| From: | shadowtk@********.demon.co.uk (Paul J. Adam) |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Manchu's Downfall - Episode II |
| Date: | Fri, 03 May 1996 18:26:25 GMT |
>>>>>[We now return you to our scheduled programming.
+++++begin video
Lynch, flying through the shattered window, lands and rolls in a computer
terminal room. Three guards huddled against the wall clutching their assault
rifles turn to gawp with comical surprise as Lynch fires, three short bursts
that knock all three to the ground, then he's covering the door as he runs to
kick their weapons away. "In! Clear." Lilith makes a slightly less dramatic
entrance.
Lynch opens the door far enough to toss a concussion grenade, follows it up -
two dazed men, neither armed, and he kicks both to the floor.
"Tangent, we're in the north building." This seems to be a rest area - tables,
chairs, vending machines - and several doors lead off it. Lynch braces behind a
coffee machine, covering two doors: Lilith watches the other.
"Roger. We're sweeping and clearing. No casualties to us. Resistance light."
Quinn darts through the door, a pistol in each hand - a small, neat Browning,
and a large ugly revolver - followed by Blade.
"Which way?"
Blade moves to plasticuff both men as Quinn looks unfocussed for a few moments.
"That one's the john. That's the storeroom for spare stuffers. That's outside.
That one and the floor are warded, shields within shields. They don't want
anyone magical going down there."
"So that door's the way down." Lynch moves to it, places yellow and black-
striped objects the size of cigarette packs on each hinge, links them with
yellow cord, waves everyone back.
"Grenade party, then go in, move fast, hit hard. Binder patches." All slap on
small dermadisks. Lynch changes the magazine in the MP-5K.
"Fire in the hole!" The charges explode and the door falls off its ruined
hinges: at once, Lynch and Blade are tossing grenades down the stairs. A
cacophony of explosions shake the room, and then Lynch is sprinting down the
stairs into the darkness.
It's almost pitch black, and the rock is at a uniform temperature, screwing
both low-light and thermal vision: suddenly the view kicks in to a very
tolerable image-intensified view.
"That you, Lynch?" says Blade in a low voice very close, as they stare down the
corridor thus revealed - rows of doors, all closed.
"Yeah. Eyelights. Near IR, naked eye won't spot them. Great for this shit.
Quinn, we up for a check yet?"
"Gimme a minute... left first to last. Computer room, clean. Some sort of cell,
four people in bad shape. Another cell - yucky. Gross. Not a big threat,
though. Another cell, two guys asleep.
"Right, first to last. Some kind of tech gear, clear - wait, one person in
there, looks unconscious. Next, an admin office, one guy in uniform packing
papers and chips and disks out of his desk into a kitbag. Living quarters
behind that, empty. Last is - " Quinn suddenly rocks backwards and opens her
eyes. "Ouch. You're not meant to be able to do that."
"Magic problem?"
"A biggie. Nasty. Be careful. Leave it till last."
"Cover that door. Lilith, the office." Lynch moves down the corridor, the
MP-5K aimed at the last door, but since it stays closed he kicks open the
last-but-one.
Inside, lit by an emergency lamp on the wall, is a distinguished-looking man
in his fifties, wearing Aztlan uniform but with no insignia other than
colonel's eagles. As the door flies open and the MP-5K settles on his chest,
he raises both hands and speaks, quickly but calmly, in excellent English.
"Agent Jason Lynch, I am Colonel Pedro Tepanohoutec of the Aztlan Military
Intelligence Service. I offer my surrender and request asylum in the United
Canadian and American States."
Lynch pauses, apparently somewhat surprised. Tepanohoutec smiles slightly. "I
assure you I tell the truth. I will also help you with-" He is suddenly lit by
a bright flash of light, Lynch's shadow cast in bright relief on the wall.
"The Doctor!" snaps Tepanohoutec. "He has-" Lynch is already leaning
around
the door. Midway down the corridor, a crackling wall of green flame sealing
it off: if Blade and Quinn are behind it, Lynch can't see them. Lilith is
missing and the door at the end stands ajar. Lynch whispers softly "Fuck." as
his radio squeals and whines, transmissions blocked.
A hand signal sends the Colonel behind his desk, taking cover: Tepanohoutec
opens his desk drawer and brings out a Manhunter automatic, working the slide,
and indicates that he's watching Lynch's back.
"Hell of way to pick a partner" mutters Lynch, easing slowly around the
doorframe. He pokes one thumb around the open door, a window in his sight
suddenly flashing up: there must be a camera in that digit. The room is an
office, and seems to be empty: a door in the back wall is closed.
Lynch takes three steps into the room, and is suddenly enveloped in a sickly
yellow flame that throws him sideways to land, immobile. An Elf, dressed in
an embroidered purple robe reminiscent of Tir Taingire nobility, walks through
the door at the end. Lilith follows, eyes glazed and moving almost
mechanically.
"So sorry, Lynch, you tripped one of the most basic magical traps. You really
thought your rag-tag band of has-beens and never-weres could harm me?" The Elf
smirks. "Now, the supreme irony. You are paralysed for as long as I want you
to be: and I can destroy two of my foes with one act. Lilith, kill him."
Lilith steps forwards, drawing one of her Desert Eagle automatics. She thumbs
off the safety, and raises it to aim directly at Lynch's face: the muzzle of
the .44 is enormous, her blue eyes almost dead above it...
+++++end trideo
Will our hero survive? Will our heroine cast off the evil wizard's spell? Does
Tangent know that I put rice pudding in his boots? Stay tuned to find
out!]<<<<<
-- The Mighty Quinn <17:07:01/05-03-57>
