A Stroke Of Originality

Dr. Gino pulled up to the lab and jumped out of the car without putting it in park. He sprinted through the door and tumbled down some stairs.

“I won’t let them take my research, not over my dead body.” Dr. Gino shouted, picking himself up from the ground.

Dr. Gino promptly ran towards a hand scanner next to his lab door and quickly threw his hand onto it.

“Initiate Lockdown protocol!” He hollered.

“Confirming authorization.” The computer modulated voice came over the intercom as it scanned his hand. “Authorization complete, Initiating Lockdown protocol.”

An extra layer of doors slammed down from the ceiling covering the entrance into the lab. As the computer continued sealing off the lab, Dr. Gino swiftly ran to his desktop, typing as fast as he could. A loud, humming sound coming from the door grabbed his attention. It sounded as if his pursuers were using a laser to penetrate his steel defenses. He turned back to his desktop and quickly transferred a large batch of files to a folder named Xfer.

“You will not get my research!” Dr. Gino yelled at the door.

“Gino, hand that information over to the Galatic Federation, and you have my word, that you will leave here unharmed.” A man hollered back.

“David, is that you?” Dr. Gino asked. “You piece of shit, I would never trust your word.”

“Then you’ll die here, you damn fool,” David responded as they began making their way into the lab.

Dr. Gino started to see sparks flying from the door as the lasers melted away at it. The transfer had thirty seconds left, and Dr. Gino hurried and picked up two disconnected wires and watched as the transfer timer counted down. Smoke stormed into his lab as the door fell, and red lasers marked his body. David walked through the smoke holding his fist in the air.

“No one shoots unless I give the order,” David demanded. “Now, Gino, if you give me those files, you’re free to go.” He outstretched his hand.

“If I give you my files, you’re just going to give it to those big wigs that you work for, and they won’t use it for it’s intended purposes.” Dr. Gino explained.

“Come on now, Gino, you’ve known me a long time. You think I would let something like that happen?”

Dr. Gino laughed, “You’re right, I have known you a long time. Your services go to the highest bidder, you care not what they do, as long as they pay you.”

Anger flared in David’s eyes, “Last chance Gino.” David snarled.

Dr. Gino glanced over to the computer screen when it made a loud beep followed by the computer saying ‘completed.’ David caught him glancing and immediately got suspicious.

“Gino, what are you doing?” David asked, but Gino ignored him and quickly connected the wires in his hand. “Fire!” David yelled.

Bullets rained down upon Gino’s body, sending him falling to the floor.

“I told you, you damn fool,” David grunted. “Take everything, and get it back to base for processing.”

David crouched down and rolled Gino’s body over to check his pockets when he noticed that Dr. Gino had actually connected the wires in his hands.

“Someone, get over here and see where these wires lead to,” David commanded.

“Yes, sir,” a soldier replied, following the wires to their point of origin.

Shortly after, gunfire rang out.

“Who just fired their weapon?” David asked, looking around.

“Leave my lab!” A robotic figure said, holding a dead soldier while walking from the shadows.

David looked up at the hulking machine, “W-what… t-the… Gino?” David studdered as fear rampaged throughout his body.