Free Urban Outlaws by Peter Jay Black Page B

from the chair. ‘What?’
    ‘Those three agents are coming.’
    ‘Where are they?’
    ‘Down the corridor, heading straight for you.’

CHAPTER SIX
    Jack listened at the door and heard their footfall approaching. They sounded purposeful, like they knew he was there.
    He ran back to the terminal. No more time to check it.
    Jack hit Shut Down, flicked off the monitor and glanced around the room. There were no other doors and the agents were blocking his only escape route.
    He hurried behind Proteus’s coolant tanks and ducked down.
    ‘Obi?’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Cut the lights.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘The power. Cut the power.’
    ‘On it.’ He heard Obi typing fast.
    The door banged open and the three agents entered.
    They began to walk slowly around the room, their eyes scanning the mass of tubes and wires.
    ‘Cloud, check Proteus,’ Connor said. ‘See if anything’s been tampered with.’ Then, louder, ‘Achilles, we know you’re in here.’
    In his headset, Jack could still hear Obi typing.
    ‘Achilles, you can make this easier for yourself. Why don’t you –’ The room plunged into darkness.
    Connor let out a roar of annoyance.
    Jack felt for the edge of the tanks and stood up. There was no light anywhere, just pure inky black. All of them were now blind.
    Someone banged into something.
    ‘Ouch,’ Cloud said.
    ‘ Be careful of the computer,’ Connor snapped.
    Obi’s hushed voice came through the headset. ‘I see them.’
    Thank God for that , Jack thought. The camera on his shoulder was sensitive to low light and had infrared diodes. Obi could see everything.
    ‘Two have gone right,’ Obi said, ‘the other’s to your left. Follow my instructions and I’ll try to get you out of there.’
    A faint light appeared on the right-hand side of the room – one of the agents was using their phone as a makeshift torch but all the chrome equipment just cast confusing shadows around them.
    ‘What now, boss?’ It was Monday’s voice – coming from somewhere nearby.
    ‘Cloud, stay on Proteus,’ Connor said. ‘Monday, you check behind the tanks. I’ll get the door.’
    Jack pulled back and braced himself. Agent Monday was heading straight towards him.
    Obi’s voice came over the headset. ‘When I say, step back three paces . . . Now .’
    Jack did as he was told and held his breath. He felt movement of air as someone passed in front of him.
    ‘OK,’ Obi whispered, ‘turn a quarter to the left. One step forward.’
    ‘Achilles?’ Connor’s voice sounded aggravated, and closer. ‘Stop playing games. We’re armed.’
    Yeah, right , Jack thought. They might have guns but they have no target. Not unless they wanted to risk shooting Proteus or each other.
    ‘Duck!’
    Jack dropped to his knees.
    Obi let out a breath. ‘Close one.’
    Connor cursed under his breath. ‘Where’s the door?’ he growled.
    Jack could imagine the agents walking around with their arms outstretched like mummies in a horror film.
    ‘Now’s your chance,’ came Obi’s urgent whisper in Jack’s ear. ‘Crawl forward until I tell you to stop.’
    Jack followed Obi’s instructions.
    ‘Right, stop. You’re at the door.’
    Jack reached out his hand and his fingers touched the painted surface. Slowly, silently, he stood up. He turned the handle, praying it wouldn’t make a sound, and slipped into the hallway.
    Gripping the edge of the door, he closed it again silently.
    How long would the agents be groping around in the dark before they realised he wasn’t in there?
    Running his fingers over the rough concrete wall of the hallway, Jack jogged towards the glowing exit sign.
    •   •   •
    It was only when he’d made it safely back to the bunker, and saw that everyone else was OK too, that Jack allowed himself to relax.
    He nodded at Obi. ‘Thanks for getting me out of there.’
    Obi had a triumphant look. ‘Told you Proteus was real.’
    The others grinned at Jack. Well, all except Wren, who was sitting at the