Chapter 43: The Leap
"So what do we do?! Just sit here and watch Sasha flatline?!" Rebecca tore her arm away from Maine, her green cyber-eyes swimming with desperate, furious tears. She was like a trapped animal, lashing out uselessly. "Tell me, Maine! What the fuck do we do now?!"
Her raw, broken question acted like a clear trigger signal, perfectly received by Test Subject 1's audio receptors.
The blue light in its oculars abruptly intensified, becoming incredibly bright, stable, almost sharp. Its jaw clicked rapidly, a dense burst of binary chatter almost too fast for the human ear, as if its internal cogitator was running a storm of calculations.
++[High-priority rescue request detected.]++ Its synthesized voice remained flat, but the cadence quickened, carrying an undeniable logical force. ++[Analyzing current tactical situation: Target designated 'Sasha' is contained within Biologis Complex Sigma, Level 27, facing immediate termination threat. External rescue vectors are blocked by physical and aerial denial assets. Conventional infiltration success probability: less than 0.3%.]++
It paused, the blue light flashing sharply.
++[Initiating unconventional solution: Direct infiltration of Biologis local security network. Seizure of system control.]++
++[Protocol Steps:]++
++[1: Utilize established, low-bandwidth communication link as vector-point. Reverse-trace primary network node.]++
++[2: Inject custom-written exploit-protocol. Neutralize firewall and active defense systems.]++
++[3: Seize highest-level administrative privileges for drone network, internal security automata, and environmental control systems.]++
++[4: Create tactical insertion window for rescue team and establish exfiltration path for target.]++
++[Estimated time to completion: Three to five standard minutes. Risk Assessment: Potential activation of hostile counter-protocols or attraction of corporate netwatch rapid-response team. Execute?]++
The calm, almost cold-blooded analysis and proposal dropped into a dead silence within the vehicle. Maine, Dorio, Falco, even the volatile Rebecca, stared dumbfounded at the mechanical skull, which seemed to have suddenly come alive with terrifying offensive capability.
Directly hack a mega-corp's internal network? Seize control? It was insane. Even top-tier netrunners needed extensive prep time, external support, and faced enormous risks attempting such a feat.
"You... you're saying... you can do that?" Pilar stammered, looking at the "metal-head" he'd been casually handling moments ago as if seeing it for the first time.
++[Based on current data-link and integrated algorithms, success probability assessed at 72.4%. The Creator's integration of adaptive-learning modules and high-efficiency data-processing protocols provides significant advantage for this task-profile.]++ Test Subject 1 responded coolly.
Rebecca didn't care about the technical jargon. She heard "success probability" and "create escape path." The spark of hope reignited instantly, blazing hotter than before.
"Then what are you waiting for?! Do it! Execute! Now! Fry those damn drones and bots! Get Sasha out!" She practically threw herself at the skull, screaming commands as if willing a god into action.
++[Directive Confirmed. Highest Priority: Rescue Target 'Sasha'. Initiating Network Infiltration Protocol.]++
Test Subject 1 said no more. The blue light in its oculars condensed, becoming almost solid. It floated silently to the center of the cabin, the entire skull seeming to vibrate faintly, the low hum of its processor running at maximum capacity just barely audible.
Inside the Biologis Complex, Level 27.
Sasha sagged against the cold wall, gasping for breath. The office door was a mangled wreck. Three hulking security automata blocked the opening, their crimson optical sensors locked onto her. The floor was littered with the fused, partially vaporized remains of other bots – testament to the plasma pistol's devastating power. The air stank of ozone and burnt metal.
The progress bar had finally hit 100%. She slammed the disconnect on the terminal and smashed the datapad against the desk, ensuring no trace remained.
Mission accomplished. Her mother's truth might finally see the light. That was enough.
She glanced at the shattered window. Twenty-seven floors down. Hard pavement. Better than being captured, interrogated endlessly by Biotechnica's butchers. A clean end.
She took a deep breath, pushing down the guilt about Maine's crew, pushing down the fear, and tensed to run for the window.
In that instant—
Everything changed.
The three automata advancing on her froze simultaneously! Their crimson optics flickered wildly, then went dark for a full second. When they relit, they glowed a soft, neutral blue – standby mode. Their raised capture-nets and stun batons lowered limply. Their massive frames stood inert, utterly non-threatening.
Outside the window, the drones that had been painting her with targeting lasers suddenly went haywire, tumbling erratically through the air, some colliding and spiraling down in trails of smoke. The distant roar of AV engines was replaced by the crump of explosions and the shriek of impacts!
Within seconds, the entire Biologis Complex security grid collapsed into bizarre, total chaos.
Sasha stared, unable to comprehend what was happening. What... what was going on?
Just then, Rebecca's familiar, frantic roar erupted from her comm implant, startlingly clear now that the jamming was gone. "Sasha! Sasha! You read me?! The flying skull did it! It delta-slammed 'em! How's it look on your end?! Are the bots down?!"
Understanding crashed over Sasha. Maine's crew! They had done this somehow! Used some impossible method to crash Biotechnica's system! A wave of giddy relief washed over her, immediately followed by a deeper wave of dread. Even with the system down, she was still deep in enemy territory. And this act had just put the entire crew squarely in Biotechnica's crosshairs.
"Rebecca! I... I'm okay! System's down, I think! But you guys gotta get out of here! Leave me! Biotechnica won't let this go!" she yelled urgently into her comm.
"Leave you? Are you outta your goddamn mind?!" Rebecca's scream nearly blew out her eardrum. "Listen up, idiot! We're downstairs! The skull's finding you a way out! You stay put! Wait for us! That's an order!"
Downstairs? Sasha's heart plummeted. They had actually come here! For her! Into the belly of the beast!
She ran to the window and looked down. The street below was chaos. One of the lockdown AVs was falling, trailing fire. Drones were crashing. And near the edge of the chaos, she saw it – the familiar, battered shape of the Goodwood.
No... they can't come further! It's still too dangerous! Biotechnica must have backups! I've already dragged them into enough trouble!
A final, desperate idea formed. Maybe... maybe if she just "disappeared," Biotechnica would lose their primary target. Maybe Maine's crew could slip away.
She looked down again. The cold finality of the drop wrapped around her. But this time, mixed with the fear was a sense of release, of protection for her friends.
She spoke into the comm, forcing her voice to be calm. "Rebecca... thanks! For everything! Tell Maine... tell everyone... I'm sorry. And... take care of your gun for me."
Before Rebecca's confused, increasingly panicked shouts could fully register, Sasha cut the connection.
She took one last look at the cold world, one last look at the blurred shape of the car that represented 'home'. A flicker of longing crossed her face, immediately replaced by steely resolve.
Without hesitation, she turned, took a running start, and threw herself with all her remaining strength through the shattered window, out into the empty air.
The roar of the wind instantly filled her ears, drowning out everything else.