FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The system was stubborn, its antibodies had antibodies. Someone among the team who had designed this AI was familiar with coercion. No, that person had done coercion. It didn't matter, he'd bend this AI to his will, it was only a question of time.

The computer's voice vanished in a flash of light, replaced by the series of tone telling Alex his implant was looking for a connection. Alex watched the sparks at the end of the wires where the screen had been. What could have done that? He tried to recall if there had been anything in the code about destroying the terminal, but no, this hadn't been internal. The debris was behind. Something had impacted the screen.

Sound registered, and he turned to see a woman in gray armor picking up the body of another merc. Alex took out a knife and ran at her. She saw him and brought up a rifle, but it was too late. His batted it aside and slashed. His knife slid over her armor only cutting the fabric.

He blocked the rifle, which she'd decided made a better club, slashed at her throat, but it didn't cut her skin. He smiled as he punched her. How often did he encounter anyone with armored skin? It had been so long he couldn't recall the last time.

She wiped the blood from her face and backed away, reached for her empty holster. Alex glanced around. There had been a fight. He could see blood and signs bodies had been dragged away. He noticed the Azeru, in the middle of the room, and went cold.

He locked eyes with her as she pulled out her knife. "Where is he?"

She smiled at him and shrugged. And almost imperceptible whine became audible.

He glanced at the knife. "Don't play that game, I'm going to make you suffer for it. Where is Tristan?"

She looked up. That it had been intentional or not didn't matter. Alex knew where to go. He ran at her and she readied for him. He threw his knife at her face, and used the distraction to grab her knife arm at the wrist, twisting until she dropped it.

He had a few seconds at best before it shut down. Vibro-knives hadn't been designed to be thrown, but enough people still did it, it had become standard for a delay to be added before it shut down. He grabbed it and slammed it in her stomach, pulling it up until the armor stopped it.

She fell back, clutching her stomach. He hated leaving her alive, but he couldn't afford to lose any more time. Someone had taken Tristan from him, again. He snatched a gun and a knife from the body and left the room. He made out excited voiced on his right, and the sound of footsteps approaching from the left, where a group of guards had been cut down.

He ran to the right.

A door closed and cut off the voices. A stairwell. They were heading for the roof.

Voices exploded behind him. Corporate security had reached their dead associates. It wouldn't be long before they came after him.

He ordered the door unlocked and slammed an elbow into it. A cacophony of boots on metal stairs greeted him and he didn't bother being discreet. He reached the back of the group and grabbed the collar, pulling him down. The cry made the next few ones look over their shoulders and Alex fired at them.

More cries as some stopped, and he barreled into them, firing as they connected. Shots came at him, but went wide as they tried to avoid hitting their friends. Alex didn't have that worry. He fired up the stairwell, forcing those who aren't hit to back around the turn.

He unclipped knives from the deads' belts and clipped them to his, firing to keep them from rushing him. The door above him closed, and he cursed. The only reason to go to the roof was that their shuttle was on it. If he didn't hurry, they'd escape with Tristan. A door below him slammed open and he definitely couldn't wait any longer.

He ran up, firing blindly. He received a few glancing shots in return, but his clothing took them. He left groaning bodies in his wake and shouldered the door open, to throw himself to the side as a barrage of shots exploded in his direction. He rolled, was back to his feet and ran for cover. He caught sight of the shuttle near the edge of the roof and the two large mercs carrying Tristan between them.

The door opened again as he caught his breath, disgorging corporate guards in their black armor. He used the distraction to aim at the merc carrying Tristan, but his shots were deflected by their armor. With a curse he changed his aim to the merc near the shuttle. If he could force them to hunker down, it would give him time to come up with another plan.

His shots hit multiple mercs, sending a few of them over the side of the roof. Unfortunately it didn't stop Tristan's kidnappers, worse it drew the attention of the guards, from whom he had no cover.

Of course, instead of all firing at the mercs, some of those guards decided he was enough of a threat to warrant shooting. Alex scampered out of there, only to get in sight of the mercs, who had plenty of reasons to want him dead.

He made it to behind the antenna where neither group could fire at him. He looked toward the shuttle as the two merc carrier Tristan on board. No. They weren't taking him away. He ran for the shuttle, firing blindly at the guards and other mercs to keep them from shooting at him.

It didn't work. Bolts peppered his back, searing it and sending him off balance. He rolled and stood, trying to keep heading for the shuttle, but too many people were firing at him. It was head for cover or be killed. He made it back to the antenna as the shuttle took off.

He buried the despair with anger.

He was going to find Tristan again. He wasn't losing him.

He stood.

But first he was going to kill all these bastards who'd kept him from rescuing Tristan.