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Hunter

  by Sean McPherson

  Hunter

  McPherson, Sean

  Copyright 2011 by McPherson, Sean

  This is an original work by Sean McPherson. Any relation to names, characters or stories to other works or real persons is purely coincidental. References to other works were not made with endorsement or consent by their respective owners or artists and is made in good faith.

  Cover art was designed by Sean McPherson and made with pictures that are in the public domain.

  Special thanks to Noor in helping make each story from good to great.

  Thanks to my sister, Candice. The few pieces of advice helped immensely.

  And thanks to my parents, who have helped support me through these trying times.

  The skyline displayed the late night. Even the skyscrapers were almost all dark, though small red lights highlighted the height of each building.

  Over one such building, a bulky, van-like machine flew directly over the rooftop. The vehicle moved smoothly, then halted only a few feet over the rooftop. It blended well into the infinite shadow of the city. The light color may have given itself away in brighter conditions, but the red lights barely reflected off its side. Even the cabin lights inside were dark.

  The back of the hovering vehicle started to lower. It was a slow rotation, ending as though it made a ramp. The end of that ramp would have ended on the ground if it had actually landed. Instead the platform was still a few feet above the roof.

  From the vehicle emerged a dark clothed man. He was approaching middle-age, a hardened look etched to his face for this occasion. The glasses framed the serious look in his eyes. A hard backpack was weighed him down a little. This was Jeffrey Hunter.

  He leaped down to the rooftop, leaving the vehicle as the ramp closed back up. Moving his right hand to his back. With a blue flash, a gun materialized. The weapon looked somewhere between a taser and an average, bullet launching pistol.

  With his other hand, he touched the rim of his glasses. Jeff looked downward, seeing through the many floors of the building. Using the glasses, he saw many red dots, with a few larger ones that belonged on the nearby floors.

  Now fully prepared, Jeff walked towards a marked door. With every step, he made that sure he didn't make any noise to alert the guards. Arriving at the doorway, he took the doorknob and slowly rotated it until it stopped. He then pushed the door to the stairway with equal carefulness and stealth.

  It was dark there with only the fairly dim light from outside showing where each step was. Jeff was stepping to his side. He was careful to make sure that each step was as even and quiet as possible on the metal stairs. It was a short flight of stairs, but his view remained on what hid behind the next door.

  Light protruded the bottom crack of the door. For a quick second, a shadow pass across that light. Jeff took extra care in twisting the levered knob to its open position. Then he quickly swung the door open.

  Using the door as partial cover, Jeff shot two bolts of light into the air. The first hit the passing guard in the back. The second missed. The farther guard spun around to see his opponent. He barely had enough time to raise his rifle up before another bolt hit him, knocking him unconscious.

  Free of the guards, Jeff calmly walked down the well-lit hallway. His first job was to frisk one the fallen guards. Quickly finding the radio, he put it to his mouth, "There's someone in the west stairway!" That would be enough.

  Getting back up, it took one turn before he found the elevators. He smashed the button to the metal doors. It took only a second for the familiar ding and a open door in front of him. He entered then pressed the button for the ground floor.

  Once the doors closed, he put his other hand behind his back to summon a twin to his other gun. He breathed one large huff, mentally preparing himself for the trial that was to come.

  The elevator doors opened. It was a long second, a momentary pause as he rushed out. The barricaded guards were facing away, towards the stairway that Jeff used as a decoy. But it didn't take long for them to take notice, with a hail of gunfire erupting.

  Jeff fired straight forward, not at anyone in particular. That made sure that his immediate front was covered by his gunfire as he dove out to the closest pillar. Taking cover, he looked around for any faults in his choice. Looking up, he saw a catwalk with a guard running across. Jeff fired several bolts from both guns, only the last hitting its mark. The guard was knocked down and lay against the rail.

  The hail of bullets ceased. Movement could be heard, as the intruder knew that they were repositioning themselves for the kill.

  Jeff set both his guns behind his back. The blue flash erupted; now both guns were replaced with two round orbs. Using his mouth to remove the pins, he tossed both the grenades behind the towering pillar. With a bang, the grenades exploded in a cloud of black smoke. Several of the guards coughed, others yelled words of warning or commands. The intruder couldn't comprehend them, nor cared to.

  The black smoke coated the entire room. Replacing his guns back into his hands, Jeff dived out of his cover. He shot three guards who had come out, but didn't see him through the smoke.

  The intruder ran to the back. Using his memory of the area, he bumped into a wall. He moved swiftly to the right, where the flap for employees was.

  Some of the remaining guards heard his steps, firing blindly. They were nowhere near Jeff, giving him plenty of opportunity to get into position. He got behind the long barrier where bankers would have worked, and where the remaining guards were positioned. Jeff shot many times, not caring to waste any ammo in order to down the remaining competition.

  The smoke cleared as quickly as it had come. All the guards were lying on the floor. Jeff walked back behind to where the vault was.

  It was a large, metal door: a classic type of vault door that one would expect. The side had an electronic keypad ready for someone's input. The large door was sealed by one hinge to the side; sturdy enough that it take more small explosives to wrench it.

  Un-summoning his weapons, he took out a slight bit of gum. Mushing it up, the gum was placed between the keypad and the door hinge. Taking a short distance back, he watched as a small explosion cause the door to open. It was only a small crack, enough for him to get a grip on it. He pulled it open, revealing what he was after.

  Inside, a small girl sat on the floor. She was sad, though have long cried herself out. It was very apparent that she had been stuck in the vault for several hours.

  Jeff smiled to reassure the girl. He offered a hand to the girl, and she took it.

  Outside, several police vehicles had been surrounding the building. Of the many people on the site, only two were not part of the police force. That was where the Jeff and the girl were walking toward.

  He was carrying the girl to the car from out of the building. When she saw the two, she excitingly pointed them out. Jeff gently set the girl down. She ran right for the man and the woman - to her parents.

  The woman leaned down to capture and lift the girl up, embracing her with all their heart. The mother cried in relief, that her daughter was safe. The father embraced the daughter from the other direction, showing a very similar emotion.

  With his job done, Jeff started to walk toward a dark alleyway. The mother noticed that he was leaving and yelled at him.

  He turned around, seeing that she wanted to say something. She only whispered, so he couldn't hear her. But the words were obvious, "Thank you."

  He smiled, and turned his head back. Jeffrey Hunter walked into the darkness.