Killborg

By Ben Smart

In this futuristic thriller, an android robot is designed to be the perfect soldier but his wiring runs amok an he goes on a rampage. A female FBI agent then goes into action to find him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201317379

Book preview

1.

Darko Grimes hadn’t used in days. He was getting jittery and had doubts about running his scam that morning. In the end, he decided money and junk don’t grow on trees and he needed to go ahead with his plans.

Things went bad fast. His second mark was a businessman who left the coffee shop in a hurry, head down, eyes buried in his holo-phone. Darko stepped forward, pretending to read a newspaper. The two men collided and Darko dropped his paper, fumbling, pushing his body into the businessman even more. His move was fast, practiced again and again over years.

The businessman held onto his cup but some coffee spilled, dousing his hand and sleeve in hot java. Sorry, Darko told him, I’m sorry, man.

Darko stepped back, looking at the mess he made. Shit, he continued, my fault, man, I wasn’t looking. Are you okay? Did you burn yourse...

My wallet, the businessman said, patting the now empty pocket in his coat, you took my fucking wallet.

What are you talking about? Darko asked, stepping back, I didn’t do...

You scumbag, the man shouted, my wallet was just here and now its... he didn’t finish, reaching for Darko’s jacket, Give me my...

A fight broke out and things digressed rapidly. Darko had his knife and pulled it somewhere along the way. The businessman punched him in the face and Darko stabbed, sinking the blade into the man’s chest. The strip-mall coffee shop was busy and the concerned screams became panic. Several patrons called the police.

Darko slashed the air around him with his long knife, desperately trying to keep reaching hands from restraining him. Hostages were taken, a mother and her young daughter. Darko was forced to hole up in the backroom of the shoe store next to the coffee shop.

Time passed, Darko calmed down enough to work out a plan. He discovered he could get on the roof from the stockroom and run along top of the strip-mall. There was bound to be a ladder up there. There had to be. He could climb down the other side and run. He could escape, go see Skinny and score some dope.

Hope flickered in Darko Grimes’ heart. He could do it. He had every confidence that he would be basking in the rich golden glow of a needle-full of Skinny’s finest.

Then he heard the announcement, a deep metallic voice just outside the shoe store door. Attention, this is RET. You are in violation of seven counts of civil and federal law. You must surrender.

Darko knew that name. Everyone did. The RET