Transition

Chapter 6 - First Strike

A light breeze lifted the discarded plastic bag and hurled it up into the branches of the tree where it clung for a few seconds then went spinning back down onto the road. The exhaust of the black hover car crushed it flat as it passed over then turned to the curb. The driver exited, closed the door and walked slowly and confidently across the road to the multi-storied resident tower.

Hunter carried his tray with the plate of pasta, some bread and a glass of milk out to the balcony where he set himself comfortably onto the recliner and began to eat. Visiting with Diane at her place was a huge step up from the subsidized accommodation he was given for decommissioned HEEP officers but they had to be careful because of the monitors.

Diane had warned that she could risk her job if they made it too much of a habit being together. She had gone on to another meeting at HEEP after they left Frost, and agreed to let him eat at her place. Twirling his fork in the pasta, he raised it to his mouth.

The wire came around his neck so quickly he had no time to react. It jammed the fork between his jaw and his chest. Hunter instinctively swept the plate of hot pasta over his head, dumping it in his assailant's face. The wire loosened and he rolled forward off the recliner onto the balcony.

As the assailant charged, strands of noodles in his hair and on his clothes bouncing with the action, Hunter managed to get part way up still holding the fork and he thrust his arm forward while rolling to the side. The roar was loud as the man crashed into the balcony railing, the fork dangling from his thigh.

Scrambling to his feet, Hunter grabbed the man in a headlock before he could turn around. The two figures danced awkwardly across the balcony, finally tripping over the recliner and crashing down in a heap. The man cried out again, having fallen on the fork and driving it a little deeper into his leg.

"Give it up, pal or I may just toss you right over the railing."

"My leg! Your weight is pushing- arrrgh . . ."

Hunter stood and hauled the man up, shoving him down onto the recliner. He looked at the bloodied pants and reached down, yanking the fork free and holding it to the man's face.

"Start talking or your leg will be the least of your worries."

********

Dr. Frost sat stunned as Hunter related the events of the attempt on his life by a man working for his friend Horace Torrance - the same man that had accosted him.

"I can't believe it."

"I've got him secured in my quarters at DOQ but I can't keep him there forever."

"The police?"

Diane, who had met and accompanied Hunter to Frost's office, said no, adamantly. "The whole Galapagos story would come out again because of who we are. It may anyway since it was probably recorded."

She had to give a quick explanation to Frost of HEEP security in their complex quarters.

"Then the cat's out already!"

"Not necessarily. Everything is recorded but not reviewed live. A team comes in once every couple of months and goes through the recordings. They did that a week or so ago so we have some time."

Frost held up his hands. "Time! Time for what?"

"To get funding in place. Meanwhile, I want a safe laboratory to start work . . . I'll put my own credits into the start up but I'll need a lot more."

"The laboratory is not a problem but Vatten Industries was my best option, I really have no others."

"Then let's get it from them." Hunter said.