Early March 1998 Story

[East Life Support Building, K9 on First Landing Surface Level]

"He's not getting away!" Tork's ultimatum echoes off the life support section's vaulted ceiling as he launches from the tangler threads that held him. "Mr. Streel, order your robots to stand down!"

[Tork Battle Rage: 8%; Rolled: 08!!!]

The Yazirian's blood boils red hot, narrowing his eyes with rage. [Battle rage will continue until the action ends.]

The metallic security force is already dismounting by the time Mr. Streel's hologram replies. "Done."

Kare, T'Klkk and Tork sprint in unison, leaping aboard the three vacant cycles and activating their hoverblades. The cycles float and tilt on a nervous cushion of air.

Tork looks back at the anxious hologram. "You have any way of tracking that hovercycle?"

"Yes! Just stop him before he gets away!"

A burst of thrust carries the three cycles up the emergency ramp and shoots them along the police roadway like bullets through a gun barrel. The air resists the riders' breakneck speed, blasting through Tork's mane and Kare's hair. T'Klkk's antennae are pulled straight back from the momentum. Hundreds of pedestrians melt into a blur on the accelerator strips below.

[Kare REACTION SPEED: 70; Rolled: 19]
[T'Klkk REACTION SPEED: 71; Rolled: 59]
[Tork REACTION SPEED: 65; Rolled: 15]

"Self-T'Klkk sees him!" hollers T'Klkk over the roar of the wind and cycle motors. She peels a careful hand from the cycle grips and draws her automatic pistol. "If we can close the gap, self might get a clear shot!"

[T'Klkk Chance to Hit: 41 (RW) + 30 (skill x 10) - 20 (medium range) - 10 (target is on moving vehicle) - 20 (attacker riding vehicle faster than 150 meters/turn) = 21%; Rolled: 32, 71, 16]

The first bullet sparks off the safety rail beside the police roadway. The second bursts a fluorescent lighting panel, blacking it out. But the destroyed panel is far behind by the time the third shot lets off--striking Syte square in the back.

[Damage: 1d10; Rolled: 5]

The distant black figure of Syte veers left, descending down a ramp into screams and pedestrians. He is lost in the panic that follows.

"Where'd he go?" demands Tork.

[T'Klkk Comprehension: 21%; Rolled: 80]

"Difficult to say," hollers T'Klkk. "Self-T'Klkk is at a loss as to Syte's intended destination."

As if in answer, Selson Streel's face appears in a small square panel between the handle grips of Tork's cycle. "I've got him on the security cams," reports Streel. "He's looped back and taken a shortcut to airtube J11, heading west."

Tork clenches his fangs. "Then that's where we're going!"

[Recreation Area, C7 on First Landing Underground Level]

"Thanks," mutters Taanik to the entrapped Miemen. Id fights the urge to give a swift kick to Miemen's midsection. "Damn Ixiol pushers! I've been on the wagon for 20 years now--I don't need this kind of shit again."

Zane pulls the angry Dralasite back by the arm. "Hey Taanik. What gives?"

"None of your damn business," growls the Dralasite. "We don't have time for this."

Remembering the predicament of T'Klkk and the others, Taanik opens a channel to T'Klkk's chronocom.

"He's not getting away!" growls a voice from Taanik's chronocom. "Mr. Streel, order your robots to stand down!"

"Sounds like trouble," says Taanik.

Urugg whirls to face Taanik and Zane, but they are already on their way to the east life support building.

"Why is it never simple?" curses Urugg as he glances back to the tangled thugs at his feet. His entire body still vibrates with the adrenal rush that flushes a Yazirian whenever combat is in the air.

A holographic communications panel is but a few steps away--embedded in a decorative pillar. The 3-D rendered emergency program answers the Yazirian's summon.

"Welcome to the Streel Metrosphere Automated Alert System."

Urugg seems less affected by the virtual Vrusk bombshell. "This is special security officer Urugg sur-Innesti! I need an emergency police team immediately in rec area C-7! A Dralasite is being beaten to death by a bunch of Humans and I need backup! Now!"

He shuts off the system without waiting for an answer. He leans over to Miemen and hisses, "All right, pusher. I'm leaving you to the beat cops on their way out here. Go anywhere, and I'll hunt you down like a fattened shovelmouth. I'll be talking to you later." Urugg grins fiercely behind his gas mask.

This accomplished, he sheathes his stunstick in its holster and unholsters his needler pistol. He breaks into a run for the south exit, pushing through the crowd. "Out of my way! Now! Clear away!"

A new call bleeps into his chronocom, this one from Kare.

"Kare, what's going on there?"

[Surface Level Airtube J11, Heading West]

Kare's cycle banks against an invisible cushion of air, narrowly missing the rail surrounding a sharp turn on the emergency ramp. Her brunette hair flails angrily as she ducks clear of T'Klkks next three shots.

[T'Klkk Chance to Hit: 41 (RW) + 30 (skill x 10) - 20 (medium range) - 10 (target is on moving vehicle) - 20 (attacker riding vehicle faster than 150 meters/turn) = 21%; Rolled: 93, 87, 32]

"Watch it with that thing, will you?" rails Kare. "You're gonna kill someone!"

The square communication panel between Kare's handle grips is split four ways, one section displaying Syzygy--frantic at a computer access panel, two displaying Zane and Taanik--huffing for breath, and one displaying Urugg.

"Kare, what's going on there?" demands the image of Urugg.

WHIZ-WHI-WHIZZ! Kare, T'Klkk and Tork slingshot through another turn not meant to be taken at 100 kph.

"Syte's here, apeface!" replies Kare, knowing that taking her attention from her driving could quickly become fatal. "He surprised us at the life support building--caught us in a tangler and ran!"

"Do you still need help?" demands Syzygy from the square panel.

Kare has to holler to overcome the rush of the air. Loose ringlets of hair fly into her eyes and mouth as she replies. "He's not putting up much of a fight, but he sure can run!"

"It doesn't make sense," says Urugg. "Syte's supposed to be a ruthless criminal. Why didn't he shoot you three when he had the drop on you?"

"Now's not the best time for discussion," yells Kare.

"Fine. That'll wait. But I won't! Syte may be trying to escape the colony. This means he's probably heading for the roads, or the monorail terminal. I can't explain now, but if you catch Syte, do not, I repeat, do not kill him unless it's completely unavoidable. We've got to interrogate him alive, and before any of the Streel security goons show. Do whatever you can to take him alive! And if you do, try to stall Streel security for as long as you can till we can talk to him! Urugg out!"

[Airtube D7, Underground Level]

Taanik and Zane are out of breath by the time they catch up to Syzygy.

Zane calls out. "C'mon Syzygy, Syte's in airtube J11!"

"Not anymore he isn't," replies the Zed Vrusk between clenched mandibles. "According to the public area cameras, he's now heading east through the storage pods at L12. You're not going to catch him on foot."

"Then what's your idea?" asks Taanik, seeing that Syzygy has ripped open a holographic communication panel and seems to be hotwiring it.

Spark's shoot out, burning Syzygy's wrist. "Ow! Damn!" The Vrusk clutches his blackened hand and looks up. "Taanik, did you bring your robcomkit? I'm gonna have to bypass the security here."

[Syzygy Bypassing Security: 30 (base) + 50 (skill x 10) + 10 (INTUITION modifier) - 20 (program level x 10) = 70%; Rolled: 75]

"It's not working!" shouts the Vrusk, hammering the wall with one of Taanik's tools.

"Let me try," suggests Taanik.

Zane snatches Syzygy's hand and treats the burn with a spray can of plastiflesh. "Whatever you do, do it quick! We don't have much time!"

[Taanik Bypassing Security: 30 (base) + 20 (skill x 10) + 3 (INTUITION modifier) - 20 (program level x 10) = 33%; Rolled: 52]

Taanik climbs out of the wires. "This isn't going to work."

The communication panel comes alive, projecting the 3-D image of Selson Streel. Streel looks fuzzy and transparent, obvious side effects of Syzygy's hacking.

"I detected that you were trying to break through the security at this panel," says the hologram. "What do you need?"

Syzygy looks above at the empty emergency ramps. "Faster transportation, for one th--"

"Done. Three security droids will be there with cycles in 45 seconds. What else?"

"How about some help? Let's surround Dakka with every security officer in the area!"

Selson shakes his transparent head. "I can't do that. A city-wide panic would cause irreparable damage. You need to catch this man yourselves, as quietly as possible but as quickly as possible. Do not put any First Landing citizens at risk. You are fully authorized to kill Dakka Syte should it be necessary."

Three silvery robots drive up, relinquishing their cycles.

"Good," says Selson. "You have your transportation. Dakka is now heading north through the factories at M11. T'Klkk, Kare and Tork are close behind him, but the distance between them is growing. I'll be watching him from where I am. If you go up through the shaft at C9 and head east, you might be able to cut him off!"

The image of Selson sizzles and blips out entirely.

[Surface Level Airtube C12, Heading South]

Urugg has attracted some serious stares, running like he has on the fastest accelerator strip.

The Yazirian stops to catch his breath, leaning on one of the seats that "normal" people sit on when riding the strip.

Through heavy gasps, he activates his chronocom and contacts Police Captain Ap-Harrow.

Ap-Harrow's look is one of concern. "Yaundorr, what's wrong?"

"Captain *gasp* Ap-Harrow, *wheeze gasp* this is Urugg *wheeze wheeze* from Selson's ops team. *Breeeathe!* We've flushed Dakka Syte out of hiding and he's *wheeze* fleeing on a stolen hovercycle."

"What? When was this? Why wasn't I notified?"

"I. . .I don't know. We think he's going to try to escape the colony through one of the road hatches, the monorail or the spaceport. I don't think he'll flee off-moon though--he's openly stated his intent to murder someone here on Metrosphere. I'm heading for the monorail station now and the rest of the team is in pursuit."

"Do you need help?"

"I don't know. I'm hoping we can capture him without too big an incident. But you might want to prepare a heavy armor team, just in case."

"I will," answers the Yazirian police captain. "Please keep me advised!"

[Surface Level Airtube G10, Heading South]

"When will this guy give up?" demands Tork, racing still in pursuit.

[Kare REACTION SPEED: 70; Rolled: 61]
[T'Klkk REACTION SPEED: 71; Rolled: 41]
[Tork REACTION SPEED: 65; Rolled: 62]

Despite an endless succession of sudden turns and evasive tactics, Kare, T'Klkk and Tork have done an excellent job of keeping up with Dakka.

A voice sounds from Kare's communication panel. "Hey guys, this is Syzygy! Taanik and Zane are with me. We're converging on your location from the west. We may have time to cut off your little runaway."

[Syzygy REACTION SPEED: 75; Rolled: 71]
[Taanik REACTION SPEED: 45; Rolled: 74]
[Zane REACTION SPEED: 57; Rolled: 04]

It doesn't look good for Dakka Syte: three cycles behind him, and now Syzygy and Zane's cycles swerving in front of him. But the crazed Dakka does not even slow down.

[Syzygy Initiative Roll: 8 (IM) + 4 (1d10) = 12; Initiative lost]

Dakka rams his cycle into Syzygy and Zane at 100 kph. [Sorry guys, but I rolled a 01 for Dakka!]

[Syzygy's cycle takes 8 points damage. Vehicle damage table roll: 17 (2d10) + 8 (damage) + 2 (hovercycle) = 27: Spin]

[Zane's cycle takes 6 points damage. Vehicle damage table roll: 14 (2d10) + 6 (damage) + 2 (hovercycle) = 22: Top Speed - 30]

Zane's cycle takes a hard hit, but maintains control. The motor, however, is visibly damaged, and the cycle begins slowing.

Dakka's cycle rushes through, totally unaffected by the collision.

Syzygy is not so lucky. His cycle flips backwards, spinning several times as it skids directly towards Kare, T'Klkk and Tork!

[Kare REACTION SPEED: 70; Rolled: 52]
[T'Klkk REACTION SPEED: 71; Rolled: 63]
[Tork REACTION SPEED: 65; Rolled: 53]

Kare, T'Klkk and Tork miraculously veer around Syzygy's cycle, continuing their pusuit. Taanik arrives and joins these three in the chase.

[Syzygy REACTION SPEED: 75; Rolled: 52]

Syzygy manages to gain control of his cycle and brings it to a sliding halt. The cycle appears undamaged, so he floors the accelerator and heads towards the others, soon catching up to Zane.

The race seems to be favoring Dakka, as he is now little more than a black dot in the distance ahead.

[Monorail Terminal, I15 on Surface Level Map]

The abandoned terminal is dark, empty. . .almost spooky as Urugg looks around. No sign of any activity yet. Maybe he was wrong about his hunch. . .

Urugg's pointed ears perk up. What's that sound?

Rrrrrrrr! RRRRRRRRR! RRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Headlights glare into Urugg's widening eyes. Someone on a hovercycle is heading straight at him at top speed!

The Situation

By now, Kare, T'Klkk, Taanik and Tork have all fallen a bit behind in the chase. Zane as well, has fallen behind, since the top speed of his cycle has been reduced. Syzygy has done a good job of keeping up with Dakka, but he has not gained on him at all.

All of the persuing hovercycles are at different points in I13, except for Syzygy's which is in I14.