✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
Trailing the attackers to know where they are headed was a difficult and dangerous affair as Hardwire had come close to being seen or shot at several times but his concealment and far distance has kept him safe. He was forced to hide when he noticed the group he was shadowing seem to be engaged in a serious firefight. He looked for a place to hide.


A side door which when he pushed was open, showed a lightly furnished office with cartons and metal boxes arranged in a file with glowing identifying labeling on them. He got in, lay prone on the floor opened the door a crack and tried to look down the way he was heading. He couldn’t see much except hearing the heavy sounds of explosions and gun fires. Just then his wrist comm vibrated as if a call was coming in.


He was shocked at first not expecting any kind of call as this whole place was under a communication black out. He crawled back deeper into the room after he closed the door firmly but he stayed back on the ground. Accepting the call showed him the face of the cyborg on the tiny holo display over the wrist comm.


“Cyborg..er I mean Dr. Bryant. “ Hardwire voiced out suddenly with a bit of surprise but too afraid to hope.
“Hardwire, glad you are still alive. “ the voice of Dr. Bryant came from the floating image. “Seeing the level of attack here and the huge casualties, I was afraid the worst might have happened. “
“I’m alive, thanks for asking though still somewhat trapped in the tower. “
“Do you require assistance to get out of there, hardware? “
“Guess I might at that. “ Hardwire looked up as all the noise coming from outside suddenly went quiet after a loud shaking. “But there’s something I’m following up on at the moment. “


“Alright then, just be… “ the image of the cyborg shook a bit and the holo fizzled then came back on.” I’m busy at the moment confronting the attackers. “
“Oh ok, will get back to you later then. “ Hardwire said as he broke off the connection. Damn it never occurred to him there might be other attackers outside that the cyborg may be engaging. Well since it seem everything is quiet now, he might as well take a peek.

Opening the door and peeping out, he saw way down the path some group of people in Mantis and CSC uniforms, one of the person he saw was recognizable even from that distance. It was colonel James looking wide eyed scared and disheveled. Hardwire quickly turned back and hid in the office he just came out of.


After a while he heard several footsteps passing outside the office door he was hiding in, then colonel James voice ordering those with him to take the other way and cut off the attackers. Hardwire waited another five minutes before slowly opening the door, first to peep both end of the corridor, when he was sure no one was moving, he came out and took slow careful steps. Just some paces later he came to the place of the confrontation and what he saw shook him badly that his stomach protested violently causing him to throw up every delicious thing he has swallowed that day into a messy poodle on the floor.


Every where within the enclosed space shows the signs of battle. Huge scorch marks on the walls and floor, signs of been hit by lazer and energy weapons, holes from bullets and shrapnel from explosives. Then bodies, chopped up in pieces, burnt, ripped apart, with blood and entrails strewn every where. Same with discarded weapons. Most of the bodies are those of Mantis troops and few CSC. But the attackers also suffered heavy casualties from what he could see.

Something he saw both heartened and scared him at the same time. The destroyed remains of the mechanical figure that had accompanied the attackers. It had suffered severe damages from what he could see and torn apart at the waist area. Taking a few minutes, he turned his wrist comm to record mode, taking the visual of every single part of that machine he could see.


Well the data might turn out useful for later. As he moved on, he got to a place that must have been a secret door way which when locked might have looked like part of the wall, but appeared forced open. He felt this must have been the area the defenders took to come open the attackers without being seen initially. The door was broken down now.


Something that looked familiar struck him as he passed the door, the whole place looked like the entrance to the vault. His suspicion was confirmed as he saw the door to the vault. Damn so the access lift wasn’t the only place to the vault, their was another entrance. So he was correct to have surmised that their target was the vault, only they took another way, a secret entrance.


How the hell did they know about a secret entrance, Hardwire mused. That means they would probably have succeeded in obtaining the data in those mainframes. That thought caused a sudden panic that forced him to rush at the vault door, the surprise that the door was ajar didn’t even register on his mind.


His jaw dropped with surprise and shock as he saw all the holo screens of the data consoles on black background showing only red numbers in a count down. His mind was working fast to determine what was going on and almost stopped dead when he saw all three power tubes blazing on and off with red lights.
“Cyborg, cyborg… Dr. Bryant, can you hear me? “ he spoke in rushed panic as he activated his wrist comm for call.
“I can hear you. Are you in need of assistance? “ the cold voice of the cyborg asked.
“You have to get here fast, “ he spoke with his heart panting and racing in full panic. “If you don’t, in less than… “ he stopped to check the count down before continuing, “… in less than thirty minutes, we will all be vaporized. “
“Alright, on my way. “


Hardwire collapsed into a chair looking at everything but for the first time in his life, he was standing before data consoles and was at a loss what to do. He wished with all his heart that the cyborg can help, else he will be dying the most horrendous how be it, the quickest kind of death ever at a very young age.

So this Cyborg can with stand this heavy gun fire..weldon My bosz

well done boss

Damibiz:
So this Cyborg can with stand this heavy gun fire..weldon My bosz

At this time yes. But when he fought with Marvel in part 1 he wasn't yet. As time goes by he has been under going modification and upgrades from his colleague Dr. Guthrie. He is also evolving through the impact of the ion crystal that powers him.
Also in this case he was hit with a pure energy weapon that the ion crystal can easily dissipate through the energy shield. But solid projectiles are more difficult to overcome.

I see..alot of upgrade have being down on this HumanCyborg..

Apollux:

At this time yes. But when he fought with Marvel in part 1 he wasn't yet. As time goes by he has been under going modification and upgrades from his colleague Dr. Guthrie. He is also evolving through the impact of the ion crystal that powers him.
Also in this case he was hit with a pure energy weapon that the ion crystal can easily dissipate through the energy shield. But solid projectiles are more difficult to overcome.

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴

The call from Hardwire sounded very important and his analysis of the young man’s voice pattern stress shows he was really afraid. His fear might be justified, so going to meet him might logically be better than standing here to take out the remaining ADMECs. Another one has fallen to his energy blast, so the possibility of taken them all out exists but Hardwire has mentioned something about being vaporized, so he will have to abandon the fight here and go in.


He activated his antigravity thrusters, went up into the air, as gun fires and rockets exploded where he was erstwhile standing, then he flew down in a fast speed heading for the entrance to the tower. The ADMECs still standing, though shooting at him, moved out of his way quickly. Entering the foyer of the building, he noticed that the devastation wreaked here was similar to those outside as regarding the number of dead bodies scattered on the ground.


He can detect where the signal of Hardwire was coming from but sort for a direct way to get to him. His signal was coming from several level below him but tones of thick layers of rocks separated them. Looking around with his x-ray scanner, he saw a place with a shaft that runs down directly to the floor Hardwire signal was coming from. Heading that way, he notice there was an office and a door to the shaft.


Smashing apart the door with his fist, he saw the shaft was actually a lift route leading down but the lift was out of order. He jumped into the shaft, letting his antigravity thrusters glide him down gently. Soon he got to the damaged lift down at the bottom of the shaft. It was covering the exist from the shaft. With blows from his hands, the cyborg rip apart the softer metal body of the lift and walked out.


He saw a heavy dense door, ajar. His scanning name the area before him as the vault. This should be the place Hardwire had told him of much earlier when he had visited him and Dr. Guthrie, about getting classified data from heavily encrypted and secured corporate system, though he didn’t mention the name them.

Getting through the door, he saw Hardwire sagged into a chair in a display of total helplessness. Looking around, scanning for anything that might appear like an anomaly or possible hidden explosive. What he noticed might have scared him totally was he still fully human.
“Cyborg, Dr. Bryant I’m glad you are here. “ Hardwire said with relief when he saw him come in. “I really hope you can help. You can’t believe what is… “


“I know what the threat is all about. I have done a complete analysis and know that the explosion will be a considerable one. “
“Ok, ok. But can you do anything to stop it? “ Hardwire’s fear almost making him to sound incoherent. “Those people came to steal the information stored here and decided to rig an explosion probably to help them escape, or revenge or for whatever sh.it reason their mind came up with. We have less than fifteen minutes before those power tubes blow up. “


Without a reply to the panic stricken young man, the cyborg looked around at all the data consoles, terminals and mainframes in the room, taking his sight up at the power tubes with their crimson pulsating lights then headed for the central console. He raised both arms as delicate looking tentacles slithered from them, them hooked up to ports and access points all over the central console.


Hardwire watched amazed at the display before him but his fear drown out any form of relief he must be feeling. As soon as the tentacles plugged into the ports and terminals, the count down numbers starting running at a faster speed.
“Oh shi.t, oh no. “ Hardwire wailed his hand unconsciously running to cover his mouth. His eyes opened wide. “Cyborg see, the count down is running down faster. “


Silently the cyborg continued with his work ignoring the rants thrown at him. Just then the count down got to a minutes, then seconds. Just beyond ten seconds mark all the screens went black, same with the lights in the room. The red lights from the power tube went off too. Just then a constant electronic ping sound started then stopped as the lights in the room and the screens came back on. The lights of the power tube returned back to their steady color.
“The danger is averted. “ the cyborg said quietly.
Hardwire collapsed back on the chair again this time a loud sigh of relief escaping his lips. He just didn’t believe he was still alive, his face surrounded by several layers of sweat.

:Dthat was so so good of the cyborg..I am beginning to ljke this humancyborg

What a relief not just to Hardwire but to myself

Chapter Ten


Hours have passed after the raiding of the Trans Terra tower, emergency services and air ambulances were flying in on their clean white color with bright red cross stamped on their middle. Wounded were been attended to on site, for those whose medical needs were not that serious to be taken to the hospital, while the critical ones where being air lifted on the numerous air ambulances hovering around.


The wounded were not that much as the dead were more in numbers. Already insurance and repair crews were on site, accessing the level of damages and the amount of repairs that will be needed to carry out. The press people were not left out. So many of them are already doing live transmissions to all sat net subscribers giving out what they feel are objective on site news to millions around the star system Nuterra is orbiting.


The news of the attack on Trans Terra tower have spread with light speed and for the first time in centuries, it was becoming clear that there are those who will openly oppose the earth government and go free. The stability that have seem to keep and maintain the balanced relationship between earth, the solar system and the colonies appeared to be threatened and the illusion of peace and security shattered.


Lots of activities were paralyzed in most areas of Nuterra as lots of people sat before their holo feed screen watching and listening to the regular news been broadcasted about any new development. While the head of Iris System Securities was unavailable to offer a speech, someone in the organization has spoken on his behalf. The speaker as usual with the corporate PR agent, has down played what has happened assuring the citizens that nothing too threatening happened and that those involved have been arrested and being interrogated.


While the one who was supposed to be the spokesman for both the Earthwatch and Colonial Security and Control, was unavailable to offer any comment but the only person authorized to say anything, only said everything is under control.

Though the entrance to the Trans Terra was been cleared, the carcasses of both people and vehicles, still filled the whole place making it look like the aftermath of a war. But this time the number of visible security personnel have tripled after the incidence. More guards on CSC uniforms were patrolling the perimeters of the tower, all in peers with at least a single plain cloth Earthwatch agent going along with them, armed for immediate engagement with rifles, side arms and mini detonators and frag grenades.


The security screen has been raised again but it was still not steady, as it was going off and on. Now both light and heavy hover tanks patrol the air ways around the tower, same with armored air cars challenging vehicles that moved too close to the restricted air space.


Less than an hour after the cyborg disable the threatening explosion of the power tubes, armed CSC operatives and Mantis troops rushed into the vault led by non other than colonel James. Hardwire was just going through the data system of the of the vault, it was all empty. All the storage spaces of every consoles and mainframes within the place have been wiped clean.


The attackers were very thorough. He was sad and angry at the same time. If not for the foolish and uninformed decisions of the Earthwatch commander, at least the data on his personal data console would have survived. Now after taking several look over his console he was not able to get anything. Though the cyborg have assured him that he might be able to pick up tiny resonance of some of the data the console may have copied but Hardwire was not really hopeful. It’s just so annoying that with just one misguided action, high and mighty James has practically given an easy victory to the mega corporations.

His heart sank into his stomach as pinpricks of cold shiver spread over all his skin as the contingent of CSC operatives came in with colonel James at their head. He quickly turned his eyes pleadingly at the cyborg who was standing impassively at his side.
The aggressive posture taken by them visibly relaxed as they saw the cyborg standing in the vault with Hardwire at his side. Coming in behind the armed men were the data tech people, in their white coats, going immediately to check the several consoles within the place.


Their disappointments and anger were not as suppressed as Hardwire’s as cries and curses filled the air from their lips.
The head of the technicians came to Hardwire with a burning look in her eyes soften a bit with something like apology. “This is bad, Hardwire, we just lost everything. “


“What is the state of the data kept here? “ colonel James asked loudly before Hardwire could over come his fear and form a reply.
“Nothing sir, all data in this place have been wiped. No even a trace was left behind. The attackers really knew how to hit this place. “ one of the younger male data tech said as he pulled his face off from the holo screen monitor. He turned to face the cyborg. “It was a good thing Dr. Bryant was here to rescue us on time from the explosion that would have resulted from the power tubes melt down. “


“Yes, we thank you for you assistance, doctor. “ James said casually as he looked at the cyborg but his face twisted to a dark grimace as he saw Hardwire by him. “ I thought I ordered this man to be put in custody?”
Some CSC officers who were about to move in to arrest Hardwire stopped as a loud whirring filled the air. All eyes turned to the source which was the cyborg, as his arms have morphed into two four barreled lazer blasters.
“No one takes Hardwire into custody. “ the cold voice of the cyborg grated the ears of everyone in the vault.

I'm beginning to suspect James honestly.
He seems like a mole (informant)
Nice update Apollux.

It's good someone is finally getting that idiot James under heel.

For some seconds the room tensed as the CSC operatives raised their guns but with very little enthusiasm to use them, fear of the cyborg was almost paralyzing. With a slight shake of his head, colonel James signaled for his underlings to stand down.
“Where is he? “ an almost familiar voice sounded angrily from outside the door of the vault. “Where is that sh.it faced, pathetic incompetent fool? “


All eyes turned to the door, as Marvel, his face lined with rage, his clothing torn and stained black, the Mole, face cold, cradling a big plasma rifle on his hands walked behind him silently. James' face turned ashen with fear and panic seeing the state of Marvel’s visage as the bounty hunter turned the livid face to his direction.
“Hey Marvel, cool off ok.. Everything is under control now. “ James said with his palms raised up in a defensive posture.


With a swift swing of his hand, Marvel’s right fist struck the colonel’s jaw, connecting solidly and lifting him off his feet to go crash among some of the CSC operatives standing behind him. They all fell on the ground in a tangled tumble. Those still standing lifted their rifles, turned toward Marvel armed and ready to fire. But a steady low sounding cold voice froze them in mid action.
“Anyone of you even think to twitch a finger, I will turn him to a hot crisp barbecue. “ the Mole said, the huge muzzle of his plasma gun pointed at the operatives. “And I always love my barbecue extra crispy. “

“Put down your guns fools, any harm comes to Marvel and a military court marshal will be the least of problems I’d have to face. “ Colonel James said as he touched his jaw gingerly, blood slowly dropping at the end of his lips. “General Leyland will be coming after me with vengeance in his heart and eyes burning with flames. This ego centric bounty hunter is his personal play thing. “ He winced painfully as his attempt at a smile for the slur he threw at Marvel made his smashed jaw ache afresh.


“You even try to get up and I’d pound you to an inch of staying alive. “ Marvel’s lips grind in anger as the colonel tried getting up. “How are you Hardwire? “
“I’m good Marvel, though less than ecstatic. “ He replied as his boss coming in gave him both relief and confidence. “I mean not like they hurt me or anything. But we have lost big boss. “


“Tell me about it, “ Marvel sat down heavily on one of the chairs available, exhaustion weighting down on him.
“Everything we have here is gone. There is nothing for us to use . “ Hardwire lifted up his damaged data console. “Though I was able to copy a substantial part of the data here…but it’s damaged now. Though Dr. Bryant is been optimistic about the possibility of data retrieval but I’m not so sure of that. “


“Cyborg how reliable is that? “ Marvel turned to the cybernetic organism.
“A minor scan of the destroyed console showed the memory unit was partially damaged, so some fractional reconstruction might be possible. “ the cyborg said. “But I can’t do that here, the equipment in this facility is no longer adequate. The attack rendered a lot of what is here no longer functioning at full capacity. “


“Ah sir, er excuse me sir, “ one of the male data technician said loudly alternating his attention between Marvel and colonel James, not sure who the one in charge now is.
“What’s it? “ Marvel asked irked at this distraction.
“Mr. Marvel sir, a high security call from earth is coming through. My guess is it maybe general Leyland on line. “
“Let the call through. “

The largest holo display monitor came online and the stern image of general Leyland appeared on the screen. He was putting on a camouflage uniform. He looked around taking careful note of everyone in the room. His lips twitched slightly and pressed hard on themselves as his eyes fell on colonel James.


“Most of you here don’t have the security clearance to hear what I’m about to say, “ the general’s calm voice said as he watched the data techs who were gathered together. “Nevertheless, what I will be talking about is not secret anymore. But I’m sure all of your signed the top secret act before you were employed by either Earthwatch or Colonial Security and Control. So take note that everything you will hear now is on a need to know basis. Consider it as such and treat them like you would any top secret information. “


James finally dragged himself up from the floor when he noticed Marvel’s full attention was on the holo screen. He tried to gather as much dignity as he can from the embarrassing situation he had just suffered.
“I was quite impressed with your results and debrief and mostly I’m glad you survived that encounter. Same goes for you Jade. “ the Earthwatch spy nodded slightly as the general called her name. “If not for the reports sent to me not long ago about the attack on that tower, Marvel, what you had mentioned on your report would have sounded impossible or too far fetched to be believed. The security high command were skeptical at first until the report of Trans Terra tower attack came in. And believe me Marvel it was a cause of serious concern. The earth government’s greatest fear is been realized, military grade weapons with advanced tech under the control of the colonies. “


“Any idea how the mega corporations on Proxima Centauri system were building some thing of this nature under your noises without the Earthwatch spy network here sniffing it out? “

“Not at the moment, Marvel. But pressure from the Earth Global Senate will force us to devote more resources to unraveling all these. “ with a look of sadness suddenly crossing his face, Leyland added. “If indication of what I’m getting now about the latest developments on grounds over there is anything to go by, we really don’t have anything with which to pursue this. “


“Excuse me sir, but everything was well in control over here, our data techies were hard at work and are almost about to crack the security code protecting the information here, when Marvel’s lackey came in. “ Colonel James quickly cut in. “Being suspicious of his coming, I already had him in custody before the attack started. I was justified in my suspicion then, as it seems probable that the one called Hardwire may have led them here. I also will like to state for the record that I was physically attacked by Marvel as soon as he arrived here without provocation. Sir. “

“You sicken me so much I feel a deep sense of disgust that I have to work under the people that deem it fit to put you in command of a top intelligence agency on earth. “ the general spoke, his voice rigid and stern causing a slight startle among most of the audience except Marvel and the Mole who seem to have an idea about what was coming.


“I have had a full record of all reports of your incompetence. Your short sightedness has cost us the loss of this investigation. I was dully informed of your action towards a government licensed external agent employed to help with safely retrieving the sensitive data in that vault. I learned of how your harassed him and stopped him after he successfully pulled down the security preventing us from accessing those data. You disobeyed my direct order after I have dully kept you apprised of all development. Your sheer stupidity and fool hardiness has cost us this case. Making the lose of lives during the attack meaningless. “


After taking a glaring sweep with his sights at all the data techies and officers standing around, eyes wide and accusing which one of them betrayed him by going behind him to report him to the general, he thought within himself, well , he will fish that one out and have him or her dealt with severely after this meeting.


“Sir let me state categorically that you may have been misinformed of how things went down here. “ James protested, standing at a rigid attention facing the holo image of his commanding officer. “Things weren’t that bad till Hardwire arrived. As a matter of fact, success was already achieved at breaking down the secured codes before he came in and things… “

“Will you shut the hell up. “ the loud command froze the colonel and others listening. For those who knew the general the most, they know it is rare he raises his voice. “ I was well aware of the failure our data teams were having that was why I had to personally convince command to allow me source for an independent agent who is more competent and has better expertise at handling things like that. Your putridly over bloated ego and misguided jealous vendetta against Marvel made all my efforts void. “


“Sir I will like to point out that… “
“One more word out of that shi.t spitting maw of yours and your tongue will decorate my next meal. “ Leyland said these words almost too low to hear. From then on each of his words were spoken singly and spaced apart. Any that knows the general will recognize the warning signals. When he starts speaking this way, that is the cue to get far away from him. At this state Leyland can kill any around him with his bare hands. James is fortunate to be far from him at this moment.


“As it stands now, colonel James you are relieved of your immediate duty. You are hereby demoted to the rank of an under captain. From hence you cease being in command of Earthwatch, I will temporarily hold command of that agency till we get someone else to fill that place. You are now directly under the command of over captain Oddway Dennis, who is under Major Finnis Blake Cumminus, of the 1st Land Marine Infantry Battalion. He is now your new commanding officer. “


“Sir I have to protest. Those two have been my underlings in the past and bear me personal grudges, so you just can’t assign me to them. “
A smile that seemed encased in ice formed around the lips of the general as he looks at James through the holo screen. “ it is already done. The order has already been written and sent to all concerned before this call came in. “


Turning to face one of the men in CSC uniform, the general ordered. “Captain Ethan, your are to relieve under captain Willey James of command, put him in protective custody, till you receive further instructions. “
“Yes sir. “ the one indicated came around James, his rifle raised at the frozen ex colonel. “Please you are to come with me under captain James. “


“Leyland this is impossible. You can’t do this to me, you don’t have the authority. “ James maintained his defiant stance.
“I do James, I’m your commanding officer. “ The general reclined back on the leather chair he was sitting in. “Do not think the political clout you and your family wield will save you this time. The Senate Arms Committee is fully behind me on this. They prefer their lives and political career than the influence of your family in the senate and earth’s presidency. I may be a career military officer, but I have learnt well how to play dirty politics. You family no longer holds monopoly on that. “


Turning to Ethan, Leyland sternly ordered. “Take him away, captain, if he resist, you are ordered to stun him and drag his ass to a lock up room. “
After James was taken out of the room, almost every one heaved a sigh of relief. Marvel laughed loudly despite himself and Hardwire was having a self satisfied smirk on his lips.

This Update just made me laugh at the twist of events for James..

Lololol

I cannot come and stop laughing.

Apollux the great thanks for the wonderful updates.

This James obviously is a dummy in military clothings wondering how come he rose to such position? Could it be that he has been paid to act that way. Marvel and his super team, superheroes to the rescue.

the bosz is back,........marvel is back..thank man

Under captain James Leyland... lmao...

zelaws:
Apollux the great thanks for the wonderful updates.

This James obviously is a dummy in military clothings wondering how come he rose to such position? Could it be that he has been paid to act that way. Marvel and his super team, superheroes to the rescue.

If u noticed in part one, James rose up in the military ranks not because of his exploits or qualifications but because of the political connections of himself and his family. Gen. Leyland hands have been tied before now in dealing with him. But recent events have put the senate in panic mode, so Leyland had used that as an excuse to dangle James as the scapegoat since they are looking for someone to take the fall for recent events. The senators, in other to protect their lives and political carrers were more willing to over look James family's political influence. It's all politics and Leyland played it perfectly

A Pollux,you have to tell us How marvel survive that explosion?

That Cyborg na killer machine......

You know, i was reading this story and I can't help but say that 'You are good'
Apollux, I'm beefing you; do you know why? How can you start the literal ingenious piece without giving me a mention?
And you know I am one of your ardent reader back then, who even had the pdf file you sent to me. How come it all changed?
Apollux, Sola is beefing you seriously.

General Leyland did a very good job by demoting James; he is incompetent. The Cyborg taking out an ADMEC, that's impressive.

Apollux, continue the good work.