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Betrayal - Micro's Journey to Alden - Part 1

Character "Micro" by Shawntae Howard

All other characters by Larry Wise

___

"Stop the sim!" an angry voice called.

The four trainees knew they botched the job again. They put their arms up to shade their eyes as the lights turned on revealing the movie set world within the old hangar.

"Get out of your gear and be in the debriefing room in 10 minutes," the voice called. Then more calmly, "Short, did you get burned?" They could all hear the sigh in his voice.

"No, Sir. I caught a few sparks, but I didn't get hit by the plasma," the trainee replied looking at his hands. His fingers still tingled and he could smell the burnt fur at his wrists.

The sound system keyed on and then off. The trainees heard the main door latches open and turned to go. As they made their way to the exit, they passed some of the workers coming in to repair and reset the training facility.

"You almost made it kid," the foreman remarked to one of the smaller trainees with a toothy grin.

The trainee could smell the scent of feline on the human foreman, which made everyone nervous. The foreman grabbed the trainee by the forearm and drew him close. "But you do that on the outside," he whispered, "and you'll be someone's snack."

The foreman let the trainee go and all the trainees moved a little faster to get through the exit door.

Micro hated the foreman, but he knew the foreman was right this time. Any screw up like this on a real operation would mean capture or worse. The feline scent drove it home. Felines never killed their prey quickly. They played with you as you bled to death.

"Save the last round for yourself," he thought. "That's why they tell us that."

None of the other trainees heard what the foreman had said to Micro, but the look on his face was enough for everyone. No one had spoken until they made it to the locker room where they changed out of their operations suits.

"Psst. Earth to Micro," Flash whispered. "You gonna shower and change, or just stare at your locker?"

"Huh? Oh..." Micro replied as he shook the cobwebs out of his mind. "It's just that guy spooks me"

"He spooks all of us. But that was a couple of minutes ago," Slash called walking out of the shower, drying his fur as he walked.

"I just hate the smell," Micro said as he felt the icy chill run down his spine. "Frank probably puts him up to it."

"All the better!" Flash said as he glared from the shower stall. "We're going to be dealing with a lot more feline humanimals and hybrids now. Canid security hasn't been as effective as they had hoped for. At least, not against us."

Short already was getting into his regular uniform, but he was having trouble with the closures.

"Short?" Slash asked, as he looked with concern. "Are you OK? No lies kid."

"My hands still tingle," Short replied. "The plasma field was too close when I tried to push the field away. I caught some of the splash in the magnetic field and it got my fingers. Direct connection.

"It's not the first time that's happened. It'll go away soon," he lied.

He knew full well that it was the most power he had ever been hit with. More than a full magnitude higher. The only reason why he was still breathing was because he had been able to channel the current between his thumbs and block the field at his forearms.

"And Frank must have killed the power as soon as the surge occurred..." Short thought to himself.

Each one left the locker room and headed to the debriefing on their own. Once again, everyone was quiet. The rodent trainees were joined by three humans.

"Alright," Frank sighed. "You all made it through the first three sections without a hitch.

"Slash, be careful when you're sensing the materials. You almost cut into a plasma conduit on the level 4 wall. Control the energy flow into the material. Don't just try to blast through a barrier. It looks cool, but everyone can see it."

Slash nodded. The medical officer spoke up.

"All of you kept your vital signs down. Good job." He said. "Flash, the new regimen must be working. Yours never exceeded 200% resting rate. You also cleared the wall a half second faster than usual."

"Unfortunately," Frank interrupted. "You outpaced Micro's ability to dampen the sensor fields. You have to give your teammates enough time to do their jobs as well. Pace. . . "

Flash smiled weakly and nodded. Micro just looked at his lap. Both knew that Micro was not keeping up and Flash was not about to slow down to become a target. He'd rather set off an alarm and evade than go slow and be risk being caught.

The other human at the table spoke up. "Although there were close calls on levels 4 and 5, no alarms were tripped. You did leave evidence on level 5 of your presence.

"Short, watch where you leave burn marks. The system didn't catch it, but a sensitive nose would."

Micro and Short both cringed. The last 2 missions had both had feline guards and it took everything they had to evade them. With more facilities shifting to feline guards and the rumors of this team, everyone knew what scent to watch for.

Frank brought the groups attention back to training.

"OK," he started. "At level 4 the timing started dropping. Micro, were you having trouble dropping the sensor fields while Flash was disabling the systems?"

"No!" Micro said defiantly, but lowered his tone quickly. "I was able to keep up, but I wasn't watching the power levels."

"Short, did you call a power check before you and Slash ascended to level 5?" Frank asked. He knew the answer, but this was a gut check for everyone.

"No, Sir," Short said dropping his head. "I figured we'd get one as soon as we were close to the lock."

Frank nodded and said, "Guys, you need to communicate more. You've all been enhanced, but none of you are telepathic. That's why you all have comm links.

"Remind each other of what's next. It reinforces the mission. If you see something wrong, tell the rest of the team. If you know you're falling behind, let the others know so they're not left hanging."

Micro didn't have to look up to know that comment was directed mostly at him. He felt a foot touch his own. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Short give him a weak smile.

The doctor started again.

"Short," he said. "I want you to report directly to the med lab as soon as we're done here."

Short groaned, but made no protest.

"Slash," he continued. "How do the new claws feel?"

"Much better," Slash answered. "The right ones have a little more give in them and I think I can gauge the materials better. The left ones are unsuitable for anything like concrete or stone."

"I'd like to go ahead and replace all his claws with the new style," the doctor said to Frank. "He'll be down for two days and his paws will be tender for a week, but he can be active by Friday."

"If I can?" Slash interjected. "I'd rather not change my hind claws. I don't use my hind claws for sensing much. I use them more for digging and penetration. I'd prefer keeping the harder ones I've got there."

Frank raised an eyebrow.

"Like the time you punctured the wet suit and half filled it with ice water down in the tank?" Frank asked.

Everyone chuckled at that, including Slash.

"Do you have a problem with his request?" Frank asked the doctor.

"No," he answered. "But he'll still be down for two days."

"Alright," Frank said as he stood up. "Slash, you're off ops and training until Saturday. I want you in the med lab by 8 AM tomorrow morning. The sooner you get the surgery done, the sooner we get you back on the team. You'll be backup in the control room on Thursday and Friday.

"Short, you get your little ass down to med lab now. Don't lie to me about not getting hit with energy fields. Shave the fur off your paws if you insist on burning them. I got allergies and I can smell it. Tonight, I want you doing precision magnetic field disturbance suppression drills. No more than 5 microTesla variances.

"Flash, study the entry routes and see if you can find a better way to level 5 without exposing yourself for more than 15 seconds at a time.

"Micro, firewall drills. 26RG5 routine. Difficulty 7. 20 minute time frame. Full data dump, minimal detection.

"Any questions???" Frank asked. "Then dismissed."

The trainees and the doctor left.

"Frank, we have a problem, " whispered John.

"We've got lots of problems," Frank muttered. "Most of the revolve around a team who hasn't been given a difficult target in nearly four months. Damn, but I'd love to put them in a real military simulator. They've all become so proactive, that I don't know if they can be reactive."

"That's not what I'm worried about Frank," John said. "I still can't pinpoint the mole in the house."

"Eh?" Frank asked. "What leads do you have?"

"The power." John answered. "Just before Short reached the 3rd locking mechanism, there was a slight sag in the voltage. The generator kicked in just as Short was suppressing the field.

"That tells me that someone knew exactly where he was and what he was going to do. Since we don't use a strict time table, it also means that someone had access to the location data and execution logs."

Frank tapped the table with his finger absent-mindedly.

"So our secret is out." Frank stated. "The schedule can't be changed. There'll probably be another attack this weekend.

"The new test humanimals are lupine, right? Put them on guard duty. Two, roving in the quarters area, and one, stationary at the entrance of the med lab. 6 hours on, 12 hours off.

"Once Slash is under, I want an additional guard with him at all times. In the room, once he's out of surgery. 2 hour shifts from the off going watch section."

"How soon do you want them out there?" John asked. "They still haven't familiarized themselves with the whole facility."

"I want them out there tonight," Frank said with a sigh. "But we need them in place by 9 AM tomorrow.

"Take the leaders out tonight and show them where we need the most security. Let them make out the squad lists and the rotation schedules."

"It'll be done," John said as he got up to leave. "I'll have the first watch start at 0600."

"Thanks," Frank droned. "Damn military types."

Now, Frank needed to talk to Micro. He needed him to break out of his shell, or the team's next mission could very well be their last. Micro had to step up and act like a leader. He was Frank's trump card, and it was just about time to play him. How much longer could he wait?

Frank quietly entered the data simulation room. Before both feet were in the room Micro spoke up.

"You had them change the sim I see," Micro commented. "I'll still beat it sir. Even with the active defense."

Micro's eyes flew over the code on the virtual screen of his visor.

"You'd better," Frank laughed. "Future systems may not be run of the mill corporate types. You're going to be seeing more multi layered active defensive networks. I want you to be able to handle failing situations."

Frank reached over to the main console and hit a few keys. Immediately, three windows closed and the system started a port diagnostic scan.

"Hey! That ain't fair," Micro cried, but worked all the faster.

"Life ain't fair either, Micro," Frank explained. "Our adversaries aren't fair. But neither are we. Only death is fair. Time for you to lose..."

"Right," Micro said defiantly. "Just you watch."

Micro picked up the pace. He'd probe a port and leave a false signature to initiate a system defensive attack. Then he'd pull back and monitor the data streams and start another attack. Each time, the diagnostic got closer to the offending probe.

Patiently, Micro kept probing. Waiting. Then his window of opportunity appeared. He had isolated the attacking diagnostic code entry and could load his own in. If he timed it right.

By this time, he had 12 diagnostic routines running simultaneously, slowing the system to a rate he could easily manipulate. He loaded his code and started another probe. His eyes narrowed as the diagnostic program kicked off. His code loaded into the same memory space only clock cycles behind. The computer had delayed it's execution just enough to allow his code to finish loading and start running. He now had system level access.

The subroutine fed back misinformation to the main diagnostic while feeding him the access codes. His routine corrupted data and started an error handling routine, killing itself in the process, but cutting the diagnostic off from the memory location.

"Told you I'd beat it," Micro chimed.

Frank grinned as he sat on the desk next to Micro and said, "Yes, but you had to adapt to something you hadn't planned on. You had to act quicker to changing parameters. And I was breathing on you, since I know it annoys you. But you still aren't done yet."

Micro was still keying instructions to extract the target data. He was 80% complete when a new defensive process flared up. It was a virus and it was loading itself on his data card. He couldn't get the connection to terminate, so he pulled the card from the data slot. The virtual windows all collapsed leaving his visor blank.

"Too bad you gave away your position when you crashed the program," Frank bragged. "You lost the data too."

Micro looked at the main console and hit the key to end the simulation. He reinserted the card for analysis.

The readout listed:

Primary Data: 100%

Secondary Data: 62%

System Detection: Not Verified...

"What?!" Frank hollered as his grin faded.

"You said yourself we don't play fair," Micro sneered. "When have I ever? I figured the sim would use a zombie on me, so I added a write-once routine to the data card with double entries. A little slower to write to, but the virus only erased the first copy."

Frank glared at Micro for breaking the rules again and grabbed him by the fur on top of his head. Micro struggled but because he was sitting, his mobility was limited.

It was only then that he saw Frank flash a smile, and he started scratching Micro between the ears. They both began to laugh as Micro tilted his head so Frank could scratch behind his left ear.

Micro took off the visor and disconnected he gear from the computer. Frank grabbed a chair and sat down next to him. Micro could tell something was wrong. Frank looked weary. It wasn't a look of being tired. It was deeper than that, and Micro know it.

Frank looked at Micro and said, "Micro, I need you to grow up, and I need you to do it now.

"So far, it's all been a game for you and Short. As of tonight, the game has ended. You can't rely on the other team members to cover for you. You need to take care of them."

Frank held up his hand when Micro started to say something and continued, "What happened tonight was not an accident. And it won't be the only attempt.

"Short didn't want to admit it, but I knew he was hurt before I could smell his fur. I'm hoping it's only an effect and his implants weren't damaged.

"Slash and Short both have the most extensive modifications due to the very nature of the fields they can manipulate. Yours aren't as extensive, but they are more precise and more sophisticated. You hardly need the visor to connect with any information system.

"That also makes you the strategist for the team. In the field, you have to call the shots. They are your team... And your responsibility.

"Even though Slash and Flash are both older than you, you are the leader of the team. You need to act like it. That means you need to plan ahead and know when to change the plan.

"No mission is complete until the entire team is back home."

Frank stood up and walked to the door. He looked down the hallway to either end and pulled the door shut. He walked back to Micro, sat down again, and leaned toward Micro.

Frank whispered, "What I tell you now is a private conversation. You will not repeat it to anyone under any circumstance. You will ensure the information can never fall into the wrong hands. Understand?"

Micro swallowed hard, but nodded. He knew the price for this information.

Frank started, "The next mission is bogus. Although the team has been trained for industrial espionage, we're not going after corporations any more. Something is going on with the government and it's gotten out of control.

"We've gotten strange reports back about the wormhole discovery and a possible refuge for life on the other side. But all of our operatives have been silent for more than a year. We don't have any information whatsoever about what's happened.

"Furthermore, many of the humanimal DNA samples have been disappearing from various research labs around the planet. It's not spy versus spy. We'd be getting the data ourselves if it was. Whole species lists are gone and have been for 8 years. Some of the more advanced information like your psibernetic modifications have been erased from other programs and the genetic manipulation studies are gone.

"Counter intelligence stepped up their operations on this side of the wormhole over six months ago. I think they know we're going rogue like some other facilities. As soon as we saw the signals three months ago, we started planning.

"In two weeks, you're going to lead the team to the old Vandenberg base and make your way to one of the space bound transports. There's been a lot of combat ship activity near the wormhole. You'll take the team with you and get on one or more of those ships and get to the other side.

"You're to stay covert at all times. You will gather any and all information you can on the status of what the military and government is doing on both sides of the wormhole.

"We've been told that there is a threat to us that may come through the wormhole. I don't trust the government, but I'd like to know what we're up against and what we need to plan for.

"This should take about a year total time, with all the travel and location changing. There's word that there is a time dilation with the wormhole, so I'm not sure of the exact length of time you will be gone. But this facility probably won't be here.

"We'll have safe houses set up to recover the team and get you home safely once you're back on this side of the wormhole. Until you get back, we have our hands tied."

Frank sighed. "Micro, we're confused as to what's going on. We know the government's lying and they have employed some of the less reputable people in our line of business.

"We want to know, are they protecting us from the truth, setting us up, or selling us out?"

Frank got up and left the room as Micro sat in shocked silence. What could be said? Micro knew the team was the dirty hands of the government, but now his own hands seemed even dirtier. The government gave him power. But at what price?

The team assembled the next afternoon for training in the briefing room.

"OK guys," Frank started. "I want to pick up the drill on Level 4. We've altered the procedure since Slice is off for the next few days.

"The places where there were barriers are now either open or altered so that each of you can handle the obstacle. If it's open, I may tell you to stop and wait. That's when we are just simulating Slice working on that section. There are points that we do want you to rest and prep for the next target.

"Short, take your time on the locks. Micro should have the security system offline for each one. Once they're open, mag-seize the bolt and wait for Flash.

"Flash, I liked your reassessment. The team will go vertical and bypass all of Section 6. That means you're all climbing. No carabineers.

"Once you reach the top, Micro will head for the ventilation system and standby to enter the data room.

"Short, you follow the alarm system cable run. At the junction box, install the shunt, and then fry the lock. Continue down the run and exit on the other side of the data room. Take out the power systems.

"Flash, as soon as every one's on the top, you get the lines and the loose gear. Prep the egress route as previously planned. And there will be no Australian repelling. Understood Short?"

"I didn't do that on purpose!" Short replied as everyone else chuckled.

Frank continued on, "Micro, the systems will be on backup power and will begin a shut down within two minutes. Your time is limited. I want a quick data copy, straight security hacks, but no corruptions allowed. The data has to be exact before and after. Minimal forensic evidence.

"Aside from Flash on the vertical ascent and Micro in the data room, I want you all to minimize your size changes. Most places you'll be working in are limited space, so you may need to even go to a smaller size than your natural forms.

"Micro, you've got tactical lead. Short, you're on backup. Flash, you're on point and have the lead for protection.

"This is a great time to see how you are all going to adapt to an unforeseen change. It's better to find out here in the simulator than out in the field where you'll have live opponents. I want this done in an hour.

"Questions..."

"Sir, time limits and planned delays?" Micro asked.

John answered, "3 minutes to the locks once I give the go sign. 5 minutes to clear the locks.

"Micro, you'll be sensing the data bursts. 45 seconds per lock to get through to beat the system checks.

"10 minutes to climb the vertical shaft and prep. As soon as Short hits the power system, you've got 4 minutes to get the data and be at the egress site. 12 minutes to the exit door."

"How's Slash?" Flash asked. "It feels odd doing this."

"The surgery went well," Frank replied. "We sedated him because he wants to train and put a guard on him so he stops bothering the nurses. We'll debrief quickly so you can all go see him as soon as possible."

Flash was still unnerved. This was the first time he was going on a mission or training since the two of them had been assigned together. They were brothers. There was no record of who was older, but they watched each other's back. They always protected each other. Now Flash felt a nakedness that no amount of fur could cover. He felt cold.

"If there are no further questions, go down and change into your gear," Frank said, interrupting Flash's thoughts. "Be in the simulator in 20 minutes. Proceed to the starting point on Level 4 and shift to your natural sizes when there. When you all check in, we'll start the run."

No one said anything, but Short's chair scrapped as it slid back on the floor. Short was excited this time. He had the chance to make decisions this time. Well, at least he was a backup in the decision making process. Usually, he only handled optical and electro-magnetic systems.

Flash, on the other hand, looked confused. Micro and Frank both glanced at each other for an instant. They could both tell that Flash wasn't all there. Micro nodded to Frank that he understood. Frank put his hand on Flash's shoulder. Flash pushed back his chair and stood up. He exhaled and headed for the door.

Everyone but Frank and Micro were now gone. They walked to the door together in silence. They passed through the door and headed in opposite directions.

Micro had a thousand questions running through his brain because of what Frank said the previous night. His only saving grace was that the training would allow him to focus. Maybe he could just block it all out for now. But he knew better than that.

In the locker room, it was quiet. Even Short had become silent. They all put on their field uniforms and got their gear. They had always paired up to do their checks. Each set of brothers together. Micro and Short. Flash and Slash.

After Micro got Short squared away, he walked over to Flash and helped him shift his pack into place. Flash tightened the shoulder straps and waist belt.

Micro broke the silence. "Let's go."

Short was first out the door again. Micro turned to follow him, but Flash's hand grabbed his shoulder strap. Flash lowered his head a little.

"Thanks," he said in a low voice. Then he walked to the door and followed Short to the training room.

As Micro exited the locker room he noticed the lupine guard fall in behind the team. Micro stared at him.

"Sir," the guard said. "I'm to escort you all to the training area, but not to enter. I should be there when you finish, but if not. Please wait for myself or one of the other security members to escort you back."

"Sir?" Micro thought. "That's a title reserved for humans. Security types must be really big on rank. Then again, he's probably not an alpha, so everyone is Sir."

Micro nodded and followed the team with his guard right behind. When they got to the training room each member placed their forepaw on the identification panel and passed through the airlock, one at a time. The guard waited for Micro to enter before he turned and left.

As soon as Micro was inside his comm-link came on.

"Proceed directly to the starting point," Frank said. "Light jog there to loosen up."

"Proceeding with light jog. Roger that." Micro responded.

The jogging was more to clear their minds than limber up their bodies as they were at the start point in 45 second. Then again, they had just bypassed all the security that had taken them 20 minutes to clear the day before.

All three shrank down to their natural sizes and crawled into the access space. They each went to their designated points and checked in. Micro keyed the external comm-link.

"We're in position," Micro called. "How's our telemetry? Over."

"Five by five on all of you," Frank replied. "Full link is running, recorders are online. The room is now locked. Simulation security routines are coming up.

"Flash, take you foot off the trip wire. Over."

"Just making sure it's working," Flash joked. "Over."

Something in Flash seemed to have clicked now. He was more himself than he had been all day.

"The clock is running gentlemen," John's voice called out. "Continue your assault. Out."

Flash leapt for the conduit and moved upwards. Micro was already tapping the security lines to read systems info. Short was feeling the air for any magnetic fields.

Flash called in, "I'm at the elbow. Placing the sensor. Switching on. You should be getting a data feed. Over"

"Got it," Micro answered. "Synching the signals now. Confirmed lock. Proceed to backup Short. Over."

"Copy that. Moving to Short's posit now. Out" Flash said.

As Micro watched the data streams pass by on his visor, he could see the difference in signal. He thought about the test the previous night. But Frank had said today's training was straight security. There were no active defenses on the simulation, so it had to be spurious signals.

"Short!" Micro barked. "Standby. 15 seconds until you're clear to proceed. Over."

"Roger." Short replied. "Moving into position and waiting for signal. Over."

"Standby. . . Execute!" Micro ordered.

Short dropped his pack and moved to the locking mechanism. Flash was right behind him grabbing the pack on the ground. Flash moved with his back facing the wall so he could see the rest of the passageway.

"Data injection on automatic," Micro signaled. "You're live. I'm on my way. Out."

"I've got the clock Short," Flash said.

"Suppressing the magnetic field," Short grunted. "Damn these barrels are stiffer than yesterday."

"Remember what Frank told you," Flash said soothingly. "Go easy and don't push hard."

Short eased up a little and felt the barrels slide into place. He gave Flash a smile as he nodded.

"You got 30 seconds before we leave you behind Micro," Flash chimed. "Over."

"Pull that panel back, would you?" Short asked Flash.

Flash grabbed the edge and strained to move it away from the lock. Short kept one hand on the panel as he moved around Flash. He switched hands one he was inside the panel doorway.

Micro came around the corner and sprinted through the doorway panting. Flash pulled the door shut, but Short kept his hand on the panel. Flash tilted his head as he looked at Short.

"Slash ID'd the material in the tumblers. They're ferrous, so not only do I have to route the field while we had them open. I have to clear the signature so they fall back in their original positions. Pretty neat." Short snorted.

"5 seconds to spare." Flash said as he glanced at the timer.

The door clicked as Short moved over to the next lock in the sequence. Micro had the wire coils out near the security lines.

"Data flow is normal," Micro told Short.

Short hesitated. . .

"Give me a current reading on the system," Short asked Micro. "This is the one that bit me yesterday and I'm not doing that again."

Flash tossed Micro a tool from Short's pack.

"You've got 5 amps, with minimal fluctuations." Micro responded. "You want continual readings?"

"Nope. Just tell me when to start." Short said closing his eyes.

5 amps could easily kill any humanoid. But even in his natural size, Short could redirect the electrons by changing the magnetic fields and the properties of the materials. Still, a single mistake and he'd be a pile of ashes they would sweep up with a brush. He could feel the power and the pulses like a heart beat.

"45 seconds on my mark," Flash called. "5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Mark."

Short placed the wire arc at the edges of the door. The room became brilliantly white as electricity crackled around the edges of the door.

"The wire's hot," Short groaned. "Open it now, but stay clear of the feed."

Flash and Micro had their goggles on. Micro grabbed the latch and eased the door open. Flash grabbed one end of the coil on the ground and went through the door. Micro grabbed the other end of the coil.

"On three!" Micro shouted over the noise of the current. "3... 2... 1... Connect!"

In an instant, the room was dark and quiet again. The only noise was Short's labored breathing.

Micro pulled his goggles down and grabbed the packs to hand through to Flash.

"Data stream's fine," Micro sighed as he checked the visor.

Short was sitting with the wire still in his hands.

"You OK?" Micro asked.

"Yeah," Short laughed. "It's just hotter than I thought. I'll be fine"

Short got up and walked to the other side of the door and got in position. Flash and Micro adjusted their goggles as they grabbed the connections.

"Alright," Short said as he closed his eyes again. "Now!"

Micro and Flash pulled the connections off the doorframe and the room was lit up and noisy again. Flash pulled the coil through and clear. Micro cautiously moved to the other side of the door and grabbed the latch. He pulled the door shut.

The room was quiet again except for the sound of Short's breathing again. Micro could smell burnt fur. He pulled off his goggles and looked at Short.

"When I ask you if you're OK, I need to know before you injured yourself." Micro stated.

Short looked at Flash and they both began to laugh.

"What's so damn funny?!" Micro demanded.

"He doesn't even notice," Short said to Flash.

"You know," Flash replied. "I think the black on his ear goes nicely with the white around his eye. Don't you?"

"Mm-hmph!" Short answered while giggling and nodding.

Micro reached up and felt where his fur had been singed from his ear. He groaned at himself.

Flash said, "I thought you knew that you're supposed to stay away from the 'trons? Wait a minute... I have to turn you in for underage smoking now."

"Stuff a sock in it," Micro replied.

Short walked over to the third lock and reached out his arms.

"Open sesame. . . " Short commanded.

The door swung open.

"Cute," Micro said as he grabbed his pack and walked through the doorway.

"Oh, mighty Hassan," Flash chuckled to Short.

"Make me laugh too hard and I'll screw up the magnetic field," Short replied.

Flash ducked beneath Short's arms and pulled the packs through. He scooted out of the way and Short followed him through. The door pulled shut and clicked as Short lowered his hands.

"Clear." Short said.

Although the last door was the easiest of any of them, Short realized just how tired he was. The second lock was an endurance and limitation test added by John. He sat down to rest for a moment.

Flash opened his pack and changed into a light harness. Micro fastened a line from the pack to a "D" ring. Flash increased his size to that of a large rat. Micro stepped up and attached the ring to Flash's harness.

"Make sure there's plenty of slack in the line," Flash said. "I don't want to get pulled back when I'm jumping or have the line break."

Flash turned and leapt upward over a meter in height where he grabbed hold of some loose cables. He proceeded, hand over hand until he was near the wall. He extended his claws and dug into the pressboard and crawled past the wires.

His second leap was going to be much shorter, but his target was a nail that hadn't been driven in all the way. He jumped and went a little too high. He grabbed the end with both paws as he slid down the wall. Immediately he dug his hind claws in.

Looking up, he saw the small ledge he wanted to use for his final leap. Slowly, he used his claws to climb upwards until he could put one of his hind paws on the nail. He stretched upwards and was able to latch onto the ledge with one of his fore paws.

He pushed off the nail and swung his weight around to get both paws on the ledge. Now it was only a matter of pushing upward with his hind claws and muscling up with his forearms.

Once on the ledge, he turned around with his back to the wall. The final leap was going to be about a meter again, but he didn't have the room to really crouch down and launch himself. It was a little to the right of where he was vertically.

He pulled on the line to coil some spare line on the ledge. He turned a little to the side so he could crouch down. Flash leaned outward a little, inhaled, and sprang upwards again.

"Piece o' cake," he thought to himself as he landed on target in the entrance. Flash looked and saw a heavy staple in the wall that he could tie the line off to. He removed his harness and wrapped it around the metal staple. Then he wrapped the line around that and attached the "D" ring to the line itself.

"Break time's over slugs," Flash called on the comm-link. "Make sure you tie all three packs to the end of the line securely. Over."

"We copy," replied Short. "I'll tie them as soon as Micro starts his ascent. Out."

Micro pulled on the line to remove the slack and started upwards. Short got up and pulled the rest of the coiled line out of Flash's pack. He removed about 4 coils of line from the free end and set the coil neatly between the packs and the free line on the ground.

Each pack was tied to the line at about one arms length apart. Short double-checked each pack and made sure they were closed tightly. He unfastened the latches on the shoulder and waist straps so they wouldn't get caught on anything as they were pulled upwards. Short keyed his comm link.

"How far up are you Micro?" he asked.

"Almost half way," came Micro's reply after a brief pause. "Once you get past the cables about a meter up, you are close enough to the wall to scale using your hind paws for leverage. Over."

"Understood," Short continued. "The packs are all tied off and there's about three meters of line coiled on the ground. You copy Flash? Over."

"Got it Short," came the quick reply from Flash. "All accesses from here check out as visually clear. No infrared or pressure sensors detected on initial search. I'm standing by, waiting for you two to join me. Over"

Micro answered, "Short, start your climb. Out."

Short grabbed the line and started to pull himself upwards. Even though he was wearing fingerless gloves, his paws still were sore and he knew the climb would be hard.

"Use you legs to push up," he repeated to himself over and over.

By the time Short was getting close to the top, his paws were starting to become numb. He grabbed the line with a death grip, which cut down his circulation even more.

All of the sudden he moved away from the wall. He closed his eyes and grabbed the line even more tightly. It was only then he realized he wasn't falling. In fact, he wasn't going anywhere. He opened his eyes and saw a very large Flash in front of himself, holding him up by his climbing harness.

"You took your time getting here," Flash scoffed. "I was trying to get Micro to bet on whether or not you'd make it."

But Flash hinted a smile and set Short down away from the ledge. Flash immediately started pulling up the line to retrieve the rest of the gear. Micro noticed that Short still hadn't released the line from his hands.

Micro bent over and asked, "Hey! You OK? We need to coil the line so it doesn't get tangled up."

Short shook his head.

"The climb was harder than I expected," he said. "Right after redirecting so much power. I don't know how well I can do the rest of the sim."

"I think Frank figured as much," Micro said as he nodded. "That's why we're doing this. To find out how far we can go and push a little more. When we screw up here, we learn about ourselves and the team. If we screw up in the real world, we get dead."

"I guess that means I failed the team," Short muttered.

"Hardly," Micro replied. "We've got the easy stuff now, and you get to break stuff. That's got to be a better reward than the food pellets at the end of the maze."

Short looked up at Micro and saw an ear-to-ear grin. He couldn't help but smile himself. He let go of the line and moved around to help Micro coil the line for Flash.

Once they had the line and the packs, Flash shifted back to his natural size. They all put their packs back on. Flash and Micro both helped Short with his pack since they knew he was at the end of his strength.

Flash put the coiled line over his shoulder and lead the team up the conduit to a section that had been cut through. Slash would have torn through the conduit to provide them all with access.

Flash turned around and faced Short and Micro. He waited until they were both there and pointed upwards.

"OK," Micro started. "Flash, you head to the egress point and prep for our repelling. Short, cut the lock lines while I take out the sensors. Then hit the power room and shut down the systems. I'll get the data as soon as the lights go out.

"Short's the first one down. As soon as he's at the bottom, you follow him Flash. I'll meet you on the ground floor."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Flash boosted Short and then Micro into the overhead. Then he took off down the conduit for his exit point.

Short and Micro made quick work of the security systems protecting the computer room. Micro started crawling upwards to get to the overhead vent to access the room. Short started running for the power room.

Micro was at the vent opening and peered through the grate. He saw no cameras or monitoring equipment. Just as the plan said. He changed his size to about a half-meter tall. He lifted the latches on the grate so he could release it. He pushed the grate forward, turned it sideways, pulled it into the shaft. He sniffed the air and could tell that the foreman had worked in the room.

"Damn, I hate that scent..." he thought to himself.

Short made it to the power room. He could feel the power coursing through the cables. Ten's of amperes running across buss bars filling the room with ozone so thick he was intoxicated by the smell. This was his idea of ecstasy.

He really wanted to play with the power here, but he knew he had to finish the job. He ran to the front panels and checked the circuit designations. He crawled into the main board and looked upwards.

Slowly, he pushed the EM fields together between different buss bars. It was hard, but he got the power to start arcing and the amperage on the main line shot up. This caused the bar to heat up and reduce its efficiency, which drew more amperage. He could hear the alarms starting to sound on the control system.

Short was careful to ensure the breaker was seized so it couldn't drop the circuit early. He started the same cascade on two other bars. The panel started to fill with the smell of insulation burning.

"Time to get out of here," he thought as he crawled out of the switchboard.

He stepped back to survey his work. He could see the voltage dropping and amperage climbing to compensate. Breakers started to trip to protect equipment. The grid was in a cascade failure. Finally, the main breaker tripped and the room lights went off. Then, two more of the heavy breakers slammed open.

At the same time, something hit him hard enough to knock him into the wall near the main door. He tried to shout for help, but the he had the wind knocked.

Short felt his legs, but couldn't move them. His paws felt wet when he felt his side. He reached for his comm-link, but noticed that it was dead. He tried to crawl back to the entrance hole only a half-meter away, leaving a trail of blood. He already knew what had happened. He hoped it wouldn't take long.

As soon as the lights went out, Micro jumped out of the vent and rushed to the terminal. He shifted to full humanoid size and extracted the data card from his pack. He has his visor hooked into the terminal and was already hacking the system when the comm-link came on.

"Abort the training," Frank called. "Repeat, abort the training.

"We've lost telemetry on Short. All sensors went down when Short tripped the power system including the simulation monitors. His personal systems are not registering.

"We're trying to reroute power now. Use extreme prejudice when entering the power room. Respond. Over."

"Flash here," came a call. "I'm on thermal goggles and a third of the way back to the power room. I'll come in from the backside. There's an entrance that should be clear and free from any live electricity."

"Micro here," came a second call. "I'll come in from where he entered via the conduit."

Micro leapt upwards and changed size in flight. He got in the vent and retraced his steps. Then he headed down the path that Short had gone.

"Dammit!" Frank shouted at John. "The sensors are completely isolated from the training systems. I want the safety lights and sensors on now!

"Security! What's the status on the main door?"

"Jammed hard, Sir," squawked the communications panel. "Request permission to use extreme measures."

"Do it!" Frank replied. "I'll be there in 90 seconds.

"All security teams. Hold your positions. We had a probable breech of security. Full lock down measures are now in effect. No one moves except security, medical, and me!

"Status?"

"I'll have lights in 15 seconds, but only the outer layer. Nothing inside the breaker room Frank." John replied.

"Flash? Micro?" Frank called. "You'll have lights outside, but inside it's still dark. Be careful. Plan for worst-case scenario. You're fully operational as of now. I repeat, worst-case scenario. Use of force is authorized."

The lights in the training area came on, but the interior of the platforms were still dark. In the power room, two emergency lanterns had turned on as soon as the lights went out. The room had smoke swirling around from the burnt insulation, but there was enough light reflected off the switchboards to see. The conduits where Flash and Micro were running were completely dark, but they both knew the path.

Micro was the first one to get close to the room. He skidded to a stop and choked off a scream of terror.

"Flash?" he whispered in his comm-link. "Flash? Come in."

"What?" Flash answered.

"There's a paw with claws out reaching around in the conduit," Micro whispered in a terrified voice. "I can't see Short."

"Fuck me!" Flash thought to himself. "Get in close and see if you can find Short, but stay out of reach."

There was no second-guessing now. Flash had taken charge, as this was now an operation, not training. Micro had been on operations, but never a live, hostile-fire, combat type mission. Micro and Short were only trained as spies. Flash and Slash had trained as saboteurs first, and only later became spies.

Micro was shaking, but he steeled himself and started forward as ordered by Flash. He pinned himself to the wall and edged closer to the paw that was moving around. The paw blocked his view of the rest of the conduit, but he could smell it was a feline. It kept reaching in the direction away from Micro.

Micro was about 20 cm from the hole when one of his feet slid into something wet. He couldn't see anything, so he squatted down and touched the liquid. As he brought his paw up to smell the liquid, the odor struck him.

"MAKER, NO!!!" he screamed as he leapt backwards.

The paw disappeared revealing a grisly sight. Short lie motionless on the ground. His hands were melted into a wire that kept him in the conduit. What was left of his legs were badly mangled.

The paw re-entered the hole, but this time it was coming in Micro's direction. Micro scrambled backwards to keep out of range. He was nearly paralyzed with fright. He finally remembered to key the comm-link.

"Confirmed feline," Micro reported. "Short's messed up bad. He's not moving. I can't get to him. I think..."

He stopped as he started to cry before keying off the microphone.

Flash didn't even key his mic for a response. He ripped off his harness and goggles as he ran for the back hole, which had come into view. It took too much concentration to change size with gear and he was concentrating on only one thing when he hit the hole.

Frank had to wait at each airlock to get from the control room to the entrance to the training room. He heard an explosion as he cleared the final airlock. As the door opened, he saw the canid guards standing by with assault rifles at the ready.

"Two stay here to check anything going in or out," Frank ordered the sergeant. And I don't want anything but us and the team going in or out until we know exactly what's going on.

"Any status?"

"Nothing's been passed to us, Sir," the sergeant replied. "Wait... Oh shit! Man down! Med team is being called in."

"Let's move it!" Frank yelled.

The two lead guards took off with Frank right behind and they scrambled up the scaffolding stairs.

Flash grew in size as he emerged from the hole. His humanoid size was about 1.6 meters in height. Right now, bigger was going to be better. By the time he made it around the switchboard he was already 2.5 meters tall.

He saw the humanimal bobcat with one forearm in the wall. Flash screamed wordlessly in anger as he launched himself toward the feline.

The bobcat snapped its head around to see Flash coming towards him. He tried to pull his forearm from the wall, but Flash was already on top of him.

Flash grabbed the free arm at the wrist with one paw, put his other paw on the bobcat's shoulder. Flash pulled the arm close as he swung over the cat's shoulder and twisted. He folded the arm across the bobcat's back, and could feel the ligaments tearing as the joint was ripped out of the socket.

The bobcat screamed in pain and kicked out with its hind paws. The bobcat was trying to get free, but Flash didn't care about the pain from the claws. It only made him angrier.

Flash released the arm he had pinned and pushed the bobcat face down on the floor. He extended his own claws and reached down on the lower back. He pushed his claws into the flesh until he could feel the ends go in. Then he closed his fingertips around the vertebrae and started squeezing until he could feel the bones crushing.

The bobcat howled in pain. One arm still stuck in the wall. Its lower extremities paralyzed. The other arm pulled backwards across its back, held on only by the muscles and skin.

Flash stood over his victim with a look of utter contempt. The bobcat looked up at him an defiantly hissed. Flash grabbed him by the nap of the neck and threw him across the room like a rag doll.

Flash walked over to the heap of fur and picked it up by the neck. The bobcat's only functional arm swung around with claws exposed, and aimed at Flash's face. Flash had seen it coming though and used his other paw to catch the wrist before it got to his face.

"Bad Kitty..." he said with an evil grin.

Now the tables had been turned. The mouse was larger than the cat, but it was still the same game. And they both knew it.

Flash raised the bobcat by the wrist and moved his other paw to the attaching shoulder. The bobcat snapped forward with its fangs to try and bite his paw. Flash pulled his paw free and then slapped the bobcat with the same bloody paw. The evil smile disappeared from Flash's face.

Flash pulled his free arm back and let loose with a jab punch into the bobcat's rib cage. The bobcat screamed as his ribs shattered and punctured the lung. Flash repeated that three more times on the same side. Blood streamed from the cat's mouth as he coughed between raspy breaths.

"Don't die on me yet..." Flash sneered. "I'm not finished with you."

He grabbed the head of the bobcat and pinned him back with his left forearm under the chin. He took his right paw and grabbed the hand of the left paw of the dislocated arm. He pushed on the back of the paw to extend one of the claws fully.

The bobcat couldn't howl, couldn't fight, and he could hardly breath. Flash used the bobcat's own claw to open up his chest. Tears streamed down that bobcat's face to mingle with his blood.

The door to the power room burst open as the two guards dove in. The guards aimed at Flash, but froze when they saw what was happening. Flash continued the evisceration with a second cut. Frank entered the room.

"Oh, Christ," Frank gasped. "Flash. Stand down son. Flash? Come on back."

Flash didn't stop. Frank walked over and touched the huge, blood soaked mouse. He couldn't tell who's blood it was, but by the look of the fight, he figured Flash was OK physically.

When Frank's fingers touched Flash's bicep, he swung back and knocked Frank back to where the guards were kneeling. Flash turned his head and snarled at Frank. Or was it the guards. No one knew. Flash turned his attention back to his now limp victim.

The sergeant stood up and slung the rifle on his shoulder. He drew out a pistol from his shoulder holster. He took aim on Flash and fired in one motion.

Flash stopped what he was doing after he was struck. He dropped the carcass and turned toward the guard who had shot him. The guard still had the pistol pointed at Flash, this time, at his head. Flash had a puzzled look on his face. Flash looked at the guard, then Frank. Then his eyes rolled back as he collapsed on the floor.

"Damn you!" Frank shouted. "You didn't need to kill him!"

"He was a threat to everyone in the room," the sergeant replied as he reholstered the pistol. "You saw the look in his eyes. He was hollow. He couldn't have stopped himself if he wanted to. He felt only rage and death.

"You humans have been fighting with each other for millennia, and you still don't understand the fighting mentality. We've only existed as genetic mutations for a few decades, yet we still have our instincts. Maybe the humans ought to try splicing in some of our genes and you'd be a little more cognizant.

"And another thing, SIR. You need to learn about the weapons you issue us. I drew a pneumatic tranquilizer pistol. If I were going to kill him, I would have just used the rifle and emptied his braincase."

The guard walked over and carefully pulled Flash's body away from the bobcat. The other guard had taken up a position near the door so he could see anyone else coming.

Frank looked around the dimly lit room and saw the trail of blood leading to the hole. He got down on his hands and knees and tried to look in.

"Micro? Short?" he called. "We don't have comms here. Are you OK?"

A weak and tired voice replied. "No pulse. No breathing. Major loss of blood. Not responding. BLS for 3 minutes so far."

"Micro?" Frank asked. "Can you move Short? Also, is your comm-link up?"

"Tired," Micro panted. "Not sure of other injuries. Comms were lost after I got to Short. I couldn't raise medical."

"Get him out here," Frank said. "We don't have a chance if we can't get him to medical."

Frank could hear Micro straining to move Short. Micro backed his way out of the hole, dragging Short out by the shoulders.

Franks gasped as he saw the extent of Short's injuries. His side was gashed open across his ribs. His lower left leg was completely missing. His other hind paw was sliced in half. His forepaws looked like he had held them in a fire. He had held on to the wire so hard, some of the copper had now formed a coating on part of his paws.

Micro had gone back to performing basic life support on Short. Frank looked at the sergeant.

"I need him taken to medical, now," Frank said, pointing at Short's body.

The guard spoke up, "If we drop security on the airlocks, he can make it there in less than two minutes from the outside of the training room."

He pointed at the other guard. The guard got up and handed his rifle to Frank. He knelt down by Micro and took out his first aid kit. The guard removed a roll of gauze and folded a piece about four times.

"Roll him," the guard told Micro.

Micro looked up and understood. He rolled Short's body on its side so the guard could lay down the strip. The strip was longer than Short's length.

"Back," he clipped.

Frank had moved to the other side of the guard. Micro had placed Short's arms along his sides. The guard pointed to Frank.

"Lift and hold ends," he said.

As Frank carefully lifted the ends of the gauze, the guard mummified Short's body.

"Not breathing anyway," the guard said. "Now, rest of body doesn't move so less likely to be injured."

The guard quickly, but carefully placed his paw around the gauze encasement. He closed his fingers around the body and stood up. With his other hand he closed the first aid kit. The sergeant turned to him.

"You're clear to medical," he said. "We'll signal ahead the old fashioned way. We won't have to wait for these communicators to work."

With that the guard carrying Short took off at a full sprint. The sergeant walked out the door and howled. They could hear two different howls in response. The sergeant walked back in.

"Sir," the sergeant said to Frank. "There's a medical team at the exit door. How do you want to proceed?"

"Short takes priority. Have the medical types stand by, " Frank said standing up. "Hell, we don't even know if there are more of them in here."

"More what?" the sergeant asked.

Micro shifted to his humanoid size and answered, "More felines. And no, there aren't."

Frank spun around. "And how would you know that?" he asked incredulously.

"I know the scent," Micro said as he hung his head low. "Find the repair foreman. He's been with this cat before."

"He's dead, right?" Micro asked, glancing at the corpse on the ground.

"Yes," the sergeant replied. "Sir, I have comms," he added to Frank.

"All teams. Locate and apprehend the training center repair foreman. Consider him armed and dangerous. He is wanted alive for questioning.

"Medical central. Stand by to receive casualties. Status: Grave.

"Training center guard team. Hold medical personnel at entrance while sweeping for other threats. We will bring the casualty to you."

"Change that," Frank interrupted. "Have them come in as soon as your partner leaves the exit."

The sergeant called it through as Frank turned to Micro.

"Micro?" Frank said. "How long have you known about this?"

"About three weeks," Micro answered. "We all thought you had put him up to having the scent on himself to try and get us used to it. I did have the largest problem on the last mission."

"Problem?" Frank asked.

"Fear of felines," Micro said quietly. "Even dead, I'm still afraid of it."

"No," Frank said flatly. "If anything, I would have put you through conditioning directly or used a mental implant. Hell, I would have contracted with an independent to have a feline train with you, but that would have caused more suspicion than we could allow. We're still pretty unknown... At least we were."

When the medical team arrived, they immediately started to bind Flash's wounds.

"His vital signs are stable, sir," the lead tech said. "We need to get him to medical. I want to run a full set of tests including toxins.

"And seeing how you both have blood on you, you both need to stop down in the decontamination station and have a quick check run."

Frank nodded and waved him on. The paramedics moved Flash onto a stretcher and groaned as they lifted him. He size made it difficult to handle as they exited the room.

Frank put his hand on Micro's shoulder and pushed him to the door. Frank paused as he stepped into the hallway and turned to the sergeant.

"Sorry about barking at you earlier," Frank said. "You did the right thing and I wasn't thinking clearly.

"You'll see that is handled properly and I get a report?"

"I'll see to it personally," the sergeant answered. "And by the way, sir. You don't bark. . . "

"You sure?" Frank said and he pushed Micro forward again. They walked silently out of the training center and down to medical.

Once in medical, they both showered down and went through decontamination. Once the test results came back, they both grabbed medical smocks and went to the trauma center. It was less a medical trauma center than some labs linked together, but the equipment worked well in a crisis like this.

The first room they looked in had Flash tied down to the bed, but he was still. A nurse was attending him. Monitors beeped away showing his condition. Flash's arms and legs had bandages on them, but they showed no sign of bleeding. The nurse looked up at Frank and nodded with a smile and the "OK" sign.

They both walked to the next room where the serious equipment was stored. Here, the doctors and technicians worked on Short, trying to revive him. Frank stepped away from the entrance, turned his back to the wall and leaned back. Anguish and anger swept over his face as Micro watched him. Then Micro turned his attention back into the room.

The room had equipment that allowed for microsurgery, but their problem was Short's current state due to loss of fluids. He had altered his size to something that was neither his natural size nor his humanoid size. They had blood products pre-staged for those two sizes, but in his attempt to escape, he had altered his size to something smaller than normal.

Had he been one of the normal sizes, they could easily transfuse blood into him. If he were unconscious, but still alive, his body's systems would still be able to process the blood products and alter their size to match the rest of the body.

The only thing they were left with was to inject small amounts of synthetic plasma, but that wasn't enough. They couldn't get enough oxygen into his system, and he wasn't even processing what was in his lungs.

After a few more minutes, the doctor pushed back his chair and rubbed his nasal ridge between the eyes. He reached up and turned off the equipment. As he stood up, the technicians started to disconnect the electrodes and clamps attached to Short's lifeless body.

The doctor walked to the door where Frank and Micro waited. The doctor wouldn't meet Micro's eyes, but he placed his hand on Micro's head and stroked his head fur as he passed. Frank was still looking at the floor.

"We almost had him back," the doctor said. "He still had brain activity and we got his heart started. The loss of blood was too great. His system had stopped converting the oxygen and the heart and brain failed before we could get enough blood in him."

The doctor got close to Frank and whispered something in his ear.

"Who gives a damn any more?" Frank muttered as he pushed the doctor away.

The doctor sighed, turned, and walked back toward his office. Micro had been standing in the doorway to the room, but he watched the exchange between the humans. Now, Frank was walking toward him.

There was a clattering sound that emanated from Flash's room. Frank winced and looked at Micro.

"You better go down there and talk to him," he said. "I don't think he'll listen to me right now.

Frank closed his eyes hard, as if he could stop what was happening if he didn't have to look. He grabbed Micro's shoulders and lightly squeezed them.

Micro understood the team was his to command. He now realized the heavy price that came with it. It was his job to break the news to Flash and Slash that his brother was dead. It also meant he'd have to take responsibility for everyone's actions.

"Did I push Short too far?" he wondered. "Should I have stopped the drill after the climb?"

"It was my call to make," Frank answered for him. "Go see Flash."

Micro rushed down to Flash's room, expecting to see Flash struggling with the nurse. Instead, he saw Flash looking remorseful on the side of the bed quietly with the nurse trying to disconnect the monitor wires.

Flash had reverted to his humanoid size as soon as he regained consciousness, which made it easy for him to slip out of the restraints. The noise came when he tried to get up from the bed and pulled the IV bottle over.

The nurse warned him to go slowly as he tried to get up now. With the adrenaline gone, and the weakness in his legs from his wounds, Flash found walking to be difficult. The nurse was trying to help Flash, but the nurse was too large for Flash to use for support. Micro rushed over and put Flash's forearm over his neck. Micro put an arm behind Flash and helped him to the door.

"I should have been faster," Flash groaned.

"There was nothing you could have done," Micro said. "He was cut too badly. He lost so much blood. I only prolonged his pain and agony trying to keep him alive.

"I should have stopped the exercise when you had to pull him up. I didn't do my job as team leader."

Flash stopped walking. "Bull shit," he said. "You were the team leader and that means you have to push everyone. In the field, we'd all be dead or getting cut up if we just stopped. What happened here was completely outside your training. So drop the fucking attitude. We make mistakes. We make amends. We move on."

Flash started moving again, looking forward. Micro didn't reply, but he understood. He didn't agree with what Flash said. At least, not all of it. He wanted to wallow in some self-pity.

They got to the entrance of the room where Frank was sitting. His head rested on the backs of his hands. Neither Micro nor Flash could see Frank's face, but they could here him saying something. It was rhythmic, but they didn't understand the words.

"Do you know what he's saying?" Micro asked Flash.

Flash shook his head. He pulled his arm away from Micro and tried to stand up straight. Flash shuffled his feet into the room and stopped about a meter from Frank. Frank had stopped speaking, but he still looked down at Short. Flash glanced at Short's remains, closed his eyes and swallowed.

"Sir?" Flash started. "I know I went too far. I let personal desires take priority over what I was trained to do. In doing so, I destroyed a possible lead." His voice started to shake.

"I won't say I am sorry for doing that," he continued, "but believe me when I say that I am sorry for hitting you. I was caught up in my own bloodlust. I didn't want to hurt you."

Frank finally turned to face Flash and tried to give him a weak smile. Frank's eyes were red and his cheeks were wet with tears. He stood up and put his arms around Flash.

"I know," Frank said chokingly. "I know. We've been through it before, but none of us were prepared for this. I don't blame you for what happened. Because I would have done the same if I could have."

Frank pulled Flash in tighter to his chest. He started stroking the fur on the back of Flash's head. Flash could feel the shudders as Frank continued to sob and felt the tears roll off his face onto Flash's ear.

Micro had stepped back from the door and could hear them sobbing together. He turned and walked away. He wanted to go off and sulk by himself. At the end of the hallway he had to wait for the escort to arrive so he could go to the dressing room and put his clothes on.

Micro changed back into his normal clothes and stepped out. The guard was still waiting for him. He was two steps behind him all the way to the dorm rooms. After Micro entered the room and closed the door, he listened. The guard wasn't leaving.

"Are we being protected?" he thought to himself. "Or are we now prisoners?"

He looked around the room. It looked more like a cell than his home. He sat down and reached for the data visor. He looked at the inside of it. He set it back on the table and leaned back in his chair.

"What good was all the training?" he questioned. "We never got hurt in the field. We've only got injured when we were here."

Worst of all, Micro now felt alone. Although he and Short were not genetically related like Slash and Flash, they had been raised together. They spent their free time together like Slash and Flash. But now, Micro had no one to turn to. . .

John was waiting in Frank's office leafing through some folders when Frank entered. Frank sat down in the other chair in front of his desk.

"What's our status, and what have you found?" Frank asked.

John looked up and said, "The perimeter is locked down. Guards are now on two on, one off shift rotation. They are going section by section to verify there are no other intruders in the facility."

He handed Frank a folder.

"Here's the profile on the known intruder that Flash dispatched. Old genetic humanimal. Possibly a second-generation type. Very primitive brain. Very limited speech capability. Maybe 30 words.

"With it being that type, it could have been vat grown and trained in less than a year's time. The training would be simple and direct."

"Psibernetics?" Frank asked.

"None detected," John answered. "So we have no leads on manufacture."

John handed him the second folder.

"Here's the foreman's record. Model employee. Not one thing to say he'd ever turn on us.

"But here's the clincher. The entry records say he checked in and out on time, but no one has seen him today. His car is still in the parking garage. I've sent a human team out to check out his apartment tonight."

Frank shook his head and said, "We can break into any place and get whatever data we want. But we can't protect or even watch ourselves.

"In two weeks I want this place empty. I'll send the team out in one week on a light mission and have them rendezvous with us.

"There's an old missile silo complex that was supposed to be destroyed in Wyoming. It never was, but it did get erased from the government public books. Everything will be made on dusk to dawn runs to minimize observation."

"What do you want done with Short?" John asked as he got up for the chair.

"Download everything you can from the implants," Frank said. "Then destroy the remains. Especially the psibernetics. Lock all the data in the vault. As of tomorrow, he never existed.

"I expect you to handle it personally this evening. That's all."

Frank got up and walked to the door. After closing and locking it, he walked back to the desk and sat down at the computer. He typed a priority message to his boss, knowing the system was compromised.

"We're on our own now," he thought. "HQ will cleanse this location now so there are no traces left. I've got three days. . . Conglomerates and governments be damned."

In the morning, Frank stopped by Micro's room. Micro was still sleeping when he closed the door. Frank walked to the stereo and turned on a channel that neither of them liked.

"Ugh, what's th..." Micro started to say.

Frank held his finger to his lips to let Micro know to be quiet. He then pulled out a paper and a data disk. He handed them both to Micro and walked out of the room.

"We must move quickly. The remaining team members need to be gone in three days. We've been betrayed.

Consider all systems compromised and rooms bugged. Use your field computer to read the disk, but do not link it to anything online. Do not connect to the systems online yourself without using an isolator. Consider any cyber connections hostile.

We will have a meeting in my office at 11 AM. Destroy this message and keep the data disk with you at all times."

Frank stopped at Flash and Slash's rooms and did the same, although they were both up already. Flash ate his note before Frank had even left the room.

"I wanted a snack," Flash said. "And doc says I need more fiber."

Frank was waiting in his office at 11 AM. Flash and Slash showed up together. Slash's forepaws were still bandaged, but he said they felt OK. Flash's legs had only gotten light wounds, so he had already removed the bandages. His forearm was still bandaged from where he had been bitten.

Micro showed up last. Frank closed the door and turned on some music. They all sat at the meeting table.

"Alright," Frank started. "I've got electronics interfering with anything in the room. We should have about 30 minutes before anyone can rebug the room.

"We've been made and we're now on our own. I've already received a communiqué from HQ disavowing all knowledge of us. This place will be sanitized within a week, probably sooner. Nothing will be left here, and nothing will have ever been here. I doubt they are going to see to us being relocated either.

"The disks you've been given have your real mission targets. Access your regular terminals for the scheduled mission. Read it like you would a normal mission, but don't bother memorizing it. It's just a cover story to get you out of here."

Slash was the first to speak up.

"Get US out?" he asked. "To where?"

"Off planet," Frank replied. "You're all known to someone and you'd be spotted if I tried to move you to another location. You're probably going to be spending most of your time in your natural size since humanimal rodents are still a rarity.

"The data disks will give you the profiles and other essentials. This is a one-way ticket for now. What I've read on the classified net didn't sound good before I got locked out.

"Anyone leaving the facility is going to be on the run. I want to give you guy a head start."

"Why?" Flash asked looking back and forth from the team to Frank.

"Why what?" Frank shot back.

"Why are you trying to get us out of here?" he asked. "We were told that we were just tools to be used since day one of our combat training. We've always been expendable."

Slash nodded in agreement. Micro sat in silence, not moving, but looking at Frank for the answer.

"Because there are those of us who don't agree with every policy that comes down from on high," Frank answered. "I've got some other reasons, but maybe I just think you've all done enough already.

"Lastly, being on the run may not be better than staying here. But once you're away from here, you can decide for yourselves if you want to keep running."

All three nodded. They wanted their freedom, but they knew they'd have to fight for it and start with nothing.

Micro spoke up and said, "Um... About Short. Are we..."

Frank cut him off, saying, "A wise man once said, 'Let the dead bury the dead.' You need to worry about the living."

Micro got up and walked out. Slash and Flash remained seated with Frank. When the door shut, Frank continued.

"It's vital that he leaves," Frank said. "There's more riding on it than you'd believe."

"He'll leave, Sir," Flash answered. "If I have to tie him up and drag him out by his tail."

Slash and Flash got up and walked out of the room as John opened up the door.

"What was that about?" John asked.

"I decided to go over the mission brief in here," Frank said. "I was telling them about the missile site and what our options are to get them there afterwards. I think we are still compromised, so I did it here to be sure we weren't bugged."

"I should have been here," John protested.

"Don't worry," Frank said. "If I'm with the team, you're less likely to be watched and can move more freely. The mission is one of our backlogged ones. They need a low risk mission to rebuild their confidence right now.

"By the way. Was everything taken care of?"

"Hmm?" John said. "Oh, yeah. His room is already cleared."

"Good," Frank said with a nod. "Let me know if anything comes up."

John left the room and Frank pulled out a small field computer. He connected a wire to the device and attached the other end to the base of his skull. He closed his eyes for a few moments and then disconnected the wires. He coiled the wires and placed the device and the wires in his coat pocket.

Frank got up and walked to the doctor's office. The doctor was packing notes in boxes, but it was obvious that he was going to be there for days.

"Hey Doc," Frank said with a forced smile.

"You only smile at me when you're up to no good, or you want something," the doctor said with his eyebrows raised.

"You wound me, Doc," Frank said laughing. "But now that you mention it."

"Here it comes," the doc groaned.

Frank held out a little piece of paper. The doctor took it and started reading.

"I need this done. Preferably tonight," Frank said in a hushed tone.

"Is this for Micro?" the doctor asked.

"No," Frank answered. "The recipient is listed at the bottom of the message. I need you to do this one alone and at night. The mod should take about six hours if I remember right."

The doctor shook his head and said, "This is more than highly irregular, but everything is in order and the codes are right. I guess I shouldn't be surprised about this. Are the implants being delivered soon?"

"They're already in hand," Frank answered. "I had anticipated this would come up about three months ago. It should be interesting to see it applied finally."

"I'll be the judge of that," the doctor muttered. "There's still enough equipment here that I can do it in two days."

"That'll do fine," Frank said. "And mum's the word."

Frank took the message back from the doctor and slipped it into the cover folder. Frank just needed the time.

The next two days were quiet, but aggravating for Frank. He was having trouble remembering which misinformation he had told to which groups.

The repair foreman had completely disappeared. The assassin provided no clues as to his manufacture or inception. Even the search of the compound turned up nothing. It was all very neat and tidy. Too neat. Frank decided to play a hunch and gamble. He entered a request to alter the drop and dust off points for the mission.

That night, Frank slipped into Micro's room. It was pitch black, but Frank knew where everything was. He made his way to the bed, pulled out a small case and removed the syringe. Frank took the cover off the tip and tapped the side. He pushed the plunger to get a few drops on the needle.

He could hear Micro's heart beating and his shallow breathing. Frank's eyes had adjusted to the dim light in the room so he could make out Micro's form. He adjusted the syringe in his hand so his thumb was on the plunger and the barrel was in his fist.

"Sorry kid," he whispered as he leaned over.

Micro felt a sharp pain in his neck. He tried to struggle or shout, but a hand was over his mouth and a heavy weight was on top of him. He realized that he was pinned down and smothered, but all too quickly a haze was coming over his mind. He couldn't feel anything. Blackness engulfed him as he slipped away.

Frank felt Micro stop struggling. He waited a few moments more and then lifted up. He checked Micro's pulse. Strong, slow, and steady. Even his breathing was calm and steady.

He pulled the needle from Micro's neck and put the cap back on. He returned the syringe to its case. He then pulled out the device he had used in his office a few days earlier and placed it on the bed next to Micro.

This time he had two sets of wires. One set he connected to himself from the unit, and the other set went to Micro. He switched the unit on and closed his eyes.

Frank controlled the data flow. Deep regression sequences, double encryption codes, time delayed lockouts. Data on subjects he didn't understand, but knew their very existence was important. And all of it locked out to Micro without the right key.

"You won't even know about this until the time is right kid," Frank thought smugly. "You're not even in my class yet."

He was about to laugh when he heard someone near the door.

"Shit," his mind screamed. "I haven't transferred it all. End transfer."

He disconnected the wires and stuffed them all in his pocket. He turned to the door as it opened and was blinded by the light.

"What are you doing here?" John demanded.

Frank put his finger up to his lips and pushed John back into the hall.

"Micro's been having trouble sleeping since the incident," Frank lied. "I used a waveform inducer to put him into a deep sleep. He's finally going to get a full night's sleep."

Frank had closed the door to Micro's room.

"So what's up?" Frank asked.

"I was going to update their field computers," he answered. "They haven't been sync'd for about three days now."

"Don't worry about that," Frank said. "They'll bring them to the office for the brief tomorrow morning. You can get them all at once."

"What brief?" John asked.

"The new drop and dust zones," Frank said. "You got the request reply. I made sure to CC you on it. Didn't you read it?"

"Right," John said. "Sorry about that. I didn't think we'd do a formal brief just for that."

"I want to be sure of what is going to happen," Frank stated.

John nodded in agreement. As they both walked toward the human dorms.

"Well, I'm going to turn in for the night then," John said. "See you in the morning."

"G'night," Frank answered.

Frank turned down the hallway and headed toward medical to meet with the doctor.

Micro woke up with a hang over, a sore neck, and one weird dream. Problem was, he didn't remember drinking.

He checked his normal terminal for messages and found a briefing scheduled with updated information with John. He compared that to his field computer.

Something wasn't right. He couldn't figure out what, but the message wasn't proper. He knew it was disinformation, but there was something within the message that was wrong. If only he were allowed to dive the system and look at the source message.

He dressed quickly and headed up to Frank's office. He knocked on the door when he got there, but there was no answer. He turned to leave and saw Frank walking toward him.

"Have you got a minute?" Micro called out.

"Only if you're quiet," Frank moaned. "I feel like my brain's been smashed by a gold brick with a twist of lemon."

"What?" Micro asked.

"Sorry," Frank said. "Old joke."

Frank entered the office and turned on a small device. He held up his hand to stop Micro. He found two bugs and destroyed them.

"It's become a little game," he said. "Yesterday I found six of them in less than an hour.

"So what's up?"

"I got an email from John," Micro said. "But something didn't look right about it."

"Good eye," Frank said with a smile. "Be here about 15 minutes before the meeting is supposed to start. And tell Slash and Flash to go work out."

"So what was wrong?" Micro asked.

"Show up and find out," Frank said.

Micro left Frank's office with more questions than answers. But he followed Frank's instructions and went back to his room. He waited until it was time to go back to the office. He was bored, but the questions still nagged him.

When Micro got to the office, only Frank was present.

"Good," he said. "You're early. I need you to keep scanning. Jam any sensors that try and penetrate the room. I also want you to stay out of sight. Best if you get as small as possible and watch from on top of the bookcase. You'll know when to shift to a larger size."

"Still more questions," Micro thought. "But at least I should get some answers during this meeting."

Micro shrank down to a size smaller than his natural size and hopped into Frank's hand. Frank lifted him from the floor to the top of the bookcase, where he promptly jumped and moved away from the edge.

Now, they would both wait. Frank knew what was going to happen. But Micro was completely clueless, aside from knowing that Frank had all the cards.

John knocked on the door and came in. He looked around and saw only Frank standing by his desk.

"Where's everyone else?" John said nervously.

"I decided you were right," Frank said with a wave of his hand. "We didn't need a formal brief to go over the changes for the points.

"Go ahead and have a seat."

John walked over and sat at the table. He set his computer gear on the floor next to the chair.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past few days," Frank started. "We never had any alarms or sensors go off the day of the intrusion. No alarms were set off in the training area, except for the tripwire that Flash was standing on.

"No one caught the scent of the intruder, except the team members the day before, and only Micro on the day of the attack. And the assassin knew exactly where and when to strike Short, so he could get no support from anyone else.

"Then, when Short was attacked, both telemetry and voicelink were lost. But only the data unit had been damaged. The transmitter is in the headset, and that was undamaged until Short overloaded it with an EM field.

"Add to that, the training room systems had an overload precisely when Short overloaded the simulation switchboard. Problem there is the routing breakers are supposed to block the backlash, but they never kicked in. When I had them tested the next day, they worked just fine.

"Both the assassin and the foreman produced no leads. In fact, the foreman still hasn't been found. Strange that nothing was different about the foreman, even on the day of the attack. Yet he had contact with the assassin, or did he?

"He had to be a very well trained sleeper to do all that while no one noticed, and then just vanish while the facility was locked down. Trained much better than you regular delivery boy. Especially for a specific hit.

"And now we come to this..."

Frank clicked some keys on the keyboard and the screen on the wall lit up. John turned to look at it. Micro recognized it at once. It was the e-mail.

"So," John said indignantly. "I schedule the meetings normally."

"Very sloppy, John," Frank said waving a finger at him. "I knew it on sight, but even Micro caught it. How could you forward a message you never received?"

Frank brought up the source code of the message on screen. John's name was on the "CC" line, but when Frank pulled the properties of the name, it was misspelled.

"Your ID wasn't spelled correctly," Frank continued. "You never could have gotten the message, because the system never sent it to you. Also, I had already talked with the commander at headquarters, and no communications on the classified network were being acknowledged.

"You're my mole. You're the one who set us up. And you're the fucking bastard who killed one of my kids!" Frank yelled as he pointed his finger at John.

Micro ripped the sensor glove from his hand. He screamed as he leapt off the top of the bookcase. John had enough time to turn and see Micro when he landed on the table. Micro dug his hindclaws into the table top and launched himself forward. He was already twice human size when he grabbed John by the shoulder. Micro pulled John from the chair and drove him face first into the carpeting.

Frank walked around the table in front of John and Micro. John's arms and legs were flailing about, but Micro had him pinned down. Blood was spreading on the carpet.

"Wow, John," Frank taunted. "That must have really hurt. I think you've got a broken nose.

"You know you're not going anywhere. Why are you struggling like that? Micro could snap your neck if he wanted to right now."

Micro grabbed John's hair and pulled his head back as he pushed with his other paw between the shoulder blades.

"No, no, no, Micro," Frank said. "Don't break his neck. At least, not yet."

Micro let go of John's hair and his head snapped back down into the floor again. He grabbed both of John's wrists and twisted his arms back behind his neck. Frank squatted down in front of John.

"That's still gotta hurt, man," he said. "Anything left to say, or should I let Micro play a well deserved game of cat and mouse with the rat who killed his litter mate."

"Fuck you," John spat.

"Oh, so eloquent," Frank said with a smile. "You can do much better than that. Try again."

Micro bent forward and nipped one of John's ears, spitting out the bitten off piece.

"You think you've accomplished anything?" John asked. "We know where your going and where you'll turn up. You've got nowhere to run, and all the data is already locked away for them to find."

"Um, you had," Frank corrected him. "I broke your codes early this morning. Micro's not the only psibernetic assisted hacker around here. Why do you think I work here? My implants need maintenance all the time.

"The data has already been destroyed. And you won't be telling anyone either. I'd let Micro rip you apart, but I don't want him to dirty himself.

"Pull his arms back and up," he instructed Micro.

Frank walked over to his desk and pulled out a small caliber pistol with a silencer. He walked back, drawing back the slide and loading a round.

Frank placed his foot on the top of John's head. He said something in a foreign language and placed the barrel on the back of John's head. Micro started to shake as John tried to squirm around.

"Don't struggle," Frank said in a sad tone. "You'll only prolong this and make it worse for everyone."

Frank didn't wait for a response. He squeezed the trigger.

Micro saw the flash as John's body lurched beneath him. Frank pushed the head sideways so the backspray wouldn't hit Micro.

"And may God have mercy on your soul," Frank said as he turned.

Micro was still holding John's arms back. He was shaking and felt ill. He looked at the wall where blood had sprayed and then looked up at Frank who was unloading the pistol.

"He was a threat and a traitor," Frank stated. "He still thought the planned mission was where the team was going. He would have betrayed the rest of you to the government for slavery or experiments.

"Tell me you didn't want to kill him yourself. He betrayed your brother to a feline."

"But we executed him without-" Micro stammered.

"Without justice? In cold blood? Yes," Frank said. "Without passion. Just facts, and our survival in the balance.

"But now I'm a murderer on the run. And you're an accomplice."

Micro looked down at the corpse between his legs. He knew he had wanted to kill him, but he also knew he would have gotten no satisfaction from it. Nothing would bring Short back.

"I know what you are thinking," Frank continued. "You feel a hollow victory. And I'm glad. Never take pleasure or feel good about killing anything. It should only be a last resort.

"Now, you have to leave John and Short behind in this room. You and your team need to move quickly and get off world. I need to get out of the country. Our flight leaves at dusk, because the military is coming in tonight. And I want to be as far away from here as I can be when they find this."

Micro stood up, changed to his humanoid size, and walked toward Frank. He looked down and saw the blood on his fur and his uniform. Frank reached over and pulled him close.

"It's alright, son," Frank said patronizingly. "We'll make it out of here. Let the dead bury the dead.

"Right now, I need to get you out of here."

Frank walked over to the coat rack and hung his lab coat up. He grabbed a clean jacket and put it on.

"Come on," he said, hold open the jacket. "I haven't given you a ride in a long time. No one will see you leave here and I can get you down to the dorms where you can shower and change. I need to take the uniform and destroy it so you aren't linked to this."

Micro understood and grabbed hold of the inside pocket and shrank to his natural size. He crawled into the pocket, which was dark and warm. He felt a security here that he knew he'd never feel again.

Frank buttoned the coat and walked out the office door. He locked the door and walked out of the administrative section, down to the dorms. He left Micro in his room after he took the uniform, and went to get Slash and Flash. They would all meet after dinner with their gear, ready to leave.

The team boarded the transport that evening, but only Frank and Micro knew the true fate of all those they left behind. A cold and calculated cover for their escape. Another hollow victory.

As the engines cycled up to power, Micro looked at Frank. He could see a tear run down Frank's cheek as he was mumbling something. Frank kept repeating if over and over with his eyes shut tight. It was as if he was trying to make himself believe something.

As the craft lifted off, Micro looked out the window and saw the compound drop away and disappear from sight. He looked back at Frank who was sobbing. He thought he had figured out what Frank had been saying.

"Maybe they do," Micro thought to himself.

* * *