doctor. You can finish your testing once it is here.” The second man’s voice was much more distinct. He had a thick Spanish accent and a tired, withering tone only inflicted by the best part of a lifetime of stress and strain.
“No can do, boss. We still don’t know if the sample’s stable enough for transport,” the first man replied, remaining perfectly calm and casual.
“Twenty-four hours. That’s what you’ve got. If we lose that sample then it’s on my head. I’m not letting you fuck this up.” The anxiety in the older man’s voice was becoming increasingly apparent.
“It can’t be done. Two days minimum. I don’t see what you’re so worried about anyway. There aren’t a whole lot of people on this planet who have a clue this place exists. How the hell are we going to lose it? Just relax, why don’t you?”
The contrast between the attitudes of the two men was becoming stark. “You really haven’t got a clue have you? Our organisation is rotten to the core, as is this planet. You’d better realise that before I abandon my trust in you. Twenty-four hours, doctor.” The recording ended.
Owyn looked back to the column. What if he was too late? If the weapon was already gone then the mission had failed. He rushed over and frantically ran his hands all over it, trying desperately for a switch; for something to restore his hope. This had to be it. What else could it be?
There was nothing. Owyn stepped back and dropped his head into his hands. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t just go back empty handed. He booted the floor in frustration and clenched a fist ready to hurl it at the column. Something hissed above him. Cautiously he lifted his head. White gas was seeping in through the ceiling around the column. He retreated a little further and measured his breathing. A clunk. The column jerked into motion. It spun around and split at the waist. The halves separated. The upper part rose into the ceiling, while the other descended to Owyn’s level.
He wafted the gas aside. Atop the pedestal sat a small canister, no more than a couple of inches wide and twice as tall. Part of the casing was transparent, through which he could see a bright blue liquid bubbling vigorously inside. Engraved on the metal section at the bottom was a peculiar symbol; a circle with three lines cut through it, forming four triangles within.
He ran his finger around the lines of the symbol, but the metal burned to the touch. He recoiled his hand. His skin stung despite the protective fabric of his glove covering it. He didn’t have time to ask questions so could only have faith that this was what he was looking for. He pulled a charge from his belt and set a timer. There was still no way of knowing whether or not he could find a way out – assuming he would have one – but ensuring the weapon was destroyed was his primary objective. Self-preservation was of little concern.
With the charge armed he set it next to the canister and backed away. As he did so the column closed and became one again. He raced out of the laboratory, ensuring that the door had sealed itself behind him before sprinting back across the walkway.
As the elevator carried Owyn back towards the surface he checked his ammo and readied himself for battle. Unsurprisingly he emerged to once again be faced by a bulwark door. Without hesitation he pressed his left hand to the scanner and sure enough the locks retracted and the door began to open. As soon as the way was clear he dashed through, only to be brought to an abrupt halt a few feet forward.
Two soldiers barred the way with rifles raised towards him. Owyn flung himself to the side only for the men to be struck by a swift pair of sniper shots. “I’ve got him, sir,” Shaw reported from his perch atop a nearby building. “Tell Sullivan to send our damned evac.”
Owyn looked down at the corner of the room. His helmet and exoskeleton were still exactly where he’d left them, but he
“No can do, boss. We still don’t know if the sample’s stable enough for transport,” the first man replied, remaining perfectly calm and casual.
“Twenty-four hours. That’s what you’ve got. If we lose that sample then it’s on my head. I’m not letting you fuck this up.” The anxiety in the older man’s voice was becoming increasingly apparent.
“It can’t be done. Two days minimum. I don’t see what you’re so worried about anyway. There aren’t a whole lot of people on this planet who have a clue this place exists. How the hell are we going to lose it? Just relax, why don’t you?”
The contrast between the attitudes of the two men was becoming stark. “You really haven’t got a clue have you? Our organisation is rotten to the core, as is this planet. You’d better realise that before I abandon my trust in you. Twenty-four hours, doctor.” The recording ended.
Owyn looked back to the column. What if he was too late? If the weapon was already gone then the mission had failed. He rushed over and frantically ran his hands all over it, trying desperately for a switch; for something to restore his hope. This had to be it. What else could it be?
There was nothing. Owyn stepped back and dropped his head into his hands. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t just go back empty handed. He booted the floor in frustration and clenched a fist ready to hurl it at the column. Something hissed above him. Cautiously he lifted his head. White gas was seeping in through the ceiling around the column. He retreated a little further and measured his breathing. A clunk. The column jerked into motion. It spun around and split at the waist. The halves separated. The upper part rose into the ceiling, while the other descended to Owyn’s level.
He wafted the gas aside. Atop the pedestal sat a small canister, no more than a couple of inches wide and twice as tall. Part of the casing was transparent, through which he could see a bright blue liquid bubbling vigorously inside. Engraved on the metal section at the bottom was a peculiar symbol; a circle with three lines cut through it, forming four triangles within.
He ran his finger around the lines of the symbol, but the metal burned to the touch. He recoiled his hand. His skin stung despite the protective fabric of his glove covering it. He didn’t have time to ask questions so could only have faith that this was what he was looking for. He pulled a charge from his belt and set a timer. There was still no way of knowing whether or not he could find a way out – assuming he would have one – but ensuring the weapon was destroyed was his primary objective. Self-preservation was of little concern.
With the charge armed he set it next to the canister and backed away. As he did so the column closed and became one again. He raced out of the laboratory, ensuring that the door had sealed itself behind him before sprinting back across the walkway.
As the elevator carried Owyn back towards the surface he checked his ammo and readied himself for battle. Unsurprisingly he emerged to once again be faced by a bulwark door. Without hesitation he pressed his left hand to the scanner and sure enough the locks retracted and the door began to open. As soon as the way was clear he dashed through, only to be brought to an abrupt halt a few feet forward.
Two soldiers barred the way with rifles raised towards him. Owyn flung himself to the side only for the men to be struck by a swift pair of sniper shots. “I’ve got him, sir,” Shaw reported from his perch atop a nearby building. “Tell Sullivan to send our damned evac.”
Owyn looked down at the corner of the room. His helmet and exoskeleton were still exactly where he’d left them, but he
Similar Books
