Previous Story: 76. The Omicron Protocol - Part 2
Getting to the Blue Sky Hotel was far from simple. Though it was in central San Lazaro, Hiko and her allies encountered a roadblock, a flooded street and one of the biggest groups of CyMS anyone had seen.
Nix parked at the rear of the hotel and remained behind to guard the SUV. Kuklacı opened her backpack and retrieved an adapted snake robot that disabled the locked hotel entrance. She led the way inside along with Hiko, Bolt, Seeker and Thug. Bolt and Seeker scouted the third floor — where Dr. Herbert Altmann was staying — while Thug, Kuklacı and Hiko went up in the elevator. It was a tight fit with the hoverchair and Thug’s large frame, but Hiko was pleased to find the ex-con friendly enough. Even so, with that steel pipe in his hand, he cut an imposing figure.
"We can hear a TV on in his room," confided Seeker quietly when they reached the third floor. She had her sling ready, while Bolt was armed with her short-range weapon — a scout rifle with iron sights. These two took point as the group advanced along the corridor to room 311.
Thug pointed at a cable that led into the room via a ragged hole in the plaster. "What’s that?"
"No idea," replied Hiko quietly.
Bolt and Seeker took up a position on either side of the door.
"Should I kick it in?" asked Thug.
Bolt nodded.
"Hold on," said Kuklacı. "This guy is a scientist, right? Why scare him? We need his cooperation."
"Right," said Hiko. "Let’s just knock."
After a few seconds of thought, the others agreed.
When Kuklacı knocked on the door, the TV went quiet. There was a tense pause, then they heard movement within. The door opened — but only 2 inches.
"Hello there," said Kuklacı in a friendly tone. "Dr. Altmann?"
The section of face they could see belonged to a white-bearded man of at least 70.
"Yes. Why?"
"We need your help. Can we come in and explain? Don’t be afraid."
"I’m not afraid of you," replied Altmann. "But, perhaps, you should be afraid of me."
-----
Hiko looked around the hotel room. It was a total mess, almost every available surface covered with bits of tech and empty food containers.
"You there, big fellow," said Dr. Altmann as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes?" said Thug with a frown.
"Come and stand here. I can lapse into a CyMS state at any time. If that happens, you will need to restrain me."
"Er … OK."
Seeker and Bolt stood close by, too.
"You weren’t here earlier today, were you?" asked Altmann.
"Just arrived," said Bolt.
"Ah, I thought I heard someone in the corridor. Probably just paranoia."
Hiko gazed at the hotel room table, where a laptop was linked to several other pieces of equipment and the cable they had seen in the corridor.
Scratching at his beard, Altmann noted her interest. "I had to improvise. I found this place abandoned, but the security system was quite good and the solar array on the roof has come in very handy. I was able to start work on the suppressant, but two weeks ago I went out looking for some bits and pieces and got infected myself. In my lucid periods, I am able to work. When I lapse, I usually wake up in some corner of the hotel, remembering nothing. I am fortunate that the place is empty."
"How does the suppressant work?" asked Kuklacı.
"It’s a program that severs the connection between affected implants and the neural augmentation interface within the brain that we all possess."
"Not all of us," said Seeker. "Some of us knew all these augmentations would lead to trouble.
"Point taken," said the doctor. "Anyway, it prevents me from falling into a permanent CyMS state. Unfortunately, the program is unstable. When the connection re-establishes itself, I can lapse."
"How often does that happen?" asked Bolt.
"Most days," admitted Altmann with a sigh. "Now, tell me how you found me."
"Actually, we didn’t," replied Kuklacı. "We were contacted by a group of Scientists outside the city. We’ve been working with them to try and find a cure. They directed us toward you because they believe you can help us disable the entropic disruptor that surrounds the city."
Altmann wearily shook his head.
"What is it?" asked Bolt.
"That technology was never designed for such a use. I should have known better than to allow the military to fund my work."
"But, can you disable it?" asked Kuklacı.
"Of course," said Altmann with a proud grin. "I designed it."
"Time is of the essence, doctor," said Hiko. "Can you come with us? Also, we may have a way of helping you. The scientists have-"
Before she could finish, Altmann slid off the bed and onto the floor. He gazed at the wall for a moment, and an eerie glow appeared in his eyes. Suddenly, he lunged at Seeker.
Thug was ready. He grabbed the doctor from behind, lifted him up and pinned his arms. Seeker fished a length of rope from her pack and swiftly tied him. The aged doctor now possessed the unnatural strength of a CyMS, but he couldn’t do much against the combined efforts of Thug, Bolt and Seeker.
Bolt caught Kuklacı’s eye. "Ready?"
"Just give me a second." The robot designer had earlier uploaded version 2 of the Purge Script into the implant in her right wrist. She now held it close to Altmann. "As long as the NFC works, we should be fine."
Within seconds, his body relaxed and the others eased their grip. Within a minute, his expression was normal and he was able to speak.
"I’m all right. You can let me go."
"Happy to, Doc," said Thug.
"How…how did you do that?" asked Altmann.
"We used what the scientists are calling the Purge Script," explained Kuklacı. "That should prevent any further lapses."
"Kudos to them," said the doctor, still looking rather dazed. "It is a most disorienting experience."
"Do you remember our conversation?" asked Kuklacı.
"The disruptor, yes. Don’t worry, I can help. Do you have a vehicle?"
-----
Seeing Nix standing casually beside the SUV, Hiko felt reassured; that meant there were no CyMS around and they could get Dr. Altmann back to Cyborg’s mansion. The old scientist was still rather shaky, so Bolt and Thug were assisting him. Hiko had offered him the folding seat on the back of her hoverchair, but he insisted on making his own way.
Her mood changed sharply when she heard an engine roar. A white truck sped along the street and skidded to a halt 100 feet away. The side door opened and four men jumped out. They were all clad in body armor and ski masks and wielding assault rifles. In seconds, bullets were striking the hotel.
"Get to the SUV!" yelled Seeker, already loading a round into her sling.
As Thug rushed Altmann towards the car, Bolt returned fire.
Hiko spun her hoverchair around, cringing as bullets pinged off the metal. She had ensured that it was made of tough materials, but she wasn’t sure how it would fare against gunfire.
"Damn it!" yelled Bolt as bullets shattered the SUV’s windows. More rounds had struck both rear tires.
Hiko then noticed that Kuklacı had ducked down behind the hoverchair. The inventor seemed an incongruous figure in her long, colorful Turkish dress, but her composure was intact. From her backpack, she retrieved a handful of her spider drones. Kuklacı used her implants to activate them all, and within seconds they were scampering across the sidewalk towards the enemy. She looked up with a sly grin.
-----
Gudu didn’t much like using guns, but she had to admit that assault rifles were ideal for this mission. She and Rhino had just leaped out of the van and were now laying down covering fire for the others. Rhino ordered the gunmen forward and they were now picking their way through the line of parked cars towards the hotel. Outgunned and now without transportation, it seemed to Gudu that the do-gooders were destined to fail. If she and Rhino could grab this scientist for Lady Rose, there would be a considerable reward to come.
"What the hell?" yelled Rhino as one of the gunmen fell. When the next one went down, Gudu glimpsed a flash of yellow light. She watched, transfixed, as a little metallic spider appeared on the trunk of a nearby car then sprang towards her. It landed on her arm and a tiny barrel on its body instantly aimed at her head. Before she could react, the light flashed. All Gudu felt was her body falling …
-----
"Nice work," said Hiko.
"Yeah, but I only had those four," answered Kuklacı.
Both of them ducked as the remaining Dragons continued to fire.
"We have to get the doc out of here," said the inventor.
"He can go on the back," offered Hiko, aiming a thumb at the rear of the hoverchair.
"Good call." Kuklacı hailed the others, who quickly escorted Altmann back across the sidewalk.
Hiko ran her fingers over the controls, lowering the fold-down chair and readying the hoverchair for speed mode. "Make sure he’s belted in."
"Done," said Nix, who had hurried over to help. "Get going, Hiko. It’s only 3 miles back to the mansion. We won’t be far behind — Kuklacı’s evened the odds."
"No problem. See you there." Backing away from the others, Hiko turned the hoverchair and zoomed away down the sidewalk. She couldn’t help feeling proud of the chair’s smoothness and stability, even when it reached maximum speed.
"This is some vehicle!" shouted Altmann.
"Thanks, Doc. Hang on!"
-----
Zephyr was picked up by Crimson and Goddess in the Cynfo company limo. Once he’d jumped in, Crimson drove away.
"Give me some good news for a change," said Goddess.
"Will do," answered Zephyr. "They were ambushed by the Red Dragons, but managed to get the doctor away. Better still, I used NFC to load the worm onto Altmann’s implants. I knew if I hung around the door for a while, he’d get close enough."
"I told you Zephyr would get it done," said Crimson from the front of the limo. "Now you’ve got a bargaining chip to deal with Lady Rose."
"Quite so," said Goddess, opening the limo’s drinks cabinet. "Anyone for a glass of champagne?"
Next Story: 78. Goddess Ascended