The blinding white spotlight cut through the darkness of the hospital driveway, pinning Rick in its glare.
Directly in front of the shattered glass doors sat a massive, six-wheeled Corporate Oversight APC. The heavy diesel engine rumbled, shaking the concrete beneath Rick's expensive Italian shoes. The worst part wasn't the thick, reinforced armour plating. It was the heavy 30mm auto-cannon mounted on the roof.
The mechanical turret whined, swivelling sharply. The laser sight locked dead onto the centre of Rick's chest.
Rick let out a loud, highly irritated sigh.
He was standing there, completely covered in drying blood and gore, with Marnus Warner slung over his right shoulder like a bleeding sack of potatoes. Victoria and Rachel were frozen in terror right behind him.
"Rick!" Victoria shouted over the roar of the diesel engine. "They're going to fire!"
Rick didn't flinch. He didn't drop his hostage or dive for cover. He just stared at the massive gun barrel and frowned.
