The Seductress of Andromeda
Page 6
THE END
Go back a few moments and rethink your actions
“Ok Grimm.” You sigh, slumping back in your chair. “What’s the job?” He chuckles and leans forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially as he outlines the plan.
“Don’t be a hero.” You growl at the security guard, your blaster aimed steadily at his head. A few hours have passed since your meeting with Grimm and you have used forged access biometrics to breach the security of a safe deposit facility in the centre of Xanadu City. You had made your way to the vault and ambushed the lethargic security guard within. The guard reluctantly drops his weapon and backs away. You glance around at the gleaming steel walls of the vault filled with numerous tiny doors, each numbered.
“Safe deposit box 603.” You tell him. He sullenly locates it, opens the door and slides out the narrow box. “Open it.” He does so and you smile as diamonds and gemstones glitter under the vault lights. You wave the blaster and he steps away, glaring at you. You reach for the box and tuck it under your arm. “My sincere gratitude.” You grin with utter insincerity, before brutally swinging your blaster into his head and knocking him unconscious. You hurry from the vault and up the stairs to the roof of the building. The door opens and you step out into a maelstrom of howling wind and lashing rain. Shimmering glass sided skyscrapers stretch away all around you. You glance up into the dark skies, smiling just as the sleek form of an orbital shuttle swoops into view. It hovers just above the roof and the boarding ramp drops from below its smooth underbelly. You jump up onto it, your hair and clothes soaked through just from the brief exposure to Titan’s famously inclement terraformed weather. You step forward into the cockpit, the broad frame of your partner hunched over the controls.
“You got it?” Grimm growls, glancing over his shoulder at you with flinty eyes, his shaven head and craggy face having the appearance of being carved from granite.
“Of course.” You grin, proudly patting the deposit box as you climb into the seat next to him.
“Great kid.” He grunts grudgingly. “Now let’s get the fuck out of here.” You feel yourself pressed back into the seat as the he fires the boosters, the neon lit buildings of Xanadu City flashing past before the shuttle climbs steeply into the thick clouds. As you emerge above them, plasma fire streaks past the nose.
“Fuckin’ police.” Grimm snarls, weaving the shuttle from side to side as plasma fire lights the sky around you. The shuttle trembles and shakes and Grimm fights with the controls.
“Bastards have hit us.” He mutters, the shuttle dipping back down into the clouds. “Must have hit the engines. We’re struggling to maintain altitude. We need to lose some weight. Get back there and throw some shit out.” You clamber out of your seat. “Leave that!” Grimm growls, glancing at the safe deposit box. You put it back on your seat and move to the rear of the shuttle. As you open the boarding ramp, the wind howls into the ship. Bracing yourself against the maelstrom blowing around you, you shove everything not bolted down out of the shuttle. You pull open a locker, throwing the contents out. You reach up to the top shelf and find a neatly folded orange bundle with ‘emergency parachute’ printed on it. You glance towards Grimm who is still fighting with the controls. Might be time to leave…
Strap on the parachute and jump out
Return to your seat and hope the shuttle has been lightened enough
No need to do anything rash, but you throw the parachute back into the locker before closing the boarding ramp and returning to your seat.
“That’s everything.” You tell Grimm.
“Not quite everything.” He replies. You glance across to find his blaster pointed at you. “Now pass me the safe deposit box and get the hell off my ship before I shoot you and throw you out.”
Pass him the safe deposit box and parachute out
Hit him with the safe deposit box and try to overcome him
Hoping to catch him by surprise, you swing the safe deposit box into the side of his ugly shaven head. Grimm roars with anger and surprise, the blaster going off, but narrowly missing you. You follow up with another vicious blow to the side of his head and grapple with him, wrenching the blaster from his grasp. You back away, training the blaster on his head.
“Now, how about you jump ship?” You grin. He glares at you and obediently moves to the rear of the shuttle, pulling the parachute from the locker and strapping it on. As he opens the boarding ramp, his gaze flicks to the front of the shuttle and a broad smile crosses his face.
“Good luck Trent!” He laughs cruelly before throwing himself out into the sky. You glance at the shuttle controls to find them shattered by the stray shot from his blaster. The electronics are exposed and spark and fizzle angrily.
“Shit!” You groan. “Shit, shit!” You quickly move to the locker, but as you feared, Grimm has taken the only parachute. You move back to the controls, hoping beyond hope that you can find some way to bring the shuttle back under your control. The damaged vessel is beginning to arc back down towards the surface and you swear and curse as your fingers fly over the controls. It is utterly futile and your eyes widen as the rocky surface of Titan rushes up to meet you, the shuttle exploding in a massive fireball.
THE END
Go back a few moments and rethink your actions
“It doesn’t have to be like this.” You tell Grimm, slowly passing him the safe deposit box. He snatches if from you.
“It kinda does.” He shrugs. “No room for sentimentality in this game.”
“No? What about loyalty?” You snap, getting slowly out of your seat and making your way back to the locker.
“Don’t be so naïve.” He laughs. “There’s no such thing as honour amongst thieves. Only greed and self preservation.”
“You’re a piece of shit, you know that Grimm?” You tell him, strapping on the parachute and opening the boarding ramp.
“Like I give a fuck what you think Trent. Now go!” You take a breath and with one last glance at Grimm, you throw yourself out of the shuttle. You plummet away from the underside, the shuttle streaking past overhead, smoke pouring from a scorched gouge in the side of the right hand engine. Several small police pursuit ships zip past in hot pursuit, blue lights strobing on the tops of the sleek blue vessels. They do not seem to notice you, their attention clearly fixed on the fleeing shuttle. You wait a few moments before pulling on the rip cord. The parachute instantly opens, pulling the harness taut as your descent is rapidly slowed. The wind and rain lashes against you as you slowly drop towards the bright lights of the city. The storm blows you off course towards the outer edge and the dilapidated buildings of the old city. You glance towards the shuttle and the pursuing police ships. Despite the reduced weight, the shuttle is clearly labouring and the police vessels surround it, forcing it down towards the surface. To your horror, one breaks off and doubles back towards you. Your escape from the shuttle has clearly not gone unnoticed.
Moments later, you hit the roof of a large, low building just as the police ship reaches you, a spotlight fixing on your position as you unclip your parachute and hurry across to an access door. You drop down a flight of steps into the dilapidated interior of the building. The air smells damp and musty. The windows are all boarded up and you squint into the gloomy interior. The roof is leaking, puddles of rainwater covering the floor. The fixtures and fittings are corroded and discoloured, but you can tell this used to be a nightclub. There is a stage to one side, warped laminate boards from a dance floor and the broken and shattered remains of several sets of tables and chairs. A long since ransacked bar flanks one side of the room. You hear the engines of the pursuing police vessel roar and its spotlight shines brightly through gaps in the boards. You scurry through the shadows of the musty remains of the nightclub. You move into the next room, keeping low as you cross the floor of what was once perhaps a lavish casino, the card tables and roulette wheels caked in dust and grime. You spot a door leading deeper into the building and try the control. No power. Ever t
he optimist, you try the emergency release. A tiny red light flickers and the door clicks open a few millimetres. You prise it open and slip inside, the room in darkness other than the dim light seeping through the open door. You sit heavily down on the floor just inside the door and lean back against the wall, taking a deep breath. You pat the inside pocket of your jacket, feeling the jewels inside. You smile smugly, imagining the look on Grimm’s face when he opens the empty safe deposit box. That’ll teach the treacherous son of a bitch! As your eyes adapt to the light, your focus settles on an odd shape against the opposite wall. Your heart leaps into your mouth and your eyes widen as you realise it is a figure sitting silently in the gloom.
“Who’s there?!” You shout out, trying to keep the fear out of your voice. The figure just sits motionless, coolly gazing back across the room at you. “Who are you dammit?!” You snap angrily. Nothing. You get to your feet and move warily towards your silent companion. As you move closer, you notice a layer of dust covering the figure and chuckle, realising it is just a mannequin. A female one judging by the curvaceous body. Still, a strange thing to find in a dilapidated nightclub. Your interest piqued, you stoop to examine the mannequin. You grasp the arm and are alarmed to find it soft, your fingers sinking into the pliant flesh. This is no mannequin, it’s an android! You study it, the voluptuous body, the lustrous long blonde hair, the pouting lips, the low cut and figure hugging silver dress.
“A sex bot.” You chuckle. No doubt abandoned when the nightclub was closed. She was probably an escort to the high rollers in the casino. Keep them interested and gambling. You seem to recall that androids have an on/off switch on the back of their necks.
Try switching her on
Leave her alone
You strap on the parachute and with one last glance at Grimm, you throw yourself out of the shuttle. You plummet away from the underside, the shuttle streaking past overhead, smoke pouring from a scorched gouge in the side of the right hand engine. Several small police pursuit ships zip past in hot pursuit, blue lights strobing on the tops of the sleek blue vessels. They do not seem to notice you, their attention clearly fixed on the fleeing shuttle. You wait a few moments before pulling on the rip cord. The parachute instantly opens, pulling the harness taut as your descent is rapidly slowed. The wind and rain lashes against you as you slowly drop towards the bright lights of the city. The storm blows you off course towards the outer edge and the dilapidated buildings of the old city. You glance towards the shuttle and the pursuing police ships. Despite the reduced weight, the shuttle is clearly labouring and the police vessels surround it, forcing it down towards the surface. To your horror, one breaks off and doubles back towards you. Your escape from the shuttle has clearly not gone unnoticed.
Moments later, you hit the roof of a large, low building just as the police ship reaches you, a spotlight fixing on your position as you unclip your parachute and hurry across to an access door. You drop down a flight of steps into the dilapidated interior of the building. The air smells damp and musty. The windows are all boarded up and you squint into the gloomy interior. The roof is leaking, puddles of rainwater covering the floor. The fixtures and fittings are corroded and discoloured, but you can tell this used to be a nightclub. There is a stage to one side, warped laminate boards from a dance floor and the broken and shattered remains of several sets of tables and chairs. A long since ransacked bar flanks one side of the room. You hear the engines of the pursuing police vessel roar and its spotlight shines brightly through gaps in the boards. You scurry through the shadows of the musty remains of the nightclub. You move into the next room, keeping low as you cross the floor of what was once perhaps a lavish casino, the card tables and roulette wheels caked in dust and grime. You spot a door leading deeper into the building and try the control. No power. Ever the optimist, you try the emergency release. A tiny red light flickers and the door clicks open a few millimetres. You prise it open and slip inside, the room in darkness other than the dim light seeping through the open door. You sit heavily down on the floor just inside the door and lean back against the wall, taking a deep breath. You pat the inside pocket of your jacket, feeling the jewels inside. You smile smugly, imagining the look on Grimm’s face when he opens the empty safe deposit box. As your eyes adapt to the light, your focus settles on an odd shape against the opposite wall. Your heart leaps into your mouth and your eyes widen as you realise it is a figure sitting silently in the gloom.
“Who’s there?!” You shout out, trying to keep the fear out of your voice. The figure just sits motionless, coolly gazing back across the room at you. “Who are you dammit?!” You snap angrily. Nothing. You get to your feet and move warily towards your silent companion. As you move closer, you notice a layer of dust covering the figure and chuckle, realising it is just a mannequin. A female one judging by the curvaceous body. Still, a strange thing to find in a dilapidated nightclub. Your interest piqued, you stoop to examine the mannequin. You grasp the arm and are alarmed to find it soft, your fingers sinking into the pliant flesh. This is no mannequin, it’s an android! You study it, the slender body with curves in all the right places, the lustrous long blonde hair, the pouting lips, the low cut and figure hugging silver dress.
“A sex bot.” You chuckle. No doubt abandoned when the nightclub was closed. She was probably an escort to the high rollers in the casino. Keep them interested and gambling. You seem to recall that androids have an on/off switch on the back of their necks.
Try switching her on
Leave her alone
You are a desperate fugitive and have better things to do with your time than tinkering with decrepit old androids. You get to your feet and move back to the door, peering out into the ruined casino.
“Drop it scum!” A voice growls, the muzzle of a blaster pressed into the side of your head. Your shoulders slump and you toss your weapon onto the floor as three police officers surround you. Your wrists are handcuffed behind you and you are led away.
Having been caught red-handed, the trial is brief. Having been found guilty, the reptilian judge, a dour looking Eridanian hands down the sentence. Seven years. You glare back at him before you are dragged from the courtroom. You are transferred immediately to Titan Prison. As you are escorted from the prison shuttle to the heavy steel gates of the prison entrance, you take one last look at the colossal sphere of Jupiter before you are pushed roughly onward. You sigh knowing you will not see natural light again until the day you are released. You are escorted down the narrow passageways of the subterranean complex before entering a cavernous cellblock. The other inmates jeer and swear at you as you are led towards your cell. You are shoved inside and the door slammed shut behind you.
“Trent! My old friend.” A familiar voice booms out. Your heart sinks as his broad frame emerges from the bottom bunk.
“Grimm.” You groan as he advances towards you. A grin spreads across his ugly face and he cracks his knuckles. It’s going to be a long and painful seven years…
THE END
Go back a few moments and rethink your actions
You reach behind her head, coughing as you disturb the thick layer of dust in her hair. You slide your fingers around until you find a shallow depression at the base of her skull. You press a fingertip into it and recoil in surprise as her eyes glow brightly for a moment. They dim and you watch them focus on you and then flick over your shoulder. They widen and before you know it, her hand has pulled your blaster from your belt and fired three times. You hear three thumps behind you and glance over your shoulder to see three police officers unconscious on the floor. They were just a few paces behind you with their own weapons drawn.
“Thank you.” You tell her. She smiles weakly.
“Please… power me down… recharge me… 37 seconds until total power cell exhaustion… Standby mode will extend this to a few hours… 30 seconds… 27 seconds… Please help me! 23 seconds…” You hurriedly reach behind her and press the on/off button again. Her body slumps back to its prev
ious inert form. You pick her up and sling the blonde over your shoulder, grunting from the weight. You step over the police officers and hurry through the rest of the dilapidated night club, kicking a door open and stepping out into the narrow alley at the rear of the building. The rain is still pouring down, soaking your hair and clothes in moments. You look left and right. To the right, you can see the strobing blue lights of a police pursuit ship and for a moment your heart sinks. Then you realise it is unattended. Assuming the controls aren’t locked out, it would certainly be a quicker if rather conspicuous method of escape. You look the other way. The dark of the alley to the left promises concealment from the authorities and a safer though longer journey back to Xanadu space port and the sanctuary of the Eclipse.
Steal the police pursuit ship
Make your own way back to the city
Deciding that the cautious approach would be the safest course of action, you turn your back on the strobing blue lights of the pursuit ship and hurry along the alleyway, grimacing from the dead weight of the android over your shoulder. The rain seems heavier still as you try to put as much distance as possible between you and the nightclub. As you hurry through the deserted streets of the older part of the city, you spot a station for the city monorail metro train. A smile crosses your face. You’ll be back at Xanadu spaceport in minutes and away from Titan before the stunned police officers even wake up. As you near the station, you glance at the inert form of the android over your shoulder. You’re hardly inconspicuous, dragging what appears to be an unconscious woman onto a train. She might have saved your arse at the nightclub, but perhaps it is time to part ways.