The Vortex transport, a VTOL plane, zooms through the sky. Inside, Justice points to a laptop screen as pictures of the Techno-Warriors flash onscreen.
“These are the currently known Techno-Warriors,” he begins. “Behemoth, a construct with enormous hydraulic strength... Blaster, Robert Dubb, expert marksman and inventor of special energy weapons... Computron, Julian Jackson, who is a savant with computer operation and programming... Hypnotisor, Jim Karachi, can manipulate a human mind through electronic means... Kronus, which Machine Maker uses to direct Techno-Warrior activities without being physically present... Magari, Geneva Martel, utilizes devices for anti-gravity movement, and Blaster’s weapon tech is built into her helmet... Starburst, Lloyd Conrad, a paranormal who emits energy for assault, defense, and fast agile flight. Except for Starburst, each of them carries a PFG, a personal field generator,” Justice finishes.
“One minute to target,” the pilot’s voice came over the PA.
“We’ve reviewed the floor plan of the building, and no one has left, yet,” Ace explains, “assuming Maker hasn’t put one over on us again.”
“Are we cleared to do this legally?” Molecule asks, her Asian features set in a serious expression.
“Federal mandate,” Justice replies. “We can do whatever it takes to bring them down. Ace and I will handle the paperwork.”
Ace turns to Ted Lynn, the blond man, who looks very uncomfortable. “I suggest you hang back,” Ace tells him. “Don’t attack unless one of us is in a bad spot. That may surprise them, keep them off balance.”
“I can do that,” Ted states, just a hint of fear in his voice.
Can’t say I blame him for being nervous, Ace muses.
His first conflict of this type is against the Technos. I hope he is as resilient as I’ve heard.The transport moves into position to hover, and Justice opens the side panel door of the aircraft that currently faces a nondescript, 3-story building. Justice calls, “Starknight, you said you can get us in...”
“...and then I will handle Behemoth,” Starknight finishes.
Standing in the aircraft doorway, Starknight fires two small rockets from ports on each side just above the waist. The rockets slam into the side of the structure and explode, blowing a fifteen foot hole in the wall of the third floor. Inside the room, debris clatters across the floor of the makeshift HQ. Blaster yells out in surprise from his position in the corner against the same, outer wall. The blast missed him by only ten feet or so. A moment later, Starknight stands in the smoke and dust within the room.
“Behemoth, eliminate intruders,” Maker’s voice rang loudly across the chamber. The lumbering, ten-foot tall mechanical terror stomped forward, the floor creaking and protesting vehemently because of the weight of the monster. As it approaches Starknight, its joints squeak and squeal, and it raises its arm into the air and hammers it down on Starknight with a loud, metallic
Claannng!Arm outstretched, Starknight caught Behemoth’s forearm.
“Not this time,” Knight spits venomously. Crouching and pulling the robot by its arm, Knight neatly flips Behemoth over and out through the hole in the wall, the huge machine plummeting to the ground below.
Starburst and Magari stood to the left near the rec area. Behind them, a small green light, almost like a firefly, blinks on. It grows into a humanoid shape, then Molecule appears within, her eyes already glowing. Sensing something amiss, Starburst turns and gapes.
“How did you...?”
“Surprise,” Molecule interrupts, blasting him with twin green disruption eye beams. Gritting his teeth against the free shot, he ignites his corona, bursting into fire a darker green than Molecule’s. He fires his energy, but the beam zips through her, smashing through the TV, two chairs, and against the wall. Molecule smiles viciously and fires again, Starbolt yelping in pain and stumbling at the impact.
As Starknight jumps down after Behemoth, Justice and Ace rush in , noticing their enemies positions- Magari and Starburst to the left (with Molecule), Hypnotisor and Computron with pistols straight ahead against the far wall, a Kronus unit at the right far corner near the computer equipment, and Blaster 90 degrees to the right of where they entered. Ace heads for Magari, Justice charges toward the Kronus, his one fist glowing a bright white light. As the Technos begin to fire their weapons, Shield rockets in, cape waving, and head directly at Computron and Hypno.
Ace ducks a shot from Blaster and extends his fighting rod. Starburst notices too late as Ace strikes him with the baton and then, with a perfect fencer’s thrust, shocks the criminal. Lloyd’s blazing corona dies and he slumps to the floor even as Molecule dodges one of Magari’s silvery-blue force bubbles and hits with a disruption beam.
“This time I get the first good shot,” Molecule growled, kicking Magari in the shoulder.
Magari, scowling, glances sideways and smashes Ace with a force blast. Ace flew back eight foot distance, hitting the ground hard as Molecule shot Magari a second time. Ace grunted as he rolled to a stop.
Not my kind of fight, he thinks.
Too many things flying through the air for my senses to protect me completely. I need to be careful.Shield, surrounded by a pale yellow, luminescent aura, grabs Hypnotisor and pins him roughly against the back wall, the Techno-Warrior crying out in pain and fear. Justice closes with the android and punches it, his strike detonating with explosive force. The Kronus stumbles back and Maker responds, “No pretense with your megapunch. Not hiding that you were Striker anymore?”
“Why bother?” Justice said, in the ready position and charging another punch. “You already know that.”
From the circular port on the Kronus’ abdomen, sound burst forth, a low, throbbing, pounding bass that rattled Justice’s teeth. Never actually having felt the attack personally, Justice dropped to his knees, wave after wave of pressure surging through his brain. He feels the barrel of gun tap his helmet.
“That’s all, folks,” Blaster offers, no hint of comedy in his voice.
Now, Theodore Lynn thinks to himself.
Blaster looks up to see two fists flying at him, his brain not wrapping around the fact that the attached body stood over fifteen feet away. Blaster swings the rifle around, but too late, as Ted and his overlong limbs lock the marksman in a modified wrestling hold. Kronus, showing incredible precision, slams a sonic cannon burst into Ted’s body, catching Blaster with only a small amount of the attack.
“You should not have come here, Mr. Lynn,” Maker tells him.
He knows my name and my face, Ted thinks fearfully, but then the anger flares. “It’s your fault I’m even like this,” Ted shouts, extending an arm eight feet and smacking the robot with a backhanded fist, a metallic
Konngg! ringing like a church bell from the impact. Hardened, the fist hit like a rock, and the Kronus stumbles again.
Ace stands back up as Molecule and Magari blast at each other, neither getting a good hit.
Still pinning Hypnotisor to the wall, Shield drops his own protective field and strikes Computron’s firing hand with sort of a tentacle of force, knocking her gun away. Re-forming the field around himself, Shield fails to notice that Hypno still holds his weapon, trying to turn the muzzle towards the hero.
I am not causing our loss tonight through lack of action, Hypno thinks grimly, his hand twisted painfully as he pulls the trigger. Shield’s head snaps back as the energy beam glances off his forehead, and with a surprised yell, he let go of Hypnotisor.
***
