Doors opened and I've emerged outside the traincar, only to see nearly dozen of bodies laying everywhere.
"About damn time you showed up!" Eiger's voice is a relief, one friend checked off as alive and kicking.
"Got stopped by a lovely show of that big fucking orc executing people around." I've retorted without even thinking. "Fuck, you're a mess."
Eiger did not paid any attention to it apparently but she was splattered top to bottom with blood.
"None of it mine." She replied reloading Steyr AUG. That toy created hell of a mess meaning it was worth all the effort of getting it. "Did you got info from Alice?"
"A disc and warning from great Alice to get the hell out. She sure bailed out on us. Maybe even sold us out, greedy cunt...Never trust a knife-ear."
"Well we can get some light reading after we kill all these bastards trying to raze Kreuzbasar."
"Three times yes, my blood-soaked fairy of doom." My retort came out of nowhere and somehow, through all the grim circumstances, it made Eiger snort harder than anytime before.
Running up the stairs and onto the street, I already heard and saw carnage begun by Audran's footsoldiers. People I did not knew by name but recognized by faces, were laying at my feet, riddled with gunfire.
But so did solid handful of these mercs. Kreuzbasar was home of the anarchists with ideals and let me tell you...You can pay a soldier to fight, even to die. But you can't pay people to believe. And faith pushed locals to whip out their guns, find their collective bollocks and fight back like cornered rats we all were.
Closing in towards the nearest intersection, I saw 'Rai's Civic Center' plaque shot up with bullets. Oh no, this was beyond personal now. The one thing my mum would be proud of me for...
"NOW YOU'VE DONE FUCKED UP, WANKERS!" My cry got enough attention to make targets see shotgun slugs flying into their faces.
I've managed to put two humans down and vault over overturned dumpster, kicking an elf right in the face, when a scalding hot breath of death went past my cheek. Sniper bullet from Eiger's rifle decapitated a mage futher down the street in most ungentle and messy way possible.
Good. Let them all see what's coming.
We moved just a few steps ahead, when from an alleway came a terrifying, blood chilling scream of a man. Loud, sloppy snap and screams ended. Then low, rumbling noise came from the alley...and stepped into the alley.
Dante. This was Dante but not in his almost-innocent, usual form. I could see the steam around him, snow evaporating from the heat surrounding the mongrel.
"I forgot to mention it to you Rai but uh...Your dog changed a little bit the moment shooting started." Eiger spoken to me trying to be oh so flippant but I could hear she was scared shitless of the creature Dante turned into.
"Well I can see Dante got some blood on his fangs for sure...Dante! C'mere mate!" I've forced myself to sound just as ever I was calling him.
Slowly, growling as if more at himself than at me, Dante trotted towards me. From upclose, I've understood what was going on...It wasn't just a dangerous mix of dogs breeds.
Monika you crazy bitch, how in the hell have you managed to domesticate a Hellhound?!
"There Dante. Good boy." I've patted his head, now hot and with fur coarse like sandpaper. "We have bad motherfuckers to kill, boyo."
Dante barked. Happily, in his own new way.
Hearing a stray shot up north, we've made a dash down there. The sight I've stumbled upon...I still regret not getting this on tape.
Glory, seemingly surrounded at the small square with talking monument, was moving around like whirlwind of razors, not wasting a single attack of her clawed hand. Downward, she slashed across faces and chests, ripping armors of the mercs into ribbons. Cutting up, she hacked off limbs off any motherfucker trying to hurt her.
That's my girl right here.
"Glory! Behind you!" I've screamed and aimed, firing off a shot at sneaky bastard trying to blindside her. I didn't hesitated, fear of hurting her would only make me do exactly that. She was looking me dead in the eyes, not even twitching when a shell went close enough to cut few strands off her hair.
Adrenaline high makes scenes better than in finest films.
Just as I was about to run to Glory and do dumb thing of hugging her, a troll came out from the side. He managed to do two steps before metallic sound of katana whistled through the air and head rolled off his shoulders.
Seeing circuits glowing in the dark, I've recognised Lucky Strike, approaching from behind the corpse.
"What kind of messed up shit you've stirred up, you fucking Brit?" Lucky cried at me, sheathing sword back.
"Poured pop over single-malt scotch." I've flipped her off. "Glory, you alright there?"
"Ready and able." She replied mechanically but this time, it was on purpose. She switched off to be worse than angry. So did I.
"Where's the rest of our guys. Eiger?" I've turned to the sniper.
"South. Dietrich and Blitz told they'll hold somwhere around Altug's place."
"Let's hustle, on me! Lucky, you comin'?"
"I'm not getting paid for this shit...Ah fuck it, I'm in a mood for killing." Mohawked blonde broken into run right next to us, brandishing her dikoted katana all ready to plunge into some unlucky cunt that interrupted her drinkinkg herself under the table.
Running down the main street I've seen bodies. A lot of bodies. Some locals but much more mercs. The solid gunfire from the far corner drew us closer, making me see Mettbach using his stock to protect his life, and more importantly to him, his business.
"None of you will get anything from beside these bullets! Take them all, half priced!" Gunari was roaring over the noise of machinegun held by the towering man, spitting lead into every single thing still moving in the vicinity. "...No refunds, schweinen."
"Friendlies!" I've called to avoid dying in such stupid way.
"Rai! Well that's a sight for sore eyes...What in the hell is going in here?!" Gunrunner screamed at me while loading another box of ammo to his MG.
"Long story, can you hold on on your own in here?"
"Jawohl, nobody will get a piece of me as long as Helga has ammo!" Gunari patted the old weapon in his arms. "Go between the blocks, towards the cafe!"
We've left Mettbach in tender care of Helga and followed his directions, already hearing familiar sounds of people being electrocuted by magical thunderbolts.
Dietrich wasn't slowing down even then, delivering a solid kick to some eager beaver with a machete trying to jump the shaman as he was done casting a spell.
Obviously Audran did not briefed his lackey on whom they were fucking with.
"RAGE!" I've screamed, jumping into the plaza where cafe was, firing Dragon's Breath shell at nearest merc.
"RAGE!" Dietrich seconded no worse than he did years ago on the stage. "Taste the lightning, suckers!" He threw another spell, roasting unlucky mage like a duck.
Dante done his fair share, jumping out from the shadows and biting right into throat of a mercenary. Between our growing forces and anger keeping us going, we've annihilated squad trying to break into Cafe.
"Glad to see you all in one piece..." Dietrich grinned at us. "Listen, boss. We got a problem."
"Yeah, the beer is getting warm. What is it?"
"I saw whole team of these fuckers carrying bombs into sewers. Dunno what yield but surely enough to flood us. Unless crater is your dream real estate we better get a fucking move on and disable these fast."
"Where the fuck's Blitz?" I've asked, noticing absence of my favourite piss-soaked hacker.
"Took off with Mallit after talking about jamming comms of these fucks. Come on, we need to get workin' on these bombs."
"Aw fuck...Lucky, Can you look around Data Heaven for these two while we fight in shit in the sewers?" I've asked, knowing like hell Lucky Strike would stain her expensive leather outfit with sewage, which would eliminate my problem of her keeping silent about Ghouls.
My guys will understand. Lucky? I don't think so.
Strike vanished faster than I thought, so rest of us broken into run towards the sewer grate. Passing by Aljernon's shop, I've noticed doors welded shut by a magical barrier.
Stinky coward.
Not bothering with hygiene or subtleties, I've slid down the ladder and landed with loud plop in the puddle of things I thought I wouldn't have to experience ever again.
This time it was different than my previous venture inside here though. Dirty lamps were burning every few meters, making the trip more bearable.
"We ain't got time to fuck around...Eiger? Take Dietrich and go to southern pump. Glory? Dante will keep you safe, take the North. I'm going after console systems. When you find the bombs, comm me and I'll tell you what to do."
"Rai-"
"Go! No time for bullshit! Dante, keep Glory safe, boy I'm counting on you!" I've only snapped and already paced down the stinky corridor. Splitting up was bad idea, exposing us to some shitty hostage situation and what not. But I had no choice...
Stay safe Glory. Please.
I was closing in to the place where steering consoles of the sewage system were when Eiger's voice popped in my ear.
"We've cleared the southern pump. If all bombs are like these, we're lucky. That's military H-BLOCK cratering charge with additional load of HMX. Already disarmed." Troll soldier reported.
"Disconnect everything and take detonator with you. Make your way to northern pump and help Glory." I've ordered and pulled out a flshbang out of my rig, looking at the small group of sappers setting up similar, military-grade cratering charge between the computers controlling entire sewers for my kiez.
Newsflash, you cunts.
Unloading buckshot shells from close distance had better effect than slugs, and smaller chance of over-penetration that could harm consoles. Still really messy thought...
Taking one glance to see if anyone's coming, I've taken a knee above the bomb.
"Ay right, bring military det-charges because there's no way somebody will know how to disarm an electronic detonator being nothing more than army-approved egg timer with few spare wires!" I've chattered out my panic, doing quick work of pulling out wires from detonation sockets. "Because a chuck full of cordex with acid detonator is sooo twentieth century and we hafta be terrorist hispters, ay? Electronics, yaaay!"
Done being a complete idiot, I've stuffed the device into pocket and left the explosives for later. Without electronic jolt of right frequency, this compound was nothing but a stinky and extremely costy clay for kids.
Not getting confirmation from Glory, I've broken into run, slightly remembering the layout of the place.
Running through the doors, I saw Dante biting into ribcage of some unlucky elven merc, at the same time as Glory doing a trick normally only I'd be stupid enough to do.
She pulled a living merc as a shield with her claws, retracted them while merc was soaking up bullet fire from his friends, then she whipped out her revolver and *fanned* the hammer!
I must be bad influence on her.
Two orcs that swallowed two and four high-caliber bullets respectively, were done for but then Glory stared at last enemy, too far to reach him with claws and her gun was empty.
But mine was not.
Bastard took a rain of lead grains to the side of his face, losing his gun and footing at the same time. Second later he lost his guts when Glory reached him with her razors.
"Don't touch it!" I've cried to Glory and ran up to the bomb, sliding against the floor over things that forced me to buy new pants when this whole gig was over.
You don't want to know how much shipping overseas costs to get something in my size...
Quick work of my trembling fingers, one sharp pull of the wires and-
"It's over..." I've managed to croak out and look at Glory with glossy eyes. "World not ending today, love."
She smiled at me, despite the cut on her jawline she still looked so pretty...