Free Rebound by Joseph Veramu Page B

Stella asked.
    “I am going to release some of these hybrid animals. While they are preoccupied, you are going to move very fast. Bella will fly ahead to show a clear route.”
    Stella did not seem convinced with the plan. She looked worriedly at Roland. “We do what we have to do. All this is about Sofia achieving the greater good.” He hugged Stella and kissed her lightly on the cheek. In that moment she understood why Sofia had avoided responding to her query about Roland.
    “Give me the energy prod. I’m going to hold them off,” Roland said. “My guess is that they won’t try to kill me especially as I need to be in pristine condition if they’re going to harvest my organs!”
    Bella shivered, “Please stop saying that. It makes me sick to hear that they’re going to give it to some old general who has stolen money from his people.”
    Roland held Bella warmly, “I’m going to miss you sis.”
    Then he pushed Bella gently away, “You’d better be on your way. We don’t have much time.”
    She flew in a fast criss-crossing movement as robots fired laser stun guns at her.
    Roland aimed his energy prod in the direction of the robots that were shooting away.
    He also aimed his prod at a number of containers holding different animal species. These included an assortment of mixed clones of tigers and cats or horses and lions. He released snakes that had been cloned with lizards. They loved wrapping themselves around robots. They felt warm and fuzzy.
    Roland ran in the opposite direction with the killer robots in pursuit.
    There was a huge explosion and everything came crashing down burying everything in rubble. Before Roland lapsed into unconsciousness, he felt happy that Bella and the team had made a clean run for the hovercraft area. Another gigantic explosion thundered and more debris came crashing down. There were a series of smaller secondary explosions.
    Babylon Corp’s clone and robotic factory had been destroyed. Most of the killer robots had been immobilized.
     

Chapter 27: Escape
    Max drove the hovercraft with everyone on board.
    Beckett cheered.
    “I’m afraid we are not out of danger yet,” Stella said. “We are going to land a kilometer from the jetty leading to BC Island.
    “Why do you say we are not out of danger?” Ryan asked.
    “We were not able to immobilize one of their security bases near here.”
    “We have to leave this craft very soon because that is the first thing they will hone in to,” Max said.
    ++++
    They walked cautiously through rugged country made up of bush lands and rocky outcropping.
    Max stood rigidly still. “There’s an incoming mini drone. It has spotted us.” They scrambled from the undergrowth. “Let’s run towards those trees.”
    The spot behind them exploded.
    They kept running hoping to reach the line of trees in time.
    The drone repositioned itself to fire another rocket. It now had accurate bearings.
    There was little they could do but hope that the trees would shield them and not barbecue them.
    Then the impossible happened.
    The drone blew up shattering into pieces as flames consumed it.
    They came out peering cautiously into the sky.
    It was Bella flying gracefully holding on to the energy prod.
    She had sensed danger immediately and had taken defensive action.
    “Don’t you dare say anything,” Ryan warned as Bella landed near them.
    “That was just awesome,” Beckett said.
    Bella beamed at the compliment.
    “I just wish I can put some energy on you.”
    They all groaned but could not help noticing that Bella liked him.
    There was a noise that sounded like an awkward cough from Max.”I hate to break up the warm reunion,” he said trying not to sound cynical.
    “Oh you machines. What will we ever do without you,” Emily said in mock exasperation.
    ‘I know we sometimes lack tact and the human touch. But there is another incoming mini drone. We have to move fast.”
    They all looked at Stella. “We have to make our way to the jetty.