Read Online the Noise Within (2010) by Ian Whates - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ian Whates
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stretch of stairs between the second and third floors. On the fifth, the red dot kept coming. The third guard, perhaps, drawn by some slight noise from the stairway?
Ignoring his own instruction, Leyton hurried upward, treading as lightly as he could. He knew he had to be in position before the door on the fifth floor opened, after which movement would be risky, not only because any noise he made would be amplified in the confines of the stairwell but also because the slight distortion of a shimmer suit on the move might be enough to give him away. Particularly to a guard already suspicious enough to come looking. Yet, before he could even reach the small landing to the fourth floor, he heard above him the telltale creak of a door opening. Leyton froze, fully aware that he was still a dozen paces short of where he needed to be and that there was little chance of taking the guard out from here before the man could raise the alarm.
CHAPTER FOUR
A voice called out from somewhere above, drawing a "Yeah?" from the guard.
In his visor display, Leyton saw that one of the other red dots had moved away from the main group, presumably stepping from the office to the corridor. The door above was only half opened, the man delayed and his attention temporarily elsewhere. Leyton risked moving forward again, hurrying as silently as he could past the door to the fourth floor and onto the stairs to the fifth.
He was still a few paces short of his ideal position when he heard the guard above say, "Will do," followed by the squeak of oil-thirsty hinges as the door opened completely. He stopped moving at once, gun pointed towards the emerging man. He just hoped those below him, the two techs in particular, held their nerve and remembered how effective the shimmer suits were so long as you stayed still.
Thankfully, the guard didn't even look their way beyond a casual glance. Instead, he reached inside his uniform and withdrew a small but bulky pen-shaped object, which he thrust against his stiffened left arm, not bothering to lift his sleeve, and held there for a handful of seconds. Leyton smiled - the man had not been alerted by any noise they made at all, but had slipped away to shoot up! A narcotic micro-spray fired through uniform and skin alike; possibly a stimulant, much needed towards the end of a long shift when energy was flagging, but definitely something not allowed in the job description, or he wouldn't have sneaked away in the first place. With a sigh, the guard relaxed his arm and slipped the applicator away again.
He stood for a few seconds, breathing deeply and puffing his cheeks out, before straightening his uniform and turning, obviously preparing to go back to his post. Leyton made a quick calculation. The guard's hands were now empty and there was nothing obviously loose about the uniform, nothing to clatter noisily should he fall. Could Leyton reach him in time to catch the body and prevent it from tumbling down the stairs? Probably.
He squeezed the trigger. Fully silenced, the gun made little more noise than a person spitting. The eyegee was on the move even as the bullet smashed into the guard's skull.
He made up the distance easily, catching the guard's body as it began to wilt towards the stairwell and laying it gently down onto the small landing, being careful not to block the door.
He waved the others forward, exiting the stairwell with Black close at his heels. There were now three red dots left in the control room.
Against all sense the room's door stood open, perhaps left that way by a guard who expected to be returning soon. Leyton, Black and the remaining marine ghosted into the room, each taking station behind one of the three civilians - two men, one woman - intent on their work. One of the men was just finishing a conversation, apparently with somebody aboard one of the two ships parked in orbit around Holt. The trio waited for him to break the connection and then struck. These were civilians, so they
Ignoring his own instruction, Leyton hurried upward, treading as lightly as he could. He knew he had to be in position before the door on the fifth floor opened, after which movement would be risky, not only because any noise he made would be amplified in the confines of the stairwell but also because the slight distortion of a shimmer suit on the move might be enough to give him away. Particularly to a guard already suspicious enough to come looking. Yet, before he could even reach the small landing to the fourth floor, he heard above him the telltale creak of a door opening. Leyton froze, fully aware that he was still a dozen paces short of where he needed to be and that there was little chance of taking the guard out from here before the man could raise the alarm.
CHAPTER FOUR
A voice called out from somewhere above, drawing a "Yeah?" from the guard.
In his visor display, Leyton saw that one of the other red dots had moved away from the main group, presumably stepping from the office to the corridor. The door above was only half opened, the man delayed and his attention temporarily elsewhere. Leyton risked moving forward again, hurrying as silently as he could past the door to the fourth floor and onto the stairs to the fifth.
He was still a few paces short of his ideal position when he heard the guard above say, "Will do," followed by the squeak of oil-thirsty hinges as the door opened completely. He stopped moving at once, gun pointed towards the emerging man. He just hoped those below him, the two techs in particular, held their nerve and remembered how effective the shimmer suits were so long as you stayed still.
Thankfully, the guard didn't even look their way beyond a casual glance. Instead, he reached inside his uniform and withdrew a small but bulky pen-shaped object, which he thrust against his stiffened left arm, not bothering to lift his sleeve, and held there for a handful of seconds. Leyton smiled - the man had not been alerted by any noise they made at all, but had slipped away to shoot up! A narcotic micro-spray fired through uniform and skin alike; possibly a stimulant, much needed towards the end of a long shift when energy was flagging, but definitely something not allowed in the job description, or he wouldn't have sneaked away in the first place. With a sigh, the guard relaxed his arm and slipped the applicator away again.
He stood for a few seconds, breathing deeply and puffing his cheeks out, before straightening his uniform and turning, obviously preparing to go back to his post. Leyton made a quick calculation. The guard's hands were now empty and there was nothing obviously loose about the uniform, nothing to clatter noisily should he fall. Could Leyton reach him in time to catch the body and prevent it from tumbling down the stairs? Probably.
He squeezed the trigger. Fully silenced, the gun made little more noise than a person spitting. The eyegee was on the move even as the bullet smashed into the guard's skull.
He made up the distance easily, catching the guard's body as it began to wilt towards the stairwell and laying it gently down onto the small landing, being careful not to block the door.
He waved the others forward, exiting the stairwell with Black close at his heels. There were now three red dots left in the control room.
Against all sense the room's door stood open, perhaps left that way by a guard who expected to be returning soon. Leyton, Black and the remaining marine ghosted into the room, each taking station behind one of the three civilians - two men, one woman - intent on their work. One of the men was just finishing a conversation, apparently with somebody aboard one of the two ships parked in orbit around Holt. The trio waited for him to break the connection and then struck. These were civilians, so they
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