Starship Valor by Tripp Ellis

Author:Tripp Ellis [Ellis, Tripp]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: military, SF
Publisher: self-published
Published: 2016-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

27

Walker

Lily pushed aside the kitchen table and pulled back the rug to reveal a trap door. The hinges creaked as she grabbed the handle and swung open the door.

Walker hustled down the old wooden steps into the dank, dark cellar. His fatigues were balled up under his arm. He was clinging to his tactical vest and gear. His rifle was slung over his shoulder. He hadn’t had time to get dressed.

Lily swung the hatch shut, positioned the rug, and scooted the table back on top of it. Then she peered through the window. Several mechanized soldiers were searching the barn. Several others surrounded the house. She heard boots on the porch, followed by a knock on the door. At least they were kind enough to knock, she thought. She had been thinking they’d probably just kick down the front door.

Her heart was pounding. She took a deep breath and tried to center herself, then casually strolled to the front door. She pulled it open with a disarming smile and tried to act like it wasn't unusual to have mechanized warriors stomping about the property and rooting around.

A biosynthetic soldier was at the door. He was dressed in black tactical gear, along with several other synthetics. "Good morning, ma'am. I’m Lieutenant Drek of the Cybernetic Marines. An unauthorized aerial vehicle was shot down yesterday, not far from here. We believe one of the occupants may have survived. You haven’t encountered any strangers on the property, have you?”

“No. Can't say that I have."

He gave a thin, insincere smile. “May I remind you that under the terms of surrender, giving false or misleading statements to officials is punishable by death."

“I haven't given you any false or misleading statements." Lily smiled.

“We spoke with a neighbor of yours who saw a wounded man heading in this direction.”

“Well, I haven’t seen anybody.”

“You won't mind if we search the house?” It wasn't really a question.

“Go right ahead."

The team of synthetics stormed into the house. The mechanized soldiers were too big to fit through the door and stayed outside. Though they wouldn't have hesitated to break through, if need be.

The synthetics ransacked the house, looking through rooms and closets. One of the synthetics stomped through the kitchen. He walked past the kitchen table, and surveyed the countertops, and the stove. The bacon and eggs that Lily had been cooking for breakfast were burned beyond recognition. The kitchen was filling with smoke.

Lily rushed into the kitchen and turned the burner off. It was lucky that she hadn't already put out three place settings. She opened the window and tried to waft the smoke out.

The synthetics moved upstairs and searched the rooms. A few moments later, one of them called downstairs to the lieutenant, “Sir, I think we’ve got something.”

Drek had a devious glint in his eyes.

Lily’s worried eyes watched him march up the stairs. Drek plodded down the hall to the guest bedroom. The sheets were tousled. Walker didn't have time to make the bed.

“Looks like they had a visitor in the house," one of the synthetics said.

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