The Guardian by Hopkins J.K

Author:Hopkins, J.K.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stone Canyon Publishing
Published: 2022-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 33

Despite the impending danger posed by remaining in the immediate vicinity, we couldn’t will ourselves to move, transfixed by the action, observing and analyzing a group of four people using laser weapons to take down a police drone in a matter of about fifteen seconds. Seeing it crash into the building and the subsequent explosion, my survival instincts finally kicked in. “We need to get the hell out of here,” I said, hurriedly leading her across the avenue, heedless that we were jaywalking. “This area’s going to be swarming with cops in a couple of minutes, and they’ll probably shoot anything that moves.”

Swiftly making our way onto a side street, Nikki looped her arm through mine in an attempt to look like we belonged here. “What do you think that was all about?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder. “And when you get a chance, see if you can get a glimpse of the guy behind us.”

Taking a moment to casually scan the area, I noted that Seadonia18 hadn’t changed all that dramatically in thirty years. With nothing over eight stories, it was a well-planned mixture of offices, retail shops, and residential quarters. On the outskirts, where we now were, the buildings tended to be lower, with apartment complexes, small houses and larger retail spaces. “I suppose it depends on your point of view,” I said, concerned that the man we recognized from earlier seemed to have followed them from Concord Avenue. “To Globatron they’re likely considered terrorists, but from our perspective, I got the impression they were a trained team of insurgents, fighting for freedom, democracy and all of the other vile civil liberties stuff that Mr. Creeper can’t tolerate.”

“Meaning they’re Dinglelers,” she said, buoyed by that prospect. “Mannequins who haven’t been chipped.”

“Or Chippies who have access to illegal technology and devices that can somehow override or disguise their information.”

“Mike?”

I nodded. “I get the feeling there’s a lot about him we haven’t even begun to unravel,” I said, pausing in front of a plate-glass window, “like these ID bands. Somehow, he can make them and get them into the system, but under close scrutiny, it wouldn’t take the police long to discover they aren’t under our skin.”

“Is that why you had me come out of the pumphouse with no lipstick and my hair in a ponytail?” Nikki asked, window shopping as they moved. “A subtle way to fly under the radar?”

I nodded, again. “And that’s why I’ll be growing my beard,” I said, casting about for any stores that might sell clothing, “and we need to get me an old-man’s hat.”

Just then, all hell broke loose, sirens coming from every direction, headed for the location we’d left just moments ago. Spinning around, we saw three PDs converge on the area, and that’s when the screaming began. “As cold as it seems to not help those in need,” I said, grabbing her hand and turning away from the pleas for assistance, “we can’t allow our emotions to dictate our actions.

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