----- Chapter 8 : Apocrypha ------
Ash clutched his stomach and bent double with pain. It felt like his internal organs had been replaced with lead and gravity was doing its utmost to tear them out of his body. The pain flowed and ebbed like a tide, but it almost always seemed to choose the most inopportune moments to strike.
After leaving his apartment he had found that usage of the main transporter to the mines had become restricted, the resistance provided by the robots sufficient to frustrate the Government's attempt to bring the facility under control. Jumping onto the first available team, he gained passage back down underground and left them behind easily when they were unable to match his pace.
Once more he descended the depths and despite immediate familiarity, the layout confused him. The people of Pioneer One had carved into the mountain haphazardly, like they were searching for something hidden in the solid rock. Whatever it was, it necessitated the use of military robots with military upgrades.
It was as he progressed that the pain developed. Initially, he had been able to ignore it, but sure enough it increased in strength the deeper he went and the closer he got to... To what? Was there some unknown factor that was triggering this pain? In any case, it had reached a point were it was starting to impede his performance in battle. His shiny new frame already scorched from blasts that should never have even gotten close.
Now, he knelt before the formidable metal wall that rolled towards him. Its name stencilled on its side: Garanz. This monster of a machine was a civilian version of the military automated tank, though looking at its armaments, one would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Ash had avoided its slow moving salvos with ease before, but now had been brought low with a crippling pain.
Once more its armoured panels swung open to reveal its missile tubes. Ash looked up at it, tears streaming down his face, nearly unable to make out any detail. It fired a volley of rockets. Locked on to his heat signature they blazed in an arc towards him. In an act of desperation, Ash kicked off the ground hoping to jump the incoming projectiles.
What happened next surprised Ash probably as much as the Garanz, if such a thing could become surprised that is. He succeeded in leaping a clear four metres off the ground and landed awkwardly upon the Garanz's shoulders. He twisted and fell backwards to the floor, landing behind the hulking robot. He looked up just in time to see the missiles impact upon its face and it fell over, miniature explosions echoed throughout its metallic shell.
Even with this foe defeated, he knew he would have no time to rest before some new danger manifested itself. Each movement was agony but he fought to his feet and stumbled painfully against the walls until he found a suitable storeroom to hide in till his pain subsided.
-----
By the time Sue arrived at the Guild Hospital it had already gone nine hundred Beats, almost the entire Guild area was empty of people as nearly all missions were timed for the daytime. Oddly the front desk was unmanned, even at this late hour there should have been someone present. Hunters always found ways to injure themselves at all times of the day.
Sue made her way round the desk and entered the doors that led to the wards. The first room was large and sectioned off into smaller areas with white curtains. The lights were dimmed to allow overnight patients to rest. None of the regeneration chambers appeared to be occupied and there were no nurses within sight either.
The gentle sound of glass breaking at the far end of the room caught her attention and crouching slightly, she proceeded towards the source of the sound. As she neared the far wall she caught a glimpse of someone hiding behind an examination table. It was a nurse. Sue approached her.
"I think there's someone here." The nurse whispered.
Ash clutched his stomach and bent double with pain. It felt like his internal organs had been replaced with lead and gravity was doing its utmost to tear them out of his body. The pain flowed and ebbed like a tide, but it almost always seemed to choose the most inopportune moments to strike.
After leaving his apartment he had found that usage of the main transporter to the mines had become restricted, the resistance provided by the robots sufficient to frustrate the Government's attempt to bring the facility under control. Jumping onto the first available team, he gained passage back down underground and left them behind easily when they were unable to match his pace.
Once more he descended the depths and despite immediate familiarity, the layout confused him. The people of Pioneer One had carved into the mountain haphazardly, like they were searching for something hidden in the solid rock. Whatever it was, it necessitated the use of military robots with military upgrades.
It was as he progressed that the pain developed. Initially, he had been able to ignore it, but sure enough it increased in strength the deeper he went and the closer he got to... To what? Was there some unknown factor that was triggering this pain? In any case, it had reached a point were it was starting to impede his performance in battle. His shiny new frame already scorched from blasts that should never have even gotten close.
Now, he knelt before the formidable metal wall that rolled towards him. Its name stencilled on its side: Garanz. This monster of a machine was a civilian version of the military automated tank, though looking at its armaments, one would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Ash had avoided its slow moving salvos with ease before, but now had been brought low with a crippling pain.
Once more its armoured panels swung open to reveal its missile tubes. Ash looked up at it, tears streaming down his face, nearly unable to make out any detail. It fired a volley of rockets. Locked on to his heat signature they blazed in an arc towards him. In an act of desperation, Ash kicked off the ground hoping to jump the incoming projectiles.
What happened next surprised Ash probably as much as the Garanz, if such a thing could become surprised that is. He succeeded in leaping a clear four metres off the ground and landed awkwardly upon the Garanz's shoulders. He twisted and fell backwards to the floor, landing behind the hulking robot. He looked up just in time to see the missiles impact upon its face and it fell over, miniature explosions echoed throughout its metallic shell.
Even with this foe defeated, he knew he would have no time to rest before some new danger manifested itself. Each movement was agony but he fought to his feet and stumbled painfully against the walls until he found a suitable storeroom to hide in till his pain subsided.
-----
By the time Sue arrived at the Guild Hospital it had already gone nine hundred Beats, almost the entire Guild area was empty of people as nearly all missions were timed for the daytime. Oddly the front desk was unmanned, even at this late hour there should have been someone present. Hunters always found ways to injure themselves at all times of the day.
Sue made her way round the desk and entered the doors that led to the wards. The first room was large and sectioned off into smaller areas with white curtains. The lights were dimmed to allow overnight patients to rest. None of the regeneration chambers appeared to be occupied and there were no nurses within sight either.
The gentle sound of glass breaking at the far end of the room caught her attention and crouching slightly, she proceeded towards the source of the sound. As she neared the far wall she caught a glimpse of someone hiding behind an examination table. It was a nurse. Sue approached her.
"I think there's someone here." The nurse whispered.