The dimly lit corridors criss-crossed at every junction creating a spirit sapping maze, measuring miles in length. These were service tunnels, coated in dark metal plating and intersected by beams of structural framework. Emergency lights flickered, highlighting pipes and thick industrial grade cables that ran exposed throughout.
“Hurry, down this way, quickly!”
A security operative bearing the crest of Suidine Tech’s core PMC emerged from round a shadowed corner. He herded three civilians with him, an older woman, resolute in stature and two men, all dressed in the exquisite greens and whites of the Suidine inner families. A second S.O trailed a few meters behind, cautiously guarding their rear as they proceeded.
“Where are you leading us Sergeant Mason?” Valerie Suidine’s voice was hurried and exasperated; her face portrayed distinct signs of worry.
Valerie had aged with grace, allowing her grey and black hair to meld into a charcoal shade. Other than minor alterations or touch-ups, her face remained true to its expected natural form. It was a statement that she was proud to be herself. Her expensive green velveteen dress edged with white lace, caught the low lighting of the corridors, causing her to sparkle as they moved through the passages.
Mason, the leading S.O, was slightly ahead setting the swift pace for the herd. He brought his inner forearm to his chest revealing a small flexi screen. A quick swipe of his palm and it blinked onto a pre-rendered three-dimensional image, depicting the blueprints of the Suidine central complex’s mega structure. Occupying near on ten million square feet and heavily compartmentalised for the effective running of the company, the building could withstand hostile insurgents for many days if needed. The map revealed various sections as occupied by Katari Logistics, updated in real time. He confidently zoomed into the substructure towards what was marked as their current position.
“These service tunnels should latch onto the nearby transit network, Mistress.” His voice was marginally altered as it emitted from his full faced helmet.
He continued to scan the blueprints for the designated route that would free them from the steel maze.
“This aint right.” muttered Quinton Suidine as he peered behind them to gauge how far away the rear guard was lagging.
“None of the reports pitted the Katari PMCs being anywhere near to this deep in. How could they have infiltrated this far without resistance?”
Quinton’s demeanour became more frantic with each word. His confusion may have been shared by the entire party, but he was certainly more willing to display it. They had been forced into a dire situation and Quinton’s mind raced to find answers to why.
“They were on the doorstep before the announcement was made. They must have known”
“Calm yourself, Quint.” Kammuel grasped his brother’s arm tightly, towing him as they paced through the corridors.
“Let’s just stay focused on getting out alive, ey?” His was stern and calm as he attempted to console his brother.
The brothers had a strong resemblance distanced by their years in age. Kammuel, the older, was already a fine specimen of a man. Despite clear augmentation scares he remained strikingly distinguished, sporting wavy black lengths of hair, a purposely rugged beard, and radiant hazel eyes. Quinton had not been quite as graced in the genetic selection process, most likely due to being the second child, but still held many similarities.
“Oh, it’s easy for you Kam. You’re trained for this. Two years amidst the Suidine Auxiliary Forces saw to that. You can take care of yourself.” Quinton was progressively leaning into Kammuel with each glib sentence before muffling his voice to a whisper.
“All I’m saying is that maybe they had help, right? Insider information trading. As in, maybe some of our own mercs are padding their accounts with Katari Standard right now.”
His statements lead him into a small pause waiting for validation before he continued. He slipped glances at Mason who was still ahead of the pack, deeply ingrained into the holographic map. Quinton threw a second glimpse towards to rear at the other S.O.
“What if there is no escape for us down here? What if he’s just securing the last of Suidine’s name sake, making sure there’s no one to strike back at Katari?”
Kammuel slowed his pace to a stop, keeping Quinton by his side. He took in a small breath then allowed himself a sigh before responding.
“Look, I’d be thrilled to have you walk me through all of your theories about what’s happened here, but right now brother, in this moment; I need you to trust me. Follow my lead, can you do that?”
Kammuel’s eyes were connected to Quinton’s, lingering with a caring stare. Using his brow, he threw in an additional prompt, asking for acknowledgment. Quinton un-tensed and eased his posture, answering with a gentle nod.
Mason had brought the party to a stop at a cross section of the corridors, taking a moment to reassess the small holo-map. Of the 3 drab choices they could make one had a clear dead end in the distance.
“This is the way.” Mason stated as he gestured for the group to follow him.
“Surly you can’t be serious sergeant. This is our way out, a dead end in the forgotten bowels of Suidine’s prestigious central complex?” Valerie’s voice had risen in pitch and confusion.
Mason ignored the sharp warbling of his Mistress. He hastily proceeded down the hall, pausing at an old metal door to his left. The state of the halls and this door alike clearly displayed the lack of human attention in recent years. He popped open the dusty panel and began to fidget with its contents.
“Hold your nerve mother. Mason is one of our best and I trust him with my life.” Kammuel comforted her in an attempt to diffuse her short temperament.
Mason keyed a few combinations on the flexi screen of his arm followed up by flicking a few of the panel’s internal switches. The doors mechanics whirled into action and as a result the dense dead lock uncoupled from the frame.
He tugged on the thick metal handle. With a loud clunk he forced the door to slide open releasing a screech that echoed down the hall. He ushered the Suidines through the new opening. Automatic lights attempted to fire up, flickering for a few moments before stabilizing as a faint illumination. New shadows danced around the metal racking and various chemical containers that inhabited them. An old dusty work bench which was situated close to the entrance protruded from the wall, scattered with tools and electrical components. Rusted metal shutters rested over a window beyond the racking at the rear of the storage room.
“That’s got to be a way out.” Quinton stated as he began towards the shutters.
The second S.O followed closely behind. They both began to pry at the shutters slowly getting marginal movements from their rusted hinges. Valerie took to a slow stride alongside the racking, examining the chemical containers whilst gingerly grazing her fingertips across them. Mason entered last, shutting the heavy door behind and clamping down the heavy lock. The electrical pad emitted the familiar sound of a locking door, alerting Quinton from across the room.
“What are you doing?” Quinton inquired as he slowed his efforts to stop.
“Why are you locking the door?” Quinton’s head shook ever so slightly in disbelief as he tentatively began edging back toward Mason. His eyes remained fixed on the lifeless visor of his full faced helmet.
“I’m securing our position, Mr Suidine. The more barricades between us and them the better.” Mason dismissively responded as he loaded up his flexi screen, flicking through menus.
“What is that? Why are you doing that? What is this?” Quinton’s questions slipping rapidly into paranoia.
Mason remained calm and indifferent to the onslaught of accusatorially toned questions.
“Who, who are you contacting? What are you doing Sergeant!?” Quinton escalated to pushing the sergeant’s shoulder with just enough force to move his hand from the device.
“I strongly advise you to cease and desist, Mr Suidine. I am employed for your protection.” Mason’s helmet made it near impossible to tell whether he was stifling his own annoyance or was just stalwart in his duty.
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“I strongly advise you answer my questions!” Quinton’s frustration was recklessly deployed towards the restrained sergeant.
“You’ve led us down here, under the promise of an escape, and where do we end up? A forgotten scrap hole dead-end that seems like it’ll serve solely as the final resting place for the last of our name!” Quinton began to pace as he ranted, his outburst allowed to flow freely. “Our lineage is dead! We Suidines are taking our final blows as we descend into oblivion. Father announced administration then disappeared; likely killed. The company is lost and the Katari ‘death squads’ are nipping at our heels, chasing us from house and home through these horrid tunnels like common street vermin. And you, you won’t even grace us by doing your job and providing us with a simple explanation to the supposed plan of escape!”
He turned once again to face Mason.
“Tell me, is that a lot to expect from you, someone who is paid to keep us alive? Is it too much to ask how my family will live through the coming hours?” Quinton let his final question run off with silence. his hand was held at chest height, begging for a response. Mason stood firm with his posture hiding any emotional investment in Quinton’s increasingly aggressive questioning.
“Are you finished, Sir?” Mason’s rhetorical response was sudden and sharp.
“I brought you down here because I was ordered to, nothing more, nothing less. If you have issue with that, please direct your questions to Mr K Suidine.”
He gestured to his right, as if presenting Kammuel to his family before returning to his flexi screen. The faces of both Quinton and Valerie had been struck with bewildered confusion. Their eyes slowly turned to Kammuel as they attempted to make sense of the information they had just been presented with.
“What does he mean, Kammuel?” Valerie’s disheartened tone hinted at what she had already deciphered.
Kammuel scanned his family, assessing the situation before conceding defeat and preparing his defence. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then released it again. Open again, his eyes starred into the open space between them.
“I gave Mason orders to bring us down here, as protection. A form of insurance, just in case the Katari rendezvous went awry…”
“Katari rendezvous!?” Quinton blurted out in disbelief.
“I had to make a deal, before it was too late!” Kammuels voice rose as he attempted to get his point across over any objections.
“Suidine Tech is done. We’ve been financially haemorrhaging for too long. Going into definitive administration was inevitable and father made sure of that. I could’t let that happen without us having a secure future ahead. This was all for the family. For Suidine. Katari would have been first in line for our assets either way”
“Oh Kammy…” Valerie’s suspicions were surpassed. She leant her heavy soul against the nearest racking she could find. An air of disappointment emanated from her slumped form.
“What did you do?” Quinton’s questioned with loaded intent.
“They have offered us position, a high paid, recognised position, within their residential industries. It’s an upgrade from what we have today. All they wanted was first access and market information, win, win. They get expansion and a considerable financial boost off our stock loss, whilst we get to avoid redundancy with a lucrative new lease in life.”
Kammuel’s attempts to explain and convince seemed to fall on deaf ears, with his family resisting every word that he spluttered as if it was acid to their very being.
“You’re a complete imbecile, Kammy” Quinton’s rage overcompensating for the fact that he was far from his brother’s physical or mental match.
“Not only did you sell out your lineage and give them the keys to your house, you also believed they would reward you for it? You really believed that?” -Quinton shook his head and offered his hands towards Kammuel in hopes he would see his point view. - “The Katari aren’t trustworthy. They are just as likely to kill us all and be done with it.”
“You’re wrong Quint, I’ve been working on this for months, and it’s all arranged. Don’t believe what you hear on the network. The Katari do right by their own, they wouldn’t have much of corporate structure if they didn’t.”
“Months?” Quinton’s face screwing up with disgusted disbelief.
In light of the new information, the second S.O had stopped his efforts at the window, leaving it partially revealed through the torn away slats. He had relocated back at Mason’s side and now stood with a relaxed posture, simply observing the on-going argument between the brothers.
“Look, whether you agree or not, this is happening. A special unit should be along within the hour to safely escort us out without any media attention. All you’ve got to do is sit quietly until then. I’d rather not spend that time listening to your ill-educated, high pitched objections.” Kammuel had switched from attempts at convincing his brother to a stance of authoritative condescension, in hopes that it would quell any objections until all of this had concluded.
As they continued, Mason jerked his head towards the door, as a dog would be alerted to an intruder. He had heard something, but only slightly. He took a few cautious steps in the door’s direction, focusing on the large sealed lock. As he studied it further, his fears were confirmed. A slight movement from the door disrupted loose dust. That combined with the high-pitched piercing sound could only mean one thing. A breaching device had just been clamped onto the door. He spun to warn the others.
“Everybody get down!” He bellowed as loudly as his voice would allow but to no avail, as his words were violently swallowed by a deafening explosion.
A shockwave erupting from the door’s lock decimated the room. The shelves and containers were fiercely thrown from their dormant states, leaping into the air with new life. Their contents, a fine deep red powder, filled the room within a split-second. Glass shattered and metal restructured its shape as the door leapt from its heavy hinges, ploughing through the second S.O.’s body as if it was the air itself. The occupants were lifted from their feet and flung with force, as propelled debris scattered throughout, chipping armour, tearing cloth, and slashing flesh. Kammuel slammed into the revealed window, cracking the sheet glass with his head before falling to the floor beneath it.
As he came to with blurred vision, Kammuel tried to make sense of his surroundings. The breaching charge had laid waste to the old storage room. The powdered red mist danced chaotically, settling on every accessible surface. He winced as blood oozed from his wounds and mixed into the powder, forming a thick sludge down the side of his face. He shakily attempted to wipe the mixture away before it obscured what vision he had.
Two figures confidently marched into the room. He could barely make out the Katari markings on their think body armours. This first turned straight to Mason, who was hastily attempting to steady himself for an attack. Off guard, Mason was no match for the well-trained mercenary. A swift bludgeoning to the face from the merc’s armoured gauntlet sent him backwards onto the protruding desk. A slight struggle ensued as he was held down by the throat. He desperately tried to regain some form of ground on the assailant but found no reward. As the merc cocked his free arm in a violent jerk, a thin blade unsheathed itself from his wrist, which was promptly shunted through Mason’s visor. The blade was forcefully wretched from side to side until the struggling faded. The second assailant continued in his stride, smoothly raising an arm from beneath a cloak to reveal a large kinetic sidearm. Two shots were fired, both hitting centre mass on the already wounded Quinton. He slammed to the floor after the impact sent him crumbling over scattered shelving units.
Kammuel tried frantically to bring himself to his feet but in his efforts only managed to scarcely rise to one knee. Blood fully obscured the right eye. His jaw clenched and his teeth gritted before spluttering and coughing from the sudden movements. He had caught the eye of the second assailant. Spinning his head, his arm flung out in Kammuel’s direction and fired a single shot. It blasted into his gut and sent him straight back down to the floor. Crying out in pain, he strained to apply pressure to the new wound as he watched blood coat his cupped hands.
Valerie knelt in the middle of the room covered in the red dust. Shedding a tear, she had resigned to her fate, raising her gaze to the daunting figure ahead. He stood towering over her frail form; the firearm extended directly to her face.
“I’ve always respected you, Mistress Suidine. You don’t deserve this.” His deep grizzled voice projected from the polished crimson helmet.
“You will be paid either way.” Valerie’s biting words were delivered with a profound sorrow as her glistening eyes looked past the gun’s barrel and pierced the visor to his.
Kammuel watched in horror as a final bullet left the barrel. The few seconds it lasted felt like an eternity. It tore through Valerie’s skull, puncturing into the ground behind her. A plume of red dust sprang from the back of her head striving to follow the path of the bullet. The sheer force of the shot jerked her head backwards; her whole body teetered in place for a moment before collapsing into a lifeless heap.
Kammuel closed his eyes attempting to endure the physical and mental agony. The first figure yanked his blade from Mason’s helmet. He cocked his arm again, rescinding the attached blade into the wrist and turned to the second.
“Should we catalogue and process?” He asked calmly, as if all of this was second nature to him.
The other took a moment to consider the options, looking around at the current mess of a storage room. The remains of the S.O were partly smeared across the plated flooring. Valerie lay in a pool of blood and Kammuel was not long for this world.
“No.” He responded grimly. “Burn it all. Let someone else try to decipher the mess.” His last statement barely finished by the time he had swiftly exited the room.
The remaining figure pulled away two sleek oblong grenades from his chest harness. In each hand he fiddled with their dials briefly before clapping them together to activate them.
“Seems like a waste of good Augs to me.” He shrugged whilst dropping the grenades.
They were heavy, and hardly managed a single bounce before settling in place by his armoured boots. He hastily stepped from the room but not before swiping Mason’s personalised pistol.
Kammuel stared at them. Two large black pills, that when swallowed would ensure the end of his life. No. This would not be the end. He wanted revenge for all of this. He needed to live. Listening to the intermittent beeps of the grenades he determined there was about 20 seconds left before they would detonate. He needed something to shield him. Looking around the immediate vicinity all that could be grasped was displaced metal plating from one of the racks. That would have to do. With what strength remained, he dragged it between him and the grenades.
“Don’t die Kammuel.” He whispered to himself, determined to have a final word in this life.
The beeping escalated in rapid frequency morphing into a singular tone just before erupting into a fiery force. It swept over the ground shifting and igniting the environment at the same time. The force collided with the makeshift shield sending Kammuel once again into the reinforced glass, this time defenestrating him amidst fire and debris. Launched from the side of the building, air could be felt running through his blood-soaked hair if only for a minor moment, before crashing wildly into a railed stairwell. This was followed by external air-con units, a suspended veranda, and finally tumbling violently into discarded piles of rubbish that littered the streets below.