The progenitor reaches into its coat. Del’s entire body visibly tenses waiting for an attack. Caufmann’s eyes are two beacons of murderous rage as he raises his gun for a kill shot. Isfeohrad produces a cylindrical object about the size of a spray can. Caufmann’s eyes betray his horror and that break in his concentration gives Isfeohrad enough time to press the red detonate button, drop it, and spring towards the windows in one fluid movement. Caufmann grabs Del’s arm and leaps for the stairwell doorway with everything he’s got. “NAPA bomb!”
A grid pattern shoots out at a modest spherical distance; little bigger than half the floor space itself but the blast is powerful enough to push Isfeohrad out of the window as well as throwing Del and Caufmann down the stairwell with Rennin. Some debris falls on them but they’re relatively unscathed. An emergency message flashes on Caufmann’s forearm: ‘NAPA bomb incoming!’
“Prototype threw another one. Move!” he yells, grabbing them both and hauling them downstairs just as the second blast tears through the walls of the stairwell, ripping it apart around them.
On the ground floor, Drake falls over when the second blast hits, vastly more powerful than the first. Mia Saker is stable in an emergency procedures ward, being tended to by an automated nurse. Several of the staff have come out of hiding to assess the damage and casualties of Isfeohrad’s sudden and ferocious assault.
Drake braces himself, gritting his teeth as he hears several of the floors above come crashing down. He waits for several long moments after the initial collapse ceases just to make sure the ceiling isn’t going to cave in on him, then hurries for the stairwell.
The first doorway he hurries past ejects a badly damaged Caufmann. His clothes are torn, tattered and on fire. Drake lowers his gun and is about to speak when Rennin and Del follow Caufmann out. Rennin doesn’t look much better than the doctor. Apart from being filthy Del looks fine. Drake wonders how they got down so fast but by the looks of them, they were assisted by the blast. Caufmann tells Drake to follow and the four of them head back down to the lowest level.
Approaching Room XVI, Caufmann begins to explain to Drake and Rennin about Arca Drej and Amber Antares. Their level of surprise is mitigated by their exhaustion. Caufmann leaves out certain details about Antares, her marriage being the first and foremost. Rennin eyes Drej with his still blurry vision but can make out the unstable expression on the android’s face. Caufmann steps over to him. “How are your eyes, Ren?”
“I think I’m coming out of it.”
“We could have used your help out there before,” says Drake to Drej and Antares.
“Your puerile insufficiencies are your own concern. And one CryoZaiyon should have been more than adequate,” says Antares looking over Caufmann’s worn appearance.
“And Arca is in no condition to be thrown into a fight at a moment’s notice,” says Caufmann.
Antares runs a hand through her thick cable-hairs. They look almost wet or glossy, like silvery snakeskin. “Now what are we going to do? People will come any minute and begin locking this place down to search it.”
“You and Arca will go through the sewers with Drake and Saker, if she’s able in time,” says Caufmann.
“She’ll be fine,” says Drake. “The machine said the tissue damage will heal in a few hours with that Regenus gel. What is that stuff anyway? How’s it work?”
Antares looks to Caufmann, alarmed, “Regenus gel?”
“It’s complicated and it’s better that you don’t know,” says Caufmann.
“Top secret?” asks Drake.
“No, just unpleasant.”
Drej speaks, eyes darting around uncertainly, “I don’t want to go through the sewers.”
“It’s the only way, Arca,” Caufmann points out wearily.
“Something wants to get out of there. I can hear it calling for help.”
Caufmann frowns and looks to Antares, “Have you heard anything?”
She shakes her head, “No. He started hearing it before I was brought in. And he was adamant he’s been hearing it for at least an hour. He told me to listen, but I couldn’t hear anything. Nothing on scanners either.”
“We have no other choice then, it has to be the sewer,” says Caufmann to Drej.
Drej is wrapped up in his bed sheet, his armour piled in the corner of the cell. He looks at the floor. “I wanted to get out of here so badly; but I’m not sure I should now.”
“Why not?”
“I,” he stops, closing his eyes and tilting his neck to one side. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“You’re going to be fine, Arca, you have Antares and two others to guide you.”
“I can’t go through the sewers, sir. I don’t trust myself. I’d rather be found and executed than do something a scared animal does.”
Antares shakes her head. “If he can’t go through the sewers, it’s just that simple. We need another way.”
Rennin speaks, “You’re sending Del to help with Horizon Military, right?”
Caufmann nods.
“Suit these two up in full combat gear, helmets, everything, and use them as Del’s support. They don’t have transponders, and as long as no one sees their eyes and they don’t act superhuman no one will be any wiser,” says the watchman.
“Not a bad idea,” says Antares, her eyes questing to Drej for confirmation.
“I could do that. Probably,” says Drej pensively.
“Sequester a gunship and you can make your own team,” says Rennin to Caufmann.
“I’m not sure I have that authority,” says Caufmann.
“If they see what Del can do, they’ll give you whatever you want.”
Caufmann looks to Del, who’s standing in the corner of the room silently, and smiles. “Alright, done. I’ll get them to assign you to me, along with Drake, Saker and a few others.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” says Rennin grinning.
“The outbreak is already accelerating according to the reports,” Caufmann says eyeing his forearm display. Its flashing images indicate small firefights breaking out across the city, its military personnel milling around like ants. “We have to try and save Raddocks Horizon so you’ll have to make a stand. With the power we possess we can’t just abandon the people here. But once the retreat is called, that’s when you desert, understood?” he asks, making sure to make eye contact with everyone.
Most nod but Drake doesn’t. “I don’t think Mia will ever desert.”
“Her choice,” says Caufmann indifferently, “but remaining behind in the fire zone when the Desolator satellites activate is lunacy, and she can’t do anything once trapped inside the Centre-city safe zone.”
“I’ll talk to her,” says Drake.
“It’s also very important that you all get out. Avoid the Skyhook if you can, I’ll provide enough data on this infection to trade in case anyone picks you up; it’ll make it look like you had to flee for a reason.” His expression turns dark. “But if Godyssey make a move on you, shoot them down. No exceptions.”
There’s a mild silence in the room after that statement but a rush of goosebumps makes everyone face Del. He is now leaning in Drej’s direction, as if sniffing. He steps off the wall and walks a few paces to stand in front of the HolinMech who looks up at him with wild red eyes. Del glances to Caufmann and his forearm display flashes text, Deserter is wounded.
Caufmann looks over at Drej. “He looks fine.”
Multiple lacerations to legs, arms and chest. Concentrations of Thermosteel under cot mattress.
Caufmann looks from his display to Drej. “Stand up, Arca.”
Drej does so but keeps the sheet tightly held around him. “What’s wrong?”