The Starlight Lancer

Chapter Thirty-Six: Hallway Hellfire

"While using androids for security and law enforcement may be tempting, we should not be too quick to adopt the practice; that, according to all Synatorium doctrines, is for the planets to decide. I will say, though, that I fear the day when cold, lifeless machines are responsible for the dispensation of justice. Life, with all its complexities and constraints, cannot be calculated into an algorithm."

—Judge Erihal Farbairn, in a memo regarding a proposal to create an intergalactic police force of androids

A scrap bead whizzed an inch from Zaina's face—two others grazed her torso, glancing off her armor. Her ears rang and her sides stung like hell as she spilled behind the arch across the hall. More beads pinged off the wall covering her, ricocheting back into the corridor's lengthy mass of archways and doors.

Zaina peeked out—she counted five androids remaining before a bead zipped too close. She ducked back to safety. Reida was popping out every now and again to fire off bolts with her phase cycler. Every time she did, a hail of scrap beads forced her back behind cover.

Tightly gripping the scrapshot with both hands, Zaina dropped to one knee and poked enough of herself out to get a shot off. The gun was lighter than what she was used to and had a little more buck than her father's, but it was still a scrapshot. The bead lodged into one of the android's heads—it snapped back, and the robot stumbled before resuming its advance.

There wasn't time to fire another shot—Zaina hurried back to cover, barely avoiding an incoming salvo of scraps. Cracking shrieks broke out from behind. She glanced toward Reida, who let off a salvo. Zaina heard two distinct impacts and clatters and hoped that meant two hits. The enemy fire shifted back to Reida.

Zaina leaned over to get a better view—three androids left, all approaching. One of them turned toward her. With a yelp, Zaina pulled back before a scrap bead flew past. Reida tried to jump out, but the other two androids were still focused on her—she dove back to safety a moment too late. Her left shoulder jerked and she croaked a pained yelp while diving behind cover.

"Reida!"

Holding her shoulder and scrambling against the wall, Reida shouted, "Focus! Focus!"

Zaina nodded. The jumbled footsteps of the androids were audible now—they were coming in fast. Closing her eyes, Zaina willed her mind to come up with something—anything—to not die here.

A grunt came from behind—more pops rang out, three separate salvos; there was a short scream, the sound of scrap beads sinking into flesh, and a muffled thud.

Reida tossed a grenade and shouted, "Duck!"

Zaina didn't need much convincing; she closed her eyes and stayed behind cover.

The boom rang out before she had time to react. Ringing filled her ears. When her hearing returned, she noticed no more commotion, and she stood and peeked around the corner. All that remained of the enemy androids were smoldering piles of metal spewing plumes of smoke into the hallway.

She turned back and gasped. Ilstevor's bloody body had collapsed into the middle of the hallway. Blood spilled from dozens of scrap wounds, forming a pool beneath his motionless, mangled form.

"It's over," Reida said happily. "We make a good team, you know that?"

Staring at Ilstevor's body, Zaina felt anything but good. "What—what happened to him?"

Reida shrugged. "Guess he wanted to make a run for it. These androids don't discriminate, though—he should have known that better than anyone."

"Yeah," Zaina said, grimacing. "You'd think."