Fortunatus Wright - Part 2 : Family Ties

[Stoat]

Chapter 5

As they slipped past the vault door, Nobby turned to Fortunatus.

"Shut it? Not sure I'm too happy with blocking our only known escape route, Nate. P'raps we should jam it."

"You're right, Nobby. I'll go take a look back there, see if there's anything suitable."

"No need, Nate." Nobby reached into his pocket. He pulled out what looked like a thick, rusting nail, which he then jammed under the door, kicking it into place. Fortunatus raised an eyebrow. "What?" Nobby asked, defensively. "What?! It's just a bloody rafter nail! I saw it on the street...... you know........ I just........... thought........ stop bloody well looking at me like that!"

"Nobby, you are a revelation. A source of constant amazement. It's an honour to know you, it truly is."

"Eh? What? Errrm," Nobby looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Nice of you to say so, Nate." With that he turned and headed off down the corridor, and Fortunatus followed. The corridor turned a corner, then ended at an open door. Bright light emanated from beyond, along with the hum of computer systems. They could hear voices, but not make out what was being said.

Reaching the door, Fortuatus risked a quick glance in. There was a large, open plan area, with computer banks and display screens lining most of the walls. There were two people in the room, Colonel Bowers and the Kusarian, Hakaryo, and they were talking animatedly while viewing one of the larger screens at the far side of the room.

"Nobby, sneak up on them from the left." He whispered. "I'll come from the right."

Nobby nodded and held out his hand. "Sure thing, Nate. Gimme one of them guns, eh?" Nate looked at him blankly, and Nobby swore under his breath. "Don't tell me you didn't pick up the guns those goons we took out were carrying!" Nate shook his head. "What the hell were you thinkin'? Waltz in unarmed and just ask 'em nicely to come with us?!"

"Sorry Nobby," Nate whispered back. "Planning isn't exactly a strong point of mine. Get as close as we can and then rush them?"

Nobby raised an eyebrow at that. "Getting brave are you, Nate? Ahhh hell, we've come this far. Why not? I'll take the dog-eater, you hit the senior officer, eh?" He grinned, pulled out his flask and drained it. "Let's go!"

They'd made it half way across the room when the alarms started. Bowers turned, spotted Fortunatus running across the room, and pulled Hakaryo around.

"Run, Major!" he shouted, as he turned back to the computer. Hakaryo leapt forward, heading for the door, and Nobby swerved in an attempt to intercept him. Fortunatus ran headlong at Bowers, slamming into him at chest level. Nate felt Bowers ribs cracking as they crashed to the floor, and Bowers screamed in agony. Scrambling up as fast as he could, Nate placed a few vicious kicks into Bowers side and back, before reaching down and grabbing Bowers sidearm. He saw Nobby and Hakaryo in a tangled mass of arms and legs. There was no way he could safely shoot the Kusarian, so he ran over to help. As he got close, Hakaryo landed a vicious roundhouse kick into Nobby's chest. Nobby flew backwards, crashing into some soft furnishings, and Nate raised the sidearm. The Kusarian was doing exactly the same, his sidearm slightly ahead in the race. A flying chair appeared from Nobby's direction, knocking the Kusarian's gun from his grasp. Hakaryo ducked and spun, his leg slashing out and knocking Fortunatus' feet out from under him. Fortunatus slammed into the floor, the gun knocked from his grip. As he scrambled after it, Hakaryo ran for the door, and escaped into the corridors beyond, with Nobby in close pursuit.

Fotunatus found Hakaryo's sidearm first. Grabbing onto it, he looked back to where Bowers was. The man was pulling himself up, trying to do something with the computer terminal he had been working at with Hakaryo. Fortunatus raised the gun.

"Whatever you're doing, stop it right now, Colonel!" he shouted. Bowers ignored him. Fortunatus fired a single round which slammed into the wall just to the left of Bowers head. He quickly raised his arms.

"Okay, okay. Don't shoot! I surrender." Bowers slowly turned towards Fortunatus. Fortunatus signalled Bowers to move away from the computer terminal. A quick glance showed a data transfer in progress. Fortunatus tapped a few keys. Detailed defence plans were being sent directly to Hakaryo's ship. As Fortunatus realised the depth of the treachery involved, Bowers leapt at him. His attempt failed as he doubled up, screaming in pain and clutching his ribcage. As he tried to straighten, Fortunatus looked at the man in disgust. As there eyes met, Fortunatus spat a single word.

"Traitor!"

He raised Hakaryo's sidearm and pulled the trigger. Flame jetted from the muzzle as the bullet hammered into Bowers forehead, rocking his head back, and blood misted the room. Bowers fell to the floor, dead. Fortunatus knelt at the body, and carefully wiped the gun clear of his fingerprints, before dropping it carelessly on the floor. With a final look at the body, and the blood rapidly spreading from the gaping hole in the back of Bowers' head, he turned and ran back the way he and Nobby had come. Pounding along corridors and through doorways, he finally caught up to Nobby at the door that led onto Garbantrey Road. Nobby was slamming his shoulder into the door, and though it shook with every blow, it was holding.

"Nobby" shouted Fortunatus, as he approached. "Together!"

Nobby nodded, and as Fortunatus surged forward, he joined in. Both their shoulders slammed into the door and it burst open, spilling them into the street. Fortunatus looked up just in time to see Hakaryo's ship disappearing over the rooftops.

"NO!!" he screamed. "Philippa!" Sobs wracked his body. He'd been so close, so close to catching his daughter's kidnapper.

Sirens started wailing then, and Nobby hauled Fortunatus to his feet.

"Nate, c'mon!! Where's that bastard Bowers? We gotta be gettin' outta here! Nate! Where's Bowers?"

Fortunatus looked up at Nobby and smiled, viciously. Nobby merely nodded, and pulling Fortunatus in his wake, they ran for Nobby's car. They jumped in and Nobby gunned the engine, tearing off down the street without any lights. As they disappeared around the corner the first of the military vehicles arrived on the scene.

The next day found Fortunatus and Nobby in their preferred bar, watching the news broadcasts. The one they were waiting for finally came on.

The Bretonian Military is united in mourning today for Colonel Lord Sir Alexander Bowers. Colonel Bowers was found dead early this morning in a top secret military bunker. It appears that a Kusari plot to steal top secret military data was foiled by Colonel Bowers, who paid with his life. A spokesman for the military insists that no sensitive data was lost to the Kusari, and an investigation into how a single Kusari light fighter had managed to evade detection and escape Leeds is underway. We will bring you further updates on this story as and when we receive them. In other news........................................

"Well, that wanker seems to be able to escape the truth in death as well!" muttered Nobby.

"Yeah, but there's no way the BAF'll admit to a traitor in their midst if they don't have to, eh?" Fortunatus downed his beer. "Nobby, I gotta go. Thanks for all your help. I owe you, big time." Fortunatus offered Nobby his hand, who shook vigorously.

"No worries, Nate. Good luck out there. Be seein' you on Gibraltar, no doubt. If you needs me, you knows where I am, eh?"

Fortunatus nodded his gratitude, and walked slowly out of the bar.

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