The Crisis Masters

by Gerry Hart

  "Why us, sir?" Zach asked.

  "Automatons are not supposed to question, Auto Zach! They obey. If it means anything, you three were specifically requested by Crisis Master Terrain. He admires your arrest record.”

  “Just surveillance, boys.” Terrain added. “Stay out of trouble. We’ll be monitoring your progress from here.”

  All three saluted. Shane had a look that might have resembled pride. Derek had a look of worry while Zach showed his feelings with a scowl.

  The three Autos flew to what would be considered the nexus between Sectors 2000 and 3000. Sectors 2000 to 3000 were the Middle Class Level. They started at the nexus of the sectors then flew in a tight spiral pattern. Four hours into their search, the trio spotted a disabled automaton. The creation was lying on a recreation ledge, Recreation ledges were standard requirements built into the multifaceted towers. They were used for greetings in public and landing places.

  The trio landed to inspect the creation and cordoned off the crime scene.

  "There's a huge opening on one of the sides of this ledge." Shane observed. "It's possible this automaton crashed his hoverjet through the ledge knocking him onto it." Shane looked over the edge. "Binocular vision cannot detect the hovercraft." Shane pressed a stud on his right temple releasing an antenna and microphone.

  "All Automatons and Crisis Master Patrols, be on the lookout for a standard Automaton patrol hoverjet which has crashed somewhere between Sector 2700 and ground level. Transponder codes are ---" Shane looked at Derek.

  Derek ran a pen like laser from a finger unto the destroyed automaton's left eye. "16, 34, 89, 214."

  Shane continued. ".... 16, 34, 89, 214. Apprehend black box for examination. "

  Derek found something interesting on the Auto and displayed it to his companions. "Look. This nodule was attached to his head." Derek drew it closer to his left eye. An extension not unlike a diamond cutter's magnifying glass popped out. "There's a steel tip layered with circuitry on one end." The Auto raised a finger. A tiny laser beam lit up. Derek cut open the nodule. Computer readouts appeared on the extensions lens identifying certain areas. "The nodule is a modem."

  Zach opened a compartment in the damage automaton. It revealed an inlet. Zach raised his middle finger. A tiny circuitry needle extended. Zach plugged into the damaged Auto. "There's nothing there. The Auto's memory has been wiped. "

  "Then we have to conclude the Auto was hit from the air with the nodule. The Auto was memory wiped, sending it into a dive and crash because it couldn't function." Shane voiced to the others.

  "But if the assassin was trying to take out an Auto, why not simply blow it up?" Zach wondered.

  "You have gathered evidence and data. It is up to Detective division to draw conclusions." Terrain broke in . “Bring the intel home, boys.”

  Shane pressed a stud in his head causing an antenna and microphone to extend from it.

  "Acknowledged.” Shane replied then, following procedure, called assistance. “Recovery unit to Section 2634, recreation ledge to recover damaged Automaton. "

  Suddenly, a hail of nodule spikes landed all around them.

  "We are under attack." Derek yelled.

  "Stating the obvious, aren't you?" Zack replied.

  "Shut up and fly!" Shane yelled.

  The three autos boarded their hoverjets and split up. "Raise your shields or you'll be memory wiped!" Shane barked. Derek and Zach complied. However, Zach had to mouth a silent "Well, Duh." while doing it.

  Zach performed a wide arc and spotted the would be assassin running across a recreation ledge.

  "I got 'im." He yelled and pursued.

  However, his quarry seemed to commit suicide by turning a corner and jumping off the ledge. Zach stopped for a moment.

  Suddenly, three hoverjets shot out from behind the building Zach had been watching. One of them had to be the assassin because they were all dressed alike, green mask and tunic. They started shooting at Zach. His shields held.

  "I could use some help here!" Zach yelled.

  Instantly, Shane knocked one of Zach's assailants off course while Derek managed to disable the second, sending him crashing unto a ledge. The last assailants kept firing at Zach.

  Shane pursued the assailants he had knocked off course. He disabled his opponent's shield. Drawing up next to his opponent's hoverjet, he grabbed his opponent and tossed him onto a nearby recreation deck. The man hit the wall and sank into unconsciousness. The hoverjet dived down into the depths. Shane shot a transponder onto his victim for the Retrieval squads and began to alter course to aid his teammates. However, he was intercepted by three more assailants dressed in the same garb.

  Meanwhile, before crashing on the ledge, Derek's opponent had managed to jump, tumble, and roll away from the crashing hoverjet. He drew a Codge laser pistol and fired at Derek. Derek fired a burst from his hoverjet in order to distract his opponent while he landed. The auto could no longer fire the weapons from his hoverjet because, at close range, he would surely kill his opponent. He had to disembark, leaving himself open.

  Derek's opponent rose from being dropped by Derek's distracting blast. He raised a gun unknown to Derek and fired. Derek had deduced the gun might fire nodule darts. He defended himself by shielding his face with his hands and wrist.

  "I know about your nodule darts and, as you can see, prepared a suitable defense against them. Surrender... now!" Derek ordered.

  Derek's opponent sheathed his dart gun with one hand, drew his Codge laser pistol with his other, and began firing. The move was made in seconds. Derek was unprepared and was knocked back by the volley.

  "I only need your head, automaton!" Derek's opponent yelled.

  Meanwhile, Zach was still on the defensive. His assailant had continued to fire upon him, matching Zach speed for speed, maneuver for maneuver. Zach's hoverjet shields were down to twenty percent. As the automaton flew near Derek's position, Zach became aware of Derek's plight. Torn between self preservation and the need to help his friend, Zach came up with a compromise and a plan. He calculated in seconds the force, angle, and descent he would need. Applying evasive maneuvers to avoid his pursuer, Zach circled the building where Derek stood, coming up behind Derek's opponent. He ascended and angled his hoverjet with enough force to incapacitate Derek's opponent but he took out his partner as well. Derek was laid out on the ledge, spasming while his repair circuits treated the minor damage.

  Zach's assailant continued his assault. Zach's shields were disabled. Zach grimaced and pointed his hovercraft into a power dive. His assailant followed. Zach came out of his dive and into a vertical run, heading towards a apartment building. His hoverjet's sensors had registered the building as unoccupied. Zach aimed his craft for the window in front of him... and hit the wall instead. Zach was planted into the wall like a cartoon character. However, the silver sheen that coated an automaton's skin protected him. His hoverjet sustained damage and plummeted.

  "*wall*" He said redundantly.

  Zach's assailant sensed a kill. He positioned himself in front of Zach's planted form and aimed his dart gun at the automaton's head. In one fluid motion, Zach pushed away from the wall, flipped over, then landed on his opponent's hovercraft shield. Three powerful blows disabled the shields allowing Zach to land in back of his assailant. A minor blow to the neck rendered his foe unconscious. Zach steered the commandeered jet back to Derek's position. His prisoner draped on the seat before him.

  Zach heard an explosion as he disembarked his hovercraft onto the ledge that held Derek. He saw Shane's hovercraft plummeting downward trailing a plume of smoke. However, Shane was not on the doomed hovercraft. Zach looked up to see Shane's dormant form hanging between two ascending hovercraft with a third guarding the rear. Zach released his microphone to issue an alert, but his voice was dampened by the roar of a turbine thruster. The three hoverjets and Shane's unconscious form had entered an all atmosphere transport ship which departed thereafter.

  Crisis Master Marsh's voi
ce issued from Zach's comm. "Automaton Zachery, what is your status? A disturbance interrupted transmission."

  "Sir..." Zach paused then continued with resignation. "We have been attacked. Automaton Shane has been abducted. He was taken aboard a transport ship. I was able to scan outer id code. The transport is registered to one Phillip Tork. "

  4

  September 7, 4072, 11:00 a.m.

  Crisis Master Rave Henderson banged the doors open to Crisis Master Headquarters 598. She approached the front desk accompanied by her Dahlia, Chloe.

  "Rave!" Derek the automaton exclaimed.

  "Oboy." Zach muttered under his breath while covering his face.

  Rave knew of Derek's infatuation with her. She thought it was kind of cute. As she ran her eyes up and down Derek's body, she realized that the automatons' designer made these machines anatomically perfect.

  "Hello, Derek." Rave said in her luscious voice while caressing the automaton's chin with a finger.

  "If Derek could blush, that's what he'd be doing right now." Zach said to no one in particular.

  "Shut up!" Derek said while slapping Zach's arm. The act produced a loud metal clang that attracted attention.

  "Now I know why they call you ' Stooges '." Rave said. She banged on the front desk. "Marsh!" She called out.

  Crisis Master Marsh and Terrain exited Marsh’s small office holding a piece of paper.

  "Your search warrant just came in, Rave." Marsh said handing her the paper. "I've been instructed to order you to take some automatons with you."

  "Really?" Derek perked up.

  "We're it?" Zach scowled.

  Rave smiled and motioned with a finger for Zach and Derek to follow her and her Dahlia.

  “Hold it.” Terrain called. “Doc and I are joining your entourage.”

  “Are you sure?” Rave said with a little indignity. “I promise to keep these two Stooges out of trouble?”

  “I was under the impression I needed to watch out for you.” Terrain smiled. “Relax, Rave, I’m only ... ‘observing’.”

  Rave gave a sarcastic smile then led the way out.

  The architecture of the mansion of the Duchess Camille was influenced by the Russian palaces of the 1700's. The Duchess claimed her bloodline could be traced back to Catherine the Great. Much like her ancestor, Duchess Camille was rumored to be akin to a black widow spider. Her many husbands had a habit of dying soon after marriage. The Duchess had been married six times. All of her husbands left her generous inheritances.

  “If Risuli could be believed, the Duchess was going for the biggest power grab of all.” Rave said aloud as she stood outside the entrance to The Duchess Camille's palace.

  The entrance was two huge white doors with large brass knockers. Rave used one of the knockers to signal her presence. A few minutes later, a tall, uniformed gentleman with a slick haircut parted down the middle and an upturned moustache answered the door.

  "Search warrant." Rave stated displaying the paper.

  The uniformed gentlemen admitted her, her Dahlia, Terrain, and the automatons into the waiting hall.

  "Wait here." The man glared.

  "Don't keep me waiting." Rave said. "I'll go off on my own if I feel I'm being ignored."

  The man nodded and left.

  "Nice place Camille has." Rave said to Terrain.

  "It's like an enchanted castle. " Derek gushed.

  "If you're comparing the Duchess Camille to an evil witch." Rave replied.

  "I'm just happy to be serving with you, Rave."

  "Give me a break." Zach muttered.

  "You jealous, Zach?" Rave teased. Derek looked rejected. Rave caressed him under the chin again. "Don't worry, Derek. I only have eyes for you." Derek perked up again.

  "Flirting with machines." A feminine voice with a Russian accent called out.

  The Duchess Camille stood at the top of a wide arcing staircase. She had short, auburn hair, seductive eyes, and pout lips. Her body was a perfect hourglass form. Her arms and hands seem to slither along the railing and air like serpents. She moved down the stairs with the grace of a cat. She was dressed all in leather.

  "I have a hard time with men unlike you, Duchess." Rave retorted.

  "And these automatons have some advantages. I understand." The Duchess was being sarcastic.

  Rave ran her tongue along her teeth, swallowing her pride. She presented the search warrant. "I'm authorized to search your mansion. We believe you're harboring a fugitive named Phillip Tork."

  "By all means, search my home, but do you mind if I accompany you?"

  "Not at all. My Dahlia and I could use the company. "

  Terrain addressed Zach and Derek. "I want scans on all frequencies, boys. "

  Derek nodded. Zach noticed the Duchess had become uncomfortable.

  Rave's first check was a meeting area. As Rave looked around, the Duchess moved to a bureau and opened a draw. She removed a cigarette and a cigarette holder from the draw.

  The Duchess lit the cigarette, inhaled, and released some smoke: "I'm surprised you were able to get a warrant." She said. "The Elite should be exempt from any petty investigations."

  Rave became serious. "Don't taunt me, Duchess. No one is above the law."

  Chloe the Dahlia addressed the Duchess. "Ancient Myths from various cultures have one thing in common. They all agree that, in the end, even Gods fall. "

  Rave, Zach, and Derek moved through some hallways, inspecting little side rooms, until they came to a kitchen area.

  The Duchess followed. "You say no one is above the law? Does that include you Crisis Masters? Is your breed so perfect? "

  "We're just like anyone else." Rave replied as she continued her search. She stopped, realizing she had to correct herself. "I take that back. We're like everybody else that is down to Earth. I guess that crosses out the Elite."

  Terrain caught Rave’s attention with a voiceless “wow” and a feign expression of shock.

  Rave found a set of stairs that served as a back entrance to the second floor, a long hallway displaying ten entrances. Chloe the Dahlia followed her.

  "There are just bedrooms up there." The Duchess called out. "You and your ' boy toys ' can play in one if you want."

  “Ma’am.” Terrain addressed Camille. “Let’s not obstruct the officers or I’ll be the one hauling you to headquarters.”

  "Why is she harping on you?" Derek asked Rave.

  "She's probably hoping that I'll get annoyed and leave." Rave replied.

  "I got something." Zach called out. "There's a hidden room between these two bedrooms." Zach reached out and pressed a hidden switch.

  The hidden room was revealed. It had a sole occupant - a man with brown hair, brown eyes, and handsome features.

  "Hello Phillip." Rave said.

  Laser fire exploded amidst Chloe's chest.

  Rave was shocked, unable to call out her Dahlia’s name. She looked in the direction the laser came from.

  The Duchess, holding a smoking pistol, stood with a group of henchmen, not unlike the man who had greeted Rave earlier, in row at the top of the backstairs.

  “A hidden paramour, Duchess?" Rave growled with rage. "Hiding a fugitive and murdering a Dahlia is going to cost you, bitch!"

  Another group of henchmen ascended the front stairs. Terrain drew his pistol on them.

  "You have forfeited your life by coming here, Crisis Masters." Duchess Camille sneered. "I have invested too much into my king to be thwarted now."

  "Tork's going to be your king?" Terrain asked in confusion.

  "No, you fool. This man you call Tork was just an emissary. Someone more powerful, more ambitious has sought me out. He wishes for me to be his queen. "

  "Who is he, Duchess?” Terrain demanded then taunted. “Does he know you'll dispose of him like all your other husbands?"

  "Get rid of her and her automatons." The Duchess growled.

  Duchess Camille and Phillip Tork retreated down the backstairs.

  "
Bring it on, boys." Rave challenged.

  Like defensive lineman in an old football game, Derek and Zach rushed the henchmen from both sides, tackling and ramming them down the stairwells. Terrain fired stun blasts at the men engaged with Derek. Rave jumped down the back stairwell and over the cluster of henchmen grappling with the automaton, Zach. She followed an open door into a courtyard. The renegade, Phillip Tork, had activated a hovercraft. The Duchess was yelling for him to warm up the engine faster.

  Rave dove into the Duchess Camille, driving the both of them against another hovercraft. The Duchess flung Rave off of her. Rave threw a punch. The Duchess caught it and returned an open palm blow to Rave's chin. Rave drooled blood out of one side of her mouth.

  "I am not the helpless woman, eh?" The Duchess panted.

  The Duchess tried to deliver a roundhouse kick but Rave blocked it and rammed the Duchess back on to the hovercraft. The Duchess blocked Rave's next blow and delivered her own to Rave's jaw. Rave was stunned, allowing the Duchess to deliver another blow. Rave fell to the ground. The Duchess dropped down to her knees on top of Rave and delivered blow after blow.

  Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed the Duchess.

  " Let's go ! " The man called Tork yelled.

  The Duchess was dragged then thrown into the waiting hovercraft. Tork jumped in and launched the craft up into the air.

  Rave laid on the ground spread eagled and bloody.

  A group of henchmen burst from a set of glass framed doors. Glass and bodies crashed to the ground like a wave hitting a sandy beach.

  Terrain, Zach and Derek exited the mansion. Derek noticed Rave on the tarmac.

  “No! “ The emotional automaton shouted while running to the unconscious body of the woman who inspired his feelings.