Bitemarks 5.6

Bitemarks 5.6

Skarletta hadn't been idle. The terminal computer would require too much work to have it send a message directly, but forcing it to echo an existing signal would be easier. Building a transmitter was child's play for her, even with such primitive components and tools. All it took were a few modifications to the main radar terminal to point the dish at the nearest satellite, a little coding to rewrite the computer's behaviour and a little soldering to make the computer components work the way she wanted. When she was finished she had a motherboard with three pci cards plugged into it, all powered by the cmos battery. It wouldn't work for very long at all. In fact, once the battery was in place her 'transmitter' would be able to transmit her signal for all of thirty seconds, more than long enough for the radar dish to detect it and echo the signal up to the satellite which in turn would send it on through space. All she had to do was step outside, push the battery in place and ensure the device remained transmitting for those thirty seconds. She still needed to take some precautions though. Although she could withstand a thirty second barrage of automatic weapons fire the fragile transmitter could not.
She lit the welding torch and gathered all the side panels from the PC towers she'd brought with her and those inside the radar hub and welded them together into one solid plate. Then she welded the motherboard mounts onto the plate and finally screwed the motherboard into place on the mounts. She took the last of the wires she had and strapped the contraption to her back. As long as she faced the enemy at all times any bullets that hit her would hit the plates next. It certainly wasn't flawless but hopefully it wouldn't matter. She didn't even need the full thirty seconds anyway. The signal would repeat six times over in that time frame so really, five seconds would be enough, ten to make absolutely certain. The Dherroine may well finish her tonight but their death warrant had been all but signed...
Skarletta picked up the dead cop by his head and drank down the last of the blood in his system then unbolted the door to the bunker, pushed the cmos battery into into place, kicked the door free of its housing and stepped out...


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Ed's heart pounded. He'd had plenty of time to dwell on the fear in the helicopter. His mind replayed a scene from his past in his head. His first ever live gig with Poleaxe. The fear had gripped him then, backstage. He'd let it overpower him and his hands still shook as he walked to his drumkit. His timing was awful. His feet missed beats, his hands double tapped cymbals. He was a mess throughout the first song. As that opening number finished the vocalist had begun shouting at the crowd to get them cheering and Tony had come storming over to Ed and shouted at him.
"Sort your shit out cunt! I know you're bricking it, we all are. But this isn't the time for fear man. This just isn't the time!"
That thought echoed through him.
This just isn't the time for fear.
Ed felt the microsyringe in his left hand. Adrenaline. The drug that gave the body its 'fight or flight' response. Ed knew which option he had to choose. This just wasn't the time for fear.
He looked ahead of him, at the shadowy figure of Skarletta that he was rapidly nearing. He heard soldiers somewhere nearby let off a volley of gunfire and the General's voice yelling at them to hold their fire. Ed jabbed the microsyringe into his leg and his whole world slowed to a standstill as the adrenaline blasted through his system. His right foot thumped into the floor and he lifted off again. The sounds of the automatic rifles slowed to distant thundering cannons. Somewhere ahead of him he saw the shock on Skarletta's face as she recognised him.

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Skarletta looked in astonishment as Ed drew closer. Twelve, thirteen. She counted in her head. It was him. That Dherroine with the bizarre weapon and the foul tasting blood. He had the look of a man prepared to die and she smelt no fear upon him. Only confidence. Determination. Fifteen. That was three repetitions. More than enough. Time to remove his head from his shoulders.


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Ed saw her leap. Saw her sail through the air almost gracefully, extending her right foot. He felt his left leg shift as it hit the floor. Felt his right hammer into the ground after it and push him aside. He could feel the whistle as her foot sailed past his right ear, missing him by millimetres. He tumbled forward, bringing his right arm upward. His elbow struck the floor and he rolled along the curve of his spine, twisting himself as he landed on his feet, facing the other way only to see her doing the same. A bullet struck her face, entering through one cheek and out the other but she didn't flinch. Somewhere in the back of his mind Ed became aware of a slow drumbeat growing louder and louder.
Thump
Thud
Thump
Thud
It was his heartbeat, he realised. And to that slow rhythm Skarletta ran toward him.
Thump.
Ed stood up.
Thud.
She was right there in front of him.
Thump.
He raised the crossbow and she pulled back a fist.
Thud.
Ed fired. Skarletta's punch connected. He'd tried to move, to dodge the incoming blow, but still it glanced off his chin. His world went topsy turvy as ground became sky, sky became ground and his vision exploded in a sea of red pain. The sound of his jaw cracking was like a thunderclap to his ears.
Thump.
Thump.
That second thump was not his heart but his skull hitting the floor. Air burst from his lungs. If he hadn't hit her then any second now his life would reach its conclusion. Coughing he pushed himself back onto his feet and wiped the tears from his eyes and blinked until his vision returned.
Thump.
Thud.
She was still standing. She pulled back her fist again. There wasn't time to reload the crossbow. All Ed could do was brace himself.
Thump.
Her whole body moved as the punch wound up and then... A blue surge of electricity engulfed her body. her face froze and her arms went limp. She visibly staggered. Ed's breath caught in his throat. The crossbow fell from his grip. His jaw screamed out in agony as it hung loosely. Skarletta steadied herself. Her foot lashed out in a kick aimed at Ed's side but again the blue surge fired through her body. Her left leg gave way, her kick missed its target and Skarletta fell to her knees.
Groggily Ed drew the sword from its scabbard on his back. He felt like passing out. Or being sick. Or both. But somehow he wrapped his fingers around the hilt with both hands. Skarletta tried to rise but the electrified crossbow bolt released its load again. she spasmed violently, her arms flailing. Summoning all his strength Ed raised the sword above his head and swung it in an arc. The blade sliced through the air and struck the back of her neck. It bounced off the bone and the shock of the impact numbed Ed's arms. He yelled out in pain, dropping the blade and falling to the floor. Ed rolled on the floor in agony. His dislocated jaw, the reverberating bones in his hands, wrists and arms, the adrenaline leaving his system, abandoning him to his pain.
"This isn't the time, you cunt!" Tony roared in his mind. Somehow Ed forced himself to stand once again. Skarletta lay writhing on the floor, caught between the repeated shocks from the crossbow bolt and the gaping wound at the back of her neck. Ed stamped down hard on the circuit board strapped to her back, snapping the PCI cards from their housings then picked the sword up once more. Skarletta tried to push herself up onto her hands and knees and as she did he took his final swing. The slow motion effect from the adrenaline had left him. His head still swung groggily side to side as he tried to blink away the sweat and tears threatening to clog his vision. With a roar like no sound to ever leave his mouth Ed shouted.
"This! Isn't! The! Time!"
Moonlight flashed from the sword blade as it swung down once more. This time it sliced between the bones, severing Skarletta's head from her shoulders. It passed clean through and struck the floor. Again it jarred Ed's arms and he lost his grip and fell backwards onto the floor. And he lay there. Breathing heavily. Gazing up at the night sky and wondering if it was all too late...

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(not the end yet :P)