Terminal Velocity - Day 3, part 2

11:30am, outside a Gratackan bodyshop. My trip through the streets had been peaceful, whoever had tried to kill me in the hotel room hadn’t paid for another hit. Id searched my memory, real and assisted, for likely candidates, but the list was too long and I soon gave up. Not to worry, I would find out sooner or later. I was also a little annoyed about the price they’d been paid, 10K! On this planet that was positively insulting.
The door chimed welcoming me as I walked into a vestibule. Inside I was confronted with a box and an ugly looking muzzle protruding from a wall level with my neck. Perhaps I should get it armoured, there’s not much your head can do without a body attached. I dropped my wrist knife and a few other weapons into the box. The muzzle withdrew and the inner door opened.
”Can I help you Sir?” a Gratackan sculpted employee asked me.I stared at the physical perfection for a second trying to figure out what sex it was, the name badge wasn’t any help ‘Samart’.
”I was in the other day, returning a spine. I said I wanted to be paid in cash”
”Oh yes, that’s right, I have the box right here” It bent down behind the counter and brought up a small package. My watch immediately began screaming at me, I stepped back as it warded.
”What the Bob! That’s a bomb!”
The assistant blanched and stuttered ‘Wha..what?” as it almost dropped it.
”Not to worry” I recovered my cool a little as it was obvious it wasn’t going to go off straight away, and pulled out a pack of film, wrapping it around the box.
“That should contain it, unless it’s big and fusion. And if it is you can say goodbye to the neighbourhood.”I placed it on the counter and said “My money please”
The employee, still visibly shaken, muttered “I’ll have to phone Mr Welks”
”Phone him then”
The assistant spent some time muttering behind a screen then came back out and said “Mr Welks will come round personally”.
We waited, I looked around the shop, leafing through brochures and looking at the merchandise, while it dusted – first the top of the counter, nice and slow in big circles, then down the sides and finally under it.
I brought up my hand, smashing with the base of my palm into its nose, killing it instantly.
Nobody dusts.
As the body slumped to the floor I went round the counter and reached under it. A small but efficient blaster. No doubt Welks would be able to come in armed, this would even it up a bit. Feeling a bit more prepared I waited.
It wasn’t long.
The outer door opened, registering on a screen behind the counter. A few seconds later the inner door opened and two men, big and mean looking, carrying something that looked bigger and meaner, entered. Behind them came Welks.
They put the vaguely familiar object on the floor and pointed its muzzle at the counter.
I dropped the blaster as I realised what it was.
A nuclear cannon.
Oh shit!
Welks spoke “Mr Tyrson, you have a minute to show yourself, then I fire”
That was nice of him, notice the then part. He began calling out every 10 seconds evidently hoping I would show myself and so spare some damage to his shop.
It seemed like a good idea to get a shot in and I was preparing to leap over the counter when I noticed the bomb besides me still in its cocoon. Quickly I unwrapped it and began wrapping the protective sheet about myself.
Welks called out “10 seconds”
”9” I was almost covered.
”8” There wasn’t enough for my toes.
”7,6,5,4,3,2” I breathed in and covered my mouth.
”1”
The counter disappeared, taking the back door with it (as well as my toes). Well there was an escape route. I sat there in light so intense it hurt even with the dampers full on, wondering how long it would last and if my body would suffocate first.

Then the heat from the blast detonated the bomb and the roof caved in.