Scene 25

¨Hello, this is Ivana of the Dark Phalanx, we're stuck in the Tempest lobby, can anyone hear me? Hello, this is Ivana of the Dark Phalanx, we're stuck in the Tempest lobby, can someone please turn on the portals? Hello…¨

¨TURN ON THE FUCKING PORTALS!¨

Ivana brusquely pushed Anna away from her comm device, wincing. ¨Ouch, Anna, was that necessary? I think you only succeeded in hurting my ears there.¨

¨Sorry. I'm just getting kind of frustrated, and anyways, it's pretty obvious nobody is listening to you. We've been here for hours!¨

¨Well, that's no excuse not to try, we don't want to miss an opportunity if someone happens to be listening to this line for a few moments.¨

¨You should probably save your breath,¨ Gorn said, sighing. ¨I don't think this is an accident.¨

Ivana looked at him angrily, opened her mouth to speak, then looked down, struggling to make the words come. Finally, she said ¨No, I don't think it is either. Somebody wants us to be stuck here and it's not too hard to figure out why.¨

¨Would any of you like to explain to me what's going on?¨ piped up Farham. ¨I think I deserve to know what in the hell…¨

¨Hey!¨ exclaimed Anna. ¨The portal over there in the corner! It's…¨ They all turned around and followed the direction of her finger to one of the arena entrance portals. A dim, flickering green glow had appeared around its edges, seeming to grow brighter and steadier as they watched. A barely audible hum began to course through the air. They all jumped to their feet and ran over to inspect the portal. Upon nearing it, they could see that it had definitely been turned on, the seams around its edge glowing brightly with energy.

¨Do you think somebody heard me yell?¨ Anna asked.

¨I doubt it,¨ said Gorn, shaking his head slowly. ¨Why open a portal back into the arena?¨

¨This feels like a trap,¨ Ivana remarked.

¨Trap shmap, we're Gladiators,¨ asserted Farham. ¨At the very least, we can get some practice in. Maybe somebody will see us from the spec lounge!¨

¨Wait!¨ cried Ivana as he ran to the portal, but it was too late. With half his body in, Farham managed to say ¨Wha-¨ and then the rest of him was pulled through. Ivana watched with a sinking feeling, staring at the portal for a few seconds after he was gone as if she could will Farham back. Finally, she looked up at her teammates and saw the grim readiness written in their faces. They knew what they had to do, and so did she. ¨Last one through's a rotten egg,¨ she said to Anna, plunging into the shimmering green light.

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It was a well-known and overused cliché of sci-fi/horror material: In space, nobody can hear you scream. In the Martian space station Phobos, however, with its perimeter ion shields cradling a bubble of terrestrial air all throughout the station, this axiom did not hold true. On the contrary, the stillness of space had a distinct effect, the quietest whisper being audible here in the absence of that unnoticeable blanket of white noise present anywhere on teeming planet Earth. Screams in Phobos were quite a remarkable thing to hear, perhaps one reason it was chosen to be used as a Tournament deathmatch arena. Not that there weren't other reasons. Its winding corridors, interlaced in many vertical levels around a central shaft that dropped from the flat, open top of the station all the way down to its lowest level, created unlimited angles from which to attack and hide. Many Gladiators disliked Phobos, repudiating it as too tight, confused, and favorable to ultra-defensive tactics and spam. In fact, the opposite was true. A Gladiator who truly knew Phobos moved through it like a ghost, striking when and where they desired and controlling the use of the jump boots, making sure they had all the best options of retreat.

¨What… what are we doing here?¨ wondered Farham, looking with confusion at his teammates. ¨What happened to Tempest? Goddammit, what is going on?¨ They were standing on the open top of Phobos at the edge of the central shaft, surrounded by a cold and unblinking sea of stars.

¨Almost any portal can be connected to almost any other portal if you hold the keys to it,¨ answered Anna. ¨The real question is, why does someone want us to be here?¨

¨That's what I meant,¨ Farham said angrily. ¨At least one of you is involved in something and isn't telling me or the others about, because otherwise why would this be happening? I've always been a loyal member of this team, I deserve to know.¨

¨It's a long story,¨ admitted Gorn, ¨And I'd like to start by apologizing to you, because it's a dangerous situation and I never intended to drag you into it. However…¨

¨Gorn,¨ interrupted Farham. ¨Was I not with you in Warsaw throughout all of the Siege?¨

¨Of course, comrade. How could I forget that?¨

¨I faced almost certain death with you then, and I would do it again gladly. But commander, I would like to know why.¨

¨Of course. Listen, you know about the chem booster company Fen Tech, right?¨

¨Yes…¨

¨About a week ago, when I was researching information about Malcom…¨

CRACK!

Ivana saw, as if observing a horrible dream in slow-motion, Farham's head rent by the unseen bullet in a flash of flying blood, bone, and brain matter. As his body pitched forwards, toppling slowly into the center shaft of Phobos, she screamed ¨SNIPER!¨

The three remaining Dark Phalanx members jumped simultaneously into the shaft, each flying off in a divergent direction. Gorn sprang down lightly to his left and landed deftly on the ledge of a narrow window, stepping forward to pick up the body armor. Ivana jumped down to her right onto a narrow beam running across part of the center shaft, then quickly slipped off the beam, hanging to the sides of it and swinging herself over to a narrow ledge near the minigun. Anna, having no other option available, jumped straight into the middle of the center shaft, aiming for the two health packs at the bottom. She plummeted more than ten meters and landed with a horrible crunch on the cement floor, feeling bones breaking in both her legs and possibly a rib or two as well. However, as soon as the flash of pain assailed her, it disappeared along with the two holographic health packs and she put her instantly-repaired legs to good use, running to the center of the bottom floor where she saw Farham's crushed body. Why was it still there? Oh no…

¨GUYS!¨ She screamed into her comm, a touch of hysteria in her voice, ¨The respawners are off! Can you hear me? Farham's dead! There's no respawn! They killed Farham!¨

¨…shit…¨ was the only thing Gorn could apparently think to say, his usually deep, commanding voice reduced almost to a near-whisper. ¨Farham…¨

Then Ivana's voice cut across the line, clear, focused, with all the authority she manifested as Captain during Tournament matches. ¨Meet me at the big lift. Defend yourselves! We've still got guns, at least.¨ There was an agonizing pause.

¨Roger that!¨ responded Anna, a ring of clear determination in her voice. A second later, Gorn chimed in: ¨On my way.¨

Ivana contined from the minigun up a small flight of stairs and around a corner to her left into a narrow hallway which contained the shock rifle, open on one side to the center shaft. She sprinted down it without slowing, running over the shock rifle to pick it up and hearing as she did the sound of the rocket launcher being gathered by Anna below her in the bottom of the central shaft. She turned left again and ran towards the big lift that went up to the top of Phobos, falling in behind Gorn who dropped down from the body armor and headed towards an outside ledge which contained the flak cannon, jump boots, and thigh pads. She ran past the big lift and then turned around, aiming her shock rifle at the two entrances to their position. ¨Got your back, Gorn!¨ Just as she said this, a figure emerged from a passage to her right, holding a ripper at ready. Through the adrenaline of battle, she barely managed to register the characteristic full-body carbonium armor and mechanical eyes. They were facing the Corrupt.

He quickly took a shot at her, which she'd already begun to dodge, firing a shock secondary bubble in front of him as she felt the wicked spinning blade whiz past her head, slicing off a few stray strands of hair. She doubled back as he fired again, once more barely avoiding the razor-sharp projectile and straining to direct all her concentration towards not missing that shock bubble. She fired as soon as she got both feet under her, somehow managing to detonate the combo mere inches from the Corrrupt assassin's chest. He was thrown backwards as if hit by a bullet space-train, slamming into the wall behind him with a crash of metal. Ivana watched in amazement as, weakly, he tried to sit up. How could anyone survive a combo at that kind of range? Who made the armor these things wore? She took him down for good with a shock primary beam, watching with dismay as his body disappeared.

¨Bad news, team. They're respawning, even though we're not.¨

¨That's super,¨ commented Gorn behind her. ¨Who are they?¨

¨More Corrupt, as if I had to tell you. I don't know how many. At least two. Anna, how are you doing?¨

There was a hiss of jump boots, and a barely-perceptible shimmering form ran out of the corridor to Ivana's left, a panting sound coming from its general direction. ¨Man, this rocket launcher is heavy. Sorry, I stopped to gear up. You all ok?¨

¨For now. Listen: you both know how this map works in Tournament matches, and this will be no different, except that we can't get fragged even once. We need to secure the top of Phobos to maintain control of the armors and amp, and keep them from cornering us. Gorn, you go blow that camper off the top of the big lift with some flak, then jump down to the main top platform… The fall should be no problem with your jump boots.¨ Ivana pulled out her minigun and tossed it behind her. ¨Take this also and see if there's anyone else up top that needs killing. With your armor, pads, and minigun you have by far the best odds of survival. Anna, come with me back past the shock rifle again. With the invisibility and jump boots you should be able to jump up to that sniper rifle above the small lift with no problems. I have the weakest equipment, so I'll take the small lift and stay in the sheltered spot at its exit.¨

Gorn jogged up behind her and picked up the minigun, running his hands over its barrel. ¨Thanks, Ivana. I never feel scared when I have a nice warm minigun in my hands.¨

¨Great. Now let's get to it!¨

Ivana and Anna waited, guarding the entrances to their position by the big lift, while Gorn ran onto it and pressed the button. As soon as the lift started to rise, they took off back towards the shock rifle corridor. Ivana let Anna take the lead, hearing her load up rockets into the firing chambers. As they rounded the corner, Ivana saw another armored figure emerge at the far end of the shock rifle corridor. Four rockets suddenly appeared in front of her, fired from Anna's invisible gun, racing down the corridor towards the enemy. He (it?) retreated quickly as the rockets slammed into the wall just behind where he'd been standing. Anna continued to advance, spamming rockets towards the corner where the Corrupt had emerged. ¨Get past me and jump on that lift!¨ she told Ivana. ¨I'll be right up.¨

Ivana sprinted past Anna to the lift, feeling the singeing heat of anther rocket as it whizzed past her shoulder. ¨Careful, dammit!¨

¨I know what I'm doing!¨

The lift rose automatically as Ivana got on it, and she experienced a momentary stab of fear when she realized someone might be waiting right there for her, and she would be without backup for a few seconds at least. Luckily, when she reached the top of the lift there was nobody in sight. ¨How are you doing, Gorn?¨ she sent across the comm.

¨Son of a bitch put a couple dents in my armor, but I'm solid. I put a lot more holes in him. Careful when you girls get up top, there's another here that just got the damage amp.¨

¨Shit. Does he have any weapons?¨

¨Just the sniper rifle.¨

¨Shit!¨

¨I'm going to take him out from here.¨

¨Gorn, you're the worst sniper I have ever seen. Let Anna do it.¨

¨Already on it, chief!¨ cut in Anna, almost managing to sound cheerful. Her words were punctuated by four CRACKs of a rifle. Ivana was horrified to hear the harsh bell of the amp being used in conjunction with two of these, then there was silence. ¨Status!¨

¨I'm fine, bastard never saw me. I think Gorn might have gotten hit, though.¨

¨I'm all right,¨ said Gorn, but it sounded laborious. ¨Secure the top now, I gotta go find some health packs.¨

¨The hell you will,¨ countered Ivana. ¨Get these vials where I'm at. Nobody is going down into the center of this map if we can avoid it… there's too many ways to get ambushed. I'm going to get the shield belt; Anna, can you cover me?¨

¨Definitely.¨

¨Good.¨ Ivana ran around the side of the lift, scanning by habit the rest of the top of Phobos. There was no more opposition. She saw Gorn drop about ten meters from the sniper's nest, landing awkwardly and barely managing to get his feet under him for the cushioning burst of the jet boots. Blood leaked from a hole in the chest of his armor, but he could move, and he jogged painfully over towards the health vials behind Ivana. She turned away and sprinted towards the shield belt before something else bad could happen.

¨Hey there, Gorn, it's nothing serious, right?¨ asked Anna.

¨Health vials… should take care of it,¨ he panted. There was a bright chime as he walked over a health vial, then another, and another. After the fifth and final one, he seemed to be moving with more ease, but still in pain. ¨Gorn,¨ said Anna, concerned, ¨chief, listen, you'll be fine. I'm sure you will. You're made of steel.¨

He turned towards her still-invisible form on the ledge above him and smiled painfully. ¨I'll live until the vials spawn again, but I'm not going to be doing much fighting. You should go get the next body armor before that invis wears off.¨

Anna glanced towards Ivana, who was just coming back from the shield belt's precarious ledge onto the main upper platform, her body surrounded by shimmering yellow energy.. ¨Ivana, you solid?¨

¨Yeah, do what Gorn says and go get that armor.¨ She ran over to Gorn as Anna jumped off the sniper ledge and headed towards the body armor. ¨Hey big guy, mind lending me a rifle?¨

¨Not at all. I'm going to stay here for awhile.¨ He pulled a sniper rifle out of his pack and handed it to her. As she walked back towards the center of the top platform, a clatter of minigun bullets pinged off its metal surface, missing Ivana's foot by inches. She swore and dove behind the lift, where Gorn was huddled. ¨Gorn, did you get an angle?¨

¨Flak cannon.¨

¨Thanks.¨ She dodged out from behind the other side of the lift with her sniper rifle pointed towards the flak cannon area, seeing a minigun barrel poking over a raised portion of the top of the station that afforded limited cover, and the barest outline of the enemy behind it. More bullets whizzed past her, several hitting her shield belt's energy field, and she ducked behind the lift again. ¨Anna, you see that guy? I can't get a clear shot.¨

Just then, she heard the telltale hiss of jump boots being used, and fairly nearby. She peeked out from towards the side of the central shaft where the shock rifle corridor ran. Sure enough, a Corrupt warrior was landing agilely there, holding a shock rifle. Ivana trained her sniper rifle on him, but he jumped again onto the sniper rifle's ledge above her. She dodged out away from the ledge, pulling a shock rifle out of her pack. The assassin picked up the sniper rifle and turned to face her, but he was already much too late… her combo blew him backwards off the ledge and down into the central shaft before he could take a shot. She ran out into the center of the top area again just in time to see the other Corrupt, who had ambushed her with the minigun, being knocked around by rockets apparently coming from thin air. Anna suddenly appeared, her invisibility's time having run out, just as the final rocket put her opponent out of commission.

¨Anna, you ok?¨

¨Shot my foot with a couple rockets, but I still have some body armor left. You?¨

¨I'm doing excellent. But unfortunately they'll just come back.¨

¨Yeah, that sucks. And how the hell do we get out of here?¨ They both ran towards the middle of the top platform, looking around at the various entrances for more attackers. ¨Why don't you keep an eye on the flak side from over there close to Gorn, and I'll watch the main shaft from the base of the sniper tower?¨ suggested Ivana.

¨That sounds like a good…¨ Anna cut out, her attention suddenly grabbed by something behind Ivana. ¨Oh my god…¨

Ivana turned, and gasped. Standing on the top of Phobos a few paces behind her, in more or less the same location they had been translocated to, was a familiar figure. She would have known this man, or rather the pseudo-human gladiator he had made himself into without need of any introduction. He was recognizable by his sleek humanoid robotic figure, his yellow band of visual sensors, his swept-back cranial antenna that looked almost like a spoiler for a sports car melded to the sides of his helmeted head, and his flat-green anodized carbonium armor. But any possibility of doubt she might have had was erased when he spoke in that insolent robotic voice:

¨Run, human.¨