The Hunt [3]

Woods was staring at the sheets of paper stacked on his desk, locking down a whole city was costly even for the foundation, and complaints from all sorts of government agencies were sent directly to him.

He massaged his temples once more before sighing and letting his newly appointed assistant into his office.

Emily entered surveying the room before saying "Mr. Woods, our targets took the bait and we got intel that the Sigma-3 file was accessed from an apartment two streets away from the car we suspect the attackers used to escape."

"Finally some good news, send a MTF, mobile task force and let's be over with this charade."

"Will do." Woods stood up and went outside his office declaring "I'll be the one to lead the assault, I need a bit of fresh air."

...

Unit 22935710, or how its makers called it for simplification, Mr. Sakerson, was one of the latest and finest products created by Anderson Robotics, and as its nickname suggested it was a Saker Series model 2, capable of advanced planning and quick processing it took on some features of its predecessor like it's unique shapeshifting.

Sakerson was currently aiming at what seems to be, the MTF leader with its sniper from another rooftop in its human disguise.

Sakerson and the MTF leader were both hunting the vile attackers who stole its newest brethren and as such both parties were now here, a few hundred feet away from the lodging the attackers use.

Sakerson's job was easy, either destroy its brethren's body or kill the ones who stole the body, a job made harder by the mobile task force beneath it and the heavy restrictions caused by the lockdown.

But in the end, Sakerson could wait, and when the time is right it will strike like a tiger waiting for pray, Sakerson only needs a single drop of blood or a single strand of hair after all. And then it'll be able to locate its targets from all over the world with magic, or how it is called today Thaumaturgy.

...

Jack watched Austin's and his old room through the small camera installed in the small entrance room, just as he was about to shut down the camera feet the metal door leading into his old apartment was blown away.

The door didn't even so much as get scratched but its hinges weren't strong enough to survive the power of a team of operatives.

Said operatives were sprinting into Jack's and Austin's apartment, clearing all the rooms in record time with ease.

Jack switched the camera feat and watched the likely leader of the MTF, a man with blond hair strands reaching out from under his tactical gear and helmet.

He was standing in the main room surrounded by multiple computers, his sharp gaze moving over all the shelves and other such objects until he noticed a colorful glint coming from the computers.

The leader lowered his cotton faceguard and sniffed the air for a second revealing a beyond shocked and worried expression.

"F*CK! MEN GET OUTTA HERE! NOW!"

But it was too late, Jack activated the remote explosive hidden inside a tiny compartment of his main computer as soon as all the operatives were inside the apartment.

The laptop screen went black as some of the agents ran out of the door to save themselves, though their brothers in arms won't be okay.

"Aren't you way too cruel? You could kill them." Austin asked with a bitter expression.

"When we picked up those guns, we made a silent vow. We will break any form of morality if it means we can achieve our goals." Jack put the laptop out of his lap and faced Austin "We may have different goals but I gave you enough time to chicken out, I offered you to try your luck, join some group or organization but in the end, you stayed besides me."

'I already know that you bastard, but you could've tried to resolve this more peacefully. They have families too, loved ones... They'll be missed.' Austin had many thoughts but remained silent nonetheless, there was no purpose in saying these things now.

"Oh! C'mon don't make me feel like the bad guy, they're the best of the best and the sprinklers should have started already, they will survive. I only really did it to destroy evidence and our traces."

"Thanks," Austin said and went on "This should also act as a distraction, we should use this to pierce through the barricades blocking us from leaving."

Jack trusting his friends' judgment said "Ok you go on the lead."

...

Austin sneaked through the lines of soldiers with practiced ease, due to his ability, he didn't even need to help Jack who became one with the shadows. Kenny was kept in Jack's pocket in the meantime.

Austin looked behind him once again spotting the burning building in the distance. 'What a liar. He probably dismantled all of the fire-alarm systems weeks beforehand' Austin thought as another panicked soldier ran past him.

The fortification was engulfed in chaos, people, civilian or soldier hurrying about. The moonlight shined upon Austin as he firmed his resolve for one last time this week 'I wonder what it is that fuels Jack, I certainly wouldn't be here if my face wasn't already known to multiple anomalous organizations.'

The time flew by as Austin and Jack sneaked to the other end of the closed-off highway, it would take them multiple days to get to the nearest city on foot but Jack had already made a plan. Like always.

Though the hope of a better future was crushed shortly after when a shot rang out and Austin received information from his ability.

'A GODDAMN SNIPER!'