HIGHER TECH (Complete Novel)

Chapter 20 -PW-3 Down

      Dean squinted his eyes as he tried to focus. A tear dribbled down his cheek. He looked at his partner Kyle. Kyle was angry. His friend emptied what was left of his ammo pack in the direction of the two well shielded men not fazing them one bit. Both men turned to face them. Their weapons raised.

      "Hold it! We surrender!" Dean threw his weapon on the ground.

      "We what? Dean... they just killed Sink."

      "Just do it Kyle. Remember what you said about suicide."

      "Okay, I guess we're dead anyway..."

      Dean whispered, "Kyle... we're not dead... yet" Then turning his attention to their approaching adversaries. "Okay, you two, we are your prisoners..."

      "Prisoners... Is that you, officer Roberts? Did I hear correctly? You think we're going to take you as prisoners after you just blew us out of the sky? Why would you think such a thing?"

      "Well, it's the logical thing for you to do, isn't it? The authorities are about to hunt you down and now you're both on foot."

      "Once again officer Robert's, you fail to see the full picture of what is actually happening. You underestimate us again. In addition, you must remember our last conversation. No, unfortunately for you and your partner, there will be no taking prisoners. Instead, for you..."

      At that moment, Dean could see someone flying through the air in order to tackle Arnold. He came out of nowhere. The jump must have exceeded 60 feet. Arnold noticed Dean was not looking at him, so he turned just in time to see Sink plant both feet on Arnold's chest.

      "This is for Reema!"

      However, there was no effect at all. Sink simply bounced off his indestructible shields and fell to the ground. Arnold raised his weapon and fired, but Sink was no longer there. Boy was he fast! Dean was thankful for the diversion but now he was worried about Sink. He was under fire at close range. Good thing Arnold's weapon was not set up for a wide beam, or they would all be done for in a matter of seconds. Dean could hear the roar of the approaching vehicles of Hard Force, along with the local authorities. They were almost close enough... Good thing Darren was only holding his weapon towards them, waiting for his boss to finish his work on Sink.

      Two small missiles quickly reached their targets just before a barrage of weapons fire came from the many vehicles approaching. Dean and Kyle hit the ground as the dust rose all around them from the action. Out of the thick dust cloud he heard a very distinct voice...

      "You are fortunate this time, officer Robert's. However, there's always next time..."

      Then, the two men ascended into the air, they quickly and completely disappeared into the large dusty smoke cloud..

      "Aw! Don't tell me they can fly too!"

      "I'm afraid so, Kyle. Once again, they've escaped."

      "The good news is that we survived the ordeal."

      "I wish we could say the same about Reema."

      "Sink! We thought you were killed."

      "No, I had fairly safe cover. Up until I just attacked on foot. Unlike you two, out in the open fiddling with your weapons. What was all that chatter about? You thought you could slide up to them and defeat them with words? What were you thinking?"

      "Well, Kyle was upset because he thought they killed you. So, he began firing at them like a crazy man. I had to do something to stall them from killing us."

      "Oh, I didn't see that part. I was momentarily blinded and occupied as I was trying to dislodge my melted weapon from my armor gloves."

      He turned toward them and they could see that his armored power suit was badly damaged. The right side of his helmet was disfigured and melted. His right shoulder, arm and both gloves were a complete disaster.

      "Are you okay?"

      "I... think so," he said as he removed both his gloves, revealing his badly burned hands.

      "Ouch! that must be killing you."

      "No, my shoulder is distracting me from that... Just a sec, I need to take my helmet off. My vision in my right eye is distorted..."

      He removed his helmet.

      "Woah... man... I wish you would put it back on!"

      "What do you mean Kyle? What's wrong?"

      "Please don't say that your shoulder is distracting you from that too! Let me put it this way... your helmet wasn't distorting your vision. Sink the whole side of your head and your right eye is burned to a crisp. How can you not feel that?"

      "Maybe I'm in shock. I guess we better head back to base."

      "You don't seem like you're in shock at all. I think I'm the one in shock, just from seeing it. Yes, let's go back, right away."

      "I don't know... I'm hungry. Can we stop for something on the way?"

      "Sink, we're in the middle of a desert and you're asking for a burger and fries. Now, I know you're in shock."

      Sink just laughed as the vehicles arrived to bring them back.