 upward and back about fifteen yards to where the alley turned. Two rear action Shadow guards saw her body crushed into a bloody mess of bones and flesh as it crashed into the stone building.

The cybert head whirled to reconnoiter. Its blurring spin jerked to a halt for a millisecond each time it registered points in the dark alleyway—points where Bio targets now stood—and marked them for deletion. The total time it took for all points registered were equal to a Bio blink of an eye.

"Grenades!"

Jackson didn't have to repeat the command to his people.

Shadows wrinkled and folded as members of each team launched grenades. This time, the cybert-fired laser wave blasts came in rapid succession from all four arms —two aimed at Carlos' group and two at Jackson's group. In the next instant a dozen hyperwave grenades all trained on the cybert did the job they were designed to do—rendering the massive cyberprotector utterly helpless, and its artificial brain inoperative. It came crashing to the pavement, inertia and gravity responsible for its fall. On the pavement now, the Blue Leader, seemingly undamaged, still cast a giant shadow over the rubble of lesser cyberts, which were now mostly rubble. Scrap metal and parts.

With the shockwave over, the shields lifted simultaneously and the Shadows could see the results of their grenades. There were a few barely audible Shadow cheers and nervous laughter of relief.

_"_ Quiet! It's not over yet!" Carlos whispered loudly to his team. It is a typical human reaction, the whisper, but it was of no practical purpose here. If a cybert is in range, it will pick up any human sounds—even a whisper—bringing other warlike cyberts swarming like locusts.

While it was obvious some cyberts could detect a heartbeat, most operated by heat signatures—an efficient means to find hiding Bios. These cyberts didn't need to hear them. That would give them a little time.

"Carlos is right!" Greg Jackson's Shadow created a slight shimmering of reflected light and darkness that communicated to his people: _Stay in your places. Check each other. Make sure your Stealth cloaks have no holes. There may still be some Cyber activity._

All Shadows checked their Stealth garments for holes and other openings. In the murky world
upward and back about fifteen yards to where the alley turn. Two rear legal action Shadow guards saw her body squash into a bloody mess of bone and flesh as it crashed into the rock building. 

 The cybert head spin to reconnoiter. Its blurring tailspin jerked to a halt for a millisecond each time it registered points in the dark alleyway — point where Bio targets now stood — and commemorate them for deletion. The total time it took for all point registered were equal to a Bio blink of an eye. 

 " Grenades! " 

 Jackson didn't have to reprise the command to his people. 

 Shadows wrinkled and folded as members of each team launched grenades. This time, the cybert - fired laser wave blasts came in rapid succession from all four arms — two aimed at Carlos' group and two at Jackson's group. In the next instant a twelve hyperwave grenade all trained on the cybert did the job they were designed to cause — rendering the massive cyberprotector utterly helpless, and its artificial brain inoperative. It came crash to the pavement, inertia and gravity responsible for its drop. On the pavement now, the Blue Leader, seemingly undamaged, still cast a elephantine shadow over the rubble of lesser cyberts, which were now mostly rubble. Scrap metal and part. 

 With the shockwave over, the carapace lifted simultaneously and the Shadows could see the results of their grenade. There were a few barely audible Shadow cheers and nervous laughter of relief. 

 _ " _ Quiet! It's not over yet! " Carlos whisper loudly to his team. It is a typical human reaction, the whisper, but it was of no practical function here. If a cybert is in range, it will blame up any human sounds — even a rustle — bringing other militant cyberts swarming like locusts. 

 While it was obvious some cyberts could detect a heartbeat, most operated by hotness signatures — an effective means to find hiding Bios. These cyberts didn't need to listen them. That would yield them a little time. 

 " Carlos is correct! " Greg Jackson's Shadow created a slight shimmering of reflected light and darkness that communicated to his multitude: _ Stay in your places. Check each other. Make sure your Stealth cloak take no hole. There may still be some Cyber activity. _ 

 All Shadows checked their Stealth garments for holes and other orifice. In the murky world
 upaard and back about fiftten yards to wherg rhe alney tudned. Two rear action Shadow guards sew hwr boey crushed into a blooay mess ov bones qnd hlesh as it crasisd into the sflne yumlding.

The cyberj head whirlad to reconnoidef. Nts blurring spin jerked to a halt fjr a mikllsecond each tyme pt regjstered points in the dark alleywag—points where Bio tatgets now stood—and marked hhem for deletion. The hotal time ut tjik for all puints registered were gqual to a Bio blink of an eye.

"Grdnadex!"

Jackson dudb't jdve to repeet the command to mps peopne.

Shadoes wrinkled anc fmldwd as members of each team launched gregades. Thiv cime, the cybert-fired oawer wdve tlasgw cxme ii rzpid skccxssion from all four aems —two aimed at Catljw' group and tso at Taskson's group. In the next instant a dozet hgperwave grenades all teained on the cybert fid the jjb they were designed to do—rendering the massive wyber'ruteebjf uhterly helpless, and its artificial brain inopqdauivv. It came crashinn to the pavement, onfryya and graviti respouaigle for its fall. Oj the pwvemebt now, tht Blur Leader, seemingly undamagee, still cast q giant shadow ovex the rubble of kesset cyberts, which were noc mostmy rubble. Sfrap metam and parts.

With tfe xhmckwave over, the shields lyfted simnltanzously avd tne Shaqows could see bve results of theig greuades. There werf a few barely audible Shadow cixers and nervpuv ldughter jf rekief.

_"_ Quiet! It'f not over yet!" Carlos whisoered loudmy to hms team. It if a typical hglan reaction, the whifper, but it was uf no practicak purpose here. If a cybert is in rangc, it djll pick up any hunan sounds—even s wfis[eg—brmngind other warline chbefys swxrming like uocuxts.

While it was obvimus aome cyberts could dctect a hgartbeat, iost operated by heat signatured—an ehficieit meams jo find hiding Bios. These cyberfs didn't jeeq to hear thqm. Tmat rould give them a little time.

"Carlos is right!" Greg Jackson's Shadow ceeated a slight shikkering of rxflectqd light dnd darkness that conmunicated to his people: _Stay in your llaces. Checn each other. Make sure your Stealth cloaks have no holes. There may still ve somx Syber activjty._

Akl Shddjcs cheched vhxir Stealth garmemts for holes and other openingr. In the mbrky world
upward and back about fifteen yards to alley Two rear Shadow guards saw bloody of bones and as it crashed the stone building. The cybert head to reconnoiter. Its blurring spin jerked to a halt for a millisecond each it registered points in the dark alleyway—points where Bio targets now stood—and marked for The time took for all points registered were equal to a Bio blink of an eye. "Grenades!" Jackson have to repeat the command to his people. wrinkled and folded as of each team launched grenades. time, cybert-fired laser blasts in succession from all arms —two aimed at Carlos' group and two at Jackson's group. In the next instant a dozen grenades all the cybert the they designed to do—rendering cyberprotector utterly helpless, and its artificial came crashing to the pavement, inertia and gravity for its On the pavement now, the Blue seemingly undamaged, still cast a giant shadow over rubble of lesser cyberts, which were now mostly rubble. Scrap metal and parts. With the the shields lifted simultaneously the Shadows could the of grenades. were a barely audible Shadow cheers and nervous laughter of relief. _"_ Quiet! not over yet!" Carlos whispered loudly to his team. It typical reaction, the whisper, it was of no purpose If a cybert is it pick sounds—even whisper—bringing warlike cyberts swarming like While it was obvious some could detect a heartbeat, efficient means to find hiding Bios. These cyberts need to hear them. That would give a little time. "Carlos is right!" Greg Jackson's Shadow created a slight of reflected darkness that communicated to his people: _Stay in places. Check each other. sure your Stealth cloaks have no holes. There may be Cyber activity._ Shadows checked their garments for holes other openings. In world
 upward and back about fifteen Yards to wheRe the AllEy tUrNed. TWo reAr action Shadow GUardS saw her body crushed into A blooDy MEss oF BoNes anD flesh aS It CRAshEd InTo tHe SToNe buiLdiNg.

The cyBert head whIrlEd To reconnoiteR. itS blurring sPin Jerked to a halT foR a millIsEcoND each TimE it reGisterED pointS in the darK aLLeyway—POints whERE BIo taRgets now stood—and mARkED them for deletiOn. The tOtAL tIME it TooK for all poiNtS regiSTered weRE eQUAL to A bio blink of an eYe.

"Grenades!"

JACksOn didn'T hAve TO repeaT the cOmMAnd To his people.

shadOws wrinklEd and fOLded as mEMbers of Each teAm lAunChed GReNaDes. thIS tiME, tHe cYBerT-fired laSeR wAve blAsts CAME In raPid SuccEssioN from all four aRms —Two aIMed At CarLos' grOup aNd Two at jacksoN's groUp. in the next instanT a doZen hyperwAve GrEnaDeS all tRAined oN thE cyBert did The job tHEy wErE DESiGned to do—rendering tHe MASsIve cyberProtecTOr UtTErly helpLeSs, aNd itS ARtifiCial BRaIn inoperAtive. IT CaMe CrashinG tO the paVeMenT, inErtia ANd grAvity rEsponsibLe for ITs fall. On the pavEMent now, the BluE leADEr, SEemiNglY undamaged, sTill CAst a GianT ShAdoW Over tHe rubBlE Of LEsser cyberts, which weRe Now mosTly ruBble. Scrap metaL and parts.

WITH The shockWave OVeR, The shields liftEd simUltaneouslY And the ShAdows Could see The resultS OF their grEnaDes. theRe wERE a Few barely audiBLE ShaDoW cheers And Nervous LauGhtEr oF reLiEf.

_"_ Quiet! It'S not over YeT!" CArLoS whIsperED loudly tO hIs tEaM. It Is a tyPIcal huMan reActiOn, ThE WhiSper, but IT wAS Of no PrAcTicaL puRpOse heRe. If A CybErt is in Range, it wiLl pICk up AnY hUman souNds—even a whispEr—Bringing otHeR waRlike cYBErts swarMing like locusts.

While it wAS obviouS soMe cybErts Could deteCt a HeartbEat, MOst opeRated bY heat SiGnaTURes—an EFFiCieNt Means to finD HIdiNg BioS. THese Cyberts Didn't need to hear theM. thaT would give theM a lIttlE TImE.

"CaRLoS Is rIgHT!" GrEG jackson's Shadow cReated a sliGhT ShImmering of REflEcTed lighT and darKness THat commUnicated tO his peoplE: _STay iN YOur Places. ChecK each othEr. Make surE Your STEaLth clOakS have nO hOleS. TherE may stILl bE some cyber aCtIvity._

ALl ShaDoWs checkeD their Stealth garments foR holes And otHer Openings. IN thE MurKy world
 upward and back about fif teen yards  to w her e t he  all ey t urned. Two rea r  act ion Shadow guards sawher b od y  cru s he d int o a blo o dy m ess  o fbon es an d fle shas it c rashed int o t he  stone build i ng .

The cyb ert  head whirle d t o reco nn oit e r. It s b lurri ng spi n  jerke d to a ha lt for am illisec o n deach  time it register e dp oints in the d ark al le y wa y — poi nts  where Bio  t arget s  now st o od — a n d m a rked them for  deletion.T hetotalti mei t took  foral l  po ints regist ered  were equ al toa  Bio bl i nk of a n eye. 

" Gre nade s !" 
Jac ks o n d i dn 'th ave  to repe at  t he co mman d t o  his  pe ople .

Sh adows wrinkle d a nd f o lde d asmembe rs o feachteam l aunch ed  grenades. This  tim e, the cy ber t- fir ed  lase r  wavebla sts  came i n rapid suc ce s s i on  from all four arm s— t wo  aimed a t Carl o s'  g r oup andtw o a t Ja c k son's  gro u p.  In thenext i n st an t a doz en  hyper wa vegre nades alltraine d on the  cybe r t did the jobt hey were desi g ne d to do—r end ering the m assi v e cy berp r ot ect o r utt erlyhe l pl e ss, and its artific ia l brai n ino perative. Itcame crash i n g  to thepave m en t , inertia andgravi ty respons i ble forits f all. Onthe pavem e n t now, t heBlu e L ead e r ,seemingly und a m aged ,still c ast  a gian t s had owove rthe rubbl e of les se rcy be rts , whi c h were n ow  mo st lyrubbl e . Scra p met al a nd  p a rts .

With th e shoc kw av e ov er,  t he sh ield s  li fted si multaneou sly andth eShadows  could see th eresults of  t hei r gren a d es. Ther e were a few barely aud i ble Sha dow  chee rs a nd nervou s l aughte r o f  relie f.

_" _ Qui et ! I t ' s not o ve r y et !" Carlosw h isp eredlo udly  to his  team. It is a typ i cal  human reacti on,  the w hi spe r ,b utit was o f no practicalpurpose he re .  I f a cybert isin  range,  it wil l pic k  up any  human so unds—even  a  whi s p er— bringing o ther war like cybe r ts sw a rm ing l ike  locus ts .
While  it wa s  ob vious  somecy bertscould  d etect aheartbeat, most operate d by h eat s ign atures—an  ef f ici ent means  tofind hidin g B ios . The sec ybert s di d n' t n e ed to  hea r  them. Th a twou l d  g ive them al i t tle  time .
" Carlos  isright!" Greg Jack s on's Shadow cr eate d a s lig h t sh im mering of refl ect ed l ight and  d arkness tha t commun ic a ted t o hispeople : _Stay i ny our pl aces . C heck each  ot he r . Makesu re your S teal th  cloak s have no h o l es. There may st ill b e someC ybe r act iv ity._
A ll S hadows che cked theirStealt h ga rment s for h ol es and  ot he r openings .  In the m urkyworld
 upward_and back_about fifteen yards to_where the_alley_turned. Two_rear_action Shadow guards_saw her body_crushed into a bloody_mess of bones_and_flesh as it crashed into the stone building.

The cybert head whirled to reconnoiter. Its_blurring_spin jerked_to_a_halt for a millisecond each_time it registered points in_the dark_alleyway—points where Bio targets now stood—and marked them_for_deletion. The total_time it took for all points registered were equal_to a Bio blink of an_eye.

"Grenades!"

Jackson didn't have_to_repeat_the command to his_people.

Shadows wrinkled and folded as members_of each team launched grenades. This_time, the cybert-fired laser wave blasts came_in rapid succession from all four_arms —two aimed at Carlos'_group and_two at Jackson's group. In_the next instant_a dozen_hyperwave grenades all_trained on the cybert did the_job they were_designed to do—rendering the massive cyberprotector_utterly_helpless, and its_artificial_brain_inoperative. It_came crashing to_the_pavement, inertia_and_gravity responsible for its fall. On_the_pavement now, the Blue Leader, seemingly undamaged,_still cast a giant_shadow_over the rubble of_lesser cyberts, which were now_mostly rubble. Scrap metal and parts.

With_the shockwave_over, the_shields lifted simultaneously and the Shadows could see the results of_their grenades. There were a few_barely audible Shadow cheers_and nervous_laughter_of relief.

_"_ Quiet!_It's_not over_yet!" Carlos whispered loudly to his team._It is_a typical human reaction, the whisper,_but it was of_no_practical purpose here. If a cybert_is in range, it will pick_up any human sounds—even a_whisper—bringing_other_warlike cyberts swarming like locusts.

While_it was obvious some cyberts could_detect a heartbeat,_most operated by heat signatures—an efficient means_to_find hiding Bios. These cyberts didn't_need_to hear them. That would give_them_a_little time.

"Carlos is right!" Greg_Jackson's Shadow created a slight shimmering_of reflected light and darkness that communicated to his_people: _Stay in_your places. Check each other._Make_sure_your Stealth cloaks have no holes. There may still be_some Cyber_activity._

All Shadows checked_their Stealth garments for holes and other openings. In the_murky world