The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

leap, his blast rifle square against the door. James and Rayna flanked him, rifles chest-high. As expected, the lift stopped at Level 6. Outside, security waited like a firing squad. A single heat signature emerged fifty meters down the promenade.

Valentin signaled with his fingers: Four ahead – two low, two high – plus two on left flank, two on right flank.

Flash pegs and short-range laser pulses exploded as the door began sliding open. They smashed into metal, dinged off helmets, and thumped the red fabric, creating electric vibrations, slowing James’s his new family a half-step but not preventing the inevitable.

The security team had no chance, their blood spraying the promenade a sickly hue. They fell screaming in ridiculous contortions, their bodies obliterated from within. One guard fled as the attackers in red jumped from the lift, but James took careful aim and blew the back of the man’s head off.

As he turned back to the lift, knowing this scene was about to repeat on Level 7, James glared down the promenade and saw a single figure walking away with urgency. Even from a distance, he recognized Emil. For a second, he wanted to give chase. His father, more than anyone, deserved to die today. The urge faded when he came back to reality.

They killed ten on Level 7, but Levels 8 and 9 went unchallenged. The strategy was changing. As they approached their destination, James and Valentin discussed the dramatic movements in heat signatures. Hundreds moved; the threat was no longer hidden.

They reached Level 10, bioengineering, but stalled the lift before it opened. James and Valentin considered an unusual series of clusters.

“The entire compound has lockdown stations,” Valentin said. “Precautions Father took before I was born, in case of attack from outside or within. The R&D levels have the most stations.”

“Are they impenetrable?”

“Depends. If they tripped Black Standard, the stations cannot be opened by anyone for six hours minimum.”

“Good. At least this way we’ll be able to sort out security from the rest.” He scanned Level 10. A few people were scrambling, but no one moving toward the lift. “There,” he said, pointing to a blue flasher six hundred meters away. “Is that her tracker?”

“Yes,” Valentin confirmed. “She promised to trip her amp flag when she was in position.”

“We must take care,” Rayna said. “This woman is shapeshifter. She may lay new trap.”

“I don’t think so,” James said, “but we can’t take any chances.”

They shared a moment and understood what had to be done.

“Kill everyone not named Ophelia Tomelin,” he said.

The order dripped from his tongue with ease. James saw no room for mercy or hesitation. Their escape would be difficult enough. They needed no complications. He damn well had enough of humans and their complications.

Valentin triggered the door with the security protocol Ophelia gave him. They found a rifter close by and drove down three quiet corridors. On their final turn, three civilians saw them. Terrified, they raced into the lab complex Rayna remembered. James saw no threat on the DR29, but they aimed rifles high as they entered the lab.

They startled Ophelia, who gasped at the three towering figures in crimson battle armor. Her hair was wet and dripping.

“This is madness,” she told them. “You could have been at the platform by now. Our ship is leaving Hinton Station.”

“You know why we’re here,” Valentin said. “We don’t leave without the repository. You will give us access to everything.”

“Yes, Valentin. I have the codes. But there are things inside … the time it will take for an off-load is …”

James saw the other civilians cowering under a high-bank lab station with huge monitors. He heard Rayna jump in his mind.

- Look how they hide like frightened children. Did they create us?

- They might have. Or maybe they create the immortals.

- They give children no choice and turn them to monsters.

- Ask them, Rayna. If they say yes, kill them.

- What if they say no?

- Kill them.

He tasted her relish. He disconnected and refocused on Ophelia. Rayna moved in on new prey.

“What?” Ophelia said. “Where is she …?”

“How long will this take?” James said.

“I can’t be certain. I haven’t worked here in six years. The project has grown since then. We were already at a few hundred viable subjects when I left. There may be thousands now.”

“Where are …”

Screams preceded rifle fire. A brief silence followed.

“Why?” Ophelia screamed. “That was unnecessary. They were no threat to you.”

“Everyone is a threat,” James said, lifting his rifle. “You’re a threat, Ophelia. We have no reason to trust anyone. Understand? Give us everything. If you do, we leave together on your ship. If not, I will kill you where you stand, and we’ll escape anyway.”

She raised her hands in surrender. “Please, James. I am doing this to save your life. To save her life. When this is over, please do not make me regret my choice.”

She led them to the giant double doors where, two hours ago, Perrone’s short reign over the Bouchets ended. She tapped her amp and fingered a holographic schematic.

James reexamined the DR29 grid. Security movement was coalescing into varied positions on Level 6, spreading outward into what appeared to be combat movements. He counted ten different groupings, none with more than six heat signatures.

“What do you think?” He asked Valentin.

“The Major is organizing. I have an idea.”

Ophelia triggered the massive doors, which began to slide away.

“I need you to keep a level head,” she told them. “This will not be easy, especially for you, Valentin.”

They lowered their rifles in stunned awe as the deep lab with high vaults unveiled itself. The DR29 picked up hundreds of tiny heat signatures.

In the center, a vast light table displayed diagnostic holocubes. To either side, and two tiers