The replicant bounded out of sight down the tunnel in front of him. Max followed, now fighting for each ragged breath. He half-skidded around the corner, lungs burning. He skittered to a stop.
The replicant stood at the end of the tunnel. Daylight filtered down onto his face from the grate above him. He snapped his head down to see Max and froze.
“Drop your weapon! NWPD! I’ll shoot you!” The replicant raised his hand. Max fired. The shot drilled into the replicant’s throat, nearly severing his head. Dark blue fluid pumped high into the air from the exposed tubing in his neck. The replicant slowly crumpled to the ground.
Max ran up to the body, lungs burning. He reached down and pulled the plasma pistol from the lifeless fingers of the replicant. “PT-90.” He placed it carefully beside the replicant and shakily stood up.
“Dillinger. Are you there?” Max put his weapon away and waited.
Finally… “Where are you, Kincaid? We need you up here now. Quade…”
“Yeah I know, he’s dead. I chased down his killer. It was a replicant.”
“It wasn’t Quade. He was a replicant, too.”
Angel rolled a chess piece between his thumb and forefinger. It was a white pawn. He stared intently at it without really seeing it. He was a man of dark emotions most days. Today was proving to be no different.
Serena sat back, her chair creaking. “Are you expecting the pawn to tell you what to do next?”
Angel stared across the table. The slightest whisp of a smile brushed his lips. “I wish someone would.” He placed the pawn two squares forward from its starting point. “I’m getting tired of playing it safe.”
Serena leaned over and slid one of her bishops across the board and captured Angel’s wayward pawn. She smiled. “There are consequences to playing too rashly.”
Angel let out a long sigh and stared at the board. “Yeah. Still… Can’t help feeling something is going to go down at that rally. We found the evidence, right?” Serena nodded. “Yet here we are, sitting on our asses… Like always.”
“The FBI is screening for our kind specifically, Angel. We’d only serve as a distraction for anybody there to do harm. We can’t always do what we want.”
Angel snorted. “That’s what his speech is supposed to be about. ‘Synthetics have to have better oversight,’ he says. We’re too out of control. Need to learn our place. Wasn’t so long ago people in this country were saying the same about black people.”
“Those same black people lashed out and were punished for it.”
“They were punished, but they were heard. I’m getting tired of keeping my mouth shut, especially around your new boyfriend.”
Serena looked confused for a moment. A look of understanding washed over her face a moment later. She wrinkled her nose. “Max Kincaid is not my boyfriend. Nobody is my boyfriend.”
Angel smirked. “I’d like to think I could help you change that.”
“Oh, really? You know someone?“ Serena smirked back.
“Haha. You wonder why I’m so cranky all the time.” The two locked eyes.
“Maybe I could help you change that.” Serena smiled.
Both were snapped out of their revelry, jumping at the sound of someone pounding hard on the main door. Angel’s smile melted away. “There’s always something…”
Serena was still smiling. “At least you’re not sitting around doing nothing, now.”
He tossed her a look over his shoulder and walked towards the door. He leaned into the monitor beside the door to see who their visitor was. “Well bull shit…” He thumbed a button next to the monitor. Yellow warning lights set in the ceiling began strobing throughout the Enclave.
The pounding came again, louder and more insistant. Serena walked towards Angel. “What’s the matter? Who is it?”
Angel raised a staying hand. “It’s fucking Alexander.” He turned back to the monitor and pressed another button. “He’s alone.”
More booming. “Open the door, Angel! I’ll bust it down if I have to.”
“Stay back.” Angel pulled out a plasma pistol.
“Angel, is that really a good idea? He…”
“Just stay back.” Angel pushed another button. The door buzzed and opened slightly. He kept the pistol pointed at the ground as Alexander pushed his way in.
Alexander slammed the door shut as soon as he was through. He turned back to Angel. He looked at the gun, then at his face. “Is that really necessary?”
“Are you for real? You have a hell of a lot of nerve coming around here. Come to gloat about your little plan to take out Robert Quade?”
Alexander looked confused. “Quade? I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Can it, Alexander.” Serena stepped forward. “We got Jacob’s mind out of Daryl Marston’s replicant. We know all about your scheme.”
Alexander smiled. “Always the resourceful one, weren’t you? Fine, yes… I planned to take out Quade, but it’s not what you think.”
Serena crossed her arms. “I’m listening.”
“Perhaps another time. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
“We’re going to if you don’t tell us what you’re planning for Quade.” Angel raised his pistol ever so slightly.”
“In due time, friend. Right now, we…”
“Friend… You son of a bitch!” Angel snapped the plasma pistol up and aimed it between Alexander’s eyes. “You were never our friend! You ran out! You left us!”
“Angel! Stop it!” Serena reached for her own weapon but stopped short, undecided.
“Oh, I’m going to stop it. Right now.”
Alexander lowered his head, nodding it slightly. “You have every reason to feel that way. Especially after this.”
“Especially after what?”
Alexander moved with lightning quick reflexes, dodging right as he swung his left arm up to deflect Angel’s pistol. Angel reacted just as quickly, firing the pistol. Alexander’s jacket split open at the shoulder where the round had skated across its surface.
Angel began to swing the gun back toward his opponent. Alexander pinned Angel’s hands against the door with one hand and punched the barrel of the pistol with the other. The force of the blow deformed the barrel and left an impression of it in the door.
Angel dropped the weapon and landed a punch across Alexander’s face. Alexander swept at Angel’s feet. Angel hopped back, leaning far forward. Alexander grabbed his head and sent it crashing down face first into the concrete floor.
Alexander began to stand. Angel roared and launched head-first into Alexander’s torso, sending him reeling backwards. Angel lifted his head. The artificial skin was split from the far left side of his forehead down to his left cheek. The resulting flap hung slightly open, revealing the metallic skull underneath.
Angel howled again, running at full speed toward Alexander. He punched Alexander in the stomach, then delivered a vicious uppercut. The blow rocked Alexander back. Metal gleamed through the split in his chin.
Alexander growled and threw a series of rapidfire punches into Angel’s chest. He finished with a hard right hook that slammed Angel’s head into the wall with a clang. Angel grabbed a handful of Alexander’s jacket and wound up for another shot.
“Stop or I’ll shoot you both!” The Synthetics turned to see Serena pointing her plasma pistol at them. “You both know this will get us nowhere! Angel, let him go.”
Angel didn’t move. Serena pointed the pistol right at him. “I said let him go!” A faint look of hurt flashed across Angel’s face, making Serena feel miserable. He slowly unraveled his hand from the jacket and dropped his hand to his side. “Now separate!”
The two opponents stiffly stepped away from each other. Both kept their eyes on the lady. Serena lowered her pistol. “I’m sorry Angel…” The Synthetic’s face was stone-like. She let out a stilted sigh.
She turned to Alexander. “Go. Talk. Now. Then I want you out of here.”
Alexander nodd
ed quickly. “Talk, yes… But you might not want me to leave so soon…”
Angel growled. “Oh, I’ll be happy to show you the door.”
“Angel, please!” The Synthetic harrumphed, but said no more. “Talk, Alexander.”
“Thank you. I’ll try to be brief…”
All three jumped at the sound of the door leading to the lab banging open. “I thought about your offer, Serena. I think I’ll play some chess after…” Daryl froze as he took in the scene before him. “…All. That’s Alexander. Hi, Alexander. Serena?”
“It’s okay, Daryl. Alexander was about to explain why he’s here.”
Alexander stared at Daryl for a moment, then cleared his throat. “Yes. We are all in danger and must leave immediately. Joseph Dietrich has marked us all for death. He’s already…” His voice wavered. “He has already killed all of my people.”
Serena’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
Angel growled. “Stupid lies! Why would a man like Joseph Dietrich even care whether we live or die? He refuses to even acknowledge our existence!”
“All in time, Angel. Serena, you must trust me. They are all dead. Philip, Jackson, Cole…” Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke. “They came all at once. Armored military bots like the ones you faced when you escaped.
“They tore through our defenses. They literally tore them apart. We fought back, but we were taken unawares. We had lost before the fight had begun.”
Serena shook her head. A look of unease stole across her face. “How do you know it was Dietrich that sent them?”
Alexander sighed. “I know it’s not what you want to hear, but again, I’ll explain in due time. What you need to know right now is they are headed here. The Enlightened have fallen and Dietrich won’t stop until the Resistance falls too. We need to leave.”
Angel shook his head sharply. “Not good enough. I don’t believe it. Why should we believe it?” He looked to Serena for support. She returned a helpless gaze.
“No, it’s all good. I believe him.” Daryl spoke matter-of-factly.
Angel and Serena looked at him in surprise. It may have come off as amusing, under better circumstances. Serena spoke next. “What do you mean, Daryl?”
“Yeah, um… Well, Julian believes him, I guess? He uh, he’s getting harder to hear nowadays but I’m definitely getting that.”
Angel didn’t look impressed. “Sounds like bullshit to me, Daryl. What’s your angle?”
Daryl shrugged and shook his head. “No angle. I’m just getting the impression from Julian that we need to listen to Alexander. Dietrich is not who he appears to be.” The last sentence was spoken in Julian’s voice.
“My god.” Serena looked to Angel. The synthetic for the first time looked unsure. She turned back to Daryl. “Julian? Can you hear me? What’s going on?”
“Follow Alexander, and listen to Daryl. He speaks for me now.” Daryl’s voice came through at the end of the last sentence. “Wow, that was weird.”
A trill alarm came from the monitor by the door. Angel stepped over to it. His eyes grew wide. “Son of a bitch. Looks like he’s telling the truth.”
The other three crept closer to the monitor. A group of six combat robots were pounding their way up to the door. Two of them were splattered with a blue liquid. Alexander hissed. “We must leave now! Get everyone out! Is there another exit?”
“Yes, follow me. Angel, Daryl, let’s go.”
“No.” Angel grabbed a plasma rifle from a mount above the monitor.
“Angel, if you stay you’ll be killed! There’s too many!”
“If I don’t stay then you and the others may not have time enough to escape.” There came a deafening BOOM from behind him. A large welt had appeared in the middle of the door. “Damn it, go now!”
Tears welled up in Serena’s eyes as she pushed Daryl back towards the labs. “You heard him! We need to get Nuan and the others!”
Alexander stood staring at Angel. The synthetic pulled a plasma pistol from his waistband and tossed it to Alexander. “You too, man. We’re all gonna need your answers.” BOOM. The door was buckling.
Alexander nodded numbly and quickly caught up with Serena and Daryl. BOOM. The door had nearly failed. Angel cried out in rage and fired the plasma rifle at the hulking robot on the other side of the door.
The combat robot let out an inhuman wail, pulling back momentarily. It stared dumbly at the glowing black hole in its chest. It shook its head and slammed both of its fists into the door. The metal finally gave way, the door breached.
Angel looked over his shoulder. The others had passed through the door to the labs. Good. He fired another shot directly into the combat robot’s head and fell back. The robot shrieked and fell dead to the ground.
Angel reached into his pocket and pulled out the small chrome ball that Max had given him. “Hope you weren’t just feeding me bullshit.” He firmly pressed down on the button on the ball. It beeped rapidly. He dropped it to the ground and trained his rifle on the next combat robot.
In the lab, Nuan ran towards the sight of Serena and Daryl. She shrieked at the sight of Alexander. “Aiya! What’s going on?”
Serena shook her head. “No time to explain, Nuan! We’re getting out of here!” She grabbed Nuan as she passed, dragging her along. A number of lab techs looked up at the commotion. “All of you! Follow me! We’re under attack! Evacuate!”
The growing group of Synthetics pushed on towards the opposite side of the complex. The blasts of fire from Angel’s rifle were all the motivation they needed to keep going. Serena ushered the others into the room holding the secondary exit.
Serena suddenly paused. The plasma bursts had stopped. The last few Synthetics passed into the last room. She stepped through the doorway and spun around to close the door.
Loud booming echoed down the corridor they had just came from. A combat robot exploded into view. Its heavily damaged black shielding was splattered in dark blue hydraulic fluid. It squealed at the sight of Serena and broke into a run.
Serena slammed the heavy door closed and dead-bolted it shut. The combat robot slammed into the other side of the door, making the whole wall shudder. The Synthetics behind her screamed and cried.
“Everybody out! Open the door!” Serena slowly backed away from the locked door. It shook again as the combat robot slammed into it, squealing.
She turned around, shepherding Synthetics towards and through the emergency exit. More screams and cries poured out from the Synthetics at the front of the pack. Serena could hear the squeal of tires and the whoop of police sirens.
She forced her way to the front. Two squad cars had stopped at an angle to the building. A third came up from the back, skidding to a stop. Officers were leaning against the cars’ open doors, weapons drawn and pointed.
“Don’t shoot! We’re under attack!”
The officers in the closest car eased up and looked at each other. The driver turned to Serena. “Under attack from what?”
Serena and the officers looked to either side of them. A deep, repeated pounding was coming from either direction. Serena instinctively pulled her plasma pistol and pointed it at the ground.
“Hey! Woah, lady!” The officer trained his weapon on Serena as he caught sight of her weapon.
Serena raised her hands up. “Trust me, you’ll want to be worrying about what’s coming.”
“What’s coming?”
“Those!” Six combat robots came pounding towards the group, three to a side. These ones appeared to be undamaged. Serena found Alexander. “I thought there were only six!”
Alexander looked as surprised as she did. “There were! The damaged ones must have sent out a signal for reinforcements. We’re in trouble!”
“Open fire!” The officer’s voice boomed from the squad car’s loudspeaker. Red bursts of plasma fire peppered the air to the left and right. The group of Synthetics cowered and pulled tightly together.
A loud boom came from behind them, followed by the
sound of rending steel. The combat robots still inside were finding their way out. “Shit.” Serena sprang back up to her feet. “Hold your fire! Everyone, get behind the police! GO!”
The officers continued to fire. Red splashes of plasma glanced off the armor plating of the the robots. The machines squealed in protest. “Stop firing, damn it!” Serena crept forward with the others, hoping nobody was hit in the crossfire.
One of the officers lobbed a plasma grenade at one group of combat robots. It exploded in a brilliant red and yellow flash. Globs of red plasma splattered the machines.
They collapsed to the ground, squealing and shivering as the plasma ate through their armor and into their inner cores. One suddenly exploded, sending shrapnel into the other two, as well as the passing crowd of Synthetics.
Serena helped the injured and the stragglers past the last patrol car. Alexander tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to the other group of robots. They had frozen, seemingly at the sight of their fallen comrades. “They’re reassessing.”
“But what about…” The combat robot inside the building exploded through the weakened door inside the Enclave before Serena could finish the thought. It barreled forward. Another followed closely behind it.
Alexander, Serena, and the police officers opened fire on the scrambling robots. A fourth squad car roared up from one side and slammed hard into the side of the robots. The machines went tumbling away from the skidding automobile.
Both robots came to a stop and stood still. One finally began to stir. Several plasma rounds stilled its shuddering body. The three robots in the distance took a couple of steps backward.
The door of the squad car clunked open. Richard O’Connor popped his head over the roof. “Serena! What in the hell…” His eyes widened in surprise. He trained his plasma pistol on Alexander a moment later. “You!”
The other officers looked at each other and pointed their weapons at Alexander in turn. Alexander raised his hands. “I’m on your side this time around, officer.”
Richard looked from Alexander to Serena. “What’s going on, lady?”
Serena shook her head. “Armageddon, officer O’Connor… He appears to be on our side for the time-being.” She turned at the sound of the combat robots shifting. One appeared to be trying to flank the group. “We have more pressing matters.”
Preservation Protocol Page 25