1 + 2

by Kristie Lynn Higgins

  Four of the remaining eight T-3s moved forward as a shrilling whistle emanated from a K-99, and its body glowed.

  "What is it?" the Team Leader questioned, hearing the sound. It recognized the noise and commanded, "Fall back!"

  The T-3s fled as the K-99 exploded, knocking all of them to the floor. The Team Leader stood and looked over the others and saw the four whom it sent to open the doors were damaged. Three of them were completely destroyed and lay in pieces as the fourth whose legs had been blown off pulled itself across the floor. One Un-Men who was part of the group with the Team Leader remained undamaged.

  The Team Leader moved to the area Pandora was in, motioned to the T-3s guarding her, and ordered, "You two join our other brethren, and then the three of you open the elevator."

  "Understood," they replied and moved off, leaving the Team Leader to guard Pandora.

  Once they joined their brethren, the three T-3s marched to the elevator and passed 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 in case there were more surprises within. They forced the elevator open and found an empty lit cab. 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, model Arachnoid, crawled in through the escape hatch; they were two foot in diameter and all metal. The lights were hit, and the cab fell dark. The Arachnoids studied the Un-Men with their eight, green, beady eyes before jumping down and attacking the remaining two T-3s, and the elevator closed.

  The Team Leader turned to Pandora as it uplinked with others of its kind and it stated, "Lost containment of sight." It lifted its gun, aiming at her as its fake blue eyes showed neither remorse or pleasure. "I can no longer secure Pandora. Extraction failed. I will terminate her."

  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, and she wondered what the Un-Men were after. They usually came after her and had no other agenda but to kill her. She pressed against her shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding and winced.

  Katharine's view...

  Why are they so concerned with opening the elevator? I glance at the dog bio-mechas who had so bravely faced the Un-Men. And who or what are the K-99s guarding? I cough for the dust I stirred up and watch as the T-3s open the elevator for a second time; I witness the Arachnoids attack the T-3s and once the elevator closes again, the Team Leader turns to me and aims at me. I search for a weapon and feel along the dusty concrete, but only find the 9 mm round. I whimper, defeated as I stare down the barrel of the Team Leader's gun. I've faced death many times, but it hasn't been so grim. There's always some hope I'll survive, but not this time. Knowing this is it, I look around the warehouse and consider my life. It seems my search will end where it all began. I clench the bullet and hold it to my chest, too weak to stop the Team Leader as I hear Pale Horse's rider coming for me.

  End Katharine's view...

  It had its orders. The Team Leader was to eliminate her and return to base. It would make sure she died quickly, and two shots to the head would do it.

  After pulling the trigger, muzzle flash erupted twice as empty shells fell to the floor and bounced. Kat jerked as the shots echoed across the building and smoke rolled from the gun. Liquid trickled from two wounds in the forehead and converged at the nose.

  The Team Leader slowly turned its head toward the front door and spoke, "Pretty... poppet?"

  It collapsed to its knees and fell on its face as its artificial blood spilled from the two wounds in its head.

  Katharine's view...

  I stare at the disabled T-3 as if something's wrong. I feel myself slowly fading and can't understand why it's dead and not me. Did it shoot at me and miss? I don't think I've been hit again, but I can't be sure, not the way I feel. Maybe none of this is real. Maybe I'm dead and this is only an illusion dreamt during my eternal slumber.

  I hear someone clear their throat, so I look to the door and see a person there, aiming their gun at where the T-3 had been. Kimberly saved me... Weakening by the second, I try to stay conscious and figure out what part she plays in this cruel test, but then I decide I don't care... I'm so glad she's here. I'm alive because she's here.

  End Katharine's view...

  Kim lowered her gun and moved to Kat, pleased she made it in time.

  "Well, I'm back," she stated as if announcing her entrance to a party. Kim still couldn't believe she was helping her. "Well?" she started as she 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. Kim questioned, "Are you going to sit there or are we going to leave?"

  "You came back?" Kat said in a weakening voice. "But I thought..." She tried to sit up and push herself forward, but Kat didn't have the strength, so she gave up and lay back down. "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 noticed her pale face, so she locked her gun, tucked it in her shoulder holster, knelt beside Kat, placed her arm around her, and helped her up. "Ahh..." Kim uttered as she almost vomited. "Have you ever heard of a bath?"

  Kat gritted her teeth as she was hauled to her feet, and they made their way out. The car was outside in the front parking lot, and they made their way to it.

  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, started up the engine, and drove off, kicking up leaves as Kim headed for the nearest hospital.

  Back inside Etna Toys...

  The elevator doors opened, and the Council exited as 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, and 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, and the S.C.Ms. shot and disabled it.

  Mr. Morta looked over the mess of bio-mecha parts and spoke, "It would seem the Sanctum has been compromised. The T-3s somehow discovered our base, but why attack us?" He turned to the lead S.C.M. and told him, "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 stated. "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. "Pandora
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, so for now we will let Pandora live." He looked out the front windows and stated, "I am curious as to why Ms. Griffin shot then saved Pandora. Could the Chairman be interfering with our work?"

  "I do not believe he is," Ms. Nona said.

  Mr. Decuma added, "Unless he has an agenda we have no knowledge of. Perhaps we should place more Moles into the Third Branch Office."

  Ms. Nona replied, "I think we should not be hasty."

  "I agree," Mr. Morta stated.

  "Perhaps both of you are correct," Mr. Decuma said. "But we do need to send in a new operative to monitor Pandora while Argus is MIA. I will set the paperwork in motion."

  He started for the elevator, and Ms. Nona followed him.

  Mr. Morta's view...

  I stay back and monitor the cleanup of the K-99s. I stare off in thought, wondering if Pandora realized it. Did she know that the very people she searched for were right underneath her feet?

  I can't help but think fondly of her; she has come so close to discovering us. I secretly admired her persistence. What will she do now? Will she trust Ms. Griffin after what she did to her, and could the Chairman have sent his daughter in for some reason? Did the Chairman want the Pandora Project for himself?

  * * *

  A half hour later...

  The Rogue made its way to one of the Factory's vans parked at the curb in front of Etna Toys Plant and Warehouse. It opened the side door, keeping an eye on the few Council S.C.Ms. still within the warehouse; they hadn't spotted it. The Rogue looked inside the vehicle and found what it was looking for, a computer, so the Rogue entered the van, slid the door shut, and sat at the table. It logged on to the Factory's main system and pulled up a few files, scanning for information on Pandora. The Rogue searched for several minutes and finally found what it was looking for when the files started disappearing. Someone was deleting the Factory's system. It would have to act fast if it wanted to get any information, so the Rogue opened a file and read over it with robotic speed. The file mentioned an experiment called organic-mecha and referenced another file, and the Rogue quickly pulled it up. The file stated that organic-mechas proceeded bio-mechas.

  "Why did Sphinx abandoned the project and does organic-mechas have anything to do with me or Pandora?" it questioned aloud.

  The Rogue found another reference, but before it could read the file it was deleted; the Rogue slammed its fist on the table as the remaining files deleted and the link to the mainframe disconnected. There was no more that it could do, so the Rogue stood and slid open the door. Two S.C.Ms. stood outside, aiming their weapons at it.

  "Hello," the Rogue said as it raised its hands and stepped from the van. "You really do not want to do this. I can tell by your shoulder patch that you work for the Council. Let me go and this will not get messy."

  A S.C.M. touched his earpiece and spoke, "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 knife 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, and 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 the Un-Man off of him.

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

  The man screamed just as three more S.C.Ms. ran out of Etna Toys.

  The Rogue stood and took off as they fired, and it disappeared down a street. It ran several blocks, came upon a major street, and hailed a taxi.

  "Where to?" the male driver asked.

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

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

  Quietly sitting in the back, the Rogue contemplated that it knew so little about Pandora. It did realize that it didn't need to know her to kill her. All it needed to know was where she went, and it had a pretty good idea.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Not Out Of Danger Yet

  7:47 P.M...

  Hellenistic Sector, Residential Vicinage...

  Within the Corvette...

  Katharine's view...

  I glance at Kimberly as the memory of her shooting me replays in my mind. My wound still burns as much as confusion plagues me. Why did Kimberly injure me then save me? In agony, I turn and lean my head against the passenger's side window as buildings and street lights speed by in the blackness. I clench Pale Horse and press that hand against the seeping hole in my shoulder as I look down at my blistered left palm lying limp on my leg. The sharp ache in my shoulder redirects my focus, and I hardly notice the throbbing and burning of the scorched skin.

  End Katharine's view...

  Kim steered the Corvette through Healing Way and turned at the entrance to Asclepius Hospital as she 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.

  When they neared the building, Kat noticed a doctor in white scrub pants and a shirt skittishly waiting with a wheelchair. He looked around the empty parking lot and the surrounding area then 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, and she would later notice he had a soothing voice.

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

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

  "Don't leave her with me," Brian demanded. "And it 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, and 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 examining 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, pulled the right one over her fisted hand, tossed the jacket to the floor, and set Kat back. He unpacked several sterile instruments, then took surgical scissors, and cut her blood soaked t-shirt off and threw the t-shirt to the tile floor. He started to cut the sports bra off 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, so he searched for help; normally, he would have an orderly help him or a nurse, but he was on his own. He told her, "I'll only cut the one strap off, is that okay? I need to operate on your shoulder."

  Growing faint, Kat remembered her fate at the hands of the techs and doctors when the Factory had cap
tured 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. Kim had brought her there, maybe she could trust him, so Kat removed her hand from his gloved one and relaxed a bit.

  "Roll on your side," Brian requested then 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, then he rushed into the hall to a medicine closet and unlocked it. Brian 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, so he told her, "This is an antibiotic, and after I inject you, I'm also 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, and Brian noticed the look she gave Kim and continued his work.

  After checking the hall, Kim came and stood by him. "I searched the floor, and 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, and then touched her arm to get her attention. "Can you roll on your side? We're half way there."

  Katharine's view...

  Remaining silent, I roll over and stare at Kimberly as the doctor works, and I can't help but wonder if this is some sort of trick. Kimberly could be working for the Council, and she's only after my music box, but if that's true, she didn't have to save me. I close my eyes, not wanting to look at the glaring Phoenix. It doesn't matter to me if Kimberly helps me or not. I open my eyes as if I discovered the answer. Maybe I do care, and I feel hurt and betrayed by her because I want Kimberly to help me, but instead she left me to die. I don't know... I feel lost and want to cradle myself against the emotional and physical pain, and I look for the music box. I need it; the headache has already started.