First Activation

“We can’t stop here for too long,” Jack said, “they might get suspicious, and we’ve less than an hour before the next activation.”

“Lea, wind the windows down and drive slowly towards the guards,” I said. “They’ll assume we are fellow members of Genesis Alliance, we’ll be on top of them before they know it. When we get close, tell us which side of the vehicle they are on and we’ll spring up and take care of them.”

“Where do you want me to go after that?”

“Drive straight up in front of Ron’s house. We’ll jump out of the car and use it as cover in case there’s any retaliation. I wouldn’t bet against more armed guards being inside.”

Lea paused for a moment, “What if you don’t take the guards out?”

“We will, just make sure you get close enough,” Jack said.

The Range Rover started to move forward slowly.

“They’ve seen us, but they’re not moving,” Lea said.

A few seconds later, when we must have been very close to the end of Ron’s Street, Lea said, “They’re both armed, but the rifles are slung by their sides. They’re coming around to my window…”

“Stop talking, and let us know when they’re a few yards away. If they get too close, then they’ll see us,” Jack said.

“Now!” Lea shouted.

I sprang from my crouching position in the foot-well and saw the two guards very close to Lea’s window. I aimed for the female, who had a look of open-mouthed surprise on her face, and fired twice into her chest. She dropped to the ground. I heard Jack’s rifle fire three times in quick succession.

“Drive,” I yelled.

She sped away from the scene, and I looked back. Both of our victims were motionless on the ground.

“I think they recognised me,” she said. “I’ve seen both of them before in the house.”

“That’s probably the last you’ll see of them,” Jack replied.

The Range Rover screeched to a halt in a matter of seconds.

“We’re here,” Lea said, “it’s the one on the right with the wooden door and large porch.”

“Out. Get out now!” I shouted.

Lea flung her door open and exited quickly. I dived over her seat and jumped out of the same door. Jack was already crouched beside Lea with his AR-15 ready. I turned back to look through the vehicle windows at Ron’s house.

Jack nudged my shoulder and pointed left and right. Two black Range Rovers had appeared at the far ends of the street — about three hundred yards from us in either direction. This was starting to feel like a suicide mission, but it was our last roll of the dice. The only way we would get out of this alive now, would be to capture Ron and use him as leverage to escape. We had to move quickly, as we were exposed on the street. If more Genesis Alliance showed up, we wouldn’t last long in a firefight.

“We’ll have to go into the house, but Ron needs to be taken alive. Are you ready to move?” I said to Jack and Lea.

Both nodded.

“Lea, what’s the layout?” Jack asked.

As he said this, I looked to my left. Slowly appearing around the corner, was another vehicle.

“Fuck it,” I said, “there’s no time. Straight through the front door.”

I looked up and saw the door to Ron’s house open. An old man with silver hair, wearing a red checked shirt and cream trousers, appeared with his hands up. He was smiling.

“Is that Ron?” Jack asked Lea.

“Yes.”

“Guys, there’s no need for all of this. Come in and I’ll fix you a drink,” he shouted over in a strangely jolly voice.

I looked at Jack in confusion. He shook his head.

“Come on in,” he shouted again and beckoned us towards the house before he disappeared back into it, leaving the door open.

I looked at either end of the street; both our exits had been cut off. I checked my watch; we had fifty minutes before the next activation.

“It could be a trap. He didn’t seem stressed at all,” Jack said.

“That’s the way Ron is,” Lea replied, “he’s a cool customer.”

“I think we’ll have to take our chances following Ron. He is what we came here for, and he’s the best chance we have of getting out of this alive. Lea, you go first. He’s less likely to want you killed,” I said.

She rolled her eyes.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”

“Right, we’ll just have to go with the flow on this one then. If we find any raised weapons, we shoot first and ask questions later. The first chance we get to take Ron, we do it.”

“What do we do once we have him?” Lea asked.

“We’ll make him to tell us how to stop the activation. After that, we’ll bring him back out at gunpoint and get the hell out of here,” I replied.

“Let’s go,” Jack said.

Lea stood up and started walking across the street towards Ron’s front door. Jack and I followed behind. As we walked up the drive, Ron appeared again at the door, smiling.

“You’re going to have to leave your weapons outside. I’m sorry, but it’s the house rules.”

“Do you really expect us to do that?” I replied.

“Yes. I do. Or you can stay outside and take on those nasty machine guns I’ve just stationed at either end of the street.” He looked at Lea. “Why don’t you tell these two gentlemen that I’ve never allowed any weapons into the house.”