Bill stopped and scanned the floor area like an eagle looking for a rabbit amongst the grass. He looked to his hand held scanner for assistance but it was going haywire. The electromagnetic energy was causing too much interference. He shoved it forcefully back in his pocket and continued his vigil. One of the guards from the checkpoint he had just passed came running up to him.
“Sir, one of our patrols just reported that they have seen him” he said
“Where?” questioned Bill excitedly
“They are over there” he said, pointing a long scaly arm toward a mass of computer banks.
Bill squinted to see and he spied the patrol standing still, the leader still on the radio and looking toward the column of light. Scanning farther ahead Bill was startled to see himself walking toward the core, hand reaching inside his jacket. He couldn’t help but feel impressed at Nick’s skill.
“Order them to stop him!” he barked at the reptilian. At once the guard started jabbering away in a strange language into his headset. Bill watched as the patrol group moved in Nick’s direction and Nick took off running. The chase wound its way through people and banks of machinery and Bill could see Nick’s hand as it came out and slammed something onto one of the terminals as he ran past. The patrol ran right past it and just as it looked like they were going to catch him, poof, the lights went out. Bill was just as startled as everybody else and then pandemonium reigned. Bill ordered Jack to assist the reptilians and Jack and his security team ran off. Bill pulled out his hand held unit again. This time he could see the blip that was Nick making its way slowly across the floor and watched helplessly as the blip disappeared off the screen. Bill was somewhat relieved as he had a notion where Nick had gone. Perhaps now he could close out two loose ends at once.
Chapter 22