Kuroko took a deep breath filling her lungs with hot humid air, it felt more like drowning than breathing. But still she nodded confidently as she ran her hand over the fabric…nice…. despite the oppressive heat and humidity, the suit kept her cool and comfortable…. this is very nice…wonder how…
This suit was a few steps above those she'd worn on previous missions…. pressurized, form fitting…with all the bells and whistles for the occasional mission or a night on the town. It looked and felt that good. She liked the gloves that fit like a second skin, Nano sensors relayed every line and curve of the helmet in her hand. Which felt lighter than a feather. This isn't Academy City specs….
She stepped out onto the ramp, looking around the area, A smoky haze covered the burnt ground, spots still glowing bright reds and oranges spreading out to the withered vegetation and finally the shadows of the jungle.
"It's quiet… She said, a little anxious, feeling the sweat beginning to wet her forehead. her long reddish-brown hair growing heavy and damp…ssssheeshhhhh…wiping her forehead.
"Quieter the better… I say," De Rais answered, chambering a round. Kuroko ignored the remark, but her trained eye reacted to the sound, quickly glancing over eyeing the weapon.
I don't like it… She twirled the helmet in her hands, "I don't…" fretted her brow, noticing a small blinking red light no bigger than the size of a small coin. She ran her gloved finger over it and pressed, there was a sound of hissing, a mechanical click followed by in the pop and it slowly rose. Cocking her head, she removed the piece and rolled around in the palm of her gloved hand, "an ear piece?"
Hello… Hello… A tiny voice called out. Kuroko's eyes went wide, "someone's… Talking?
She took the earpiece between two of her fingers inserted it into her ear. "Kuroko! The voice sounded happy and a little carefree, "hello… Hey dumb ass… Laughter followed put the helmet on! For privacy… Laughter again.
Kuroko stared at the helmet between her hands, "Stephanie? … How?
"Kinda… The voice laughed… Hurry before…
Fine… Fine… Kuroko blew out a breath as she groaned, slipping the helmet on over her head, adjusted it until it felt comfortable. "There… Now… What? … The visor automatically dropped over her face covering to her chin. "Don't worry… Baby… It's automatic… Followed by more laughter. A cooling sensation softy blew over her face.
"Stephanie? how did you…
"Again… Kinda… I'm Stephanie but I'm not Stephanie… More laughter…
"You sure sound like it… And act like…
"Precisely… I'm an advance AI program built by the great Stephanie… That's me! And I'm here to annoy… I mean to help you with the new prototype advanced multipurpose encounter suit… But first…don't you think it's odd that there are no animal or bird sounds…hmmmm?
Kuroko hated that tone of voice…she could see Stephanie lifting her chin up, rising on the tips of her boots, with that mischievous look in her bright blue eyes…she'd roll her head around just to let her long blonde hair tumble over her petite shoulders. That look saying she'd missed something obvious, something that…. It didn't take much for Kuroko to realize it…it was odd…very odd.
Hostile lifeforms have been detected, Stephanie calmly spoke.
"What!"
Infrared images appeared in the corner of the visor.
These images are located… Correction… Conducting 360° scan initiated.… Oh… The tone of voice told her if something wasn't good Kuroko… You are really screwed… I mean fucked... And I don't mean in the thrilling casual encounter in a dark alley against the wall…Kabe-Don!
What a nice… Response… Kuroko growled.
I'm program to respond to you this way… And only you… Instead of laughter there was a cute little giggle. Stephanie… Thought you'd like it better… PS… She sends her love, her laughter and criticism… Oh I'm also supposed to tell you in a really nice seductive smoldering voice….as I raise my hand to my mouth, giving a little cough to dramatically clear my throat…. I've slept with her… She let out a laugh. Scan completed.
"oooohhh!? ... crrraaapppp… Recommended action… Runaway! … But… Why prolong it…. sounding unconcerned. Hostiles identified.
Go ahead… Give me the bad news. slipping the AC50 from behind, Kuroko stepped off the ramp onto the ground, the rocky terrain crunching under her boots as she circled around the aircraft. She chambered a round, thinned her eyes and stared into the shadows looking for movement. Slowly raising the barrel. "Okay… She sighed, who is it… How many?"
"I know she would be happy to know that you trust her… With-
I trust her because if she developed this… She be pissed off if it failed… So… No… I really don't trust a vampire…only as far as I can stake her… Which I did she murmured, shrugging her shoulders.
Yes… Yes… She did enjoy that… Letting you…
Kuroko fretted her brow gritting her teeth, letting me… Please… She called me a glowing mutated mole."
Laughter… Followed by more laughter… Then a long sigh and a deep breath. Yes… Yes… on that note…this suit will help to minimize the effects of your teleportation…as you know traveling through the dimensions is not as seamless as you might think…when you teleport from one spot to another, you are essential forcing matter out of its proper position in those realities. Much like a mole burrowing through the soil and popping up through the top soil…this suit helps you, in theory, minimize the amount of soil you are digging through so you won't get whacked…..get it….whack as in the game whack a mole….she laughed, I like that one…..sounding a little out of breath. Hostiles identified. Augmented primates…
Kuroko's eyes went wide, no… feeling cold chills rushing through her body, her memory muscles grew taut.
"Howlers… Augmented physical features, intelligence minimum that's to be expected… Despite similarities with humans, primates were found to be more violent, harder control.
A stone skipped across the ground towards the plane, hitting a tire and settled.
A possible show of force or demonstration of strength should be acceptable…
Okay… scanning the distant jungle. "But…
Kuroko tightened her grip adjusted her weapon.
"But what? Kuroko quickly answered, under her breath she cursed him…Damn Rozenmann
Records show…
Don't you say it… Kuroko interrupted don't you dare say it, beginning to crouch. She knew…she'd experienced it.
"Say what?"
"You know…"
Okay I won't but it won't matter… Pervie.
"Fuck… Kuroko growled, clicking her tongue. "This is bad… She said to herself slowly turned around.
De Rais and Fish were standing around casually talking and even laughing. "Those fucks aren't paying attention…"
Another rock sailed through the air hitting in front of Andrei Chikatilo, struck his leg. The look on his face showed his disdain as he bent over and picked up the rock.
"Mother Fuckers…" He said softly and threw it back. It sailed back into the underbrush. Sounding as if it struck a tree.
The silence was shattered as loud violent horrific screeching tore through the air, cracking and snapping of tree branches, the branches slamming violently against the ground. A barrage of rocks flew out from all around them.
"Don't! Kuroko had tried to yell but it was too late. Fish and De Rais quickly turned, looking confused.
"Africa!
The word was a warning and sent fear rolling over their expressions, realizing the implications, their faces turned white. Their mouths dropped open, the words not coming out, but their bodies and training took over, quickly spinning around and raised their weapons.
In his thick Eastern European accent Andrei Chikatilo screaming brought up the multi barreled Gatling gun, squeezing the trigger, the whirring sound surrounded him as the barrels spun, flashes of fire spitting a straight line of fire ripped the ground in front of him until he leveled the weapon, Explosions ripped through the forest, small trees exploded, and larger ones fell.
The first wave charged out… exploding from the underbrush from behind them. They were large, muscular, their entire bodies covered in old worn, scarred and ragged leather, thick leather helmets covered their heads, old goggles covered their eyes leaving the lower half of their faces from just underneath her nose, nothing but bare white bone… And sharp teeth… And long vampire fangs.
Shit! Swallowing hard, whispered dropping to one knee, raised her assault rifle and opened fire. With each whisper the bodies exploded like popcorn. The rounds hitting them in the chest, shredding them to pieces. She fired, her eyes moving to the next target as her finger squeezed the trigger…over and over… The infra-red images growing larger and larger as the ammo count dwindled.
