Previous Story: 98. Epilogue

“Made it,” said Thug as they emerged from the undergrowth. A hundred feet above, at the top of Los Pechos, the Comstock Tower rose above the surrounding trees. Several men and women ambled around the tower’s base, most clad in the same black and gray uniform.

“Damn,” said Buck, shockgun over his shoulder. “I was hoping there’d be no CyMS all the way up here.”

“Actually, it could be good news,” said Pai. “One of them might have a key card.”

“Precisely,” said Gadget, continuing up the slope with Pai at his side. The two had swiftly bonded over their interest in technical matters. 

Buck turned to Thug with a grin. “I guess we’re just here for security.”

Thug returned the grin. He still wasn’t quite used to working alongside a cop – and he didn’t like their chances of getting a signal out from the tower – but he liked what he’d seen of his new allies so far. Carrying Rusty in both hands, he followed them up the grassy slope. 

—-- 

“Rhino – you’re well named!” Gudu glared at the muscular enforcer.

“What did I do?”

“She’s right,” added H3x, “you’re too big and noisy for this type of job.”

“Oh yeah, following the do-gooders up a hill – so tough. And you’re one to talk – a gold jacket isn’t exactly perfect camouflage!”

“All right, let’s just get on with it,” said Gudu. “Lady Rose is going to be mad if we don’t stop these guys. What can you see?”

H3x raised the state-of-the-art imagers to her eyes and gazed up the slope. “They’re closing in on the tower now. Few CyMS up there.”

“Let’s go,” said Rhino.

“Yes, let’s, added Gudu. “Carefully.”

—--           

Jane the cat watched Bob the bear as he scoured the hillside for more apples. She reckoned he’d already consumed a hundred but he clearly wasn’t done yet.

Jane’s keen eyes caught Athena as the eagle swooped down and landed on one of the apple trees.

There are two groups of humans coming up the other side. I think they’re headed for the tower.

Why would they do that? asked Jane, leaping up onto a low bough of the tree to avoid Bob.

I don’t know, replied Athena. But there are strange humans up there too. 

Bob instantly lost interest in the apples and charged up the hill, crashing through a patch of slender trees.

Oh, said Athena. I suppose I shouldn’t have mentioned the strange ones.

You suppose right! said Jane, leaping down onto the ground and speeding up the slope.

—--  

Rusty swung through the air and connected with the CyMS’ head, knocking him out cold. Thug was paired with Gadget, who knelt down and checked the fallen man for a key card. A few yards away, Buck had just used his shockgun to stun a female CyMS and now Pai was rifling through her overalls.

“I don’t believe this,” said Gadget, having retrieved nothing more than a pack of gum from the man’s pockets.

“Nothing here either,” said Pai. “Hey, Thug, another one for you!”

They had so far taken down four CyMS but now a woman was lurching towards them, a broken branch in her hands.

“This one wants to play.” Thug raised Rusty and was about to strike when a big black shape came around the side of the tower and smashed into the woman. She was sent flying and landed in a crumpled heap some way down the slope.  

It took Thug a few seconds to realize he was looking at a grizzly bear; and a big one at that. Fortunately for him and the others, it seemed far more interested in the CyMS. Scrambling back up the slope, the bear went for the nearest one – a blonde woman of about thirty. A single swipe of his paw was enough to knock her into a tree stump. The bear unleashed a roar then rushed over to finish her off.

By that point, Thug had backed up to the tower with Buck, Pai and Gadget. Those three were all aiming their guns at the bear.

“Didn’t expect that,” said Buck.

 —-- 

"Seek and ye shall find," said Rhino, holding up the red, rectangular key card he had just pulled out of a backpack half-covered with leaves. He, Gudu and H3x were on the other side of the tower, having skirted around the others and the rampaging bear.

"I’m assuming it goes in there," said Rhino, nodding towards the control panel beside the tower's main door.

“Maybe you’re not so useless after all,” said H3x, snatching the key card from him and hurrying over to the panel.

“Maybe?” He’d had enough of these two. Like a lot of Lady Rose’s other employees, they didn’t seem to understand the chain of command. He had to admit they knew their work though.

As the door slid open, Rhino followed Gudu and H3x inside. The tower was surprisingly small, with a circular metal staircase running up the center. From it, gantries led off to rooms on four floors. He could see some CyMS wandering around in the higher areas.

“They really do get everywhere.”

Gudu drew her klewang and held up the shiny blade. “Not a problem, man.”

H3x shut the door but, after a few seconds at the interior control panel, kicked the wall in frustration.

“Damn it, this card is only entry/exit – doesn’t enable me to lock the door.”

Gudu was already heading up the steps. “Then we better be quick.” 

—--  

Athena landed in front of Bob, flapping her wings to try and break him out of his frenzy. At first it didn’t work and Jane was seriously considering scratching the bear's snout. But then Bob finally stopped biting the dead body, his face slick with blood.

The humans have weapons! warned Athena. They could kill us!

Let's get out here, added Jane. We'll find you more food Bob, I promise.

With a long look at the humans, Bob issued a final roar then padded away down the slope.

That bear needs to work on his temper, said Jane.

At least he listened, replied Athena as she took off.

Jane glanced towards the humans – who now looked more confused than afraid – and scampered after the others.

 —-- 

"Er …I really don"t know where to begin with that," said Thug.

"Me neither," said Buck.

"They've gone, that's the main thing," said Gadget. "Let's keep looking for the-"

"Guys!"

Thug hadn’t noticed that Pai had already circled around to the far side of the tower. They found her there, prising the main door open.

"I thought it was locked," said Thug.

Pai had opened the door far enough to get through and now raised her pistol, ready to enter. "It was."

Next Story: 100. The Raid of Comstock Tower - The Hack