Visisonor's blog
Chapter 4: Distress
Less than an hour passed after Tess and Kate’s departure when a message from Sarah forced Rick to initiate another mission.
— We did not expect them to make the move today, — commented Rick apologetically.
— So why did you pull me out, — asked Vera icily, — to tell me I’m not ready?
— On the contrary, this is not inside human space…
— Doesn’t matter, — she interrupted, — I’m more interested in news from Kate and Tess. Better let Wolf handle it.
— Are you sure? — inquired Wolf?
— I’m sure, — replied Vera in warmer tone. — I’m better off here. Go save the girl.
Rescue operations like this were often performed by syncons alone if they took place deep within enemy space. However, a human in the rescue team could really help convince people being rescued. And this time, human forces were expected to venture outside their territory. And thus a few minutes later Rick and Wolf drove out of the hideout.
— What do we know about Chloe? — asked Wolf as they gained speed.
— Not much, — admitted Rick. — She is rather experienced, qualified to mentor other agents. Currently working without a partner.
This was a rare combination, but not unheard of. Wolf himself preferred to work alone.
— How did she get under fire?
— There is no definitive answer. Indirect evidence suggests she was investigating a rumor of certain agent named Kate seen after being declared dead.
— Wait, do you mean our Kate?
— Yes.
— Where did that rumor come from? — Wolf wondered. — Neither me nor Villa told anyone we saw her.
— That we do not know. But other people were involved.
The two of them had just enough time to pick their vantage point within the area already patrolled by a group of non-sentient syncons.
Humans showed up right after. It was not even a squad: two troopers accompanying an agent. They were too far yet to clearly see her face even through a scope, but pure red hair peeking from under her hood left little doubt it was the same person Wolf saw earlier on the photo.
— Our data was correct, — confirmed Rick.
The rest of his words were drowned by the roar of the engine approaching them from behind.
They turned to see a motorcycle braking hard near their ATV. A syncon looking a lot like Tess jumped off the saddle and started to walk towards them.
— Ah. Sarah arrives, — announced Rick.
— And in style, — commented Wolf. — Shouldn’t she be a bit more discreet?
— We don’t have to hide now. Humans are here to investigate syncon activity, and we are the activity they are investigating.
— Huh. I think it’s calling bootstrapping.
— Somebody has to start the ball rolling, — Sarah was now close enough to join the conversation.
Then she turned to speak directly to Wolf:
— What a charming young man! I am so pleased to meet you!
She stretched her arm to him gracefully, back of her hand facing up.
— Likewise, — said Wolf uncertainly and shook her hand, despite it being held too high for a handshake.
— Oh well, I really expected a kiss, — Sarah smiled reproachfully. — Maybe some other time.
— Um… I’ll keep that in mind.
— We might need to direct our attention to more pressing matters, — reminded Rick.
Indeed, humans noticed all the noise, and other syncons emerged from their covers to advance at them. A firefight, even if partially staged, was in full swing.
The last of syncons in the vicinity was down. There could still be several units further away according to the recent scans, but she could take a breath for now.
Chloe wiped her brow and pulled out the magazine.
— I’m empty. Got any extra ammo? — she asked the trooper beside her.
— Sure, — said the trooper.
And aimed his rifle at her.
Immediately upon seeing this, Chloe jumped to her left, barely avoiding his fire.
She landed on her hands and rolled behind the corner of the building.
For a moment she was shielded from the trooper. But the second trooper was right there, and Chloe didn’t waste time.
As she sprang on her feet, she grabbed his rifle and in one motion span him around, changing direction abruptly to yank it out of his hands. He ended up off-balance, so a quick shove with the buttstock was enough to topple him.
But Chloe didn’t have time to turn his weapon in her hands because the first trooper was emerging from behind the corner,
so she dropped the rifle, pulled a pistol from her holster and shot him several times, making sure he was down.
She spun back to the second trooper, the one she disarmed, only to find him back on his feet again. As she pointed her gun at him, he grabbed her wrist.
And twisted it with enough force for her bones to crack.
She screamed reflexively, dropping the pistol, while the trooper followed with an uppercut.
She fell hard on her back and could only watch him pulling out his own sidearm and pointing it at her.
And then a burst of bullets hit him from the side.
She turned her head to the side the gunfire was from and saw the shooter approaching — a man in white shirt with a rifle.
— All right, looks like I really get to say it, — Wolf stretched out a hand. — Come with me if you want to live.
— Um, — Chloe sat up, wincing from pain in her broken wrist. — Does it mean you are a robot from the future fighting on the side of humans?
— No, I am a human from the present fighting on the side of robots.
She eyed him skeptically, but grabbed his arm with her uninjured hand.
— It’ll make more sense once you know the whole story, — he paused before pulling her up. — Are you hurt? Can you stand up?
— Could be worse, — she groaned, pulling herself on her feet.
— We need to examine your hand, — said a metallic voice from the side. — I am confident we can fix it.
Chloe turned to that voice and stepped back instinctively. Two syncons were standing not too far away, unarmed, with hands raised cautiously.
It was the male one who offered to check her injury. And the female added:
— At least you are not likely to discharge your gun into us. It would be so annoying.