Darkness silhouetted their figures as they quietly slipped through the shadows of Krystal's house. They wanted to remain unseen from anyone else who may have been prowling around. Falco had predicted that something would happen this very night. He had foreseen Krystal's death. He had to prevent this from happening.
Slippy may have been sceptical, but Falco firmly believed in his premonitions. As they climbed the stairs Falco could here the eerie noise growing louder and louder with each step. It sounded as if someone was weeping;
"This is playing out exactly like my dream" Falco whispered.
"… This is incredible… Everything is actually happening just like you told me before… The weeping is real, how could this be?" Slippy pondered hard for several moments but Falco nudged him on.
"This is no time to stop and wonder why; lets look around and make sure her house is secure"
Up ahead there was Krystal's room, but they decided they would look around first. After finding nothing the two regrouped and approached Krystal's room. She was weeping on her bed just like in Falco's dream. They glanced in, without alerting her of their presence.
Falco had keen eyes, he saw something move behind her, who was it? She hadn't noticed. More movement… The person emerged from the Shadows! Falco swiftly unsheathed his gun and fired; the assailant fell to the ground and Krystal screamed in confusion. She saw the body fall to the floor, then she turned and saw Falco motion to her. He ushered her to keep calm.
"Slippy watch my back, there might be more of 'em"
"But I don't have a weapon, you should have told me too…"
Falco sighed; "Usually I wouldn't do this, but here, take my magnum. Keep a good eye on Krystal, I'll see if that… guy has anything useful."
Slippy watched Falco but at the same time he decided to go over and try to comfort Krystal. Falco avoided the blood that was trickling onto the floor and turned the assailant onto his side. He examined the body;
"He was wearing some kind of resilient armour, I am surprised the round penetrated." As Falco searched through the assassin's belongings he found a jewelled dagger. "That's odd what the hell was he doing with this?" He remembered in his dream the robed figure had been wielding the same exact blade. Falco gasped and then dropped the weapon. Relax, he thought, perhaps there is some significance to this knife. Falco picked it up again and clenched it tightly in his fist. Hmm… interesting, it is light and well balanced, a very fitting tool for an assassin. Maybe I should hold onto this for just a bit loner…
Falco continued to search the rest of the body, but unfortunately he didn't find anything valuable, not even some kind of ID. As for guns, he managed to pilfer a custom-built plasma pistol; a very potent prototype.
"This is hopeless," Falco begun " we have no clues, what the F…" Falco's sentence was cut short by the sound of a gunshot.
"Everybody down now! Get away from the windows and find some cover"
They dove onto the ground; "Krystal do you have any weapons stored here?"
She seemed terrified, she was trembling madly; "Yeah, but in the basement…"
"Stay here, I'll be back just in a second" Falco rolled out from his cover and listened intently. He could hear foot steps, and lots of them. He peeked out the window, just for a split second. There were troops surrounding the building and they had secured his car;
"Oh Damn, we don't have anyway to escape…"
Falco returned to Krystal and Slippy;
"Here Krystal I won't keep you defenceless, you can have my pistol…"
She looked up at him, strained and tired; "… Thanks"
"Krystal, do you know what's going on?" Falco knew this was a risky question; especially now, but he needed to know what was happening.
"I… don't know for sure…"
"Later then, Lets get down to the basement, we need some arms, If we're gonna bust outta here"
They raced down the stairs, keeping to the shadows. Boom! Suddenly there was a loud crash and the front door was incinerated to smithereens. The Troops had detonated the entrance!
"Hell, we've got company" Slippy gasped.
"Who are they, Slippy can you identify them?"
Krystal bit her lower lip, they were about to enter…
"From what I can tell they are the Cornerian Elite Tactical Squad, CETS, but why the Hell would they be assaulting Krystal's home?
Falco grinded his teeth; "Cover your eyes!"
One of the Elites shot in a flash bang in conjunction with a smoke grenade;
"Keep quiet, we'll be veiled by the smoke, we are close to the basement…"
As Falco was talking Krystal overheard one of the elites; "Find her; The Vixen, exterminate her on site. If any of her "loyal friends" are here than eliminate them too!"
"Falco we have to hurry, they're here… to kill us!"
This incurred shock from both Slippy and his Avian companion;
"Those confounded … Well we'll do what we have to to survive…"
As Troops entered through the front door they were almost at the basement, when one of them appeared from the mist and barred their way; "Stop you.. Arghugghg.. Uhgho"
Falco slashed him across the face; "Sorry no time to talk"
Krystal showed them where she kept some of her weapons stashed;
"Woah, you've got quite the arsenal here" Slippy said brandishing a tactical shotgun.
"You take what you need; Slippy give me back my gun; I'll take the sniper, if that's Ok, it's a matter of preference…"
Krystal appeared more cheery now, and smiled; "That's fine, hand me that CM 32 assault rifle… and the thermal scope, we should take everything… Our chances of surviving now are pretty slim, but life is always worth a challenge!"
The three smiled and nodded; this was there life; full of action and excitement. Without thrills there lives would be dull; they lived on ecstasy and adrenaline;
"You know I might enjoy living like a renegade once again…"
Slippy tugged on Krystal and Falco; "Guys I think they are closing in on our position we should make a run for it, now or never!"
"Through the window!" Falco leaped and crashed through a basement window. Then he helped Krystal and Slippy up.
To be continued…