Rogue Enterprises: Space Rogues 10 by John Wilker

Author:John Wilker [Wilker, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rogue Publishing LTD.

Like Old Times

Maxim, still holding Bennie on his shoulders, jumps aside as the circular section of the ceiling crashes to the floor. Bennie leaps off Maxim’s shoulders. “Ta ka.”

“Ta da,” Wil corrects, moving to look up into the hole. After a few seconds, he says, “Looks clear.” He looks at Maxim. “Boost.”

The big man makes a face, then cups his hands. After boosting everyone up, he jumps up, grabbing Wil and Zephyr’s outstretched hands.

Bennie runs to the door, opening it. He looks back. “Clear. Let’s hurry.” Everyone follows him into the hallway. This floor is, like every other floor in the hotel, the exact same as the one below it. The staircase nearest them is at the end of the hall.

Zephyr reaches the door first. Unlike the doors to the rooms and suites, the stairwell door is on hinges, with magnetic locking mechanisms and automatic hinges. She eases the door open, peering into the harshly lit stairwell. Holding up two fingers, she points up, then motions forward.

From somewhere below, Wil can hear the sound of tentacles slapping on metal and duracrete. He shudders. Thankfully, their suite was only four floors from the top of the building. They reach the roof without trouble, the security forces having not yet checked the top three floors that were above their suite.

Zephyr sees Gabe standing next to a communications tower, data tendrils from his hand burrowing into a small control panel at the base of the tower. “Gabe, we’re here. You have a plan?”

The data tendrils withdraw. Gabe turns. “I do.” He smiles his uncanny valley smile.

Maxim looks around. “Is our ride cloaked?”

“It will arrive momentarily,” Gabe says, motioning to the edge of the building.

Bennie leans over the edge. The street below is awash with flashing lights. He whistles. “Wow, lotta law enforcement. Wonder why they’re here and not at the museum?”

Gabe says, “The rest of the city’s law enforcement is, in fact, at the museum. Sclaro Hunflim has been placed under arrest.” He turns. “Aah. Our ride is here.” Everyone looks around. Gabe points up.

“The hell?” Wil says.

Above them, a large dull green oval is lowering on a pair of runner-like repulsorlifts. The vehicle rotates as it lowers, the rear opening a giant toothless mouth. The front of the vehicle sports two thick arms that end in forklift-like clamps.

“A trash truck?” Wil says.

“No way,” Zephyr says. She looks at Gabe. “Was a sewer too hard to find?”

Gabe tilts his head. “The sewer is forty-two floors that way.” He points to the ground below.

Bennie’s flat nostrils clamp shut. He points to his face, chuckling. Zephyr makes a face.

The garbage collector settles in next to the rooftop. “We should go,” Gabe says, stepping aboard the craft. It dips slightly, repulsorlifts shifting to keep the vehicle level.

Wil sighs and steps into the back of the vehicle. “Oh, God.” He looks around. “I’m gonna hurl.”

Maxim helps Zephyr in as Bennie leaps into the hold. Landing, he slips on something and falls into a pile of trash bags, half of which are ripped open and spilling their contents around the floor.

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