Chapter 12

Solider of Oblivion Olvido

Nemo and Solidus were climbing out of the air duct after Solidus had helped Nemo into the ventilation duct. After a crawl through the duct the two made it out, Andrius helped Nemo out of the duct once they reached the end. Currently Nemo was behind Andrius as the Orb agent was ready with his 45 and survival knife just in case any unexpected company arrived. When the coast was clear, he turned to Nemo and handed her the P90 he got from Python.

"Here take this."

"What?"

"It's a FN-P90 submachine gun, its got bullets capable of penetrating body armor and helmets worn by most of the sentries have I seen around the facility so it's a good side arm."

"Thanks" Nemo replied as she accepted the weapon.

"You might need the firepower; after all we're going up to the main floor of the administration building where it's probably one of the two most well guarded areas in the facility." Andrius explained, as Nemo understood the new for a good firearm in the likely event they run into heavy opposition. As he waited for a possible question from Nemo, Andrius couldn't help but notice how good Nemo looked in the Skull Suit. It captured her figure quite nicely.

"Would you please stop looking at me like that? Yes I look good thank you!" Nemo said sarcastically as she looked posed to slap Andrius again.

"Oh sorry, but well"

Nemo cut him off. "Yeah, I know you think I am attractive and I am flattered ok, but now is not the time."

"Right, sorry." Andrius replied as he was clearly embarrassed by the look on his face and the fact that his cheeks were red. Suddenly his codec began beeping "Sorry got a call coming in." Solidus knelt down on one leg and answered his Codec to find Auel and Pliskin calling.

"Hey Solidus we got some heavy weapons and explosives." Auel told him as soon as a connection was established. Pliskin was the next to speak.

"We hit a few snags, but we got more than enough firepower to take anything coming our way including those mobile suits."

"Yeah, Pliskin brought down a GINN for those railgun rifles we found."

"That's good news, where are you now?" Andrius asked.

"We're both inside one of the south linear tank hangers a few clicks from your location. Where are you?" Pliskin answered.

"I am still inside the lower basement levels of the administration building. I am about to make my way up."

"How did you get in?" Auel asked.

"I used a ventilation duct from a supply closet near the connecting passageway that leads to the administration building from the warehouse that got burned."

"I see, smart move."

"But the lower levels were in bad shape, looks like one hell of a firefight must have happened down here."

"Sounds like the men posted at the base must have made their last stand down there."

"Anyway I am going to begin my infiltration and find the hostages. You guys could use the duct that helped me inside. Think you guys can make it through with all those weapons."

"I doubt it."

"Ok, I got an idea. Head to the main entrance into the administration building, I'll open up a way inside and we'll meet up there."

"What about security?"

"I think I got a plan, but we'll have to wait a few minutes. I'll call you two back ok."

"Roger that." Pliskin answered before Solidus ended the transmission, but instead of ending codec communications he made a call to Mr. Tech. "Mr. Tech how is it coming?"

"I managed to bypass some of the firewalls and gain control over a few systems, but the firewall and hacker prevention barriers protecting the security system are top-notch. I am trying something new to see if that'll allow me to assume control. Hold on" There was a long pause that lasted little over a minute before Mr. Tech "Alright! Now we're in business! I got full control over all of the faculties systems, but"

"But?"

"The one part of the base I have no computerized control over are the various systems over at the Weapons lab, I guess the systems there must operate separately from the facility's computer network. But I can at least disable most of the security systems and protocols protecting the administration building. I am using the security cameras to give you an estimated number of sentries protecting the building."

"Well that's good news, how many do we have to take out?"

"Lets see" There was another pause, but Solidus could hear the faint sound of Mr. Tech counting. "You're going to have some serious opposition, from the number of men I counted…you'll be facing about around a fifty to forty men, but if I can keep their radios jammed and alarms deactivated then maybe I can buy you some time to take them out and then escape before the rest of the men around the island is alerted to what is going on."

"How long do you think we have?"

"Let see, hard to say, but I am guessing at twenty to fifteen minutes top if we are lucky."

"Damn, any idea where the hostages may be located?"

"They are on the third floor, which is where the sentries are more concentrated. I saw them through a camera in position to keep an eye on them inside the conference room. I found at least six hostages; all of them VIPs on the list including Azrael and the Atlantic Federation President are there too."

"Good, now I won't have to do too much wandering around inside the building to find them."

"Just the real problem will be getting to and then leading them out in one piece." Mr. Tech pointed out.

"Yeah, it won't be easy, but we have no other opinions."

"I hear ya. Well good luck and I'll do what I can from my end to give you guys a chance."

"Thanks" Solidus ended communications with Mr. Tech right before calling Pliskin and Auel back. "Auel, Pliskin are you two there?"

"Yeah" Auel answered followed up by Pliskin.

"We're here."

"Listen Mr. Tech has disabled the security systems for the administration building and we have confirmed the location of the hostages. They are on the third floor, but security is pretty tight. Our only opinion is to take out the enemy soldiers and lead the hostages out."

"How many men are stationed there?"

"Fifty to forty men, and if we can work fast we can get the hostages out before the rest of the base becomes alerted to out actions then we can get them to the harbor and get them out of there. Mr. Tech should have the base's automated defenses down in a short while."

"Sounds a little easy, but"

"It may at least give us an open window to get the hostages out; once they are safe I'll take care of my other two objectives."

"Taking out Fox and destroying the NEO right?"

"Right, but first thing first, Pliskin I need you and Auel to move to the entrance to the lobby of the administration building. I'll meet you there after I clear the first floor of enemy sentries once Mr. Tech has put his part in the plan into effect."

"Roger, we'll head over there and wait for you to open up a path then we'll storm the building and get the hostages out before the rest of the facility is alerted to what is going on."

"Ok, Solidus out." Solidus ended communications as he looked to Nemo, but before he could even ask.

"I know, I have read your surface thoughts and so I know what is going on."

"Could you please stop doing that? It makes me feel"

"Uncomfortable?" Nemo said as she finished the sentence for him. "Don't worry. I won't do it any more to you from here on out unless it's a life or death situation or something that would demand the need for me to read your mind ok."

"Fair enough, let's get moving."

Meanwhile at the same time topside, Pliskin and Auel were passing through the second warehouse that was located on the east side of the main administration facility. The two were passing through the warehouse filled with crates and oil drums, but when the two neared the exit they stopped when someone called out to them from above.

"I was expecting Solidus, but you two are carrying too many weapons to be typical sentries and besides…no one is supposed to be in this area."

"But we never heard the report?" Auel said trying to act like a confused solider.

"I didn't give it through the radio, but rather I went to every solider in the surrounding area and informed them personally, so drop the act." A person hiding in the shadows above leapt down from the rafters to confront the duo; it was Noir Fox. "Surrender now and I might ensure that you two live, especially if you tell me where Solidus can be found."

"No" Pliskin said boldly as he unloaded the weapons he was carrying to free up his shoulders and arms so the weapons and equipment he was hauling around wouldn't be weighting him down. The old soldier readied himself for combat. "You'll have to defeat me first."

"Fine, you have sealed your fate." Fox declared as she rushed at Pliskin.

The two soldiers began to fight one another, but much to Fox's surprise as the two-exchange blow after blow in rapid succession. The old man kept up with her and managed to counter or block every blow she threw at him. Noir attempted to grab Pliskin's right arm and twist it, but Pliskin countered it with quick impulse as he stiffened his arm and then nailed Fox in the stomach with a blow from his left elbow.

Momentarily stunned for a second or two, Pliskin grabbed Fox and flipped the woman over her shoulder. But Fox countered by landing before feet on the ground and seizing Pliskin's left arm and attempted to bring him close in order for the female soldier to floor him with a kick to the elderly man's leg. Just as before, Pliskin countered this by going in another direction and bringing Fox's arm behind her back where Pliskin was in a good position to break it.

Noir Fox quickly countered this as well by head butting Pliskin and then used her right leg to push herself free from Pliskin's hold, but as the two moved away, Fox grabbed a hold of the shroud covering Pliskin's face as she said "You're CQC techniques are extremely advance for a anonymous soldier, better than Solidus's techniques and they rival my own. Let see who are you really?" The mask was taken away revealing Pliskin's face to the woman soldier, who after looking at his face for a few moments was shocked and surprised greatly apparent by the expression on her face alone. "YOU! You're supposed to have died more than a hundred years ago, how is it that you are still be alive!" Before Pliskin could answer a beeping sound was heard from the woman's codec. "I'll deal with you later." Fox admitted as she leapt back up into the rafters and retreated from the battle for the time being.

"What the hell was she talking about?" Auel asked.

"I don't know, but let's get the hell out of here before she comes back." Pliskin advised as he picked up the shroud, weapons and equipment he had left on the ground near by before he and Auel moved on. Meanwhile at that very moment, Solidus and Nemo arrived back inside the water works chamber where he fought Python, but only now the ice had begun to melt.

As the two were progressing through the chamber while trying to avoid slipping on the ice, a gunshot was heard and a bullet struck the ice in front of Solidus's feet. The two looked up at the catwalk on their left and saw Shalashaska standing there twirling his new Single Action Revolver in one hand.

"Hold it right there." Shalashaska declared as he kept his weapon on Solidus. "I've been waiting for this moment, its time to get even."

"I see you got yourself a Single Action Army, taking my advice?"

"Yeah, turns out you were right about my technique. I am better suited for a revolver, and now I am going to try my new skills on you. I can assure you, there will be no accidents this time."

"You call what happened during our last fight an accident." Andrius remarked as he shot Solidus a mocking smile. "It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been showing off."

"Shut the hell up!" The revolver wielding gunman roared while Solidus began looking him over to see if he had any other weapons.

"And you're forgetting one more very basic thing. You don't have what it takes to kill me." Solidus said with a smile as he mocked him.

"We'll see!" Shalashaska fired off five more shots, but Solidus drew his knife and deflected each, but when the white haired gunfighter tried to shoot a sixth shot he realized then that he was out of bullets. Solidus drew his 45 and kept it aimed at Shalashaska's head.

"That thing carries only six shots. I see you are still use to an automatic, which carries a little more than six bullets. You have to get a feel for how many you have left. That is a high-class weapon. It's not meant for shooting people in angry fits." Shalashaska looked down at him angrily before shouting.

"This isn't over; I'll get you next time…if you survive him!"

Suddenly a scimitar flew straight Solidus out from nowhere as it seemed to be flying through the air controlled by some unseen force. Solidus blocked it with his knife, but a second flying scimitar came at him from above. Solidus managed to deflect the blade with his knife after knocking the first scimitar away.

"You get him first Olvido." Shalashaska announced as a figure wearing a black sneaking suit similar to the one Python had worn minus the ammo jacket and liquid nitrogen added to it. The man appeared to be in his early fifties with gray-streaks in his long black hair as a sign of age, his red eyes were focused upon the two.

"I'll finish the boy off quickly Shalashaska." Olvido answered as the gunfighter left made a hasty exit out of the chamber. "I am Olvido the ESP combatant of the Cobras; I am here to send you to your ultimate fate. You'll make a fine quarry youngster." Four floating scimitars began to orbit the deadly soldier, including the other two blades Solidus fought off, while Olvido drew a pistol from a holster on his hip. "You shall taste true oblivion boy. Let the battle begin."

"Oh shit!" Solidus thought as he held both his gun and his pistol ready as the blades around Olvido began to lower themselves pointing away from him as they began spinning around his body like a top. Solidus was forced to back up while he had to deflect bullets from Olvido's gun. "Nemo take cover!" Solidus shouted as he drove to the ground and slid along the melting ice to get under the blades. He turned himself over and somersaulted back up to his feet after, but struck Olvido in the face with his feet knocking him off balance. Nemo dropped to her knees and slid across the ice towards one end of the room.

Back on his feet, Solidus tried to shot Olvido, but he had to evade the incoming scimitars that flew at him coming to their master's defense, but one of the scimitars nearly took the hand holding his 45 off, so in order to save it he had to let go of the gun at the last possible second and pull back his hand.

"Fool I can read your every thought. I know what you'll do next." Olvido admitted as he was bringing in another of his swords to behead Solidus as it flew at him spinning around like a Frisbee. Solidus ducked, but Olvido was aiming his gun right at him. However the cobra's gun exploded in his hand as a large burst of water released from one of the pipes struck Olvido knocking him to the wall just left of Solidus. "What the hell!" The psychic yelled.

"I won't let you hurt him!" Nemo shouted as she began to use her own ESP abilities to aid Solidus. "Here try some of this!" Pieces of ice and some nuts and screws detaching themselves from the pipes and the ground were sent flying at Olvido while Solidus rolled clear of the line of fire, but he grabbed one of the scimitars that had fallen to the ground when Olvido was sent flying. "Solidus!" Nemo shouted as she began speaking to him through telepathy.

Listen to me Andrius, I'll use my powers to block him from reading your mind and give you a hand against his sword attacks. Just be ready. Nemo told him as she explained something else to him. Once she was finished, Solidus smiled before taking the sword he claimed to go after Olvido.

At the same time Olvido was deflecting the flying objects using his three swords to deflect them all as the ESP user regained his footing. Nemo began using her powers to break the frozen ice they were standing on apart to use as projectiles while Olvido realizing the danger the woman presented to him began using his powers to pull apart the pipes in the chamber to use as weapons.

Solidus although had lost his 45 amidst his attacks on the Cobra as it may have slipped from his hand while he was evading death, but it was ok…he had his knife and a newly acquired scimitar he could use against the Cobra. Solidus had to only worry about either getting shot or stabbed or impaled by a flying object. The pipes Olvido had gather was now hurling them at Nemo who was now using sheets of metal and some pipes she pulled from the walls to shield herself from the psychic's onslaught.

Solidus was rushing across the ground towards the older man with his knife and scimitar ready to strike him down. The young soldier had observed Olvido's fighting style and believed that Olvido must have relied heavily on his ESP powers not only to attack, but also as a means to know his foes movements in advance giving him a nearly unstoppable edge in battle. But if someone could block Olvido's ability to read minds then the psychic soldier was at what could be a possibly slight disadvantage. Solidus was about to find out if he was right.

He leapt over pipes suspended in mid air and pieces of ice as he hurried over to Olvido to take him out. However, when Solidus got within four feet of the enemy soldier, he saw Solidus coming at him ready to kill him. Olvido brought one of his three swords to counter. As the blade took a swing at Solidus, the Orb agent kicked a floating thick chunk of ice towards the floating blade. The scimitar embedded itself into the ice as Solidus leapt over the ice and came straight at Olvido.

The psychic soldier had no intention of going so down easily as he brought a pipe to him to block the incoming swing of the scimitar Solidus held. Olvido blocked the sword, but Solidus just simply brought his other arm around that held his knife to stab Olvido in the side of his chest while Solidus released his hold on the scimitar. Much to Solidus's surprise Olvido drew a knife of his own to block Solidus's blade.

"Nice try boy!" Olvido mocked, but Solidus smiled at him as Nemo sent another wave of flying debris at both of them. Olvido turned his attention to using his two scimitars followed up by his third blade that he free from the ice, and his reclaimed fourth scimitar to deflect most of the debris aimed at him. However, had Olvido paid more attention to Solidus; Olvido would have seen one of the so-called debris thrown at them was seized by Solidus's free hand. Olvido took a moment to take a glance at Solidus, and blood drained from his face just before death embraced him. The last thing he saw…was a P90 pointed at his head.

Solidus pulled the trigger and blew Olvido away with more than a dozen bullets reducing killing the enemy Cobra. Solidus looked at the man's lifeless body before he began looking around for his 45. Never rely on one skill to make it through a battle; you should have more techniques and skills to help adapt to changing situations on the battlefield. You made a classic mistake; you were so heavily dependant on your ability to read minds to help predict your foe's next move that any real combat skills you may have possessed have deteriorated. Solidus thought as he searched the debris for his weapons, but Nemo walked up to him with the weapon in question suspended in mid-air for Solidus to take.

"I think this is yours." Nemo replied with a smile. Andrius returned the smile as he took back his 45 before he handed the young woman the P90 back.

"Thanks, let's get the hell out of here before anyone else decides to give us the jump down here." Solidus suggested as he took back his weapon. "By the way did you get anything from those two?"

"You mean did I read their minds?"

"Yeah"

"Well" Nemo began as the two proceeded to walk out of the water works chamber. "I tired to read that guy with the revolver, but I was blocked."

"How, was it Olvido?"

"No…surgical implants inside his mind prevented me from probing his thoughts."

"Implants?"

"Yeah, the implants he has are a kind of psychic insulation that blocks mind probes like mine no matter how powerful I am. I find it strange someone like him would have them, since implants like those are given to VIPs like leaders of a nation, government, and military high-ups who know some highly sensitive information that don't want any passing psychics like myself to scan their minds for. A few of the men in charge of the project that created me had them as a precaution to keep me from reading their minds." Nemo explained as Solidus was finding the shadow of mystery surrounding Shalashaska grew stranger. "Say is he your twin brother or something?" Nemo asked as the two passed through the doorway and entered a hallway that led to the stairway.

Solidus thought about it for a moment, true Shalashaska did bear a striking resemblance to him save for the paler skin tone, green eyes and white hair. But as far as the Orb agent knew…he was an only child. "No as far as I know I was an only child. Hell I don't even know anything about my real family I was raised in the Orb military."

"This is getting stranger every hour." Nemo commented, but the sound of an explosion was heard behind them. They looked back for a moment, but a few seconds the two looked up instead when heard a faint sound above them. They saw new cracks in the ceiling beginning to form as the sounds of collapsing concrete and metal was heard behind them. "Not good!"

"RUN!" Solidus shouted as the two dashed down the hallway towards the stairs. The battle between Olvido must have further weakened the supports that kept the underground levels of the facility from collapsing altogether, now because of the battle and that explosion; the area of the sublevel they were in was caving in on them. Solidus guessed they had no more than seven to five seconds to get up those stairs before the ceiling comes down on them.