Mark Pryor - Cyberian Affair

Niko remotely fired the door-mounted mace cartridges at the intruders. Two men dropped to their knees holding their faces.

The other man picked up the battering ram and smashed it into the door. He rammed it a second time. The door lurched into the house and dropped to the floor.

Niko switched the video to an indoor camera so he could watch the men cross the threshold into Vyper’s home. He remotely fired two more mace cartridges at the intruders as they entered. All three dropped to their knees, struggling to clear the liquid from their eyes.

Standing behind the computer room door, Vyper put her arm around Niko who held a finger to his lips.

They watched the screen as the intruders spread out to search the house.

One man walked to the computer room door and jiggled the knob. “Open door!” He jiggled it more. “Open door, now!” He stood back, raised his assault weapon, and fired a short burst of bullets at the door. None of them penetrated.

A second man joined him, carrying the battering ram.

Niko motioned Vyper to a corner at the far end of the room, while he stepped to one side of the door, raising his Glock and aiming it at the entrance. He inhaled and slowed his breathing.

Body armor. Aim high.

The door to the room burst from the hinges. As the first man appeared, Niko shot him once in the head, knocking the lifeless form against another man.

Someone outside the door returned fire. Niko turned and glanced at Vyper, who nodded and raised her thumb.

From outside the house came the distant sound of police sirens, becoming louder and more insistent.

Niko peered through the doorway and spotted two men gesturing to each other. He shot one in the head, knocking him backwards to the floor. Before the second man could raise his weapon, Niko shot him, too.

Flashing red lights pulsed through the open doorway. The sirens of several vehicles competed for attention. They had to be right outside.

Vyper ran to Niko’s side and peered through the computer room doorway. “The front door is gone. And the men—they are not moving. Are they dead?”

Niko wrapped his arm around her. “I think they’re dead. I hope there were only three.”

A gunshot rang out, then two more.

A powerful voice from a bullhorn demanded attention. “FBI. Drop your weapons.”

Another gunshot. The faint sound of helicopter blades beat louder, changing pitch before settling into a low hum.

Niko hugged Vyper. “The cavalry arrived. Let’s wait in the living room.”

Vyper walked around the lifeless men on the floor.

The bat phone rang. Niko answered it. “This is Zima.”

An unfamiliar male voice responded. “Is Harris with you? Are you safe?”

“Yes, and yes. We’re both here. Safe and alone… I think. Are you Homeland?”

“Homeland sent us. Walk out the front door slowly, one at a time, holding your hands over your head. Leave any weapons you have behind.”

Niko turned to Vyper. “We have to trust someone.” He set his Glock on a table and headed outside, stepping into the blinding light, hands held high. Within seconds, two men frisked him while a third held a gun at the ready.

A middle-aged man in a business suit approached. “You can drop your hands.” He took Niko’s elbow. “Follow me.” He walked away from the house.

Niko glanced at Vyper, who was walking behind them, accompanied by a young woman dressed in a jogger’s outfit. He stepped on a stone in his bare feet. “Do I have time to get my sneakers?”

“Just watch your feet until we get in the helicopter. We’ll get you some shoes later.”

“Helicopter? What’s going on? Where are we going? Who are you?” Niko tried to see beyond the bright lights. Something large was sitting in the field across the street.

The man slowed his walk. “You can call me Mister Smith. You’re not safe here. We’re taking you where we can protect you.”

The faint outline of a large vehicle appeared when they reached the street. As they walked closer, Niko saw a small commercial helicopter, silver and black, no markings.

He looked at the man who called himself Smith . “Are you FBI? Do you know who tried to kill us?”

“We’ll debrief you after our flight.” He opened the door to the chopper and stood to the side. “Get in. Watch your step.”

The vehicle was on runners, like a sled. A bar parallel to the ground acted as a step. Niko cautiously set one foot on it before entering. The inside looked like the seating area for a small corporate jet, a pair of seats facing forward and a pair facing the opposite direction.

Vyper got in next and took the seat beside him. She took his hand. “Do you trust these men?”

The engine started, and the blades began to turn, making enough noise to drown out normal conversation.

Niko leaned in close and kissed Vyper. He raised his voice. “Everything’ll be fine.”

I hope.

Niko peered out the helicopter window at the ground below, dimly illuminated by a crescent moon. He held Vyper’s hand and looked into her questioning eyes, but he had no answers. All he could do was shrug his shoulders.

Who are these people ? Where are we going ? Are we in danger ?

His mind raced through the clues. The people who attacked the house could have been Russians. Mister Smith and the others arrived after their call for help to Homeland. They probably stopped the Russians. Then someone called them on the bat phone.

These have to be the good guys .

During the shooting outside Vyper’s home, someone with a bullhorn had identified themselves as the FBI. But Mister Smith didn’t act like someone in the FBI. And why did he use a fake name?

The helicopter took a turn. The pitch of the engine changed. Niko spotted a body of water ahead, maybe a river. The chopper headed down, but the land below was all forest.

They landed on a circular concrete pad in the center of a clearing. The engine noise faded into the background. Niko unfastened his seat belt. “We’re here. Wherever that is.”

Vyper nodded her head toward the flight deck. “We have company.”

Smith walked up to them. “A driver will be here shortly to take you to your temporary home. I’ll see you in a few hours.” He opened the door and left the chopper.

Niko shook his head. “Talkative guy. Looks like answers will have to wait.”

Vyper wrapped her arm around his. “Do you really think we are safe?” She laid her head on his shoulder.

He moved his mouth close to whisper in her ear. “I don’t trust them, but I believe we’re safe for now. Let’s try to make the most out of it until we learn more.”

A young man, not much older than Niko, walked through the open door. His hair was trimmed closely, and he wore a dark business suit. “I’m your driver. Follow me.” He turned and left the chopper.

Niko stood and took Vyper’s hand, leading her outside.

The man stood beside a dark SUV and helped Vyper and Niko into the back seat before getting into the front.

Niko peered through the narrow opening separating the front seat from the back of the vehicle. “Where are you taking us?”

“Mister Smith will debrief you.” A dark window slid shut, blocking their view of the driver.

These folks took security seriously, and so did Niko. He held a finger to his lips and slid next to Vyper. They rode in silence along a two-lane road through dense woods. With the front view blocked, all they could see were the trees lining both sides of the road.

Ten minutes later, they turned right, driving twenty feet before they stopped. When they pulled forward, they passed iron gates attached to stone pillars, then drove onto a road, or possibly a driveway, surrounded by a manicured lawn, and came to a stop.