Chapter 7

Chesapeake, Virginia-January 21, 2090 (One Year Later)

Gina punched Scott in the face. He wiped the blood from his nose, nodding "Good, good." He said. "Now let's work on your two-on-one skills again."

Gina looked at him, as Jake joined him in a blue tank top and black windbreakers. "C'mon guys, it's eight-thirty and it's my birthday." She said.

"Happy birthday." They said, in unison. "One round." Scott said, putting his hands up.

"Fine." She said rolling her eyes. Her hair had grown out to chin length, and was pulled into a ponytail of blonde with platinum tips. She put her hands up, eying both men.

Vapor moved in quick, like a snake, going for her legs. She flipped forward, over the sweep, batting away five quick punches from Scott. Pushing him back, by his chest, she threw a standing backward kick, catching Jake in the gut. Scott ducked in, going for a body uppercut, as she twisted, grabbing his wrist and slapping his arm. "Broken elbow." She said, pushing him forward, into the other attacker, causing them to collide, clumsily.

Gina slid up to them, grabbing each by the thigh and pulling them to their backs. She raised a forearm, for a downward blow, when Scott shouted "Time!" Gina stepped back, letting the men stand.

"I'm not sure there's much else to teach her, at this point." Vapor said, grinning.

Scott nodded, "We haven't tried six-on-one, yet. But I think you're right. At this rate, she'll be training me." He said.

"Guys, we got a problem in here." Tracy said poking her head in through the door.

The three quickly rushed out, as the confetti sprayed them. "Happy Birthday!" Everyone yelled in the hallway. Gina covered her mouth, in surprise, as they led her to the living room, where a cake and boxes awaited her. Robbie stood, holding a giant balloon, with the number seventeen on it.

They sat down as she opened the first, which was from Scott. She pulled out a set of nunchucks and an 'Enter the Dragon' holochip. She smiled and said, "Is this one of your training videos?" Laughing.

Scott laughed, as well. "Watch it everyday, and see me on Friday." He said.

The next was from Gerard. She ripped back the paper, to reveal a set of goggles, trimmed in yellow. "They''ll keep shit outta your eyes, but they're also kinda badass." He said grinning.

The third and fourth were black "death metal" t-shirts from Jake and Damon. She opened Danica's gift to find a small holochip, unlabeled. "I went back to Williamsburg and recovered your computer files, for you." Danica said, "It's got all of your music, pictures, and videos on it."

The tears welled in Gina's eyes, as she covered her mouth. "Are you serious?" She said quietly, before jumping up and hugging Danica.

When she let her go, Tracy pulled her box forward. "I don't know if I can top that," she said, smiling, "but here you go."

Gina opened the box to two smiling servbots. One was labeled "name me" and the other "me too". Tracy smiled seeing her friend's glee. "I know I promised you one for your last birthday, but we kinda hit a war, so there's two."

Rush walked over, sniffing the servbots. "Oh my God. They are too cute!" She said, picking them up, as they hugged her. "I'll name them Tommy and Joey." She said, as Tracy handed her a wristband.

"This comes in handy." Tracy said. "You just press it to your wrist and say what you want them to do." She said, as Gina played with them. "Just make sure you refer to them by name, otherwise, they'll both try and do the same thing." She added.

There was one more box, sitting by itself, labeled "Glitch". She pulled it over, unwrapping it. It was a red nanosuit, with a yellow combat vest and a set of red, fingerless gloves. Her eyes widened, knowing what this meant. "Congratulations, Roll." Reginald said. "You're official now."

She gazed on, at the beauty of the suit. "When's my first mission?" Gina asked.

"T'morrow mornin'" He replied. "So don't go gettin' all sloppy plastered tonight." He said, grinning.

Washington D.C.

Shroud sat in the Oval Office, grinding his teeth, while Wily read him the proverbial "Riot Act". "Ever since the Richmond incident, no matter how many of their comrades we execute publicly, these Wraiths still continue to sabotage our occupation! How is it, that as smart as you are, you cant find a group of active revolutionaries?!"

Shroud opened his mouth to speak, "With all do resp..."

"Shut up!" Wily interrupted, pacing behind the desk. "I'm not sure at what point I gave you the idea, that this was a formal conversation. As long as these people see that there is a group fighting, and succeeding, they will be harder to control. Hell, even some of our own men may turncoat on us." He pointed to Shroud, "Is this what you wanted out of your role here? To be chasing down rebels, running around the country checking on leads? You should have been promoted, a year ago. Working with me, not doing this, still."

Shroud crossed his arms, disappointed, as Wily spread out a stack of holofiles. He pointed to the faces on the documents. "When the Wraiths are taken care of, that's when you get your end of the deal. Not a moment sooner." He said, as a guard wearing grey combat gear, bearing the "W" insignia, came in.

"Detective, King Wily, we have an issue." He told them, out of breath.

Wiley pointed to the man, while looking at Shroud, "See? Shit like this." He said, plainly.

N.C. State Capitol Building (30 Minutes Earlier)

The once Capital Building was now being used as a production plant. The civilians were tasked with creating more of the wasp-like swarmbots, and the skeletal gearbots, with tank-tracks for legs, and assault rifles for arms. There were buildings like this all over the country now, but this particular one held a special individual. And the Wraiths needed him, badly.

The four guards on the eastern side of the building stopped their conversation, as the pretty blonde, in a brown poncho walked up. Her face was smudged with gear dirt and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. "Why aren't you inside, little lady?" One of the guards asked.

"I just wanted to know if one of you guys might have a cigarette, I could bum." She replied.

Another guard looked over at her, "You risked getting beaten and thrown in the pits, for sneaking out, for a fucking cigarette? Besides, you don't look a day over sixteen. Get back inside."

She put her hands out, "C'mon guys. Please?" She asked.

One of the guys sighed, and began reaching into his vest, when the girl side-kicked him in the jaw. The other three drew their batons, lunging at her. She spun to her left, twisting the strict man's wrist and taking his weapon. After kicking his leg, dropping him to his face, she continued the spin, while ducking and driving the baton into the third's balls. She grabbed the last man's ankles, driving her back upward, into his chest. He crashed to his back, welcoming the back of her skull into his nose.

The first guard jumped up, but Roll had already drew her handgun, from her belt, shooting him through the forehead. She turned the gun shooting the bleeding man she just headbutt, and rolled to her feet. The guard she had low blown was still doubled over, so the back of his head was an easy target. She walked up to the strict one, who was on his knees putting his hands up, and scattered his brains, before he could even plea. "Eastern perimeter clear." She said over comms, removing the poncho, and donning her new combat gear and yellow goggles, around her neck.

On the southern side of the compound the patrols heard the shots, and rushed around the corner, only to be simultaneously decapitated. Vapor appeared and turned, looking over to Roll. She clicked her comms again, "Southern perimeter, as well."

There were six men standing along the western wall, looking out at the empty horizon. At once their adrenaline spiked, as the large, square, armored van materialized, and the side opened. "Ay'ya dopey fucks." Glitch said, standing in the opening, holding a massive rotating, heavy machine gun. The barrels spun as he vaporized the men, and most of the wall behind them. When the deafening roar had stopped, he activated his comms, "Break, Tron, you're up."

The alarms rang out, as Break and Tron walked quickly up the front steps, shooting down the sentries out front. Break put on his sunglasses and pulled up the yellow scarf, covering his mouth and nose, as Tron put on a thin, metal headband and node-covered gloves.

Once inside the lobby, she tossed four small cylinders, from her belt, then began to point. The sides of them opened up, exposing several barrels, that began opening rapid fire on anything she pointed to. The cylinders flew around the room, as Break looked to his left, "Vapor, you wanna go clear out the warehouse?" He asked.

The thin air let out a robotic sigh, "I'm starting to feel like this suit isn't as effective as it used to be." He said.

Break grinned, tapping his glasses, "Don't worry, man. I just like to know when to duck, is all."

"That was one time, and I did yell 'get down'." Vapor said, as he headed to the western corridor.

The security cavalry came screeching up to the Capital Building. Only to be greeted by a large black man, in a white vest, with steel arm covers. Ripple smashed his forearms onto the first car, crushing the front, then clutched the front fender. With a twist of his arm gears, he threw the vehicle like a Frisbee, into the other cars. Anyone who dared crawl out into the street was met with hydraulic-like pressure punches, and killed instantly.

On the Executive Level, Break strolled the hallway, when three guards stepped out to meet him. Dodging the gunfire, he grabbed the waist of the man in front and lifted him up, running toward the others. When he closed in on them, his human shield was easily pronounced dead, as he tossed him at them. When they staggered back, Break jumped off the wall grabbing the neck of the guard on the right, twisting it, as he kick the elbow of the other, snapping his arm. He dropped the second dead man, placing his hands on the shoulders of the last guard and hopping up, kicking both of his kneecaps backward. The man screamed as Break held on to him, falling to his back and jolting his arms forward and inward, dislocating both shoulders. The man lay crying as he stood up, shooting him in the back of the head.

The luxury suite door opened, where their target stood, a fat, balding man, hiding behind four, fully geared, commandos. They pointed their weapons at Break, who raised his hands in the air. Tron's voice came over in his ear, "Got their data, we're done here, Break." She said.

He snapped his fingers and the guard on the far left turned, gunning down the rest of the security team. When Helix revealed himself, Break walked over to the man. "Secretary of State, Robert Maglia, The Black Wraiths graciously request your presence." He stated, with a smile.