The Constant Star (77)

THE STORY SO FAR

Especially the one maniac that is leading Siff through. They not only avoid eye contact, but actively look away. Addy jerks suddenly toward one of them and chuckles when they squirm and huddle, “Whole different world now, fuckers. There’s a whole lot of payback coming and I can’t wait to be the one that brings it.”

There is a sudden and loud clang in the near distance as Addy steps through a hole cut in a thick steel door, “Siff’s here to see you Sir.”

“Perfect! Send her in. You can join your team back in ready-position, we’ll be fine up here.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Addy smiles and gives Siff a shove as she walks back down the hallway.

“Well, come on in!” The voice calls from inside the room, “You have perfect timing, Siff! Just one more door to go.”

Macy grins as one of her bodyguards is busy cutting through the last steel door between her and the Council. His arm has opened like Macy’s, the cutting tool is a part of his anatomy. The other bodyguard clamps around Siff’s arm with a vice-grip, she asks “Are these guys like you?”

“Not quite. I was a result of torture; they were a result of necessity.” The quizzical look on Siff’s face causes Macy to laugh, “I found the twins one day when I came to from one of my operations. I knew I was a target in the lower levels and needed to protect myself. They were older than me, but so weak. Identical in face and famine. I figured they could use a bit of a boost.”

“Wait…you did this to them?”

“I saved our lives. I made them stronger and they protect me. We stayed alive because of it. It’s a great deal for all of us.”

“And how much of…them…is left in there? I’ve never seen them do anything but stand around and do what you say.”

“Truth is, some sacrifices had to be made. They were young and didn’t know how to behave, so I had to help them.”

“Really Macy? You took away their free will?”

“I did what I needed for us to survive. Something you’ve never had to face. At least I didn’t abandon them to die and run away like someone else I know…”

“You played me. You made me feel sorry for you, then you threw me into a fight. You knew I’d be terrified and run. You were counting on it so I could plant your hardware on the Needle.”

“Well shit, Siff. You finally figured it out. You’re so obsessed with thinking you’re the smartest girl around, I wasn’t sure if you’d ever be able to admit to yourself that I’m way smarter than you. Like. Way. Smarter.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”

“Anyway, how did you manage to survive?”

“EMP grenade. Blew the paralyzer and I got out of there.”

“EMP grenade…well I’ll be. The Ghost saved you then? And that means he knows what you know. And that means…” The bodyguard releases his grip on her arm and runs out the door, “No guns!” Macy calls after him, “Don’t want to damage the Needle or the hardware.

“Very clever, Siff. But he doesn’t stand a chance. When my bodyguard reaches him—“

Siff tackles Macy to the ground and begins pounding away on her face. The other bodyguard doesn’t look up from his task. Macy just starts laughing as blood streams from her nose, mouth, and cuts that start appearing on her face, “You think you can hurt me? I’ve been tortured to death. Twice.”

Siff pauses and growls, “I don’t need to hurt you. I just need to stop you.”

“Hah!” Macy’s arms open up to reveal all the tools at her disposal. Many of them are very sharp looking, “I can’t be stopped. Not by you.”

Shit.

The first blow knocks Siff onto her back. A shallow stab wound from one of the cutting tools. Macy doesn’t look like she wants to end this quick. She stands grinning as Siff pulls herself painfully to her feet, “You know, if I’m honest, I think I’ve always wanted to kill you. Deep down inside. Daddy’s little angel. Can’t do anything wrong. Never had to suffer but thinks she can understand other’s pain.

“You.” Macy smiles and points at Siff, “You need an education.”

“Oh just shut up and bring it.”

61

“God dammit!” Bear’s tool breaks under the pressure of his prying. Others like it litter the ledge around him. He is having no luck with this hardware, and the pressure of Siff’s safety is weighing heavy on his conscience. If he doesn’t get this done, Siff will truly be alone in there. If he doesn’t get this done, the Council is screwed, “Dammit. Okay, focus.” He looks at the tech and huffs, “Okay you little bitch, I didn’t want to do this but I guess I’m gonna have to risk it.” He sparks up a laser-cutter, “One wrong move and I damage the Needle,” he puts his hand on the offending object, “so behave, alright?”

The sparks start flying immediately, but the hardware is protected by a layer of super-hard steel, “Because of course you are…still, no worries, even the toughest steel will melt eventually. So tell you what, I’ll keep doing this until you give me a better idea, okay? Okay.”

It feels like forever, but it is only ten minutes later that he starts to see damage on the hardware. Bear smiles, “And now we’re getting somewhere! Oh shi—“ His warning system gives him a heads-up as the bodyguard flies toward him. He ducks out the way as his adversary rolls and stands, knife in hand. There is no pause to measure up, the combat is immediate and fierce.

The bodyguard is relentless, blow after blow landing on Bear’s forearm guard, some slashes hitting his torso, “Shitshitshitshitreally?!” As he is pushed back his aggressor kicks the tools off the ledge, they fall for a few seconds before making contact

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