Step 5.8
"Pink, Navy, Orange, go on ahead and meet me there. StarGazer. You're ready?"
"Yes."
Good, I guess. "I just need a few more seconds."
A few more seconds…
I lifted the former motorcycle wheel off the ground, bits and pieces of Armsmaster's bike discarded around me. I didn't expect Lafter to cut the entire front quarter off the thing. I almost yelled at her, but some of the parts turned out to be useful.
I'd stripped the tire away with my saber. Fitted some makeshift fins along the inner rim, and used some of the circuits to rewire the drive a bit for better stability. I also salvaged two compressors from the left leg and "stapled" them to the left shoulder with a rigged thruster system.
"Is that going to work?" Lafter asked.
"Yes," I said firmly. "Just have to fit it in place."
I slid the ring over the GN drive's cone. I welded it in place with my saber. It all looked flimsy, but it should hold. It looked kind of like a halo over the GN Drive's cone, and didn't match the aesthetic of my suit at all. But it would work.
For about fifty seconds before exploding. "Close the cone as much as you can."
"Closing," Veda announced.
The cone hung open more than I wanted. Suppose it didn't matter much now.
I walked around to the front of my suit and looked up at the faceplate.
The bomb, bullets, and other assorted beatings trashed O Gundam from top to bottom. Dents and nicks covered the armor. Half the paint burned away, and the other half got scraped away. It looked about as gray as the first time I took it out over the bay, minus a few specks of red and blue.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
"Are you talking to your suit?" Lafter asked.
"Yeah." I turned to her. "So, what?"
She shrugged. "It's kind of cute. You good?"
"As good as I'm getting."
I leaned around the van and looked down the street. The fighting had moved. The troopers stayed back for the most part. Stratos, Armsmaster, and Triumph took the lead, and the fight had mostly become a battle between capes. Trainwreck and Mush fought on, but the mini-tanks were toast, and the generic Merchants either captured or hiding.
A few troopers stayed by the trucks. They tended to the injured, kept the captured Merchants in one place, and kept telling me, "you really shouldn't have done that."
"Too bad," I said. "Because I did."
"Armsmaster isn't going to like it."
I recognized his voice. One of the troopers from that night Velocity picked me up. Labraga, or something like that.
"I don't expect him to, which is the only part of this plan I do like."
"Damn, you two do hate each other."
"He hates me," I noted. "I'm merely happy to give him valid reasons."
And there's a bit of poetic justice in ruining his bike after he ruined my van. Metaphorically.
I climbed into my suit and started a few software modifications. Adjusting the settings to the compressors took a few more seconds than I wanted, but I needed them full.
"I'll stick with the troopers then," Lafter said. "Maybe knock a few more Merchants around."
I told myself she'd be okay. Not much choice. I'd moved the van across town, and the suit only carried one at the speeds I'd be going.
"Purple," I called.
"I know, I know." Purple hovered above Lafter, watching the battle down the street.
"StarGazer, you're ready?" I asked.
"Yes."
Well, no point waiting.
"Have fun telling Armsmaster why his bike is now a unicycle."
The suit closed around me, and we rose to our feet.
Labamba rubbed the back of his helmet, saying, "That doesn't sound very fun."
"Yeah."
The GN Drive began to spin. The safety checks all saying 'don't do it,' but not badly enough for me to stop.
"Sorry 'bout that."
I jumped, firing what thrusters I had and propelling myself into the sky.
It was not a smooth ride.
The armor shook around me, which did not help the ache in my ribs. The wheel spun slightly off axis. Just a fraction of a degree, but enough to make my path swerve. I adjusted with my right leg, keeping myself on track. On track enough anyway.
I passed over the highest towers in the city and lurched forward in the direction of the hotel.
"Newtype, are you flying?" Ramius asked.
I turned the com on.
"Yes."
"How?"
"I think the Parahuman Emergency Measures Act of 2009 puts me in the clear."
Armsmaster piped in, asking, "The law that allows tinkers to salvage parts in emergency situations?"
"I know they mostly meant it for Endbringers, but I figure saving heads of state counts as a 'national emergency.' Somewhere."
O Gundam began to fall.
"What parts did you salvage?" Armsmaster asked.
"That's an awfully accusatory tone," I noted.
Ramius spoke up. "Newtype, where are you going?"
"Sorry, have to crash now." The cars in the street started getting bigger, faster. "It's probably going to suck."
Why change the course of the day?
Heads turned skyward as I passed the rooftops. A few people pointed, and a few ran away. Veda helped me adjust my course to avoid hurting anyone. I'd go through an SUV, but it belonged to some Nazis anyway. Sucked to be them.
I threw my legs forward and hit the street hard.
My suit flipped, the world spinning around me as I tumbled from one end to the other. My eyes snapped shut. Each blow sent little jolts through my muscles. It's hard not to tense up, to let your body just 'go' with it. Hurts all over.
Then it all suddenly stops.
My eyes opened. I saw Stone steps on all my remaining cameras. Raising my head, a little higher, I saw the words "Grand Hamilton Hotel" spelled out in nice big letters over the door.
I smashed the SUV getting there, but no one looked too hurt.
I'll take it.
"Newtype?" Ramius asked.
"It sucked," I grumbled.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?!" Piggot shouted.
"Nope."
I shut the com off, because I really wasn't interested in her shouting. Save it for later.
I pressed my hands against the ground and lifted O Gundam enough to pop the chest. My body fell to the ground, my mouth wheezing at all the aches.
The noise didn't help. Screams and shouts, plus a few car alarms and gunfire in the distance.
"Get them out of here."
Sirens blared, Haros descending from above and repeating Veda's voice.
"This is an emergency. Please evacuate the area."
I stumbled to my feet while half the crowd stood around like idiots. Orange landed beside me with a bag attached to his cradle. I threw it over my shoulder, removing a beam saber.
Turning back to O Gundam, I watched my improvised flywheel spin and explode. The pieces clattered around, the gathering crowd on the street finally started reversing course. The GN Drive hung open, solar furnace spilling particles into the air.
The armor looked even worse than before. Didn't help that the faceplate faced me. Damn karma or something.
I turned on my heel and walked toward the hotel entrance. Took a few steps to lose the stiffness in my thigh. Half my visor didn't work anymore, but the half that did confirmed the compressors were all full.
It's just a suit.
"And retrieve the solar furnace."
Reaching into the bag on my shoulder again I pulled out the band and slapped it onto my wrist. I designed the things ages ago, but I'd never had any reason to use it.
I hoped I wouldn't need to.
"Leave the rest. We'll try and retrieve it later if we can."
And if we couldn't, I'd left the GN compressors at maximum capacity.
Someone held the door for me when I entered. Not out of courtesy. I think he just didn't know which way to go and ended up not going anywhere. I said thank you anyway.
The hotel certainly looked like the best in Brockton Bay, by which I mean it seemed clean and the staff looked professional. Both receptionists held phones to their lips as I approached, eyes slowly rising as I came up to the front desk.
"Excuse me. What room is Relena Peacecraft in?"
The two women looked at each other.
"Um."
They looked at me.
"We can't give out that information?"
sys.t/ hack the hotel
sys.v/ master suite 506
"You should run," I suggested.
They did.
I lifted my head and surveyed the lobby.
Long narrow room, a pair of columns at the front. Hallways to the left and right of the reception desk. The columns went from floor to ceiling, and looked like concrete with a plaster covering. Probably stable. Bad cover though, and a fairly longish way to run.
He's not coming in this way.
I turned on my heel and followed the signs saying "elevator."
"Veda," I whispered. "The crowd outside?"
"I am keeping them back," Veda said. "Police officers on the corner are approaching. I will ask them to cordon the area."
"Tell them things might start exploding. If they see any capes just let them pass." Enough people have already died today.
Orange flew watch over the street while Pink and Navy lifted the solar furnace from its casing. Veda parked the van two blocks over in a lot, ready to receive it. The diagnostic showed the furnace to be undamaged, so that went my way.
I just wished I could save O Gundam too.
Other problems, Taylor.
The Haros ran their sonic cameras as they worked, but I didn't get good imagery past a few hundred feet. The tech didn't penetrate the street at all. Did the hotel connect to the sewers?
How long until he shows up?
Eleven minutes for me to get a working flywheel and reach the hotel. He couldn't be that far, but obviously didn't want to be seen too early. Maybe two or three minutes, depending on how far off he staked himself out.
I stepped off the elevator and shifted the bag to my other shoulder.
The elevator opened and I stepped into another lobby. It looked pretty much exactly the same as the one below, but slightly smaller and with couches instead of a reception area. I took one of the complimentary water bottles and chugged it down.
Then I spent about five seconds staring at the fire alarm on the wall.
I didn't know what answer worked out better.
If I let people wander the building and bullets started flying, they'd start getting hurt. If I pulled the alarm and got everyone out and bullets started flying, they'd get hurt. The assassin might take hostages, or people could get trampled trying to get out.
Shit choice either way.
I pulled the lever.
If people got hurt either way, I'd rather give them a fighting chance.
I followed the signs through the halls, stepping aside as people shuffled to the elevators or the stairs. The Haros left the area, and I wouldn't be able to see until they got back. If only I had a few more, but Red was grounded, I didn't want to leave Lafter alone, and Dinah…I didn't want to think about Dinah.
I let the family of five pass before turning the corner. A man and a woman, both in suits, stood guard at the door, hands in their coats. One held a finger to her ear, and the other grimaced.
Then the door opened and Mystery Cape stepped out smiling.
I raised my brow behind my visor.
"I've been expecting you," she announced.
I sighed. "Of course you have."
The suits both looked confused. One of them, a tall burly looking guy with short hair and stereotypical man in black glasses, protested, "She can't just—"
"It seems she did," Mystery Cape pointed out. "And he'll be here soon. It's time to go."
She opened the door fully behind her. A girl in a hood stepping out of the room. She raised her head slightly, blue eyes looking at me.
"We meet again," Relena Peacecraft said.
"We do."
I glanced past her, two women in the room packing cases in the corner suite.
"What about them?"
"They'll be alright," Mystery Cape said. "He isn't here for them and I told them to stay inside."
Another thinker? Great. "Let's go then."
The Haros finished delivering the furnace to Veda. They lowered the device onto the van's open bed, a few people on the side snapping pictures with their phones. Probably not going to manage getting all those taken down. Oh, well. Cat was basically out of the bag anyway.
"I don't know how long it's going to take him to get here. PRT and Protectorate won't show up for a few more minutes."
"You can't just leave," Suit Man declared. The burly man glared at me, and then at Mystery Cape saying, "We still haven't confirmed if there's a fire in the building."
"That was me," I admitted. He glared at me again.
"You still can't leave," Suit Girl objected. Seemed a fitting name. She was shorter than me, so why not? "We ne—"
"Diplomatic immunity. And call me Count. Honestly. This 'Mystery Cape' thing is preposterous."
Okay, thinker. Definitely thinker.
"Are we leaving or not?" I asked.
"Let's."
She urged Relena forward. She didn't resist at all, though she looked back into the room.
"They'll be alright," Count assured.
They both started down the hall. I stepped in front of them, ordering the Haros back to me. With their sonic cameras I could sweep the building and find him.
We made it a few steps before the steps behind me stopped. I turned, staring at Count.
Her face paled slightly. "I've made a mistake."
Mistake? "What mis—"
She pushed Relena against the wall and covered her.
Thunder erupted in my ear, a bullet striking my thigh and knocking me to my knees. I rasped. The pain of the bullet bouncing off my costume reminded me how much the rest of me hurt.
I started to turn back toward the open door. Got distracted fast by Suit Man dropping dead next to me. I raised my head, looking down the hall as Suit Girl pulled a gun and shot back into the door behind us. I heard more gunshots, and a scream.
As the Haros drew closer, I saw rope billowing on the side of the building. The glass windows to the suite were shattered.
He came in from the roof?
Three more dead bodies.
I snarled and got back to my feet. "Run."
I brandished my saber with one hand and reached into the satchel with the other. My feet beat against the floor, breaking into a run. I twisted the back of the stun rocket and shouldered the door open.
He turned, pointing something a bit larger than a pistol at me.
"Nine-millimeter TMP," Veda identified.
The assassin, to my credit, looked surprised to see me.
I threw the grenade at his chest, trying not to look at the dead bodies in the room. He just kicked it off toward the window.
Because of course he did.
I readied my saber and he ran at me.
I swung, hand fumbling for another grenade as he dodged out of the way. He ducked under my arm and struck my stomach. Threw my elbow at him and caught his shoulder. He grabbed me by the neck and threw me into the wall.
"Full of surprises," he sneered.
I threw my knee between his legs. It worked for Lafter. For me not so much. Damn jock cup. Figured.
"See, that's not how it works."
He punched me in the face. And then he punched me in the face again.
Think I blacked out for a second, waking only when my head hit the ground. He walked over me. I tried to grab his ankle, but there were two of them and I grabbed for the wrong one. I think?
Bullets started flying, and I saw a blur down the hall fall to the ground.
No.
Two other blurs moved.
Count turned back, firing a gun at the assassin. He rolled out of the way, crashing through a door and into a room.
I willed myself up and ran down the hall. My feet slipped for the first few steps, but I stayed up despite my lack of balance.
When he stepped back out of the room, I swung my saber at him. He must have seen the light from the corner of his eye, because he ducked back into the room and turned his gun toward me.
Orange flew through the window and slammed into his chest. Pink went low and hit his ankles. He started to fall and I grabbed my saber and thrust it straight up.
I still saw double, and instead of stabbing him in the fucking heart—he deserved it—I left a burning gash along his bicep. He hit the ground beside me, and rolled away. I reached for my bag, but it wasn't there anymore.
Fuck.
He threw his leg out and I jumped back before he hit my knee. His gun came up, a series of claps echoing in the room. I felt the bullets collide against my chest.
At least he wasn't using teleporting bullets. The gun probably broke.
I pushed through the pain of the bullets. My costume kept them from penetrating, so I figured why not.
He kicked my shin, throwing himself forward and onto his feet while I reeled. His fist shot out again, but Orange intercepted it and bounced back into the wall by my head. He caught me in the side with his elbow. I swung my saber and left a cut across his chest as he backed out.
It only cut a few straps and pouches off his vest.
"Seriously. Learn when to quit."
My head bounced off the wall. I barely saw the punch at all. His fist connected with my jaw, pain shooting right down to my legs. I tried to punch back. He blocked and punched me a third time.
Then again. And again. And again.
"You're an amateur, kid."
His knee struck my stomach, and he knocked Pink away when my Haro tried to defend me. He brought the bottom of his gun down on my collar, and I screamed as something broke.
"Way too green to be screwing with me."
He threw me to the ground and turned to the door.
Pretty sure my collarbone was broken. I gasped for breath. The pain radiated all through my chest.
I still managed to switch to my sonic camera and see him shoot Suit Girl. She barely moved on the ground, and he just shot her and dropped the magazine on the floor.
I inhaled, forcing myself onto my good shoulder.
Orange rolled next to me and I used his ball as a stand to get onto my knees.
"Stop him," I snarled.
"Taylor," Veda warned.
"No!"
How many did that make? Three or four, three, and then four. At least ten? He killed them and he didn't even have to. He could have turned the damn teleporting gun on Relena from the start. It's like he just wanted to hurt people.
Plus, Vicky, and Dauntless, and dropping a fucking building on me. He started a gang war for a distraction.
Lung and Hookwolf weren't like this. The gangs weren't like this. If they were the entire city would have burned to the ground years ago!
No.
Navy met me at the door with the satchel and I dumped the contents on the floor.
"Go."
The Haros grabbed the rockets, Pink and Navy flying while Orange rolled on the ground. I took two myself and forced my legs to run.
All the morning jogging paid off, but my shoulder screamed with every step.
Count and Relena skipped the elevator and kept running. The Assassin stayed right behind them, slowly catching up while I fell further behind.
The Haros outpaced him.
Navy caught up first, throwing his rocket through the air. Count fired her gun behind her, and the assassin pressed himself into the wall by a door.
The rocket landed right at his feet. He cursed before throwing himself through the door into the room. The blast only caught him on the edge. He got right up and fired on Pink.
Pink's body blew apart, her pieces falling to the floor and dropping the rocket.
I snarled, picking up my pace despite the pain. I needed to catch up while the Haros distracted him. Needed to occupy him until the Protectorate and PRT showed up, or at least until his target escaped.
Navy retreated from the doorway, and he charged out of the room. Navy dodged some of the bullets, and Orange ducked to the side. One round hit me in the gut, but I kept running.
He turned his back to me. The stairwell door slammed shut further ahead. Count and Relena bounded down the steps. He broke into a sprint and reloaded, only a dozen feet ahead of me.
Orange and Navy went ahead, slipping through the stair door before it closed. Navy jumped out of his cradle to squeeze by. I forced the door open with my shoulder and threw one rocket over the railing.
It went too far, exploding on the bottommost floor. The basement, I think.
One left.
Count and the assassin traded gunfire on the stairs, shooting and moving one after the other. Navy jumped off the side to catch up, rolling under the asshole's foot as he moved. He tripped and fell, turning his gun on Orange as my other Haro readied his rocket.
One of the bullets hit the device and detonated it.
I gasped as the edge of the blast hit me, and kept going. It felt like a numbing sensation, which actually helped with my collar a bit.
Count pushed Relena onto the ground floor first and shot the fire extinguisher on the wall. White exploded from the wall and covered the door. Bullets peppered the expanding foam, breaking it apart before he ran through it.
Navy's trip up let me make up most of the ground. Just a few more feet.
Count and Relena ran toward the lobby, her gun still firing behind her. I saw one bullet hit the assassin's chest, but he took it with only a small stumble.
Good enough for me.
I flicked my saber on and stabbed the blade into the wall. He cursed, jumping to the other side of the hall before the blade crossed him. I pulled my saber free and while my hand swung toward him, the other turned the rocket toward the floor.
I let go, and the rocket exploded at my feet.
The explosion rolled through me and holy fucking shit my stun rockets fucking hurt. How? How does it hurt this much the edge just numbs you!?.
I couldn't keep my eyes open, and in the brief moments I managed to squint the tears blocked my vision. They really, really hurt. Way more than my one mishap with the prototype.
I think I saw him, him and a Blue ball on top of him.
He pinned the ball to the wall, and the thunder sounded a thousand times louder.
Navy went offline.
I started sitting up, and then screamed again as the skin piercing pain buried itself in my thigh.
"Open a fucking daycare," a voice grumbled.
I reached for my thigh and felt the knife. Went right through my costume.
"Ohrang," I choked out.
My last Haro charged, crashing into the asshole's back and dropping his rocket on the floor. The pain started again, but every second I kept him pinned Count and Relena got away and the Protectorate and PRT got closer.
If he wanted to keep chasing them through the lobby, he was welcome to walk right into that giant pile of fu—
My throat closed up. I gagged, hands grabbing at his wrist.
Or he might just get tired of me and do me in.
That could happen.
My mouth opened, but I couldn't breathe. The wheezing noises didn't help. When I opened my eyes, his bore into me. No grin, smirk, or sardonic smile.
Just a twisted face and eyes like fire.
"You know, I only took this job to get a stab at the Count." His grin returned, but it seemed completely different. Sadistic. Soulless. "And that was a lot of fun. Still is, except for the parts where you keep getting in the way."
I tried to kick him off me, but he just sat down on my stomach and squeezed harder. Little dots appeared in my eyes, and I felt the burning sensation all along my arms and legs grow.
"ALI!"
And I could breathe again.
Wind whipped over me, the boom and echo of bullets filling the air. The weight on my stomach lifted, and Miss Militia's weapon burst apart and reformed.
He hit the floor and pulled me on top of him. Miss Militia's footsteps halted. I tried to move, but the body didn't give my mind any answers. Still seeing a little black really.
"I was wondering if you'd show up, mine detector."
"Let her go, Ali!"
"No, 'how are you still alive' or 'I thought you were dead?' I'm hurt."
Wait, does she fucking know him? Is Ali his name?
"If you're feeling dejected," he mused, "I did plan to drop by after finishing my business. The look on your face would have been more entertaining that way."
"NOW!" Militia screamed.
Out of the corner of my eye, her weapon broke apart and took the shape of a huge rifle.
"Oh, come now, Hana." His grip on me tightened. "You don't have the balls and we both know it."
And he knows her name?!
Orange's hands lifted him up further along the hall. My saber lay on the ground nearby.
My voice failed me at first, and even once I got the word out it sounded too hoarse.
"Sahver."
"Don't get so hopeful," Ali said. "You're not saved yet."
"I'm not going to keep warning you!" Miss Militia shouted. "Let her go!"
"Right, right. You never did like taking hostages—aahhhh!"
A saber pierced his collar as Orange stabbed at it. He released me, and I used what strength I had left to push myself away.
"Bitch," Ali cursed he turned his gun up and fired.
Miss Militia fired in kind, the air billowing as the barrel of the cannon snapped back into the gun's body. I don't think she hit him, because he swung his weapon around and fired back.
I couldn't move. Everything fucking hurt too much.
"Get Peacecraft out of the building!" Miss Militia ordered. "Newtype is injured! I—"
The assassin snarled. "The fuck is today?"
Miss Militia hit the ground beside me, her eyes fixed toward the ceiling. Her weapon became a large knife, and she stabbed at him when he got on top of her.
I saw her face. The scarf wasn't there anymore.
And she looked like a completely different person. She looked like him. Her face twisted in so many little emotions.
She fired a shotgun straight up, forcing him back.
"No," she snapped. "Don't come in here. No, you don't—" She fired again, and again. "Prism, I'm ordering you to stay back!"
"The fewer the merrier," Ali replied.
Miss Militia fired her gun. He ducked under it, grabbing the end of the weapon and pushing it into her shoulder. Her power released back into a mist, both of them punching each other before it reformed and she shot a huge pistol into the floor.
I lost track of it honestly. They kept moving, and I think I kept blacking out. Orange ended up blocking my view at some point, standing on one leg between me and the fighting.
I did see her tackle him into the wall. A gun appeared in her hand and she pressed it into his side and fired.
And everything stopped.
Miss Militia stepped back. I saw the knife, but it didn't really register in my head. Not until he stabbed her twice more and threw a weak fist into the side of her skull.
Miss Militia collapsed, and Ali loomed over her.
"You're rusty, Hana. In the old days, you'd have at least managed to pull out a draw." He chuckled. "Of course, in the old days you didn't use rubber bullets." He patted his side. "Tinkertech body armor really is a wonder."
Miss Militia's weapon formed in her hands again. He kicked her.
"The toddler was ready to kill me or die trying." He reached into his vest and poked around at it. Right, deep pockets. "When'd you get so soft?"
Miss Militia moved. He stabbed her again. And again, and again I tried to get up, but I couldn't. Not fast enough. I'd barely made it to my knees before he left his knife in her side and put a hand on the wall.
He rose slowly, glancing to me and smiling.
"Well, this day is ruined. All that effort and money down the drain."
He glanced over his shoulder and sighed.
"But on the bright side, neither of you have to live with the disappointment."
He withdrew his hand and pulled the pin from the grenade.
Shit.
I fell back to the floor when I tried to stand. Think of something. Kept telling myself that, but saying it doesn't make it so.
The grenade clattered to the floor. Orange started to move, but not fast enough.
Miss Militia got on top of me, somehow and held my head to her chest. I closed my eyes.
And nothing.
Well, I heard something. A boom, but it came from down the hall.
"Was that a grenade? I picked up a grenade. What the fuck am I doing?"
My head snapped up.
He looked down at me.
"Um. Hi?"
Trevor?
Chariot's armor looked more streamlined than the last time I saw it. Fewer exposed parts and wires, and more armor and padding.
"What happened to Miss Militia?" he asked.
Why is Trevor here?
"Um, are you okay?"
It was a stupid question—did I look okay?—but I didn't care. Miss Militia's grip on me loosened. I think she tried to say something, but I couldn't make out the words.
Bit distracted by the fact I wasn't dead.
Ali continued on his way down the hall. He looked at Trevor, and his lips moved. My heart tensed in my chest, then relaxed. Ali turned around and kept walking, dragging one leg a little.
Guess he had enough?
I felt like I'd had enough…
"Oh right!" Trevor reached around his back and pulled out a first aid kit. "A twelve year old told me to hurry over here with a first aid kit, and that it was really important I use the basement entrance and wait until all the bullets stopped, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do right now, what am I supposed to be doing right now?"
A twel—Dinah? Veda. I need to say something to Veda.
"V—Star—"
"She told me not to say anything," Veda apologized. "She said it was important."
How would keeping that—Oh no.
I'd been so focused. Watching Count and Relena run. Trying to catch Ali. Then trying not to die…
I didn't notice Green's location.
I pushed Miss Militia back and got up. Took two tries to get on my feet because my legs felt like jelly.
"Should you be getting up?" Trevor asked.
"Help her," I mumbled.
I managed to point one finger weakly at Miss Militia. Ali turned a corner ahead, and I started after him.
"How?" Trevor asked.
"StarGazer."
"I can instruct you," Veda said through Orange.
I hobbled forward, one hand on my thigh and the other on my broken collarbone. My throat felt swollen, and it was easier to think of the parts of me that didn't hurt.
I collapsed at the end of the hall leading into the lobby.
Ali stood in the center of the room. He glanced back at me for a moment, and then turned his head forward.
Dinah stood across from him.
She wore her costume, hands on her hips.
"Fuck this city," he grumbled.
"Tell me about it."
What are you do—
I blinked.
He's standing in the lobby.
I pushed myself against the wall, using one hand to lift the other into my lap. I turned my wrist up, and pressed my thumb against the band.
I hesitated. He might be on his feet, but he didn't seem in any condition to keep fighting. Prism and the Troopers were turning around, running down the street back to the hotel, and a few cops were following them. But he'd go through…Dinah…
Oh. Well played, Dinah.
I closed my eyes, vaguely aware of Trevor crouched over Miss Militia on my left, and Ali taking a weak step toward Dinah on my right. Outside, Green's sonic cameras confirmed no one was close enough to get hurt. Dinah and I were both clear of the lobby itself, standing or laying just around corners in the halls.
It's just a suit…
It still hurt to say the words.
"Goodbye."
Dinah jumped back and covered her head.
I pushed my thumb down.
O Gundam exploded.
The earth-shattering crash left a ringing in my ears, and the energy went right through every sore part of me.
Green light slammed into the hotel and shattered every pane of glass. Tiles lifted from the floor. Pieces of
and metal clattered across the ground and ceiling.
The blast enveloped everything, and threw Ali into the air.
I covered my head weakly, most of the debris clattering to the ground and wall around the corner. Ali smashed into the reception desk, a shower of glass and debris rolling over him like a wave.
I exhaled, sitting and breathing and not much else.
"What the fuck was that?!" Trevor sat up down the hall.
"Focus," Veda said. Orange pointed. "Apply pressure here."
"Oh, right. Right! Sorry! Super sorry!"
Dinah crossed the lobby. She pulled out the "flashlight" I'd given her and dropped it on the ground by Ali. It exploded, and Dinah sat down beside me.
"Made me blow up my suit," I whispered.
"Sorry."
I made sure not to shrug. "It's just a suit."
Ali didn't move. I heard him breathe, unfortunately, but he didn't move.
"He could have killed you," I noted.
"He was going to kill a bunch more people," Dinah replied. "There wasn't time to explain. I needed to make sure Chariot was here."
She looked down the hall.
"Miss Militia's going to be okay."
"How many questions?" I asked.
She leaned her head on my good shoulder. "My head hurts."
"My everything hurts."
Troopers charged the lobby, and Ali got a nice dose of confoam to go with an explosion to the jawline. Prism ran inside, and she noticed Dinah and me first.
"What the hell did yo—"
I pointed down the hall. "Miss Militia needs help."
She stood stock still for a moment, and then—
She ran, a few troopers following after her. They appeared on Oranges camera, and Prism started shouting.
"MEDIC!" She screamed. "Militia's down!"
"I'm trying!" Trevor shouted.
Prism and a pair of Troopers ran past me. "What happened?"
"I—I just got here!" Trevor claimed.
"Let me see that," one of the troopers said. Noa. He took the first aid kit and crouched beside Miss Militia. "She's fine," he said. "The assassin is disabled."
I didn't hear Miss Militia's first question before Noa gave an answer.
I did hear what what she said after Noa's answer.
"Kill him."
