Redemption Protocol (Contact) Read Online Free

smooth rock on the edge of the lake, lying in a shallow pool of what had been clear lake water but was now slowly discoloring, at least around him. He had dragged them here a few minutes ago, after they had so rudely interrupted the local wildlife by crashing near the island.
    “How are you, Professor?”
    “I feel alright, thank you. Surprisingly warm actually.”
    “Hmm.”
    “I could do with resting for a few more minutes though, if you don't mind.”
    “Sure.”
    They looked out across the lake. The flames from the crashes were flickering out; even the one in the forest was dying away. Chemicals glistened on the surface of the water around the three wrecks in the lake. Birds returned to the island, some easily picked out against the fresh avenue of flattened trees and churned earth on the far side of the valley. Only two bodies still floated at their end of the lake. Havoc thought they must have some kind of buoyancy pack for medical recovery. Bit late for that.
    “That looks very painful,” the Professor said.
    Havoc frowned at his left leg. It was snapped at the knee and bent in the wrong direction, rising out of the water with his foot facing him like a grotesque puppet. Below the surface, splintered bones and torn ligaments interleaved and twisted back on themselves.
    “It's ok, thanks.”
    “I didn't get the chance to thank you.”
    Havoc made a faint gesture with his hand.
    “No need to thank me. I should really apologize.”
    “That might be the most impressive thing I've ever seen.”
    “Thanks.”
    The Professor was silent as the question hung unasked.
    “They should be here, Professor, they definitely will be. It’s just a delay. It won’t be long.”
    Best case, he thought.
    “I see.”
    A little time passed. Havoc’s pain built steadily, advancing past his outer defenses and pressing in on him. Broken ribs down his back, crush injuries on his internal organs, two high velocity rounds that had passed right through him. It hurt to breathe. He tried not to.
    They lay quietly, the water gently lapping against them.
    “My hands feel very warm now. And my back.” The Professor paused. “Please be honest with me.”
    The question hung in the air for a while.
    “With the discoloration on your hands starting, you've got maybe twenty minutes.”
    The Professor looked down at his hands, surprised. A darkening purple hue spread from his wrists onto his palms.
    “Gosh. I hadn't noticed.”
    The Professor turned to him, looking into his remaining eye. He'd had the forethought to drop the Professor on the side he could still see out of. He felt thick liquid oozing out of his left eye socket. The burns down that side of his head gave his skin a peculiar sensitivity to the air.
    The Professor pursed his lips.
    “Is there anything I can do for you...? I mean...”
    “No. Thanks, Professor.”
    The Professor glanced down at himself.
    “I'm scared about how much it will hurt.”
    Havoc thought the Professor sounded a little ashamed of himself. He shouldn’t be. Now that his hands had started to discolor, the pain would increase quickly. They designed it that way. The Professor was right to be worried – he would never have known pain like it. Sweat had already broken out on the Professor’s forehead.
    “I wonder why the pain? It seems so unnecessary and cruel.”
    Havoc reached over and tapped his finger onto the Professor's wrist, injecting two shots of hytelline.
    “If you're hiding, you reveal your position. This will help. Don't worry, Professor. There won't be any pain.”
    “Thank you.”
    One shot left.
    A large bird, perhaps a heron, cruised gracefully over the water with a fish in its slender beak. It threw forward its wings as it stalled and landed on the island, scattering a few smaller birds. The Professor relaxed his head back as the hytelline took effect, enveloping him like a sheet of damp muslin and cooling the burning that covered his body.
    “It's beautiful here. So