacre at Coppice,” Devika said. “Brings back painful memories, doesn’t he, Michiko?”
Smoke stood.
“Oh my,” Florian said. “How terrible for you.”
Grayson assessed the threat.
The cyborg was at least seven feet tall. His body was a strong suit of gray steel, with muscular molds on the chest and arms. Grayson couldn’t place the man’s ethnicity—his skin was discolored and disfigured. A crescent scar lay across his forehead like a long, deep scratch.
“Looks like you’re back to settle the score, metal head,” Devika said.
Smoke cracked his neck.
Devika fired at Smoke but he was too fast. He dove at Huxley’s chair, ripped the handcuffs from the man’s legs and threw them at Devika.
The handcuffs connected, knocking the handcoil out of her hand.
Smoke charged, catching the handcoil in midair and ramming into Devika.
Devika flew and struck the wall, falling to the floor in a daze.
All of this happened before Grayson could even shoot.
Grayson aimed at the cyborg, and the cyborg aimed back at him.
Florian laughed.
“Just throw your gun away and I promise he won’t shoot,” he said.
Grayson backed away, his aim locked on Smoke.
“Grayson, we should let them go,” Keltie whispered.
“Never,” he said.
“Then it’s official,” Florian said. “I’m giving my cyborg orders to kill all of you quickly and gruesomely. Last chance to escape—going in three, two, one.”
His face hardened.
“Smoke: rip them apart.”
Smoke nodded.
Eddie spoke to Grayson from the radio.
“Grayson, agárrase a algo!”
Grayson wasn’t expecting Spanish. He processed the words.
Something…
To something…
Agárrase…
What did that mean?
Hold. Hold! Hold!
Hold onto something!
Grayson grabbed a nearby hatch; Keltie held onto Grayson.
Michiko did the same and held onto Devika.
And then the ship flipped.
Everything flew up, and then down as Eddie twirled through the air.
Smoke struck the ceiling with a tremendous CRACK, and then crashed to the floor. His handcoil slid across the ground, and Keltie grabbed it.
“Nice flying, amigo!” Grayson said.
Keltie stood next to him, aiming the handcoil.
Smoke groaned on the floor.
“Stay down,” Grayson said.
But Smoke balled two fists, punched the floor and staggered up, as if the blows didn’t faze him.
Grayson’s eyes widened.
No normal person would have been able to get up after a blow like that.
Smoke curled two fingers at Grayson.
Eddie twirled the ship. Again, Grayson’s world wheeled around in a circle.
But Smoke was ready this time; the cyborg flipped off the ceiling and landed on the floor on two feet.
“Not working anymore, Eddie!” Grayson said.
Michiko stood nearby, and she cowered against the wall. Smoke grabbed her by the shirt collar. She screamed.
“Let her go!” Grayson yelled.
But Smoke held Michiko close, and made a gesture that simulated cutting her throat.
“He’s got the runt of the litter,” Florian said, laughing. “If he cracks her bones, it will be like a symphony…”
Michiko shook feverishly. But then she began to talk to the cyborg.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said. “You don’t have to be this way.”
Smoke ignored her.
“Just because you killed a bunch of people doesn’t mean you’re a killer,” she said. “Don’t you know your past? Don’t you know that you used to be someone?”
Smoke tightened his grip on her.
“Didn’t you love someone?” Michiko asked. “How would they feel about what you’re doing right now? What if you have someone waiting for you at home, wherever that is? Please, don’t do this. Don’t—”
Smoke let her go. The cyborg clutched his head. Something Michiko said triggered a reaction. The cyborg shook his head.
“No…”
“Snap out of it, you dimwit!” Florian cried.
Smoke yelled, ripping at his hair.
“Your little sweetheart’s not coming back!” Florian screamed. “She’s not waiting for you! Stop strolling down memory lane and remember your mission, or I’m not giving you any more information!”
Smoke punched the wall. His gaze hardened, and the glimmer of humanity that Grayson saw for one moment disappeared.
Smoke rushed at Grayson, but Grayson fired.
Two bullets ripped through Smoke’s arm, but the cyborg kept coming.
WHAM!
Smoke flew into Grayson with the force of a pickup truck, knocking him against the wall.
For a second, Grayson didn’t know where he was. His back ached, his head was bleeding.
But then he gathered his surroundings.
And Smoke was on top of him, with a fist balled to strike.
POW!
Devika was behind the cyborg with a steel pipe, and she struck him on the back of the head.
But Smoke simply turned around, grabbed the pipe and shook Devika from it, launching her across the airlock.
Zzzzzt! Zzzzzzt!
Two bullets zipped past Smoke.
Keltie stood in the center of the airlock, aiming a handcoil at him.
She missed.
Smoke grinned slightly.
“Keltie, jump!” Eddie said.
The bay doors beeped, and then opened. A rush of air blew through the room, drowning out sound.
The living platform was imposs
ibly far below. The ship was moving fast. Very fast.
Smoke was running at Keltie.
“Oh no,” Grayson said, shaking his head. “No you don’t!”
Keltie jumped out of the way, and Grayson tackled Smoke.
The two crashed to the ground, rolling toward the bay door.
Closer…
POW!
Smoke punched Grayson.
Closer…
“Aaaarrgh!” Grayson pushed Smoke’s arms away from his face, screaming.
They rolled.
And then Grayson felt a strong breeze, looked over.
They were on the edge of the bay door.
Grayson reached his hands out at the last minute.
He grabbed a hatch on the bay door.
He yelled, hanging on as tightly as he could.
But he felt something on his legs.
Hands.
A death grip.
Smoke.
The cyborg was hanging onto him, with the city passing by below in a dizzying blur.
Devika snatched the handcoil from Keltie and she knelt, aiming.
Grayson felt Smoke’s crushing grip as the cyborg began to climb up his legs. He tried to kick, but Smoke was too strong.
Meanwhile, Devika continued her aim.
And then Grayson felt Smoke’s hands on his waist. He grimaced, closed his eyes—
Zzzt! Zzzt! Zzzzt!
The bullets ripped past Grayson’s ears.
And then the pressure on his body was gone.
Smoke had let go, and the cyborg was tumbling down toward the city. He landed on a roof far, far below.
Grayson sighed with relief as Eddie closed the bay doors.
“Grayson, are you okay?” Michiko asked nervously.
Grayson felt his body. His skin stung from where Smoke had punched him, and his forehead was bleeding. But so far, no broken bones. Thank God.
“I’ll be all right,” he said.
Keltie helped him up.
Devika hooked her handcoil to her belt and gave Florian a dirty glance.
“Nice try,” she said.
Florian growled. He tried to escape from the handcuffs, screaming like a caged animal.
“You’re not going to take me in!” he shouted. “You stupid little bitch!”
Devika folded her arms.
Florian stopped shouting. When he realized there was no hope, he settled into his chair with a look of pure fear in his eyes. He looked away from the group.
Grayson smirked.
“We’re headed into space, guys,” Eddie said. “Strap in.”
They took their seats along the walls of the airlock as Eddie blasted out of Macalestern’s atmosphere, into space. They went weightless for a few moments before the gravity ring kicked in.
Grayson never wished to see police more badly in his life.
Eddie set coordinates for the GALPOL Headquarters. Two hour flight.
He checked the hyper core levels.
Perfect condition and ready to go.
He clapped his hands and sat back, smiling.
Wow, that was one hell of a fight. And he helped win it!
He wanted to high-five Grayson, make a joke in Spanish.
He radioed to the police station.
“This is Eddie Puente of the Blue Star,” he said. “Per orders from Agent Devika Sharma, I’m setting course for the GALPOL Headquarters. Should be there in about two hours.”
“Who is this?” a police dispatcher asked.
“Eddie Puente. Didn’t Agent Sharma call you?”
A brilliant flash of light appeared, and Eddie shielded his eyes. When it faded, a fleet of black police corsairs had surrounded his ship. There were at least two dozen, and their red sirens were flashing.
Eddie couldn’t go any further.
“Man, am I glad to see you guys,” Eddie said. “We’ve got Florian Macalestern onboard, and we’re ready for you to take him.”
A male voice spoke on the radio. “Who else is aboard?”
“Me, Agent Sharma, and—”
“Agent Devika Sharma?” the voice asked.
“Yeah, she called you—”
The voice grew harsh.
“Turn off your engines and report to the airlock with your hands up. We’re boarding in two minutes.”
Suddenly, the ship shook.
And the lights went out.
Devika’s eyes adjusted to the absence of light after the power went out.
She didn’t like it.
She tightened her grip on her handcoil.
“What the hell happened?” Grayson asked, floating toward the ceiling.
“Why did we lose power?” Keltie asked.
The ship shook again as something connected to the airlock.
“Someone’s connecting,” Devika said.
Florian glanced at the door, surprised.
“Who is it?” Devika asked him.
Florian shrugged. “Even I’m curious about this turn of events.”
Eddie swam into the airlock. “Guys, it’s the police!”
Florian spat. “Fuck me.”
“Must be a standard procedure, right?” Grayson asked. “To make sure nobody gets hurt?”
Devika nodded.
“Nice work, guys,” Grayson said. “Let’s savor this moment.”
Grayson swam to Eddie and high-fived him.
The ship vibrated as the airlock doors calibrated with another airlock. Gravity returned to the airlock as the police ship’s gravity ring moved over the ship.
Devika touched down, ready to end it all.
And then the doors opened.
A swarm of police rushed into the room.
“Put your hands up!” they screamed.
In a dazzling blur, the police pushed everyone down to the floor with their hands behind their heads.
Devika tried to flash her badge, but they wouldn’t accept it. She dropped her handcoil and got on her knees.
A tall, middle-aged man in a black trench coat and fedora strode onto the airlock. He looked around, at Florian, Tatiana and Huxley, and then at Devika. He shook his head.
“Agent Sharma?” he asked.
Devika nodded.
The man flashed his badge.
“Agent Ryan Miller. You’re under arrest.”
25
“We’re very sorry this happened to you, Mr. Macalestern,” Ryan Miller said, unlocking Florian’s handcuffs. “We’ll be taking this group into custody. Once we’re done, we’ll let you be on your way. I'm assuming you wish to file charges. Here's my card. Call me when you wish to proceed, but know that the state will want a piece of these perpetrators whether you have mercy on them or not.”
Florian looked as surprised as the rest of the group.
“Well, uh, thank you, Agent Miller. I appreciate it.”
“Are you injured?” Miller asked.
Florian rubbed his head. “Very injured, officer. These bastards beat the crap out of me.”
Miller frowned at Devika. “That's very unfortunate.”
He motioned to an officer. “Sounds like Mr. Macalestern wants to file charges.”
Miller walked around Devika, noting the others with her.
An interesting crew, exactly as Beauregard and Stroud described. African-American man, soldier built; attractive female with glasses; Latino man, meek-looking; Sharma; and a petite Latina woman.
Miller took notes on his tablet, and then he took photos of the airlock.
“You're making a mistake,” Devika said.
Miller continued his inspection of the airlock. Meanwhile, Florian, Huxley, and Tatiana exited into the safety of the police cruiser ship.
“You're ruining my investigation work,” Devika said.
Miller shook his head. Then he bent down and met Devika eye-to-eye.
“You did this to yourself. Why didn't you return my calls?”
Devika fell silent.
“Maybe I could have helped you,” he said. “Just ma
ybe. But you're going to have to go through the process, now.”
“You're letting a murderer walk free,” Devika said.
“You know the protocol,” Miller said. “I'm not here for Mr. Macalestern.”
Devika scowled.
“Murder,” Miller said, “Vandalism. Assault and battery. Trespassing. Invasion of privacy. That's just the short list of offenses that each of you will be charged with today.”
“Murder!” Grayson cried.
“Someone fell out of this ship,” Miller said. “We’re going to have to scrape their body off a sidewalk somewhere.”
The ship shook. Another cruiser connected to the ship. The jail box.
Miller stood and dusted off his hands.
“Let’s book them.”
He watched as the other officers led Devika, Grayson, Keltie, Eddie and Michiko into the jail box.
Then he took a final look around, studied the scene of events, and told himself it was time for a beverage break.
26
Smoke pulled branches and tree leaves out of his mouth.
He lay tangled in a giant oak tree, hanging upside down.
His chest was sore, and his arms ached beyond anything he felt before.
He pulled one leg off a large branch and winced.
“No—”
The leg was holding him in place. He fell from the branch and crashed onto a dirt surface.
He rolled over and wiped dirt from his eyes.
“Gaaaah…”
He looked up, breathing heavily.
He was in an oak tree.
He heard the sound of sirens and horns below.
He sat up.
A roof.
He was on a roof.
A vegetated roof. There were trees, grass, and dirt everywhere.
He was high. Many, many stories above Macalestern’s living platform.
Jesus.
He'd been lucky. The tree broke his fall.
His arm burned with pain. It was bleeding.
He saw a protrusion sticking out and he grabbed it immediately, screamed as he pulled out a thin, needle-like bullet. Tossing it away, he cried out and applied pressure to his arm.
If it hadn't been for his alloy limbs, he would have had four broken limbs. No normal person could survived this kind of fall.
Rain fell gently on the roof. He looked around.
What the hell was he going to do now?
He tried to stand but his legs were weak.
Horizon Down (Galaxy Mavericks Book 9) Page 11