Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  They moved forward, and the three T-3s marched to the elevator, passing their crawling comrade. Two of the T-3s tucked their guns and grabbed the doors, prying them open, while the third covered them with its weapon. They forced the elevator open and found an empty lit cab. Sometime after the explosion, the elevator had returned. The two T-3s removed their weapons and entered the cab as the third followed. The third one moved to press the basement button when a white sticky web shot from the ceiling, entangling it in a cocoon like a helpless fly. The other two T-3s raised their guns, firing at the ceiling as six spider bio-mechas crawled in through the escape hatch. They were two foot in diameter and all metal. Bullets sprayed and ricocheted, taking out the lights. The cab fell dark. The Arachnoids studied the Un-Men with their eight, green, beady eyes. They jumped down and attacked the remaining two T-3s as the elevator closed.

  The Team Leader turned to Pandora as it uplinked with others of its kind. "Lost containment of sight." It lifted its gun, aiming at her. Its fake blue eyes showing neither remorse or pleasure.

  "Its eyes are just like Kimberly's," she thought, tensing for her end.

  The Team Leader said, "Can no longer secure Pandora. Extraction failed. I will terminate Pandora."

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  The End For One

  Moments earlier...

  After the K-99 exploded and took out most of the T-3s, Kat watched as the Team Leader ordered the two T-3s guarding her to join the other one. She wondered, "What are the Un-Men after?" She pressed against her shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding and winced. "Why are they so concerned with opening the elevator? What’s below?" Kat glanced at the dog bio-mechas. "Who or what are the K-99s guarding?" She coughed for the dust she stirred up.

  The elevator opened, and the Arachnoids attacked the T-3s. Once the elevator closed again, the Team Leader turned to Kat and aimed at her. She searched the area with her hand for a weapon. She felt along the dusty concrete and only found the 9 mm round. She whimpered, defeated. "So many times I’ve faced death." Knowing this was it, she looked around the warehouse and then up at the T-3. "Will my search end where it began?"

  She clenched the bullet and held it to her chest, too weak to stop the Team Leader. "Pale Horse, is your rider coming for me?" She smelled the lingering gun smoke and the cardboard of the boxes she lay on.

  The objective was clear. Take out the target. Two shots to the head would do it. Muzzle flashed twice as empty shells fell to the floor and bounced. Kat jerked. The shots echoed across the building as smoke rolled from the gun. Liquid trickled from two wounds in the forehead and converged at the nose.

  The Team Leader turned its head toward the front door. "Pretty puppet?" It collapsed to its knees and fell on its face as its artificial life blood spilled from the two wounds in its head.

  In disbelief, Kat stared at the disabled T-3 and looked to the door. Kim stood there with the PPK raised. She had been the one who fired.

  Kat wondered, "Kimberly has saved me, but why?" Weakening by the second, she tried to stay conscious. “What cruel part... does she have in these tests?”

  "Made it just in time," Kim thought as she lowered the gun and moved to her.

  "Well, I’m back," she stated as if announcing her entrance to a party. Kim noticed her pale face.

  "I still can’t believe I’m helping her," Kim thought.

  She then said, "Well." Kim scanned the area for more Un-Men and noted the K-99s in pieces and the one T-3 with no legs, pulling itself toward them. "Are you going to sit there or are we going to leave?"

  "You came back?" Kat said. "But I thought..." She tried to sit up and pushed herself forward, but didn’t have the strength to stand. “I thought you didn't want to help me.”

  “Things change. Why are you complaining? For Ares' sake! Be glad I came back. And where's my thank you for saving your life?” Kim locked the gun, tucked it in her shoulder holster, and knelt beside Kat. Kim placed her arm around her and helped her up. "Ahh..." Kim almost vomited. "Have you ever heard of a bath?"

  Kat gritted her teeth as they made their way out. The car was outside in the front parking lot, and with Kim's help, she made her way to the car.

  Kim opened the passenger door, set her inside, and buckled her in. She stepped back, looked at the interior of her car, and said, "Try not to bleed on the leather." She shut the door, hurried to the other side, and started up the engine. The Corvette peeled off, kicking up leaves as Kim headed for the nearest hospital.

  Back inside Etna Toys...

  The elevator doors opened, and the Council exited. Five S.C.Ms., armed with XM8 assault rifles, followed them. The soldiers wore a dark green uniform with a shoulder patch of the Sphinx Corporation Emblem. The Council's Crest of a silver spool of thread, a tape measure, and a pair of scissors hung above the shield. The S.C.Ms. spread out and secured the perimeter. Two of them approached the legless T-3 pulling itself across the floor. The S.C.Ms. shot and disabled it.

  Mr. Morta looked over the mess of bio-mecha parts. "It would seem the Sanctum has been compromised. The T-3s somehow discovered our base. But why attack us?" He turned to one of the S.C.Ms. "We are abandoning Etna Toys. Pull up the Sanctum. We will look for another base of operations."

  "At once." The S.C.M. entered the elevator, and the cab doors closed.

  "Yes, why attack us?" Mr. Decuma walked up beside Mr. Morta. "And why capture Argus? Are we sure the Factory is not behind this?"

  "I doubt it," Ms. Nona answered. "The T-3s did kill two of the Factory’s corporate military men."

  "Unless that and the news that the T-3s went rogue were all a ruse." Mr. Morta rubbed his chin. "Either way, some force is after us, and I would like to know why. Only a handful of people know of our existence."

  "The more important question is, were they here to destroy us or were they after our research?" Ms. Nona asked.

  Mr. Decuma added, "Yes, a very good question."

  Mr. Morta knelt beside a K-99, petted its furry head, and whispered, "All of you did well. You protected the Sanctum."

  Ms. Nona walked up beside him. "What about Pandora?" She paused, waiting on a reply, and continued when he said nothing. "After more than a year, I think it is about time we deemed Pandora a failure.”

  “I agree,” Mr. Decuma said. “We should terminate the Project." He glanced at the Team Leader, who was face down in a black pool. "The Project would have died if Ms. Griffin had not interfered. I say we terminate our first attempt and begin on the second."

  Mr. Morta glanced at the other Council members and stood. "Activate the second project. It will take time before it is operational. For now, we will let Pandora live." He looked out the front windows. "I am curious as to why Ms. Griffin shot then saved Pandora."

  He thought, "Pandora, you must realize it now. Those whom you were looking for were right underneath you." Mr. Morta couldn’t help but think fondly of her. "You came so close to discovering us." He secretly admired her persistence. "Now what will you do? Will you trust Ms. Griffin after what she has done?"

  * * *

  A half hour later...

  The Rogue made its way to one of the Factory's vans parked at the curb. It opened the side door, keeping an eye on the few Council S.C.Ms. still within Etna Toys. They hadn't spotted it. The Rogue looked inside the vehicle.

  "Excellent, there is a computer." It entered the van, slid the door shut, and sat at the table. It typed on a keyboard. "So, the Sanctum was at Etna Toys all along. Very clever of the Council." It logged on to the Factory’s main system. "And Pandora, you have survived another day. Excellent. After all–" It pulled up a few files. "–I should be the one to kill you."

  The Rogue searched through several documents. "What are the T-3s up to?" It scanned file after file. "Why are they after the Council?" The Rogue searched through more documents. "Nothing here about those questions. Wait. What is going on?"

  Files started disappearing.

  "Someone is deleting the system. I will have t
o act fast if I want to get any information." The Rogue opened a file and read over it with robotic speed. "This file mentions an experiment called organic-mecha and references another file." It quickly pulled it up. "This is interesting. So this is what proceeded bio-mechas. Hmm... Why did Sphinx abandoned the project? Ah... I see. But does this have anything to do with me or Pandora? Not that I can tell." The Rogue read on. "Wait, here is a reference..."

  Before the Rogue could read any further, the file deleted.

  "ASCII! No!" It slammed its fist on the table and rattled the equipment. "There was a reference to the Pandora Project. Maybe I can still..."

  The remaining files deleted, and the link to the mainframe disconnected.

  "I guess someone does not want me finding out something." The Rogue stood, bent over to leave the van, slid open the door, and two S.C.Ms. stood outside, aiming their weapon at it. "Hello." The Rogue raised its hands and stepped from the van. "You really do not want to do this. I can tell by your shoulder patch you work for the Council. Let me go and this will not get messy."

  A S.C.M. touched his earpiece. "Inform the Council we have the Rogue."

  "Have?" it questioned and stated, "Have is such a strong word."

  In one quick motion, the Rogue removed its Bowie and cut across the one soldier’s throat. Blood spurted as the second S.C.M. fired his assault rifle. It evaded the shots and tackled the man to the ground, stripping the soldier of his weapon. The Rogue buried its knee in the man’s chest, and the soldier could hardly breathe.

  It said, "I want you to give the Council a message."

  His face mangled in pain as he grabbed at the Rogue's arms, trying to force it off of him.

  "Tell the Council, leave me alone, and I will leave them alone. If not..." The Rogue grabbed his arm and twisted it hard. "Things could get broken."

  The man screamed and three more S.C.Ms. ran out of Etna Toys. The Rogue stood and took off as they fired. It disappeared down the street.

  "Too bad," the Rogue thought. "I hoped to find more information about Pandora in the Factory's main system, but it is like she does not exist." It ran several blocks, came upon a major street, and hailed a taxi.

  "Where to?" the male driver asked it.

  The Rogue entered the back. "The nearest hospital. I am feeling a little under the weather."

  The driver looked at the pale faced passenger, wondering if whatever he had might be contagious, nodded, and drove down the road.

  "After a year, I know so little about you, Pandora," the Rogue thought. "No matter. I do not need to know you to kill you. All I need to know is where you are. And I have a pretty good idea."

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Not Out Of Danger Yet

  7:47 P.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

  Within the Corvette...

  "Why?" Kat wondered, glancing at Kim as the memory of her shooting her replayed over and over in her mind. Her wound still burned as much as confusion plagued her. "Why injure me then save me?" In agony, she turned and leaned her head against the passenger’s side window.

  Buildings and street lights sped by in the blackness. The mass of Dry Clouds lightened from jet-black to light gray.

  Kat felt weak and helpless. Her shoulder hurt as she pressed against the seeping hole and clenched Pale Horse. She looked down at her blistered left palm, lying limp on her leg. The sharp ache in her shoulder redirected her focus, and she hardly noticed the throbbing and the burning of the scorched skin.

  They sped down Healing Way and turned at the entrance to Asclepius Hospital as Kim talked on a cell phone. "Yes, Brian, it’s me. Don’t hang up! Now listen. I want you..." She paused as he interrupted her, and Kim snapped, "Don’t tell me that! You owe me, and I collect what’s owed to me. Now..." She calmed herself. "We need to do this covertly. So where do you want to meet?" Kim paused, listening. "Okay, we'll be there in a minute." She hung up and drove to the west side, where they were remodeling the hospital.

  A doctor, in white scrub pants and shirt, skittishly stood, waiting with a wheelchair. He looked around the empty parking lot and the surrounding area. He ran to them, pushing the wheelchair as Kim pulled up. He opened the passenger door, and Kat noticed his name badge read Dr. Chiron. He had kind brown eyes and dark brown hair. She later noticed he had a soothing voice.

  Brian helped the pale woman into the wheelchair and saw red staining the cream colored leather seat. "What happened?"

  "Later," Kim snapped. "Get her inside and stop the bleeding. I’m going to park the car." She noticed the passenger seat. "Hades! I'll also need to clean up in here."

  "Don’t leave her with me," Brian demanded. "And this will make us even."

  "For Ares' sake, I won't. And we're far from being even." She commanded, "Shut the door. I'll meet you inside."

  Brian closed the door, and she pulled off.

  Sometime later...

  Brian quickly wheeled Kat into a room. Plastic sheets covered the bed and counters. A single window revealed the dark parking lot outside. He removed one of the sheets, grabbed latex gloves, and pulled them on. Brian helped her to sit on the bed, started to remove her jacket, noticed the burn on her palm, and that she gripped something in her right hand. He carefully removed her left sleeve and pulled the right one over her fisted hand. Brian tossed the jacket to the floor and set Kat back. He unpacked several sterile instruments. He took surgical scissors, cut her blood soaked t-shirt off, and threw it to the tile floor. He started to cut the sports bra, when she grabbed his arm with her injured left hand.

  "Leave it," Kat barked like a wounded dog and glared at him.

  Brian gulped. He’d seen that look on Kim’s face and knew not to mess with the woman. Brian searched for help. Normally, he would have an orderly help him or a nurse, but he was on his own. "I’ll only cut the one strap off. Okay? I need to operate on your shoulder."

  Growing weaker, Kat remembered her fate at the hands of the techs and doctors when the Factory had captured her. They did many horrible things to her, trying to break her. She didn’t know if she could trust Dr. Chiron and eyed him suspiciously. "Kimberly brought me here. Maybe I can trust him," Kat thought and removed her hand from his gloved one. She relaxed a bit.

  "Roll on your side," Brian requested. He cut the one strap, removed it, and examined the back of her shoulder. "The bullet went all the way through. I only have to get in there and stop the bleeding." He had her lie on her back. Brian rushed into the hall, then to a medicine closet, and unlocked it. He opened a drawer, pulled out a couple of needles, grabbed some vials, and headed back.

  He set the items on the counter, unwrapped one of the needles, and stuck it in a vial. Brian noticed her silently watching him with distrusting eyes. "This is an antibiotic, then I’m going to give you something to numb your shoulder while I operate on it." He gave her the injections and inquired, "Who shot you?"

  She said nothing, only accusingly stared at Kim as she entered. Brian noticed the look she gave Kim and continued his work. Kim checked the hall, then came and stood by him.

  "I searched the floor. No one’s here." Kim peered over his shoulder and asked, "Will it take long?"

  "Not too long," he answered. "Could you step back out of my light?"

  Kim walked around the bed, stood by the wall, crossed her arms, and watched intently.

  With surgeon precision and tender hands, Brian worked on Kat's shoulder for more than twenty minutes, then touched her arm to get her attention. "Can you roll on your side? We’re half way there."

  Kat remained silent, rolled over, and stared at Kim as the doctor worked. "Is this some sort of trick?" Kat wondered. "Is Kimberly working for the Council? Why did she take my Music Box? And why did she save me?” She closed her eyes not wanting to look at the glaring Phoenix. “Why does it matter to me if she helps me or not? Is that the answer? Do I feel hurt and betrayed by her because I wanted her to help me?" She felt lost and wanted to cradle herself against the emotiona
l and physical pain. "Where is the Music Box now? I need it. The headache has already started."

  Kim noticed she gripped something in her hand and wondered, "What does Katharine have? A weapon maybe?"

  She demanded, "Give me what you have."

  Kat opened her eyes and glared back at her.

  "Give it here." Kim put a hand to the purse dangling from her shoulder. "Remember, I won’t ask a third time."

  Grudgingly, Kat opened her hand, revealing a blood covered bullet.

  "It’s only a round," Kim thought. "Wait. Is that the one I left?" She saw her own hand writing. "Yes, it is." She narrowed her eyes. "Is she saving it to use on me?" She took the bullet and wiped most of the blood on a plastic sheet. "I’ll just keep it." Kim placed the bullet in a pocket and thought, "I’ll save this round and use it when I kill Katharine."

  Brian started on a stitch, when something shiny half way embedded below her skin caught his attention. The bullet nicked the object, dislodging it enough to appear in the wound. "What’s this?" He grabbed an overhead lamp and pulled it close. "Kim, hand me the small forceps."

  She handed the tweezer size instrument to him. "What do you see?"

  He removed the small metal object and dropped it in a stainless steel tray. "I don’t know." Brian pushed it across the tray with the forceps and flipped it over, examining the rectangular thing the size of a grain of rice. "It looks like a chip they place in pets to identify them if they’re lost."

  A realization sunk in and Kim said, "It’s more than that." She picked up the metal device and walked around to face Kat. "Is this how they’ve been tracking you? This thing tells them where to send the Un-Men, doesn't it?"

  "Un-Men?" Brian questioned.

  "I’ll explain later." She turned her attention back to Kat. "It is, isn’t it? Do you know you’re some sort of experiment?" She demanded, "What are you? What are you the Key to? Tell me!"

  "Key?" Kat thought. "She thinks I’m the Key to something."

  She answered, "I'm the Pandora Project. I'm hunted and tested."

  Kim asked, "What does that mean? What's the Pandora Project? Who are you?"