KevMullins' Stories

REACTr: That Sinking Feeling

2008-08-12T22:34:22Z

Nick knew how this was about to go down. There would be words like national security, classified information, and military operation, then this Major would take everything away and he’d be off the case.

This case, he thought, something… wrong. Besides he was having that feeling and he’d not had that feeling since the war. No way he’d drop it now.

Just as he was starting to raise hell with the Major, he caught the movement in the corner of his eye. Something stalking them in the shadows, circling, coming into position.

His mind went into overdrive, senses heightened, a quick focus and… there, but no, can’t be as the Chimera stepped right out of a nightmare and directly into Nicks line of sight.

Chimera, a perverse blend of flesh and metal with the twisted psyche of a serial killer, barely controllable, outlawed by every nation. Death was to it, a form of masturbation and this one had them dead in it’s sights, target locked, no escape.

“Get Down!” Nick scream as the first shot rang out.

REACTr: Come to Crash the Party?

2008-07-02T15:57:53Z

The first rays of morning light glistened off the wings of the black giant that had come to rest at the edge of the port as Nick approached. He could just make out the REACT seal on the converted cargo jet’s tail against the glare of the rising sun.

Rapid Enforcement, Advanced Cyber Technologies. So it is Agency then, Nick thought, perfect! Now what?

In the distance, agents were busily offloading equipment from the jet’s open tail and nose. He walked past others prepping hardware already on the ground, all seemingly oblivious to his arrival.

Finally, he spotted his target ahead. Major Morris stood at the back door of an open REACT Striker, motionless, apparently staring out into space.

Two things instantly struck Nick about him: One, this man was big, really big, freak’n massive. Two, his body was fully cybernetic and heavily armored. A quick glance revealed most of the agents were similarly augmented.

“Detective Marshal,” the Major said suddenly dropping from SpinStream, “Glad you could make it.”

REACTr: Coragyps Atratus (Black Vulture)

2008-06-24T23:59:32Z

The Antonov/Lockheed C-5 Galaxy X made a large sweeping arc over the port drawing the attention of all on the ground below. Her massive Olympia VTOL engines roared under the strain of the great black leviathan as she circled to land.

“What the hell was that?” the tech asked turning to Nick.

“Trouble,” he replied. Nick knew exactly what that jet represented, though he’d not seen one since the war. “That’s a REACT mobile command center.”

“Shit just hit the fan, eh bossman?”

“In more ways than you can even imagine. Backup all your data, send it to me on an encrypted channel… I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“Will do, anything else?”

“Yeah, I don’t care how but, keep everyone out of this area, K?”

“Yes sir.”

The tech no more finished speaking before dispatch was paging Nick on the com. A Major Morris was demanding that Nick go to meet him… yesterday.

“Uh oh Nicki,” Stahl said gleefully as he turned the corner, “looks like you’re the Agency’s new bitch.”

“Piss off cocksucker,” Nick replied.

REACTr: As the Black Bird Flies

2008-06-24T22:21:32Z

The old man sat, crossed legged, in the soft warm light that spilled through the half open shoji doors of the ancient tea house. A Geisha beside him performed the tea ceremony while another played a koto softly in the corner.

Everything so convincingly real, had it not been for the secure SpinStream icon that floated in the far right of the Major’s visual field.

“Good morning Director,” the Major said.

“Not very Major Morris. I’ve spent it with the Joint Chiefs who, needless to say, are less than pleased with the situation in Houston. Status report.”

“I’m on Raven’s Nest now, we’ve reached the scene, should be on the ground in 15 minutes.” Images from the massive black plane floated in the air between the two men. “Simulations predict 1 hour before we have complete containment.”

“Unacceptable! Need I stress the importance of this situation?”

“No Sir, we’ll best that.”

“I would hope so, Director out.”

The image of the tea house stretched into infinity, then faded as the connection terminated.

REACTr: Building the Perfect Beast

2008-06-24T00:01:36Z

He followed the tech over to the opening of the broken shipping container where the remains of four bodies lay strewn in the wreckage. It was hard to tell that they had ever been human.

It looked like they’d been sprayed with acid and left pitted with holes of various sizes. No distinguishing features remained, just generic, oozing, dead meat.

“So the reefer was filled with nanomist cloud of Zeus. These four popped the container and… BAM !” the tech said, “Hell of a security system, no?”

“No shit, but protecting what?” Zeus, Nick thought, slang, what grunts called ZUS -416. He struggled to fight down the flashback, the screams, the smells, the feel of nano burn through flesh. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

“Not much of anything. Empty boxes, a few bits and pieces, an armored body… nada. But the really strange part, looks like the nano was building something out of this shit and the bodies.”

“Not building,” Nick replied as he stooped over a body. “Built.“

REACTr: Phantom Pain... but it Still Hurts

2008-06-23T23:16:06Z

Nick instinctively massaged his thighs as he spoke with the tech, though it did no good. Throbbing, white hot pain radiated from the junction of flesh and cybernetics.

“Still bothers you, huh?”

“Yeah, rain and cold’s a real bitch… they tell me it’s all in my head.” Who knows, today it actually could be, he thought.

Memories of the war flooded his mind as he looked over the scene. Memories of nanotech boring through living flesh. Memories of being eaten alive.

He’d been one of the lucky one’s, only lost his legs and a hand. What it did to those other poor bastards… ten years later and it still gave him nightmares.

Friendly fire they called it, though rumor said it was a deliberate test. Still the military had done good by him. Gave him state of the art cybernetics. SynFlesh meshed so well with living tissue it was indistinguishable from the real thing.

“Hmm, that sucks man. Anyway, definitely military nano, ZUS -416,” the tech said. “But that’s nothing though, wait till you see the bodies.”

REACTr: The Broken Maiden

2008-06-20T23:13:04Z

As Nick turned the corner, he could see the Miss Motoko looming high above him. Her broken mass was listing hard to port and would probably have capsized had she not come to rest against the pier.

Drones buzzed around the gaping hole that used to be her aft cargo hold like gnats. Their bright beams of light searching the half dissolved metal for any traces of the nanotech that had pulled the ship apart, atom by atom.

Shipping containers littered the pier below the void. Some partially melted away, others simply broken open by the impact. Every imaginable item was scattered in the wreckage, from cyborg upgrades to new Apple ThinkMates.

A tech came bouncing out of a broken reefer on Nick’s approach.

“Howdy bossman, ugly huh?” he asked.

“Yep,” Nick replied, “Military grade?”

He already knew the answer. No doubt in his mind, he’d been up close and personal with it before, had the scars to prove it. Real military grade, not that cheap black market shit.

Definitely it was bad news.

REACTr: Put'n the "Dick" in "Detective"

2008-06-18T23:15:14Z

Nick never really knew what it was that Detective Stahl had done to the car, aside from being his normal dick self, but it truly hated him. Actually, the feeling was mutual.

Stahl was standing at the back of his Interceptor taking something out the trunk when the car spotted him. Instantly, his image appeared on the main screen outlined in red, a reticle centered on his body as the word STAHL floated above it.

“Got him,” it said as it accelerated. The car made a hard left, throwing itself into a spin, pulled a 360 and came to a screeching halt just inches from Stahl.

He jumped back, made a one finger salute, and screamed, “Marshall you asshole!”

“What’s a matter Stahl, you need some clean panties?” Nick replied as he got out of the car.

“This goddamn, piece of shit car’s been hanging with you too long… it needs to be put down like a rabid dog.”

“Whatever,” Nick said walking away.

He could still hear Stahl and the car trading insults that would make a sailor cry as he turned the corner.

REACTr: Welcome to the Freak Show

2008-06-18T22:42:53Z

Nick could’ve killed for a Starbucks, but the chances of getting even a cheap cup of synthene was going to be out of the question. Still, he needed to bring his A game.

A quick thought popped his melatonin levels, balanced his serotonin, and threw in a touch of adrenaline for good measure. Not like the real stuff, but it would have to do… the joy of implants.

The car decelerated hard taking the exit to Houston’s port. There was no missing where they were heading. The crime scene spread out before them like an ocean of police, emergency vehicles, reporters and countless onlookers. News drones circled overhead like a pack of hungry vultures. The whole thing, lit up like some jacked up Christmas tree.

Well isn’t this going to be a circus, Nick thought as the car pulled up to the barricades. Several officers stepped up to the car, it beamed his credentials to them. One moved the barrier, motioned him through.

“Stahl’s waiting for you at the scene,” he said.

Stahl? Nick though, f’n great.

REACTr: A Taste of Something Smuggled In

2008-06-17T23:58:40Z

The vehicle accelerated to 200 mph as it entered the NetWay. A blaze of blue lights streaking in the rain.

It linked with the other cars, directing them to clear a path, then it punched up to 300 mph and began to weave, wildly in and out of traffic. None of the other drivers even noticed… just another day on the NetWay.

“Sup Chief?” Nick asked.

“Nasty situation. It’s a mess on a container ship inbound from Japan. Got your whole team en route,” the man on the monitor replied.

“Sounds like a job for the port authority, not Advanced Cybercrime.”

“Illegal nanotech, military grade, possibly REMORA and outlaw cybernetics… some heavy duty shit. In other words, cut the crap Nick and get your ass down there.”

“Yes sir.”

Images from the officers already on scene began to fill the screen along with information about the ship. From what he could see, it really was a mess.

REMORA , Nick thought.

He was definitely not going to have a good morning and it’s definitely going to be a long day.

REACTr: 2:00AM in the Driving Rain

2008-06-17T22:53:51Z

“Good morning Detective,” the car said in a sultry female voice. Nick fell into the driver’s seat, rain dripping from the tip of his nose as he struggled to shut the door against the raging wind.

“Nothing’s good about this morning,” he quipped. “So, why am I up at 2:00AM?”

“Stand-by, connecting to dispatch.” The central panoramic display filled with the image of a pretty woman in a blue police uniform.

“Hey Nick, gotta situation. Sending coords, need you en route ASAP !”

AutoDrive the car announced as the steering wheel sank into the dash. Lights and sirens blazing, it tore out of the parking lot. Nick glanced at the destination, NetWay.

“Ah hell dispatch, not some idiot in manual drive on the NetWay again…”

“No Nick, deep shit at the port. NetWay’s the quickest route. Central is clearing a corridor for you. Hang on… Chief wants a word.”

Oh the Chief wants a word… he thought.

“Detective Marshall,” the Chief said in a stern voice.

It’s definitely not going to be a good morning!

Alex in Wonderland - Part 34

2008-06-11T11:52:21Z

“There really isn’t time for this,” White Rabbit said, taking the gold watch from his pocket. In rapid succession it fired two small darts: one striking Jessica, the other Alex. Another agent got Amanda and Becky.

Alex came to in a stall at the Casa Grande, his head pounding like he’d been on a serious bender. Had this all been a dream? No, the Omni magazine was laying in his lap. Cautiously, he exits the stall.

Jessica, Amanda and Becky are already in the entry hallway when Alex steps out of the men’s room, still looking like rejects from a White Snake video.

“Alex!”, Jessica said.

“Hey… so your still remember everything?”

“Yeah, you?”

“Uh huh, What about those two?”

“Ditto, so it’s 2008 again?”

“Dunno… one way to find out,” he said opening the door to the hallway.

Krystal was standing, long silver-white hair flowing to the shoulders of her gauzy white shirt, one sandaled foot tapping impatiently, looking into a gold pocket watch.

“You’re so, so late… Now, about that job,” she said.

Alex in Wonderland - Part 31

2008-06-10T17:53:46Z

Jessica glanced at the pack of agents on The Looking Glass end of the hall, one started to move in her direction. She torqued Krystle’s wrist slightly causing her to scream out again.

“Back off dweeb, or your girl here gets it! Now someone tell me what the hell is going on, no BS this time… understood?”

White Rabbit closed the gold watch causing Jessica’s stare to shoot in his direction.

“Allow me,” he said, running a hand through his silver-white hair.

“It’s like this, there was an incident with a scientist working on President Regan’s Star Wars project. As the result of a chemical spill and a solar flare, the restrooms in the Casa Grande became a time portal, linking multiple future times with 1984. That’s how you got here. My agency is tasked with watching over this portal to apprehend any travelers before they cause… trouble.”

“Paradox,” Alex said, “You’re talking about a paradox!”

“Exactly.”

“So what did you plan to do with us?” Becky whimpered.

“Wipe your memories and send you back.”

Alex in Wonderland - Part 29

2008-06-09T21:23:23Z

“This is going to go down one of two ways,” Krystle said. “Either the easy way or the hard way… either way you’re coming with us.”

Did she just hiss when she said that? Alex thought. She looked like she had just stepped off the set of Olivia Newton John’s “Physical” video. White leg warmers scrunched down to the top of her hightop Reebok trainers, white headband and a white Members Only jacket over her leotards.

Jessica smiled a wicked smile, pulled the Caterpillar’s broom from behind her back and snapped the head off of it with one swift strike of her foot.

The broom handle made a loud whooshing sound as it arced over her head to swing behind her back, she went down on one knee, then motioned to Krystle to come with her free hand. “So come on baby, make a move on me,” she said.

Krystle smiled back and pulled a set of nunchucks from inside her jacket. She did her best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle move. “Let’s get physical!” She screamed back.

“I wanna get Physical!” Then she charged Jessica.

Alex in Wonderland - Part 27

2008-06-08T15:39:03Z

“Cheshire Cat to Caterpillar, come in Caterpillar.”

No response. “This is Cheshire Cat to Caterpillar, come in Caterpillar!” Still no response.

Cheshire Cat zoomed the feed from the break room to fill his main monitor. The Caterpillar was having what appeared to be a heated conversation with the four travelers. He clicked the talk button three times in quick succession.

“Cheshire Cat to Cater… ah hell Jack, cut the psychobabble and hit em with the sleeping gas already!” Nothing.

“This is Cheshire Cat to White Rabbit, come in White Rabbit.”

“Go Cheshire.”

“Jack’s up to his antics again.”

“Understood, I’m on it Cheshire.”

Cheshire Cat looked back at the main monitor just in time to see one of the female travelers take out the Caterpillar with a Judo move.

“Oh Shit, Caterpillar down!” Cheshire Cat shouted on all channels, “We have a major situation. The lead female just went Karate Kid on the Caterpillar.”

“This is White Rabbit to all operatives… move in now!”