Book 2: Chapter 25: Buying Kebabs, Selling Death (2)

Book 2: Chapter 25: Buying Kebabs, Selling Death (2)

WARNING: First Trigger warning of story; scene contains death, injuries, blood, and some gore.

USD: ~17 days after Tears of Fire arrival to 92 Pegasi, after finishing their meal

Location: Ackman Station, Main Concourse, Annex 3

Alex walked with a cheerful step, following the route Nameless had given them. Jacos had soon filled up to almost standing room only. It had surprised her in how fast it happened, and she had started to feel a bit self-conscious. But nothing, absolutely nothing could kill the excitement from eating there. She had graciously thanked Jaco and promised to return, soon.

Like as soon as they had money and could take some back to the ship with them.

Humming to herself she tried her best to ignore the slowly decaying maintenance and actual rust on some surfaces as they crossed onto a lower deck of the annex. There were fewer and fewer people around, and the businesses hidden behind cold neon lighting hardly counted as inviting. She wasnt exactly sure what services they even offered, but it was a seemingly stark contrast in such a short space.

Everyone was armed, as well.

No one bothered them, or paid them much mind though, which suited Alex just fine.

Elevator.

Theres no stairs? Elis looked unhappy.

Alex looked at the map, I dont think so, at least not nearby. Why, whats wrong with the elevator?

Nothing. Just a professional avoidance if possible.

Alex knew that Elis liked to exercise, it was probably a very important requirement for staying as fit as she was. It was one of the few things she had requested for her quarters.

The pleasure of exercise, other than the martial arts, didnt really click with Alex, and she was a bit grateful that the nanites took care of that bit for her.

Unlike the rest of the area, the elevator seemed well cared for. A polished mirror greeted them, and Alex smiled at their reflection. They didnt look half bad in them!

After stepping inside and setting their destination the doors closed promptly. The quiet sound of distant voices was suddenly replaced by the hum of the station and then a louder hum of the elevator taking them lower.

Halfway to their floor, Nameless blared at her, the rapid clip of its voice something she had never heard before.

[WARNING: Twelve heavily armed individuals have encircled destination egress. Elevator abort function, non-operative. Attempting emergency stop: failure. Hostile intentions probability 95% confidence. Avatar protection priority: Shrike Combat Drones dispatched. Emergency voice synthesis report and request for assistance dispatched to Station SecurityIron Horse Mercenary CompanyPort Authority OfficeMilTech Arms Inc. Fastest Friendly Intervention Possible: ETA: 5:56. Expect possible delay. Fire support mission: Impossible. Indirect suppression mission: Impossible.]

Even as Alex was trying to process the message, Elis shoved her hard into the front corner of the elevator. Stay there. Dont move.

Nameless continued to chatter rapidly, and Alex realized that he wasnt talking to her. She was listening in, but the terminology was foreign to her, and Alex realized he was rapidly filling Elis in with as much detail on the situation as possible. Listening intently, Elis reached down to adjust her belt, sliding her pistol and holster to be behind her and not visible from the front or side.

[Notice: Twelve semi/automatic rifles, confirmed visual. Pistol sidearm equipped. No heavy ordinance or explosives detected. Tactical gear analysis; insufficient to stop pulse rounds. Tac Ops training suspected. Clustered open room, multiple cover positions, elevator exit: open area, no cover. Hostile Formation follows: Four fronts, cover. Two left flank, clock 10, concealed. Three right flank, clock 1, two concealed, one cover. Two far, front. One front, close, in open. Good hunting.]

Still processing the fact that Elis had taken the rifle sling off her shoulder and shoved it into her hands, Alex swallowed and started removing the straps. She managed to get the weapon out just before the elevator arrived. Elis reached over and flicked off the safety for her, which was good because she had forgotten that was a thing.

Stay here.

Alex swallowed her throat dry, Ok. She didnt understand what Elis was planning, but the other girls right hand was alternating between clutching a fist and opening.

As soon as the elevator dinged, Elis raised her arm to look at her wristwatch. The gesture confused Alex as Elis walked out of the elevator alone without even looking up. Turning her eyes to the mirror she spotted one man in the open, and her HUD overlay suddenly highlighted multiple assailants in a vivid yellow infrared. Her stomach turned, there were so many of them and they had Elis surrounded already!

A cold voice suddenly shouted, Freeze right there!Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

Fuck you bitch! More bullets slammed into the heavy steel column she had tucked behind. She was stuck, again. She could see Elis trading fire with the other three, but she seemed to have solidified her position after Alex took one of the goons off her. A stalemate was not what Alex wanted, she started to form a plan when she spotted another infrared signature running down the hall toward them. Her stomach sank, he was in a prime position to flank Elis!

Her fear suddenly evaporated along with her plan as the color flipped from yellow-orange to a green.

|Friendly|

The man stopped, raised an oversized rifle with a bipod and sat it down on something before a loud eruption overwhelmed the smaller caliber rifles and pulse rounds being exchanged.

The man that had been targeted on her Hud blinked out, and she poked her head around her cover to confirm. His head looked like it had been crumpled in by something, his helmet a shattered wreck of ruined plastic and metal.

Spotting a chance, she sprinted forward to a metal barricade; she had a good view of the three engaged with Elis and took aim. Her HUD highlighted them with marks and she pulled her pulse rifles trigger. One went down immediately, and the other two noticing her fired back forcing her to duck down. The gunfire continued, but after a few seconds everything finally went silent.

Alex took stock, no more enemies.

Elis! Are you OK? Alex shouted, coming out to head to her friend, the volume of her voice surprising her. Heading directly to Eliss position she found the other girl bleeding from her arm. Her uniform was ruined, absolutely covered in red splotches, black soot stains, and debris.

M fine. Just need a sec to breathe.

Alex felt a bite of concern, but if Elis told her she was fine, then she probably was.

Alex turned her attention to the man who had came to their assistance. He had broad shoulders, and a scratchy full beard. He was decked out in a set of tactical gear, but it was the massive anti-material rifle that drew attention. He looked at her steadily, Captain Alex?

Yes, and my Master-Sergeant. Thank you for your assistance.

He sat down his rifle propped up against the wall and then reached over his shoulder to pull off a bag with a cross on it, and then set it down on a crate. Medkit, thought someone might need it from all the noise.

Elis didnt hesitate, Thanks for the assist. She went right to it and started doing her own first-aid.

The man turned back to Alex, Some terrified LT called me at my shop, saying their Captain was in deep shit. I was a bit confused, but he explained you were enroute to my shop as a customer when you were ambushed.

His gaze turned to one of the nearby dead bodies with a missing limb and head.

"Not very often theres a firefight onboard station, much less against a tactical ops team.

He looked back to her.

Wyles Hammok, MilTech Arms. He paused then nodded to the rifle in her hands, Said you had something worth my time.

Alex could hear the voices of shouting men approaching.

[Notice: Friendly units have arrived.]

Great timing, she thought, but her attention was now focused on the man in front of her.

Checking her rifle and setting it to safe before pulling its sling over her head, she offered it to him. She was proud her hands werent still shaking.

I dont think youll be needing to do any test firing.

He chuckled, No. No I dont think I will.

Now if she only knew who had just tried to kidnap and murder her and Elis.