(A/N: For this part the song I'm using is "A Stranger I Remain (Original Version)" from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.)
Chapter 6
Somehow, someone rigged the entire floor Kursed was standing on with mines. Of course, if these had been standard mines she would already be dead but someone took pleasure in scaring their prey before killing them. However, the sudden beeping and increase in tempo meant she had to move now!
Kursed ran as quickly as she could towards the next room as the mines starting going off. Unfortunately, the first explosion set off a chain reaction that quickly followed her. Once she was near the door she jumped inside as the door closed behind her. She slowly got to her feet as the ringing in her head died down. The room she was in now was empty except for a number of small tanks nearby, possibly fuel tanks as well as piping.
"So I see you followed me all this way." Kursed quickly pulled out her blaster, looking and pointing in every direction but she saw no one. "That's alright; I suppose I made it too easy for you anyway." The voice was gruff and slightly muffled, confirming this was the bounty hunter on Corneria. It also had a slight accent/
He then made his appearance on the balcony above, still suited up. "Sorry for the mess, I don't usually have guests."
"I can see why," Kursed replied. "So you're the one in charge?"
"Not necessarily," the bounty hunter said. "More like just the one keeping things in order." He then took his helmet off and Kursed saw… long hair.
"Wait… you're a girl?" Kursed didn't see that coming. That, and she was also a Pyrenees.
"Oui, of course I am. My name is Aurore." Now her voice was certainly more feminine. "You think anyone would take a female bounty hunter seriously?"
"I'm a female," Kursed replied simply. "And there are plenty of female bounty hunters out there are feared, mostly because most of them are assassins."
"But I'm not the silent killing type." Aurore smiled. "Non, I prefer the more chaotic way. In my mind, explosions are more merciful, but of course, depending if one survives, such an explosion they will suffer for the rest of their lives. So it works both ways, depending on who I target."
"And why Desmond? Worried he was going to talk?" Kursed asked.
"Adamska was worried; I just carried out the job," Aurore replied.
"So he really is the leader of the pack huh?"
"Even if I tried to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand," Aurore replied. She then brought up a grenade launcher she had been holding onto. *"But enough talk, we both know why you're here and I could use some target practice and you, Kursed, are just what I need!"
She started shooting off grenades, causing Kursed to back flip and dodge for cover, although there wasn't much to hide behind. "I wouldn't stay still for too long Kursed!"
"She's rigged the floor again. That bitch is more insane than I thought, but perhaps I could use this to my advantage." Kursed had to move quickly before one of the mines went off. She also knew Aurore would have to reload and that would be her opportunity.
"Can't run for long!" Aurore taunted her. "Merde, need to reload." And that was her opportunity. Kursed then took one of her grenades and launched it at the support. It soon went off, causing the balcony to collapse. Aurore shrieked as the entire thing collapsed but her armor absorbed much of the fall. Kursed then brought out her staff and attacked. She may have had armor but every bit of armor had its weak points. She attacked with fierce intensity, striking blows at her legs, sides, and head if she could. But Aurore was skilled too, and Kursed wasn't aware until she saw a flamethrower appear out of her wrist. She moved back as quick as she could but winced as she felt some of her fur get singed off, although thankfully not in an obvious spot.
"I'll admit that was clever," Aurore growled. "But stupid as well, since you've backed yourself into a corner." She may have thought that, but Kursed already had a plan in motion, although it was subject to backfiring.
"It's too bad having to kill a fellow bounty hunter but it's all business," Aurore said. Suddenly she fired off one of her wrist rockets. Kursed however expected this and moved out of the way at the last second before it struck one of the tanks, which just happened to contain liquid nitrogen. Aurore realized her mistake too late. "Oh mer-!" She was then completely covered in ice, frozen solid.
Kursed then pulled out her blaster. "Right, just business." She then pulled the trigger and Aurore's frozen body completely shattered into pieces. Now that she had been dealt with, it was time to get out of there.
"Kursed, are you alright?" Dmitry's voice suddenly articulated in her ear.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Kursed replied. "Found that bounty hunter we were looking for."
"I know. Aurore Faure," Dmitry said. "When she was younger she lived on Corneria with her parents who were scientists. One day her father somehow accidentally created a chemical reaction that destroyed the entire building, killing everyone plus him and his wife. Aurore somehow survived and that was the introduction to her passion. Of course, later on it was discovered it hadn't been an accident but a set up. When Aurore found out she hunted down those who were responsible and instead of just killing them, she planted explosives on them, blowing off hands and legs, making them suffer until they finally bled to death. That was when she became a bounty hunter."
"I guess we're all a little fucked up in the head…" Kursed replied. "I'm heading back."
"No need," Dmitry replied. "We just got a new report. I'll brief you on the way there but you'll be heading to Zoness next."
(A/N: Okay, I know this is shorter than most chapters but I felt like instead of continuing I'd save the next part for the next chapter. I apologize but I promise next one will be full length, whatever my definition for that is. So I hope you enjoyed the little bit of action and I'll see you guys all later.)
FoxMcCloud7921
