The rifle was silenced, so only those facing the victim realized what was happening when they saw the mans rib cage explode as the bullet pushed out through his breast bone. The next shot hit him in the shoulder, spinning him round and the final one removed the top of his head. People began screaming as the body fell. Police sirens began to wail in the distance and the victims DocWagon bracelet began to shrill its useless warning. Its owner was already dead.

BEFORE:

Two men sitting in a run down apartment. The one: lightly built, athletic and good looking, apart from a scar that marred his left cheek, sat in a overstuffed chair, legs lolling over the arm, hands behind his head. A faded T-shirt with a rock bands logo on it and a tatty pair of jeans completed the picture. If you saw him on the street you wouldn’t look twice. The other was instantly recognizable, well over six foot in height, and heavily built, he wore jeans, a plain shirt and a leather jacket. He sat on the edge of a sofa that was beginning to show its age.

The taller man stared straight at his companion.
"Danny, Let me get this straight: Your gonna pay me to just act as a spotter for you? Whilst you snipe at some poor geek down in the street???"

Danny nodded. "Yeah. 10k for a couple of minutes work. You help me locate the target and keep an eye out for trouble. Not that I think there will be any."

No answer.

Danny sighed, swung his legs round and leaned forward. "Jai, as long as I've known you, you've never had a problem with killing for money. I'm offering you your going rate for a kill, and all you have to do is watch my back whilst I cack some guy. That’s all. Can I count on you?"

Jai nodded.

Danny grinned and leaned back in his chair..

Danny kept very still. Perhaps if he was quiet enough, he wouldn’t get found. He could hear footsteps outside his hiding place. A voice cursing, drunken. The words slurred.

"Where the hell are you, boy?"

He hugged his sister, silently begging her not to make any noise. He wished he was anywhere, anywhere but here. Even dead. Anything would be better.

They both stared at the door with wide eyes. The footsteps were right outside.

As quietly as possible, they both edged to the back of the cupboard.

Danny relaxed a little as he heard the person outside go thumping up the stairs.

A phone ringing in the back of a shop. The phone sat on a workbench, next to a roll of tools and a grease covered rag.

"Coming! I’m coming! Don’t you dare hang up! I’m com - Hello?"

"Kurov. How’s things?"

"Fine, Danny, just fine. This business or pleasure?"

"Business. I need a sniper rifle"

"Anything in particular? Or just a rifle in general? Give me something to work with here, boy."

A long pause.

"Kurov, you know I hate being called that."

"Sorry, forgot. Anyway what do you need?"

"I'm downloading the design spec to your telecom system."

The weaponsmith looked round, examined the data that had begun scrolling up the screen. He whistled.

"Can you do it, Kurov?"

"Of course, but..."
"But?"

"Some of the things you've put here.... Only three rounds?"

"Its a throw away weapon. Only three are needed. I’m never using it again."

"What if you miss?"

"Kurov, I won't miss, you should know that."

The weaponsmith grinned. "'Course, Sorry. This is going to be quite a tricky one. It'll take time.."

"How long?"

"Two weeks"

"Too long. Kurov, this is more important than you will ever know. I need it in seven days. No longer."

"That’s going to bring the price up... Some of the components I need are going to be tricky to get that quickly."

"Can you do it in that time, without blowing your legal cover?"

"Yes, I suppose I can. But the price will be higher"

"I understand. I'll contact you in seven days time, with details for delivery."

"Business as normal, heh?"

"You got it, old friend."

"Can I just ask one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Who's the target?"

The line went dead.

Kurov frowned at the phone. Danny had never done that before.

Danny quietly opened the front door, and crept into the hall. He listened for a few seconds, and then gestured over his shoulder. His sister peeked round the door frame. Now, if only they could reach their rooms before He heard them.....

They were halfway up the stairs, when they heard the backdoor of the house crash open.

They broke and ran like all the demons of hell were after them.

Danny and Jai stood on the roof of their chosen building and looked around.

Wind blew their hair and tugged at their clothing.

Danny wandered across to the edge and lay down flat, looking out across Seattle.

Jai watched him for a few seconds, then called out. "Will this do? Will you be able to see from here?"

Danny was sighting across the city using a small telescope. The sight to a rifle, Jai realized.

He nodded. "Yeah, this'll do. I can see."

"Then lets get down, I'm freezing my ass off up here."

"Come outta there! Damn you, Boy!"

Baseball bat raised above his head, Danny stared at the door in fright and hoped the lock wouldn’t give out. It had survived yesterday, would it survive today?

The door handle rattled again, and then there was a loud crash as the person outside hurled their weight against the door.

He heard footsteps moving off down the corridor.
"Gotta come outta there sometime, Boy. Aint got no food in there, have you?"

He did nothing till the voice had faded away, and then very quietly, the twelve year old began to cry.

A phone ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hey Danny, your new toy is ready."

"Did you do everything I asked?"

"Of course. Completely silenced. High powered. The bullets are done too. This thing could push a round through a battletank, what the hell are you gonna shot with it? An armor plated elephant?"

Laughter.

"Elephants? If only. Perfect. Ahead of time too. Kurov, I owe you a favor sometime. I'll be round in one hour to collect."

"Sure thing. See you in an hour."

Danny and his sister, both 19 years old now. Stood in a airport terminal. They had finally escaped. Sarah looked at her brother.
"I cant believe we're finally out. Free."

"Me neither. But lets save the celebrations till we're on our planes."

"Are you sure we should split up? I mean w-"

"Yes. I know its hard, but he can only follow one of us that way. The other stays free."

"He will come after us, you realize that. Don’t you?"

"Yes. I just hope he never finds us."

The tanoy began blaring its announcement: Now boarding flight 5279

Sarah looked up at an overhead display board. "That’s my flight."

Sarah embraced her brother in a fierce hug. Whispered in his ear. "Thank you. I couldn’t have survived without you."

She picked up her bags and faced her brother again.

She grabbed his hand and forced something into it.

"Keep it, remember me."

"Always."

"Goodbye, bother"

And then she was gone.

Danny opened his hand. A bracelet. A simple metal band made of bronze.

Danny focused down the sight of the rifle.

Sweat dripped into his eyes, he blinked several times to clear it.

He momentarily released the rifle to slid a bronze bracelet off his wrist, in case it interfered with his aim.

He gripped the rifle again and focused the telescopic sight on his target. A middle aged man, balding, wearing an ill fitting suit, his back to them. His smartlink drew a cross over the mans back.

Jai was crouched next to him, watching the target through a set of binoculars.

"You see him?"

Danny nodded.

"Then geek him. Lets get this over with."

Danny didn’t answer. His concentration was total. He placed the crosshair so that the first bullet would pass through his targets heart.

"You made me what I am" he whispered. "Everything I became is because of you."

Danny drew in a breath, trying to calm himself.

"For that, I may never forgive you."

He squeezed the trigger, shifted his aim upward, and fired twice more. The custom built rifle barely kicking. No noise. He watched as the body began to fall.

"Goodbye, father."