“I remember what you did to Lina, the woman I loved. “ Marvel said, each word weighty and coming out of his mouth after a hard sigh. “You cut several holes on her and fuc.ked them all. I will cut holes on you too, though I wouldn’t Bleep any of them but you will feel every single thing she felt as she died by your bloody hands. “

Marvel attacked with his blade swinging. Any small victory Cedric hoped he would have won as Marvel will be fighting blinding because of his emotional state quickly evaporated. As shortly after the knife duel started , though both were bleeding from multiple knife cuts, it was clearly evident that Marvel has the upper hand. Cedric was bleeding in several critical places and his head has started to swoon from the effects of blood loss. He stumbled to the side of the bridge about to jump over it into the rapids below. Marvel ran forward, diving he tackled him backwards.


“No Cedric you’re not getting off that easy. “ Marvel screamed as he pommel him with blurring rain of fists. As Marvel punched him, every thing around him seem to fade into nothingness, all he could see was Cedric holding the severed head of Lina. At a point meaningful words ceased from Marvel’s lips, all that were spilling out were primal howl of inarticulate growl of rage and frustration. But his combat senses came back on when loud words from external sources seem to pierce his consciousness.


“Sir, Marvel sir, you can stop now, we are ready to take Cedric into custody. “ the words was from an external speaker of a hovering marine armored air tank hovering just over the right side of the bridge with guns pointed.
“No” Marvel said weakly, as he pulled himself from the battered body of Cedric.
He walked on unsteady feet to tell the air tank to move away. Cedric also staggered on his feet, stumbled to where he had dropped the empty gun. He picked it up to face the hovering military tank.
“Corporal Cedric drop your weapon. You are under arrest. “ was the words that came out of the tank’s speaker.

Screw up Cedric did in a few months time after that. It was an event that involves corporate espionage, stolen tech and pirates moving it with Cedric caught up in the middle of it all. The junior marine officer risked going AWOL because he felt the pay off is big enough to make him disappear and go into hiding. Marvel was ordered to fish him out. While among the group tasked with the responsibility of going after the pirates with the stolen tech, Marvel had taken a small group of well trained heavily armed space marines to the planet Pleiades IV. He was working on an Intel report he had received that Cedric is likely hiding in there. There was supposed to be an exchange there between Cedric, some members if the pirate group and representatives of the mega corporation that sponsored the heist. Cedric was to deliver the stolen product along with the pirates and get his pay off before he disappears. Marvel had come in with guns blazing. The groups were caught exposed and unprepared under the attacks of the space marines. Marvel’s single focus had been Cedric, who ran off when the fighting had started.


Marvel chased him for a long time. Pleiades IV is a planet still covered by mountains, rocks, lush jungles and rivers, had the chase going through these places. He finally caught up with Cedric on a bridge over a deep gully above a rapid flowing river created by a huge waterfall.
“I know your greed will make you screw up, I waited patiently and now you are mine. “ Marvel said as he walked the thin bridge coming at Cedric who was holding a gun that had run out of ammo while shooting during the chase. “You are mine now Cedric. No fellow marines, no court martial will save you. I get you all to myself. “


Marvel threw away the gun he was holding and raced at Cedric, fist lashing out. The fight was long and brutal. It went on for what seems like hours but was minutes. Both combatants had the wounds to show the level of ferocity the fight had taken. Swollen jaws, busted lips and both of them heaving with exhaustion still Marvel’s eyes burned with fierce determination. This must have been what Cedric saw, who was almost at the point of collapsing due to fatigue, as he dug his hand into his boot and brought a out a combat knife. Marvel looked at him, them smiled as he spat out blood dripping from his lips. That was a mistake Cedric just made knowing that Marvel was the better knife fighter by far. Maybe he felt Marvel didn’t come with a knife of his own or maybe that’s just an act of desperation. Marvel slowly pulled out his knife too. The effect of the fear on Cedric was visible as he stepped backwards as if he was hit physically.

Days later Marvel was with general Leyland on earth.
“I’m sorry Marvel but no charges will be brought against Cedric despite the evidences you brought against him and the witnesses that corroborated your accusations, technically, he carried out the general order. That was the conclusion of the tribunal at his court martial . “ Leyland said sadly. “I know this isn’t what you expect. I also know he killed innocent people but he didn’t violate in anyway the military rules of engagement. You were after all ordered to stop the rebellion. While you went the humane way to avoid unnecessary casualties, he just killed everyone. Military command at the moment is only interested in if he carried out his duty. “


After several minutes of seething silently with anger, Marvel asked the general. “What about him disobeying my direct order?”
“I brought that up during the proceedings, and it was considered. “ Shaking his head, the general looked away as if ashamed to give Marvel the answer. “He will be reprimanded but I doubt if he will be given anything harder than a slap to the wrist. “


Marvel stood up after a while chewing down on impotent rage. “Sir, thanks for your help. I will be watching Cedric always from now on. I know he will screw up soon and I will be on him to bring him down. “ Marvel had later discovered before leaving Naya Ghar, that MAC Core had bribed Cedric to take care of the colonists since they are not willing to submit to the demands and recommendations from the negotiations. Marvel knows now that Cedric acted in greed and if greed has hold on him it will push Cedric to make a mistake. He will be waiting for him then.


Leaving the office building of the general, heading for the officers mess, Marvel had come across Cedric. His face was all covered in plasters and stitches. His arm and leg were wrapped in POP. It was then Marvel realize the extent of harm his beating had done to Cedric. When Cedric saw him, he attempted a mock salute and laughter all which ended in him groaning in pain.
Marvel walked close to Cedric, stood before him ignoring the silent protests from the nurses taking care of him and the two marines that are there to watch him .
“I’m watching you always and you will screw up. Then nothing will stop me from finally giving you the full pay back you deserve. “ Marvel turned and walked away.

Hi guys, sorry for the late update, had been busy.
Well like you must have guessed, this story is getting to the final part. It's already too long. Wanted to end this with the battle between Cedric and Marvel, but I need to add something else, at least expose one of the mega corporations' spy within the earth government.
If you have been following the story, you will know that there's one more person Marvel should have dealt with but hasn't. Well I will push that to part 3. The story is already long enough, it's more than 290 pages at this time.

“Yes Marvel, the colonists' spy that was sent to you, who you ignorantly fall in love with and sleeping with her made you forget we were ordered to slaughter all of them to make way for the corporation to progress. You know what I did to her? I didn’t kill her at once, I tortured her, screw her really good. I wasn’t satisfied in fuc.kin' the two holes she has, so I made new ones in her with my big knife and fuc.ked every one of them. Ever had your genital dipped in a hole spewing blood? Trust me it’s a blast. When she could take no more, she gave up on me. “ Cedric ended with a laughter from the depth of insanity.


Just then something snapped in Marvel’s mind. “You demented animal. “ Marvel screamed as he launched him self at the standing man. Marvel’s arms become blurs of motion as they delivered blow after blow on Cedric, even after both of them crashed to the smoky field, the blows didn’t stopped. Marvel was seeing nothing else but the beautiful face of Lina, whose love, smile, warm body, he will never experience again. Marvel didn’t stopped until some of his troops came and held him back, pulled him away from the unmoving body of Cedric. His face was a mess of blood, torn nose and mouth. Eyes swollen shut. Forehead with heavy lumps.
“Sir you’re going to kill him. “ the troops pulling him back were saying. “He is not worth it. “

When the colonists discovered that the space marines has been called in to deal with the crisis on Naya Ghar, they had to stop fighting because there was no way they can fight against the marines and win. Their leaders had reached out to Marvel, presenting their side of the story. Marvel was surprised that MAC Core went this far. When he confronted the corporations, they had raised their defense that the colonists were the ones who started the aggression. Marvel had reached back to his leaders on earth. He suggested that the crisis can be ended without further violence. General Leyland had agreed with that and ordered Marvel to go ahead with his plans.


Marvel’s solution involves both sides to stand down and disarm, which the colonists readily agreed to but the corporation grudgingly accepted as they had no other choice. Marvel started a negotiation between the colonists and the corporation then called in the CSC as the intermediary. It was going well as the conflict has practically stopped. That is until Cedric decided to kill everyone of the colonists against the order of Marvel, his commanding officer.


“They were making demands that MAC Core is not willing to agree with . But MAC Core has to go along because you, Marvel, refused to see the colonists for what they are, hindrance to progress. “ Cedric said as he noticed the look of anger on Marvel’s face.
“I did not order this massacre. My order were you all to stand down as long as the negotiations were ongoing. You disobeyed my order and murdered a whole people. “ each word was like stone dropping from his lips.


“Well I did what you couldn’t do. Oh I just remembered. See this. “ Cedric picked up something from the ground around his feet. Lifting it up, it showed it is a decapitated head of a young woman. Cedric held it by its long silky black hair dangling it. “I know you still remember her. I think you spend last night with her. “
When Marvel saw the disembodied head, every emotion he was feeling drained out of his body. His slow move towards Cedric stopped as the name of the head’s owner hit him like a heavy blow. Lina. She was the one the colonists had sent as their representative to reach out to him when they surrendered and were looking for a way to start negotiations. It had worked and Marvel had liked Lina. She was a pretty girl, with long silky black hair, an oval face and flashing dark eyes. Thin lips that was quick to smile and a voice so soft and sweet that it always melt Marvel’s heart when ever he hears it. Now that voice will never say anything again.

The next best option was to meet the colonist and reach a kind of agreement with them. Which they did. The colonist welcomed them, at least they were happy that now their planet is generating interest beyond Agriculture, financial interests.


As long as MAC Core lnc. limited their mining to the quartz and to the ore mountain, there was peace. But the mega corporation began to extend its activities, grabbing lands, building small towns with offices scattered in them. In other to reduce cost, they moved in their major manufacturing plant into the planet, which was not part of the original agreement with the first settlers. With that, more expansions were made which started to incur into farm lands belonging to the colonists. There were several meetings between the management of the mega corporation and the colonists but their differences could not be resolved. The colonists reached out to earth government for help, they were referred to the System Arbitrational Court which told them they have no jurisdiction on that case.


They directed them to Civil and Corporate Protection Agency,which after several hearings from both sides, told them to take their case to the Global Civil Court. While the case was in hearing, no injunctions were placed on the activities of MAC Core Inc. on Naya Ghar. They continued with their expansion and now they were increasing their securities around all their facilities on the planet. Then the crisis has started.


It started as simple sabotage of the machines in facilities belonging to the mega corporation. MAC Core lost lots of money as production was greatly reduced and lots of money were spent on maintenance and replacement of damaged parts. The corporation then decided to employ mercenary soldiers to help deal with the issues. The mercenaries had killed some of the first settlers who were bent on sabotaging the activities of the corporation. The colonists had responded by buying weapons off planet and raised up a militia to counter the attacks of the mercenaries. The fight had been brutal, with heavy loses on both sides.


Finally, when the mega corporation discovered that the colonists weren’t backing down and they have been spending way beyond their budgets in hiring mercenaries that weren’t even bringing any noticeable improvement they had appealed to the Colonial Security and Control on earth. With heavy bribing and lobbying, the CSC had asked the space marine to step in. Marvel had been asked to lead the team of space marine expeditionary force to Naya Ghar and stop the rebellion of the colonists.

“Oh you mean these? Cedric said waving the lazer rifle on his hand to indicate the dead bodies. “Well I just did your job for you. I have effectively neutralized the rebellion. You were too soft on them. “
“There was no need to kill them. They had surrendered and negotiations are on with the management of MAC Core Inc. over seen by CSC. The negotiations are yielding positive results. “ Marvel said almost in stark unbelief, looking around at the carnage. “You were aware Cedric that the negotiations were going well. Then why this? Why kill these innocent people?”


“Our job was to come here and take down the rebellion but you went soft and started negotiating with the lowlifes. “ Cedric snarled.” They had to be shown who is boss and that earth government is not to be trifled with. “
“There fight was not against earth government but the company that had come in to their planet and was taking over what they had worked hard for. “ Marvel said as anger began to replace his feelings of frustration and powerlessness. “These kind of conflicts is what the earth government is doing its best to prevent through the Colonial Security and Control. But you have blown away all chances of a peaceful resolution of this crisis. “


Manic laughter replied Marvel from Cedric. "Seem you are not aware yet. There’s no one left to carry out any crisis. “
That was when Marvel looked up, beyond the scattered tree lines, into the mountain that has served as the rebellion’s stronghold and home. He saw huge smoke going up from several places around the jagged mountain.
“You.. You.. Killed them all? “ Marvel stammered the question as the implications of what he is seeing hit him hard.
“Yup, all of them are dead as it should be. “ Cedric replied turning slowly in a circle with both arms spread out again indicating all around him. “The planet now exclusively belongs to MAC Core Inc. “
“You manic, you are insane. “ Marvel screamed as he advanced on Cedric with fists clenched.


The planet they are on is called Naya Ghar. It was colonized at first by some expedition carried out by several wealthy families that pool resources together. They are from a subcontinent on earth that was threatened by over population. The planet, when discovered was green having also lots of rivers, lakes and seas. It was mostly a humid planet that suits those who discovered it just fine. Though after initial investigations were completed, to the disappointment of the first settlers, no known mineable materials was discovered on the planet as they had hoped. One thing the planet seems to be good for is Agriculture. The first colonist on the planet took what they could and settled on the planet. Grew crops, tamed local fauna and reared some animals they had brought with them from home.


As the years went by, the colonists on Naya Ghar, though not rich financially as they would have hoped were content as food was always surplus. The planet’s weather was mild, it was almost a paradise. Though the lack of financial wealth to be gain on the planet didn’t attract lots of settlers, still a good number of people who just want a peaceful place to retire to came to settle there. At a time, Naya Ghar became the best destination for those willing to retire to a life of peace and quiet. It was known as the planet for the old and retirees.


Two generations came and went, things relatively remained the same. But as the third generation started, a chanced search made the corporation, MAC Core Inc. discovered there is a mountain of mineable ore of malleable quartz, which was not discovered in the past. MAC Core was interested but met a snag in their attempt to claim the planet ;there are settlers already there. Their attempts at bribes and lobbing for the earth government to give them the title deed to the planet failed because there was no way they could remove the record of the colonist on Naya Ghar

The bounty hunter was a bit taken aback by the cryptic words but stayed away far enough from his target with the hand gun still pointed so he can use it if he makes any sudden moves. “I don’t know who you are or how you get to know who I am. But stay away from that thing and you will tell me exactly what you just did. “
“Oh I’m sorry you can’t recognize me on this. “ Cedric said, touching his face as he looked at Marvel. His hands pressing some areas around his neck. “The scientists at Syntech did a perfect job to give me this face. “


Marvel watched as the skin on the face seem to convulsed, fold on themselves and Cedric squeezed it on his hand and pulled it off his face. A new face now stared at Marvel, a much younger one with short black hair and black eyes. The shock that the new face brought to Marvel hit him so hard that he staggered several feet backwards and the gun in his hand wavered uncontrollably.


“Cedric Mauldin?” Marvel muttered, his head shaking from side to side in total denial of what his eyes was seeing.
“Hey Marvel, what’s the problem, you act like you’ve seen a ghost. “ Cedric said his hands spread out wide both sides as the mocking smile stayed plastered on his face.
“ This is not possible, I saw you die on Pleiades IV, “
“Oh well about that… “ Cedric stopped speaking for a wide as a long chuckling as if on a private joke interrupted.” You have some very powerful mega corporations to thank for that. “
He walked closer to Marvel with slow deliberate steps. “ I’m glad you still remember me. “ Standing for a while, he cocked his head to one side, with his index finger pointing at the side of his skull. “Hope you still remember this?“


Marvel did remember. It was his most hated memory of Cedric, a memory he had buried way back in the waste bin of his past. As he looked , the scene changed in his mind’s eye. It was a scene from a different planet, on a grassy field with scattered trees. Cedric was standing in the middle of burnt out grasses blackened by heat, smoke going up and the rest of the space marine expeditionary forces standing around him. Some hiding their faces in what appeared to be shame others with grim determination, though few in numbers were they. But what drew Marvel’s attention were the bodies of civilians scattered throughout the burnt and smoking grasses. There were bodies of elderly men, women and children. Taking his eyes up a bit he looked closely at the scattered trees behind Cedric and noticed they were not only trees but bodies of men nailed to them in a mocking parody of crucifixions.
“Why? Why? “ Marvel mumbled weakly. Sorrow, pains, frustration weakening his voice. His hands lifted weakly at the smiling Cedric.

Cedric has already pulled out the electromagnetic cylinder from the box, got it close to the power junction. Despite the temperature control working, the area around the power junction was hot. The power junction is a lead lined spherical orb that was more that a hundred meter high. Tubes, massive pipes of armored cables and power conduits were linked to it. Cedric was just at the mid point of the power junction, on a wide maintenance and observation walk way, with long glowing energy pipes and tubes standing by the sides. The walk way has a protruding part that can allow direct contact with the dense lead lined durasteel makeup of the junction which sandwiched a thick layer of Neographite between them.


Getting the cylinder close to a multiple layered transparisteel view port, he saw the huge amber glowing energy rods within the bowel of the junction, each the size of pylons used for holding the superstructures of dreadnought ships. He saw an electronic thermometer showing a surface temperature on the durasteel/Neographite structure of the junction at 450° Celsius but at the core it is a whooping 2000° Celsius. Though the heat absorbing and thermal conditioning tech used on all materials of the power junction and its energy conduits are made to efficiently channel all heat from the core to the turbines generating the power, very low percentage of heat still manages to escape.


A negligible 0.098 percent of heat loss is acceptable within the full efficiency of the power generation. Anyway that heat loss helps the structure of the power junction to keep it from cracking up after a long time of use. Cedric clamped heat absorbing cables to an area of this micro heat loss, attaching them to the electromagnetic cylinder. Activating the minor dials on its surface, Cedric was satisfied as the heat started to generate with it. Just then a voice sounded behind him.



“If you want to live beyond the next few seconds, I suggest you get away from that contraption. “ Marvel told the kneeling Cedric with back turned to him. Pointing his hand gun at him he continued. “Get up slowly, turn with your hands in the air where I can see them. “
Turning, Cedric broke into a broad smile as he saw Marvel. “Marvel Alistar, you won’t believe how long I have wished to meet you like this. The chances has passed me so many times, I thought it will never happened. But fate has brought you to me. “

At subbasement 13A, the lift stopped and Marvel stepped out. He saw a red smear on the white laminated tile floor. A smear that was wide spread leading to the door of the control room. The shape of the smear seems as if something was pulled across it. The heavy smell of blood whiffed through Marvel’s nose. Holding his hand gun ready, Marvel moved to the door, gently opening it after discovering there was no booby trap on it. That was when the full smell of fresh blood hit him on his nose. The control room was relatively wide, with several fixed chairs facing control consoles with knobs and light blinking buttons. Huge holo displays were on the air above them and beyond was the transparisteel see through wall that shows the far off turbines turning.


Dead bodies were piled up in a heap at the middle of the control room between the two rows of chairs in the place. Some of the bodies have holes of gun shots others had deep cut and punctures from sharp object. Blood was dripping from them and forming a widening poodle in the middle of the place. With a rough count, Marvel felt they might just be around ten people in the heap. He could see both male and female forms. All on green colored lead lined coverall jump suits. Marvel noticed that the dead bodies were still warm, which means the killing had happened recently, so he may just be in time to stop the killer.


Carefully walking past the heap, he took a look at the control consoles, noticed the one that that was showing images from micro camerad scattered around the whole area. One drew his attention. While others showed turbines turning, automated power machines functioning or the human maintenance around there on the floor dead, this one showed a single man, pushing something that looked like a box ahead of him floating on antigravity rings. The man was holding a gun on one hand. He was walking on one of the walkways reading to the spherical durasteel orb of the power junction. Without another delay Marvel was out the control room and heading downwards through the turbo lift.

“Get down it’s a trap. “ Marvel screamed when he saw the superior officer pulling out a hand gun. But his suspicion was already raised when the deceased officer mentioned that he is not Coleen and also pointed out the discrepancy of them putting on yellow arm bands. The group responded at once but not fast enough as lazer bolts started to hammer them from the about two dozen yellow arm banded Earth Security Service officers. Two marines were hit and they fell to the ground but immediately rolled away from the line of fire. That shows their body armor sucked away the lazer bolts that hit them. Their body armor won’t take more of that though, that is why they had to get out of the line of fire.


Marvel, the Mole and Jade with fast reflexes already found covers behind their packed air car. Most of the marines took cover behind their armored sky truck. Those not behind it were laying low but rolling quickly from becoming stationary target and they were returning fire. Already the superior fighting skills of the marines were showing as despite the sudden ambush, four of the attackers were already on the ground dead.


“Pay attention everyone, “ Marvel spoke into his comm unit already linked with others and the marines. “From now till the crisis is over, assumed any Earth Security Service official with a yellow arm band is an enemy. “
After receiving their acknowledgement, he spoke again. “You all stay back and cover this area I’m Going in after that repair man, hopefully there might still be time to stop him. I want you all to cover me after the count of three. “


When the count was done, all the marines, with Jade and the Mole stood and started to fire. The sudden move surprised their attackers and about half of them went down under the hailstorm of lazer fires and plasma bolts. Marvel moved out and raced to the entrance of the turbo lift. One of the yellow arm band men tried to take a shot at Marvel but twisting out of the way with a sudden move made the shot go awry but Marvel returned the favor with a single shot from his NAX gauge hand gun. It hit the officer dead center knocking him out. Two other officers turned quickly to target the fleeing back of Marvel but the Mole was ready. He fired his plasma rifle at them. The bolts hit them at the same time giving them a terminal dose of extreme heat. Both crumbled after being roasted by the plasma shots . Marvel got to the turbo lift, activated it and it took him down.


Stepping out of the turbo lift, got Marvel into the tunnels leading to different parts of the lower subbasement places. He saw the one going for the power junction area and headed for it. Soon coming out through a circular door, he came into the power junction area proper and it was huge. Massive turbines that are tens of meters high, huge cylinder tubes connected to big energy conduits. All these he could see through the transparisteel that covered the walkway he found himself in leading through the gigantic constructs that combine to generate and transmit power from this place.


Taking a while to look beyond the transparisteel see through of the walkway he was on, he noticed that there were several walkways all zigzagging blew him to a place almost a mile long downwards. There are points at which each walkway is connected to the one below or above it by short lift tubes of transparisteel. Marvel took time to see if he can locate his quarry but nothing seem apparent. The distance were too far apart anyway. Taking the connecting lift tubes he went down but punched the control to go at a slow speed so he can continue to see the outside through the transparent body.


Besides there was a mini display map close to the lift control that can give some kind of direction. Taking a while to study the map, he opted for subbasement 13A which is the control area. Though further down is the heart of the power junction were the fusion reactor is which generates the heat used to power the massive turbines.

The officer watched a bit as shock showed on his face. “I’m sorry to interrupt you ma’am. You have the highest executive clearance. Please how may I be of service? “
“Have anyone been allowed through that turbo lift to go to the subbasement area? “ Marvel asked instead.
“I don’t think so because no one is allowed to go through without authorization but I can’t be sure because Coleen is supposed to be the one covering this beat. “ The officer turned quickly around to locate the person he was referring to.


The air around them caused a stir as an air truck came to land gently around them, with the logo of the Earth Security Service on it. Its door slid apart disgorging about two dozen armed officers of the Earth Security Service all with yellow bands on their arms.
“What seem to be the problem? “ the one that appears to be their superior asked as he walked ahead of them.
The officer attending to Marvel and his group walked ahead to reply him. “These people have full authorization. They were asking about… hey you are not Coleen. Where is Coleen? Coleen and his team were supposed to be covering this beat. “ Looking behind the leader, he spoke further. “Hey why are you all putting on yellow hand bands ? That’s not a part of regulation… “
Their superior just brought out a hand gun and shoot him on the face point blank. The hand gun is a low yield lazer pistol, so the bolt didn’t blow past the skull. It hit the officer’s head with just enough kinetic force and heat to drill the frontal lobe and fry the brain within his skull . The officer crumbled and his body jerked briefly on the floor before going still.

“That is it. What we were not supposed to find out. “ Marvel said. “I believe the repair man is the only unseen part our Intel didn’t pick up. He must be buried deep in the mega corporations if no record of him we haven’t been able to discover. “
“Those are two good officers that should be working for Earthwatch, “ Leyland said whimsically. “I will order a squad of space recon marine led by lieutenant McCain to meet you by the senate building. “ With that the screen went dark.


As the air car got close to the senate building, they got bugged down by repeated security checks and verification of their security clearance authentication. At least the security around the senate building is still tight. But that couldn’t stop a single man from slipping through. And besides it won’t matter once that bomb goes off. Being cleared, they turned and headed for the building that housed the turbo lift leading to the subbasement where the power junction was in. They saw a military colored marine sky truck already packed waiting for them, surrounded by armed marines with drawn-out rifles. Soon they came in for a landing, coming out of the car, they saw one of the marine detached him self from the squad surrounding the military sky truck and heading their way. It was lieutenant McCain and he gave them a military salute when he got close enough.


“I was ordered to come here and back you up, by general Leyland. So I and my men are yours to command. “
“Thanks lieutenant, “ Marvel said, his attention drawn by a single officer in the uniform of Earth Security Service coming to them quickly.
“Sirs, I don’t know who you are but I don’t think you are supposed to be here. “ The officer said looking a bit tired and irritated. “I have no information about a detachment of military group being sent to secure this place. “
Jade got close to the officer whose portable handheld data console was alive with the holo screen on. “Here are me clearance. “ she said, placing her palm on the hologram display.

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
“A new angle to the PR campaign launched by the mega corporations against the earth government had taken another twist. “ General Leyland spoke through the small vid screen on the air car’s dashboard. “From what Dr. Bryant sent to us, the widow of Mr. Nicholas and his two daughters have come up to attack the earth government of murdering her husband and trying to make him appear as a criminal in other to justify their actions. It’s beginning to generate massive sympathy for the mega corporations’ cause in the colonies. Though yet to get to earth’s direct sphere of influence. “


“Heads of mega corporations don’t like their family status been public knowledge. So what brought Mrs. Nicolas to the stage? “ Jade asked, her eyes fixed on the air car transparent bubble as she piloted the air car.
“Well publicly denouncing the earth government seems worth it. So maybe it was strong enough compelling reasons to bring the family out of secured hiding. “ the general replied.
Before any of them could say anything further, Hardwire appeared on the screen. “Sorry but I think I got something interesting to tell you all. “


When no one said anything but just faced him, Hardwire coughed a little embarrassed and continued speaking. “We were able to tag two incidents that might be linked. One, an air patrol officer called their central command, which Earthwatch was able to hack in, about a suspicious but authorized action. A repair man from Green Solution Inc, was granted authorization to do a repair job on a faulty air recycling vent that is linked to an underground power junction close to the senate building. His concerned was that such repairs authorization shouldn’t be given on a day the senate is holding a session.


“As if that wasn’t enough, a junior officer belonging to the Earth Security Service has made an official complaint about being over ruled on a security issue. According to him, he stopped a repair man from going into the sublevel tunnels to carry out a repair. Though the repair man’s security clearance and authorization were correct, the situation was a bit suspicious. But an officer of a higher rank overruled him, disregarded his concerned and told him to allow the repair man go ahead with his duty under a direct order which he cannot disobey. But he lodged the complain to make his official position known. “

“Officer, this man has full authorization and clearance to do this job today, so I recommend you allow him do his job unhindered. “
“But sir, I’d like to state, that this looks strange. “ the former officer complained.
“No it doesn’t. “ His superior insisted. “As far as his authorization and clearance are full proof, that is good enough for me. So let this man go about his business unhindered. And that’s an order. “
“Sir I will like to officially state that I strongly disagree with this. “
“Take that up with command but my orders will be carried out. “ Taking a while to survey all of them, the senior officer spoke to his underlings again. “You and your two men will come with me, I have other duties for you. Three of my men will take charge of your duties. “


Cedric watched quietly as the three initial officers turned and followed the new ones to the armored sky truck, and three of the new ones now mounted the entrance to the power junction. Taking his cue, Cedric went to the storage compartment of his sky van, open it up and pulled out a long metallic box with a base of antigravity rings which made it float about a meter over the floor. He had encased the magnetic cylinder within the box lined with lead inside to hide the appearance of it from x-ray scanners. After taking out the necessary tools from the van, he hung them on the different pouches on his work overall jumpsuit, he pushed the box gently as the new yellow armed band officers allowed him go through the door to the power junction.


The door was actually an access into a turbo lift that goes straight down to the several sublevels of the floor where the power junction is located. The turbo lift is actually made of transparisteel, so as it descended in speed, Cedric was able to catch glimpses of large lead pipes containing the big armored cables and power wires that channel electric energy to the different sectors above. With a low whine the turbo lift came to a stop. As the door opened, Cedric saw it leads to a wide access way, cylindrical in shape with silver metallic coating, having bright white lights lined up above.


As he stepped out of the lift, its door closed back. The tunnel came to a part which led to several other tunnels. Cedric wasn’t worried of getting lost because there were sign posts on each of the paths giving descriptions and directions on where each of them leads to. But beside that, Cedric came equipped with his own personal map. Going through the sign posts, he identified the one that led to the core of the power junction and headed that way pushing the floating box ahead of him. Totally ignoring the air recycling vent he was supposed to be working on. Well that was the cover story to get him this far without incidents.


Soon the tunnel became transparent, through the transparisteel viewing wall of it he saw the huge turbines powered from the power junction. The power junction is a clean fusion propulsion system. It fuses subatomic particles of electron, photon and qiton, at such speed that it produces no waste. The discovery of qiton fusion was the first time humanity generated clean energy without nuclear waste . That was centuries ago. The self contained heat generated by the power junction is channeled by heat absorbing durasteel pipes encased in lead so there is not heat loss during the thermal transfer. The heat in turn propels the massive underground turbines that generated the electric energy used by all the city blocks surrounding the senate building.


As he pushed the box on its antigravity sled, he started to notice the few workers, on their lead lined coverall jumpsuit looking at him strangely. Though the power plant of this power junction is fully automated there are still few human workers that monitors temperature gauges, run minor maintenance and just sit there mostly doing nothing. Cedric reached at a false bottom under the box he was pushing, touched a panel that slid open after it recognized his fingerprint, pulled out a short barreled MG CAB 120 carbine, with an extended clip of 100 rounds. Well time for subterfuge is over, now he will take down every opposition brutally.

Had Cedric been someone else other than who he is, he would have felt really exposed at being the only civilian vehicle flying towards the senate building at this period. There was a lazer grid energy wall as high as twenty meters surrounding the open grounds of the senate building encompassing the private car park of government officials that frequent the senate house. The energy wall simmered in the daylight, as it had several gates on each sides, manned by armed police and Earth Security Service personnel in their black on black combat uniforms with open faced helmets. Cedric drove his sky van beyond the senate building to a small structure a bit further away which will grant him access to the maintenance shaft that was his intended target.


Three armed Earth Security Service officers were waiting on the ground at the entrance to the place as Cedric came for a landing. Killing the van’s engine, he got out as the three officers headed his way at a brisk walk. They questioned him about his clearance for getting to that place. Though angry and frustrated at the several numbers of security checks he has had to contend with today to get here, he knows he just have to go along if he will succeed. Killing these three officers, might be easy but that will definitely put an end to his endeavor here.


“I’m sorry sir, but we can’t allow you to continue with the maintenance. “ The senior officer among the three told Cedric.
“Officer this was already cleared by your office three days ago. They are the one that chose this day and time. Every necessary authorization and clearance were made. So I don’t understand why you wouldn’t let me go ahead with my duties. “ Cedric complained.


“Because it doesn’t look right. Whoever authorized this repair work on an air recycling vent close to the senate house on the day a plenary session is going on doesn’t know what he was doing. “ The officer maintained. “ It just doesn’t look right. I’m sorry but I will have to ask you to step back into your vehicle and vacate the premises. “
Cedric felt, at that moment, like grabbing the officer by the throat and squeezing till his head will pop off his neck. But the sudden low whine of the lazer rifles carried by the other two officers warned him that they are ready to shoot at him if he doesn’t comply. Sudden conflicting thoughts flashed through his mind of other ways he can come up with to get to that power junction. Bribe is out of it.


Calling the mega corporations’ spy within the earth government might take too long and drag unnecessary attention to him. And this officer might not budge, he seem to be determined to stop Cedric. He wondered why though. As he turned as if to walk back to his sky van, an armored sky truck came for a landing, with the color and logo of the Earth Security Service on it. The door opened and about half a dozen officers came out, all armed and appeared to be of higher ranks than the present three officers. And another barely noticeable difference is all of them have yellow strip bands on the left arms. Coming closer, the head officer asked what the problem was. After getting reports from both the officers and Cedric, he brought out a portable scanner which he pointed at Cedric’s sky van. After going carefully over the readings, he turned to them and spoke.

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
Cedric drove the sky van steadily into the air space of the Capital city Geneva. Coming beyond the Jura mountains range, seeing the bluish glint of the sunlight reflection on the Lake Geneva. When Geneva was chosen as the capital of earth, it has undergone several changes. Most of the old structures were pulled down and newer more modern structures erected. The city had spread beyond what it was. Now the new city of Geneva is a city that holds several headquarter offices of most government organizations on earth. It is home to the earth senate building and the office of the president of earth.


Cedric wasn’t surprised with the tight security that surrounds the air traffic of the city but he wasn’t worried as he has his security clearance which has been made for him several days ago. It was arranged for him to work on a broken down air recycling vent which is part of temperature control pipes. He was already given a cover as a maintenance employee of Green Solutions Inc. He knew the air security control on the orbiting satellite had passed over him three times as he got within the city limits, checking him out and allowing him
in as his security clearance flashed through his sky van.


Soon air patrol stopped him, beefed up by both Metro police and Global police, his security clearance was scrutinized and double checked. One of them was wondering, why the repair has to be done today when the senate session was on at a point close to the senate house. Cedric pointed out that the date for the repair was already cleared three days ago by Earth Security Service and Planetary Affairs Commission. They were the ones that choose this date. The officer in charge still felt skeptical about it but since every scrutiny of Cedric’s security passage cleared, he had no reason to stop him. He allowed Cedric’s sky van to pass. But seconds after that the officer wasn’t totally convinced, so he made two calls.


The air traffic in the sprawling city of Geneva was less than its usual peak because of the intense security cover, Cedric drove his sky van through the air traffic lanes at the normal speed, at this stage of his mission, a little error can bring the long plans that had gone into the success of this endeavor to naught. Tall buildings dominated the skies of Geneva, with the light air traffics, which are more of military and police air vehicles. Magnorails snaked their ways through the spaces between the spires of glass and duracrete, with walkways hundreds of meters in the sky. Getting out of the seemly tightly packed skyscrapers,


Cedric came into the open area leading to the senate building. The building is a mighty edifice that was several city blocks long. It was made in the shape of a dome, placed on a hexagonal shaped levels of duracrete hundreds of meters high. The dome was white colored transparisteel with a honeycombed platinum steel fixtures crisscrossing it. Around the building are six tall tower like spires, each a skyscraper in its own, placed each at equal distance from each other around the dome of the senate building. This place used to be a steady hive of activities with constant flow of air vehicles to and from the senate house. But that is not the case today. There are more of military armored cars, gunships and troop carriers slowly hovering round all areas of the place, with ever watchful vigilant officers. But at the official vehicle park of the building, are arrayed rows and rows of luxury air cars of all shapes and colors gleaming attractively.

“Damn you furkin’ midget, I’m going to make you bleed in return. “ the gunman said as he took a fighting stance twirling the knife like a pro fighter.
The Mole stood casually shaking his head sadly at the gunman. The fool doesn’t know that the Pit was a place where knife fights were the norm. And the Mole is among the best knife fighter in the Pit. This fool ignorantly wants to commit suicide by starting a knife fight with the him. The gunman charged at him wielding his knife but the Mole simply sidestepped him, thrusting his hand up, grabbed the head, turned it around and buried the edge of the vibroblade into his eye all in a single move.


As he pulled out the vibroblade a thin line of blood shot out from the punctured eye. The gunman staggered trying to stop the flow of blood by covering his face with both hands. It failed as the blood continued to pour. Walking calmly to the staggering man, the Mole just took the bloodied vibroblade, touched it lightly at the neck of the gunman, the blade whined lowly and instantly it sliced through most of the neck. As blood, neck muscles and organs were sliced, the body dropped pouring out pints of blood from the severed neck.


The sixth door was already opened and the hostages pouring out and the more sensitive ones among them were throwing up at the sight of the sliced throat of the dead body when the Mole heard the explosion. Shortly after that his comm unit came alive with Marvel’s message.
They met Marvel already at the air car urging them to come quickly. As the air car went into the air Marvel was already on the comm line with both general Leyland and Hardwire. After the call was made, the Mole turned to Marvel.
“You sounded too frantic, what’s up? “
“All these attacks were just smoke screens. Like our Intel indicated, the senate building is still the main target. “ Marvel replied.
“But all indicators from the senate building are that things are quiet. Security have been tight and no unusual event is happening there. “ Jade said as the concentrated on her driving, trying to avoid other vehicles on the busy air traffic.
“That’s what is bothering me. The most obvious target is the senate plenary session going on. “ Marvel looked out the air car canopy. “Things are just too quiet over there for my liking

The Mole had the longest distance to cover and while going he had seen two locked doors where hostages were kept. He had brought out his vibroblade, with swift work has used it to cut off the soft metal of the key. Opening the doors he had seen the hostages hurdled together with fears on their faces as they saw him. He whispered calm words to them and directed them out of the place they were holed up to get to working lifts that will get them out. The Mole has already opened a fifth door holding hostages, when he realized that these gunmen had to lock up most of the hostages since they are short on man power to watch all of them.


As the hostages stream out of the fifth door he opened, a gunman suddenly stumbled on them with a shock on his face. He had lifted up the ski mask on his face in other to breath easily . He cursed and brought his gun to fire but the Mole who had been anticipating something like this beat him to it. His handgun was out and with a single well placed shot, he took the gunman out. The shot hitting him dead center on the forehead and knocking him off his feet. The body was twitching on death throes when the Mole got to him.



The Mole was cutting the key of the sixth door when a gunman coming from the other end stumble on him. It happened to quick for the Mole to do much of anything and the angle he came from was an awkward one for him to be able to throw the vibroblade. He dove at him instead but went low as the gunman fired. The lazer bolts went over him as he tackled the shooter on impact. They both crashed to the ground. If the gunman had underestimated the Mole because of his size, he was quickly corrected as the Mole knocked the gun from his hand jabbing a nerve point with his elbow. The gunman’s arm froze from the shock of the nerve punch and his arms opened involuntarily dropping the gun.
The Mole swing the top of his head viciously, as the metallic dome crashed on the exposed face of the gunman. The man stood up, his nose crushed as blood poured out profusely from the nasal holes and torn lips. His blonde colored beard were soaking up the red liquid. He wiped his mouth with the back of his left hand while his right pulled out a combat black.

“No thanks, you ape. “ Here Jade reached behind her and pulled out the handle of her sword. With a little flick of a button, the katana’s blade shot out of the handle. “Besides mine is longer than yours. “
She twirl her sword with perfect ease and dexterity, that the eyes through the ski mask looked out in fear. Jade attacked, her sword was like a maelstrom too hard to evade. With just two strikes, the knife fell from his hands, as the short cuts started to bleed.


“You failed bitch, I always had an ace up my sleeve. “ speaking his hand went for what Jade suspected must be the manual switch for the bomb vest.
Moving in a blur of motion, Jade’s blade swing at the wrist of the arm, the hand was severed and dropped on the ground with a wet thud. The man howled in pain as he held the bloody stump with he other hand, while it was pouring out blood. He staggered and his knees crashed to the ground. He tried using the other hand to pulled out the switch and with another swing of Jade’s sword, the second hand dropped to the floor. This time the scream of pain was loud as the man shook both bloody stumps uncontrollably.


Jade came in slow behind the kneeling man as he wheezed in pain and whispered. “Now you will act like a good boy, take me to the rest of your guys, I have special treatment for them too. “
“Bleep you bitch. You will die horribly, die screaming. Bleep you a million times. “ The man manage to spew out despite his pains.
“Sorry dude, you ain’t my type. I got something better. “ Gently lifting his jaw with the edge of the katana, Jade ordered. “Alright slow poke, you have a place to take me to. “


The man walked slowly leading her up a flight of stairs to a wide door that looked like the entrance to a floor of the building. The man just pushed at the door and it open slightly. With the quick peek Jade could see two men armed with lazer rifles, having ski masks over their faces and the bulge on them show they are having bomb vests too. While scattered before them were multitude of scared and openly weeping hostages as far as Jade could see.
“What tha’ Bleep happened to your hand man? “ One of the other armed man asked.


The reply he got was Jade bursting out behind his colleague with quick move, swing the sword and his head was severed from his body. The headless body stood still for a second then hit the ground from the separated member. There were sudden screams of fear and scrambling from the hostages. Jade’s attention was on the second man, who cursed as he tried bringing the gun to fire on Jade. It was late because Jade’s katana was already on the air from a throw. The blade hit him on the forehead and sank in. The body twitching fell to the ground, his trigger finger still outside the guard so the gun was not fired . Most of the hostages rushed out the door being propelled by fear, the crowd hit the handless gunman, trampled him beneath rushing feet. All he could do was struggle weakly as the stumps of his arms wavered weakly as he was crushed to death under hundreds of running feet.
Just then a loud explosion sounded somewhere in the building. Jade moved suddenly hoping none of the others had failed. She was clawing her way through the panicked crowd of the fleeing hostages when the audio comm unit in her ear clicked to life and she heard Marvel’s desperate message.

He punched his comm unit to general relay and spoke into it. “Hear me, we have been suckered. Get out of here fast and meet me outside. “
Jade was thinking fast that she might have missed a part of Marvel’s direction to her when she heard the unmistakable whine of an energy gun powering up accompanied by a harsh voice.
“ Hey bitch, how the hell did you get away from the group? “ Jade felt a cold metal jabbed the small of her back. “Now turn slowly with your hands raised where I can see them. “


Jade complied with her hands raised above her head and the hand gun she was holding in it.
“What tha’ hell, you are armed? “ The speaker had a ski mask covering his face, only his eyes were showing. “You are definitely not a hostage. Maybe you police guys have found a way in through our booby traps. Well I will remedy that now. “
That was when Jade moved. She threw the hand gun on her hand at the face of the man and dove down. The man flinched instinctively and fired. The lazer bolts went high as Jade went down. She lashed out with her leg hitting the attacker’s feet and clearing them from the floor. The attacker landed heavily on the ground. Jade followed with a puma punch, hitting him on the jaw with the heel of her palm.


Yanking the lazer rifle from him and throwing it far from him left her slightly open for a few seconds which the man took advantage of. He punched her on the chest, following with double kick from his feet as Jade staggered from the impact of the blow. Jade rolled backwards with the force of the kick but the man came in hard at her, swinging blows which Jade evaded with quick movement. She was stalling him so he doesn’t remember to trigger the control of the bomb vest he had on. He was physically stronger and more heavier than she is and a bit knowledgeable with hand to hand combat.


He rushed her again with a powerful round horse blow which Jade evaded by ducking under the swing and punching upwards savagely with a severe upper cut the knocked the man’s face backwards. He roared in anger, reaching his hand to his boot, he pulled out something that looked like a huge combat knife. It is made of none reflecting neo polymer alloy, black edges sharp enough to compete with a vibroblade for keenness. Jade didn’t even have enough time to fully analyze the new weapon when he started swinging.


Jade deed her best to rolled out of the paths of the cutting blade. But the man was good at wielding the knife, that he shifted it from his right hand to left without slowing down in his attacks. With most of the dodges that Jade made it left her open for punches. Jade was able to counter as much of them as possible.
“Hey common bitch, you feel like a turkey yet? “ the man jabbed at her. “I’m feeling particularly lucky just now. Make it easy and I’d work fast on you like a first rate chef. “

Another door that seem to lead to the rest room opened and someone standing there looked out in shock as he lifted the rifle on a sling by his shoulder. Marvel knew it was too late to shoot the new comer. So he dove at him, grabbing the muzzle of the rifle and lifting it up so the shots will hit the roof harmlessly. The rifle started shooting out bolts after bolts of lazer fire, but they all went wild as Marvel tackled the shooter. The slow move of the hostages outside turned to a blind panic race through the door.


Marvel hammered the shooter with his fist sharply to the jaw while he pulled the gun out of the shooter’s hand. The gun man fell back staggering and pulled out a knife. Marvel rushed at him, blocking the hand with the knife and giving out another punch to the man’s face. Lips split and he spat out blood. With a scream of rage, he dove at Marvel again with his knife. Lifting his hand, the knife hit Marvel at his fore arm. The gun man pulled back a bit with a confused look on his face. He looked at the knife in his hand and at Marvel’s arm where the knife has cut. He cut see the clothes slashed but no sign of any injury on Marvel. Marvel grabbed the knife hand and with a savage twist sprain the wrist and the knife dropped to the floor.


The gun man staggered backwards, pulled something that looked like a control. With a wild look and blood splitting from his mouth, he pressed a switch on the control. He was surprised when nothing happened.
“That won’t do you any good. “ Marvel told him. “You better surrender and tell us where your boss is. “
After several attempts at activating the bomb failed the gun man turned to Marvel with a look of triumph on his face.
“You have failed and we have won. Getting you here was our victory. “ Was all he said as he pulled out the control again and started punching other buttons. Marvel quickly suspected what’s about to happen, he ran out of the wide room, by this time thankfully none of the hostages were still around. In about five seconds he heard a loud explosion that shook the whole floor. As the noise cleared, with the fire and smoke dying, Marvel got up and it hit him all at once. How could he have been so blind to being sidetracked like this. In his desire to end this, he missed the most important part of all this puzzle.

Pulling the dead body out of the way, Marvel left it there on the corridor as there was no time to hide it properly. He tried the door’s handle and noticed that it moved. He opened it a little and left it that way and stepped to the other side of the door waiting. A voice from inside asked a question harshly. As there was no reply, a hand grabbed the door that was ajar rudely pushing it open, a head poked out to see what was happening. Marvel’s gun was already pointed and the trigger pulled back. The muzzle of the gun was pointing directly at the noise of the looker when it fired.


A large round hole suddenly appeared at the middle of the face cut by the energy beam. The looker dropped down heavily already dead. Marvel jumbled over the body quickly entering in through the door. With seconds to spare, Marvel took the images of everything in the room at once . A group of people, more than a hundred of them were made to sit on the ground, huddled among each other. The room was a wide office with desks, tables and data consoles, which has all been pushed to one side to accommodate the large crowd. Already some bodies were dead on the floor, shot at the back of the head at close range.


One gun man looked up in surprise as Marvel came in suddenly, he lifted his gun but Marvel fired first. He targeted his head because he doesn’t want to hit his torso, as the bulging clothes on him showed he was wearing a bomb vest. The shot was true, taking the gun man at the head and dropping him. There were screams of fear, shock and surprise from the gathered hostages. Marvel brought his gun down and looking at the faces of the hostages. They were both men and women, young and old, all grief and panicked looking. Despite Marvel’s obvious rescue attempt, they still looked scared.


“Alright everyone, don’t be afraid, I’m with the police, help has arrived . “ Marvel said using a tone he felt sounded both reassuring and inspiring confidence. “If you don’t mind, you can all go out in an orderly fashion. “
He stepped out of the way as the hostages looked at him in fear, then confusion and uncertainty. But as soon as one of them took the courage to head towards the door, others followed, each throwing a worried glance the bounty hunter’s way.

tunjilomo:
ADA is one hell of a robot. Are the corporate worlds somehow technologically advanced compared to Earth?

No, they are the same. Earth controls the military and politics. They allow a quasi kind of self governance for the colonies which the earth government watches closely through their agents in the Colonial Security & Control (CSC) and Earthwatch Agency.

And BTW ADA is not actually a robot but an advanced virtual assistant. A program with an integrated Artificial Intelligence algorithm. In Marvel world, robots doesn't exist....at least not yet.

Lol, anyone noticed ADA has started acting up like an offended gf

“Yea I know that is why I will be doing this. I will hack into the wave cut it off from the source then hook it up to your drone. Then bounced it from your drone to the trap. So your drone will be in the middle, no remote command from the source will reach the traps. Yet the radio frequency will still be on at both end, those who set the trap won’t notice anything amiss and the traps won't automatically go off. “
“Do it. “
“Already done boss, you can go ahead without fear. “


Marvel pulled out his NAX gauge hand gun and went through the entrance, followed by Jade and the Mole. The police officers guarding the place shook their heads in pity and a little worried about their safety.
After getting through the booby traps in entering the ground floor of the building, Marvel had asked them to split so they can cover more ground quickly. He gave them the directions where each of the targets were. He told the Mole to hang back his plasma rife. The rifle is an indiscriminate weapon and can endanger the hostages also. Marvel headed to the third floor where there were four of the targets holding down some hostages. Getting to a wide corridor, he slowed down because the holo display showed the heat signature of a target.


“Hardwire, hope you remembered these guys have on them suicide bomb vests? “
“Yes boss. It works on the same radio frequency wave like that used on the booby traps. Each of the bomb vests has a trigger with the wearer. But there appears to be a single signal trigger that is linked to all the bombs and can blow them all up at once. The one with that control is on the path you are headed. “
“We can’t take them out with that link still active. “
“ I can block the electronic signal that links the suicide vest bombs to each trigger and also the overall linkage. “
“Alright Hardwire go ahead. “
“One problem though boss, you have to be fast. Once I block the signal, and it's discovered they may have a way to manually set off the bombs. “


“Leave that to me. Just block the signal. “
“Done. “
Marvel jumped out of from hiding, his gun lifting. A man armed with a lazer rifle, with a clothing that looks awkwardly bulky was standing guard before a door. He started as he saw Marvel and quickly reached for his rifle but Marvel was faster. The NAX gauge shot one single energy bolt, which hit the gun man at the forehead, drilling through to pass out the back. No blood or tissue parts spilt out as the energy bolt cauterized the wound. Marvel ran ahead to catch the dead man so that his fall won’t create a noise.

Marvel was studying the holo display from his wrist comm, viewing the images his spy drone, which had gone ahead of them into the tunnel was sending. They stopped at the entrance of the tunnel though watching as the bounty hunter continued to study the images. The visual feed back from the drone showed a part of the duracrete made tunnel with scorch marks, bodies and body parts of people in police uniform strewn on the ground. Some of the bodies showed signs of explosive burns while others had holes on them that definitely came from impacts of high velocity projectiles. Some parts of the floor were broken apart. Marvel guessed that should have been the place the mine that exploded was planted. The spy drone picked up a lazer targeting ruby light searching it out. It was affixed to a mini gat gun on a tripod stand. The lazer light ran over the hovering metallic ball and passed it as the new drone was made with the camouflage material used on the Max Neo.


“Hardwire are you getting the readings? “ Marvel spoke into the comm unit.
“Yes boss. “
“Tell use what we have. “
“Both the mines and gun has the same control set up. “ was what Marvel heard on the audio pick up in his ear. “It is not an automatic programmed trap, but a remote controlled one that uses Electronic Radio Frequency short wave. It has an alarm system that when triggered, the person who set up the traps activates it remotely and they go active. “
“How do I get pass them? “
“You don’t. The person who set up the trap can activate it any time, so you really can’t. “


“Stop stalling Hardwire, we don’t have time for this. “ Marvel growled.
“Fret none boss, I got the solution. “ Hardwire tried to get off his cocky attitude. “I can effectively block the ERF wave, which will make the traps useless by remote control but they might have built a safe guard into them that can cause them to explode any time the radio frequency is cut off. “
“Hardwire that doesn’t sound like a solution. “

“Na, it’s all quiet over there. The plenary session has began. That place is heavily secured and locked up tight. A fifteen minutes total evacuation system is in place incase of sudden attacks. There’s an air restriction of five kilometers on all areas around the building. An orbital defense satellite is hovering over that spot to shoot down both air and space targets. Air tanks and gun boats are patrolling every area and for several city blocks in every direction from the building, uniform officers are patrolling on the ground, restricting movements and questioning everyone. They are backed up by armored and armed police air cars. So that place is sealed tight. “


“Alright. Still keep your eyes peeled over there. “ Marvel knew that report should have relaxed his mind but he still find that he was not satisfied. They might be missing something. “ I’m activating my spy drone now and I want you to be linked to it. Create a self contained program you can work with so that Earthwatch doesn’t compromise our security after we finished working with them. Ask ADA to do that. “
“Ah a slight problem with that boss. ADA refused to leave the Max Neo and come down to earth with us. “
“Why will she do that? “ Marvel was surprised, that was unlike ADA. “What did she say is the problem? “
“Nothing. She refused to say anything. Boss, if I’m to hazard a guess, I’d say she is sulking. “
“ ‘Sulking? ‘, ADA can’t sulk, she is a program. “
Hardwire chuckled. “Maybe she has learned a couple of human attitudes. “


Marvel know he doesn’t have time for this now. He will look into it properly when they return back to Nuterra. “Ok, Hardwire like I said link up with my spy drone we are about entering some booby traps. “
Before the entrance to the access tunnel, they were stopped by some global security police officers. They stepped back when Jade flashed her badge at them. A hovering armored air car that was coming closer to investigate the new comers, was called back.
“I’d have to warn you ma’am, that tunnel is booby trapped. “ One of them said to Jade. “ We lost some good men in there and we haven’t been able to get them out. “
“Don’t worry, we’ll be careful. “ was her response.

“A standard hostage situation. We have ten, I mean nine armed men with suicide vests on them. “ Captain Sawyer said his voice sounding strained. “With X-ray and heat sensor, we have seen that the attackers took over the control area of the building. Most of the hostages are locked in the various rooms they were when the attack started. And each of the attacker is in the midst of some of the hostages, so any attempt at rescue will force them to detonate the suicide vest and taking all the hostages with him. “


“I noticed you mentioned ten then nine attackers. Why is that so? “ Jade asked him.
“That. “ the metro police captain pointed with his jaw at the floor with the fire burning. “We attempted a rescue earlier, but one of the criminals blew himself up, took out a huge chuck of the building and several hostages too. That’s why we haven’t attempted any other thing yet. “
Jade touched her wrist comm pulling up a floor plan on the holo display from it, scrolling through it as Marvel and the Mole watched at it too from behind. Facing the captain again, Jade asked.


“From this building plan, there seems to be an access tunnel linked to a maintainance channel, air recycling vent and sewage system. Why haven’t you attempted that? “
“Oh we did but the place is heavily booby trapped with smart mini guns and mines. Had to pull my men back when the death toll was rising too fast. “ Captain Sawyer said a bit miffed as Jade’s questions tend to make them look incompetent . “ We didn’t come prepared with the right equipment to handle such. But I already called the tech division, they can take care of stuff like this and they are on their way. “


“Sir, I’d recommend you tell your men to back off to the perimeter you have created. “ Marvel said. “We will attempt infiltrating that place and we don’t want your boys interfering. “
“All yours Mr… “ the captain said with a mocked bow.
“Don’t worry about my name. “ Marvel replied heading back to their packed air car.
Spooks, I should have known. Captain Sawyer thought angrily. They always want to show off as high and mighty larger than life. Let’s see if they are bullets and explosive proof. He snickered finally.


As the trunk of the air car was lifted, Marvel pulled out his combat bag, brought out a new spherical spy drone, that was made after his other one was destroyed. He left the rifle in there as he closed the trunk again. Hand guns were what he felt will be better suited to handle this. Turning to Jade he asked her to lead them to the entrance of the access tunnel. As they headed there, Marvel activated his comm unit and was in instant communications with Hardwire. Hardwire had come down to earth with them but had gone with the general to Sydney, Earthwatch hq. He was to join those at the sensors and communications department.


“Hardwire are you setup and prepped for the mission? “
“Yes boss, I’m hooked up to as much resources as Earthwatch can allow me have access to on earth here. “ Hardwire replied.
“Hope you have eyes on our initial target? “
“Yop. Geneva has been real quiet after the attacks on the Global police Euro hq failed and was foiled. “
“Anything odd at all at the senate building? “

Marvel couldn’t come up with an answer for that, the thought of it filled his mind all the way to Switzerland. The sights through the air car canopy blurred as they zoomed through the air at dangerous speed with Jade piloting confidently. She was on constant comm link with the agents on ground at those trouble spots. At a time, Marvel saw the image of general Leyland come on the screen but he didn’t pay attention to what they were talking about, as his mind was occupied with thoughts.


Within minutes the icy peaks of the Alps mountains became visible. At the altitude they were flying, the air was thin and cold but the atmosphere control within the air car kept it warm. Soon as they crossed the mountain peaks, the car descended for the Canton of Zurich. There was an air traffic restriction around the city leading to their target. Air Traffic Patrol officers created an artificial barricade, screening incoming and outgoing vehicles. Jade’s air car pass through the barricades without much hindrance as their Earthwatch cover granted them easy passage. Marvel could see the all black uniforms of the Global Security police and the black on electron blue of the Metro police of Europe.


Getting to the heart of Zurich, they encountered more of police barricades and they were always stopped, questioned and allowed to go. Soon they came for a landing in a defense line of armored police air cars and vans, while still above them air vans and cars were flying round with ready sharpshooters. Jade got out of the car, leading Marvel and the Mole to a group of plain clothes officers that looked like the leaders here. The defense line of cars and vans were created some distance away from a tall building gleaming with glass and ferrocrete. As Marvel looked up at the height, a particular level was burning furiously with heavy smoke spewing out. Jade was talking to a man with a clean shaved mustache who the badge on the breast pocket shows a name that says Capt. Sawyer.
“What have we got captain? “ Jade asked after the initial introductions were over.

The Earthwatch agency has been on high alert since the Intel had gotten to them. Vigilant watch via satellites, spy drones and micro cams has been on with facial recognition programs running through them that when ever any of the person on the watch list is sighted, an alarm is raised. General Leyland had made available some of the space marine, to beef up the muscles of the agency and be available for call in an emergency.


“Tell me what you have. “ Jade said as she exchanged another worried look with Marvel.
“We had a magnorail station bombing and attack in Amsterdam. With some terrorist tactics suicidal shootings. Though local police force are engaging the about a dozen armed men who carried out the attack. Marine backups are en route to curb the violence.
“There is an air car attack at two different ultra Malls in Sydney but that had quickly been pull down. The marine are much closer to that one. Two of the seven targets has been accounted for. Both are deceased. “
“Ok copy that agent Daw. “


“That’s not all, presently we have a hostage situation in Zurich, Switzerland. On a sky rise office building. About five thousand civilians are in that building. Most of the security guards on duty has been killed and the building taken over by a group of ten men. All on suicide bomb vests. From a spy drone visual pick up, we were able to identify two of the targets among those holding the hostages.
“ Then in Geneva, there has been gun fire attacks at the European hq of the Global police with several casualties. The attacks had started as a gun fire with six armed men, led by two of out of the targets. They had used rifles and grenades to break through the entrance. But the other police officers on duties had stalled them by returning fire. Well when the attackers discovered they could go no further, they had activated the suicide bomb vests they had on. The explosion took out most of the ground floor of the buildings. Death toll so far on that is above a hundred.


“At the moment four out of the seven targets are confirmed dead. Two are leading the hostage situation in Switzerland and one is behind the magnorail bombing in Amsterdam. “
“We will be headed to Switzerland right away. “ Marvel spoke up before Jade could say anything.
“Alright sir, “ the agent said as he dropped the call.
“Why Switzerland Marvel? “ Jade asked.
“Because the main target our Intel indicated is in Switzerland. And an attack took place in Geneva. I’d like to really check that out personally. “
“Alright. “ Jade said as they head for their car, leaving the gang leader trembling. “So far the Intel has been good but far from being perfect. We had no idea there was another person involved. So the Intel may not be totally correct. What if it is wrong about what the main target is? “