FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"That's...a lot of servers." Corona turned her head slowly, taking in the banks of computer towers that filled the room. Dozens lined the walls and dozens more on shelves on the floor, spaced just far enough apart for the company's employees to walk between them.

Human employees. As big as she and Taura were, they'd have to turn sideways and squeeze through them.

Corona sighed and glanced at Taura. "Please tell me they're all linked together. Or at least, connected in groups."

"They're probably all running solo. The marvels of quantum computing. This company must be running a lot of projects."

"Their own projects," Jack said, "plus projects for the military, and they're probably doing work for other corporations all over the world."

"Yeah. That'll be a lot of files to wade through." Taura walked over to the near corner and the holographic console and screen remained in front of her. She dug a small, card-shaped device from a case on her belt and inserted it into a slot on the front of the main tower. "I'm beginning the search here."

Corona nodded and planted herself in front of the closed door.

"Any other ways out of here?" Jack turned to look at the far end of the room.

"None. Well, there's a couple of air ducts, but they're too small even for a human to fit through." Taura touched buttons and moved windows around in her hard-light display. "I'm in the camera system. If security shows up, we'll see them coming." She grabbed one of the windows, enlarged it with a quick tug on the corners, and pushed it off to the side. In the window was a dozen feeds from nearby hallway and room cameras.

"Not if," Jack muttered. "When."

"Always the optimist, babe." Corona chuckled nervously. "How's Boiler doing?"

Taura nudged another window in Corrie's direction. "There she is. So far, she's swatting them around like they're nothing. Looks like she's having fun, though."

"Like a cat playing with a mouse before ripping its guts out." Jack grinned.

"She's going easy on 'em." Corona looked at Boiler's image long enough to watch her give one of the guards a casual shove that sent him reeling almost to the end of the hallway. "I hope they realize they're not in any real danger, and won't try anything drastic."

"The files aren't in this one." Taura removed the interface card, inserted it into the next one, linked her 'tool up to it, and resumed searching.

"And here they come." Jack nodded at the window showing the feed from directly outside the door.

Corona sighed as a half dozen men and women in black suits charged toward the server room with their guns drawn. "Not even bothering with stunners."

"This company does a lot of work for the government and military," Taura mumbled, focusing most of her attention on finding the files. "I'm not surprised they're prepared to use lethal force. The guards probably have military training, as well."

"Fuckin' wonderful," Jack grumbled.

"I've secured the door," Taura said as the lock engaged with a "thunk" that vibrated the floor and walls. Her hands moved faster as she dug deeper into the server. "Won't hold them off very long, though."

"We'll still have to get past 'em to reach the ground floor," Corona said.

The guards clustered around the door, holding their guns ready, while one of them entered a code into the lock. When nothing happened, the guy tapped his earpiece, toggling a channel open, and snapped a command.

The lock disengaged with another echoing "thunk."

Taura whipped her head to the left and stared at the door.

"Already? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Keep going." Corona positioned herself in front of the door and cocked her right fist back.

Taura nodded and increased her pace even more. A few seconds passed and she disconnected and moved on to the next tower.

Jack stood beside Corona, raised his arms and clenched his fists.

The door slid open and Corona launched a punch into the nearest guard's face. A look of dull surprise flickered over the faces of the other five as he collapsed. Before they could begin to recover, Corona tackled another guy, carried him across the hall and drove her shoulder into his gut on impact with the wall. Air rushed from his lungs and he doubled over. She glanced around, located the next nearest guard, and hurled him at her, sending both of them tumbling across the floor.

In the corner of her eye, another guard landed a punch to the side of Jack's head. Even with his helmet taking the brunt of it, the blow staggered him and a dazed look crossed his face. He blinked and shook his head, and the woman took a step back and whipped her gun up. He snapped out of it just in time, lashed out and swatted her gun away, and rocketed his fist into her jaw. She dropped and her legs swung up into the air before gravity caught them and they flopped back down. Jack winced and shook his head again.

A gun appeared in Corona's face and she whipped her gaze away from Jack to find the remaining three guards directly in front of her. The man on the left turned toward Jack.

Corona clamped her hand around the guard's wrist, wrenched the gun away from her face, and twisted his arm until he could no longer hold onto the gun. It slipped from his fingers and she pivoted and slammed him into the wall. The impact split the paneling open from floor to ceiling.

The second guy stopped hesitating now that his buddy was out of the way, and took aim at Corona's head. She whipped her tail around, deflected his aim and fractured his forearm. He dropped the gun and let out a scream. She finished him off with a fist to the jaw.

Jack took the remaining guard down with a simple kick to the crotch followed by a knee to the face. The guy slumped against the wall and fell over slowly, sliding to the left until he plopped onto his side.

Jack took a deep breath, looked around, and glowered at the first guard he'd knocked out. "Bitch didn't crack my helmet open, did she?"

Corona took a quick look at his helmet. "No. Hope you don't end up with a concussion, though."

"No kidding. I've spent enough time in hospitals. So have you and Taura."

"Yeah, I've definitely had enough of that." Corona waited for him to step back into the server room, and stood in the doorway.

"Making any progress, Taura?" Jack said.

"Nothing yet."

Corona sighed and waited for the next wave.

#

Otto had started to nod off when a soft moan snapped him out of it. He blinked and rubbed his hand over his eyes.

A movement in the corner of his eye grabbed his attention and he turned to find Shakira's right eye looking at him. She mumbled something that sounded like, "Ot...oh...?"

He grinned, clasped her hand, and let out a long, relieved sigh. "I'm right here."

"What...happened?" She raised her other hand to the bandages covering the left side of her face.

"We were in the garage under the Justice Foundation. There was an explosion. Well, multiple explosions."

"Thought that was a dream." She slid her palm slowly over the bandages. "Really happened?"

"Yeah." His eyes welled up and he sniffled.

"How bad is it?"

"One of the surgeons told me you're gonna have some scars on the left side of your face. Some shrapnel almost ripped it off." He stood, leaned across her bed, and placed his hand over hers. "He also said you...you lost your left eye." He had to hold his breath for a moment to stop himself from bursting into tears.

She glanced at their hands, turned hers over and rubbed her thumb across the back of his. She blinked a few times and refocused on him.

"He...what did he say?"

"You lost your eye when the shrapnel hit you. He said you'll be able to get a new one, though. Kind of like Jack's."

"Huh. Cool." She sighed. "Can't afford it, though."

"Don't worry about that. It's Argus Defense Systems' fault, so they're gonna pay for everything."

"Good luck with that." Shakira flicked another curious glance at their still-joined hands. She licked her dry lips and sighed, her expression slightly confused yet more alert than she'd been just a few seconds ago. "Their attorneys are too much for me to handle. Besides, by the time Jack and the girls are finished with 'em, the company probably won't even exist anymore."

Well, I'll just have to take the money from 'em before that happens. He kept it to himself. "Maybe we'll figure something out."

His stomach growled. Shakira's lips turned up at the corners.

"Sounded like Jack's car. Better go take care of that."

"It can wait. I don't want to leave you alone right now."

"I'll be okay. Go on, get something to eat."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'm actually feeling...well, not nearly as bad as I should. No idea why." She shrugged and gave his hand a squeeze. "Go on. Shoo."

He sighed. "Well, alright. But I'll just grab something I can finish quickly and come right back." He leaned over to kiss her cheek.

At the exact same moment, she turned her head and started to say something--and their lips met.

What--uh...uh-oh. His face grew hot--and this time it wasn't entirely from a blush. This felt different--like something was flowing out through his skin.

Shakira's eye opened wide. Over on the heart monitor, her pulse spiked.

Stop it, Otto. If her pulse sets off an alarm at the nurses' station, one of 'em will run in here and catch us. There won't be any explaining our way out of that one. After a few more seconds, he finally managed to pull himself away from her.

She leaned forward and remained in contact.

Suddenly, Otto couldn't breathe. Oh, holy shit! Is she really--?

Shakira finally pulled back. Her eye opened almost wide enough to fall out of its socket, and her mouth dropped open.

A sort of black glow washed over her and faded so quickly, Otto wondered if he'd imagined it. But it looked a lot like the flash he'd seen when he took out that armored gunman in the Foundation's headquarters.

Oh, shit, what the hell did I just do to her?

She stared in shock for several more seconds, then finally shook her head as if dazed, and arched an eyebrow at him.

"Sorry!" he blurted. "It was an accident! I was trying to kiss you on the cheek, I swear!"

"Just don't mention it to anyone, okay? I could get into serious trouble."

"I won't say a word about it, I promise. It never happened." He took a moment to catch his breath. He glanced at the heart monitor; her pulse had begun to even out. "Are you okay? For a second, you...well, I'm not sure how to describe it. There was, like, a black glow around you. If that even makes any sense."

She frowned. "Like that guy you zapped."

"Yeah. Are you alright? How do you feel?"

"Fine, actually. Well, still in some pain, but I'm feeling a lot better." She eyed him for another few seconds. "What did you do to me?"

"I have no idea. That's why I'm worried."

"Well, I'm okay. Like I said, better than a few minutes ago." She nodded at the door. "Well, you should grab something to eat. Seriously, that was loud as hell. Next time your stomach growls, it might cause a tsunami."

He chuckled and patted her hand. "Okay, okay. See you in a bit."

"I'll wait right here." She smiled and reached over to the panel in her bed rail. She raised the head of her bed and picked up the TV remote.

Otto smiled back and stepped into the hallway. At the end of the hall, he tapped the elevator button and leaned against the wall to catch his breath again.

Damn. I'm hyperventilating. He took a few deep breaths.

"Are you alright?" a woman said from behind him.

He looked over his shoulder and found a nurse walking up to him.

"Oh, fine. Just worried about my friend." He pointed at Shakira's room. "She had a close call a while ago."

The elevator doors parted and he stepped through. He tapped the button for the ground floor, stuck his hands into his pockets, and leaned against the wall, hoping that putting on a casual air would slow his racing heart.

The doors closed and he let out a long breath and shook his head.

Wow.

#

"Hah!" Taura blurted.

Jack and Corona whirled around and raised their guns. They glanced around frantically, then turned to Taura and stared.

"Uh, sorry," Taura mumbled. "I found the files we need. Extracting them now."

Jack let out a long sigh, patted her shoulder, and looked into the hallway.

Corona grinned and spoke into her helmet mic. "Taura found it, Boss. We'll be on our way out shortly."

[Glad to hear it. We'll cover you.]

The transfer finished and Taura pulled the card out and slipped it back into her belt pouch. "Let's go."

Corona took the lead and jogged back to the elevator. Jack followed her and Taura brought up the rear. She checked her camera feeds and frowned.

"The hallways are empty. Nobody is coming after us."

"Yet," Jack muttered.

"Maybe they've all been sent to deal with Boiler." Corona pried the elevator doors open and grabbed the cables.

"I doubt it, just because of the data we swiped. Taura, how does the lobby look?"

Taura glanced at the window showing the lobby feed and shook her head. "Empty."

"Well, they're either concentrating on Boiler, or they're setting up a nasty surprise for us outside." As soon as Corona had climbed to the ground floor, Jack nodded at the cable. "Your turn, babe. I'll be right behind you."

Taura pulled herself up. When she was out of the way, Jack climbed after her.

"Machiko, is there any activity outside? This place looks empty all of a sudden."

[We've just detected twelve vehicles starting up in the parking garage next door. ADS owns the whole garage, so you can bet that's security getting ready to chase you.]

"Great. Looks like it's gonna be a repeat of the shit we went through to get Winslow to the safe house."

Taura reached the ground floor and found Corona holding the door open. She jumped across and caught Corona's outstretched hands. Corrie pulled her through the doorway and reached out to Jack.

[I've spotted a sniper,] one of the quadruped robots, Jamie, said. [He's on top of the parking garage. From there, he'll be able to pick you off as soon as you step through the front door.]

"Oh, terrific." Jack leaped into Corona's arms and took a moment to regain his balance. "We'll see if we can find another way out."

"I just realized something," Corona said. Her eyes widened and glowed brighter. "Maybe they cleared this place out so no one would be hurt by more self-destructing zombies."

Oh, hell. Taura grimaced and glanced around, trying to keep all the doors in sight at once. If any of those cyber-zombies were left, they could burst through any of those doors at any moment.

"Give me a minute to get to the roof," Boiler said. "I'll see if I can get to him."

[Stand by,] Machiko cut in. [I've got this.]

"Okay. Let us know when it's clear." Jack reached out to hold one of Corona's and Taura's hands in each of his. They held on for a few seconds, then let go and raised their guns. Corona shifted her pistol to her left hand and reached up to pluck the enormous mecha rifle from her back.

[Right after the sniper's body hits the ground. Stand by.]

#

Machiko's helmet camera scanned the edge of the parking garage roof and picked out a figure partially hidden behind a series of ducts, pipes, and power junction boxes, aiming a sniper rifle at the street. She'd landed on a rooftop nearby that was higher than most of the surrounding buildings, which would make it easy enough to glide down to the ADS headquarters. She'd prefer to pick the guy off from where she stood, but there were too many ducts and pipes in the way for a clear shot.

[See any others, guys?]

[Nope,] Jamie said.

Machiko spread her wings and leaped off the edge, caught an updraft and sailed around to the south side of the ADS building. Once she was close enough, she dived at it, pulled up, and dropped the last few feet to the rooftop. A quick glance at the sniper confirmed that he'd spotted her--just as she'd hoped. She ducked behind a part of the air conditioning system, pulled her own sniper rifle from her back and made sure the safety was off.

Yeah, that's right, keep your eyes on me.

The sniper switched from his rifle to a machine gun and squeezed off a few dozen rounds. They punched into the metal between himself and Machiko.

She plucked the grappling hook gun from her belt and waited for a pause in the shooting. When the sniper stopped to reload, Machiko launched into the open and bolted across the roof. The sniper finished shoving a fresh clip into his gun and continued firing. The bullets nipped at her feet as she sprinted toward the east edge. He tracked her all the way across, but couldn't quite keep up with her.

She fired the grappling hook into the edge of the roof and clipped the gun to her belt.

The sniper's weapon clicked and he popped the clip out.

Machiko leaped off the edge, spun around in midair, and raised her rifle into position.

The guy shoved another new clip into his gun.

His head entered Machiko's sights and she pulled the trigger while still pivoting and beginning to drop down the side of the building. The man's head snapped backward and the rear half exploded out behind him. His body tumbled off the edge just as Machiko dropped out of sight and completed her three-sixty turn. The line buzzed softly as it unreeled. A few yards above ground, Machiko grabbed the grappling gun and hit the retract button. The hook disengaged and the line zipped back into the gun a split second before she hit the pavement. The servos in her armor absorbed the shock and she rolled forward and came up running. She sprinted into an alley across the street and holstered the sniper rifle on her back.

She reactivated her comlink implant and sent, [Jamie, Adam, double check. Still no more snipers?]

[None. But there are vehicles in the garage heading for the ground floor.]

[Thanks, guys. Jack, you're okay to go.] Machiko switched to her plasma rifle and crouched behind a minivan parked at the curb. [We'll keep 'em off your back while you get to your car. Let's get this done.]

#

"Let's go." Jack walked up to the door and it slid open. All they had to do was sprint to his car, parked a block away to prevent anyone inside the ADS building from seeing them coming--without being shot a few hundred times right out of the gate. Simple.

Right. Sure. Simple. Jack took a deep breath and launched out through the door. Corona and Taura almost passed him, but slowed enough for him to keep up.

The roar of multiple engines caught his attention as he and the girls raced across the street and into the alley.

"How many?" Taura snapped as they charged through the alley.

[Twelve armored SUVs have just exited the parking garage,] Adam reported.

[We'll nail 'em before they get anywhere near you,] Jamie added.

"Be sure you have a clear shot." Corona took the lead, then slowed when they reached the end of the alley. She poked her head out of the alley and took a quick look around before nodding at the others. "We can't let any civilians get hurt."

[Got it,] bot robots said in unison.

Jack and the girls rushed around the corner, weaved their way through a stream of startled pedestrians, and sprinted toward his monster hearse. He shook his head as he climbed into the passenger seat and the girls yanked open the back door and jumped through.

Gotta get a less conspicuous car to use on the job. "Hold on, babes." He started the engine, revved it, and popped the clutch, shooting away from the curb and nearly colliding with a van that had switched lanes at exactly the wrong moment. He swerved around it and shifted up. If we fucking live through this.

"Machiko, we're moving," Corona said into her helmet mic.

[I'm sending you a set of coordinates..] A mini-map appeared in Jack's HUD. [Lola and Enrique will be waiting for you. You'll hand the files over to them and decoy any other pursuers while they handle the files from there.]

"Oh, decoy. That's awesome!" Jack snarled and shifted up again.

"Easy there, honey." Corona chuckled. "Machiko, what then?"

[We'll make arrangements to get the files into the right hands. I'll send you a second location where you can ditch your car; one of us will pick it up later, when this is over. Rocky and Hoshi will be waiting to pick you up. Once you're all sure you're not being followed, she'll take you to your house. They won't dare try anything else with all those cameras pointed at you.]

"I hope," Jack said under his breath. He slowed as he approached the next intersection and spun the wheel to the left. The hearse began to skid. Jack whipped the steering wheel to the right and drifted through the turn, shifted down and punched it.

"Sure, we'll be fine at home," Taura grumbled. "It's just everywhere else we'll have to worry."

Corona leaned over and held Taura's left hand between both of hers.

[Get ready, you three. We took out four of those SUVs, but the rest are coming up fast. Jamie, Adam, as soon as you get a clear shot, take it.]

[We're on it!]

Jack kept his left hand clamped onto the steering wheel and his right on the gear shift, and clenched his teeth. "Well, here we go again."

#

"It's still not too late to head home," Ramirez muttered around her cigar.

"Why would I want to do that?" Hiro stared at her and cocked his head, somehow managing to look like he was grinning mischievously despite his rigid beak.

She sighed and leaned against the trunk of Enrique's car.

Enrique chuckled and clapped her on the shoulder. "You've been over this a half-dozen times already. I don't think he's gonna budge."

"I know, it's just...come on, it isn't right. He's a civilian."

"Who's stronger than both of us and has hand-to-hand combat techniques programmed into him." Enrique shrugged. "We might need his help."

"Thank you." Before Ramirez could say anything else, Hiro clasped her free hand and patted the back of it. "Fighting is what I was created for. You don't need to worry about me."

"Can't help it." Her pulse increased the instant he touched her. She puffed on her cigar, using it as an excuse to take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

"You two make such a cute couple." Enrique grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.

"We're not a couple. I already told you, what happened between us wasn't by choice."

"You think we'll ever find out exactly what happened and who did it?" Hiro glanced around at the rusting railroad cars surrounding them. Machiko had sent them to an old train station in Norrington that hadn't been used in decades. All they had to do was wait for Jack and the girls to pass by, and Taura could transfer the files to Ramirez's phone from a few hundred feet away.

Ramirez sighed. "If we can't get any of the other victims to talk to us, then I doubt it."

"I hate to say it," Enrique muttered, "but we might have to wait for the guy to hit someone else and hope we can talk to 'em before they're forced to keep their mouths shut."

Shit. Ramirez winced, but couldn't think of a better idea at the moment.

"It fucking sucks, but it just might come to that." She clipped her huge gun back into her hip holster, took her phone out, and scanned the area with its motion tracker. So far, nothing but a few small animals. She slipped the phone back into her pocket and, before she realized what was happening, put her arms around Hiro's waist.

Oh, damn it, what am I doing? Her heartbeat revved up again, and she could feel his pattering against her chest. He enfolded her in his wings and they held each other for a moment before she came back to her senses and stepped back.

"I'll let you two have a few minutes." Enrique grinned, turned away, and made a circling motion with his hand. "I'll, uh, walk the perimeter."

"Oh, don't you start." Ramirez took a moment to catch her breath and snorted. "It's not--this isn't--I mean..."

"Hey, I'm not one to judge other people's relationship choices."

"Give it a rest. It's just a residual effect of having our minds manipulated. There's some kind of link. Or something." Her face grew hot. "Gotta be."

"Or maybe you're just hot for each other."

"No, can't be. First, I'm only attracted to humans. Second--"

"That's obviously bullshit." Enrique laughed.

"Second! He's too--oh, fuck it." She shook her head, stuck her hands into her pockets, and leaned against the car again. "I'm not having this goddamn conversation."

Enrique glanced at Hiro and shrugged. "Sorry, kid. I tried."

"I appreciate the effort." Hiro chuckled and then signed.

"It can't happen," Ramirez mumbled. "I can get into a fuck-ton of trouble if someone catches us and decides to push the issue."

"You shouldn't get into any trouble when I want this as much as you do." Hiro walked over to the car and leaned against it, just a few inches from her.

"You can't legally consent, though."

"Well, the legal status of anthros hasn't been determined yet. So technically, my age doesn't even count."

"I've made a few enemies recently. If any of them decided to turn me in just to screw with me, they'll find a way to make the charge stick. Same way they got me tossed out of the NCPD." She took a deep breath and shook her head.

And I do want it. That's the problem.

"Ugh." She puffed on her cigar and scowled off into the distance. "Fuck my life."

"Come on, don't be like that." Hiro put his arm around her shoulders. "Everything might work out yet."

She shrugged. Without thinking, she leaned her head on his shoulder. Then she almost snarled at her own impulses.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"When Shakira gets out of the hospital," Enrique said with a grin, "you two should go on a double date with her and Otto."

"Damn it, Montoya."

"You can start a support group. The Cougars and Cake Eaters Club."

"Dick. I hope you step on a fuckin' Lego tonight."

He burst out laughing. "Sorry, that hasn't been a risk since my ex left with the kids, their toys, our house, and a big chunk of my paycheck."

Ramirez chuckled, whapped his shoulder, and shook her head. "Shakira's gonna get arrested if she's not careful. Just hanging around that kid so much can give people the wrong idea."

"Well, his lust for her is a matter of public record, since he's brought it up on almost every podcast they've done since they met. So is her always turning him down."

"That won't help her much if she ever goes there. The law is the law."

"Except when it isn't. In this city, at least."

"True. But in a case like this--"

Her phone vibrated and she twitched and yelped. Her cigar almost fell out of her mouth. She caught it with her left hand while digging her phone out and grumbling. She glanced at the message on the screen.

"That's Machiko. Jack and the girls are on the way." She shifted the phone to her left hand and pulled her gun from her holster. "Get ready."

#

[They're clear of traffic,] Machiko sent over the comlink. [Adam, Jamie, move in and fire at will. Boiler, do your worst.]

"On it." Boiler changed the angle of her wings and dived straight toward the lead SUV. All eight of the armored vehicles had accelerated and fanned out once her parents had led them into the nearly deserted part of Norrington. Their speed gave her an idea, and she aimed herself a few feet ahead of the lead vehicle so she'd intersect with it at just the right spot.

A plasma bolt from one of the 'bots flashed into the SUV bringing up the rear, vaporizing its right-rear tire and releasing the air inside in a fiery burst that nearly flipped it onto its side. Both bots took out two more of the hostile vehicles the same way and bore down on the rest, charging after them on wheels that extended from their legs.

Boiler surged ahead of the lead car and dropped straight down, crashing her four hundred pounds of solid muscle into its hood. The impact smashed the armored hood, buckled the top of the engine, rammed the front of the SUV into the pavement, and exploded both front tires. The crumpled front of the vehicle plowed into the pavement, caught, and launched it into a front-flip. Boiler leaped off as it began to tumble into the air, throwing herself to the left to get clear. She hit the ground, rolled, and finally slid to a stop several yards farther down the street.

Ow. She picked herself up as the SUV bounced along the pavement with a series of crashes and the shrieks of twisting metal. She didn't take the time to look at it, turning and drawing her fourteen-millimeter Glock as the remaining four vehicles roared past. She blew the front-left tire off the nearest one and it spun sideways and rolled onto its side.

Adam trundled up beside her and stopped. "Need a lift?"

"Thanks." She holstered her gun, leaped on top of him, and made sure she had a solid grip. "Okay, let's kick some more ass."

"Hoo-ah!" He rocketed off and caught up with Jamie. The wind rushed into Boiler's face and whipped her long ponytail around.

Up ahead, Corona's gigantic mecha rifle poked out of the hearse's blown-out rear window. A muzzle flash lit up the evening and a huge, armor-piercing bullet tore through the lead SUV's grille and killed its engine.

Three left. They began to swerve erratically, and the guy in the passenger seat of each leaned out the window with an assault rifle.

"Can't lock on," Adam said.

"See if you can get close to one of 'em." Boiler braced her feet against his topside and prepared to jump.

The hostiles opened fire. Corona and Taura dropped out of sight, stretching out on the floor and keeping their heads down. Boiler squinted and caught a glimpse of Jack slouching in his seat, trying to keep his head out of the line of fire. A hail of bullets zipped through the car, over her mothers' heads, and into the windshield. The glass exploded out onto the hood and to the sides.

Adam caught up with one of the SUVs and Boiler tensed up, preparing to leap across and land on its roof.

Machiko's voice came over her comlink and she froze.

[Heads up, everyone. We've got incoming aircraft.]

Boiler's jaw dropped. What?

"That's weird," Corona muttered. "I could've sworn you said aircraft."

[I did. They're coming up directly behind you.]

Boiler looked over her shoulder, glanced around, and finally spotted four gunships that looks like a cross between helicopters and tilt-rotor VTOL planes. They were just big enough to hold a pilot, co-pilot, and a guy sitting behind them, presumably running the computer systems and scanners and whatnot.

Mounted on the nose of each was a pair of rotary cannons.

Adam aimed one of his dorsal cameras up at them. "Huh. Never seen anything like those before."

"They must be experimental." Boiler sighed. "Terrific."

"We can't get anywhere near Lola and the others," Taura said. "Not until we can get those things off our backs."

[Change of plans, people. Boiler, you and the bots take out the remaining SUVs. Jack, lead the aircraft away from the hand-off point. I'll see what I can do from the air.]

Jack skidded to the left and shot down a side-street just as the lead gunship opened fire. Its cannons sprayed the street with hundreds of bullets in a three-second burst, blasting a section of the pavement into rubble and barely missing the hearse.

"Arrrgh, fuck me," Jack growled.

"Better take this SUV," Adam said. "Jamie and I will handle the other two."

"On it." Boiler launched herself across to the vehicle and slammed down on its roof. She clamped her hands onto the edges a split-second before the car began to swerve even more violently.

Jack sighed as his car roared back out of Norrington. "Well, this is just fuckin' great."