"You’ll… you’ll…" Katcheena tried through her bloodied mouth.
"We’ll what?" Handax asked, put-out by her drama.
"You’ll never get out alive."
"That’s as maybe, but as long as the animals do, we don’t care."
By now, everyone had gotten used to the screaming alarms.
Handax crouched down and felt Katcheena’s neck, "I reckon you have about two minutes before you bleed out."
Defiant, she spat in his face, "Go to hell."
He duly ignored her instruction and wiped the phlegm from his face. "You can make this right, Katcheena. Tell me where the release switch is."
"Never."
"Suit yourself," Handax rose to his feet and hollered at the second compound door. "Leif, get out of there."
Leif ran out of the room and up to Moses and Handax. "Yeah, what’s up?" She spotted the bleeding security guards screaming for their lives by the main door.
"Katcheena, here, won’t tell us where the release switch is. It must be here somewhere, judging by the look on her face lift."
“How dare you,” she retaliated and press her fingertips to her cheeks. The oily, plastic skin pushed around her skull, “I have not had a face lift.”
“Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart,” Moses nodded at a green button on the control deck, "Try that one."
"No, don’t press that," Katcheena cried. "It’s the fire alarm, you’ll soak us all."
Handax looked at her dead in the eyes. "Really?"
"Yes, really," she insisted. "The whole place will flood. If we don’t run, we’ll drown."
"I guess it’ll release the cages if that were to happen, won’t it?" Moses kept an eye on his forearm. Hundreds of little black dots formed across his skin. "That would be a mighty shame. For you."
"Ugghh," Katcheena rolled around the floor in pain and clutched at her bullet wound, "Don’t press it. Please, don’t press it."
Handax and Leif shot each other a knowing glance.
"Leif?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"Hit the green button."
"You got it," she thumped the button and turned to face the second compound.
SCHTANG-SCHTANG-SCHTANG!
The cage doors burst open one by one and released the one-hundred-strong tidal wave of furry felines to the ground. They tumbled, shrieked and scratched their way into the central compound area.
"Run, my darlings," Leif pointed to the main door, "Over there. Run, run, run."
Fluffy, the white American bobtail, led the charge. A huge variety of cats chased after her as they dispersed around the console.
"No, no," Katcheena screamed at the top of her lungs. "What have you done? They’re not ready for release—"
"—We’re only doing what USARIC claims to be doing,’ Handax shouted at her. ‘Maintaining their welfare.”
“You idiots. You don’t know what you’ve done.”
A few cats became fascinated by the workstation’s swivel chairs. They spun them around, and dug their claws into the upholstery.
"Gaaah," Ketcheena screamed as the influx of furry little felines descended upon her. "Get away from me."
SCRATCH! GNASH!
Twenty-six cats tore away at Katcheena’s work suit and face, tearing her clothes to shreds and much of the skin from her face.
"Meow," one particularly vicious cat who resembled Jelly Anderson clawed at her eyes, hungry for revenge.
"That’s one furious pussy, right there," Moses gasped at the attack and turned to his forearm, "Nearly done."
"Good," Handax watched as the majority of the cats storm through the entrance and into the corridor, "They’re going."
Leif pointed at the far wall in haste, "The third door?"
"No time for that, now—" Handax caught sight of the door leading to the corridor. Furious gunfire, followed by screeching from some of the felines, rattled along the walls and into the compound. "Oh, no."
Just then, twenty-odd cats ran back into the room, trying to hide from danger.
"Someone’s coming,’ Handax yelled. ‘Someone’s coming."
Moses kept his forearm held to the plate. "I need more time."
"No, there’s no time," Handax grabbed Moses’ shoulders, "Security’s coming. There’s only one way out."
"If we’re going to die, I’m taking as many of those bastards with me,” Leif lifted her firearm and pointed it at the corridor.
The returning cats fanned out around the room and took refuge behind the chairs and desks.
"Security breach in Sector Z118," a stern-sounding voice thundered down the tunnel, "Shoot to kill."
"Forget that," Handax slid the machine gun Moses had confiscated from the security guard from his shoulder, "Mind if I borrow this?"
"Hold them off till I’m done," Moses reached into his belt for his hand gun with his free, right hand. He aimed it at the door and kept an eye on the absorption process. "Twenty seconds. I’m right here with you."
The sound of charging footsteps grew louder and louder.
Leif hid behind the console and held her gun in both hands. Handax inadvertently stepped on Katcheena’s glasses, crunching them against the ground. "Whoops." He slid across the console deck, crouched behind the chair and aimed the machine gun at the door. "Ready, guys?"
"Oh, yeah," Moses held his hand gun at the corridor. "Let’s give ‘em hell."
"Leif," Handax shouted over the console. "Protect Moses till he’s done transferring."
Leif cocked her weapon and knocked the side of her head against the console, enjoying the adrenaline rush. "You got it, babes."
"Here they come."
A USARIC mercenary ran into the room, ready to open fire with his USARIC-issue machine gun. He took a look around and saw Moses in the middle of the room with his arm pressed to the console plate.
BLAM!
Moses fired a shot at the mercenary. "S’up?" The bullet smoked in the wall a few inches to the right of the man’s head. He saw the barrel of Moses’ handgun facing him, "The next bullet won’t be so kind, my friend."
"Okay, okay," the mercenary unhooked the gun from his shoulder and set it to the floor, "Don’t shoot."
"Get on the floor and lie down, face-first."
"Whatever you say."
The mercenary carefully placed his chest on the floor. In doing so, he caught sight of Leif and Handax hiding behind the console. To his left, dozens of scared kitties peered from behind the chairs and desks.
"How many cats got out?" asked the mercenary.
"A few. I don’t know," Moses said. "Now it’s your turn to answer my question. How many of you scumbags are coming?"
“Dozens. We’ve been ordered to shoot—”
“—Shut up.”
"They’re already here,” the mercenary said.
"What?"
The mercenary pushed himself onto his back and reached into his boot strap. "Advance. One on the console, and two behind the deck."
"Huh?" Moses double-took as everything slowed-down to a crashing halt. "What the—"
The mercenary pulled out a Rez-9 from his boot and fired at Moses. The charge hit him in the shoulder, breaking the skin and sending a charge down his body.
Handax closed his eyes, hearing a bunch of footsteps enter the room. "Okay, now."
He jumped up from behind the console and fired off a round of bullets at the USARIC militia.
Thraa-a-tat-a-tat!
Seven armed mercenaries returned fire, their random bullets smashing the furniture and walls to pieces.
Leif screamed and launched herself sideways, firing at them. Her bullets caught two USARIC militia in their legs. They dropped their weapons to the ground and screamed blue murder.
"Reloading," Handax unbolted a side magazine from the machine gun’s housing and thumped it into the grip.
"Come out, now," screamed a USARIC mercenary as bits of the console pinged and burst apart from the gunfire.
"No. Put down yo
ur weapons," Handax screamed as he witnessed Leif try her luck. She launched her behind onto the console and blasted ten successive shots at the five remaining USARIC mercenaries, hitting two of them in the chest. The latter of them swung his arm to the console and pulled the trigger.
BAMM-SCHPLATT!
Leif’s forehead opened out like a flower as the bullet careened through her skull, killing her instantly. The back of her head thumped against the console. Her dead eyes stared at Handax as her grip loosened on her firearm.
"Leif, no," he screamed and hulked the machine gun over the console, yanking on the trigger, “Die, you scumbags.”
Pow-pow-pow-pow-click-click-click-click.
Blind-firing got him two kills on the spot, leaving two injured USARIC mercs to back away from their fallen colleagues.
Handax threw the empty machine gun aside and reached for his handgun. He daren’t peer up from the console for fear of getting hit in the face by a stray bullet.
He slowed his breathing in a futile attempt to decelerate his heartbeat - the organ in question ready to jump up through his throat and shoot through his mouth.
"Is that all of them?" asked one of the mercenaries.
"I think so. That guy on the console. Headshot on the girl."
"Good. Check the corners and clear the area."
Handax kicked himself against the back of the console and checked his gun. He was so close to hyperventilating and giving himself away.
"What do we do about these damn cats?" a mercenary pointed to the petrified kitties cowering behind the debris.
"They’ll be here in ninety seconds. Mark the area as clear, then we execute."
"No, no, no, no—" Handax whispered through the sweat forming on his lips. He turned to his left and saw a congregation of terrified cats look to him for rescue.
Clomp, clomp, clomp…
"Oh, God…" Handax knew it was a matter of seconds before the mercenary found him hiding. He took a final breath and booted the chair next to him away from the console. It provided a distraction as he jumped out from behind the console and unloaded his magazine.
BANG-BANG-BANG!
The approaching mercenary opened fire on the chair without compromise. The bullets tore through it, breaking it into sections across the ground.
Handax spotted his opportunity. He slid over the console and blasted the man in the back, busting his shoulder apart. The mercenary dropped the gun and hit the floor, dead.
"Oh, God. Moses," Handax saw Moses’ corpse sprawled across the console. By his sneakers, Leif’s body had fallen to the ground. Both his friends were dead. “I… I…”
"—Sucks, doesn’t it?" came a voice.
“Huh?” Handax double-took and turned to a mercenary chuckling to himself at the entrance. He’d lost his weapon and wasn’t quick enough to reach the discarded firearm on the floor.
"Wh-what?"
"Both your friends, there. Dead. And then you go and kill one of mine."
“But, but—”
“—I guess that’s your buddy barbecuing out on the airfield, too, right?
Handax didn’t know how to respond. He stood still, flummoxed, and lifted his gun at the man’s face. He wondered why the mercenary wasn’t firing at him.
"You’re not going to shoot me," the mercenary said. "Do you know why?"
Handax’s nerves got the better of him. He could barely keep the gun up. The anxiety reflected in his voice when he spoke. "No, why?"
"Because there’s only one way out for you. And that’s in a body bag with your friends. And, of course, all these furry little turds."
"What…" Handax closed his eyes and shook away the sweat. "What is USARIC doing with these cats?"
"I dunno. Who cares," the mercenary kicked himself away from the wall and approached the console. "I don’t ask questions. USARIC pays my wage and I get to feed my family. Do you know what they’re paying me to do, now?"
“What?” Handax kept his pathetic hold on the man as he got nearer.
“Kill you stone dead,” he smiled in the face of execution and nodded at Handax’s gun, "You gonna use that on me?"
Handax glanced at the shaking cats and created a compromise, "Will you let me go if I walk out of here?"
"Your two buddies did it. I never saw you. You’re wearing a mask. "
Handax thought over the offer for a few seconds. Freedom beckoned.
"Go on, get out of here."
Handax kept his gun aimed at the man and gripped the top of his balaclava with his free hand.
"Hey, no. What are you doing? Don’t show me your—"
Off came the balaclava, revealing Handax’s tear-strewn face.
The mercenary thumped his fists together in a state of fury, "You imbecile. I’ve seen you, now."
"Yeah, you know what this means. Don’t you?"
The mercenary held up his hands in shock, “You don’t have to do this, you know."
"I have to do this."
BLAM!
Handax shot the mercenary in the chest, killing him. He blinked a few times and attempted to process what he’d done. “I can’t run,” he muttered and accepted his fate. He turned to the cats, "But it means you guys can. Go on. Get out of here. Quick."
The cats stood looking at him, suspended in disbelief.
"Don’t just stand there staring at me, you morons. Run."
Still no response. Any moment now, USARIC would breach the compound and terminate anything turning oxygen into carbon dioxide without question.
Handax did what he had to do. It was for their own good. He ran at them barking like a dog as loud as he could, "Woof, woof!"
The cats shrieked and jumped into the air. Most of them bolted toward the door and down the corridor.
"Go on. Go, go," he shouted after them and waved the few that remained toward the door. He stomped forward, acting the violent beast, "Grrr."
The final few startled kitties chased after their counterparts and vacated the compound, leaving a thoroughly disheveled Handax to take a deep breath.
Leif and Moses were dead.
Handax would join them thirty seconds from now. He stepped up to the console and lifted Moses’ left arm. The absorption process was close to completion. The data that had successfully transferred was useless in the body of a dead man.
Handax carefully set his friend’s arm to the console and took a seat in the chair. He rolled up his sleeve and swiped the three inked lines across his forearm.
"Individimedia, access. Enable broadcast. Handax T. Skill."
The ink formed a row of dots across his skin. His thumbnail lit up a soft green and pink, throwing a shaft of light at his face.
A screech of tires slamming to a halt barreled from the far end of the corridor. The worry vacated his mind. He looked at his forearm and moved his thumb to allow the light emission to reach his eyes.
"This is Handax Skill from P.A.A.C, People Against Animal Cruelty. I hope someone is watching. We take responsibility for the assassination of Dimitri Vasilov. We breached the animal compound at USARIC’s headquarters at Cape Claudius, which is where I am broadcasting from.
"If it moves, shoot it," a voice shouted form within the corridor.
Handax continued his last will and testament into his forearm. "I know someone out there is watching. What USARIC has done is unforgivable. What we found when we breached the compound is even worse…"
The footsteps grew louder and louder, as did the angry shouting of orders to kill everything on sight.
"Remy Gagarin’s cat, Bisoubisou, never boarded Opera Beta. We found her body at the compound along with hundreds of others. Those we found alive we set free. USARIC has killed three of my team. Moses, Denny, and Leif. They’ll deny it, of course. They’ll claim they went missing and have no involvement. In a matter of seconds, I’ll be joining them."
"Over there," yelled an umpteenth USARIC mercenary as he entered the room, "Hey, you. Put your arms above your head and drop to your knees."
He tilted his forearm forward, displaying a dozen USARIC mercs looking back at him with their weapons drawn. In that very moment, Handax’s broadcast evolved into a live feed for his inevitable execution.
Chrome Valley
Northwest London, United Kingdom
One viewer who saw Handax’s Individimedia broadcast was seven-year-old Jamie Anderson, who watched the events play out on a holographic image in his bedroom.
"Handax? Is that you?" Jamie muttered in astonishment.
Upside-down footage of the heavily armed USARIC mercenaries greeted the viewer.
"We will not lie down until USARIC reverses its decision to use animals for space exploration," Handax’s voice emitted over the broadcast as the image lowered to the ground. He’d dropped to his knees.
The first mercenary hooked his finger around the trigger of his gun, "Hey, blue hair. Are you broadcasting?"
"Death to human scum who practice inhumane—"
"—Stop that Individimedia broadcast, right now!" ordered the mercenary.
Handax squeezed his eyes shut and yelled at the top of his lungs. "Death to human scum who practice inhumane treatment of animals—"
BANG-BANG-BANG-THUMP!
Jamie shrieked and held his hands over his mouth as the point-of-view of the live feed crashed to the floor. Not seeing the violence play out on the footage was much worse than seeing it. Handax’s arm slapped to the floor, offering viewers a front-row ticket to a first-person death.
Jamie Anderson’s mind went into overdrive. He stared at the screen, open-jawed and traumatized. After a moment or two, he turned his opened bedroom door, "Mom!"
Chapter 7
Botanix
Space Opera Beta - Level Three
"I don’t get it. I saw Haloo die right in front of me. On the operating table. No pulse, nothing."
Jaycee’s suspicion didn’t subside as the crew approached Botanix. The door had been shattered - the result of an explosion.
He vented his frustration quietly, and confidently. He kept his grip on Tor’s Decapidisc, forcing the man forward, "Ain’t that right, Russian?"
Star Cat: The First Trilogy (Infinity Claws, Pink Symphony, War Mage) Page 29