The Compromised Mission - Chapter 3, The Green Eyed Monster
09 Sep 2021Nathan Crest
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The Compromised Mission
Chapter 3, The Green Eyed Monster
I tapped on the keypad of the monitor station and started the emergency data destruct sequence. It should turn into a chunk of useless hardware in a few moments. Next, I needed a weapon. The wall panel by the bed slid open with a click. Inside was a custom gold plated Ares Superhawk, a large caliber semi-automatic pistol that only held five rounds. I felt the heft of this hand-cannon and turned it over. On the barrel was a dozen or so diamonds embedded in the shape of a heart.
"Well okay then. Never say Commander Nathan Crest lacks style," I proclaimed to my imaginary naysayers.
Quickly, I exited the safe house.
I darted along the outer hallway of the building, moving quietly. Turning the corner, I abruptly came face-to-face with a man carrying a Karma AR-50 assault rifle. He wore the same dark gray colored ballistic vest and tactical pants as the mercenaries I saw in the camera feed. His face betrayed shock and surprise, undoubtedly the same was echoed on my own face.
In the next split-second, his expression hardened. I was too close to aim the AR-50 for a shot. Instead, he brought the stock of his rifle up and swung it at my head like a blunt instrument. I stepped in close and grappled his weapon. Rotating slightly to the side, I used his own momentum to unbalance him, and kicked out my leg for an inside trip takedown. It didn't work; he knew what I was going for and lowered his center of gravity. However, that gave me the opening I needed for a gamble. I let go of the AR-50 and smashed into his jaw with a horizontal elbow strike. The mercenary reeled back, momentarily dazed from the impact. Expecting him to loosen his grip, I pulled hard on the rifle. He held on. We wrestled and shoved. A gloved fist slammed into my right cheek. I felt the points of the knuckles stabbing into my bone. I threw a hard left body hook, aiming for his liver, but he shifted his body and deflected the blow.
Time was running out for me. Every second was in his favor, giving the rest of the mercenaries time to arrive. So... I bit his shoulder like a tantrum throwing child.
That's right. I was willing to put away my pride and self respect.
The mercenary screamed angrily and shoved me back with great force. I let him. As I fell backwards, I drew the Superhawk and unloaded three rounds, center mass. The deafening sounds of gun fire reverberated throughout the neighborhood like vespertine thunder piercing the silent evening. If the rest of the mercenaries didn't know where I was, they did now.
His ballistic vest was not plated. The kinetic impact from these large caliber ammunition should at least cause fractures, if not out right break bones. My hand ached from the recoil. This gun was brutal to its user no matter how many diamond hearts it had. My opponent fared far worse. He laid on the ground, gasping for air.
The first round hit his abdomen, where his right hand was at. It shattered the trigger of the AR-50 and obliterated his hand. The second round struck his chest. It may have broken his sternum. The third round, well, I never claimed I was a good shot.
I walked to the man and pointed the Superhawk at his head. Noticing my right hand was still shaking from the recoil, I quickly switched to the more steady left hand.
"Talk, who are you working for?"
The man shook his head.
"Ok, a professional. I can respect that. Tell me your name then."
A look of surprise flashed across his eyes. After a moment he nodded.
"Jacob... Zennock," the downed mercenary uttered between ragged breaths.
"Nice doing business with you Mr. Zennock. Sorry about your hand. Talk to Eddie, he'll get you fix up with cyber in no time."
Without a moment to lose, I kicked away the broken AR-50 just in case, and did what I do best - running away with my tail between my legs.
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"Tara, are you there?" I spoke into my comm-link as I ducked into a maintenance corridor. There was no answer. This was not good. I continued down the narrow path until it opened up at a back alley leading to Sky Circle.
"Nice of you to join us Mr. Crest," I emerged from the corridor to a gun barrel pointed at my forehead. "My, you sure are a slippery one aren't you?"
My captor was a woman of medium height, green eyes, slightly upturned nose, and a shock of long red hair tied in a pony tail. She was quite attractive, except for the massive and inhumanly muscular bio-engineered body. She wore a mocking smirk on her face, as well as the same dark gray ballistic vest and tactical pants. Next to her were two men in the same uniform, their guns also trained on me.
As I raised my hands into the classic surrender pose, I flexed my wrist and my comm-link silently engaged the auto-record mode. All audio data were being uploaded to the local Albion dead-drop. Perhaps Commander Rolkein could make use of what was about to transpire in the next few moments, whether I make it out alive or not.
"Well, it would seem I wasn't slippery enough, Miss..." I looked at my captor quizzically.
"Nice try Mr. Crest. But I'll play. You may call me Julia."
"Well it's very nice to meet you Miss Julia."
"You do understand we were hired to bring you in, dead, or dead."
"Such dreary business. I hope you wouldn't have to travel far to deliver my body?"
"Oh my Mr. Crest, playing games till the last moment. But I'm getting bored, and my boys haven't had dinner yet."
At this point, my only choice was to buy more time and watch for opportunities.
"Perhaps a gift would alleviate your boredom Miss Julia?" I motioned with my chin toward the hip holster covered by my coat.
"A gift for little ol' me? Now you've piqued my interest." The woman motioned for one of the men to retrieve the golden Superhawk.
Julia holstered her own weapon as the man handed her the gun. She giggled uncontrollably once she saw the diamond heart. The two men also looked on, chuckling at the ridiculous weapon.
With only one gun pointed at me, it was now or never. But before I could move, a shot rang out. One man immediately collapsed; his head pierced by sniper fire. Julia and the other mercenary ducked for cover. I dashed back inside the maintenance corridor, and a fire fight erupted behind me.
My comm-link buzzed. Finally, it was Tara.
"Nathan, are you alright?"
"Yes, what's happening?"
"Commander Pendragon retained a team of mercs to support your extraction. They've engaged the enemy back there at Sky Circle alley."
"Tell Commander Pendragon I owe him one, someone really wants me dead."
"Will Do. Also Commander Rolkein has confirmation Orionis Vision Systems is behind this. They jammed our communication. I was finally able to hide our encoded stream through a proxy."
"I knew it. They were behind Eddie too?"
"Yes, they paid off Eddie. He's dead now."
"What happened to him?"
"I will provide the information later during debriefing. First the new extraction instructions. You are to head to dock three. We have a Cobra there to take you to Rawn Works on Orionis 9. That's where you will rendezvous with Commander Pendragon."
"Got it. I can finally get off this place. You're a life saver Tara. Once last thing. Find information on Jacob Zennock and a heavily bio-engineered merc named Julia. Although I have a feeling Julia is a fake name."
"On it. Be careful Nathan."
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This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.