Free The Sellouts by Jeffrey Henning

on!” he yelled and waved his arm to the doctor.
    The doctor carried his oxygen tank, grabbed a small bag and looked down the hole, then looked back up to Chancer. “Is it safe?”
    “How the hell should I know?” Chancer said as he pushed the doctor towards the hole.
    “I will be happy to go first, Doctor Perry!” Robb said as he rolled up to the hole. The camera that everyone assumed was his head extended and pointed down the hole. A little green laser fired down the hole. “There is a seven meter drop, followed by a ‘T’ junction at the bottom.” Robb said. Motors whirred and gears grinded as one of his tracks swiveled above his head. He drove forward, half his body grinding on the concrete floor. When he reached the hole, he drove forward and fell in, his tracks extended out until one hit both sides of the drop and sparks dropped as they caught, holding him in place about five feet from the top. His camera rotated up to Chancer and the doctor. “I can only support one of you at a time on the way down, my tracks are not firmly secured.”
    Chancer pushed the doctor forward and took his bag as he climbed down to stand on Robb. He gave a thumbs up to Chancer and stood precariously on Robb as Robb literally drove down the tunnel, tracks throwing sparks and occasionally losing their grip, catching quickly, and slowing their descent once more.
    Chancer didn’t wait, trusting his power over luck and climbed into the tunnel. He pushed his feet out and put his back against the wall, slowly descending above the other two. He grunted as he pulled the grate back over top the hole it came from and slid down the tunnel. He found Robb, back to his original configuration of being a two tracks on the ground robot.
    “Which way do we go?” the doctor said.
    Chancer looked both ways, and felt a pull towards the left, so he pointed and crawled through the tunnel. He looked back occasionally to make sure the doctor and the robot was following. Eventually, he found another grate, but this one was in the side of the tunnel. He braced himself and used both legs to push it out. It fell with a really loud clang onto a cement floor. He crawled out and looked around. When he thought it was safe, he waived the others forward.
    As soon as Robb rolled into the room, he said “There are no toxins in the air here, you will be safe without the masks, Doctor Perry and Agent Chancer.”
    The two men removed them slowly, and both sniffed the air cautiously.
    “I sense…” the doctor started to say.
    “You sense what?” Chancer said, “And why is it so cold in here?” he said as he rubbed his hands together and blew into them.
    “I don’t understand. I sense a lot of people nearby, but at the same time, I know they aren’t there.” the doctor said as he looked around.
    “Robb, you got a flashlight?” Chancer asked. He saw lights, but it wasn’t enough to see by.
    “I do not have a flashlight, Agent Chancer, but I do have lights equipped. Shall I illuminate the area?” he asked enthusiastically.
    “Yes, Robb, illuminate the area.” Chancer said, shaking his head.
    The minute Robb turned on his light, the doctor dropped to the ground. Chancer spun around quickly, but it was too late, he felt two pinpricks in his back and then electricity course through his system. He blacked out.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6

April 3rd, 2015 04:30 PM
     
    “Where are you, Chancer?” Eagle-eye said as he tried calling him for a fourth time.
    “He’s still not answering?” Melody said quietly at her desk. She was spinning slowly in her chair. “Are we going to wait all day?” she asked.
    Eagle-Eye had pulled up an office chair and sat with her after she had caught him spying on her through the entry to the stairwell. “He said to call him to get you home safely.” he said quietly.
    “Do you honestly think I’m in danger?” she asked quietly.
    “I don’t know.” he said, trying to call Chancer again.
    “Well I