{"sf1_id":308498,"sf2_id":"3egpKYPm","title":"Project: Phoenix (Neon City, Book 3), Chapter One","author":"Spiders Thrash","words":4095,"posted_at":"2011-11-18T05:23:00.000Z","tags":["Adventure","Anthro","Cyberpunk","Cyborg","Dragoness","Future","Human","Humor","M/F","M/F/F","Minotaur","Muscles","Near Future","Robots","Sci-Fi","bioengineering","genetic engineering"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/308498-project-phoenix-neon-city-book-3-chapter-one","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/3egpKYPm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/35/63/356341e5-b6c6-4ec0-a75a-dd59950636fc","description":"#1 of Project: Phoenix (Neon City 3)","content":"\"Damn it.\" Jack turned the engine off and scowled at the cluster of patrol cars and two armored police tanks blocking the street ahead. He shook his head and sighed. \"Oh, yeah, this is gonna end well.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Cheer up, honey.\" Corona gave his shoulder a playful swat. \"At least this gets us away from all the cameras we've got pointed at us whenever we're home.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah, there's that.\" He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and continued glowering out the windshield. \"But we're gonna have to get past all those cops, and then we'll probably have to survive numerous hails of bullets on the way into that building.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"On the way out, too,\" Taura said, digging her omnitool out of her trenchcoat pocket and tapping the surface. A hard-light projection appeared in front of her, showing her the layout of the Argus Defense Systems building.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah, that, too,\" Jack muttered. With a long list of assault charges pending against him and the girls from a previous job, the cops would be enough of an obstacle. He didn't even want to think about what they'd be walking into if they managed to get inside the building without being arrested.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, the clock's ticking, so we'd better get on with it.\" Corona nuzzled him and opened the passenger-side door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura pointed at the holofield. \"Winslow is in a lab on the fourteenth floor. I'll be able to guide us straight to it once we're inside.\" She tapped the deck of cards-size device again, returning it to standby mode, and slipped it into her pocket. She opened the back door and scooted out of Jack's hearse.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Fine. Let's get this over with.\" Jack got out, locked the doors, and headed for the yellow tape cordoning off the Argus building. He held up his ID as they approached the cops on the near side of the tape. \"We're with the Justice Foundation. We were hired to--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah, we've been briefed.\" The cop frowned and nodded over his shoulder. \"Go ahead.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack raised an eyebrow. \"You're not gonna give us any shit?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm not happy with the situation, but it's not your fault.\" The man shrugged. \"Not all of us are unreasonable. I've been watching all the stuff on the news about you three, and I can see your side of things.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Huh. \u0026nbsp; __I'll\u0026nbsp;__ be\u0026nbsp;__damned. \u0026nbsp;_Jack\u0026nbsp;nodded\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;allowed\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;hint\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;smile\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;show. \u0026nbsp;\"We\u0026nbsp;appreciate\u0026nbsp;that.\" \u0026nbsp;He\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;girls\u0026nbsp;stepped\u0026nbsp;over\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;yellow\u0026nbsp;tape\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;jogged\u0026nbsp;up\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;front\u0026nbsp;steps. \u0026nbsp;Jack\u0026nbsp;tugged\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;door\u0026nbsp;handle\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;found\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;locked. \u0026nbsp;\"Ah,\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;course.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"There's an app for that,\" Taura said softly, smiling, and pulled out her 'tool again. She loaded a program, pointed the gadget at the lock beside the double doors, and the lock clicked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack grinned.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura waved the device over the door, scanning the room beyond it. \"No one there, organic or mechanical. Not detecting any bombs or other booby traps.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack nodded and opened the door, drawing his Glock and keeping it aimed straight ahead as they entered the lobby. Their footsteps echoed as they crossed the lobby's black and white checkerboard floor.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How many people do you think are trapped in here?\" Corona stopped on the left side of the elevator door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Give me a moment.\" Taura stroked the side of her omnitool and a display and keyboard designed for her oversized fingers appeared in the air in front of her. She touched one of the icons and entered a set of commands. Dozens of tiny windows appeared in her holofield. She pointed at several of them.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Most of the building is empty; they're closed on the weekends. There's just a handful in a few offices and labs. Putting in a little overtime or working on projects that can't wait until Monday, I suppose.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, that gives us some maneuvering room, then.\" Jack took the opposite side of the door and waited for Corona to push the button on the control panel.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe doors parted. She and Jack entered the elevator. The holofield and ghostly keyboard remained in front of\u0026nbsp;Taura as she squeezed in behind them.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Most of the floors are clear, but the fourteenth has mechanical units crawling all over it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona sighed as she pushed the button for the fourteenth floor. \"Great. We'll have to fight our way through them.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What happened to your built-in urge to fight?\" Jack said, quirking one corner of his mouth upward.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Oh, I haven't lost it. It just isn't any fun when you and Taura could get hurt or killed.\" She shivered, frowned and shook her head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Don't worry about us.\" Taura patted Corona's arm. \"Jack can handle himself, and so can I, now that I've got my head screwed on straight.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona patted Taura's hand and aimed a look at Jack.\n\n  \nHe held in a sigh and put his arm around Taura. Their relationship had taken an...odd turn a few weeks ago, but no matter how weird it still seemed to him, it was too late to opt out. Besides, he didn't want to, even if it could be done without breaking Taura's heart and infuriating Corona.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nWhich, of course, made him even more uncomfortable.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What\u0026nbsp;kind\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;mech\u0026nbsp;units\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;we\u0026nbsp;gonna\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;dealing\u0026nbsp;with?\"\u0026nbsp;he\u0026nbsp;said,\u0026nbsp;giving\u0026nbsp;Taura's\u0026nbsp;shoulders\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;quick\u0026nbsp;rub\u0026nbsp;before\u0026nbsp;\n\nstepping\u0026nbsp;back\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;preparing\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;snap\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;gun\u0026nbsp;up\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;soon\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;doors\u0026nbsp;opened. \u0026nbsp;_Good\u0026nbsp; __thing\u0026nbsp;__ we've\u0026nbsp; __already\u0026nbsp;__ loaded\u0026nbsp; __armor-piercing\u0026nbsp;__ rounds. \u0026nbsp;_He'd\u0026nbsp;been\u0026nbsp;expecting\u0026nbsp;human\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;anthro\u0026nbsp;security\u0026nbsp;wearing\u0026nbsp;armored\u0026nbsp;vests\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;full-body\u0026nbsp;combat\u0026nbsp;gear,\u0026nbsp;but\u0026nbsp;these\u0026nbsp;bullets\u0026nbsp;would\u0026nbsp;work\u0026nbsp;just\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;well\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;robots.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura opened another window in her holofield, scanned the mechs in the camera feeds, and accessed their specs. \"Looks like three different models of ADS's standard issue security drones. Two biped, one near human size and the other a bit taller than Corona and I. The third is a quadruped model, sort of a miniature version of Adam and Jamie. None of them are sentient, though; they're running on a set of simple instructions and receive commands from the security server in the basement.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Instructions which include killing our client, apparently.\" Corona raised her gun a few more inches and glanced at the small screen above the door. \"Shows how reliable their products are, huh? If they attack the people they're supposed to be guarding--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's got to be more than just a malfunction,\" Taura muttered as she continued typing on her floating keyboard. \"Despite what you see in movies, glitching robots don't attack people. The worst they do is crash, but that only causes them to lock up and reboot.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Maybe they aren't able to recognize this guy for whatever reason, and think he's an intruder.\" Corona looked up at the display over the door again and frowned.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"They'd just send an error report to their server and ask for multiple confirmations from other nearby units before taking any action. They're set up that way to prevent them from becoming a danger to the people they're protecting.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So that means someone reprogrammed them to go after our client. Terrific.\" Corona scowled at the display again. \"This is the slowest elevator I've ever been on. We should be there by now.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura held her omnitool up to the display and scanned it. \"Oh, great. The elevator took us up four floors and stopped, but the counter kept going.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack sighed. \"Fantastic. Makes me miss the days when you could actually feel elevators moving.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"So whoever hacked the mechs also hacked the elevator?\" Corona shook her head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"We've barely started, and already someone is fuckin' with us.\" Jack reached out to hit the button that would open the door. \"What a shock.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n#\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe doors parted and Corona drew her gun. She still didn't like the damned things, but she'd already found herself in too many situations she wouldn't have survived without one.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe corridor ahead was empty long enough for her to take three steps out of the elevator. Then something at the far end moved.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTwo robots stepped out from the side corridor, followed by two more. All were humanoid but were over seven feet tall and carried a huge pistol in each hand.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAll four mechs snapped their weapons up.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Oh,\u0026nbsp; __shit,\u0026nbsp;__ here\u0026nbsp; __we\u0026nbsp;__ go! \u0026nbsp;_Corona\u0026nbsp;revved\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;body\u0026nbsp;into\u0026nbsp;its\u0026nbsp;combat\u0026nbsp;state\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;every thing\u0026nbsp;appeared\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;go\u0026nbsp;into\u0026nbsp;slow\u0026nbsp;motion. \u0026nbsp;She\u0026nbsp;planted\u0026nbsp;herself\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;front\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Jack\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Taura\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;spread\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;wings\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;hide\u0026nbsp;them\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;mechs.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack ducked under her right wing and tried to step in front of her, aiming his twelve-millimeter Glock at the mech on the right while whipping his other gun out of its holster. Corona pushed past him and fired a shot at the nearest robot's head.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHer bullet hit its left shoulder. It lurched back a half step, but righted itself instantly.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Damn it! Built for combat and I can't hit the wide side of a fuckin' barn!_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura squeezed past her and flicked her hands out. Two round devices resembling miniature hockey pucks zipped through the air and stuck to two of the robots' chests. The mechs had just enough time to look down at the discs before Taura jabbed one of the icons in her holofield.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe pucks detonated, blasting the mechs into shrapnel and knocking the others off their feet.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona flinched and spun away from the shower of sharp metal and plastic debris. She turned back to find the two remaining mechs picking themselves up.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack pumped a quick burst of three armor-piercing rounds into each robot's head. They toppled over and lay twitching on the floor, and he rushed over to them and wrenched the guns out of their hands. He scowled at them and gave Taura a quick look before moving on.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Think you can--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Hack the rest of the bots? I'm working on it.\" She continued entering commands into her holo-display as she followed Jack to the door leading to the stairwell. \"If I can get into the server that gives them their orders, I can shut them down.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe smiled, nodded, and continued silently up the stairs, letting her work.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona hurried past her and paused beside Jack long enough to nudge his shoulder. \"You know,\" she said softly, \"my body is quite a bit larger than yours; you can't shield me from bullets.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I can shield some of the most important parts.\" He winked at her, but sobered when he saw the no-nonsense look on her face. \n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I think the armor I'm wearing will do a good enough job--just like yours and Taura's, actually. It'll take a lot more to put us down than these things are packing.\" Corona patted his shoulder. \"I don't want you taking a bullet for me.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe reached up and held her hand. \"It was just a reflex.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, I appreciate the thought, but Taura and I are big girls. We can handle ourselves.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"But\u0026nbsp;it's\u0026nbsp;so\u0026nbsp;much\u0026nbsp;more\u0026nbsp;fun\u0026nbsp;when\u0026nbsp;_I'm\u0026nbsp;_handling\u0026nbsp;you.\" \u0026nbsp;He\u0026nbsp;grinned.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Definitely,\" Taura said, \"but there's a time and a place.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Alright, I'll try not to be so overprotective.\" Jack grinned, but couldn't hide his concern entirely.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'll take point.\" Corona gave Jack's ass a quick squeeze as she stepped forward. \"Taura, any progress yet?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Eh, not really. I've got passcracks in place, but this ICE is thicker than I expected. I'm keeping an eye on the security cams, too, and we've got mechs converging on our position. I'm trying to block them from using the cameras.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How close are they?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura glanced at one of the windows in her holofield. \"We've got a dozen coming down the stairs currently passing the seventh floor, four entering the stairwell at the fifth floor, and six others on the fourth floor heading for the stairs.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Jesus Christ.\" Jack shook his head. \"I know we've only been on this job for a few weeks, but is it too early to request some vacation time?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm going on that assumption, yeah. Besides, this job is the only thing standing between us and prison. Or worse.\" Corona reached the third floor and paused. \"Taura?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"The mechs on the fifth floor have taken the elevator instead. I'm betting they're gonna enter the stairwell below us and trap us between them and the ones coming from above.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Okay, this is where we get off.\" Corona pulled the door open, gave the hallway a quick sweep, and stepped through. \"We'll find another stairway.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"And hope there aren't already mechs covering those,\" Jack grumbled.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Always finding the rays of sunshine, babe.\" Corona led them down the hall, moving slowly, keeping her gun aimed ahead, flicking her eyes from one door to the next, waiting for one of them to burst open and unleash a squad of bots that Taura might've missed. \"Taura, got that floorplan handy?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Right here. End of the hall, turn left, stairwell's at the far end.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Thanks. One of you keep an eye out behind us.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Got it,\" Jack said.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona continued forward, wincing as her claws clicked on the off-white tiles covering the floor. At least Taura had boots designed specifically for her hooves that muffled the sound of each step, but Corona's footwear left her claws sticking out. Handy if she needed them in a fight, but the noise would be picked up by every mic in the corridor, including any nearby robots.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Of\u0026nbsp; __course,\u0026nbsp;__ the\u0026nbsp; __entire\u0026nbsp;__ security\u0026nbsp; __system\u0026nbsp;__ can\u0026nbsp; __already\u0026nbsp;__ see\u0026nbsp;__us. \u0026nbsp;_\"Taura,\u0026nbsp;any\u0026nbsp;luck\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;cameras?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura released a frustrated growl. \"No. I can disable the cameras, but that would prevent us from using them. I'm still trying to jam the system without locking us out.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Go ahead and take the cams out. We'll get by without 'em. It's better than letting the mechs see every move we make.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm on it.\" Taura tapped a few more icons, clenched her thumb and two big fingers around one of the windows, and crushed it.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe camera at the far end of the hall stopped its slow back-and-forth motion.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Done.\" Taura smirked. \"They'll have to do a major system overhaul to get those things running again.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack grinned. \"Nice work, hon.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe gave him a quick, theatrical bow.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona\u0026nbsp;smiled\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;before\u0026nbsp;turning\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;attention\u0026nbsp;back\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;path\u0026nbsp;ahead. \u0026nbsp;_Good\u0026nbsp; __to\u0026nbsp;__ see\u0026nbsp; __her\u0026nbsp;__ on\u0026nbsp; __the\u0026nbsp;__ road\u0026nbsp; __to\u0026nbsp;__ recovery. \u0026nbsp;_The\u0026nbsp;depression\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;quick\u0026nbsp;temper\u0026nbsp;brought\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;by\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;estrus\u0026nbsp;cycle\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;understandable,\u0026nbsp;but\u0026nbsp;it'd\u0026nbsp;been\u0026nbsp;painful\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;watch. \u0026nbsp;_Damned\u0026nbsp; __good\u0026nbsp;__ thing\u0026nbsp; __Jack\u0026nbsp;__ came\u0026nbsp; __to\u0026nbsp;__ his\u0026nbsp; __senses\u0026nbsp;__ when\u0026nbsp; __he\u0026nbsp;__ did,\u0026nbsp; __or\u0026nbsp;__ she\u0026nbsp; __might\u0026nbsp;__ not\u0026nbsp; __have\u0026nbsp;__ been\u0026nbsp; __able\u0026nbsp;__ to\u0026nbsp; __hold\u0026nbsp;__ herself\u0026nbsp;__together._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe stopped at the corner, peeked around, and continued on to the end of the hall. She looked around the corner and nodded. \"Clear.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack chuckled. \"Now all we have to do is wait for the next thing that goes horribly wrong.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n#\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"They're spreading out.\" Taura watched the blips in several of her windows change direction and frowned. \"Dividing into teams of two and entering all the other stairwells.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Fuck.\" Corona arched a brow ridge and swatted Jack on the ass with her tail. \"You jinxed us.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I--_what_?\" \u0026nbsp;Jack\u0026nbsp;shook\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;head\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;muttered\u0026nbsp;something\u0026nbsp;under\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;breath.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Okay,\u0026nbsp;no\u0026nbsp;more\u0026nbsp;Ms.\u0026nbsp;Nice\u0026nbsp;Cow.\" \u0026nbsp;Taura\u0026nbsp;expanded\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;holofield\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;hold\u0026nbsp;more\u0026nbsp;windows\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;launched\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;dozen\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;most\u0026nbsp;aggressive\u0026nbsp;passcracks,\n\nworms,\u0026nbsp;snakes,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;phantoms. \u0026nbsp;\"I'm\u0026nbsp;not\u0026nbsp;waiting\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;those\u0026nbsp;things\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;box\u0026nbsp;us\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;gun\u0026nbsp;us\u0026nbsp;down. \u0026nbsp;Time\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;give\u0026nbsp;'em\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;_horns_.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nJack raised an eyebrow. \"Uh, what are you gonna--?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm going after their security server. Before, I was trying to disable a few specific systems without damaging anything else, but now I'm taking the nuclear option.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona\u0026nbsp;grinned. \u0026nbsp;\"Mmm,\u0026nbsp;you're\u0026nbsp;hot\u0026nbsp;when\u0026nbsp;you\u0026nbsp;get\u0026nbsp;like\u0026nbsp;this. \u0026nbsp;When\u0026nbsp;we\u0026nbsp;get\u0026nbsp;back\u0026nbsp;home,\u0026nbsp;I\u0026nbsp;am\u0026nbsp;gonna\u0026nbsp;have\u0026nbsp;_so\u0026nbsp;_much\u0026nbsp;sex\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;you\u0026nbsp;both!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura\u0026nbsp;froze,\u0026nbsp;cleared\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;throat\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;shook\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;head\u0026nbsp;quickly,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;continued\u0026nbsp;working. \u0026nbsp;_Uh,\u0026nbsp; __wow. \u0026nbsp;__ Okay,\u0026nbsp; __don't\u0026nbsp;__ get\u0026nbsp;__distracted._\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"At least now we have something to look forward to.\" Jack looked around. \"How close are the mechs?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nA\u0026nbsp;new\u0026nbsp;window\u0026nbsp;appeared\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;display,\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;red\u0026nbsp;flashing\u0026nbsp;border\u0026nbsp;around\u0026nbsp;it. \u0026nbsp;She\u0026nbsp;winced. \u0026nbsp;\"They'll\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;us\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;minute,\u0026nbsp;_and\u0026nbsp;_we\u0026nbsp;just\u0026nbsp;had\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;bunch\u0026nbsp;more\u0026nbsp;hop\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;elevators\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;basement.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How many more?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona glanced at the window and her red eyes glowed brighter. \"More than enough.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Oh, that's just fuckin' great.\" Jack looked around and gripped his gun with both hands. \"Can't use the elevators, can't use the stairs. That leaves--\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How about the fire escape?\" She reached into Taura's holofield and enlarged the floorplan. \"Where are we?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Here.\" Taura pointed at three blips and moved her finger over to one of the rooms. \"The fire escape's outside that window.\" She nodded off to the right. \"That room.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That'll do nicely.\" Corona pushed the door open, gave the room a quick look-over, and stepped aside to let Taura and Jack in.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura glanced at her display. \"They've reached this floor.\" She closed the door and took a quick look around. They appeared to be in an office; a half-dozen desks lined two walls and three more occupied the center of the room.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona rushed over to the nearest window, checked the edges and sighed. \"Marvelous, there's no way to open it.\" She gazed down at the street. \"Good, no people or vehicles close enough to be hurt.\" She picked up one of the center desks and hurled it through the window, her huge muscles rippling nicely as she moved.\n\nJack jumped at the sound of the glass shattering, but he recovered quickly and grinned at Corona. \"I never get tired of seeing you do stuff like that.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe paused for a second to flex her pipes for him, but then she got down to business. She folded her wings around her shoulders and stepped through the now-open window. The fire escape creaked under her weight and her eyes widened.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Okay, this thing isn't holding together very well. Let's not all get on at once.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"They're outside the door,\" Taura whispered. She nodded at Corona. \"Go ahead. Jack, you go next.\" She pulled two more of her disc-shaped grenades from her trenchcoat pocket.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona climbed the stairs, taking each step cautiously. Jack stopped at the window, staring upward for a few seconds, and finally followed her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe door to Taura's left swung open and a seven and a half foot-tall mech ducked through. Taura flung both grenades at it, smiling grimly when they stuck to its chest. She jabbed the \"detonate\" icon in her holofield as she squeezed through the window.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe blast ripped the mech apart and blew the rest of them off their feet.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe metal structure rattled and groaned under Taura's hooves. A glance at the bolts holding it to the outside wall made her wish she hadn't looked at them. The bolts had been pulled more than an inch out from the wall, and the whole fire escape shifted with each movement.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Ohhhh,\u0026nbsp;_shit_!\" \u0026nbsp;She\u0026nbsp;gripped\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;handrails\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;began\u0026nbsp;climbing--slowly\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;carefully.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Hurry!\" Corona hissed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Trying!\" Taura\u0026nbsp;increased\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;pace. \u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;fire\u0026nbsp;escape\u0026nbsp;rattled\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;creaked--and\u0026nbsp;one\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;bolts\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;corner\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;eye\u0026nbsp;pulled\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;another\u0026nbsp;inch\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;shriek. \u0026nbsp;She\u0026nbsp;froze,\u0026nbsp;gripping\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;rails,\u0026nbsp;trying\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;stop\u0026nbsp;trembling,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;failing.\u0026nbsp; \"Careful!\u0026nbsp;It\u0026nbsp;could\u0026nbsp;come\u0026nbsp;loose\u0026nbsp;any\u0026nbsp;second!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMetallic clanking sounds came from below her. She took a quick look down and gasped.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nFour more mechs were climbing onto the fire escape.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Get\u0026nbsp;back\u0026nbsp;inside!\" Taura\u0026nbsp;glanced\u0026nbsp;upward\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;found\u0026nbsp;Jack\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Corona\u0026nbsp;already\u0026nbsp;three\u0026nbsp;floors\u0026nbsp;above\u0026nbsp;her. \u0026nbsp;When\u0026nbsp;they\u0026nbsp;paused\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;look\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;her,\u0026nbsp;she\u0026nbsp;shook\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;head.\u0026nbsp;\"They're\u0026nbsp;coming\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;here. \u0026nbsp;This\u0026nbsp;thing\u0026nbsp;can't\u0026nbsp;hold\u0026nbsp;us\u0026nbsp;all! \u0026nbsp;Get\u0026nbsp;inside\u0026nbsp;_now_!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Get moving,\" Jack snapped. \"We're not leaving you here!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona rushed to the window, peered inside, and tapped the glass frantically. She pointed at the lock and yelled, \"Open it! Please!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe mechs stopped at the bottom of the stairs just below Taura and pointed their guns at her. She revved her body up, whipped her gun out, and emptied her clip into the nearest one's chest. It staggered back and bumped into another one before it collapsed.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTaura popped the clip out and hurled it at a third mech, nailing it in the head and knocking it off balance.\n\nThe\u0026nbsp;fire\u0026nbsp;escape\u0026nbsp;shrieked\u0026nbsp;again--and\u0026nbsp;all\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;bolts\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;platform\u0026nbsp;yanked\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;wall.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Taura!\" Jack and Corona screamed, and she looked up again. Someone inside had opened their window and both of them had squeezed through, and were now staring down at her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe charged up the stairs, surging forward in a sudden panic.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nThe remaining mechs opened fire. Sparks erupted all around her as their bullets struck the stairs under her and the platform above.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nOne slammed into her back, right between her shoulder blades.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe screamed, her mind flashing back to the last time she'd been shot, but somehow she remained upright. She reached the open window and Jack and Corona grabbed her arms and pulled her through.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"I'm hit,\" she groaned, weeping and shaking.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona gasped. \"Where?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"My back.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nCorona rushed behind her, looked her over, and ran her hands over Taura's back. Finally, she sighed and threw her arms around Taura.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You're okay. It didn't penetrate your vest's armor layer.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"That stuff actually worked?\" Taura sobbed again and nuzzled Corona, then she put her arms around Jack and kissed him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Yeah. Good ol' non-Newtonian fluid.\" Corona patted Taura's back. \"Never leave home without it.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe nodded, took a few deep breaths to calm herself, and looked out the window.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTwo more mechs were making their way up the fire escape.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe\u0026nbsp;shoved\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;hand\u0026nbsp;into\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;pocket,\u0026nbsp;found\u0026nbsp;one\u0026nbsp;last\u0026nbsp;grenade,\u0026nbsp;leaned\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;window\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;dropped\u0026nbsp;it. \u0026nbsp;It\u0026nbsp;attached\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;lead\u0026nbsp;robot's\u0026nbsp;head\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;_click_,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Taura\u0026nbsp;set\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;off\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;smirk. \u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;blast\u0026nbsp;took\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;robot\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;knocked\u0026nbsp;its\u0026nbsp;companion\u0026nbsp;over\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;rail,\u0026nbsp;sending\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;plunging\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;street.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Is that the last one?\" Jack said, slipping his arm around her waist.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"For now.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Good.\" He rubbed her back for a moment, and sighed. \"Okay, let's finish up and get the hell out of here.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n#\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Okay. \u0026nbsp; __Here\u0026nbsp;__ we\u0026nbsp;__go. \u0026nbsp;_Shadow\u0026nbsp;drove\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;end\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;grappling\u0026nbsp;cable\u0026nbsp;into\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;roof,\u0026nbsp;gave\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;few\u0026nbsp;hard\u0026nbsp;tugs\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;sure\u0026nbsp;it\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;secure,\u0026nbsp;\n\nand\u0026nbsp;climbed\u0026nbsp;over\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;edge. \u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;cable\u0026nbsp;unspooled\u0026nbsp;slowly\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;harness\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;she\u0026nbsp;lowered\u0026nbsp;herself\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;fourteenth\u0026nbsp;floor. \u0026nbsp;She\u0026nbsp;stopped\u0026nbsp;outside\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;window\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;Arthur's\u0026nbsp;office,\u0026nbsp;cupped\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;hands\u0026nbsp;around\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;eyes\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;peered\u0026nbsp;inside. \u0026nbsp;Arthur\u0026nbsp;sat\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;desk\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;corner,\u0026nbsp;clutching\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;small\u0026nbsp;briefcase\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;chest\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;staring\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;door\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;wide,\u0026nbsp;\n\nterrified\u0026nbsp;eyes.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe tapped a claw gently on the window. Arthur screamed, spun around, and almost fell off his chair. \u0026nbsp;Shadow gasped, waved her hand, and mouthed the word, \"Sorry!\" She motioned for him to open the window.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHe hurried to the window, glancing over his shoulder at the door every other step, and slid it open. \"Shadow?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Hey, babe.\" She put her feet on the window sill, leaned forward, put her arms around him and kissed him. \"I'm here to get you out of this mess.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHis\u0026nbsp;jaw\u0026nbsp;dropped. \"I've\u0026nbsp;been\u0026nbsp;waiting\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;some\u0026nbsp;agents\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;pick\u0026nbsp;me\u0026nbsp;up,\u0026nbsp;but--it's_you_?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, not exactly. I work for the same agency, but Jack and the girls don't know I'm here. When I found out you were the one they were here for, I decided to slip in while they were keeping the guards busy.\" She waved a hand at the cable attached to her harness. \"Come on. I can take us straight down to the street without having to get past the guards.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"But the agents--won't they be pissed?\" Arthur shook his head. \"I don't know, I should just wait for them.\"\n\nShadow dug her ID out of her shorts pocket and held it in front of his face. \"There. See? Justice Foundation.\" \n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe put it away and grinned. \"Jack might be pissed at first, but he'll get over it when he realizes that he and Corona and Taura can just cut out.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Well, okay.\" He shrugged and turned to stare at the door again.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShadow pointed at his briefcase. \"You got everything you need?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Uh, yeah. I think so.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Good. Now, come on. Put your arms around me and hold on tight.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nHis face turned pale as soon as he realized what she was about to do. She chuckled and put her arms and wings around him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"You'll be just fine.\" She leaned back so he could see her face for a moment, and winked. \"Or would you rather try to get past all those mechs?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Oh, shit,\" he moaned, and locked his arms around her waist.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Here we go.\" She pushed away from the window, released the brake on the cable, and zipped toward the ground.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!_\" Arthur's\u0026nbsp;face\u0026nbsp;turned\u0026nbsp;almost\u0026nbsp;completely\u0026nbsp;white.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"It's okay, I've got you.\" She kissed his cheek as they reached the sidewalk. \"Look, we're almost on the ground.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nTrembling, he looked down, and let a long breath rush out when he saw that they were hanging about six inches above the pavement.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShadow glanced at her cable. \"We've reached the end of the rope. I gotta let go of you so I can detach it, but as you can see, the drop's only a few inches.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"R-right.\" He gulped, let go, and staggered. He gasped for breath, leaned over and braced his hands on his knees. \"Goddamn! I almost shat in my pants!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"My hero.\" Shadow detached the cable from her harness, patted his cheek, and took his free hand. \"Come on. My car's parked around the corner.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe\u0026nbsp;activated\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;comlink\u0026nbsp;implant\u0026nbsp;as\u0026nbsp;they\u0026nbsp;jogged\u0026nbsp;toward\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;alley\u0026nbsp;where\u0026nbsp;she'd\u0026nbsp;left\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;car. \u0026nbsp;_\\\u003cJack? \u0026nbsp; __Corona? \u0026nbsp;__ Taura?\\\u003e_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_This\u0026nbsp; __isn__' __t\u0026nbsp;__ a\u0026nbsp; __good\u0026nbsp;__ time,__\"_ Jack\u0026nbsp;grumbled\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;few\u0026nbsp;second slater.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_\\\u003cRelax. I've already got Arthur.\\\u003e_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nAnother\u0026nbsp;pause,\u0026nbsp;this\u0026nbsp;one\u0026nbsp;stretching\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;least\u0026nbsp;seven\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;eight\u0026nbsp;seconds. \"_What?__\"_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_\\\u003cI\u0026nbsp; __landed\u0026nbsp;__ on\u0026nbsp; __the\u0026nbsp;__ roof\u0026nbsp; __and\u0026nbsp;__ descended\u0026nbsp; __to\u0026nbsp;__ his\u0026nbsp; __office\u0026nbsp;__ while\u0026nbsp; __you\u0026nbsp;__ were\u0026nbsp; __keeping\u0026nbsp;__ the\u0026nbsp; __guards\u0026nbsp;__ away. \u0026nbsp; __You\u0026nbsp;__ can\u0026nbsp; __leave\u0026nbsp;__ whenever\u0026nbsp; __you\u0026nbsp;__ want,\u0026nbsp; __though;\u0026nbsp;__ it __'__ s\u0026nbsp;__over.\\\u003e \u0026nbsp;_Shadow\u0026nbsp;opened\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;passenger\u0026nbsp;door\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;waited\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;Arthur\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;get\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;before\u0026nbsp;dashing\u0026nbsp;around\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;driver's\u0026nbsp;side.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_We\u0026nbsp; __were\u0026nbsp;__ a\u0026nbsp; __distraction?__\"\u0026nbsp;_Jack\u0026nbsp;bellowed,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Shadow\u0026nbsp;winced.\u0026nbsp; \"_You\u0026nbsp; __fucking\u0026nbsp;__ used\u0026nbsp; __us\u0026nbsp;__ as\u0026nbsp; __fucking\u0026nbsp;_decoys_?__\"_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShadow's heart lurched. \"Uh-oh.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"What?\" Arthur stared at her. \"What do you mean, 'uh-oh'?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Jack's really, really pissed. More than I expected him to be.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"How--?\" Arthur shrank back from her, staring as if he thought she'd popped her cork.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe\u0026nbsp;tapped\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;side\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;her\u0026nbsp;head. \"Cybernetic\u0026nbsp;comlink\u0026nbsp;implant.\" She\u0026nbsp;started\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;engine\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;eased\u0026nbsp;out\u0026nbsp;onto\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;street. \u0026nbsp;_\\\u003cJack,\u0026nbsp; __I__' __m\u0026nbsp;__ sorry. \u0026nbsp; __I\u0026nbsp;__ didn __'__ t\u0026nbsp; __mean--I\u0026nbsp;__ was\u0026nbsp; __only\u0026nbsp;__ trying\u0026nbsp; __to\u0026nbsp;__ help.\\\u003e_\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"_When\u0026nbsp; __we\u0026nbsp;__ get\u0026nbsp; __back\u0026nbsp;__ to\u0026nbsp; __the\u0026nbsp;__ office,\u0026nbsp; __we__' __re\u0026nbsp;__ gonna\u0026nbsp; __have\u0026nbsp;__ a\u0026nbsp; __little\u0026nbsp;__ talk.__\" \u0026nbsp;_Jack\u0026nbsp;broke\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;connection.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShadow exhaled slowly and gripped the steering wheel to prevent her hands from shaking.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n_Well, fuck me._\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Project: Phoenix (Neon City 3)","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/323785-project-phoenix-neon-city-book-3-chapter-two.json"}}