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When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 5
Evading wave after wave of enemies as they scour the building, intermittent blaster fire going off all across the building. Making it sound like a war zone. Sticking to the shadows and using invisibility when needed.
Like now, as two groups near me both on different ends of the hall. Backing into one of the many open doorways but for a second it looked like the tallest one leading one of the group's gazes snapped in my direction.
It was very minor with no real movement to it. Something must have moved. Maybe the lighting got their attention?
Letting that go and assuming it’s just more paranoia and my nerves getting to me at having to be forced to run around like a rat in my own home. Loosening my balled fists, letting the anger go.
Looking at the few members I can see, that they look just like all the other groups in how inconsistent their outfits are.
Armored up without a single person not having at least one piece of armor on them. It’s why I have so far used explosives and blasters. The gangs I took down had some consistency between each member that made them stick out.
These people have some in different groups like that. Some of which I recognize since I was going to hunt them down eventually. But the fact they are all working together doesn’t paint a pretty picture.
Some look more professional while others look just like all the other gangs I had killed. The question is why are they here? The answer that comes to mind I don’t like it. Me.
More importantly, once I get to that room where do I go?
Despite what Skyrim would show you in the game with the detect life spell inherent to vampires, it has some range to it in real life. From what I am seeing besides the over one hundred people ransacking this place, is that outside there are even more of them.
Easily another two hundred outside and it’s growing in numbers. So even with my project, I doubt I can fight all of them off, especially if the ordinance they have out there is better than what they have in here.
For fucks sake they had a rocket launcher. One that I only survived because I leaped just before it blew up the front of my home.
And the people I see looking around have had some serious firepower they should not have normally had. Especially when they are nothing more than common gang members.
With all of that in mind, I am going to have to do something that brings me no small amount of discomfort, even though it was the plan once my alarm system went off. I am going to have to make a tactical retreat.
I’m not running. I just… need to reposition and get some better weapons and equipment. And find who set this all up and castrate them.
Despite needing to run, I so badly want to massacre these bastards for the nerve and audacity to just come here and pull a stunt like this.
I never liked running, it makes me look weak and like I’m not even a man. I guess it’s one of the biggest lessons he taught me when he took me under his wing.
Parts of my character's memories get dredged up at that memory of mine. Numerous times running from things that would have killed them had they stood their ground, and I am being stupid for not wanting to.
… breathe out a silent sigh as I grudgingly acknowledge that in the end, they are right. However, it doesn’t make swallowing that bitter pill any easier.
Putting those thoughts aside, the groups near each other as their cumulative flashlights all but illuminate the entirety of this section of the hall.
They are now right in front of the apartment I backed into, the resident's dead vacant eyes staring up at me as his cold body keeps me company.
I see from the doorway the tall-looking lizard guy that I thought had seen me. He has orange-scaled skin with darker red patterns along his face, a gray vest with a black undershirt with brown shorts. No shoes as I see his clawed feet wiggling free.
Sporting a dangerous-looking blaster rifle that looks just shy of a blaster cannon held in his hands. The other person in front of the opposing group is a female alien with horns on her head similar to Darth Maul. But she has tan skin instead of his black and red with twin blaster pistols on her hips.
She has a simple brown tank top with matching pants and boots. And of course, armored plates covering parts of her body.
“Have you found any ssssign of that bounty hunter yet?” The lizard hisses out staring down the woman.
“None. Besides Alano and his team encountered him and lost three of their own along with several injured. Whoever had that room had turrets built into the ceiling. Besides the few squads that haven’t reported after those explosions, we haven’t seen or heard anything. Also been in constant contact with all the others on the comms and nothing. They did find the remains of the squads by the way.” Anger can be heard as clearly as day in her voice.
Must have been some of her own that I killed. Good.
The lizard only smiles at this, showing his sharp teeth. “Good. The Scorekeeper will be happy if I manage to bag thissss one.” My knuckles tighten slightly around my blaster at that proclamation.
Don’t you dare ever take me lightly. I’m not the only one getting angry if the glare this lady is giving him is anything to go off of.
Rubbing my thumb over a grenade and feeling the temptation to just drop it on them and mop up the survivors was high.
But I ultimately don’t since I only have so many and I used several already, killing off the few squads I deemed too dangerous to allow to live with the heat they were packing.
This group may be as dangerous as the ones with the better firepower, but the equipment they have on them is just some blasters and grenades. No heavy ordinance in a narrow hall to worry about, aside from the grenades.
Even with Atlas, I don’t like testing it against a future space rocket. Blasters and even heavy blasters to some extent sure. After all, I did test a little bit. Until I got bored.
“So how much of a bonus can we expect when we get the guy who has been hounding us? And for the drugs he stole?” The horned lady asks as the lizard smiles and laughs. He even ignored the glare she gave him when he disregarded the deaths of those squads.
“You do realize part of the payment of your job is the weapons you and the other gangs were given? Leave the hunting to those who know what they are doing. After all, that was why I was hired personally.”
She stares back looking like she finally registered that he had insulted her. “Just because you are a bounty hunter doesn’t mean you are better equipped for stuff like this.” She says, sweeping a hand out and gesturing to the hallway.
“You should be grateful for not just my gang being here, but all the others as well. Especially when we are the ones putting our necks on the line and paying for it with our lives. That and the fact none of us were shooting each other with our new equipment was the first chance we got. Top all of that, we are the ones doing the heavy lifting considering you have ju-”
A scaled hand grabs her by the throat, cutting off her tirade, and effortlessly lifting her into the air. Blasters are raised and unholstered. I can’t tell but I assume whoever is with the lizard has their weapons aimed right back.
The horned woman's hands go for her blasters before scales squeeze tighter turning and slamming her into a wall.
As she is stunned for a moment, he reaches with his other arm and takes her pistols, throwing them over to his side of the hall. Once she regains some of her senses, her hands start trying to pry his hand off of her throat.
“You are smarter than most of your pack members.” At this the others behind her get further riled up at him, demanding that he let go of her. But they back off as the lizard just smiles at them, staring all of them down with no fear of the weapons aimed at him.
“Yes, you are right that you and your gangs are doing some of the work. However, you are wrong on several things. Such as me not being better equipped. I have led and been on many hunts of varying kinds. And this whole operation which until my quarry became aware we were coming was going smoothly. You had no casualties even with sssome of the residents fighting back until that happened.”
She is gasping for air as her face starts to turn colors. Still trying to remove his hand from her throat but it’s all in vain.
“Whoever commissioned this job also saw fit to give you all your nice new toys, and got all of you together to deal with a threat that you had no means before to deal with yourselves. Despite these gifts, you still lacked the ability to end them.” He growls out with a hiss as I see anger flash in his eyes, the pupils turning to slits.
“I am here to make up for all of your failures, and to ensure that you at the very least live long enough for whatever purpose they have for you all.”
As she is about to pass out from lack of oxygen, he lets her go and she falls to her side coughing and holding her throat. She looks up at the man with her confidence all gone and in its place is fear.
The same fear I saw in the eyes of the last gang I destroyed. “Now get back to work and find that bounty hunter.” He says to her, staring down at her as her comrades grab her, helping her up as they quickly leave the hall.
“Never bite the hand that pays you. Especially when it’s weapons and equipment that even a decent Republic defense force would be hard-pressed to fight against.” He says, shaking his head as they run off. “Stupid gang members. With that waste of time out of the way the hunt continues.” He says to his group.
I stood around the corner contemplating what the guy said. So whoever is after the drugs also gave these gangs good weapons and equipment. They also brought all these gangs together.
So why did that other gang have it behind that secured door? Were they a proxy or something?
Not liking the fact that I just got pulled into a conspiracy involving who knows what, I am drawn out of my thoughts by not hearing any footsteps leading away. An electronic whirring can be heard as an ominous beeping follows it, coming closer to me.
I watch in slow motion, a palm-sized silver round object with a red light on it enters my sight. Jumping across the entirety of the room into the bathroom. My back slams against the wall, cracking and shattering a mirror with me letting out a grunt.
Ignoring the pain that blossomed in my back, I watched an explosion form from whatever was thrown in there.
Surprisingly no shrapnel or anything from it, but a bright wall of fire is unleashed. Annihilating anything and everything it comes into contact with.
I watch in horror as the trash and debris alongside the former owner's body gets engulfed by the growing sphere of destruction. It gets closer and closer to the bathroom, my eyes widening in horror. I press up against the wall to escape my coming death with a primal urge to flee.
In the blink of an eye, it retracts and fades away just as quickly as it had been born. What’s left as proof of its existence is the destruction of the room with warm glowing bits of metal.
In a wide several-meter radius everything is just… gone. Just a gaping hole in the floor and ceiling. What the hell was that?! Loud breathing intermixed with hissing can be heard. I ready my blaster and grenade in response.
“Don’t tell me you died from that young hunter? And I had such high hopes you would have quite the fight in you. I have heard much about you in your short time hunting.” He says as I hear him just down the entrance hall.
A scowl adorns my face at being hunted like this. I can’t fight him here. That much I will admit. As much as it pains me, if he has more of whatever that was that did this to the room then I need to get out of here.
Looking down the massive hole in the floor that shows a room below it made from whatever he used as sparks leap out of random wires at the edges of the hole as the glow of the heated metal is slowly fading.
Not waiting a second longer, I rush for the hole as I toss a grenade near the corner leading to the entrance. It bounces off the wall and into the doorway.
I hear heavy steps at the sound of the grenade hitting the wall before the resulting explosion. I am already down the hole with my invisibility lost with the explosions.
Landing gracefully with no injury or pain aside from the warm blood coming down my back and head. The instant my legs hit the floor I booked it out of the trashed apartment when all the lights across the building disappeared. Leaving the room and running out into the hall, seeing several people just down the hall heading in my direction.
Time slows to a crawl, feeling my body burn while looking at all their movements slow to a crawl. Pulling out my DL-44 like I am moving normally, but in reality, I am putting a lot of effort into just moving this fast.
Sending out a volley of shots, each finding its mark in one of their heads. Their bodies remain standing despite the blaster bolts hitting them, before time resumes and all seven of them fall to the floor in a jumbled heap. Steam rises from their flash-fried heads.
Hearing a heavy thud and crunch as something lands behind me in the apartment I just came from. Pulling my attention away from my handy work, I look at the door controls.
Tossing another grenade into the room before shutting the door and blasting the panel. I hear a boom go off that leaves the door dented.
Hopefully, that killed the hunt-happy lizard that needs to learn his place. Never disrespect those far better than you.
Running down the hall towards the bodies, I turn around the corner casting a quick healing spell to heal my wounds and get some stamina back.
It doesn’t give a lot of stamina since it takes a lot more magicka to replenish it, but it’s better than nothing.
I hear heavy steps but also numerous others far behind me. Moving through the maze of halls, I hear the rest of the building's assailants running around in a hurry. Must have heard the blaster fire and explosions.
Taking note that any distant blaster fire is now silent. They must have gotten all the other residents by now. Doesn’t matter now, because after a few more halls I will be at the door to my salvation.
Bobbing and weaving through the corridors, I make my way through the halls as if I am nothing more than a blur. Next thing I know I’m right at the door at the end of the one-way hall, hearing numerous people running, converging around this floor. And from the sounds of all the steps, I think most if not almost all of them are on this floor.
Having to fight a little to get it to open, since these idiots wanted to get in with the door sporting several scorch marks and the door panel having been removed.
They tried and failed to splice their way in. Nothing quite like using proper security measures to make life difficult for would-be thieves.
After several agonizing seconds, it opens for me. Not a second too late, several blasters open fire behind me. The door shuts and seals with the locking mechanism clicking into place. Not waiting, I go into the main room maneuvering myself around it despite it being pitch black.
Ignoring all the tools lying around on the floor or the counters and shelves focused solely on Atlas. Rounding the corner to the kitchen area, I see Project Atlas standing at attention.
At a nice seven feet tall in all its ramshackle glory. A hulking behemoth of varying metals of the best quality I could forge around this place with what little I could get in so little time, considering what I had to work with around here. It almost looks like Tony Stark’s first suit he made in the cave but more advanced.
Dirty smudged armor surrounded the frame of it. It's mostly smooth with the head being a simple round gray helmet with a T-shaped visor.
A jury-rigged missile launcher rests on the left shoulder alongside a built-in flamethrower on the right arm with minimal fuel.
Then the big one. A massive blaster cannon I had managed to take from one of the gangs I butchered that had it for dealing with Speeders or other vehicles.
So I figured it would be nice to combo with the suit. That and I just wanted a big cannon. It’s cool.
I only messed around with making the power armor figuring it would be cool to try and make it. That and the nostalgia part of me has for it with memories not my own. And if I get in over my head it may prove handy. Which is paying off.
At that thought my mind goes to another option. My true form. I could transform here. I could slaughter all in my way and feed. Becoming stronger and at that mere idea I feel my blood and spirit sing.
But other thoughts form arguing against it further worsening the storm in my head. It will take several minutes to do so considering the last time I tried it in my apartment it took way too long.
Shouldn’t have taken that long and should have been near instant like it was in the game. But it wasn’t.
But just like Frieza when I finally did transform, I got a massive power boost. From what I could tell in that form, I knew I was vastly more powerful even if I had no way to test it.
Doing so now when I may not have minutes, alongside numerous other reasons driving home to me that now is a bad idea.
Becoming bigger without this power armor to shield me in narrow hallways is just asking for me to get shot. Even with vastly increased speed won’t mean anything if I don’t have the room to use it in a one-way hallway.
And the big reason. I have no real experience using it. And using it now is asking for something bad to happen.
I rather keep it as an ace up my sleeve when I need it while making sure it’s not linked back to me. If word gets out from any survivors about a winged demon that shoots lightning and fire I will get the attention of the Jedi.
I don’t need Jedi hunting for me thinking I am a Sith. I have enough to deal with as is.
As these thoughts swirl about in my head in a cacophony of arguments I don’t remain idle as I go around the back of the suit seeing the charging cord plugged into the wall as I check on its power.
Didn’t exactly have nuclear material lying around nor did I have the time to find the stuff necessary to make a fusion core. Let alone the time to find or make the tools necessary to make it. So I made do with alternative power sources.
Picking up what will hopefully be my saving grace, activating the datapad, and contacting Jeeves and the Risen now that I have a little time to go into detail about what to expect. With that, they will have a better idea of what they are getting into.
Brings a smile to my face when picturing my Risen killing all of these people. Who am I kidding, they are nothing more than a distraction and they would be lucky to slaughter some of them in a surprise attack. A small voice in the back of my mind says to not underestimate them. They have potential.
Scoffing at that idea, I send a quick message while I am at it explaining to Jeeves and the rest of the droids so they can further elaborate to the Risen on the situation.
Giving them an estimate of how many are here and what equipment they are using. Telling them to also expect bigger equipment and vehicles on the outside just in case.
With that part done and telling Jeeves where to meet me, I turn on the diagnostics and see what I have to work with as a frown begins to form on my face.
The suit doesn’t have anywhere near the power it needs to help me clear out all of these people. The temptation to just try and transform surfaces again, but I let it go with the same arguments being rehashed.
I had known this but was hoping I would have more than a measly 10% to work with. Even if I had used the makeshift power generator it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.
It would have fried it for good measure since the generator wasn’t meant to last for prolonged uses.
This may happen soon since it has been some time since the power was cut. Considering how power-hungry this thing is, the generator wouldn’t have lasted long if I had tried to use it.
I stop and look at the suit's helmet for a long while still trying to decide as I peer into its black visor.
After several agonizing moments of indecision, I came to a decision. Redoubling my efforts in preparing the suit. One day. One day I will let the beast out of its cage.
I have just enough to get me through the forces in this hallway and make my exit from this building. So long as I don’t take any rockets to the face.
As nice as it was to make this thing, I am not trusting this metal to take one of those launchers head-on with me in it. My mind is thinking back to that grenade that almost did me in. But this thing will be handy all the same.
I’m broken from my musing as a dull boom goes off on the other side of the entrance to this apartment. The door and wall stood strong from the blast as I made sure to reinforce this apartment.
If I am going to use this room equally if not more than the others, then why not? If I ever fell asleep or was so hyper-focused on my project that someone could sneak up on me, then I might as well reinforce the door and walls.
Going through a few more checks to make sure everything checks out on the armor before I pause. Looking back around the corner at the door I hear a faint hissing.
Parts of the metal turn orange and red as my eyes widen. You have got to be kidding me… alright it’s time to go.
After unplugging the power cord I pop open the latches to open the suit up for me. Peering inside, it almost looks like a coffin or iron maiden. The old me would have been disturbed by that comparison. It brings me comfort now, surprisingly.
Stepping in as it seals back up as I shift and move a little, watching the HUD come up on the visor giving me diagnostics and readings.
Especially the big indicator of low power on the corner of my screen flashing. Looking over, I can see they are making quick time on that door. They are nearly finished with whatever they are using to cut through it.
The metal like the kind outfitting my power armor wasn’t the greatest, but it wasn’t exactly weak either. Well, not like it matters considering they are cutting through it all the same.
Not wasting a moment, moving the suit as I walk with its bulky steps sounding like an elephant wearing jack boots. Having had enough of the loud steps, a quick muffle gets cast. Helping settle my nerves at least.
Walking over with silent steps that shouldn’t be possible, I pick up the blaster cannon I had taken from one of the first gangs I wiped out off the table.
Holding it like a makeshift rifle in the suit's hands, easily handling the weight of it. I now feel
the anticipation of what is to come runs through my veins with my heart beating in anticipation.
Not long after that I hear a loud thud. They are finally through the door. Several moving flashlights sweep across the front entrance.
However, what gets my attention is what looks like some form of advanced energy riot shield shaped like a diamond that leads the way into the room.
Illuminating the main room of the apartment with their flashlights, I quickly turn invisible with a flex of my mind. A few seconds before they feel it’s safe to move into the main room after shining their lights across it, scurrying about like the rats I know they are.
They check their corners like the restroom with the sonic shower that all of these apartments have. Eventually, a few of them found their way to me.
Flashlights illuminate the room sweeping back and forth. Not seeing the hulking killing machine in the same room with them, if their lack of fear was any indication.
They all have come into the room now, lowering their weapons and shields as one of them who looks like a goat pulls out a comlink.
“It’s clearrrr?” He bleats out like a goat.
The comlink crackles to life, with the voice of my good buddy the lizard on the other end. I need to pay him back for that oh-so-generous housewarming gift he gave me.
“It can’t be. This is the only room we haven't managed to get into. He was lasssst on this floor. Remember he has some form of sssstealth technology you idiot!”
Taking that as my cue, I raise my right arm and with a twitch of my hand activate the flamethrower. A whooshing sound mixed with a hiss makes their heads snap to me with wide eyes. I bathe the room and its new occupants in a brief sea of flame.
The screams are like music to my ears as they run and roll on the ground with their bodies illuminating the room with a hellish visage. Made more ominous with my armor standing in the flickering shadows.
Sporting a bloodthirsty grin that would give them nightmares if they could see it, I walked past them as a few others had decided to walk through the hole in my door. Their reaction was understandable.
They immediately started to panic. Shooting at me with little to no effect, shrugging off the few shots that land, and raising my cannon to mow them down.
Booms are followed by screams being cut short as they are blown to pieces. Even the few that had shields raised did nothing to save them.
One fell onto his back as he screamed for his life. Raising a foot, it gets brought down onto his upper torso with a wet crunch replacing his screams.
Another is screaming at me as he unloads his blaster with his back pressed against the wall next to the bathroom. Awww that’s cute, I think as a stray bolt hits my helmeted head doing absolutely nothing.
Not wanting to waste a blaster bolt on him I raise my fist and swing for his head. The instant my fist meets his head, I savor the look on his face in his last moments.
Bloodshot eyes with a gaping mouth wide open. He looks like death himself paid him a visit.
Brought to an end with a wet squelch alongside the groans of metal and crunching of concrete pulling my fist back.
Seeing the flattened remains of his head embedded in its new home in the wall puts a big grin on my face. I need to make a better suit after this.
Ignoring his headless body sliding to the floor in a pool of blood, instead focusing on the last idiot that made a mess of my workshop. An idiot tossed his blaster at me bouncing off my chest as he ran for the hole in the door in a hurry. Now that was just rude.
“Oh no, we can’t have that now.” My voice booms out of the suit's speakers as they distort it. He looks back at me with a scream leaving his mouth before it is cut off by my cannon firing a shot into his back.
All of his upper body turned into bloody steaming chunks as my love for this blaster has grown leaps and bounds.
Stepping into the light of the doorway, seeing at least a hundred people standing and kneeling in it with fear clear as day on their faces. All with weapons raised and ready to shoot me with numerous shields placed in front, almost reminiscent of a shield wall.
Someone yells out “Open fire!!!”
Before they can get a chance to, time slows to a crawl with me raising my right arm. Instead of fire, a blue ball of swirling barely contained crackling electricity forms in the palm of the suit's hand.
Illuminating my form in the darkness of the hall before it is released into a grunt with a rocket launcher aimed at me over one of the shields.
As soon as it hits, it’s on the move again zipping about the cramped hallway hitting and killing all in it. They don’t even get a chance to scream. Some even lower their weapons and try to run, but are killed before they could even make a single step.
Lowering my hand back down looking at the destruction and carnage. Most of them look like Swiss cheese with how many smoldering holes are across their bodies.
Smoke wafts off of them with black and red glowing spots in the hallway. The floor is littered with bodies in it. Enough that the floor can no longer be seen under all of it.
Walking forward, ignoring the sweat that formed on me from that bullet time, uncaring if I step on the dead bodies wading through them and moving to my exit.
You come into my home, blowing things up and making a mess in it, and then you don’t get the luxury of me not desecrating your dead body.
“Retre-” silenced before he could even finish that word. Steam wafts up from where his head once was with an echoing boom. Turning a corner, seeing a horde of them running away from me.
And here I thought my smile couldn’t get any bigger. This is almost therapeutic. I kind of wish I had transformed now. A smug feeling forms in my head but it goes ignored by me.
Unloading into the horde with malicious glee. Most are now just trying to run for their lives, bumping into and running each other over as they get massacred. Only a handful even tried to shoot back.
Most of those are the ones who have rockets. Always making sure to prioritize them so they never get a chance to fire. I even chuckled a few times when some of them got stuck fighting each other to get into any of the apartment's doorways before with a few pulls from a trigger they fell silent.
A random human raises a rocket launcher before he gets blasted along with those around him into steaming meaty chunks. Walking further into the hall, once more see the familiar sights of the life forces of the living before turning left and firing another chain lightning.
I’m not concerned with them thinking I am using the force. If anyone asks, I can just say it was a weapon built into the suit. That or they will just come to that conclusion themselves. And by this point, I don’t care.
I only care about killing as many of them as possible before leaving. Preferably in brutal and horrific ways. After all, it's only fair.
I am going to send a message with these people’s corpses as my envelope and their blood as the ink to whoever sent them. It’s a compromise on my part. Considering I am being forced to run from my own home no less.
Not even bothering to see the aftermath of what was several dozen people dying near instantly, quickly turning the other way, igniting the hall, and carrying on ignoring the screams of the dying. The inferno turned the hall into something out of a nightmare straight from hell.
Two halls down seeing my exit and running for it. Gunning down any poor souls unfortunate enough to not run fast enough massacring them all. And in this trail of death and destruction, I haven’t seen the lizard even once.
Just wait. I’ll pay you back in due time. A group of stragglers can be seen that don’t seem as panicked as the others. Slowly walking down the corridor, if the lights through the walls are any indication. If anyone isn’t panicking and running around, it has to be the lizard and his squad.
Not wanting to give up an opportunity to get some payback, a casual walk turns into an earth-shattering run yet horrifyingly silent before it's broken by the oncoming wall. Breaking through the wall and crushing the one watching the group's back under it. They scream briefly before being silenced.
“Oh yeaaahhh!” Yelling out as they all turn around and start shooting.
To my annoyance upon looking at them, it’s the horned ladies’ group… fucking damnit. Casually raising my cannon and gunning down most of them. Their glorious leader turns and runs as what’s left of them stand and fight.
Gunned down in mere moments, with a shake of my head at the disappointment of not getting my revenge now and simply turning around to leave since chasing her isn’t worth it. Turning the other way a powerful blast splashes across my back, making my step skid forward digging into the concrete floor as it cracks and splinters.
Turning around as another bolt is flying at me and casually side stepping it as it zooms past. Ignoring the explosion of it hitting the wall behind me.
“Just die you kriffing bastard!” She yells out as she moves back behind the wall. Before she does anything further with the barest of effort aiming and a pull of the trigger sees the corner wall being blasted into rocky chunks with a few well placed shots.
Groaning can be heard as my giant form walks over seeing her prone on the floor. She turns her head with fear in her eyes. Raising one arm with a pistol in hand aimed at me.
My metal clad hand grabs the gun and her hand and squeezes making her scream out lifting her up with blood running down her arm.
“Where is the lizard at?” A surprisingly calm voice with no emotion to betray my current state of mind comes out of the speakers.
She slowly calms down. Or about as much as anyone could when their hand has been crushed and fused with a blaster pistol while being interrogated by a metal giant. Grimacing, “I-I don’t know.” She says breathlessly as her body writhes in pain.
Before I can say anything, her eyes widen as she focuses on me with surprising clarity when a now familiar mechanical hum is heard in the silence of the hall. “You killed my men. I may die but I’m-”
Taking a step and turning to the other hall silencing her mid speech. Her body follows the path of my arm before pulling back and throwing her down the hall at some lights coming along the t section.
She meets the wall at the far end with a crunch and wet splat. Her broken body peels off the wall slowly before it hits the floor like a macabre Looney Tunes gag.
The lights just around each corner ground to a halt, before a familiar dome of fire and heat forms where her body was. It consumes the floor, ceiling, and all the unfortunate souls caught in the blast.
Yeah, if you're going to kill me don’t monologue it and make it obvious what you are trying to do. I can’t believe that I agree with the lizard. These people were idiots.
With that annoyance taken care of and me having scratched off of my bucket list pulling a kool aid man through a wall and continuing on my slaughter-filled walk for my exit point.
Nearing a more dilapidated section of the complex after most of the attackers had now fled from this floor or were hiding.
That was needed. Feeling my blood singing at that wonderful symphony that is music to my ears. Though it is soured at not finding the lizard.
The few still alive are too terrified and disorganized to put up any kind of resistance. Most survivors have fled by this point. Looking around this section it makes the rest of it look like a luxury resort.
Breaking through the doorway to a trash ridden apartment ignoring the bodies sprawled out in it, just like all the other former occupants in the building that have gone largely ignored by me. Not that it doesn’t piss me off that they killed all of them but there are bigger things that require my attention.
Standing in the entrance before firing on the far wall. One of the missiles flies forward, exploding and bathing the room in a sea of flames. Three left.
Despite stepping behind the wall for cover, I still flinch with an instinctive fear of the fire. It occasionally flickers out of the doorway licking at my suit greedily.
Not helped by the near death experience I had in that room. Once the debris and smoke from the blast had cleared, a hole had been formed leading out into an alley.
Running through the newly made hole, landing with a muted thud as the concrete beneath me cracks due to falling two stories down. Running down the alley with silent steps, my hud pops up with a message.
Jeeves is almost here with the cavalry. Good. Not wanting to stay here any longer pushing the suit harder before skidding to a stop. Turning around and aiming with my cannon, hearing the familiar humming of a repulsor lift.
All shots hit their mark on a speeder bike in the distance that was heading towards me. It nose-dives before blowing up. Crashing into the side of the complex carving out part of the wall before landing on the ground in a heap of burning metal.
More hums fill the air after that to my dread. Several more speeders moved in on my position. Firing while steadily moving back, while they bob and weave as best they can while shooting back, as the blasts hit the walls and ground around me.
Splintering and blowing chunks out of the concrete, my suit gets peppered with the debris pinging off of it. Several still get hit and become smoldering wrecks in the alley with my return fire joining the first one.
The others continue firing with their shots mostly missing besides a few that manage to hit me as they get closer. Parts of the metal by this point begin to warp and turn red but thankfully the suit is still insulated and intact enough to protect me from it.
Digging my feet in while getting knocked back a step or two from the force of blasters impacts, but the suit holds up enough for me to shoot a few more down. The few remaining zoom past me going up and over the buildings and out of my sight.
Looking at my hud and seeing the chest and left arm are not doing so hot. Can probably take another blast each, but after that they are done.
The distant humming of their speeders can still be heard putting me on edge. Turning around and running not wanting to give them another chance at a strafing run. Despite the severity of the situation I can’t help but think how it's so surreal to not hear any steps from this thing when it’s so big and heavy.
Brought out of my thoughts when something from above can be heard. Looking up and seeing many figures holding blasters with others manning mounted cannons on the roofs surrounding me. With no hesitation my blaster is raised and prioritizes the cannons.
Managing to get a few shots off with me slowing down time again. My body protests under the burning sensation and being drenched in sweat from the exertion that it’s being put through. Managing to destroy some of the cannons and the people manning them, but there are just too many.
The survivors returned fire with the bolts raining down from above. Making matters worse there is nothing to use for cover besides the odd piece of trash in this alley.
Numerous smaller bolts hit my suit but they are ignored while putting most of my focus on avoiding any of the big blasts coming from the cannons.
Despite how big and cumbersome this suit is, and it may not be anywhere near as agile as myself when on foot, it's still by no means slow.
Not like that did me any good with the numerous smaller shots bathing my suit an unhealthy red. Numerous warnings pop up on the suit's integrity.
Even if they are small arms blasters, enough of them together hitting the same spots over and over will damage and breach my armor.
Despite firing back and taking out many of them with my own cannon it wasn’t enough. Releasing my bullet time, heaving out a breath I didn’t know I had been holding in. My breathing is heavy and labored. Feeling a burn inside of me, everywhere.
Having had enough of this, activating the launcher on my shoulder with it whirring to life. Taking aim for one of the roofs with a crosshair on my hud blinking over the target before firing.
At the oncoming missile they stop shooting and try to scatter but to no avail. The roof is nothing but smoke and fire as debris and smoke is being sent across the alley.
Not taking any chances and seeing the growing smokescreen, the last two missiles are fired into both sides of the alley before running through it with the lull in blaster fire.
Taking notice that my movements are slowing down and it is becoming a hassle to just move the suit's fingers. Looking at the power gauge and seeing it's almost completely out of power. You served me well. Coming to a stop, popping open the suit and feeling the warm air of Nar Shaddaa greet and kiss my sweat soaked skin.
With the threat still hovering over my head no time was wasted before running down the alley despite my body's protests. The suit closes back up, standing in the raining debris and smoke.
Turning my head to see my work get destroyed with the survivors after a moment has passed, get back up along the roofs. Their blaster fire hits it from all sides before it falls to the ground in shambles. Still somewhat intact just melted from all the blasters shooting it.
Turning back around and redoubling my effort in running down the alley as slow as I was in my old body if not slower. Nearing the end of it some relief flooded me at it being almost over. My breathing is heavy and labored, being drenched in sweat from overusing my bullet time ability.
Slowing down to a stop and turning invisible, taking a quick glance around the corner. What I see makes my eyes widen. Numerous speeder bikes and much larger vehicles are around this area in massive numbers.
Some of the vehicles look like cargo transports but as the loading bay doors open on them the sight of numerous people leaving them makes my blood run cold. All armed to the teeth and looking similar to the people that were in the apartment complex.
Once done unloading the troops some of the ships stick around, facing the building I was once inside with their cannons being aimed at it. The other ships just flew off.
Hearing so much bustling activity despite most of the everyday denizens of this area being nowhere to be seen. These people have all but taken over the area.
Numerous weapons all aimed at the alley with more dotting the tops of the surrounding buildings. Others are just standing off in their own groups looking incredibly tense. What the hell… all of this just for me?
I get that I am good at what I do, but this is just ridiculous. Ignoring the fact I just killed well over a hundred people in the building a moment ago, this is just excessive.
Then the signal happens. Blaster fire. Lots of it with explosions going off near by. Grabbing the attention of all those surrounding the apartment complex, their weapons are raised in the opposite direction from me.
A glow careens across the sky into the side of a transport just coming in, smacking into its thrusters before detonating. Smoking and trailing fire with its thrusters failing, it spirals out of control crashing into the apartment complex.
A storm of dust and smoke is spewed out as everything is engulfed in it. Blaster fire is now heard all across the area with the red streaks flying all around, the area becoming a pit of mass chaos.
Taking full advantage of the resulting chaos with my attackers now leaving their posts to go engage whoever is attacking them, or just running around in a panic. Not wasting this chance and sprinting further down the street sticking close to the buildings witnessing who is attacking them. Several of my minions are fighting these guys and I feel proud of them.
Despite how much dust and smoke is in the air making visibility difficult I can still see albeit with some difficulty what is happening around me.
Covered up in dull clothing with nothing of their bodies visible under their black and gray garb. They run forward shooting at their enemies completely fearless, taking numerous shots to their bodies but ignore it seemingly unbothered as they keep fighting weaving in and out of the alleys.
Looking over at the other side of the street seeing one of them jumping off the top of a building holding two grenades in both hands where she lands on an entrenched group that was mowing down my minions. A bright explosion takes form with fire spewing forth from the alley, adding further smoke into the air.
Despite getting gunned down, it takes far more blaster shots than what would be considered normal to kill them. It would seem the attackers have noticed this by their steady retreat of my forces with horrified looks on their faces.
Not understanding why they just won’t die as they look all around themselves in hopes of spotting the next attack. My boys and girls took several of these people with them before dying making me so proud.
Seeing a group panicking as they keep shooting while getting swarmed by my forces. Some shoot back making them take cover, while others charge with knives and machetes getting in close and leaping over their cover.
Cutting and stabbing them to bloody pieces with their screams filling the air. Not a second later, they are up and covered in blood hunting for more, sporting new blasters in their free hand.
Running along panting while drenched in sweat, I even see a different lizard, but of the same species as the one in the apartment fighting off several of them. It shoots three of them, downing them each with one shot with their chests smoking and steam rising before one fearlessly charges him, grabbing onto his rifle.
The lizard with a growl tries to wrench the gun out of their hands, twirling around with them not letting go, before getting thrown aside due to the momentum. Rolling across the ground before shooting them once, but not hitting center mass and just hitting their leg.
Despite their leg being blown apart at the knee, they still try to get to them crawling across the ground before being shot several more times until they lay still and unmoving.
More run up around the corner shooting at the lizard as he shoots back a snarl on his face before he is overwhelmed, crying out before being overwhelmed with blaster fire as he falls to the ground motionless.
Not hesitating in the slightest, they move on to continue fighting with one running up, prying the rifle from the lizard's hands before running off.
Alright. Well in the future I need to get more of these guys. Especially if they can be trained to be better than this. They would be unstoppable.
Moving further down, avoiding intermittent blaster shots and grenades of various kinds with it looking like an all out war is happening on this part of the moon.
I even see several of the modified droids I made along with Jeeves brothers jumping into the fray with parts of the sky not blocked out by the dust and smoke. Rockets and blasters equipped to their speeder bodies or the ones on the ground slaughtering all in their path.
Dogfights in the skies above as speeders and ships maneuver about, duking it out with my own little army. Both my forces and whoever these people are get blown out of the sky or gunned down in the streets, crashing and adding more to the smokescreen enveloping the battlefield.
Several Frankenstein droids move around on the ground, helping the Risen acting as either a vanguard or sticking back picking off anyone they can with brutal efficiency.
Now I know I need to change their name. After seeing all of this and what they have done, something like the ‘Risen’ just doesn’t have the right oomph it needs for these guys.
Finally dragging my gaze away from watching the aerial battle above a blaster is heard as a Risens body falls out of an alley onto the ground. Another is sent flying out rolling along the ground before getting back up. A blaster bolt hits them in the head as they charge forward, sending them falling to the ground for good.
Looking over and seeing two energy shields like the ones from the apartment. But that’s not what has my utmost attention. I stare wide eyed. The lizard is in the center of the group, as he and his men look around before his gaze snaps to me.
Oh hell no. Not giving him the chance, drawing and shooting my DL-44, while he is taking aim with his own rifle.
The bolt flies out as his men look over in surprise having not noticed me. It hits the lizard in his left shoulder. No. That was meant for his head. Gritting my teeth at the one time I needed to hit my target and I missed.
My chance at killing him escaped my grasp. Turning around and running as fast as I can while ignoring the burning protests of my body. A blood curdling screech can be heard behind me with numerous blasters being fired.
Several of the shots come to close for comfort with parts of the walls or trash raining down on me. Trying and failing to hit me through the smokescreen doesn’t deter them as they keep shooting.
Running down numerous alleys, trying to shake my attackers with them in hot pursuit. Occasionally blind firing behind me when the heavy footfalls get too close for my liking. Completely wiped and pushed to my limits, I can’t stop forcing myself to keep going.
After moving down several blocks by this point, I found myself back on the streets. Greeted to the sight of Jeeves flying about in the distance with three speeder bikes harassing him, while he bobs and weaves around them.
He manages to shoot one down when he slips behind it, but the other two are right on his tail. He needs help and he is currently my way out of here.
Lining up my shot and ignoring the shaking of my hand before taking a big deep breath and holding. Time slows to a crawl once more albeit not as slow as it was the other times.
Calculating and compensating for the distance and my own shaking hand, I prepare the shot and fire. My body wants to give out on me with the overwhelming burning feeling across my body. As Jeeves barely avoids their shots, mine don’t miss as they hit the two riders.
With the riders now dead, the speeders fly off uncontrollably as their riders bodies are thrown off of them. Two delayed explosions after the bikes are out of sight is enough for me to know they are out of commission. The ground swiftly comes closer as my exhaustion gets the better of me feeling the burning of my lungs and the protests from my body.
Jeeves seeing the blaster shots from near our meetup point flies down to my position. Lowering down to my fallen form, he beeps frantically at me. Forcing myself to look at him as the fighting rages all around us. Move. I have to move. With those words my fingers and hands pull me along the ground crawling to his open door.
Blaster shots are fired from behind me flying over Jeeves as I grab the edge of the speeder. Gritting my teeth feeling my hands and arms wanting to just give up as I struggle to climb in. A part of me wants to know who is behind me. Out of morbid curiosity I turn around and immediately wish I hadn’t.
My eyes widening at the snarling face of the lizard with most of his men. He sports a nasty cut on his face with one of his eyes drenched in blood. His left arm hangs limply, with the other holding a pistol. Both arms occupied with getting in the speeder, several blasters firing from a nearby alley makes me sigh in relief. My men ran out shooting at the group.
His men turn and open fire. The lizard ignores them before rushing forward, weapon trained on me. Jeeves warbles something before rising up into the air with me struggling to fully get in while hanging off the edge with one hand.
The edges of my vision blur, legs dangling in the air. To my growing pride and joy several Risen run up getting in the way of the lizard with knives in hand.
He shoots most in their heads and knocks down the few left with a wide sweep of his good arm. A cold fear grips my heart seeing him solely running for me. Bringing up his arm, he takes aim. Letting go with as the one arm holding me aloft promises a swift retribution after things are over. Raising my now free arm and rapidly firing back.
Most shots go wide as they don’t even come close to him. Sloppy. The lizard shoots a bolt but it misses by a hair's breadth impacting where my right hip is on the speeder.
Aiming my pistol, several more shots each getting closer to the lizard with him ducking down to dodge. Bringing his pistol up, it happens. The miracle. A random bolt among numerous others hits him right in his chest.
The blast to my joy and elation knocks him on his back. Smoke rising up from his chest. But he begins to shift to my horror and shock. Raising himself off the ground, he gazes at me intensely. A look filled with anger and hatred. He gets a smug smile in return.
His remaining men form up around him, taking aim at me and the Risen coming in to harass them. Ignoring the protest of my arms, with renewed motivation, both hands pull me slowly over the side. With one last heave I fall limply onto the floor.
Laying on the floor with several blaster shots being fired at us, a primal roar echoed out over all the blaster fire and explosions as my consciousness slowly fades away embracing the tranquil darkness.
