Toys

Chapter 53

Subtle , I reminded myself. That is certainly sound advice under the circumstances. We are, after all, hijacking this plane.

Unfortunately, when I walked into the cabin, which was decked out like a luxury hotel suite-with plush couches, a full bar, and the latest entertainment devices from the Toyz Corporation-the three executive types seated there weren’t particularly overjoyed to see me on board.

I guess I could understand why. They were just getting acquainted with the other passengers: two beautiful and well-endowed female androids who were at the preflight teasing stage of their “coffee, tea, or me” routine. And the “me” part could be taken quite literally.

“What are you doing in here?” the oldest of the businessmen asked, probably the boss. “We didn’t order any male androids.”

The executive brushed a partially undressed female companion off his lap and stood, glaring at me with the self-assured look of somebody used to being in charge.

Subtle, Hays.

I snapped to attention and gave him a salute. “I’m with the Agency of Change,” I answered. “I’m on a mission here.”

I was on a mission-to find something in the compartment I could use as a weapon. These three execs might not be trained fighters, but they weren’t ordinary humans, either-they were Elite males, and I didn’t have the edge of surprise I’d had with the pilots. “We’re bringing a bomb simulator on board. It’s a prototype… for wiping out human cities. Don’t worry, there’s no danger to any of you. This is President Jacklin’s initiative.”

The hostility on their faces changed to interest, and duty. So now what did I tell them?

“The machine will be loaded on in just a minute,” I said as I sidestepped into a storage area that held metal canisters of fire retardant. I wrenched one of them from its rack. It would have to do.

The plane had suddenly started forward in a smooth glide that, at first, was barely perceptible. The senior executive who’d first challenged me did it again. “The door’s still open! And if the prototype’s coming in, why are we moving?” he asked.

“To give you a running start,” I said and spun around with the heavy canister, lashing it at his jaw. It connected with a rinnng that vibrated through my fingers all the way to my teeth.

As he staggered away, I planted my boot in his chest and shoved him, flailing and yelping, out the open door to the tarmac below. Before I could recover my balance, the other two gents piled onto me. I could tell by the way they moved that they had military backgrounds.

I was still clutching the canister in my hands, so I snapped the seal off the nozzle. I aimed it at them. Then I coated the men with a blast of gooey, greenish fire retardant.

“What the hell!” one of them yelled. “I can’t see!”

They reeled away, crashing into each other, blinded for the moment. Next, I used the canister to bludgeon them out the door behind their bossy friend.

Then I turned my attention to the two androids. “Ladies, I’m afraid you get off here too!” They were only too happy to oblige.

“That’s your idea of subtle?” I heard Lucy call from up front. “Now shut the damn door!”