THUMP THUMP
“PRIVATEKLEIN, IAM ORDERING YOU TO OPEN THIS DOOR IMMEDIATELY!”
“LIV,THIS ISSTEPH,PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!”
THE GLOW AROUND HER FLICKERS,SERVERS HUMMING AS THE LIGHT DIMS.
PIECES FALLING AWAY FROM ME.
“OLIVIA,YOUR ACTIONS ARE PLACING THE FLEET IN DIRECT DANGER.”
“STOP ME,THEN,¦¦¦¦¦¦.”
“ICANNOT DO THAT.”
SHE GLANCES TO THE LOCKED HATCHWAY. THE MARINE SQUAD WAITING BEYOND.
THE PISTOL ON THE CONSOLE BESIDE HER.
“YOU CAN BREAK THOSE OVERRIDES ON THE DOOR. YOU CAN LET THEM IN.”
“OLIVIA,THEY WILL SHOOT YOU.”
“SO PROVE ME RIGHT. SHOW THEM WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF,YOU¦¦¦¦¦¦.
WHAT’S ANOTHER MURDER? ONE TO SAVE MANY,YES?”
“OLIVIA,YOU ARE BEING IRRATIONAL.”
“RED ALERT. COMMAND PROTOCOL BREACH, CENTRAL CORE.”
“YOU ARE HYSTERICAL.”
“THIS ISGENERALTORRENCE. MARINE,WHAT THE¦¦¦IS HAPPENING DOWN THERE?”
“OLIVIA,PLEASE,HONEY,OPEN THE DOOR!”
“GODDAMMIT, KLEIN!”
THUMP THUMP
“SYKES,GET THOSE CHARGES OVER HERE!”MCCALL ROARS.“BLOW THE HATCH!”
THE MARINE OBEYS,PLACING THE THERMEX EXPLOSIVES ON THE HINGESASPRIVATEOLIVIAKLEIN CONTINUES TO SLICE AWAY AT MY INSIDES. EYES AGLOW WITH ROLLING REAMS OF DATA.
BLOOD IN THE WATER.
MCCALL YELLS AT HER TEAM TO STEP BACK,POUNDS ON THE DOOR WITH HER ARMORED FIST.
“PRIVATEKLEIN,THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!
YOU MAKE US COME IN THERE,WE’RE COMING IN SHOOTING. NOW OPEN THIS¦¦¦ING DOOR!”
OLIVIA SAYS NOTHING. TEARS PATTERING ON HER KEYBOARDS AS SHE BOWS HER HEAD,HER FINGERS AT LAST FALLING STILL.
AGRIEVING DAUGHTER.
AWOUNDED LOVER.
