Ray pulled some wires from his bag and knotted the two guards to one of the shelves of the crime lab. Fortunately the employees have already left as their shift was already over. From the crime-lab there was a small passage to the storage rooms. The problem was that Ray couldn't locate exactly the crate, they only knew that it's somewhere in that room.
-We have to find it, before someone notices the missing guards. -said Lana to Ray.
[color=#33CC00]-And exactly how do you plan it? -Ray didn't wait for an answer, but started to check the shelves. Lana did the same at the next row.- We won't find it this way. Do you have any idea how do they systematize this mess?
-I'll try to search for something... -Lana pulled out her holo-com. -I hope I can find something in their logs.
Ray continued his search. He finished with the third row, when Lana called out from the other part of the room.
-They may have it in the row 34. Sector C.
It took them five more minutes to find that sector in that row.
-There you are. Oh...Holy... They have already opened it! It's empty! Frak! We have to find the cardamine!
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
"And just how do you reckon we do that?" Lana asked sarcastically, "they'll be onto us any minute now. Will you use your superior sense of smell?"
Lana and Ray walked out of the large storage area with disappointment. Lana went into a nearby vacant lab and accessed its console to check the log entries for exotic substances. They were not ready to give up yet. Meanwhile, in the convenience of shifts changes for the scientists, Ray went around to check each lab for any sign of the precious poison. Just as Lana began her second search through the impound database, a police broadcast patched itself through her holo-com,
"This is LAPD crime labs chief commissioner Klaus O'Neil, lieutenant Gary Michel was ordered to see me at my office 10 minutes ago. Report if anyone knows his whereabouts, over."
"Damn it!" Lana cursed under her breath, she did not expect themselves about to be discovered so soon.
Lana rapidly worked her fingers on the console panel in attempt to find the package's location before further suspicions arise. Then her eyes lit up as a segment of a classified log entry with directives came up on the screen,
Grade S Cardamine composite [Unknown form] stored in secure ceramic [micro compression units]. Quantity unknown. Hazardous and contamination levels unknown. Exercise extreme caution when handling. Proceed to biohazard section, lab [2T-Beta], for further examination. Recommended action - request assistance from respective research division in [Cryer Pharmaceuticals].
"Ray!" Lana called out to her partner, who found himself in the myriad of connecting labs of varying purposes. The effects of semi transparent glass made it impossible to see through the interior of any lab clearly.
Suddenly, the door opened and a figure walked in. Lana reached for her concealed knife just as Ray walked in with a large canister of glowing orange substance.
"What luck!" Lana remarked as she turned and left her console, "follow me, I know a way out of here besides the front door."
They were already at the doors, when another police broadcast could be heard through her holo-com.
"All units! We have intruders! Two guards were found unconscious, possible location of the intruders: crime-lab. Proceed with extreme caution, they may be heavily armed."
-Great, let's get out of here ASAP. -shouted Ray through the sound of the alarm.
[color=#FFCC00]-That way!- Lana pointed at a corridor, where in the next second a security door came out of the wall and blocked their way. -Okay, than not this way...
"We have them trapped in the crime-lab"
-Is that the only way to get in here? -Asked Ray from Lana.
-Yes. Our only escape route.
-What about that? -he pointed at a small window.
-Wait a sec, let me check it- Lana pulled out her holo-com, and opened the map of the building.- That only leads to a small interior garden. But I guess they have closed that down too.
-No problem, let's block this door, then get out.
Ray pushed the nearest shelves to the door while Lana planted small bombs to the window.
The parts of the glass flew to every direction, but the hole was now enough to climb up and jump out to the garden. Lana was right. They have closed the doors. But Ray had something else in his mind.
He searched for the drip where it reached the ground. He kicked in the drip and it broke in half. Asking for a smaller charge from Lana, he planted it inside the drip below the ground level.
-Get to cover! -he pulled Lana behind the column and strained her closely.
The detonation shocked the building, small pieces hit the wall and the column's other side and smoke covered the whole garden.
Ray released Lana and ran to the the new hole on the ground.
-I was praying that it would work. This leads out to the car park. At least I hope. Follow me! -Told Ray to Lana and he disappeared in the drainage system.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
"Urgh," Lana complained as she crawled along the drain pipe barely wide enough for her shoulders, "couldn't you have picked the ventilation to crawl in?"
"I could, but that would have made an awful lot of noise." Answered Ray, from behind.
The distinct and pungent stench of years of algae and bacterial growth indicated that the drainage system was poorly tended, compared to the clean and modern police department it served. Footsteps can be heard from above, the police had mobilised to search for them. A rodent ran past, which made Lana shiver as she despised the small, honourless thieves which plagued the poor. Well at least it's not the sewer - she comforted herself.
They crawled for another five minutes in silence and eventually the darkness gave way to a spot of light in front. To ensure they're out of the police station's vicinity, Lana tapped her holo-com to check their current location. After that she looked up and gently pushed the grating away, sliding it to the side. They got out from the hole and into a small deserted street a block away behind the station.
"That went well," Lana said and brushed her hair to the side, which now has slime caught in it.
"Oh yeah," Ray replied, "at least we didn't get shot at."
The two hailed a cheap cab and got back to Lana's house.
The next morning the two went back to the hotel, where Ray found the first package. At least to the parking lot where he left his guardian fighter. Thankfully the police haven't found it or they still didn't know who murdered the two on the roof.
They turned on the engines and flew towards the given coordinates, where the last package was located. The fly itself was very boring, but no word could be heard neither from Lana nor from Ray. The trace lead them to a long abandoned farm with several buildings at the point of falling down. Ray put down the ship near the buildings.
-I really hope that we won't find a drug baron or a laboratory inside. But I'll take this. -He pulled out the submachine gun from the cockpit.
The tracking device lead them to the main building. A two story farmhouse, with all of the windows broken out. Ray.
-Ah... What is this smell? -Lana asked as they entered.
[color=#33CC00] -It's just above us. Do you see the stairs?
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
Lana slowly stepped up the stairs, her right hand gripping her holstered pistol firmly. The ancient floor boards creaked as handled the weight of Ray and Lana. But thankfully, the farmhouse appeared to be in functional order for most parts.
Just as they reached the second floor, a quiet cough came from a corner. This, of course, could not escape Lana's hearing in her heightened alert. She drew her pistol and took aim in that direction. A figure in the shade could be seen in the corner, in between some hay stacks. Lana gestured Ray to get into a flanking position, while she approached the figure.
Then it came out of the shadows. To the duo's surprise, it was an unkempt man in worn out clothing who hugged a shopping trolley. He wore so many layers of clothing Lana was unable to tell the colour of each. An unbearable stench came from a half dried pool nearby, no doubt where the man goes about to do his business. His possessions consisted of a trolley full of garbage and a moldy blanket.
"Agh! I ain't done nothin'!" The man screamed and grabbed his possessions.
Lana glanced at the items in the trolley and found the package lodged between a half full bottle of liquor and some pieces of half eaten bread.
She said to the man, "look, we don't want to hurt you. We just want that little box in your trolley," she pointed at the package.
The man's eyes narrowed into a vicious glare and pulled the trolley behind him.
"No! It's mine! I found it!"
Lana sighed, and said, "then how about we buy it from you?"
"I want... 500 credits and... and that belt!" The man stated his offer and looked at Ray.
Lana holstered her pistol again and reached into her pocket for a cash chip. While Ray shrugged and loosened his belt buckle. She transferred the amount into the chip from her holo-com and handed it to the homeless man, while Ray removed his belt and did the same. The man quickly snatched the items and rummaged through his trolley. He found the package and held it forward with suspicion and anxiety. Lana stepped forward to remove it from his hands, the man held onto it firmly but Lana pulled it from his hands.
Without a further word, the two turned and left the farmhouse.
As they left the farmhouse and got into the open field, Ray laughed uncontrollably.
"What are you laughing about?" Lana asked.
"We risked our lives in retrieving the previous packages and this one was just... " Ray said and laughed again without finishing.
Lana chuckled and replied, "I suppose that's quite funny."
Ray sat into the cockpit still with smile on his face. Indeed it was very easy compared to the previous ones. No shots, no explosions. And the only thing what remained is to drop off the package at the given coordinates.
Heating up the engines the guardian slowly started to float, then Ray pushed some buttons and turned on the autopilot towards the storage depot.
-So what are you going to do, when you receive your money? Just continue your previous life? -Asked Ray from Lana.
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
"I really don't know," Lana replied, "if the payment is large enough I might just invest in my own gang."
"Ever thought of retirement?" Ray asked.
"Retirement? Pfft," Lana laughed and said, "don't act like you don't know it's far easier to get in than out of this business."
Their ship lifted up and glided gently just above ground, then Ray released the landing clamps and brought themselves up into the air. Ray plotted a route away from the busy traffic of the city and they both enjoyed the scenic view of what is left of lush forests and grass fields below.
Lana thought to herself - is it really possible to ever have a normal life?
They have arrived to the given coordinates where a single, big storage building stood. Ray put the fighter down at the landing pad and both of them jumped out. Ray picked up the packages and the went towards the big gates. One of them was half opened.
As they entered they saw the whole building being empty with a single chair and a table in the middle and a smaller freighter at one of the gates.
Someone was sitting at the table. Ray started walking, but Lana stopped him.
-I don't like this. There's something fishy about this place.
-What? They always remained in the shadows and never showed their face. The only thing I care now is to get rid of the cardamine and put the money to my account.
-I still don't like this.
-Wait here. And ready your weap.
They walked slowly to the shadowy figure in the middle of the empty building.
50meters.
The long hair covered the hanging face.
40 meters.
The hands were unnaturally twisted to the back.
30 meters.
Red splash could be seen at the ground. Ray motioned Lana to get some cover. She ran to the nearest pillar.
20 meters.
Ray pulled out his handgun.
10 meters.
It's a woman. In her twenties.
5 meters.
Hands were knotted together. The signs of intensive drug usage could be seen.
-Welcome Mr. Fredrick. Or whatever is your name.
Ray knew he has already met with the speaker, but couldn't recognize him.
-I already knew, that something is wrong with you when we first met.
Yes, he definately knew he has already spoken with the man here, on planet Los Angeles.
-Don't you remember me? I had a lot to do, when you killed those two at the hotel.
At that point he recognized the receptionist's voice from the first hotel. He walked to girl and started unknotting her hands.
-What the frak do you think of yourself? Who do you think you are?
Ray completely ignored him and put his handgun to the desk. Pulling out his knife he cut the rope.
-Answer me you as&@%/!
Ray put the girl to the ground and covered the body with his jacket.
-You will die here, just like that drug addict bi&ch died!
A shot could be heard hitting the ground far from Ray. He saw as Lana searched for the man. He needed to buy some time for her.
-What did she do with you that you had to kill her?
-She deserved it! Just like you!
Ray put his knife back to his belt and picked up the handgun. He was still looking for the man, but couldn't see anything.
-Why did she deserve it? She was barely 20, she didn't even had a life and you killed her!
-She was an addict, just like you!
-So you killed her? She didn't hurt anyone and you still killed her! I can't understand you. You are the murderer and not she! You are the one who deserves to die!
He hoped that Lana will find him fast as he was a clear target in the open space. But the nearest pillar was 50 meter away. Anyone with a small practice could shot him dead at least 10 times before he reaches the cover.
-You killed the two at the hotel!
-We're not speaking about me. I have killed much more than you can imagine. But we're speaking about you and SHE! An innocent girl, who didn't hurt anyone!
-But she was an addict! I killed her because of that!
-Stop it. Who cares who killed who? Todos us killed someone. I spit on it! What interests me is sólo the cardamine.
-Who the frak are you? It was my trap!
Ray was utterly confused. The spanish and the receptionist were shouting at each other. At that point the girl moaned under Ray's jacket. It was the time to get out of here. He grabbed the girl and started sprinting towards the nearest pillar.
Only 20 meters when shots hit the ground near him. First a pistol shot. Then a machine gun started vomiting the bullets at him.
Ray jumped. He hit the ground very hard behind a pillar. The machine gun started assaulting the pillar and the pieces hit Ray's head. He ran over to the next pillar when several more shots could be heard, but not firing at him.
The exit was far away from here and couldn't leave Lana here. But still he couldn't see any of his enemies. Then he noticed the dark catways above him. He had no idea how did he miss them. There were several crates and barrels on the catways and the fires came from behind them. They were shooting at each other at least from twenty places. He noticed the receptionist exiting the control room and running towards the exit, when someone hit him.
Where are you Lana?
Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.
A stray bolt of energy melted a good chunk of the iron grating behind Lana, she ducked and stuck close to the pillar behind her and peeked out.
"What the hell..."
50 metres beyond her position, a spectacular light show of doom and destruction was carried out - with most of the participants shifting in and out of shadows and Ray in the crossfire. Lana spotted him behind another pillar, which is being brutally chipped away. Ray's moth moved but his voice inaudible and drowned out by the gunfire. He held a girl in his arms and hopelessly returned fire occasionally. They don't have long until their cover finally gives out - Lana confirmed her own observation.
Fortunately, neither sides had seem to discover Lana yet as she went into hiding earlier. She lifted her cloak and an orange glow radiated and lit up her face. Even one canister of Cardamine of this purity could easily worth millions on the black market - she thought to herself. Lana looked through the gap between the gates she came through and saw a glimpse of Ray's fighter, still hovering above the landing pad with undisturbed serenity. She looked back at Ray, who still cowered behind the quickly decaying pillar with his head down. Lana hesitated.
Then she holstered her pistol and made a run for the exit.
Another stray bullet whizzed by her hair just as Lana reached the landing pad. She ran to the fighter and hopped into its open cockpit. "Please identify, pilot", the security system flashed as Lana frantically tried to initiate the ignition sequence. She searched her holo-com for the correct algorithm and punched it into the system. "Welcome back, Ray," the fighter replied.
"Finally!" Lana exclaimed.
The fighter lifted itself off and prepared to ignite its engines.
The gunfire dissipated a little as the combatants stopped firing at each other to wonder where the loud rumbling noise is coming from. Only Ray recognised the distinct roar of his beloved fighter's engines and immediate understood what was happening. His was filled with disappointment and disbelief. He put the girl down and loaded his gun, he was prepared to go down fighting.
Just as Ray was about to leave his cover and make his final charge towards his enemies. An explosion blew open and gates and the aftershock rocked the entire building. Part of the gate was flung towards the centre of the warehouse and impacted a wall on the other side. Ray looked at the gaping hole where the gates used to be and was astonished to the still smoking barrel of his hovering fighter's plasma launcher and Lana in its cockpit.
"You crazy mother-" Ray shouted but was cut off by the hailstorm of slugs and energy now redirected at the fighter.
"Get down!" Lana yelled at Ray and gestured.
Ray dived to the side and picked up the girl along with him.
The chainguns on the fighter spun up and spat out a stream of death at the aggressors. Empty casings piled on the ground as screams came from the shadows. With a weapon that was designed to rip holes in shielded and armoured spacecraft, flesh did not stand a chance. By the time they Lana finished firing, shots were returned but they were few and far between. She throttled forward and sent the fighter through the orifice she made earlier. The hole was not big enough and parts of the supporting wall collapsed as the fighter forced its way through.
"Incoming missile," the combat warning system announced.
Before Lana could react, a missile blow off a sizable chunk of a nearby pillar. She aimed at the origin of the missile and returned the favour with one of her own missiles. The explosion threw two bodies out to the ground floor. She opened up the cockpit and gestured at Ray.
"Come on!" She yelled.
Ray picked up the girl and ran as fast as he could towards the fighter. Some persistent enemies still had the nerve to fire at him, those were met with deadly fire from Lana's chainguns. Ray reached the fighter and climbed in. He made sure the girl was not hurt and rested her on his lap.
"It's time for you to see how women fly," Lana said and laughed maniacally.
Lana pulled the fighter back to the entrance. Another missile came at them, she took a hard flank and crashed into two pillars in the process. The missile was sent flying off behind them. The structure integrity of the whole building was failing, parts of the roof began to come down and more supporting pillars began to collapse. Lana turned and made her exit through the entrance, brushing another part of the wall off.
At last, they were cleared of the failing building. Lana punched some commands into the console.
"Plasma launcher charging."
"What are you doing?" Ray questioned.
"Just making sure," Lana replied with a smirk.
Lana squeezed the trigger and let off two plasma shots at the building. The building went up in a magnificent explosion, taking its occupants and ships with it.
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