Free Fast by Shane M Brown Page A

‘What’s going on?’
                ‘Hold your fire. Nobody fire.’ Coleman was forming a strong hunch about how the creatures sensed their prey. He had noticed a pattern in the creatures’ movements outside the admin hub. It seemed the gunmen already knew, and were willing to sit back and watch the show unfold.
                Or m aybe , Coleman rationalized, they don’t have a choice .
                Pieces of the weapons inspector started falling into the pool. Coleman saw the tangled creature tearing the inspector’s corpse apart. King looked up anxiously every time the now wildly swinging cable sent the creature and the weapons inspector careening towards him.
                But the creature already in the pool concerned Coleman more. Its wild thrashing had purpose. It headed towards the pool’s edge, straight towards King.
                If King tried to move, the gunmen would cut him down; if he stayed still, the creature would tear him apart.
                Lying flat on his back, King couldn’t see the creature approaching over the steel hump. He could certainly hear it though.
                King twisted awkwardly as the churning water started flecking his face. He struggled to peer around the steel lid. More water splashed down on him from the creature’s thrashing approach. He touched a wet spot on his cheek and then looked at his fingers. Realization dawned across his dark features.
                ‘Ah, Captain, where’s that second hostile?’
                Coleman decided not to tell King for the moment. ‘Sit tight, King. You’re okay.’
                Marlin crouched beside Forest in the change-room corridor’s arched entrance. He heard the lie and stared hard at Coleman. King was in deep trouble and everyone knew it. King looked back at Marlin for confirmation.
                Coleman shook his head slightly at Marlin. Don’t do anything stupid, Marlin.
                ‘Don’t worry, big fellah,’ lied Marlin. ‘It’s a long way off.’
                King rested his head back. The churning water soaked him now. He lifted his rifle over his face to keep the splashing water from his eyes.
                Coleman stopped thinking of all the ways they were in trouble and scanned the room for options. He spotted something where the tiles had been blasted away near King’s boots. A cord ran under the floor, previously concealed by the tiles. Coleman followed the path of the cord in both directions.
                After a second he keyed his radio so he wouldn’t be heard by the gunmen. ‘Marlin, Forest, I want you to get out of here. Open that hatch and get moving.’
                ‘You want us to leave you in there?’ Forest cut in incredulously.
                ‘We’re not leaving you trapped in there,’ Marlin stated flatly. He was speaking to Coleman but staring at King.
                Coleman insisted. ‘I’m about to try something pretty wild. Get in that wall and start moving. Trust me.’
                Marlin pulled a fresh magazine of ammunition from his combat vest. He caught King’s eye, and then slid the ammunition along the tiles.
                King slapped his wet palm down on the sliding ammo. Water trickled from his elbow and wrist. He lifted his hand and pointed one thick finger steadily at Marlin. ‘See you soon, Romeo.’
                ‘It’s the sixth cubicle,’ Marlin said, pointing back at his best friend. ‘Don’t be late.’
                King awkwardly slipped the magazine into his fatigues. ‘Long live the King, baby. I’ll be there.’
                Marlin blinked once at King and then ran for the access hatch. Forest hesitated for a moment. He looked from King to Coleman and then lowered his gaze as though making a hard decision. He