Peters removed his glasses, rubbed his tired eyes, and said, "I've been thinking."
Inside the van, Maxwell turned from the table and inquired, "What's that?"
"What if you were right? What if the T-3s and the Rogue each have a ghost in the machine?" Peters rubbed his palms together as the air grew chilly then put his hands in his lab coat pockets. "What if they are evolving and becoming self aware?"
Maxwell chuckled as he asked, "Are you kidding?" He joined Peters on the sidewalk and said, "You've been reading those old Science Fiction books again. You need to invest your money in better things. The Corporate Senate insist that novels will rot your brain. Why do you think they banned them in the first place?"
Peters said, "Please, don't even get me started on the book ban. What's wrong with stories?" The rumble of engines distracted him, so he turned, glanced behind them, and asked, "Who's this?"
Three vans drove down the street and stopped a short distance behind the two already parked at the curb.
"What are they doing here?" Peters wondered aloud as he moved to the end of their van. "We never requested a third batch of Un-Men." He waved over the two S.C.Ms. and ordered them, "Go talk to the driver and see why they're here."
The S.C.Ms. headed for the first vehicle.
"I thought we were the only team working today," Maxwell commented as he peered at the driver's side of the first van and only saw his own reflection in the tinted glass.
"What did you say?" Peters asked as he reviewed his notes.
"I said I thought we were the only team working today."
"We are," Peters answered as he glanced at the S.C.Ms.
"I know," Maxwell spoke as he started to go back into the van. "It was a statement, not a question."
The first S.C.M. adjusted his assault rifle's strap that rested on his shoulder, glanced at the second S.C.M. to make sure the other soldier had his back, and tapped the driver's window. The first S.C.M. motioned with his finger as he said, "Roll down your window."
There was no response.
"Did you hear me?" the first S.C.M. questioned. "I said..."
The electric window hummed as it lowered, and a man with a pale face turned his head and stared at the soldier. The driver's light blue eyes looked unreal and made him recoil a bit.
The driver greeted, "Hey there gov."
"You aren't supposed to be here." The first S.C.M. pointed toward the techs and relayed, "A team is already in place."
The driver tilted his head and questioned, "Are you sure? I'm pretty... pretty... sure we are to be here, poppet."
"Poppet?" the first S.C.M. repeated as he removed his assault rifle. "You need to check your orders. You shouldn't be here. You've made a mistake."
The second S.C.M. also removed his weapon, sensing the uneasiness in the other soldier.
"It is you who has made a mistake," the driver said. "We are supposed to be here, and it is plain to see that you have–" The driver lifted a hand gun and fired three shots at the soldiers, killing the first S.C.M. "–misunderstood the reason for our arrival."
The second S.C.M. stumbled back after a bullet nicked him in the neck. He saw that the other soldier had been killed, raised his FAMAS, and opened fire on the driver, shouting, "He's a T-3!"
Maxwell and Peters dove to the ground, hearing the gun fire.
"Who are they shooting at?" Maxwell shouted, covering his head with his hands.
"I don't know!"
Peters was beside him and was afraid to look up.
The T-3 got out of the vehicle, walked to the second S.C.M., shot him in the stomach, and grabbed the man by the throat. With one quick turn, it broke the S.C.M.'s neck and dropped his limp body to the road.
Maxwell heard no more gunfire, so he scrambled along the sidewalk to the back of the van and looked around the vehicle's tire; he saw the T-3.
"I don't believe it," Maxwell whispered back to his partner. "The Un-Man is wearing contacts to hide its identity." He started back and insisted, "We've got to get out of here." He looked to Peters who was frozen in fear. "Did you hear me?! Get in the van!" Maxwell shouted.
He ran to the passenger's side, got in, tossed himself to the driver's seat, and started up the vehicle. He threw the gear shift to D just as Peters jumped in the back through the sliding door. Maxwell floored the pedal, and the vehicle peeled off.
Eleven more T-3s unloaded from the vans, and in unison, the twelve marched past the sidewalk in three lines and halted. They stared at Etna Toys as they stated, "Preparing to engage main target."
Peters closed the side door, questioning, "What just happened?" He moved over and held on to the bolted table as computers and equipment moved across it. "A T-3 killed two of our soldiers."
Maxwell wiped sweat from his head as he asked, "Are they pursuing?"
"No." Peters caught one last glimpse of the area before their van turned a corner. "They're staring at the warehouse. I think they're going after Pandora."
"Why would they on their own?" After making the turn, Maxwell floored the pedal a second time, and the van sped off. "And how did they get out of the Factory?" He dreaded the answer as he ordered, "Peters, get up here! Radio in and see what you can find out."
Peters got in the passenger's seat, grabbed the mic, and pressed the side button. "Factory, this is Tech One-eleven, we have a situation. Please respond." He released the button, and static returned his request, so Peters repeated the frantic call, "Factory, this is Tech One-eleven, please respond." He turned to Maxwell and proclaimed, "I don't like this one bit."
"Keep calling." Maxwell said hopeful, "Someone will pick up."
"Factory, this is Tech One-eleven. Please respond."
Static...
"Factory, this is Tech One-eleven. Please respond..."
Chapter Twenty-seven
Take The Project
6:34 P.M...
Hellenistic Sector, Industrial Vicinage...
At Etna Toys...
Two blocks away from the four remaining vans and in the safety of an alley, Argus monitored the new development with the T-3s through his binoculars. He witnessed them killing the S.C.Ms. and the techs fleeing the scene then he reported in, "Patch me immediately to the Council."
The Chamber...
A female supervisor transferred the call to an intercom in the center of the table and once she finished, she stated, "Go ahead. You're patched in."
"Council, Argus here. A dozen T-3s arrived and took out two Factory soldiers. They're now moving on the warehouse."
Mr. Morta said, "It would seem the Factory has lost control of their Un-Men. I wonder..."
Ms. Nona turned to him and inquired, "Wonder about what?"
"What is the T-3s' true purpose?" Mr. Morta questioned. "I have a feeling there is more to their arrival than merely taking out Pandora. Perhaps they have another agenda."
Mr. Decuma asked, "Should we act?"
"Not yet, but make the preparations, and for now, we will do what we do best. We will watch." Mr. Morta turned to the supervisor and started, "Inform Argus..."
Gunfire came over the intercom and interrupted him.
"Two T-3s have moved on my position!" Argus shouted. "Returning fire!" More gun blast erupted along with a pain-filled grunt from him and he stated, "I've been hit in the leg. Retreating! I'll..."
White noise replaced his voice.
"Communication has been severed," the supervisor reported. "I'll attempt to reestablish." After a few seconds, she turned to them with a look of worry and informed them, "My attempt failed."
Mr. Morta stood, turned his back on the other two members, contemplated the situation, and faced them. "I am afraid everything has changed. The T-3s do have another agenda, and we need to act. Get me the commander of our S.C.Ms."
Inside Etna Toys...
Kat leaned against the cold concrete wall, staring at the 9 mm round Kim placed on the floor, and she pressed agai
nst the bullet wound in her shoulder as blood trickled down her left side. A fluorescent light flickered overhead as her hot breath steamed in the chilly air. Fifteen minutes had passed since the sixth hour tolled and since Kim left with the music box, and Kat felt empty and distraught without the calming Unfinished Melody, and she shivered, growing cold. Kat wasn't sure if she was cold because of the weather or from the blood loss.
lub-DUB... lub-DUB...
Everything within her screamed for her to flee, so Kat endured the pain, pushed herself up the wall, and smeared blood across its gray blocks. She slowly started for the side door when two T-3s entered and blocked her escape, so Kat turned for the front door, but it was too late. Within seconds, a dozen T-3s marched in and surrounded her like a horde of metal Golems as Kat stood there exhausted and weak, waiting for their next move. All of them stood there staring at her as if they were pleased that they had recaptured her, but they made no attempt to seize her. She glanced at the Ravlek Vest lying on the table some distance from her and knew she was defenseless without it.
The dozen T-3s moved; they slowly raised their guns and aimed at her. Their fiery crimson dot-light blinked as they communicated with each other and with those who were not present. The T-3s could think and act as one without the Factory.
The Team Leader, the one who had the blue contacts, stated, "Pandora acquired."
Kat tensed and closed her eyes.
"Secondary objective completed," the Team Leader said and ordered, "Disable Pandora."
Two T-3s stepped forward, and one lifted its hand and backhanded her, knocking her across the room. Kat landed on a tarp that was covering empty boxes that were near the front door. Dust flew up and filled her lungs along with the smell of cardboard. The two T-3s separated and came at her from different directions, expecting a fight from her, and one inadvertently kicked the round that had been lying on the floor, and the bullet bounced and rolled to her. She lay there stunned and dazed, but managed the strength to apply pressure to her wound. The first T-3 to arrive by her side paused and noticed the blood, so it grabbed her hand, lifted it, and saw the bullet hole. It placed its finger in her wound, and she cried out.
The T-3 examined the blood on its nail, turned to the Team Leader, and spoke, "Pandora has been disabled. Should I proceed with her termination?"
"No," the Team Leader answered. "Hold. We will take her back to the Factory. Perhaps we will learn some valuable information from her." It walked to the elevator and ordered, "The rest of you proceed with the first objective." It pointed and commanded, "Open those doors."
Three of the twelve moved forward and stopped when they heard the elevator activate on its own, and within a minute, the elevator came to a halt and opened. Five pairs of yellow eyes glowed within the dark cab, and the unknown creatures growled before leaping on a T-3. The mechanical creatures were K-99s. They were an early model of bio-mecha that resembled Irish Wolfhounds down to the steel-gray wavy fur. The K-99s bit and clawed at the Un-Man till one of them ripped off its head. During the attack, the elevator closed and returned empty.
"Take them out!" the Team Leader ordered, aiming its weapon.
The T-3s opened fire, destroying two of the K-99s; the remaining three K-99s ran six feet from the elevator, turned, and formed a line as they faced their adversary. A compartment on their backs opened, and a small machine gun raised into position. The K-99s attacked with their weapons and filled the large room with the roar of gun blast. The T-3s returned fire, and the K-99s barrage took down three of the T-3s before they were destroyed. The warehouse fell silent as smoke from gunpowder rose in the air like a grayish-white cloud.
"Open those doors," the Team Leader commanded.
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 slumb
er.
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.