Up and running. Arn pursued by hostile. Request laser strike.

The acceleration thrust him back into his seat. He slammed the stick over to avoid another AGC coming in to land. The one he occupied slid sideways past it, and he caught a glimpse of the driver mouthing something uncomplimentary. Cormac eased the stick down and pushed it forward. The turbines whined, then screamed, as he shot out across the roofports, then over the city.

<Request denied. Cannot initiate strike over city.>

Cormac swore to himself, and then started weaving his car from side to side, as the other car shot up behind and above him and tried to match his course.

Request strike when I reach city limits.

The air took on a purplish tinge to his left and he jerked the stick to the right.

<I will do what I can, Ian.>

Cormac pulled his gun and snapped a couple of shots at his pursuers. The gun made no audible sound over the roar of turbines, but actinic flashes surrounded his pursuer’s car and he saw pieces falling from it. He had time only to grin to himself before the seat beside him burst into flame. He jerked the stick back and the car decelerated fast. His head struck the console as the other car shot above him. As it turned, he yanked an extinguisher from under the console and directed a spray of cold-foam at the burning seat. Then he rammed the stick forward again. The two cars passed each other separated by only a few metres. Cormac’s ears crackled as he was nearly dragged from his seat, but he was soon able to regain control.

Runcible AI, I am in an extremely life-threatening situation. How much longer on this course will take me past city limits?

There was a long delay as if the AI was chewing over the question. Cormac saw his pursuers coming up behind and above him again. Behind their car he saw a bladelike flame blink out. They had boosters so he had no chance of escaping them. He began to weave again.

<On a straight course you will reach city limits in one minute. I cannot initiate strike until four minutes after that.>

‘What!’ Cormac yelled.

<The situation is serious?>

‘Too fucking right it is!’

Another purple flash burnt the paint off the rear of his AGC, and set the rear seats smoking.

<It is good that you have retained the ability for at least some emotional response.>

‘What the hell are you talking about?’

Cormac took another couple of snap shots at his pursuers. Missed completely.

<This.>

The pursuing car glowed red, became an expanding cloud of smoke and debris cut through with a bar of light. The shockwave hit a moment later. Cormac turned aside to avoid flying debris, then throttled down.

‘What the hell are you playing at?’

<I was instructed by Earth Central to test you. This will be discussed further after you arrive.>