The Sellouts (6 page)

The two men removed them slowly, and both sniffed the air cautiously.

“I sense…” the doctor started to say.

“You sense what?” Chancer said, “And why is it so cold in here?” he said as he rubbed his hands together and blew into them.

“I don’t understand. I sense a lot of people nearby, but at the same time, I know they aren’t there.” the doctor said as he looked around.

“Robb, you got a flashlight?” Chancer asked. He saw lights, but it wasn’t enough to see by.

“I do not have a flashlight, Agent Chancer, but I do have lights equipped. Shall I illuminate the area?” he asked enthusiastically.

“Yes, Robb, illuminate the area.” Chancer said, shaking his head.

The minute Robb turned on his light, the doctor dropped to the ground. Chancer spun around quickly, but it was too late, he felt two pinpricks in his back and then electricity course through his system. He blacked out.

Chapter 6

April 3rd, 2015 04:30 PM

“Where are you, Chancer?” Eagle-eye said as he tried calling him for a fourth time.

“He’s still not answering?” Melody said quietly at her desk. She was spinning slowly in her chair. “Are we going to wait all day?” she asked.

Eagle-Eye had pulled up an office chair and sat with her after she had caught him spying on her through the entry to the stairwell. “He said to call him to get you home safely.” he said quietly.

“Do you honestly think I’m in danger?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t know.” he said, trying to call Chancer again.

“Well I can’t wait all night. You could take me home, if you think I’m in danger. You are a field agent, after all.” she said with a small smile. “And you have a gun.” she added, nodding to his holster that he had to keep readjusting because of his above average width, and the below average width of the office chair.

“I suppose I could take you home, if you want.” Eagle-Eye said, not sounding very confident.

“Great!” Melody said.

“Don’t you think we should look for Chancer though?” he said.

“Are you that worried about him?” she asked.

“Aren’t you?” he asked.

“Well, he did say he was going to get into trouble…” she said quietly. “Do you think we could go ask Security to locate him?”

“I don’t know, he said not to involve anyone else…”

“Well then how do you expect to locate him?” she asked.

“I don’t know.” he said.

“Let’s just go ask Mr. Owens, he’s Chancer’s friend, right?” she asked.

“I… suppose we could…” he said, again not very confidently.

April 3rd, 2015 04:37 PM

Chancer woke up in pain. He slowly opened his eyes and found he was lying on his stomach, tied to a metal table. “What the fuck hit me?” he said groggily.

“That would be Miranda.” a woman’s voice said from somewhere off to the side.

“Miranda…? She’s just a hologram?” Chancer said as he tried to slowly turn his head. He managed to turn it, but only with a grunt of pain.

“Oh, I can assure you, she’s every bit as real as your robot friend Robb.” the voice said from a slightly different location.

Chancer was able to see a metallic blue robot that was shaped like a woman, complete with metallic breasts. She was carrying Robb, who seemed to be disabled.

“Miranda, destroy Robb while I prepare these two.” the woman’s voice said.

Robb whirred and his tracks moved as Miranda literally squished the small robot between her hands. Parts fell off of him and clattered to the floor.

“Stop!” Robb said as something from him shot into Miranda’s chest. “Sto--” He started, and then stopped as Miranda dropped him to the ground and stepped on him, crushing anything that was left of him.

“Talk to me Robb!” Doctor Perry yelled from across the room.

“I’m afraid he can’t.” the woman’s voice said.

“You’re Mrs. Oslett… I recognize the voice.” Doctor Perry said.

“Correct.” she said as she injected Chancer with something.

“Ow, what was that?” Chancer asked.

“Just a little something to stimulate your powers. It helps me harvest more of them.” she said.

Chancer felt his body start tingling as he heard the Doctor get his shot.

“Miranda, watch these two. I need to take care of the other two.” Mrs. Oslett said. “And for God’s sake, fix yourself.” she told her robot after seeing the spike that Robb shot at her sticking out her chest.

“Initiating repairs.” Miranda said.

Chancer heard Mrs. Oslett leave the room, and he started tingling more. He looked over at Miranda, who stood motionless above the now crushed Robb.

“Now I know what I was sensing earlier.” the doctor said.

“What?” Chancer said. He was tingling more, and saw smoke starting to rise from Robb. He glanced upward and smiled. “Are these the same restraints we use in your medical bay?”

“Pretty sure they are, why?” the doctor asked.

“Wait for it.” Chancer said with a smile. “What did you mean you knew what you were sensing earlier?” he asked while he watched Robb catch fire.

“She’s harvesting powers somehow. I’m sensing them, not actual people.” the doctor said. “Are you somehow going to get us out of this?”

“In a minute. I can feel my powers. They’re cooking something up as we speak.” Chancer said as he watched the smoke rising off Robb’s fiery corpse. “Literally.”

April 3rd, 2015 04:54 PM

“You want me to search the building for Agent Chancer?” Jeremy Owens asked Eagle-Eye. “And you won’t tell me why?”

“Can’t, mission protocol and all…” Eagle-Eye said, hopefully confident enough.

“Do you have a copy of your orders?” Jeremy asked.

“Come on, you’re his friend!” Melody said. “Aren’t you worried that he’s not answering his phone for the last two hours?”

“Not really, sometimes he just doesn’t answer.” Jeremy said as he looked at them both. “What’s this really about?”

“I think he’s in trouble.” Eagle-Eye said, avoiding the glare Melody gave him for saying it.

“Why didn’t you just say that to begin with?” Jeremy asked, he waived them back behind the security counter and into the room behind it, which was filled with monitors. The one security guard watching them all looked up and nodded to him as he entered. “Why are all the monitors blank?” he asked immediately.

“Dunno Sir, technicians are looking into it.” the man said.

“How long have they been down?” Jeremy asked.

“We think for a few minutes, but I just found out that the recorders seemed to have gone offline a few hours ago.” he said.

“Why wasn’t I informed?” Jeremy demanded.

“We just now found out about it, Sir.” the guard said, lowering his head.

“Keep on it. I want security to manually patrol all areas. Call in the reserves.”

“We’ve already initiated manual patrols, and the reserves alert roster has been activated. Unfortunately, we also just found out that all radio communications inside the building are being jammed.”

“But my phone works?” Melody said, holding it up.

“Cellular networks don’t seem to be affected. It’s very strange, Sir.”

“Any problems with the cell blocks?” Jeremy asked quickly.

“None reported. We sent extra guards down there, and have messengers running back up here to report every ten minutes.” The guard told him.

“Very well. I’ll go check the situation down there. Agent Eagle-Eye, I’ll need you to come with me.” Jeremy said.

“Agent Chancer told me to--” Melody jammed him in the elbow. “We’re working a case for Agent Chancer.” Eagle-eye said quietly.

              Jeremy looked at him suspiciously. “And part of that case is to find Agent Chancer?”

              “Well… yes?” Eagle-eye said.

              “Agent Eagle-Eye is under review, and part of the review is using assets to locate other assets.” Melody said quickly.

              “That sounds like a complete load of crap.” Jeremy said.

              “Well, you can ask Agent Chancer when you find him.” Melody said.

              Jeremy shook his head. “I don’t have time for this.” he said as he opened the door. “Get out.”

              Melody quickly ushered Eagle-Eye out, and nearly pushed him to the elevators.

              “Where are we going?” he whispered.

              “Anywhere but here.” she whispered back.

Chapter 7

April 3rd, 2015 05:00 PM

Chancer and Doctor Perry rubbed their wrists as they sat on the metal tables they were previously restrained to as the sprinklers soaked them. As Chancer knew from past experiences, the older restraints auto unlocked when soaked with water, and he knew Robb’s corpse being on fire would trigger the sprinklers.

Chancer’s power of luck has been enhanced since Mrs. Oslett injected him with something, and he loved it. He hopped down from the table and knocked on Miranda, who seemed to be just standing there as small nano-robots swarmed over her, reconstructing the hole that Robb had made in her. Obviously they weren’t expecting Chancer and the doctor to escape, or Miranda wouldn’t be in repair mode at the moment.

“Time to go.” Chancer said as he felt his luck running out. He felt it was time to go as he said it, but didn’t know why yet.

“Hold on a minute.” the doctor said as he was looking at a tablet that was on a shelf near him. “Grab that case down there.” he said as he pointed to a medium sized satchel that had a zipper opening.

Chancer was curious, and grabbed it and quickly unzipped it. It was empty, but was used to transport vials, based on all the slots. “Ok… what am I doing with it?” he asked.

“Take as many of the vials on that shelf as you can. And be careful not to break them.” the doctor said quickly as he grabbed another satchel and started loading vials from the shelf he was near.

“What are these?” Chancer asked as he was grabbing four at a time.

“Powers.”

“Seriously?” Chancer asked, holding up a vial. He felt an urge to leave – now.

“We have to go!” he said as he zippered up his satchel that was only three-fourths full.

“We need more!” the doctor said as he put the tablet in the pocket on the satchel and closed his as Chancer pushed him towards the door that led to cell block five.

“No time.” he said. Right as he closed the door, he looked back through the window to see Mrs. Oslett coming in through the main doors. He pushed the doctor down and quickly got out of sight. “Fucking close…” he whispered to the doctor.

The doctor didn’t say anything, but had wide eyes and was staring down the length of cell block five, and all the prisoners in their cells. Each cell was different, modified in a way to contain the super that was in it, but the majority of them had a newer, high density transparent acrylic that Robb had invented that could withstand the impact of even the strongest super. TSO had patented the new material and quickly sold it.

“What’s the matter doc?” Chancer whispered.

“I’ve never been in a cell block before…” he said quietly. “Is it safe?”

“Never?”

“No… is it safe?” he whispered again.

“Completely safe. No one’s ever escaped.” Chancer said quietly. “We need to move, before she comes looking for us.” he said as they hobbled down the corridor and turned down a left corridor as quickly as they could.

“Wait.” the doctor said.

“What?” Chancer asked, looking back quickly.

“I don’t sense anyone.” he said. “I sense these…” he patted the satchel he was carrying. “But no live people.” he looked at Chancer. “Shouldn’t I be sensing the prisoners?”

“How would I fucking know?” he asked. “Should you?”

“I think I should.” the doctor said as he hesitantly stepped up to one of the cells. The prisoner looked like he was sleeping, so he went to the next, and the prisoner looked like he was reading a book. “There’s no one here but us.” he said as he went to the next, and the next.

“No doc, there’s a bunch of baddies in here with us. I think you’re fucking losing it. Let’s go.” Chancer said as he pulled the doctor down the corridor and out the exit. Outside the entrance to cell block five were six guards, standing with rifles at the ready.

“Identify yourselves!” one of them said quickly, and they all pointed their rifles at him and the doctor.

They immediately put their hands up.

“So much for your luck...” the doctor grumbled.

“Agent Chancer and Doctor Perry.” Chancer said quickly, using his finger to point to his badge that was luckily still attached to his jacket while his arm was in the air.

One of the guards came over and pulled his badge off, and then the doctors and brought it to the man in the back, who put them through a handheld scanner. It beeped and a green light appeared at the top for both badges.

“Fingerprint them.” he told his men.

Another guard came over and pulled a smaller device from his pocket. He held it up to Chancer, who put his thumb on it. It lit up green, and so did the doctor’s when he did his thumbprint.

The man in the back came forward and handed their badges back. “Sorry Agent Chancer, Doctor Perry. We’re in lockdown. Just following protocol.” he said as his men lowered their weapons.

“Why are we in lockdown?” Chancer asked, glad no one has shot him yet.

“Video and radio communications are down throughout the entire building. All available personnel are to report to the nearest security station.” the man said.

Chancer nodded and looked over to see one of the security golf carts.

“We’re gonna’ need to commandeer that.” he said with a smile. “And does anyone have a cell phone?”

April 3rd, 2015 05:45 PM

“The text said to meet at ‘your fucking car’, you know that has to be Chancer.” Melody said as they walked into the parking garage.

Eagle-Eye drew his pistol the minute the elevators opened and peeked into the garage. He pulled his glasses down with his free hand and used his vision to zoom in and out, scanning the entire garage that was visible. With the building on lockdown, they didn’t find anyone down here. “Looks clear.” he said quietly.

“Now you act like an agent….” Melody said as she walked past him. “Where’s your car?” she asked.

“In the Agent’s row.” he said quietly.

“Where’s that?” she asked.

“Right here.” Chancer said from their left.

Eagle-Eye, startled, nearly fired off a round in that direction. Melody ran over and gave him a hug.

“You guys get awesome parking!” she said as she saw Chancer standing next to his jeep, which was parked right next to Eagle-Eye’s rusty truck.

“I think we’ll take mine, I already had one fucking shot today. I don’t need a tetanus shot too.” he said as he jumped into his jeep. “Everybody in.”

Everybody piled into his jeep, and the doctor held the two satchels carefully. When Chancer backed out and started to pull forward, he stopped suddenly.

“Well I guess that clears up which side she’s on.” he said as he looked ahead of them. “Give me your fucking gun.” he said to Eagle-Eye, who was in the passenger seat.

Douser stood at the end of Agent’s Row, holding a rifle, which was pointed directly at them. She was in full combat gear, minus the helmet.

“Get out of the car slowly, all of you!” she shouted to them.

“And then what?” Chancer yelled back, slowly taking the pistol from Eagle-Eye.

“And then you can all accompany me to see Mrs. Oslett.” Douser yelled back.

“And then what?” Chancer yelled back. He slowly reached under the dashboard and pulled out another pistol. This one looked nothing like TSO’s standard issue pistol. It had a larger magazine extending out from the grip, it had a laser sight which was currently off, and it was plated silver. He set Eagle-Eye’s gun on his lap and held the silver in his left hand. His jeep didn’t have the doors on it at the moment, since they were currently experiencing a slight heat wave.

“And then she will decide what happens to you.” Douser yelled back.

“We’ve already talked with her, she told us to go home.” Chancer yelled. “Put your rifle down and back away from it slowly.” he yelled as he revved the engine.

“When he makes his move, you guys should duck and hold on tightly.” Eagle-Eye whispered as quietly as he could to the doctor and Melody. He tried his best not to move his lips. He gripped the metal bar in front of him tightly.

“You know I can’t do that.” Douser yelled. She raised the rifle.

“And you know we aren’t fucking coming with you.” Chancer yelled as his engine died down. He revved it again.

“You know how this has to end, Chancer.” she yelled back.

“Why are you doing this?” Chancer yelled out.

Douser laughed. “You honestly can’t see it, can you?”

“What the fuck is she talking about?” he said quietly to the people in his car, who replied with silence. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he yelled back finally.

She answered by firing a shot through his window. Eagle-Eye yelled as Chancer slammed on his accelerator, throwing the jeep forward. He held his pistol out to the side of the windshield and held down the trigger, throwing bullet after bullet of automatic fire at Douser, who rolled to the side and came up next to a really nice looking convertible.

Out of bullets, chancer dropped his gun and picked up Eagle-Eye’s as he steered towards the shiny red convertible that Douser was now hiding behind. He clipped it with the side of his jeep and it jumped forward, making Douser drop her rifle in order to escape.

Chancer smiled as he kept going. He drove straight as he looked back and fired one round back in douser’s direction, trusting his luck to send the bullet where it needed to go.

Explosions shook the parking garage as Chancer drove over a curb that was intended to keep traffic out. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get through the security checkpoints, so he did the only thing he could think of, and rammed the metal wall. The outside part of the curb was a five foot drop, and Melody screamed as the jeep slammed down into the street beside the Oslett building, narrowly avoiding an oncoming car.

He straightened out the jeep and drove off as fast as he could as the guards came out of their checkpoints.

Luckily for Chancer and his friends, the protestors filled in between his jeep and the guards and were cheering for his getaway.