Dogfights

Dogfights - Lights (Chapter 15)

Kane stumbled through the darkness as fire and metal fell all around him. He made it to the front doors and then burst through. He ran across a battlefield of burning corpses as the building behind him receded into the earth and sounded a terrible boom.

All around the world was burning. Kane winced and began to wander through the dark smog, coughing as he did so. There seemed to be no way out. Sirens sounded in the distance, followed by the yelling and screaming of men.

After losing himself in the smoke for a time, Kane happened upon an open path that promised clear skies in the distance. He surged forward and then fell on a cold street as he sucked in greedy amounts of fresh air. Soon he was stable and scanning his surroundings. He was in the middle of a random part of the city. Not a soul could be seen. He was safe, for now.

But then the spasms returned and Kane found himself lurching forward as he gasped for air. A thin line of saliva hung from his open mouth as he was dragged down. Blood began to drip onto the concrete below. Kane spun around in panic and then fell to the ground. His last thoughts were of how beautiful the stars in the night sky were on fire.

From the shadows emerged the Seekers, neither machine nor man but something else entirely. Sleek and feminine-like, the marvels were composed of fluctuating augmented parts painted black and blue. Five of the things poured out into the lone street, immediately spotting the body lying on the floor. They surrounded Kane, those guardians of the night.

One of the Seekers kneeled down to inspect Kane and check his pulse. It then shifted to the side and pulled out a tube from within its body. It slid the tube down Kane's throat and connected the contraption to a mobile respirator in its make. The Seeker looked up into the night sky. The face was formless, expressionless, a blank slate which reflected the moon off its peerless metal skin.

Soon helicopters could be heard as they cut through the air. A set of silver cords descended from above. The Seekers grasped the cords and began to climb up. Kane's body hung across his Seeker. Then they were gone, the street below quiet and alone.

***

Kane woke to the sound of soft waves caressed by wind.

He was in a small room composed entirely of steel. The cot Kane now laid upon made up the furniture of the place. The hitman looked to a single camera situated in the corner. He sighed and ran his hands through coarse hair. He lifted himself up, cautiously drifting over to study the camera. It was not branded and Kane could discern no clue as to where he might be or who had caged him.

Suddenly the door on the opposite side opened. A Seeker came forth with human-like movements and pointed its hand towards Kane. The hand morphed into a nozzle which pointed directly at the chest of the hitman who stood motionless. Two more of the augmented entered and went to Kane and handcuffed him with silver cords.

He was thrust out into the open. They were inside some sort of large fortification, peppered with colors and bright lights. Men, women, and machine coexisted comfortably amongst one another, moving around, talking to one another in hushed voices. A large body of water situated itself to the right side of the establishment. It was blocked by a enormous, double hinged door that barred the fortification from the outside world. Kane stared at in amazement until he was prompted forward by metal hands.

The hitman passed by construction lines and screens of red and blue. Titanic robotic creatures were being assembled. Teams of men were scattered across carapaces of steel. Augmented creatures hanging from the ceiling worked on assembly lines where assault rifles were being manufactured. Some of the humans glanced at Kane curiously but then quickly went back to their work.