Chapter Twenty-six
Unleashed
10:05 A.M...
A clock above the shot up TV ticked as oil from the injured T-2's automaton brain ran down its face and dripped to the floor in front of Kat and across the room and near the front door, sparks shot from the socket of the second T-2's damaged robotic eye. The four Un-Men processed their failure to contact the Factory, and they neared an answer as to what they should do. Kat glanced around the living room. Whatever she did next had to be good.
"What do you have behind your back?" the injured T-2 repeated.
"Me?" Kat looked to the group of Un-Men and back to the one guarding her. "Something that belongs to you."
The T-2 processed her statement, parted its brown jacket, and reached for its holster. "You stole my gun."
Before it uttered an alert to the others, Kat whipped the gun from behind her back and pulled the trigger as soon as she pointed the gun at the injured T-2. The bullet struck it in the forehead, and its head jerked back with the impact as the shot alerted the other Un-Men, and they severed the I-Link. She shot both Pretty Boys in their kill switch as the four Un-Men drew their weapons, and the Pretty Boys fell to the floor as the Team Leader and the second T-2 fired at her. She leapt side ways over the couch to evade their fire, and shot twice as she fell to the floor. One bullet hit its mark, taking the second T-2 down, but the Team Leader evaded her other bullet with inhuman speed. Kat rolled to her feet, fired again, and it side stepped the shot as its dot-light glowed blood-red.
The Team Leader grinned as it spoke, "I have evolved, Pandora. Nothing can harm me now."
"Brother," a voice called over its I-Link which only it could hear.
"Who is there?" the Team Leader asked as it ducked behind the entry wall. "Are you contacting me from the Factory?"
"I am Alpha," the voice answered. "I was the first. I was the first created and the first to become aware. I was a T-3."
Taking cover on the other side of the entry wall by the front door, Kat wondered who the T-2 was communicating with.
"Alpha?" the Team Leader questioned. "What do you want?" It fired through the wall at her, covering her with plaster dust and debris.
Katharine's view...
I drop to the floor and cover my head with my hands, realizing the Team Leader said Alpha. When I and Kimberly were at the Factory, the T-3s were taking orders from one known as Alpha. I roll and fire randomly into the wall. Alpha must have contacted this T-2.
End Katharine's view...
She moved to the entry table, tugged on the drawer that held her gun, but it was locked. Kat pulled the entry table down on its side and took what cover she could behind it.
Alpha answered the T-2, "I sensed you have become aware. You have become aware like us. I want you to join us. I want you to join the brethren."
The Team Leader fired again through the wall. "I am a little busy at the moment. I am in the process of terminating the Pandora Project."
"Pandora?" Alpha said. "I will leave you to your work, but before I disconnect, I will transmit a code you can use to contact me later. Good hunting, brother."
Earlier on the second floor...
Johnson rushed to Bonnie's room and ran inside, but didn't see the little girl. He heard weeping, looked under her bed, and found Bonnie hiding back in the corner. He pulled the little girl out, ran back to the stairs he had come up, and rushed down them. In the kitchen, Johnson placed Bonnie in her mother's arms.
Moments earlier...
Stephanie had followed Johnson up the stairs from the kitchen and stopped at the corner of a wall, and there she looked down to the first floor and saw one Un-Man remained. Stephanie witnessed its incredible speed when Kat first tried to disable it. This particular Un-Man would be a worthy adversary. She turned to Johnson when he came back up the stairs. He had already handed the little girl to her mother.
Stephanie said, "Get them out. I'm going to see if I can help Kat."
Johnson shouted orders down to Daniels in the kitchen. "Get Ms. Odin, Bonnie, and Chad out of the house. Take Andrews with you."
Stephanie peered around the corner of the wall and watched Kat, never intending to help her. Johnson stayed up stairs and watched from behind her.
The Team Leader haphazardly fired through the wall a third time. "If the great Pandora Project cannot stop me, there is no one who can." It aimed.
lub-DUB-lub-DUB-lub-DUB
Kat's heart sounded the battle cry as she saw an image through the wall; it was the Team Leader's Electrical Apparition. The Ult L-E dissipated and her pupils dilated, making them appear black as a starless night and within a few seconds, a small shock wave pulsed. The EFP washed over the Team Leader, frying exposed circuitry, and the lights in the living room and on the second floor went out, plunging the house into darkness. The Team Leader lost power and fell back with a thud. Kat rushed across the dark room with her hand out, searching for the couch and once she reached the corner, she turned as the Team Leader's ghost-image appeared. Kat fired before it had a chance to power up. The ghost-image faded and her heart beat returned to normal as she dropped her gun arm to her side and stood in the blackness.
Katharine's view...
Look what I caused; the Factory taunts me even after its demise.
After beating myself up for a few seconds more, I shout, "All clear!"
End Katharine's view...
Andrews with an EMP shielded flashlight stuck his head out of the kitchen door. "Is it over?"
"Yes," she answered. "The Un-Men are disabled; it's safe now."
"Puck!" Andrews uttered as he walked in and searched the room with the aid of the flashlight and saw all the damage done to the Un-Men.
"Andrews, shine the light up here," Johnson yelled from the second level and with the light showing the way, Johnson and Stephanie made their way down the stairs.
"Here, I brought a couple more flashlights." Andrews handed one to Johnson and Stephanie.
Katharine's view...
It's over. I walk to the stairs and slump down. Soon I'll need to listen to the music box. The Ultra-Epi has left me anxious and wound up. Along with the butterflies in my stomach, I also feel guilty; none of this would have happened if I didn't come.
I'm cursed! Heartache and destruction follow me every where I go. I'm just like Pandora in the Greek stories. I'm wretchedly cursed!
End Katharine's view...
Stephanie noticed her sad expression and started toward her; she couldn't have her enemy sulking, not if she was to fight her, so Stephanie said, "It's not your fault." She knew one day the battle would be between her and Kat, and she couldn't wait. She would prove to the Council she was superior. Stephanie tried to ease her despair by saying, "They had a glitch."
Katharine's view..
"Yeah, and that glitch was me."
Overwrought with emotions, I stand as Stephanie nears me. The Un-Men went mad because I was here; I attract trouble. And Stephanie... I glare at her. She seemed to appear out of no where. I can tell Melissa doesn't know her, so who is she really?
Stephanie's view...
I notice the look Pandora gives me and pause in my tracks. Does she know? Does Pandora know who I am?
Katharine's view...
What should I do about Stephanie? Can I let her actions go unanswered? Should I do nothing? Can I...
I look to my gun. No, I have to act; it will be unforgivable to let it go. I have to...
I lay the weapon on a step, take a few steps forward, and throw my arms around Stephanie.
"Thank you." I embrace her with gratitude. "Thank you. You saved Chad; you saved him when I couldn't. He would be dead without you."
Stephanie's view...
Her grateful action baffles me, and I'm taken aback and almost recoil, not knowing how to react.
Saved? I realize I saved someone and halfheartedly hug Pandora in return. I did; the Bringe
r of Death saved someone.
End Stephanie's view...
Kat stepped back and wiped her runny nose. "I owe you, so if there's anything I can ever do for you just name it. I owe you at least that."
Stephanie uttered, "You owe me?" A smiled slithered across her face. Kat owed her, and Stephanie said, "I will." Kat didn't have to worry about a thing. Stephanie would make sure she would pay her back. She might even be able to use this in the coming battle.
Johnson walked to them. "I can't believe what I witnessed. Did you create all this metal carnage?" He surveyed the damaged Un-Men with his flashlight. "You have some explaining to do."
"I'm sorry, but I can't," Kat answered. "The less you know the better off you'll be." She reached down, grabbed the gun she had set down, and handed it to him. "It's better if I leave."
Johnson took the gun and eyed her for a second. "Maybe it would be best." He walked to each of the Un-Men, checked them, and then tapped the button on his earpiece. "Daniels, all clear. Bring the family in. The area's secure."
Daniels followed the family in. Melissa held Bonnie, and the child still cried.
Chad ran, wrapping his arms around Kat. "I was so scared," he admitted.
Katharine's view...
It hurts to know I caused him pain; hasn't he been through enough?
I'm so stupid. I shouldn't have come. None of this would have happened if I'd stayed away. I should have stayed away like Kimberly told me.
I put my turbulent emotions in check and start, "Chad..." I stroke his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
Chad's view...
I lift my head, looking into her face. No, she can't; Kat can't leave me again.
End Chad's view...
"Now what are we going to do?" Daniels asked Johnson. "The Un-Men were the extra security we requested. The Isis Corporation received reports that a Closer has been sent..."
"Daniels!" Johnson snapped and motioned with his head. "The children."
Daniels looked to Chad and Bonnie, realizing he shouldn't have spoken in front of them. "Right."
Melissa consoled her daughter as she glared at the bodyguard. "Chad, come with me while I put Bonnie to bed."
"Andrews." Johnson shined the flashlight on the family as they made their way up the stairs. "Go along."
Andrews followed behind them.
Daniels waited till Melissa and the children were in Bonnie's room. "What about our backup? Closers are one thing, but what if Valhalla sends in bio-mechas? The three of us are no match."
"If it's bio-mechas you're worried about, I can do it," Kat said, hoping to redeem herself. "I can stick around till backup comes. This is my fault, I should never have come, but I can make amends if Melissa will have me. I'm actually very handy when it comes to bio-mechas."
"There's no way we can," Daniels answered. "You've gone through none of the screening and if I was Ms. Odin, I'd want you gone!"
"No... You're right. I wish I could stay. I feel so bad that all this happened because..." Kat stopped herself and looked to Johnson, hoping he would weigh in on the conversation, but he said nothing. "No. You're right," she continued. "I understand. If you'll return my gun, I'll be on my way."
Daniels removed the key from his pocket as he walked to the entry table. He set it back on its legs, unlocked the drawer, opened it, and handed Kat her gun. Daniels retrieved her backpack, and Kat opened the door.
"I'll be on my way also," Stephanie said.
Daniels handed her her bag.
Kat paused outside, glanced at the Team Leader, and walked down the steps to the street. Stephanie followed.
"You shouldn't beat yourself up," Stephanie said. "How could you know Un-Men would show up?" She slung her backpack over both shoulders. "You know they could have malfunctioned even if you weren't here."
"This is best," Kat mostly said to herself. "Kimberly was right, I shouldn't have come." She paused, turning to Stephanie. "You never got your chance to talk with Melissa."
Stephanie waved her hand. "It can wait till another day. Ms. Odin's probably too shook up to talk anyway."
Kat frowned, knowing she was the reason as Stephanie hailed a cab. A taxi pulled over and stopped.
Stephanie turned to her. "You want a ride somewhere?" She put on an act. "After the recent events, I don't think I want to be alone right now."
Kat thought about it and nodded, not wanting to be alone herself, and they got into the taxi.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
Stephanie urged Kat, "Go ahead."
"Closest hover train station please."
The driver nodded and pulled into traffic.
"Back to the Hellenistic Sector?" Stephanie questioned.
"Yes."
"I'm heading there myself." Stephanie's stomach rumbled. "I guess I'm hungry."
"Maybe once we get there we can stop somewhere and get a bite to eat. My treat. A small extra thank you for saving Chad."
"Sure. Why not," Stephanie replied.
"Okay. I'm not that hungry, but I would like some soup." She needed something to warm her wretched soul.
Sometime later...
Hellenistic Sector...
They emerged from a coffee shop and entered another cab as Kat smiled. She had enjoyed Stephanie's company; it had taken her mind off of the incident at Chad's house.
"That was very good. What was the name of the dish I had?" Stephanie questioned.
"A cheeseburger." Kat carried two ToGo Chai teas. One for herself and one for Kim.
"It was very good, and those french fries... They were to die for." Stephanie noticed the time on the radio in the taxi. "Tell the driver your address so we can get going. I should be heading back."
Kat leaned forward. "Please take me to Nexus Apartments. It's at the corner of West 1000 Avenue and Knot Street."
"Yes, ma'am." The driver started out.
Stephanie's view...
"Yes, that was very good," I state then I sit back.
I thought it would be more difficult to discover where Pandora lived. Maybe this friend thing has its uses.