Jacob Burns and the Order of the Algorithm #Wattys2017

Chapter 15: When the World Comes Crashing Down

"Interesting..." he said to himself before turning back to us once again.

"You know, I really should be thanking you for all the trouble you've saved me. Not only did you manage to solve all those ridiculous riddles, but you couldn't have made infiltrating the security systems any easier for me if you'd tried. I mean, resetting the protocols? Had you learned nothing from your time in the mine, Jacob? Regardless, I do suppose a debt of gratitude is owed, so truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you..." He added with great relish before turning to the girl cowering behind me.

"Now then, Miss Astor, if you'll kindly come with me, we can finally be on our way..."

"What? No!" She yelled as defiantly as she could, "I'm not going anywhere with the likes of you, you'll have to kill me first!"

"Oh, please, spare me the histrionics, my dear. I have a busy schedule to keep and I've already lost far too much time thanks to you and your little stunt at Diamond City. After all, Jacob said it himself... You are clearly the key to this entire conundrum, and the only one who can uncover the truth. Now, get moving. Before I'm forced to shoot dear Mr. Burns in the head just to prove a point," he added coldly before waving the girl over to his side. He turned to me once again, a smirk evident in his self-assured voice.

"I don't know if you're a much of a man of science Jacob, but I do hope you enjoy this laboratory, as it will be your tomb," he said as he pulled out the key to the bookcase above, the implications not lost on me.

"Wait a minute," Ilya cried out, "You can't just leave him down here, he'll die!" But the Director simply ignored her as his robotic claw clenched tightly around her arm.

"No, stop it! Let go of me! JACOB!" Ilya screamed.

I was numb. Paralyzed. My mind seemed to be at a complete loss even as my eyes darted frantically around the room, desperately trying to piece together some kind of an escape plan, but there was nothing... Nothing I could do but watch as the Director dragged the girl away. My hand ached for my gun like never before, but it was no use. The risk of hitting Ilya was far too great and the bastard knew it. My world was spinning, a panic rising in my chest, and as my mind came to a point where it had exhausted all other thought, I was left with nothing but to tilt my head to the heavens and whisper a short, desperate plea.

As I opened my eyes, however, it became clear that no divine intervention would be needed after all.

"Hey, jackass!" I yelled as I raised my gun, but not at the robot. No, instead I pointed straight up.

The Director turned around, gun at the ready, that was, until he saw where I was aiming. I allowed the realization to sink in before firing off several quick shots.

I held my breath as the lasers flew through the air, terrified of the consequences should I miss. At last, one managed to pierce right through the central support of the galactic model above us, a heavy metal chain hanging from the middle of the ceiling. Almost as if in slow motion, we watched as the great structure began to buckle beneath its own weight. Cable after cable snapped as the ancient framework tore from the ceiling, the tremors sending the heavy bronze orbs crashing to the ground like cannon fire falling from the sky. Finally, the galaxy gave way.

Ilya and I dove for cover, but the slow, outdated Protectron never had a chance. As the heavy frame collided with the floor, it struck down with a thunderous crash that exploded into a firestorm of flying gears and burning steel.

When I looked up, the room was in ruins, and quickly filling with smoke. The beautiful marble had been shattered beneath the smoldering mass of bronze, the Protectron itself completely unrecognizable amid all the destruction. The lab had been utterly destroyed, the fanciful instruments smashed to pieces, and the computer databases reduced to rubble beneath the heavy bombardment.