Mars, 2160 (Cosmic Era 54)
“You know, back in my Dad’s day…hell, back in my GRANDFATHER’S day, when you kill someone, you’d expect them to stay dead, but me? Nooo…” Darius Mason groused to himself, standing in what looked like a mad scientist’s impression of a computer lab crossed over with a surgical theater, albeit with a lot of alien technology.
Oh, and the bullet riddled bodies of several Cultists, who had disapproved of Darius entering the room like he had, and the scientists they had held hostage, shot before Darius had arrived on the scene.
“Nope, not me. This time, when I kill someone, it just activates a backup clone,” Darius continued grumbling to himself, picking through the lab, carefully avoiding anything that looked alien. After that whole mess with the Seal in Bradbury Canyon, he was not taking any chances.
At this point it would be prudent to mention that Darius had a very good reason to be a bit put off about the non-finality of death. Said non-finality in this case being Adam Hale, the genocidal maniac who nearly wiped out human existence on Mars…twice. Both times, managing to sucker Darius, not to mention that Hale has had a absolute hate for the Mason family for a long time. Really funny story involving his Aunt Lyra and a EDF Remnant force, it was.
After ending the Plague Armageddon, a search was then begun for any other plans that Hale and his Cultists had in store. Considering what had happened before, no one was taking chances, and the effort had extended into the present day, with both nascent Mars governments and the Marauder Tribal Alliance participating.
“I managed to cut off the freak’s head once, you know, you’d think it’d stick,” Darius said, looking over at the wall of empty tubes. “Sam, how many do you think there were?”
“Several of the units show non-functionality to my estimation, and have not been used,” S.A.M. said, after using its sensors. “By my calculations, we are looking at five to seven clones.”
“Great, can’t get more precise than that?”
“Negative.”
Darius sighed. “Okay, log your reading and call Frank. He’ll want to know about this.”
“Affirmative,” S.A.M. replied. “Darius, Sgt. Winters is already on site, with both Marauder and Republic teams. Shall I give the all clear?”
“Yeah, go ahead, I just want to look around, make sure we got everything,” Darius said.
“Of course…wait a moment,” S.A.M said.
“Sam?” Darius asked, not liking the feeling he was getting from Sam’s interruption.
“I am picking up a life sign, 300 meters due east.”
“Human?” Darius asked, grabbing his rifle.
“Yes,” Darius had to sigh in relief at S.A.M.’s answer, following her directions. “Where is it?”
“We are getting close…beyond this door,” S.A.M. responded, as they came up to a steel door, locked tight.
“Okay…” Darius said, pounding on the solid door. “Sam, any way to open this door?”
“Checking…the relay that would normally open the door was damaged, my estimates are about five months ago.”
“When those clones of Hale made their getaway, great…” Darius said. “Okay, then…I guess we use a skeleton key.”
“Darius, there is no keyhole for a key,” S.A.M. helpfully pointed out.
“Just prepare to use Impact, smartass,” Darius groused, pointing the arm with S.A.M. at the door.
“Impact ready.”
“Let’s go,” Darius said, raising his arm, releasing a wave of blue nano-particles that smashed the door open.
The action also woke up the occupant of the room.
“Huh…” Darius said, looking at said occupant. “Okay…I really wasn’t expecting this.”
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