Chapter 21

Before they went into the large factory building, Buck stopped Varek. "What's it look like inside?"

"The factory is mostly automated," Varek replied slowly. "There are only a couple human guards. They should be easy to avoid. There are also a couple dozen android guards which will be harder to avoid. If you do happen to run into one of them, this will disable them for approximately thirty seconds."

He held up four small black boxes. Buck took three of them and handed one to Duke and one to Wilma. "Where are the explosives located?"

"First floor, pretty much in the middle of the factory."

Buck nodded, then held up his shackled arm. "How about these?"
Varek grinned slightly. He reached into another pocket and pulled out a long, thin magnetic strip. He pulled the adhesive strip protector off the back of the magnetic strip and placed it perfectly on top of the solid black handcuff. Nearly instantly both clamps opened and retracted back inside the body of the handcuff. Buck and Sharese both smiled broadly as they rubbed their respective wrists.

"Man, that feels so much better," Buck said.

"I was just getting used to it," Sharese said with a sly smile.

"Really?"

She shook her head. "No."

Buck nodded. "Okay, here's the plan. We all grab a bunch of bombs from the center of the factory. Wilma, you take the northeast of the plant; Duke, you take the northwest; Varek, you take the southwest; Sharese and I will take the southeast."

"Buck, we're not attached any more," Sharese reminded. "You take the southeast. I'll look around and see if I can find the passage to Caputi's mansion."

"That's a good idea."

"Are you sure you can trust her?" Duke asked.

She shot a dirty look in his direction. Buck placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, I trust her. She has her reasons for getting Caputi too."

"What are they?"

"We don't have time to discuss it. Now when you place the bombs, try to put them in a place where there will be secondary explosions, or even chain reactions. I want this factory completely leveled."

"Where do we meet when we're done?" Wilma asked.

"Just inside this door. Will thirty minutes be enough for everyone?"

Duke and Wilma nodded. "Should be," she replied.

"Okay. Good luck."

They carefully entered the factory. Varek led them to the center of the factory where the bombs were held after being manufactured. Once there, Duke carefully examined one of the bombs.

"These are electronically activated," he said. "Someone will have to stay behind to send an electronic pulse."

"I know," Varek replied. "I have already planned on that."

"Will you be okay?" Buck asked.

He simply grinned. "Absolutely." He grabbed a handful of bombs. "Once all of you are clear, I will send the pulse from the security office. I will be able to escape the factory without harm."

Buck slapped Varek on the back of the shoulder and smiled. "Good luck, everyone. We meet in thirty minutes."

They all separated into different directions. After placing a few bombs beside a laser energy pack storage bin, Buck turned a corner and saw one of the automated guards. Quickly he deactivated the droid and moved into the next area before it could reactivate. Wilma placed several bombs beside massive engine components before moving upstairs. Duke found many barrels of liquid fuel to place his allotment of bombs. Varek went to the shipping area of the factory where he found many good candidates to blow up. When the thirty minutes were up, they all met back at the entrance to the factory. Everyone but Sharese, that is. Buck looked at his watch.

"Where is she?" Duke asked.

Wilma shook her head. "I don't like this."

"Everyone just relax," Buck insisted. "She'll be here."

Just then they heard a sound of footsteps running toward them. Everyone but Varek raised a pistol they had confiscated from their travels through the plant. Sharese turned the corner and slid to a stop when she saw the firing squad.

"You're late," Wilma said.

She bent over to catch her breath. "Yeah, I know. I see you all found some new hardware."

Duke lowered his gun. "I just like to be prepared."

Sharese nodded. "I found the tram tunnel to the mansion. I ran all the way back here so I wouldn't be too late."

Buck holstered his weapon. He turned to Wilma and Duke. "What do you want to do? Stay here or go after Caputi?"

"I'm sticking with you, Buck," Wilma said.

Duke nodded. "Yeah, me too."

"Good. Varek; you know what to do."

"Yes."

"Wait a minute," Wilma said. "What about our ships?"
Varek stepped forward. "I will take care of that. I'll park them in the forest outside the shield."

"Sounds good," Buck said. He waved toward Sharese. "Lead the way."

Varek disappeared through a nearby wall as Sharese turned and headed back the way she had just come. She led them to a corner of the factory and down the stairs to the basement. She turned to make sure everyone was following.

"I'm sure there's an elevator somewhere, but it must be camouflaged. I didn't see it," she explained.

They walked through the basement for about ten minutes before they came to an open lobby. On the south side of the lobby was a set of double doors labeled, "Barrett Caputi. Authorized Personnel Only." Duke rested his hand on his holstered weapon as he slowly approached the doors.

"I don't like it," he said. "There should be guards here."

"There were," Sharese said. "I had to take them out. I just kind of stumbled into this place."

"Where'd you put them?"

"There's a closet over there," she pointed to the far wall.

Cautiously Duke approached the closet door. Wilma quickly joined him in the approach. Duke tapped the button. Both he and Wilma had their guns raised before the door rapidly slid open. Inside the closet were two unconscious guards. Duke breathed a sigh of relief and holstered his gun. Sharese turned to smile at Buck.

"They still don't trust me."

"They don't know you like I do."

The smile faded from her lips as she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Buck."

She dropped the blacklight bomb. Buck could feel a pair of hands strip his weapon from its holster. Two shots of laser fire ripped through the darkness followed by the sound of two bodies falling to the floor. When the bomb dissipated, Buck saw Duke and Wilma lying on the floor. Standing over top of them were the two guards from the closet. He turned slightly to see Sharese standing near him with two guns aimed at him. He closed his eyes and lowered his head in frustration. When he opened his eyes again, they focused on the woman whom he had married.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry, Buck. This is the only way."

Duke looked up from the floor. "I told you we couldn't trust her."

Buck reached out a hand toward Sharese but she took a step backward. "Don't," she ordered. "I'll shoot you if I have to."

"So what are you going to do with us?" Wilma asked.

She motioned with one of her guns to the guards. "Put them in the tram."

Duke and Wilma glared at Sharese for the longest minute before rising to their feet and going to the tram tunnel. Sharese shook the gun toward Buck.

"You too."

"You're going to turn us over to Caputi?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry, Buck. It's the only way."

"What about Varek?"

She smirked slightly. "I've already told him to hold off on the detonation. He will wait until I give him orders to do something else."

"I thought his job was to keep you straight."

"He's part of this job," she admitted. "He's known all along."

"I don't believe you."

She shrugged. "I don't care if you believe me or not. Varek and I went to Krypteria to kill Bettino alright, but not because he killed my family. I went to kill him so I could take his place."

"All of this was planned?"

"Everything except getting handcuffed to you."

"You lied to me? Why?"

"I lied to you about a lot of things."

"But we checked you out! You were really pardoned! You really did bring down the Interstellar League of Mercenaries!"

She nodded. "Yes, I did. But remember when I told you I was making more money now than I ever did before? That was a lie. We're barely scraping by. I don't need to live in the lap of luxury, but I need a little more than what I'm getting on the side of the law. Being a 'good guy' doesn't pay. I'm sorry, Buck. I truly am."

He simply shook his head. "I believed in you. I trusted you."

"And whose fault is that?"

Buck took a deep breath and slowly released it. "So everything was a lie."

She remained emotionless. "Not everything. What I said at the pizza place in New Chicago was true. You will make some girl very happy... if you live through this."

"So you're going to let Caputi kill us?"

She smirked slightly. "I'll see what I can do. I can't make any promises, though. You know how it is. Now get in the tram. We have a date to keep."

Buck entered the tram with Duke and Wilma. He turned to take one last look at Sharese who remained in the lobby with the two guards.

"You're not coming with us?"
She shook her head. "You'll see me again. At least one more time."

The door shut and the tram began to move away from the station.