The next two levels of power were brought into the room and their charges laid out before them. The Protectorate gave the same speech and they were all led out. Then they bought in all the supervisors of each department. Most, had scanned as clear of any wrong doing. Those that hadn’t had already been pulled out. The Protectorate told them they’d all been promoted to run their departments. Work to carry on as normal. They were to find someone from their teams to take their places and promote them. The Protectorate left them with a few words. Things would be different, and it was up to them, to make sure it was.
Vict walked out the conference room after them. He had better places to be. Mina was waiting on him and he needed to feel her. This was her world, he hoped those people listened. The alternative for this world, wasn’t good.
***
CHAPTER SIX
Mina sat staring at the vid screen at her image and the information playing across it. It was telling the public she was their nominated liaison with the Cyborg Empire. She’d got the information packet that morning. It came with an official approval of her title and position. As the ‘mate’ of a Councilman with the Cyborg Empire, it gave her a unique position that would serve both worlds. Her service to justice had been given the highest honour. Mina wasn’t sure she deserved it and the ‘mate’ thing was beginning to grate.
Vict had practically kept her prisoner on board his ship until she’d demanded to go home. It hadn’t been easy to stick to her guns. His, were so tempting and he’d used everything in his arsenal to keep her on his ship. She admired his tenacity. She’d had to threaten separate rooms unless he complied. She wasn’t sure he’d believed her but, he’d given way. Kind of. She now had several Cyborgs outside her door day and night.
She shook her head as she watched images of the CEO’s family being moved out their home and taken to a more modest one. She immediately called Kanane.
The second he answered she was on him. “Take the feed of those families off the screen. No one needs to be humiliated like that. It’s not right.” He mumbled a few things then agreed. She’d cut him off. The children were young, she hoped it didn’t taint them. The report had informed that Mrs CEO had decided to stay. She’d made a statement saying she had no knowledge of her husband’s actions and supports any action against him. Mina guessed there was no love lost there.
She’d heard Vict say that the female’s and children’s financial accounts would not be touched. Mina thought that fair. No matter what their father had done, they were not to blame. The news feed changed. Mina turned it off. She’d seen enough. She’d never realised just how large those Corporate homes were until now. What had been the cost of all that, she wondered sadly.
She sat there, unable to get her mind around it all. Vict letting himself in, made her realise how late it had to be.
She got up and went to him. “Madam Ambassador.” He told her taking her in his arms. Mina huffed. “Sounds stupid.” She told him.
Vict pulled back and looked at her. “You don’t want the job?” Mina shrugged.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem real. Haven’t we had enough of people making themselves important?”
He pulled her chin up to look at him. “There will be a lot that needs sorting between worlds. It will be an important necessary job. Someone from this world needs to be that person. Someone who knows the people and how they will react to things. It also needs to be someone who understands us.”
Mina smiled up at him and stroked his chest. “And, do I understand you?” She asked. Vict growled. “You know exactly how good you smell to me right now.” He leaned in and nuzzled her neck, breathing her in.
“Really?” Mina asked on a sigh. “Perhaps you’d better show me.”
***
Vict left Mina early. Prisoners were being moved to their new destinations starting today, some loaded onto ships for the Intergalactic Courts. Others, to where part of the fleet had been working on extending the old security forces headquarters. It now accommodated a lot more than 50 holding rooms. It would become the jail for this world, for the lessor offenders to do out their time. If they showed rehabilitation worked, they would be offered places back in the community. None of which, would be in any form of power. For those that refused to believe the truth, a different approach was being used. They’d tried reason, physical evidence and verbal admissions, but nothing worked for the hardcore groups. The descension they were causing, created problems of its own.
Pockets of people who refused to believe the truth, who rallied together, demanding the ‘invaders’ left, pulled other people in to join them, causing havoc. Suddenly a world that did not allow free speech, now had it in droves. Ironically, only because the Cyborgs had arrived.
Vict shook his head. Nothing would dissuade them. Not the live interrogations, or the evidence trail. They refused to believe what was in front of them. Refused to believe their own people were responsible for such things. The propaganda machine had done it’s work well. He’d seen it before on other worlds. People needed someone to blame. It was easier to accept, if you blamed the unknown. Then, you couldn’t blame yourself for not knowing or caring and allowing your own people to die.
There was little logic in it. With no choice, they’d started rounding them up and taking them to the warehouse, showing them what had been done to their own people. Had the very people they knew, speak with them, tell them more truths. All the while, providing the evidence of organised disappearances, murders and abuses. Then they were shown their own files, with people they knew, written up in them. Once they saw their own files and that of their children and families, many backed off. Finally getting it.
This wasn’t what the Cyborgs had created, it’s what they’d found.
Vict jogged towards the off-worlder. They were using some park land that had seen better days. Vict remembered Mina telling him, some dispute over who should maintain it, had resulted in it being rundown. It was as near as an off-worlder could get to Mina’s apartment, without causing damage. He hadn’t liked the idea of taking something from the children, but Mina had assured him it wasn’t used. None of the equipment worked and only a few young people hung around it.
Vict looked around as he crossed the open area. It was in a good location, with views of the city. Vict thought it should go back to being used, children needed space and once Mina moved, the park would be regenerated. He’d made up his mind he’d make sure it was. His personal wealth was more than enough to cover that and half the city.
Vict put one foot on the landing ramp when the force of an explosion, threw him deeper into the ship.
Vict took the impact as his body crashed into a number of crates. He registered the rate of explosion and the distance he’d travelled. Calculations told him, had the ship been nearer the explosion, there would have been more serious damage. It wasn’t meant for them. All around him his men moved securing the ship, damage reports filtered across his optic. Taking the arms held out to help him up, Vict noticed he wasn’t the only one to have fallen. Several Cyborgs in the ramp area and loading bay were down too. He connected his neuro net to the Bridge. What the fuck just happened? Leaving it open for the response.
Intel coming in now. Vict waited brushing off his clothing. A building was targeted. It has partially collapsed.
Inform the Admiral. All rescue teams to stand by. Location?
Sir, it’s the Ambassadors building. Vict froze. Mina! His mind roared out. He’d only just left her. NO. No. No. He turned, running through the ship back to the landing ramp. His men spilled out around him. Vict could see the plume of smoke coming from the direction of her building. Fuck. A lot of it. A chill swept through him, his emotions crashing over him in a tidal wave of grief. The force so strong it rocked him on he heels. He leaned on the panel for support, she couldn’t be gone…. he couldn’t breathe…
He continued to stare at the rising smoke in disbelief. In the back of his mind he registered that his men had taken over and were quickly m
aking their way to the building. Re-enforcements were coming in from all their other ships. Dark, Pain and Rage were also on their way. Vict couldn’t function. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. His systems had completed overloaded and shut down. Turn your emotions off warrior. We can hear your distress. Vict recognised the ping of his Admiral and had tried to obey. He couldn’t reach it. The message played over and over again across his neuro net. Gradually, it permeated his fog of pain, and he took a shaky breath in. Vict was able to send the command to his emotion sensor to shut down. Mina needed him.
The moment it did, he came alive. Logic took over. His actions all on getting people to safety, securing the building and Mina, and finding those responsible. He sent out orders over his net, along with equipment requests for what they might need.
Sir, I have the Ambassadors security from the building requesting contact with you.
On comms. He told him.
Councilman, the building collapsed on this side. I do not have line of sight on the Ambassador or our brother. Our men are here, and we are searching. The structure needs support to prevent further collapse, then we will go in.
Affirmative. Vict responded. It was time he was on site. Picking up water and rope, he headed back to the residence he’d left, less than 10 minutes before.
Vict descended on the building. Where there had once been parking and a small garden area, there was now a crater. His men had set up a perimeter and were removing large boulders and loose material that would be in the way of any rescue mission. Others were bringing in supports to hold the structure from further collapse. He connected his net to his comms.
I need the blue prints to this building. Find them.
Affirmative.
How bad is it? The Admirals ping was open comms. The information would be sent across all the nets linked in.
I have requested blue prints of the building. The structural damage looks bad. We are removing rubble and putting in support to prevent further collapse. We have some survivors that have made it out. A number of others, including one of our brothers are trapped. Medical required.
Affirmative. We are here.
Vict didn’t bother turning as his brothers arrived. I hear survivors. Came over the open net and Vict watched as a platoon of men moved in one direction.
I have the blue prints Sir, sending to your vid. Vict held out the device as Rage, Dark and Pain joined him. You need to support this middle section first. It holds the entire building up. Dark told him. Vict agreed.
I need metal construction girders, blocks, anything that is going to hold up the middle of that building. He sent out over his net. His men moved.
We need to start moving all this out the way. Dark indicated the area in front of the collapse. Brace what we can until the equipment arrives. We can use the off-worlders to lift heavy pieces away. Screaming started up on another part of the building. My men will take care of that. Rage told him. Vict nodded. I’m going down to my men to aid in going in here. He indicated his position on the plan. Pain your men take the back of the building. See what you can do. He gave him a nod and moved off.
Human medical services started arriving, as well as the emergency support teams. Vict updated them on their plans, as his men came back with the support beams and blocks. He directed them where to start to support the inner structure. It was slow going. Support beam in, removal of collapsed material, support beam in, removing of collapsed material, a couple of paces at a time, working their way into the central support structure, removing anyone they found.
The building had collapsed through several floors. Vict realised they were going to need more help if they were to find everyone still alive. We’re going to need heat seekers, he called out over his net, more support beams and blocks to hold the building in place. He watched several pieces of wall drop down and crash to the floor. Get the off-worlders in and remove the heavy stuff from the top. He heard the ‘Affirmative’ as he worked on. All the while, rescue missions were going on around him, taking out people who’d been nearer the ground floor. His sense of smell telling him, there were plenty of dead.
Vict made his way back outside, registering that several debris chain’s had been set up. Main access had been located as well as the stairwell. The lift system appeared to have completely collapsed. His people were painstakingly making their way up, what was left of the building stair case. By the look of the collapse and the blue prints Vict remembered, it looked to him like whatever had detonated, had to have been in or near the lift shaft.
Seeing sparks up ahead still live, he connected his neuro net. There is power still on to this building shut it down. Find somewhere to place the dead. He moved up the staircase with an urgency he didn’t understand.
***
Mina couldn’t breathe, her head seemed foggy. Lights were flickering on and off around her. She couldn’t remember what had happened or why she was on the floor. She tried to move, one arm and leg wouldn’t respond. She could hear water running. Her face felt wet. Mina ran her other shaky hand across her face. There was something on it. Sticky. She tried to pry her eyes open, but they felt grainy, the air full of dust, Mina focused on her hand. It smelt metallic. Was that blood? Mina choked, swallowed trying for some moisture. It didn’t help, she could hear rubble falling.
She stained to see around her, as more rubble dropped. She stopped and cautiously looked around. Had she fallen down something? Confusion filled her mind. This didn’t make sense. She pulled on her arm and screaming suddenly burst out all around her, her face getting wetter. It was then she realised, she was the one screaming and something terrible had happened ….
***
Victs neuro net flared to life. Sir, I have communication from the second Cyborg on duty with the Ambassador. He is injured but he is making his way to her. She is alive. He hears her.
Vict suddenly felt lighter, freer. He did not understand the logic of that.
Understood. His position. The Cyborgs location registered on his net. All those connected with him would have got the message. Converge on that position.
***
Mina panted, the pain soared through her. It was unbearable. She gritted her teeth and tried for a few quick breaths, as another shooting pain pierced her and she failed to hold back another scream. The pain blinding. Her breathing heavy, Mina opened her eyes again, trying to make sense of what was around her. She could see sensor lighting. Tile. She could hear water. She was leaning up against something. Reaching out with the good hand, she touched along it. It was cold and smooth. She looked at the base of it. Was that the tub? She was in her bathroom? She looked above her, the ceiling had collapsed, broken into several pieces. The walls had come down too. Her arm and leg were pinned. Mina bit back another scream, as a sharp blast of pain stuck her. Vict, had he got out?
Worry and pain immersed her in her own personal hell. Mina realised there was something next to her head. She turned to look at it, this time the pain in her head causing her to stop. More pain assaulted her body. Mina tried to breathe through it and looked again at the obstruction. A pillar of some kind? She guessed the top of the tub had stopped it crushing her head entirely, but the blood running down her face and the ringing in her head, told her she’d had an impact. It looked like her arm and leg were pinned by the same pillar that had nearly killed her. It was broken in several places.
Hearing movement on the other side of the space, Mina swallowed then called out. “H e l l o anyone there?”
“I am here Ambassador. I am injured and cannot dig you out. I will move what I can. Others are coming.” Such overwhelming relief struck her, tears broke free and Mina silently cried, deep down she’d thought she’d die here.
“See to your wounds first.” She hiccupped trying to gain some control. Mina recognised the voice of one of her security Cyborgs. They must have been caught in the blast. “Is your brother with you?”
“Negative. He was outside your door when the blast went off. He had scented something an
d went in search of it. He is injured and is working with Command, they are aware of our situation and I hear voices.” They were coming, Mina couldn’t hold back the smile. Vict was coming for her.
She could hear more noise now her fear had subsided along with the pain. Lots of creaking, shifting, pulling, rubble moving. Several pieces near her moved. A gap opened up on the other side and her security man crawled towards her. “Do you need assistance?” He asked.
Mina stared at him. He was covered in blood. Part of his face was missing. She could see metal. “Stop.” She told him. “Your injured. You’ll make it worse.” He ignored her and pulled himself towards her.
“Cyborg,” he told her like that answered everything. He pulled himself in towards her. She noticed he was dragging his legs.
“What’s wrong with your legs?” She asked shocked.
“My foot was pinned and damaged. I had to remove it. Both legs were crushed.” He told her as he made his way over. Propping himself up, he brushed off his hands and leaning over her inspecting her head. “You have damage here.” He ripped something from his clothing and held it against her head. “Your arm and leg are pinned. I cannot remove them without causing more damage. We will have to wait.” Mina gave a slight nod. Had he taken his foot off to get to her? Mina couldn’t deal with that. It was an unimaginable horror. She pushed the thought to one side.
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