Hunter's drone

The building on one side was low enough to reach. Cole sprang, but the robot uncoiled with the sudden speed of a mousetrap, and a weighted net slammed against him, interrupting his trajectory. Pulled by the net, Cole tucked his head and crashed into the side of the building and then fell to the walkway.

The lanky robot sprang forward, landing beside him, and held up an extra-long trapgun.

  “Don’t move,” the robot said. “This chase is over.” The voice sounded younger than Cole expected, and so human that he would have sworn there had to be a person inside.

  Cole held down the button on his communicator to help the others catch on to what had happened. “Who are you?” Cole asked.

  “I’m your best chance,” the robot said. “If City Patrol takes you in, you’re finished.”

  “You’re not with them?” Cole asked.

  “I’ve helped them,” the robot said. “And they think I’m with them. But I’m really working for myself here. You really can’t guess who I am? I’ve been chasing you for some time. Who else did you think would catch you?”

  “Wait,” Cole said, chills tingling through him. “You’re the Hunter?”

  “People call me that,” the robot replied.


  “You’re a robot?”

  The robot laughed. “I’m no bot. This is a drone I’m controlling.”

Chapter 16