Hydra Heart

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16: Rack City

June 25th, 2254.

Lightning cracked, as did the dawn. Molly noticed something her teammates did not. For some cities of unfavorable climate, like in northern Hirudinea, it was hard work to get plant life. In their bustling cities and desolate countrysides, they had to go out of their way for trees and shrubs. Irrigation, importation of soil, and dedicated gardeners were needed to make it seem like life in that kind of cold desert was natural. In subtropical Alogos, the opposite was true. The city fought hard to pave over and repress the grasses and flowers that once grew on the coastline. Through cracks in the sidewalks, streets, and construction sites, greenery emerged, unstoppable. Molly found it more inspiring than the alternative.

The employees of the power plant took in caffeine or stronger products, either through vaporization or drink. Inquiry had generated binoculars for Molly's use, and she relayed what she saw to Vesta and Tenra behind her.

"Yeah, this is interesting," she reported. "None of the... I think they're engineers, or just maintenance workers or office workers... either way, none of them are holding the heat. But, I saw some fellas moving fat cardboard around. Seemed sketchy. Oh yeah, and there's a few guys with rifles."

"Yeah," Tenra added. "It's weird that this place is defended, but nothing we can't handle. Unless, they know we're coming."

For a few moments, no one said anything. Then, Vesta chimed in, "Are we going to, you know..." She made a gesture imitating some kind of violence.

"You know it," Tenra replied.

They stood up carefully, because they were perched on a seaside cliff a few hundred feet to the north of the power plant. With the rain coming in, a fatal slip was possible, and it was a bit cynical to think one of them would die before even making it inside. The Kit users crept towards the entrance. When it was obvious the guards at the door had spotted them, Molly gave her allies a pleading look. It was understood that Molly was asking them to spare as many lives as possible, including the ones now directly in front of them, asking them to stop.

"Halt, and identify yourself," said the guard on the right. He had a face that could not have been described accurately without the word "punchable."

Vesta and Tenra each grabbed one of the guards and banged their heads together like cartoon characters. It was much more feasible with two sets of hands.

Tenra kicked the door down, utilizing his copious nervous energy. He was the first into the room, leading the two women in. From his gray camouflage jacket he withdrew a compactible assault rifle. Vesta dual-wielded two of her seven pistols, and tossed a third to Molly. Flowing from Molly's back was a long, thin coat that was always lilted by a slight wind, even indoors.

Inside, the lobby was corralled by a gate, monitored by a security guard watching something on a Port. The floor was an open workspace of short cubicles, so the entrance to the main control room was obvious. Both the workstations and the control room were heavily armed, more so than was anticipated. KCD agents were supervising instead of police.

Vesta did not hesitate. She barreled into the heart of the building, focused on how she would use Backlash. The gate proved no challenge; she vaulted it and started shooting from within the bullpen, where all the posted guards could see her. She crouched behind a workstation for cover, and was pleased to be able to hold her own against a ring of enemies. Employees ducked and cowered in fear, but Vesta stared death in the eye.

Molly immediately attacked the security guard at the desk. She was larger than Molly, but the butt of Vesta's pistol made it an easy knockout. Tenra joined her behind the security desk, and they peeked over the metal to survey the scene. "We'll need to find a defensible location once we're inside the control room. Let's hope we're lucky."