Hurt World One and the Zombie Rats

  *

  Par Train Station was the third largest in Switzerland and was heavily endowed with level upon level of black glass set into arched bronze frames. The high ceilings and wide open platforms and hallways added to the atmosphere of grandeur. It was a building desperate not to be overshadowed by the surrounding Alpine peaks. Kaptu Z saw it as an attempt to draw tourists with the promise of a more comfortable skiing experience than the one he had had.

  He strode across the thinly populated foyer to the Departures Board. Service Suspended notices glowed in red against every route. No reason was given but Kaptu suspected a rampaging poacher had something to do with it.

  ‘Excuse me, sir. May I see your PIC?’

  Kaptu turned to see three heavily armed police officers approaching him. Kaptu took a moment to realise what he was asking for was his Personal Identification Card. They were not used in Asylum City, it’s population having been out of control virtually since its founding. Kaptu, however, had a United Nation’s diplomatic card, which he handed over.

  The police officer that looked over it muttered, ‘You had better come with us.’

  Kaptu was led to Platform One. He could see in the foyer people being unceremoniously herded out the exit. ‘Have all the trains stopped?’

  ‘Yours hasn’t. In fact, it’s being commandeered by executive order on the basis that the sooner we get you away from here the better.’

  They stopped at the beginning of the platform where they were joined by a woman who was tall, olive skinned and decked out in leather. She glanced at her watch and then at Kaptu. ‘My name is Gagel. I am here to see you board your train. And I’m thinking of joining you too. You must be some sort of catch. In five minutes, the train line from here all the way to Zurich will be cleared for you. And you will be riding a snub-nosed AT Express, the fastest train in the world. I like a man with those kinds of privileges.’

  ‘To be honest, I have no interest in going to Zurich.’

  Gagel smirked. ‘That might be why I’ve been asked to escort you there. I’m probably the friendliest of the Alpine Special Forces that you’re going to meet but that doesn’t mean I take no for an answer.’

  ‘And when you were asked,’ murmured Kaptu, ‘was it over a communication device?’

  ‘Yes, but don’t worry, we blew her surveillance drone from the sky.’

  ‘She won’t be using that one anymore. She’ll be using yours.’ Kaptu turned to the three police officers who had led him there and patted his Cocoon 41 backpack. ‘You’d better tell the perimeter security detail to get worried. She really wants this dog.’

  ‘There are twenty officers patrolling the station,’ said Gagel, ‘against one solitary poacher.’

  ‘Deer hunting a tiger are still just steaks. She might come directly here or she might go

  looking for some more weapons first. It wouldn’t surprise me if your base received a visit.’

  ‘I’ve just come from there and I can assure you it is all very calm.’

  ‘And it might still be very calm with the slight difference being some of your sentries are now on the ground with their throats slit. The Alpine Special Forces is a modern, well equipped unit. So, why would Mas want to go shopping anywhere else?’

  The snubbed-nosed AT Express innocuously pulled into the station beside them and Gagel gazed at the sleek, polished red chrome just as though it were a blank canvas for her thoughts. She went to her collar communicator and called the sentries at the Alpine Special Forces base. There was no reply.’ Gagel looked to Kaptu before hurriedly making another call. ‘Base has been breached,’ she declared. ‘Our assets are compromised. And don’t ask me what we should do about it.’