“Enforcers. Well over a dozen. There are far too many for a standard check. You pissed someone else off didn’t you?” He hissed.
“I might have promised technology to a Cavitikan hive queen and played it off as a bit more than I actually gave her. I thought that would keep them busy for a few weeks at least.” Aurelia said sheepishly.
“For the smartest woman in the galaxy, you sure are a fucking idiot.” He shot straight up and dashed for a nearby closet, pulling a plastic panel out from the back, revealing several firearms and a large, heavy duffel bag.
“Of course this happens the moment you arrive. I’d almost assume you had turned me in.” Grunted Derek as he holstered two plasma pistols and strung a rail rifle over his shoulder.
“Of course I would nev-”
“I know. It’s just too convenient. Go into the back room. The night stand, in the drawer, there's a button. If you press that, it will show you a way out. Leave the planet and go as far as possible.”
“What about you?” Aurelia asked, grabbing her cane and heaving herself to her feet.
“I’ll hold them off then slip away.” He picked up a duffel bag from within and then shut the closet. “They were going to find me one day anyway. It’s not the first time.”
“Come with us.” Said Aurelia. Derek stiffened up and locked eyes with her, like he was a deer staring down an encroaching truck.
There was a stiff, rhythmic knock on the door. “Open up, we have an arrest warrant for all at this residence.” Came a robotic and mechanical voice.
Derek broke eye contact and called out. “Fine, I’m coming to unlock the door.” He yelled nonchalantly. He turned back to Aurelia and growled. “Seriously? After everything you have done, you think I would go with you?” The scientist looked at him pleadingly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
“Yes! I’ll drop you wherever you want as soon as we leave the system. I know how you feel about me, but at least let me do you one favour to make it up to you. Then you will never see me again. Whatever you want.” She said urgently.
There was another knock on the door, this time more forceful. Derek paused, he eyes flitting form the door to Aurelia.
“Fine, go now, I’ll be with you shortly. Wait for me at the bottom.” He whispered. Aurelia nodded and dragged Isobel with her. In the dilapidated bedroom, Aurelia spotted the nightstand. She opened the draw and felt around for a button. When her fingers made contact with a round object, she pressed, and the bed rose up from the floor slowly, revealing a long pole that plunged down into the darkness below. She hung her cane over her forearm and grabbed onto the pole, sliding her way down to the bottom.
Gunfire could be heard from the next room over as plasma bolts were loosed and the enforcers' mechanical bodies hitting the ground. Isobel cautiously grabbed the pole, and found she couldn’t slide down, as her skin was causing too much friction with it. She began to climb down it one hand after the other, picking up as much speed as possible. She could hear gunfire echo throughout the chamber from above her, but she couldn’t see Derek at all.
“Izzy, hurry!” Aurelia hissed with urgency, her voice echoing from the bottom.
“I can’t slide, there’s too much friction!”
“Use your sleeves to grip on then!” Aurelia said with urgency.
“Oh, right.” Isobel then hugged the pole and slid her sleeves over her hands, and gripped on, immediately racing down the length of the pole. Aurelia leapt back just before Isobel made contact with the ground, the impact rumbling through her body. Pain shot through her legs, her cybernetic eyes welling up with tears.
“Ouch.” She said with a wavy voice. Aurelia gently rested her hand on the androids back in an attempt to comfort her. The android offered a weak smile, and rubbed her eyes on her sleeve.
Isobel looked around to see they were in some old car park, ruined cars and garbage were littered everywhere. She heard a grunt from above her, and quickly dove out of the way as Derek sped his way down. He slowed down to a stop and touched the ground far more gracefully than the android had done. Suddenly, a large explosion could be heard from above them. The entire complex shook, dust falling from the ceiling, a sickening crack snapping through the air. Derek then turned to Aurelia.
“We need to leave, now. Follow me.” Derek motioned for them to follow, bringing them to a nearby manhole cover.He pulled off the heavy metal slab, revealing a ladder down into the sewers, and urged the other two through. Once all three were in, he pulled the cover back over, and the entire building above them finally gave, coming down with a crash. The small group slowly climbed down to the bottom, slowed by Aurelia who was doing a poor job of hiding her exhaustion. Once at the bottom, they all finally had a moment to breath. Derek arched his back in pain as he stretched out. He then turned to Aurelia with a scowl on his face.
“So, have you got a plan to get us off planet, past the orbital defense cannons, which will be aimed at us the second we reach the stratosphere?” Said Derek sourly.
“Yes, actually, I do, but we need to get to my ship which is likely now under guard by the enforcers. Fortunately, I have a plan for that, too.”
Comments (2)
See all