The world around her came to a crawl as the cybernetically enhanced reflexes came online. An alert came up on her HUD, indicating that air pressurization in the station was to be disabled in three seconds. First second: she engaged the light magnetic soles of her space suit’s boots, solidifying her stance with a soft, metallic click. Next second: she started toward the end of the corridor that the guards would be coming down any second. Third second: she drew her silenced pistol and leaped forward, flattening like a board in the air with her hands forward.

Gravity disappeared, and her momentum carried her through the air. The first guard came around the corner. The connection between her gun, her HUD, and her implants quickly calculated trajectory, distance, and movement, and a mental command fired the first round into the guard’s face mask. The next round hit a nanosecond later in the same spot and shattered through mask and face alike.

She kicked out to the wall on her right, let the magnetic field of her boot connect with the metal, then spun around to continue her run across the ceiling. The second guard peeked out from the corner then ducked back out of sight. She knew he was screaming into his comm about an intruder with hostile intent. She continued her path to the opposite wall and expended the mental effort to issue the reboot command on Alfred’s program.

She stayed on the left wall and reached down to her belt with her free hand. She threw a small square grenade past the corner and dimmed her HUD. She kick flipped to the opposite wall to keep them guessing even as she knew the flash pack would blind them.

Her flare compensation engaged as the flashes of light began. She pushed off the wall, took to the ceiling, and found both guards staggering away from the pack. Two shots per guard put them out of commission. A green arrow appeared to guide her, and Alfred said, “Well done, Miss Rachael. Please pardon my brief absence.” She smiled and nodded, but she knew there was more trouble between her and her target.