Blade Of Reckoning by Chris Harris (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

through the windows. “They shot me!” yelled Cinradahs indignantly.

The wall beside Tahkshi exploded as a francium-enhanced bullet smashed into it, the Francium exploding as it came into contact with the vial of water inside the bullet as the bullet's impact caused the vial to shatter. More mini-explosions littered the historical corridors, shattering priceless architecture.

Tahkshi thought of the route to the boarding platform, where he assumed that the Watchman would wait. Up the stairs two floors, left, then right twice.

Ignoring the pains in his leg and chest, Tahkshi sped up and caught up with Viretta and said, over the explosions, “We need to get to the boarding platform.”

Viretta nodded as Naarl came running back towards them. “They've blocked the stairs!”

“Shit.” Tahkshi swore, looking around for an alternative route, quickly picturing the ventilation system within the building. Access panels lead to the access ladders within and run into every room in the building. He ran over to the nearest vent and shot the four bolts off, before removing the panel. “Get in! Now!”

Naarl and Viretta quickly obliged, Tahkshi following after letting off a warning shot from his pistol.

The ventilation shaft was barely two feet high at it's lowest point. As the shortest of the trio, Viretta had the least trouble moving in the cramped space. Darkness restricted any vision, and Tahkshi had to rely on touch and sound alone to navigate. His hand touched a cylindrical object on the wall. Reaching up, he felt the lack of constraint or ceiling. “The ladder's here!” he hissed to the others, his voice echoing through the shaft. “Come on!”

Naarl and Viretta made their way to the sound, before feeling the walls to try and get a grip on the ladder's rungs, before slowly ascending into the darkness above.

*

Cinradahs

“They've gone into the ventilation system, Lord Cinradahs,” the Authorities' Commander informed him, “Any idea where they might be going?”

“They'll be going to the boarding platform.” Cinradahs said, an air of superiority wafting from his tone. “Get a team up there.”

“We already do,” The Commander said, “We'll bring them in, one way or another.”

Imprint

Text: Chris Harris
Publication Date: 08-15-2012

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