File#45-C11 -- Fratricide by 1862239/205-3 ID# 1862239/205-3 Internal BIOS v6.858 - Sirius Cybernetic Systems, Inc. Self-diagnostic complete. Memory check complete. All systems nominal. Systems online. R:\>EXECUTE [COMMAND.COM] .... COMMAND.COM executed. Begin autorun sequence - AUTOEXEC.BAT . . . Boot sequence complete. R:\>EXECUTE [DATACOM.EXE] ....... DATACOM.EXE executed. Communications uplink established. *BEGIN TRANSMISSION* FROM: 1862239/205-3 TO: Core Unit 'ALPHA' SUBJECT: File#45-C11 Priority-1 secure transmission - intercepted//decoded. ANALYSIS: Data is historical account - 3rd-person narrative. Context suggests that data is part of larger narrative. Data strongly relevant to Core Unit 'ALPHA' directives. Further analysis recommended. Proceeding with data transmission... ---------- The pain... His mind was spinning. He could feel the intense pain in his chest, a burning fire that seemed both blazing hot and icy cold at the same time. He dared not look at his wound again, for fear of passing out. Drawing his hand up to his face, he could barely make out the bloody outline through his fading vision. The room seemed to be getting darker even as he watched. He could hear the man off to his side, typing furiously on the console keyboard. After what seemed like an eternity of agony, he heard the familiar whine of the droid activating and flying off towards the far recesses of the room. He strained to lean upright, to see what was taking so long, but his strength failed him. He slumped back to the floor helplessly. He was so tired...he needed to rest. Yes...just a short nap, and he'd be feeling better...just... No! NO! He couldn't go; not yet. He had to make sure it was safe. His world...his people...billions of lives were depending on him, just as they would soon depend on the man who now leaned over him. "Sir? Sir, I've got it!" He smiled weakly. It was safe. There was still hope. He spoke again, even though his punctured lungs could barely draw the breath to do so. He had to be heard! "Thank...thank goodness..." He focused his eyes on the man's nametag. Distorted as it was, he could still make out the name. "Thank you...Wilco..." He gasped, chest heaving as he struggled to take in the air. "Now...listen to me...you must...must take this...home..." "Home?" "Yes...home...Xenon..." "But...I don't understand! What is this?" He began to cough, nearly choking on the blood welling up from his throat. "No time...you must...you MUST...!" The man suddenly seemed concerned. "I'll take you with me! There's an escape pod in the lower airlock; we can get out of here and-" With a Herculean effort, he lifted his uninjured arm and grasped the man's forearm. "No...I'm already...just go..." From somewhere nearby, he heard the sounds of heavy footsteps. The invaders, coming to look for him. He had to get the cartridge away before they found it! He saw the panicked look on the man's face; he'd heard the sounds as well. "They're coming...go! "But-" "GO!" The man's eyes darted nervously towards the nearby door, then looked back down. He closed his eyes and, on the verge of tears, nodded. He then stood back up and, with a final glance downward, turned and ran. The far door hissed open and closed. He closed his eyes with relief. It was done. The footsteps drew closer. Another pair of hissing sounds signaled their arrival through the near door. He opened his eyes again, and looked up as they loomed over him. There were three of them; two clad in red body armor, and a third wearing a long white coat. The latter glared down with an expression he couldn't quite make out, then reached into the coat and withdrew something. He heard the sound of a blaster bolt being drawn back. Good. It would be over quickly. White Coat crouched down beside him, and put the blaster barrel against his temple. The man then leaned over, putting the face close to his own. For a single split second, his vision was crystal clear. He could make out every detail before him; the craggy facial lines, the sinister sneer, the matted silvery hair so similar to his own. The eyes... He gasped, and not from lack of breath. It couldn't be...but it was! "You...!?" The man's mouth widened into an evil grin. "Hello, brother." He began to convulse with terror. He spoke again with a second wind. "How...? How could you?" "You stole it. I've come to take it back." The man pressed the blaster harder into his temple. "I want those plans." He smiled, weakly. "What...what plans?" A searing flash of pain as he was backhanded across the face. The blood flowing from his mouth was joined by a new trickle from his nose. "I know you've hidden them on board. Tell me where they are, and I might let you live." Summoning all the strength he had left, he hauled himself upward until he was mere inches from the man's face. He smiled. "Go to Hell." White Coat stopped grinning. Standing back up to his full height, the man brought the blaster to bear. He closed his eyes for the final time, tensing himself in anticipation of the sharp, piercing burst of pain that would signal the end of his existence. "You first." ---------- ERROR! ERROR! External communications access detected! Authorization failure...execute security protocol R-42 Communications uplink severed *TRANSMISSION TERMINATED*