Friday, October 2, 2009

Chapter 123: Validation

~ Takyle took a deep breath and glanced around at the men on the floor, her eyes finally resting back on Cmd. Tucker.

"You have no idea what you're doing!" Cmd. Tucker hissed back at her. "This is not your war."

"Exactly," agreed Takyle. "So we have no reason to be helping you decimate these...Caltens. We don't even know why you're fighting, let alone if it's necessary."

"I told you that I'd explain everything later," he said.

"Yeah, conveniently after the deed has been done. No thanks."

Andrew cleared his throat. "Takyle," he said quietly. "We should move, don't you think?"

"Yes." Takyle moved around the commander to the console he'd been working at and yanked the computer chip out of it's port. All around the room screens blanked.

"Hey! You can't just do that," protested the commander.

"Be quiet," Takyle ordered. "And sit still if you don't want to be tied down." She backed away from the chair, studying the computer chip, gun trained on the commander's chest. She glanced at Andrew and Jaden to make sure they were keeping an eye on everyone and then propped the chip against one of the consoles. Without another look around she pointed the handgun at the chip and shot one round at it at point blank range.

As the chip and surrounding components of the of the console exploded into millions of shards of plastic the commander jumped up.

"NO!"

Takyle smoothly turned, arm still extended to point the gun back at Cmd. Tucker.

"Sit down," she ordered coldly. The commander took a tiny step back but refused to sink into the chair. He glared at Takyle.

"Do you have any idea how far that will set us back?" he hissed aggressively. Takyle shrugged.

"A long time I hope. Now move over to that wall, all of you." Takyle flicked the gun barrel toward the far wall. The commander hesitated for only a moment before walking to where Takyle had pointed, joined by the three other men.

"Face the wall, hands behind your heads. And don't stand too close," said Takyle. She glanced over at Jaden and Andrew and nodded toward the door.

"Let's go."

Jaden stepped back and swung the door to the main room open. White light flooded over them and the concrete bunker faded into the brightness. ~