The Cover Up Syndrome Part 17
Elle looked up and saw Jay and Kay running towards her. She only nodded in acknowledgement and the four of them ran down the flight of stairs leading to Zeeltor's lab.
Upon reaching the ground floor, they found hell itself.
Shots were fired but at no specific target. Agent was fighting against fellow agent. Many lay unconscious or dead on the ground, as their blood pooled about the. The younger agents were battling their elders, and found themselves losing.
Kay curled his lip in mixed anger and shock. Then setting his lips grimly, he addressed Jay, Elle, and X. "Okay people. Tell our agents to retreat. Bring them to Flushing Stadium." He narrowed his eyes. "Don't kill anyone unless necessary."
The others nodded and spanned out.
Kay scanned the room, yet there was no sign of Zed or Y. Then he spotted Zeeltor's fallen form.
He dodged and crawled to the unconscious physician. Heaving the Zekklom over his shoulder, Kay stood and turned.
There was a yell and Kay moved back, barely missing the knife that was aimed to plunge into his heart. Easily, Kay grabbed the attacker's wrist and twisted it, and the agent fell to his knees, trying futilely to get away. With a quick hit to the back of the head, the agent dropped to the ground, motionless.
Jay stared at the towering dark form of Agent TW. "Come on, man, you wouldn't attack a brother now would ya?' Jay fingered his Icer.
TW snarled and launched his bulk at Jay, who simply pivoted away and iced TW.
Jay shook his head. This just wasn't right. Who was friend and who was foe? They all looked the same.
X and Elle met back to back, firing as they circled the lab.
"Damn it, who's on our side?' X dodged a shot that almost took off his arm.
Elle shok her head. "Don't know really. Just ice anyone you've seen in the company of Y."
Suddenly a series of clicks from triggers stopped them in their tracks, as some agents surrounded them in ambush.
X frowned. "Or anyone who's out to get me right?" he asked flatly.
Elle bit her lip. "Yeah, that too."
They were about to put down their weapons, when Elle's eye caught sight of a massive tank containing green goop. It was the Paralysis Ooze that Jay had been trapped in, Elle recalled. She caught the eye of her partner, who nodded, clearly aware of her plan.
"GO!" Elle yelled.
Together they shot at the immense tank and rolled out of the way as it exploded, sending a flood of the green substance on the unsuspecting agents. Once the landslide had stopped, Elle and X stood back in admiration of their work.
X laughed at frozen forms of the hapless humans. "You know," he said to Elle. "They actually look good in green."
Elle smiled and shook her head. "Bad," she remarked.
Suddenly, H entered in through the lab doors. His eyes widened at the chaotic scene before him. "What the."
A shot from a Carbonizer cut his words, and he dove behind a desk.
.but that was a mistake, for an armed agent was hiding at that exact spot.
H suddenly found himself taken hostage and a gun pressed to his temples.
"Don't move," the agent ordered, nudging his weapon deeper into H's flesh.
"Please, don't." H pleaded.
"Shut up!" The gun pressed harder.
"HEY!"
The agent looked up to see who yelled, and a blow to his head rendered him unconscious. H grazed just past before the misfired shot from the agent's gun almost passed through his skull.
H breathed a sigh of relief but froze on seeing N.
N nodded to him. "Don't worry, friend. I don't bite." He tossed H a Deharmonizer. "Now let's get the hell out of here." He strode briskly away.
At first, H was reluctant to follow N; after all, he was a bit funny in the head and H still didn't know what side he was on. Then a stray shot whizzed by and he ducked instinctively. Deciding it was better to take his chances with N than to end up as mince meat in the battle, H stifled his doubts and went in pursuit of N.
"Slick, carry Zeeltor to safety," Kay called over the din. He couldn't fight like this, and not with a civilian on his hands.
Jay frowned. "But."
Kay turned sharply. "Just get the Doc somewhere." He narrowed his eyes. "I'll be fine."
Hesistantly, Jay snatched up Zeeltor from Kay's arms and took off toward the doors.
"X, Elle," Kay shouted. "Cover Jay."
The two nodded and left.
Kay rolled behind a counter as a cabinet next to him exploded.
"Sir." Kay turned and saw Janice with a few other young agents. "We're surrounded. They got up hemmed in," Janice panted.
He could trust this group. So far only the seniors were attacking him. "Well," he replied brusquely. "Let's make an exit, shall we?"
"Kay!" Frank rushed up to him panting hard. "There's more agents stuck on the eastern wall of the lab. They need help."
Kay nodded. He looked to Janice. Though only a rookie, she had risen in recognition beyond her status. The young lady was praised for her quick and decisive moves. Well, Kay thought, she'll have her skills tested now. "Agent," he said to her. "Follow me. The rest of you retreat to Flushing Stadium."
Together they weaved their way through the chaos. Kay assessed that Janice did have the promising capabilities for a field agent. Her aim was true and she demonstrated quick reflexes. Kay placed a mental note to recommend her for the field.
Under the heavy firing, they came unto the other half of the group. Judging from their faces, Kay could tell many of them were around his partner's age or even younger, and could not be relied to defend themselves.
Then an idea hit him. "All of you, divide into two groups. The first comes with me and clears the way. The rest go with Janice and cover behind us," Kay ordered.
The plan worked perfectly, but Kay wished they moved faster. Something told him they should press their luck.
He was right.
Just as they neared the doors, the ceiling above them exploded, sending a shower of plaster down unto them.along with a lethal weapon. A bizarre crab-machine fell unto the ground, right between the group, cutting them off from each other.
It let out an earsplitting whine and rushed at one of the rookie agents. And Kay's sharp eyes caught sight of the deadly blades protruding from its legs.
Instinctively his hand pulled from his breast pocket a semi- transparent cube and hurled it.
The agent screamed and shielded her head. On looking up however, the machine scratched harmlessly on the surface of the glass-cube that surrounded her.
Seeing its quarry well-guarded, the machine turned on Kay, but he was ready. He whipped out his Restrainer and fired again and again, rolling out of danger as he did so.
Green bindings wrapped about the multiple legs of the machine, causing it to stumble and crash unto the ground.
Kay picked himself up quickly. Those binds won't hold for long. He ran over to the imprisoned agent and deactivated the cube. He was helping her, when.
"Agent Kay, LOOK OUT!" Janice yelled.
Kay turned, seeing the machine had freed itself. He took aim and fired.
.and missed as the droid launched itself into a flying leap at him.
The blades inched toward his neck, when suddenly a coat of ice surrounded the metal appendage, rendering it useless as a weapon.
Looking up Kay saw Jay, who smiled and saluted, his Icer poised and ready.
Kay pushed past the leg and rolled under a desk. Peering out, he saw that the machine had its attention on Jay. His partner hurled aside as the droid brushed by. However Jay did not make a clean getaway.
Jay gripped his shoulder. Retracting his hand back unto his Icer, he was alarmed to see his blood mixed with some kind of blue ooze. Then he realized.he was poisoned.
Kay saw his dilemma. He rolled out from under the table and fired a succession of shots at the retreating droid, which had scurried up into the ventilation systems again.
"Slick!" Kay's brow furrowed as he saw the inflammation of the wound.
Jay looked at his partner but the face he knew well suddenly started to blur. "Kay, I feel.dizzy."
Kay gritted his teeth. "Don't panic. That will make it spread faster." Damn, the poison was taking effect too quickly. He had to slow it down. Pressing his lips unto Jay's wound, he began sucking at it.
"Yo, Kay. What are you."
Janice came up quickly. "He's trying to suck the poison out. Stay still," she ordered. Her lips tightened as she began ripping the cuff of a sleeve. Looking at the other agents, "Keep a look out, it may come back," she warned them.
Kay spat out a mouthful, then resumed. It went like that for a couple more times. Finally he drew back, wiping his mouth. "Janice help me carry him."
She nodded and wrapped the wound with her torn cuff. Together, Kay and Janice shouldered and carried Jay from the battlescene.
Elle looked up and saw Jay and Kay running towards her. She only nodded in acknowledgement and the four of them ran down the flight of stairs leading to Zeeltor's lab.
Upon reaching the ground floor, they found hell itself.
Shots were fired but at no specific target. Agent was fighting against fellow agent. Many lay unconscious or dead on the ground, as their blood pooled about the. The younger agents were battling their elders, and found themselves losing.
Kay curled his lip in mixed anger and shock. Then setting his lips grimly, he addressed Jay, Elle, and X. "Okay people. Tell our agents to retreat. Bring them to Flushing Stadium." He narrowed his eyes. "Don't kill anyone unless necessary."
The others nodded and spanned out.
Kay scanned the room, yet there was no sign of Zed or Y. Then he spotted Zeeltor's fallen form.
He dodged and crawled to the unconscious physician. Heaving the Zekklom over his shoulder, Kay stood and turned.
There was a yell and Kay moved back, barely missing the knife that was aimed to plunge into his heart. Easily, Kay grabbed the attacker's wrist and twisted it, and the agent fell to his knees, trying futilely to get away. With a quick hit to the back of the head, the agent dropped to the ground, motionless.
Jay stared at the towering dark form of Agent TW. "Come on, man, you wouldn't attack a brother now would ya?' Jay fingered his Icer.
TW snarled and launched his bulk at Jay, who simply pivoted away and iced TW.
Jay shook his head. This just wasn't right. Who was friend and who was foe? They all looked the same.
X and Elle met back to back, firing as they circled the lab.
"Damn it, who's on our side?' X dodged a shot that almost took off his arm.
Elle shok her head. "Don't know really. Just ice anyone you've seen in the company of Y."
Suddenly a series of clicks from triggers stopped them in their tracks, as some agents surrounded them in ambush.
X frowned. "Or anyone who's out to get me right?" he asked flatly.
Elle bit her lip. "Yeah, that too."
They were about to put down their weapons, when Elle's eye caught sight of a massive tank containing green goop. It was the Paralysis Ooze that Jay had been trapped in, Elle recalled. She caught the eye of her partner, who nodded, clearly aware of her plan.
"GO!" Elle yelled.
Together they shot at the immense tank and rolled out of the way as it exploded, sending a flood of the green substance on the unsuspecting agents. Once the landslide had stopped, Elle and X stood back in admiration of their work.
X laughed at frozen forms of the hapless humans. "You know," he said to Elle. "They actually look good in green."
Elle smiled and shook her head. "Bad," she remarked.
Suddenly, H entered in through the lab doors. His eyes widened at the chaotic scene before him. "What the."
A shot from a Carbonizer cut his words, and he dove behind a desk.
.but that was a mistake, for an armed agent was hiding at that exact spot.
H suddenly found himself taken hostage and a gun pressed to his temples.
"Don't move," the agent ordered, nudging his weapon deeper into H's flesh.
"Please, don't." H pleaded.
"Shut up!" The gun pressed harder.
"HEY!"
The agent looked up to see who yelled, and a blow to his head rendered him unconscious. H grazed just past before the misfired shot from the agent's gun almost passed through his skull.
H breathed a sigh of relief but froze on seeing N.
N nodded to him. "Don't worry, friend. I don't bite." He tossed H a Deharmonizer. "Now let's get the hell out of here." He strode briskly away.
At first, H was reluctant to follow N; after all, he was a bit funny in the head and H still didn't know what side he was on. Then a stray shot whizzed by and he ducked instinctively. Deciding it was better to take his chances with N than to end up as mince meat in the battle, H stifled his doubts and went in pursuit of N.
"Slick, carry Zeeltor to safety," Kay called over the din. He couldn't fight like this, and not with a civilian on his hands.
Jay frowned. "But."
Kay turned sharply. "Just get the Doc somewhere." He narrowed his eyes. "I'll be fine."
Hesistantly, Jay snatched up Zeeltor from Kay's arms and took off toward the doors.
"X, Elle," Kay shouted. "Cover Jay."
The two nodded and left.
Kay rolled behind a counter as a cabinet next to him exploded.
"Sir." Kay turned and saw Janice with a few other young agents. "We're surrounded. They got up hemmed in," Janice panted.
He could trust this group. So far only the seniors were attacking him. "Well," he replied brusquely. "Let's make an exit, shall we?"
"Kay!" Frank rushed up to him panting hard. "There's more agents stuck on the eastern wall of the lab. They need help."
Kay nodded. He looked to Janice. Though only a rookie, she had risen in recognition beyond her status. The young lady was praised for her quick and decisive moves. Well, Kay thought, she'll have her skills tested now. "Agent," he said to her. "Follow me. The rest of you retreat to Flushing Stadium."
Together they weaved their way through the chaos. Kay assessed that Janice did have the promising capabilities for a field agent. Her aim was true and she demonstrated quick reflexes. Kay placed a mental note to recommend her for the field.
Under the heavy firing, they came unto the other half of the group. Judging from their faces, Kay could tell many of them were around his partner's age or even younger, and could not be relied to defend themselves.
Then an idea hit him. "All of you, divide into two groups. The first comes with me and clears the way. The rest go with Janice and cover behind us," Kay ordered.
The plan worked perfectly, but Kay wished they moved faster. Something told him they should press their luck.
He was right.
Just as they neared the doors, the ceiling above them exploded, sending a shower of plaster down unto them.along with a lethal weapon. A bizarre crab-machine fell unto the ground, right between the group, cutting them off from each other.
It let out an earsplitting whine and rushed at one of the rookie agents. And Kay's sharp eyes caught sight of the deadly blades protruding from its legs.
Instinctively his hand pulled from his breast pocket a semi- transparent cube and hurled it.
The agent screamed and shielded her head. On looking up however, the machine scratched harmlessly on the surface of the glass-cube that surrounded her.
Seeing its quarry well-guarded, the machine turned on Kay, but he was ready. He whipped out his Restrainer and fired again and again, rolling out of danger as he did so.
Green bindings wrapped about the multiple legs of the machine, causing it to stumble and crash unto the ground.
Kay picked himself up quickly. Those binds won't hold for long. He ran over to the imprisoned agent and deactivated the cube. He was helping her, when.
"Agent Kay, LOOK OUT!" Janice yelled.
Kay turned, seeing the machine had freed itself. He took aim and fired.
.and missed as the droid launched itself into a flying leap at him.
The blades inched toward his neck, when suddenly a coat of ice surrounded the metal appendage, rendering it useless as a weapon.
Looking up Kay saw Jay, who smiled and saluted, his Icer poised and ready.
Kay pushed past the leg and rolled under a desk. Peering out, he saw that the machine had its attention on Jay. His partner hurled aside as the droid brushed by. However Jay did not make a clean getaway.
Jay gripped his shoulder. Retracting his hand back unto his Icer, he was alarmed to see his blood mixed with some kind of blue ooze. Then he realized.he was poisoned.
Kay saw his dilemma. He rolled out from under the table and fired a succession of shots at the retreating droid, which had scurried up into the ventilation systems again.
"Slick!" Kay's brow furrowed as he saw the inflammation of the wound.
Jay looked at his partner but the face he knew well suddenly started to blur. "Kay, I feel.dizzy."
Kay gritted his teeth. "Don't panic. That will make it spread faster." Damn, the poison was taking effect too quickly. He had to slow it down. Pressing his lips unto Jay's wound, he began sucking at it.
"Yo, Kay. What are you."
Janice came up quickly. "He's trying to suck the poison out. Stay still," she ordered. Her lips tightened as she began ripping the cuff of a sleeve. Looking at the other agents, "Keep a look out, it may come back," she warned them.
Kay spat out a mouthful, then resumed. It went like that for a couple more times. Finally he drew back, wiping his mouth. "Janice help me carry him."
She nodded and wrapped the wound with her torn cuff. Together, Kay and Janice shouldered and carried Jay from the battlescene.