Chapter 47

The dam was empty. The automatrons stood stationary, frozen in whatever task they had been performing. The only sound was the constant hum of the dam’s turbines, which stretched out infront of her in a long line. There were no alarms blaring, no safety recordings, there was nothing.

The sound of a gunship caused Gabriela to pause. She listened as they grew closer, until they were right over her. She moved to cover, ducking inbetween the turbines. She didn't know if the gunship was her extraction, or if Brian had turned on her.

She moved further into the shadows when she heard boots ringing out on the metal grating that ran over the turbine room above her. Four people came down from the stairs that led to the roof and the top of the dam, the lights on their weapons cutting through the oppressive gloom of the facility. Another team descended from the opposite end of the roof.

Gabriela almost called out to them before she saw the words ‘Cy-Tech’ plastered across their breast plates. She was told to get to the dam, not its facility, but the way to the dam was up the catwalk, or from outside of the facility. Gabriela looked behind her, trying to decide if going back the way she had come would be the quickest way out, but the stretch of empty space between the turbines and the door was too vast. She would be too exposed. The red light of an exit sign glowed ominous at the end of the row of turbines. She hurried as quickly as stealth would allow, the heavy boots grew closer and closer.

The crack of gunfire split through the ambient sound of the turbines, hitting behind Gabriela and ricocheting off the metal casing of the one she was crouching next to. She flinched when the slug shattered on impact, sharp shards cutting into her cheek. She raised her pistol and returned fire, diving for cover.

Gabriela managed to catch one of the soldiers in the open, dropping them with three rounds. The rest returned fire, pinning her where she was. The orders they shouted out quickly turned from orderly to confusion. A body fell from above her, its back breaking on a metal railing as the body folded over backwards from the impact.

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There was someone else opening fire on Cy-Tech, catching them unaware. One by one they were cut down by the unseen assailant. The soldiers tried to move into more advantageous positions, only to meet with Gabriela’s own gunfire.

The confusion allowed her to slip away, leaving the mystery gunmen to finish what they had started. She ran as fast as she could towards the exit sign. Knowing that if she could make it to the dam she would be safe from Cy-Tech, and most importantly; she would have her answers.

The exit emptied into a smaller room. A guard station or some sort of check point. Its red brick masonry was older than the rest of the dam. She ran through the room, close to the wall. Suddenly, Gabriela was jolted and flung to the side. The world around her spun as she tumbled through the air. She landed hard, sliding across the floor before a booth stopped her.

An exosuit stomped towards her through an open hole in the wall. Chunks of masonry slid off the mat black body, Cy-Tech printed in bold white letters.

“Gabriela Forhen.” The pilot called out as the machine lumbered towards her. “You cost me a promotion.” The voice accused.

Gabriela thought the voice was familiar, but she couldn't place where she had heard it before. She grasped for her pistol and rolled over, opening fire. Each round reflected off the heavy armor plating.

“A girl with some spirit!” The pilot called out. “Fuck, I am going to enjoy killing you.”

Gabriela got to her feet and ran, her leg and side hurt from being thrown across the room, but she ignored it. Every fiber of her being screamed for her to run.. The exo gatling spun up and opened fire. A trail of ruined brick followed Gabriela as she took cover behind a column.

“There is no way out!” The pilot screamed as he unleashed another burst of fire into the steel support. The exo-suit began to strafe around her before suddenly coming to a halt when more gunfire rang up from above it.The Exo-Suite paused for a moment before it turned to face its assailant.

Geraldo stood on the catwalk that ran from the previous room.

“This ends here, Andrews!” Geraldo roared.