To Understand All

Chapter 19

The Fourth of July

They were suddenly aroused to flashing lights and the IC 12's voice. "Security Alert Red! Security Alert Red! Security Ale--."

Apparently, Doctor Horntenmyer had silenced it, because by the time they had gotten their bearings and were fully awake, Doctor Horntenmyer stuck his head in the door. "Get a move on, Sue. Someone's on--." He stopped upon seeing Bill and Doctor Susan sitting up in bed naked. "Evidently somebody had a happy time tonight. Skip the clothes. We have only seconds to get to the basement before they blow in the living room door. Get a move on!"

With that said, he was gone. Bill and Doctor Susan were right behind him. They had the Cray 12 seal off the basement door once they were through it, and dashed for the security room. Just as they reached its door, they were almost deafened by the concussion of an explosion upstairs.

Doctor Horntenmyer dropped into the seat before the holo cube and called up a picture of the living room. There was smoke everywhere. From what little they saw, it appeared that the invaders had used more plastic explosive than necessary. The front door lay torn and twisted against the far wall opposite the front entrance and a jagged ten foot hole resided in the wall on the side where the hinges of the door had been. But there was no sign of the intruders.

Suddenly three figures leaped through the hole in the wall. They were dressed in body armor, were carrying MADs, and were wearing infrared goggles.