by Thomas Stone
There were two paths to take; one long, that wound its way behind the target dune and another, more direct route that crossed just in front of the parked vehicles. The longer path required Fagen to double back on his own trail and circle around. It would keep him out of sight and put sand hills between him and Luther. The shorter path was along more stable ground – the loose sand was not nearly as deep. Taking that path, he would be able to get to the equipment in a matter of minutes. He had no idea how long it would take via the longer path. Setting his mind, he decided to take the shorter path even though he knew he’d leave a telltale trail behind.
He stepped from the sheltering dune into the open space between himself and the trucks. If anyone had been watching, they would have seen a blur of motion, but other than footsteps left in the shallow sand, little else. Because of the tracks, Fagen moved slowly as he kept an eye on the men. He stopped directly before the trucks and listened as the men casually talked to one another. They said nothing of consequence so Fagen turned to move on. As he took a step, the ground beneath suddenly give way and he tumbled into a makeshift pit.
From the bottom of the trap he heard shouts and in moments their faces appeared above him.
*
“We’ve got a problem,” Minerva said.
Kathleen was busy running her simulcon through its test sequence when she heard Minerva. “Yes?” she said, “what is it?”
“Luther has just captured Edward.”
At her console, Bobbi reacted by leaning back and removing her VR helmet to reveal a concerned expression. “Is he all right?”
“I think so,” answered Minerva, “but he’s no longer answering me. I think they must’ve removed his helmet.”
“Oh crap,” said Kathleen, “where’s Harry?”
Minerva said, “he’s here,” and turned to look at Harry within the kitzloc simulation but he was gone. “Uh, let me revise that, he was here a moment ago. Let me check… ah, he’s leaving the truck.”
Kathleen instantly knew what Harry was up to. He was going to help Edward. Via the intercom she asked him to wait, but it was too late. She switched her monitor to the internal cameras and saw he was already gone.
“He’s left without his suit,” said Minerva. “Uh-oh,” she added
“What uh-oh?” said Bobbi.
“Luther’s trucks are moving again, headed straight for us.”
“Let’s get the simulcons outside asap,” said Kathleen. “Bart, are you on it?”
In response, Kathleen saw the empty console on her right light up. “I’m with you,” Bart said.
By the time Luther pulled up, Bobbi and Kathleen had moved their simulcons outside and were waiting. Bart still ran systems checks but he wasn’t far behind.
The two robots outside the truck were an imposing sight. Luther ordered his vehicles to stop short, leaving thirty meters between the pick-ups and the mechanoids. Luther’s men had their weapons drawn and trained on both simulcons. Kathleen took a step forward, but as she did so, Luther climbed out of the lead vehicle, pulling out a bound and gagged Fagen. He pushed Fagen ahead of him, using him as a shield and holding a pistol to his head. “Hold it right there,” he said to the approaching simulcon, “Or Commander Fagen gets his head ventilated.”
Kathleen stopped. “What do you want, Luther? I thought it was Jennings you were after.”
“I’ll settle with Jennings later. I want everybody out of the truck. Now!”
“This is everybody,” replied Kathleen evenly.
Luther turned to one of his men. “Go check and see.”
As the man moved toward Minerva-Too, Kathleen’s simulcon took a step toward him. The man stopped and backed away.
Luther cocked the pistol he held to Fagen’s head. “Best let him proceed.”
Kathleen stepped backward, clearing the path. Luther’s man looked at the simulcon and then, with a grin, stepped to the access ladder. As he placed a hand on the metal, a loud, snapping discharge sounded and the man was thrown to the ground where he writhed in pain.
Luther sighed. “Turn off your defenses.”
This time, he was answered by another voice, Minerva’s voice, as it came from hidden exterior speakers. “Not a chance.”
A vicious expression crossed Luther’s face as he pressed the barrel of his pistol into the side of Fagen’s head. “I’m not fooling around here!”
“Neither are we, Mr. Cross. Harm Fagen at your own peril.”
Luther didn’t budge but he didn’t say anything either.
Minerva spoke again. “Think about it, Mr. Cross. There’s enough firepower directed at you and your men to make going home a fantasy. Kill Fagen and night crawlers will be picking the remaining flesh from your bones this evening. There’s no way you or your men are going to access my facilities.”
Luther briefly wondered just who the hell he was speaking with, but realized it didn’t matter. Whoever it was, she was right.
“All right,” he said finally, “that’s okay.” He motioned with his head to the north. “My guess is Jennings isn’t far way and, from the looks of things, ya’ll are closing in on the prize. Eh?”
There was no response other than the appearance of an additional simulcon in the open side door of the truck.
“So,” Luther began anew, “here’s what we’re going to do. You three there,” he pointed at the simulcons. “Ya’ll are going to march yourselves out to that hole in the ground – think I didn’t know about that? – and you’re going to get what you came for. Then you’re going to turn it over to me. After that, I’m just going to drive away with Commander Fagen here. I’ll drop him off and you can pick him up. Pretty simple, huh?”
“We’re not ready. We haven’t completed our studies yet. We don’t know if…”
“Shut up,” barked Luther. “Get ready and get gone. No excuses. Meanwhile, we’re going to back out of here, but you need to know I’ll be on the other side of this dune and I’ll be watching every move you make. Try something funny and it’s Fagen’s bones that’ll be littering the sand tonight.”
*
The three simulcon units stealthily made their way between the shifting dunes toward the jumble of boulders. They stopped every so often to check for movement and review sensor reports. At each stop, they found nothing to impede their progress so they pressed on until they were less than a hundred yards from the opening.
No outsider could overhear anything that was said over Minerva’s secure comms network but Bobbi whispered anyway. “Where’s Harry?”
“I don’t know,” answered Kathleen.
“He shouldn’t have run off like that,” complained Bart. “You two should have kept a closer watch.”
“Zip it up, Bart,” said Kathleen, “and concentrate on what’s in front of you.”
Bart’s simulcon head turned toward Kathleen but he resisted the urge to make another comment.
“Let’s move,” said Kathleen rising from her spot. “Stay five meters apart. You two cover me as I check out the opening. Both Bobbi and Bart clicked their mics in an affirmative reply.
The small group quickly crossed the sandy expanse and, as Bart and Bobbi stood to each side, Kathleen approached the darkened opening.
There were no tracks around the entrance, nothing to indicate any sort of creature had paid a recent visit to the location.
Over the expanse of desert, Kathleen heard the sound of motors and realized Luther and his men were moving closer. “Minerva?” she asked.
“Yes?”
“Where is Jennings?”
“Uh, eighty-four kilometers away, approaching steadily. It’ll be close to two hours before they get here.”
Sitting before her console, Kathleen shrugged. There wouldn’t be any assistance from Jennings. She manipulated her simulcon and it moved forward into the opening.
Bart stationed his robot as a guard at the entrance and Bobbi followed Kathleen inside. Kathleen switched on her lights and saw there was no initial chamber, o
nly a single passage leading into thicker darkness. The way was certainly large enough for a simulcon and therefore large enough for a kitzloc. Warily, they proceeded deeper inside, following the passage on a slight incline until it finally opened up into a rock-strewn room. At first glimpse, there was no way out other than the way they’d come, but upon further inspection Bobbi located another tunnel leading down at a precipitous angle.
“Okay,” Kathleen said to Bobbi, “this looks like the place. Stay close.”
The walls of the rounded passageway were smooth like they’d been cut, yet it was possible, even probable, the cave had been formed by an ancient river. Kathleen checked her sensors and noted that nothing stirred. There was no sound coming from below. Additionally, she realized the cave was dry. No water, no indication of any recent flow. She touched the side of the tunnel to balance herself on the way down. The sides of the tunnel were dry as well. The air was still and clear.
“This isn’t right,” Kathleen murmured.
Bobbi brushed the side of the tunnel with her hardened shoulder and the scraping sound issued forth like a shriek.
“So much for surprise,” said Kathleen.
“Sorry,” was all Bobbi could muster.
Minerva’s radio signal was relayed and amplified by Bart’s simulcon standing outside the cave entrance. She passed a report stating that Luther was presently situated atop the nearest sand dune, watching everything.
A few more steps and Kathleen found herself in another chamber, larger than the first. She stopped and began checking sensors while flashing a floodlight about the room. Emerging from the tunnel, Bobbi inadvertently bumped into her, startling Kathleen in the process.
Kathleen drew in a breath and forced herself to soothe frayed nerves. Side by side, they stepped to the center of the cave. There was nothing to see beyond a scattering of loose rocks and a low, overhanging ceiling. After a careful inspection, they agreed there were no other exits.
“What now?” Bobbi asked. “There’s nothing here. Looks like nothing has been here in a long time.”
“You think?” Kathleen answered. “Let’s just keep it to ourselves for the moment, shall we?”
At her console, Bobbi nodded and her simulcon followed suit.
“All right, let’s go back up,” said Kathleen, “but not all the way out just yet. Stop in the chamber above. I’ve got an idea.”
They clambered up the tunnel again, pushing metallic hands against the walls to gain traction. In moments, the simulcons emerged into the first room. From her position at the console, Kathleen removed her VR helmet and tapped Bobbi on the shoulder. Bobbi jumped as if she had been touched with the business end of a cattle prod. She removed her helmet.
“You nearly scared me to death.”
Kathleen ignored the comment. “Look,” Kathleen said, “we’re going to act like we got what we came for. When we leave the cave, I want you to run as fast as you can. Even if Bart asks what’s going on, don’t take the time to explain. Just run like you’re being chased.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m right behind you. When we get outside, run like your life depends on it. Okay, ready?”
Bobbi nodded although still uncertain as to what was about to transpire. Kathleen slipped her helmet on and Bobbi followed.
“Switch comms back, and let’s go. You first.”
Back in remote, Bobbi guided her simulcon up the tunnel. Kathleen suddenly began to shout for her to hurry, hurry, then it was run! and Bobbi fairly burst out of the cave opening at a dead run. Bart, still waiting at the entrance, backed his simulcon away when he saw Bobbi streak past. Kathleen was out a moment later, shouting to Bart, “Blow it closed, blow it!”
Bart reacted quickly and launched two grenades into the opening. On the run, Kathleen’s robot turned and launched two more just before the first two went off. The resulting explosions launched a pillar of dust and rocks that rained on the three as they made their way toward the sand dune that concealed Luther’s three trucks.
Luther, as well as the better part of his group, witnessed it all from the top of the dune. When he saw the simulcons bounding over the sand toward him, he abruptly turned, shouted at his men, and ran down the opposite side of the dune toward the waiting vehicles. He jumped into the first truck and began cranking the starter. The old truck coughed and smoke came from the exhaust, then the engine died. He looked up and the simulcons were already coming down the hill toward him. One of them held a bag in its hand. He heard an amplified shout: “Luther, stop, I’ve got it!” It gave him pause just long enough for the simulcon with the bag to approach the vehicle.
Kathleen’s voice came from the robot. “There’s no time to lose, it’s behind us! Give me Fagen and you can have the essence.”
Luther kept cranking on the starter for the truck and it finally caught. Likewise, the other trucks had come to life. The other two simulcons positioned themselves at the top of the dune and were facing the kitzloc lair with weapons trained. Luther took it all in and knew he had but moments to make a decision. One of the trucks started to pull away from the group.
“All right,” he said, “give me the bag.”
“Give me Fagen,” answered Kathleen.
A split-second’s hesitation passed before Luther turned and signaled to one of the waiting trucks. “Let him go,” Luther shouted.
Fagen, still bound and gagged, was pushed from the truck and landed hard on the sandy ground. The truck began to move forward, narrowly missing running him over.
Luther looked back to Kathleen’s simulcon. Those atop the dune began firing at something beyond his field of view. The other trucks were now rolling away, raising dust behind and Luther found himself alone in the lead vehicle. “Give it to me,” he hissed.
Kathleen threw the bag inside his truck where it landed behind Luther’s seat. Luther waited no longer. He gunned the vehicle and fountains of sand shot into the air from the spinning tires. For a second, he thought he might be stuck, but the truck finally gained traction and started to roll. As he pressed on the accelerator and gained speed, he heard the sound of weapons firing on full automatic from the top of the hill. Luther headed the opposite direction, following the tracks of the other two trucks that were already out of sight.
Kathleen’s simulcon turned and faced the hill where Bobbi and Bart were busily making a racket firing their weapons at nothing. “You can stop now,” she said into her mic.
The two simulcons ceased fire. As an afterthought, Bart sent a grenade flying and a final explosion on the opposite side of the hill put an emphasis to the hundreds of rounds that had been fired. Bobbi ran down the slope to where Fagen lay. He’d been handled roughly by Luther’s crew. His face was bruised and cut.
She ripped the gag from his mouth and asked if he was all right.
He nodded. “Yeh, I’m okay.”
She untied his hands and feet and, as he rubbed his wrists, Minerva-Too came rumbling up and over the dunes.
Fagen stated the obvious, “Minerva, I am so glad to see you.”
The simulcon stopped moving and a moment later Bobbi emerged from the truck, running to Fagen, wrapping her arms around him, and pressing her face against his chest.
Minerva’s voice came over the exterior speakers, “Edward, I’m pleased to see you survived your ordeal. I’ll need to see to your injuries first thing, okay?”
“Yeh, sure.”
Bart’s simulcon strode from the hill to join the group. As it approached, Bart said, “Was that sweet, or what? Did you see how they took off? Hook, line, and sinker.”
“I hate to spoil the moment but we still have a problem,” Minerva intoned. “Harry is missing. I found his locator beacon stashed in his overalls. I can’t find him.”
Chapter 6
Harry’s plan was to sneak behind Luther’s group, so when he first started out, he walked an arc to stay as far away as possible until the final moment. However, it did not work out as planned. Before Harry
completed the arc, the group of three trucks moved directly toward Minerva’s truck. By that time, Harry was kilometers out of the way. He heard the trucks moving and surmised correctly what was occurring. The firefight that ensued lasted a brief time, but then it seemed that all the vehicles were moving, including Minerva’s truck.
Perhaps if he’d just started backtracking at that moment, he could have found his way back. Instead, he made his way atop the nearest rise for a look. The wind had picked up and he could see sand rising from the tops of distant dunes. He visually searched for the vehicles but they kept low. In the distance was a bank of low, muddied clouds driven forward by stronger winds. If he didn’t find the truck soon, he’d have to look for shelter elsewhere. Even the kitzloc knew better than to remain exposed in a sandstorm.
He began running at an angle to the arc he’d just traveled, in a line that should have taken him to the destination locale. They were sure to be searching for him. The wind continued to rise, blowing sand into his face until he was forced to walk backwards. He struggled along in that manner for a time but finally stumbled into a boulder. It offered a bit of protection so he lingered there.
Cowering close to the rock, he brushed sand from his eyes and noticed regular lines cut into the rock. Squinting, Harry peeped around the corner and saw similar shapes in the dwindling light. He rose from his spot and moved forward into a debris field of ancient columns. Stumbling onto a solid flattened surface, he realized he stood upon an old foundation. Several broken columns loomed before him. In the middle of their formation looked to be a cubbyhole. Harry moved towards it across the flat open space but halfway there, the rock beneath his feet tilted radically. He slid forward and fell into darkness, finally hitting a solid floor with such force the air fled from his lungs. Gasping for breath, Harry rolled onto his back and watched the stone slab tilt back into its original position. Darkness closed around him.
