CHAPTER 6: BETRAYAL
"She's switching teams?" Johnson took his cigar out of his mouth. "Then who're they giving us? ..I swear Norton, if it's another fucking robot. I'm kicking your ass!" Desiree dropped her Rocket Launcher, and pointed at Norton. Johnson stepped in between them to hold Desiree off, and Blain entered the room. "Should I come back later?" They all looked at him as he watched and grinned. "..Shit." Desiree backed up. "I was hoping I could finish that.." Blain walked down the stairs. "Glad to have you back Blain." Johnson shook his hand. "Yeah, training this new guy has been a real pain in my-" "Easy Des.. We're going up against some real tough shit in there." Johnson puffed his cigar. "They ain't so bad." Blain adjusted his gloves. "Now, now, Blaine. I ain't saying they're bad. I'm saying they're tough." Blaine broke eye contact. "We got Kregore and Wraith on the same team still, you know those two go together like napalm and explosives." Johnson spit on the floor. "And lover-boy over here, couldn't shoot Avalon if his life depended on it." Desiree pointed to Norton. "That true?" Blain smirked at Norton. "You and Avalon? ..How was she?" Him and Desiree laughed.
("Tonight's match will be held in downtown Oxida Nova." The camera panned across the map. "Don't those buildings look familiar? That's because they're supposed to, they were designed specifically to resemble the ones you know and love, here on Earth." Sarah cheered. "Put your hands and bets together for." "Defiance.." The crowd cheered.)
"Remember people, we're gonna be working as a team in here." Johnson said over the comm. "That means, I don't want any hot-shot moves Blain." He continued. "I'm in this Tournament for the same reasons you are Johnson.." Blain said over the comm. Norton spawned in a Alleyway, there were some apartments on the street below, past the fence. He looked to his left and emptied his Enforcer into Cathode, then picked up a Stinger Mini-gun and found Desiree. Norton stood on the platform and saw Kregore and Wraith running up the stairs below and began firing at them. He ripped apart Kregore with the shards from his Stinger Mini-gun, and Desiree shot a gigantic glob of acid from her Bio Rifle and watched as Wraith turned into nothing but a steaming pile of orange-brown and green goop.
"How's that feel asshole?" They both jumped down and Desiree ran outside to meet up with Johnson. Norton turned around to see Avalon standing above him. They stared at each other for a few seconds, when she aimed her Shock Rifle at him and formed a vortex above him, splattering his insides all over the walls.
("Oh.." The crowd groaned. "What the fuck Norton!" Sarah shouted.)
He spawned near the Shield Belt in the Downtown district and grabbed a Flak Cannon. "Norton, you stick near me." Desiree said over the comm. "I'll take that bitch down.." She continued, he ran toward the stairwell near where he died before. He jumped down to see Wraith and Kregore coming down the opposite set of stairs, he fired his Flak Cannon but missed, he tried dodging to the left but was hit by a rain of rockets they had fired. "Double Kill!" The announcer said. "Triple Kill!" The announcer continued. "Was that us or them?" Norton asked as he met with Johnson and Desiree. "Them." Desiree fired her Link Gun at Drake, he died shortly after and Wraith made a run for the outside. They followed him outside but lost him. "Where the hell did he go?" Johnson looked through the door. "Going for the Shield Belt.." Blain said over the comm, Desiree turned east. "The belt!" They all looked over to see Wraith jump out of the window and grab the belt. They fired upon him but he disappeared back inside, as they ran in, a Sniper bullet whizzed by Norton's head. He ducked and ran for cover, as he could hear the bullets pounding through the wall.
Norton made a break for the stairwell but was shot in the chest before he could make it, he fell to the ground and was shot three more times. "Bad news." Kregore said over the comm. "These guys are inhuman.." Norton said as he spawned near the Shock Rifle and grabbed it, as he was firing upon Drake, Avalon joined in the battle. He dodged to the left and tried to find the nearest exit but he was trapped behind a large crate near the docks. He shot Drake twice with a Shock beam and Drake fell lifeless to the ground, Norton ran toward the staircase and lost Avalon so he could make it to the Downtown district and hopefully meet up with Desiree and Johnson. "I can't feel my legs.." Blain said over the comm. Norton found some health, and picked up some Shock Cores laying on the ground when Desiree shouted. "The sewers Norton!" Heavy gunfire in the background of the comm.
He ran toward the docks and went down the stairs. Kregore and Cathode were the only ones left alive, and Norton shot Kregore with a Shock beam, Kregore had fled and Cathode returned fire on Norton. Norton fired two orbs and created a vortex with one of them, Desiree, Johnson and Wraith's bodies including Cathode's were swept inside and exploded all over the walls and ceiling of the sewer. "Nasty.." He said and walked outside. "Ten kills remaining." The robotic female announced. "We're one point ahead. Step it up!" Johnson said over the comm. Norton ran up the stairs where Kregore had fled and watched as Mihr and Johnson tore through Kregore's body with Stinger fire. As he fell to the ground, he dropped a U-Damage, Norton quickly went to pick it up.
"Holy shit.." It glowed in front of him, hovering, making a deep humming noise as it spun. He held his Shock Rifle in his right hand and reached for the U-Damage with the other, as his hand made contact it quickly contorted and his back jolted up. He flung his arm behind him and fired, as he slowly turned his head, he seen what was left of Cathode flying through the air. He ran towards Cathode's remains and seen Avalon, he fired an Orb and she was instantly imploded, he turned to see Wraith and Drake at the end of the Sewer line. He fired two orbs and shot Drake with a Shock beam. "Double Kill!" Said the announcer. One of the orbs had hit Wraith as he was trying to run outside and Kregore jumped into the sewer and the remaining orb had killed him as well. "Multi Kill!"
("Amazing play by Norton!" The female personality said, as the crowd cheered. "I've seen better.." The other had said.)
Norton ran back outside and felt drained of his power, he looked down at his armor and it was charred and covered in holes. He made his way slowly up the staircase when he was exploded by a rocket. "Rogue process terminated." Cathode had said over the comm. "Five kills remaining." The female announcer had said. "Five kills? Who the fuck is dying?" Desiree shouted over the comm. "I did, just now.." Norton grabbed a Flak Cannon. "Okay.. Let's try, not doing that." Desiree replied. Norton met up with them in the Courtyard and they were firing in all directions, Johnson was shooting high as he hid behind a crate and Desiree was shooting toward the building. "Only three more." Johnson killed Drake with his Link Gun. Norton ran out of shells for the Flak Cannon and went to pick up a Shock Rifle, when he made his way back to his spot he was hit by a Sniper round and had to take cover near the stairs. "Damn it.." He laid against the wall, holding his wound. "How you doing over there?" Johnson fired his Link gun.
"One kill remaining." The robotic female announced. "Damn it Norton!" Desiree shouted. "I'm still alive.." Norton replied. "Barely.." He continued. "Then get some health, we just need one ki-" "Red Team wins the match." The female announcer had said.
They all spawned back in blue base. "Red Team wins? After that Multi Kill? That's bullshit!" Desiree shouted. "It was a fair game. We lost by one point.." Johnson lit up a cigar. Desiree cooled down and took off her helmet revealing her short and black hair. "Still. I need a drink.." She tossed her helmet to the side and walked to the door. "Heard that." Johnson followed. Two men burst through, before they could walk out. "Blain." One man said. "Come with us." The other had said and grabbed Norton. "You too Norton.." Desiree looked at Norton in shock as he walked out of the room. "Where are you taking us?" Norton asked. "It's none of your business." The thug pointed a pistol at the back of Norton's head. "Alright. Fine." They all stepped into the elevator.