Reboot

There was a knock on my door, which I thought was weird. Who knocks on a cage? Then the door creaked open and Colby came in carefully.

“You got caught pretty easily Robert.”

“I don’t quite know how to take that Colby.” I smiled. “I guess I’ll have to work on my acting skills.”

“No, you did quite well. Who knew they’d have your brother on hand. Boy oh boy, he doesn’t like you much.” He leaned against the wall.

“No kidding.” I sat back against the wall and relaxed. “Who are you Colby? How did you get involved in this?” I asked. “You don’t seem the type”.

“What type?”

“The dour, robotic henchman type.”

“No. That’s true. I’m more of a dull bureaucrat. I’m more comfortable behind a desk saying no to everyone.” He smiled. “I was sort of in the right place at the wrong time, you might say. It’s not all bad. Besides, what’s a bureaucrat supposed to do when there’s nothing to file?”

“Good point.”

“I wanted to have a few minutes with you alone. No one but the guard knows I’m here.”

“What’s on your mind”? I sighed.

“You’re about to get a bit of help and you should get plenty of rest to get ready.”

“Really? You know something? What? What’re they going to do?”

“Well they didn’t tell me the actual plan of course, but they said you would know when… I suppose they meant it would be noisy?”

“Yes, I kind of expected something such. Stick around.” I smiled. “I think you’re in for a show.”

And at that moment. The bombs went off. One…..two….three concussions… And it was pandemonium. The walls cracked. Dust was shaken loose everywhere. We coughed.

Colby was startled and looked at the ceiling; seemingly afraid it would cave in. Then he ran towards the door. I yelled at him. “Colby! Stop! Believe me, the safest place to be right now, is here with me.” He thought about that for a second while holding the door, then he relented and sat back down next to me, hands between his thighs, our destinies tied together now.

__________________

Three towers were destroyed and three holes appeared in the wall. Millikan yelled out orders to cover those holes and tried to rally his people. Rourke shot wildly from six different spots with machine guns, causing more panic. People were running around in every different direction. A woman was hurt from falling debris and unable to move. Three men were trying to dig her leg out from under a pile of rubble, but they were hampered by dust and fear. Another man was limping along bleeding from his head and trying to get to cover.

Luckily, Veneta was almost empty. Some soldiers abandoned their posts to help. They helped the three men and carried the woman to the hotel, which was quickly turned into a makeshift infirmary. The rooms were made available to the wounded. Every bed was filled. Most of the injuries came from falling debri or people tripping while running away from the commotion.

Rourke shot a few rounds, than ran to another spot and shot some more. He just aimed at the wall, anywhere. He made as much noise as possible.

Meanwhile, a sudden roar was heard from the other side as Dutch flew in and shot a missile at the main entrance, destroying both towers there. Then he moved on to the next towers, punching holes in the walls and debilitating the guards in the towers.

William was dressed in regular clothes. Even wore a pink shirt. That had been Dutch’s

idea. He just walked in one of the holes. The defenders were waiting for an all out assault by armed soldiers. Not one guy dressed in pink. William picked a pile and laid himself in it waiting for someone to come “help” him. He wanted to get taken to the infirmary. That way he could get information and lay low until Dutch could catch up.

Dutch went all around Veneta taking out all the towers unchallenged and then he went

back to park the helo as quickly as possible. He’d picked a spot just a few hundred meters away. He didn’t worry about being found at this point. Then Dutch did the same thing as William. He just walked in. His dress of choice was a loud golfing combination of beige and orange. You simply could not shoot someone wearing beige and orange.

As Millikan was concentrating his people towards Rourke who was having fun blowing things up and shooting in a well organized concert, the tower guards were in disarray and just trying to pick themselves up after crashing to the ground. The wounded swamped the infirmary, which had been the plan. Dutch went up to someone and asked if he could help with the wounded. He was directed to the infirmary.

Millikan did exactly what was expected of him. He led a sortie to go out and get Rourke who had been very convincing in creating a shadow team. That left Veneta empty of soldiers except for the wounded guards in the infirmary.

All William had to do was sit and listen. With all those guards in one place, they were bound to discuss Robert. It worked like a charm. One guy said: “Well I hope this Morgan person is worth it.” Another answered:” They really want him back don’t they. So it must be the right guy.” Then William chimed in with: “Where is he anyway?” And the soldier just blurted it out. “Basement of the Hotel.”

Dutch came into the infirmary carrying a hurt guard, he saw William and went up to him.

“Hi William.”

“Hi Dutch.”

And they walked out together and headed to the hotel.