Le Debut

Chapter 2: The Mission

TK-31 gripped his knees nervously as the helicopter landed. The ride hadn't been smooth but they were there. The two other reploids seemed perfectly calm, sitting opposite him. How did they do it? There he was feeling like he was going to be violently ill and they seemed to take it all in their stride. Well… He supposed he WAS just an errand boy but never the less it was going to be dangerous and they didn't seem bothered! Either they were very confident or very stupid. He was hoping it was the former. If they didn't know what they were doing he had no chance!

As he stepped out into the cold, albeit refreshing air he contemplated the consequences of bodyguards who didn't do their job properly. Not nice.

Tech Kraken followed him in suit, fiddling with the radio and the device that went with it. "Here, kid! Catch!"

The reploid blinked and turned in time to catch a headset. He stared at it blankly for a moment before realizing what it was for and slipping it on, flicking the switch into the 'ON' position. "Thank you…"

Hannumachine, now stood behind Tech Kraken tapped the radio, "We'll go in ahead of you and secure the areas and call when they're all clear, then we'll back off and let you do your job. You give us the co-ordinates and we'll go." He noticed the other's apprehensive expression and his voice changed to a more reassuring tone "Don't worry. You've only to radio us if you have any trouble."

The squid reploid wasn't as comforting. "But you'll have to react quickly. We need time to get there or we can't help, understand?"

TK-31 shuddered and nodded, "Understood." He peered ahead at the entrance. "It's… flooded." He commented, spirit wavering even more.

"That's why I'm here, genius!" He snapped, walking ahead, "I'll go ahead and check if there's any kind of drainage system... I won't be long." And with that he was gone.

The other soldier turned to face TK-31, "I almost forgot. You may not need it but just in case…" He went back into the helicopter and returned with a gun. A light one but it looked pretty deadly, "… You know how to use it, right?"

He nodded grimly, "Yes… It's hardly making me feel any better though." He gave a deep sigh and clipped it to his belt. "What'll happen if he can't find a way to get rid of the water?"

"He will. Don't worry."

They weren't sat for long though. A few minutes later he resurfaced and gave a nod. "All clear." He looked over his shoulder momentarily, wet armor gleaming in the strong sunlight, "Most of the mavericks in there were water-based. They'll be helpless once the water's gone. I took care of a few of the larger ones but you'll have to be very careful never the less- the place is a wreck. Live cables and wires everywhere."

"Aye, sir." The errand boy saluted.

"All set? Let's get moving… We'll be as quick as we can so you can just get in and out. I doubt there are any mavericks within the actual library, the doors are locked but you never know so stay alert." The other two nodded and followed the taller reploid into the library.

Immediately it was obvious how difficult it would be to pass through rooms. Sometimes the doors would jam and have to be blasted open or there would be live cables swinging freely and obscuring entrances. The floor was still wet and slippery and the lights flickered heavily, every so often accompanied by the blue sparks of a ripped wire. TK-31 was happy to have a talented soldier either side of him by the time they reached the doorway into the main library.

"Past here, you're on your own. If there's a security device HQ can't override Tech and I will be busy for a while. We can't risk it coming after you and the data being lost or destroyed." Hannumachine produced a key-card for the door, holding it in place. "Everybody ready? TK-31, you run as fast as you can. The combination for the door is 562-7881 but past there we can get HQ to hack into the system and open doors for you. Repeat."

"5… 62-7881."

"Good. I'm opening the door in three… two… one." He swiped the card down and the door slid open with surprising ease.

The party entered cautiously but nothing seemed to happen. "Get going, we'll wait for you." Tech Kraken prodded the smaller reploid sharply in the back, jolting him into action.

TK-31 darted across the room, boots slipping slightly in his hurry. He was careful to keep his balance though- tripping meant losing valuable seconds. He was almost there when- WARNING. SECURITY BREACH. WARNING. "Run, for goodness sake!" came the yells. He quickened his pace, throwing himself at the door as the security program came into play. He didn't bother to look back, instead punching in the code as fast as he could and dashing into the next room, heart pounding furiously. The door shut behind him.

With a deep breath he slid down the door, panting heavily. The door was soundproof but he could hear the other two fighting whatever the security had been through the headset. He pulled it down just for a moment; they were busy and the noise was giving him a headache. TK-31 clambered to his feet shakily, scanning the room. It was full of doorways upon doorways labeled with numbers and a bar above each one glowed red to show they were locked. As he drew nearer, they turned green. HQ had managed to get in. He fumbled around in his pocket for the co-ordinates of the data he needed and looked back up at the doors for the right one.

"Right…" He entered the door and picked up the disk, turning it over in his hands with extreme care. The smooth metal was cold and shimmered dully in the poor lighting and whatever labeling had originally been placed on there was long gone; ink faded with age. They were old-style disks in comparison to what they usually handled in Neo Arcadia- he didn't want to damage anything. At the end of the mission, he'd end up in as many pieces as the file was in (as Master Harpuia had so kindly reminded him before he left). Any damage counted to him. With a jaded sigh he slipped it safely into the bag and fastened it tightly. Mission complete.

TK-31 pulled his head set back on, glancing back and forth, "Come in… Tech Kraken, come in…" He mumbled absently then swore softly when he heard the sound of fighting answer him. They were still busy. What was left to do now except wait? But… His eyes flitted back down to the doors. There were so many of them… what were in them? They were all open except… except one… He frowned, approaching it warily, footsteps light. How bizarre. All the doors had been hacked open but this one… There must have been a particularly strong code on it. What if he could…

The errand boy shot a quick glance over his shoulder. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them he supposed… He un-holstered his gun, aiming it at the security panel and gave it a few blasts, the force of it making him stagger a little. He knew how to handle a gun but he still got a queer thrill out of holding one so powerful. Guns weren't his thing. Give him a blade and he was more comfortable. Luckily though, the light above the door went dark, and then shone green. He let the gun slip through his fingers as the door gave a shudder and drew back. "That was too-"

'WARNING, WARNING. SECURITY OVERRIDE. INSTIGATING DEFENSE PROGRAM'

"Damnit!" He turned in time to see a hatch near the ceiling open and three mavericks drop down. Three Clavekers, the spider-like robots, gathered around the floor, claws clicking maliciously on the floor.

The first leapt at him, going straight over his head as he ducked and quickly dispatched of one of the other two with a shot from his gun. He rolled to the side, wildly firing three rounds at the second one, hoping it would hit. His headset clattered to the floor noisily, lost in the conflict. One veered off to the side but the next two were on target, blowing the maverick apart. He tensed and spun around, jumping to his feet to meet the final maverick head-on. It wasn't there. He only lowered his guard for a few seconds to frown but it was enough time. The maverick flew at him, catching him across the left cheek, ripping through the skin. He cried out, falling pack and fired blindly at his attacker, releasing the gun as soon as it gave a satisfying shriek and blew up and clutching his face. It was bleeding heavily, crimson staining his hands. It… it was probably worse than it looked though; you always bled more from the head, right?

Pressing one palm to the wound and wincing heavily he shakily struggled to his feet and completely ignoring the receiver lying on the floor by his feet. "Hey, wait a second…" He panicked and tore open his bag. The disk! The disk was… fine. Looking relieved, he turned his gaze to the door and gave a sigh. All this effort for one door? "It had better be worth it…"