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Chapter 67

Chapter 67

February 3rd, 2158 (station time)

Logan ran as hard as he could. Every muscle in his body screamed as if on fire. Every step sent a jolt of pain, from his foot to the crown of his head. His lungs burned from dehydration, and constant deep breaths. It was hard to focus his eyes. Fatigue constantly tried to wrap him in unconsciousness.

Almost everything physical about his body told Logan to stop and give up. Everything that is, except for the base and primitive parts of his brain. The stem of his brain released signals that overrode his higher functioning parts. His animal self was now in control.

Logan had never before experienced fear as raw and powerful as this. The fear controlled him, and fed his brain what it needed to continue running like never before.

There was no destination for Logan, only the absolute need to survive. When circumstances permitted, Logan checked quickly over his shoulder for his pressure. The goliath was closer each time he checked.

Continuing to run, Logan suddenly found himself free from the bushes and in a clearing. Eyes darting across the horizon looked for both possible escapes and possible threats. One hundred meters ahead and slightly to the right of him was another group of bushes. The bushes were possibly a place to hide, or to slow the chase of the goliath behind him.

Then Logan noticed the second goliath ahead of him on the left. It was heading towards Logan on a trajectory to intercept him. His legs almost gave out on him with this sight. If he continued on this path, the second goliath would reach him right about where the bushes began. Those bushes looked a much less inviting now.

Logan scanned the horizon again looking for another option. Another clump of bushes drew Logan's attention. This group of bushes was roughly one hundred and forty meters away, but much farther to the right than the other bushes.

Without thinking, Logan changed his direction to head to the second set of bushes. The goliath behind him still had not exited the bushes and would probably slow slightly to change its course when emerging from them. The goliath ahead of him now had to change it's direction. This made the distance that the goliath had to travel to reach him almost double from where it initially intended to catch him.

On Logan pushed his ragged body. He couldn't keep this up much longer. As soon as he reached the bushes, he needed to find a hiding place and hope the two goliaths would over look him. Logan continued to push his body.

Eighty meters turned into sixty, and then forty. Logan didn't dare to turn to see the goliath advancing on him. Turning even just his head would slow his progress down, or possibly even trip him up. Both cases would be disastrous. Forty meters became twenty, then five, and then he was in the bushes.

Frantically running and dodging the patches of brush, Logan looked in every direction for something. All he needed was a little place to hide. Logan ran slightly hunched trying to keep his head below the brush line.

Precious seconds passed as he continued to push his body beyond its intended use. He scanned his environment, looking for any hope... There! Twenty meters ahead of him to the left was a very thick clump of bushes. A place to hide, the goliath's would not be able to see into these bushes without physically entering them and pushing them aside. To the goliaths, it would be like looking for a small animal in waist high grass.

Logan had almost reached his hiding spot, when a large silhouette rose up from behind the brush. A third goliath, this one had been waiting for him. The second goliath directed him into this one. It was fresh, but Logan was not, he was so tired. There would be no fight this time. Hopefully his death would be quick.