Stealing the Future
© Jason Barney

David gripped his gun and worried he might have to use it for the first time. Being a security guard in these troubling times was not easy, and for what seemed like the hundredth instance, he wished there was better employment available. Chasing thugs around in the minutes before dawn was not exactly the way he wanted to earn a living.
He held the stalk of the gun tightly against his shoulder, let his finger flirt with the trigger, and leveled it at the shed. Someone was moving inside and they weren’t supposed to be there.

The sounds of the intruder’s presence were clearly audible in the silent morning, the moving silhouette alive in darkness. There was still an hour before dawn. Patchy fog obscured his view, the way lightly falling snow can shade something in the distance. The only illumination was the small bulbs that were strategically placed on the inside of the security fence, but they didn’t throw any more brightness than cheap Christmas lights. David could barely see the outlines of the small supply shanty.

He ducked to hide his presence and scanned the area. He wasn’t sure what he’d heard, but there had been a fairly audible clink, like metal on metal, which was followed by dull crashes. The building was one of the smaller ones, only half the size of a garage, but its contents were more valuable than gold. David tried to remember the layout of the area.

The seeds, David thought to himself. Those bastards are here for the seeds.

He understood the implications of what he’d stumbled upon, and thanked chance for his good fortune. If there was an intruder, and he was trying to steal the valuable genetically modified seeds, he was in a location with at least a couple of other men on duty. David wasn’t sure how the trespasser had gotten this far, but took confidence he would not be dealing with the situation alone.

The tall security fence was barely visible in the distance, but it would seriously hinder anyone trying to get out of the compound. He wished it were better lit, and hoped the other security guards were aware of the unwanted visitor.

He knew that people outside were getting desperate for food. They needed to feed their families. He wished the general population could understand what they were trying to do. Every week there was some effort to divert power away from the green houses, steal clean water from the reserves, or pilfer some of the supplies. He understood people were in dire straits and that civilization teetered on the edge.

Ever since the unexpected volcanic activity started to blot out the sun, desperate attempts were being made to rescue civilization. His employment as a guard at the Archer Research Facility was a part of that effort. The seeds were supposed to be for the greenhouse. If everything went right, and the seeds were fertile and made it into the ground, there would be crops next year. That would not be the case if ravenous bands of thieves were able to steal the future of the effort. Without the seeds there was no future.

David heard another thud.

He couldn’t allow whoever was in the shed to leave with the seeds. He’d lose his job if they came up missing. He had a little girl to feed.

David considered his options. He was well concealed by the darkness and had the element of surprise. He got as low to the ground as possible.

He had to act. He needed to sound the alarm.

Deciding it was better to get the rest of the security forces involved, he lifted himself off the ground and bolted for the alarm.

David made it in good time. He pushed down on the alarm button.

Nothing happened. He pushed it again and got the same result.

With horror he realized the system must have been compromised.

David thought he saw movement. He tried to focus his eyes and identify detail, and saw a person walk away from the shed toward the security wall. He felt relief as he excitedly awaited the involvement of the other guards.

Any hope others would intercede evaporated as the interloper sprinted directly up to the wall. Anyone manning his post would have reacted. David said a quick prayer for the sentries who were probably dead.

He watched the form to make a break for edge of the fence.

There was a large pack hanging over the guy’s shoulder.

“You are within the confines of a protected area! Halt or I’ll shoot!” David yelled.

He saw the form drop to the ground and then lost him in the darkness. David felt scared relief that the thief had not turned and faced him.

He couldn’t let the seeds go. If the guy had gotten into the compound he likely had a way out. He needed to make sure the seeds were secure and safe.

David sprinted to the location where he had last seen the intruder. He kept his gun trained on the wall and the shadows.

He passed the shed and saw the door was ajar.

He didn’t have time to react when he saw something drop across his vision. He felt a jolt from behind and realized someone had jumped him. He tried to get off a shot. His gun was no longer in his hands. David felt wrenching at his throat and tried to yell. He felt darkness coming. He shifted his weight and dropped to the ground, trying to upset the attacker’s advantage. The pressure under his chin increased and his vision started to go.

David felt weak.

When the world started to gray he realized he was on his back. The weight on his throat was there, but was not increasing. He guessed it was now the person’s hands around his neck, choking the life out of him.

For the briefest of instance David was able to see a face.

He recognized it as one of the other security guards.

Then the blackness came.