Braun and Hendrikson were still sinking through air like water, but Hendrikson wasn't wasting the motion. Using Braun, he swung around to face Kerr. His mouth curled in a dark smile. The knife was gone. Now he held a gun. He winked and squeezed the trigger. The gun erupted flames.
He watched as the bullet drilled through the air.
Without realizing what was happening, Kerr rolled forward. Three bullets hit the ground where he had been moments before. He twisted, getting his legs under him.
He had to get out of here! Using the ground as a springboard, he launched into a run. He spotted his silver briefcase out of the corner of his eye. He scooped it up as he ran.
Another short burst of bullets belched behind him. Keeping his head low, he continued to flee. An inferno of energy coursed through his legs. Now he was a running machine.
Clouds of dust surrounded him as bullets chewed up the floor. He could feel bullets impacting back and legs, but he ignored the pressure.
He dodged right, rounding a concrete pillar. For a split second, the bullets no longer found him.
He had lost the element of surprise. A team of trained soldiers were pursuing him. It was laughable to think he could get away. What was his end game?
Kerr dashed left and right. Bullets shadowed his every step.
He ducked behind another pillar but the bullets kept coming. Hendrikson was now running parallel to Kerr.
He dove into another forward roll. As he moved, he twisted his body to face the opposite direction. His feet braced, stopping his forward momentum. His hands launched him off the ground and he pulled himself forward like a monkey—feet over hands. Springing up, he was running again.
Hendrikson cursed as he stopped his sprint and changed direction, tripping and skidding.
Tears streamed from Kerr's squinting eyes as he flew forward. His path was taking him toward the other soldiers. He ducked into a skid and shifted directions again—now to the side. Ahead of him, Kerr could see a light—the light of the Portal.
He ran toward the light.
A flurry of pebbles and dust shadowed his every move. A shot struck the back of Kerr's leg with enough force to make him miss a step. He stumbled forward, almost falling. The suit righted his steps before the final tumble, letting him race ahead once more.
The Portal was now in full sight.
There was nothing but white light inside the Portal. Kerr skidded to a halt. It was no longer connected to the Time Dock. Who knew where it would lead?
The bullets behind him ceased. Hendrikson had him trapped.
"Game's over, hero," he chuckled. Kerr held up both hands and turned to face him.
Lazy smoke drifted up from his gun. He smiled. "There's nowhere to go. The only way you're getting a cure for that virus is going back home. It's either join us or die." He shrugged. "I recommend 'join us' but it's your call."
Only three steps.
That was the distance between Kerr and the Portal. Inside the opening was nothingness—swirling white lights and squirming fog. No one knew what it was like. No one had ever returned.
Kerr began running.
One foot down. One foot up.
"Stop!" yelled Henderikson.
Kerr ignored him. One foot down. One foot up. He grimaced. Last foot down. Last foot up.
Kerr plunged into the Portal and the whiteness swallowed him whole.