Commander Radfield held high the intricate weapon in his hand. He didn't know how it worked, nor did he know anything of its manufacture. All he knew was that this... Thing... before him had used it to destroy his trusted partner, Captain Tamerlane. And now, Radfield thought with a malicious bent, it's time to return the favour... for ever and eternity.
"What are you gunna do," asked the creature on the ground in perfect English, "Kill me? You know you can't. You'd lose your commission in a heartbeat!" Radfield tightened his grip in response. The alien raised its chin in a defiant manner, displaying the second set of pincers under its jawline. "You wouldn't dare, Commander. You define yourself by... this," it added after, sweeping one of its arms at Radfield's uniform.
Radfield hesitated pulling the trigger. He knew what the villain said to be true, but... Was it really? Did he indeed define himself by his service? His tan and sculpted arm trembled from the strain of holding the weighty object up single handedly, sending ripples through the long sleeve of his Officer's uniform. Small rivulets of perspiration formed on his brow. Do it, he told himself, trying to gather the confidence to end this villain's life. Do it and show Frank, wherever he is, what he meant to you!
The face of Frank Tamerlane, Radfield's partner in the Peace Department of ten years and best friend for twice that, swam in to view ahead of the sights at the end of the weapon. Radfield imagined his expression sorrowful; his dark hair was styled back like it would be, his face pained and sad. Cold hatred boiled through Radfield's veins as he saw the face change to its current mockery of life still sitting at the ship terminal downtown. Hair splayed everywhere, chunks missing from laser splatter...
In an instant his mind was made up, and Radfield pulled the trigger in one quick jerk of his finger. The weapon erupted forth an enormous beam of light, as wide as a man and at least as tall, roaring like the sound of a thousand waterfalls, all aimed straight at the villain's proud head. The alien screamed then, a chittering sound meant to convey hostility that was now reduced to expressing mortal fear. In the last millisecond before impact, it threw all five of its arms up in a defensive position, the screaming having reached a fever pitch yet still nothing against the sound of the beam coming for him.
The impact was glorious.
The beam from the weapon erupted into a million disparate colours, all named shades of the rainbow and everything in-between striking at once and incinerating every molecule upon impact. The villain cried out as the very fiber of its being was shredded and disintegrated, a piercing sound more agonizing than any Radfield had ever heard. His heart fit to burst with both the glee and remorse coursing through his veins, and it took everything in his power not to break down in tears as he lowered the weapon and let the disintegration take its course.
Within seconds it was over. Where the villain had been half-seated on the ground, now laid a pair of insect-like legs and the beginnings of a torso... And nothing more. Even the wall beyond the alien's carcass was damaged in the attack, splatter patterns from the laser peppered in a wide dispersement. Radfield threw the gun at the alien's remains, more out of anger at himself than anything else. He knew the instant after he pulled the trigger that he had made the worst mistake of his life, and now, judging by the chatter coming through his scanner implant, he was going to pay dearly for his moment of vengeful weakness... and soon.
The Peace Department were already alerted to the altercation, and were trying to lock down EPS coordinates on any intelligent beings in the vicinity. Radfield listened to the PD chatter with keen
interest, trying to ascertain the current location of the squad assigned to the disturbance. He couldn't tell through the four dispatchers working simultaneously, and after a full minute had passed, decided to make a run for it. He pulled the hood of his Officer's Jacket over his head and turned to leave the alley he was in... Only to find his way blocked.
Three more aliens stood in his way, all wearing what Radfield knew of their race to be shocked expressions. One carried another gun like the first, and the other two held MIDs pulled from the bandoliers across their thorax. He shuddered at the prospect of having to kill again; his orders as a Peace Officer included never taking an intelligible creature's life. He had already broken his vows once tonight, and he wasn't sure he had the nerve to do it again, in the same night at that. The perspiration on his brow escalated to a full nervous sweat.
Then, the alien with the gun spoke.
"Ch-Christ-t-t-tian Radf-f-field," it started, unable to get over his species' predeliction for stuttering when attempting English, "Wha' has you d-d-done? You k-k-kill friend-d-d!"
In the back of his mind, Radfield wondered where the damn thing had learned his name. Like most private citizens, his given name and any other private details were barred from public records, and the knowing of a given was tantamount to close friendship. And somehow, this thing knew it... Which meant...
"Where's your reader, dreg?" Radfield asked in a polite tone. His stance was still fight-or-flight, facing the three creatures blocking his way. While he waited on a response, he assessed his escape options. There was an old fire escape just ahead and above him to the left, but by the time he reached it, he would either be disintegrated or blown up (depending on which dreg decided to attack first). He could attempt to scale the wall to his right, which was mercifully clear of obstacles, but he'd have the same problem if they're any type of decent with their weapons. Or, he could...
"You d-d-don't need-d-d to know that-t-t, Command-d-der," it sneered. "How could-d-d you d-do thisss t-t-to usss? We are ssso few!" it added, outrage building in its stance and tone. Radfield knew his time was growing shorter; the alien advanced on him by a step. Radfield stood his ground against the encroachment.
One of the aliens behind the leader said something out loud in its native language, a weird string of chirps and clicks that Radfield could never hope to decipher. The leader nodded once and turned to the other in the group.
Now!
He charged the lead alien in a flat-out run, reaching it before it could turn and see what the commotion was. Radfield lashed out with his fists, connecting with the side of the leaders' head, then used the momentum to swing to the left and kick one of the others in the chest above its fifth arm. Both screamed from pain and indignance when hit and crumpled, leaving the only ones standing being Radfield and the last of the group, whom raised the MID in his hand high.
"Don't," was all Radfield needed to say. The alien, looking scared to death against the treat of imminent violence, carefully tucked the explosive back in to his bandolier and stepped aside. Radfield nodded at the alien, then walked past him slowly, making sure the thing didn't do anything stupid such as try to use a tracer or attack when his back was turned. It didn't; when Radfield looked back it was tending to the wounds of its fellows.
Christian Radfield let out a momentary sigh of relief, tuned in his scanner implant once more, and began to run. He made it less than a city block before the flashing lights of a PD PatrolBike became visible. Radfield paused, unsure of his next move, and looked around.
The Nuevos Refugio Peace Department, ranked tenth in the nation for effectiveness of apprehension, drew closer as time passed. Radfield was certain he was being tracked by now; so much time had passed that he would be flabbergasted if they hadn't caught a whiff on his EPS signal and started a tracking program. He bobbed his upper body from impatience and indecision, debating the merits of each pathway.
Left or Right? Left or Right?
He glanced left, the direction the PatrolBike was approaching from, and saw an open space between buildings. To the right was a dead end.
Radfield swore under his breath, then swung his body right and made a dash for the dead end. He jumped at the last second, ElektriShok implants in his quads boosting the height of the jump to double that of a normal human.
"You there! Enhanced Human! You have ten seconds to disengage all bioelectric machinery and surrender in an unenhanced state! Failure to comply will result in Sanction Corps intervention, do you understand?"
Damn.
"What are you gunna do," asked the creature on the ground in perfect English, "Kill me? You know you can't. You'd lose your commission in a heartbeat!" Radfield tightened his grip in response. The alien raised its chin in a defiant manner, displaying the second set of pincers under its jawline. "You wouldn't dare, Commander. You define yourself by... this," it added after, sweeping one of its arms at Radfield's uniform.
Radfield hesitated pulling the trigger. He knew what the villain said to be true, but... Was it really? Did he indeed define himself by his service? His tan and sculpted arm trembled from the strain of holding the weighty object up single handedly, sending ripples through the long sleeve of his Officer's uniform. Small rivulets of perspiration formed on his brow. Do it, he told himself, trying to gather the confidence to end this villain's life. Do it and show Frank, wherever he is, what he meant to you!
The face of Frank Tamerlane, Radfield's partner in the Peace Department of ten years and best friend for twice that, swam in to view ahead of the sights at the end of the weapon. Radfield imagined his expression sorrowful; his dark hair was styled back like it would be, his face pained and sad. Cold hatred boiled through Radfield's veins as he saw the face change to its current mockery of life still sitting at the ship terminal downtown. Hair splayed everywhere, chunks missing from laser splatter...
In an instant his mind was made up, and Radfield pulled the trigger in one quick jerk of his finger. The weapon erupted forth an enormous beam of light, as wide as a man and at least as tall, roaring like the sound of a thousand waterfalls, all aimed straight at the villain's proud head. The alien screamed then, a chittering sound meant to convey hostility that was now reduced to expressing mortal fear. In the last millisecond before impact, it threw all five of its arms up in a defensive position, the screaming having reached a fever pitch yet still nothing against the sound of the beam coming for him.
The impact was glorious.
The beam from the weapon erupted into a million disparate colours, all named shades of the rainbow and everything in-between striking at once and incinerating every molecule upon impact. The villain cried out as the very fiber of its being was shredded and disintegrated, a piercing sound more agonizing than any Radfield had ever heard. His heart fit to burst with both the glee and remorse coursing through his veins, and it took everything in his power not to break down in tears as he lowered the weapon and let the disintegration take its course.
Within seconds it was over. Where the villain had been half-seated on the ground, now laid a pair of insect-like legs and the beginnings of a torso... And nothing more. Even the wall beyond the alien's carcass was damaged in the attack, splatter patterns from the laser peppered in a wide dispersement. Radfield threw the gun at the alien's remains, more out of anger at himself than anything else. He knew the instant after he pulled the trigger that he had made the worst mistake of his life, and now, judging by the chatter coming through his scanner implant, he was going to pay dearly for his moment of vengeful weakness... and soon.
The Peace Department were already alerted to the altercation, and were trying to lock down EPS coordinates on any intelligent beings in the vicinity. Radfield listened to the PD chatter with keen
interest, trying to ascertain the current location of the squad assigned to the disturbance. He couldn't tell through the four dispatchers working simultaneously, and after a full minute had passed, decided to make a run for it. He pulled the hood of his Officer's Jacket over his head and turned to leave the alley he was in... Only to find his way blocked.
Three more aliens stood in his way, all wearing what Radfield knew of their race to be shocked expressions. One carried another gun like the first, and the other two held MIDs pulled from the bandoliers across their thorax. He shuddered at the prospect of having to kill again; his orders as a Peace Officer included never taking an intelligible creature's life. He had already broken his vows once tonight, and he wasn't sure he had the nerve to do it again, in the same night at that. The perspiration on his brow escalated to a full nervous sweat.
Then, the alien with the gun spoke.
"Ch-Christ-t-t-tian Radf-f-field," it started, unable to get over his species' predeliction for stuttering when attempting English, "Wha' has you d-d-done? You k-k-kill friend-d-d!"
In the back of his mind, Radfield wondered where the damn thing had learned his name. Like most private citizens, his given name and any other private details were barred from public records, and the knowing of a given was tantamount to close friendship. And somehow, this thing knew it... Which meant...
"Where's your reader, dreg?" Radfield asked in a polite tone. His stance was still fight-or-flight, facing the three creatures blocking his way. While he waited on a response, he assessed his escape options. There was an old fire escape just ahead and above him to the left, but by the time he reached it, he would either be disintegrated or blown up (depending on which dreg decided to attack first). He could attempt to scale the wall to his right, which was mercifully clear of obstacles, but he'd have the same problem if they're any type of decent with their weapons. Or, he could...
"You d-d-don't need-d-d to know that-t-t, Command-d-der," it sneered. "How could-d-d you d-do thisss t-t-to usss? We are ssso few!" it added, outrage building in its stance and tone. Radfield knew his time was growing shorter; the alien advanced on him by a step. Radfield stood his ground against the encroachment.
One of the aliens behind the leader said something out loud in its native language, a weird string of chirps and clicks that Radfield could never hope to decipher. The leader nodded once and turned to the other in the group.
Now!
He charged the lead alien in a flat-out run, reaching it before it could turn and see what the commotion was. Radfield lashed out with his fists, connecting with the side of the leaders' head, then used the momentum to swing to the left and kick one of the others in the chest above its fifth arm. Both screamed from pain and indignance when hit and crumpled, leaving the only ones standing being Radfield and the last of the group, whom raised the MID in his hand high.
"Don't," was all Radfield needed to say. The alien, looking scared to death against the treat of imminent violence, carefully tucked the explosive back in to his bandolier and stepped aside. Radfield nodded at the alien, then walked past him slowly, making sure the thing didn't do anything stupid such as try to use a tracer or attack when his back was turned. It didn't; when Radfield looked back it was tending to the wounds of its fellows.
Christian Radfield let out a momentary sigh of relief, tuned in his scanner implant once more, and began to run. He made it less than a city block before the flashing lights of a PD PatrolBike became visible. Radfield paused, unsure of his next move, and looked around.
The Nuevos Refugio Peace Department, ranked tenth in the nation for effectiveness of apprehension, drew closer as time passed. Radfield was certain he was being tracked by now; so much time had passed that he would be flabbergasted if they hadn't caught a whiff on his EPS signal and started a tracking program. He bobbed his upper body from impatience and indecision, debating the merits of each pathway.
Left or Right? Left or Right?
He glanced left, the direction the PatrolBike was approaching from, and saw an open space between buildings. To the right was a dead end.
Radfield swore under his breath, then swung his body right and made a dash for the dead end. He jumped at the last second, ElektriShok implants in his quads boosting the height of the jump to double that of a normal human.
"You there! Enhanced Human! You have ten seconds to disengage all bioelectric machinery and surrender in an unenhanced state! Failure to comply will result in Sanction Corps intervention, do you understand?"
Damn.
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