When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 5
Evading wave after wave of enemies as they scour the building with intermittent blaster fire going off all across the building sounding like a war zone. I stick to the shadows and use invisibility when needed.
Like now, as two groups near me both on different ends of the hall as I back into one of the many open doorways. For a second it looked like the tallest one leading one of the groups head snapped in my direction and followed me. It was very minor with no real movement to it. Something must have moved or maybe the lighting got their attention.
Completely letting that go and assuming it's just more paranoia and my nerves getting to me at having to be forced to run around like a rat in my own home. Loosening my balled fists as I let the anger go.
Looking at the few members I can actually see they look just like all the other groups and they are not consistent with their outfits. Armored up with not a single person not having at least one piece of armor on them. Which is why I have so far used explosives and blasters. The gangs I took down had some consistency between each member that made them stick out.
These people have some in different groups like that. Some of which I recognize since I was going to hunt them down eventually. But the fact they are all working together doesn't paint a pretty picture. Some look more professional while others look just like all the other gangs I had killed. The question is why are they here. The answer that comes to mind I don't like. Me.
And more importantly once I get to that room where do I go? Because despite what Skyrim would show you in the game with the detect life spell inherent to vampires, it has some range to it in real life and from what I am seeing besides the over one hundred people ransacking this place as they have been killing the other tenants of the building as they look around in the apartments is that outside there are even more of them.
Easily another two hundred outside and it's growing in numbers. So even with my project I doubt I can fight all of them off, especially if the ordinance they have out there is better than what they have in here. For fucks sake they had a rocket launcher. One that I only survived because I leaped just before it blew up the front of my home.
And the people I see looking around have had some serious firepower they should not have normally had. Especially when they are nothing more than common gang members.
With all of that in mind I am going to have to do something that brings me no small amount of discomfort even though it was the plan once my alarm system went off. I am going to have to make a tactical retreat.
I'm not running. I just… need to reposition and get some better weapons and equipment. And find who set this all up and castrate them.
Despite needing to run I so badly want to just massacre these bastards for the nerve and audacity to just come here and pull a stunt like this. I never liked running, it makes me look weak and like I'm not even a man. I guess it's one of the biggest lessons he taught me when he took me under his wing.
Parts of my character's memories get dredged up as I see several times that they ran from numerous things that would have killed them had they stood their ground and I am being stupid for not wanting to despite needing to run.
… breathing out a silent sigh as I grudgingly acknowledge that in the end they are right. However it doesn't make swallowing that bitter pill any easier.
Putting those thoughts aside, the groups near each other as their cumulative flash lights all but illuminate the entirety of this section of the hall. They are now right in front of the apartment I backed into with the resident's dead vacant eyes staring up at me as his cold body keeps me company.
I see from the doorway the tall bulky looking lizard guy that I stupidly thought had seen me with orange scaled skin with darker red patterns along his face with a gray vest with black undershirt along with brown shorts. No shoes as I see his clawed feet wiggling free.
Sporting a dangerous looking blaster rifle that looks just shy of a blaster cannon held in his hands as the other person in front of the opposing group is a female alien with horns on her head similar to Darth Maul but tan skin instead of his black and red with twin blaster pistols on her hips and just a simple brown tank top with matching pants and boots. And of course armored plates covering parts of her body.
"Have you found any ssssign of that bounty hunter yet?" The lizard says as he hisses out as he stares down the woman.
"None. Besides Alano and his team encountering him and losing three of their own along with several injuries. Apparently whoever had that room had turrets built into the ceiling. The few squads that haven't reported after those explosions, we haven't seen or heard anything. Also been in constant contact with all the others on the comms and nothing. They did find the remains of the squads." She says with anger clear in her voice. Must have been some of her own that I killed. Good.
The lizard only smiles at this showing his teeth. "Good. The Scorekeeper will be happy if I manage to bag thissss one." My knuckles tighten slightly around my blaster at that proclamation. Don't you dare ever take me lightly. Apparently I'm not the only one getting angry if the glare the this lady is giving him is anything to go off of.
Rubbing my thumb over a grenade and feeling the temptation to just drop it on them and mop up the survivors was high. But I ultimately don't since I only have so many and I used several already, killing off the few squads I deemed too dangerous to let them live with the heat they were packing.
This group may be as dangerous as the ones with the better firepower, but the equipment they have on them is just some blasters and grenades. No heavy ordinance in a narrow hall to worry about aside from the grenades. Even with Atlas I don't like testing it against a future space rocket. Blasters and even heavy blasters to some extent sure. After all, I did test a little bit till I got bored.
"So how much of a bonus can we expect when we get the guy who has been hounding us? And for the drugs he stole?" The horned lady asks as the lizard smiles and laughs ignoring her glare at him disregarding the deaths of those squads.
"You do realize part of the payment of your job is the weapons you and the other gangs were given? Leave the hunting to those who know what they are doing. After all, that was why I was hired personally."
She stares back looking like she finally registered that he had insulted her. If looks could only kill. "Just because you are a bounty hunter doesn't mean you are better equipped for stuff like this." She says, sweeping a hand out gesturing to the hallway.
"In fact you should be grateful for not just my gang being here but all the others as well especially when we are the ones putting our necks on the line and paying for it. That and the fact none of us were shooting each other with our new equipment the first chance we got. And to top all of that we are the ones doing the heavy lifting considering you have ju-"
A scaled hand grabs her and effortlessly lifts her into the air as blasters are raised and unholstered. I can't tell but I assume whoever is with the lizard has their weapons aimed right back as I see the tips of barrels at the edge of the doorway. The horned woman's hands go for her blasters before scales squeezes tighter before turning and slamming her into a wall.
As she is stunned for a moment he reaches with his other arm and takes her pistols and throws them over to his side of the hall. Once she regains some of her senses her hands start trying to pry his hand off her throat.
"You are smarter than most of your pack members." At this the others behind her get further riled up at him as they demand he lets go or shouting to just kill him but back off as the lizard shows some teeth as he stairs all of them down not scared of any of them or the weapons aimed at him.
"Yes, you are right that you and your gangs are doing some lifting. However you are wrong on several things. Such as me not being better equipped. I have led and been on many hunts of varying kinds. And this whole operation which until my quarry became active and aware we were coming we had no casualties even with sssome of the residents fighting back."
She is gasping for air as her face starts to turn colors as she is still trying to remove his hand from her throat but getting weaker.
"Whoever commissioned this job also saw fit to give you all your nice new toys and got all of you together to deal with a threat that you had no means prior to deal with just as you still lack the ability to do it now even with your new equipment." He growls out with a hiss as I see anger flash in his eyes as they become thin slits. "I am here to make up for all of your failures, and to ensure that you at the very least live long enough for whatever purpose they have for you all after this."
As she seems about to pass out from lack of oxygen he lets her go as she falls to her side as she coughs and holds her throat as she looks up at the man with her confidence all but gone and in its place is fear. The same fear I saw in the last members of the last gang I destroyed. "Now get back to work and find that bounty hunter." He says to her staring down at her as her comrades grab her and help her up as they quickly leave the hall.
"Never bite the hand that pays you. Especially when it's weapons and equipment that even a decent Republic defense force would be hard pressed to fight against." He says as they run off. "Stupid gang members. With that waste of time out of the way the hunt continues." He says to his group.
I stood around the corner contemplating what the guy said. So whoever is after the drugs also gave these gangs good weapons and equipment and brought all these gangs together. So why did that other gang have it behind that secured door? Were they a proxy or something?
Not liking the fact that I just got pulled into a conspiracy involving who knows what as I am drawn out of my thoughts by no footsteps of the lizard's group leaving before an electronic whirring can be heard as an ominous beeping follows it.
I watch in slow motion as a palm sized silver round object with a red light on it enters my sight. Not hesitating as I jump across the entirety of the room into the bathroom as my back slams against the wall cracking and shattering a mirror as I see an explosion as whatever it was detonates.
Surprisingly no shrapnel or anything from it but a bright wall of fire is unleashed as it annihilates anything and everything it comes into contact with as it spreads.
I watch in horror as the trash and debris alongside the former owner's body gets engulfed by the growing sphere of destruction as it gets closer and closer to the bathroom I am in. My eyes widen in horror as I press up against the wall in a vain effort to escape my coming death.
In the blink of an eye it retracts and fades away just as quickly as it had been born as it nearly touched the doorway of the bathroom. What's left as proof that thing existed is the destruction of the room. In a wide several meter radius everything is just… gone. Just a gaping hole in the floor and ceiling. What the hell was that?! I hear loud breathing intermixed with hissing as I ready my blaster and grenade.
"Don't tell me you died from that young hunter? And I had such high hopes you would have quite the fight in you to net me quite the score from the Scorekeeper. I have heard much about you in your short time hunting." He says as I hear him just down the entrance hall.
A scowl adorns my face at being hunted like this. I can't fight him much I will admit. As much as it pains me, if he has more of whatever that was that did this to the room then I need to get out of here.
Looking down the massive hole in the floor that shows a room below it made from whatever he used as sparks leap out of random wires at the edges of the hole and seeing the insides of the walls and floor.
Not waiting a second longer I rush for the hole as I toss a grenade near the corner leading to the entrance as it bounces off it and to the doorway. I hear heavy steps at the sound of the grenade hitting the wall before the resulting explosion as I am already down the hole with my invisibility lost with me tossing the grenade.
Landing gracefully and with no injury or pain aside from the warm blood coming down the back of my neck and head from hitting the wall and mirror. As soon as my legs hit the floor I book it out of the trashed apartment just as my detect life wears off. As I leave the room and get out in the hall I see several people just down the hall heading in my direction.
Time slows to a crawl as I feel my body burn like I am doing an intense workout as I see all their movements slow to a crawl as I pull out my DL-44 like I am moving normally but in reality I am using quite a bit of effort to move this fast.
Sending out a volley of shots hitting each of the people in front of me in the head. Their bodies remain standing despite the blaster bolts hitting them in the head before time resumes and all seven of them fall to the floor in a jumbled heap.
Hearing a heavy thud and crunching as something lands behind me in the apartment I just came from I look at the door controls as I toss another grenade into the room before shutting the door and blasting the panel. I hear a boom go off that leaves the door dented.
With hopefully that killing the hunt happy lizard that needs to learn his place and not disrespect those far better than him I run down the hall towards the bodies as I turn around the corner as I cast a quick healing spell to top off my stamina with all this running and evading along with me burning a lot of it with my bullet time stunt. And healing the wounds I got as I feel the cuts on my head and neck itch as they knit back together.
I hear heavy steps but also numerous others far behind me as I move through the maze of halls as I hear the rest of the building's assailants running around in a hurry from the sounds of the explosions and the blaster fire as I near the final stretch.
I do take note that any distant blaster fire is now silent. They must have gotten all the other residents by now. Doesn't matter now because after a few more halls I will be at the door to my salvation.
Bobbing and weaving as I make my way through the halls as I am nothing more than a blur. Next thing I'm right at the door right at the end of the one way hall as I hear numerous people running now converging around this floor. And from the sounds of all the steps I think most if not almost all of them are on this floor.
Having to fight a little to get it to open since these idiots wanted to get in apparently with the door sporting several scorch marks and the door panel having been removed as they tried to splice their way in. From the looks of it they ultimately failed. Nothing like using proper security measures to make life difficult for would be thieves.
After several agonizing seconds it opens for me as I step in. Not a second too late as several blasters shoot from behind me as I shut and seal the door as the locking mechanism shifts into place. Not waiting, I go into the main room as I maneuver myself around it despite it being pitch black for anyone else but me.
Ignoring all the tools lying around on the floor or on the counters and shelves along with the numerous pieces of metal laying about as I round the corner to the kitchen area. I see project Atlas standing at attention.
At a nice seven feet tall in all its ramshackle glory. A hulking behemoth of varying metals of the best quality I could forge around this place with what little I could get considering what I had to work with around here. It almost looks like Tony Stark's first suit he made in the cave but more advanced.
Dirty smudged armor surrounding the frame of it as its mostly smooth with the head being a simple round head covering helmet with a T-shaped visor. A jury rigged missile launcher on the left shoulder while I have a built in flamethrower on the right arm with a little fuel for it.
Then the big one. A massive blaster cannon I had managed to take from one of the gangs I butchered that had it for dealing with Speeders or other vehicles. So figured it would be nice to combo with the suit. That and I just wanted a big cannon. It's cool.
I only messed around with making the power armor figuring it would be cool to try and make one along with the nostalgia a part of me has for it with memories not my own. That and if I get in over my head it may prove handy. Which is paying off.
At that thought my mind goes to another option. My true form. I could transform here. I could slaughter all in my way and feed. Becoming stronger and at that mere idea I feel my blood and spirit sing.
But other thoughts form arguing against it further worsening the storm in my head. It will take several minutes to do so considering last time I tried it in my apartment it took way too long. Shouldn't have taken that long and should be near instant like it was in the game. But it wasn't.
But just like Frieza when I finally did transform, I got a massive power boost from what I could tell in the form knowing I was vastly more powerful even if I had no way to test it. Doing so now when I may not have minutes for that alongside numerous other reasons doing that now is a bad idea.
Becoming bigger without this power armor to shield me in narrow hallways is just asking for me to get shot. Even with vastly increased speed won't mean anything if I don't have the room to use it in a one way hallway. And the big reason I have no real experience using it. And using it now is asking for something bad to happen.
I rather keep it as an ace up my sleeve when I need it while making sure it's not linked back to me since if word gets out from any survivors about a winged demon that shoots lightning and fire will get the attention of the Jedi. I don't need Jedi hunting for me thinking I am a Sith since I have enough to deal with as is.
As these thoughts swirl about in my head in a cacophony of arguments I don't remain idle as I go around the back of the suit seeing the charging cord plugged into the wall as I check on its power.
Didn't exactly have nuclear material lying around nor did I have the time to find the stuff necessary to make a fusion core. Let alone the time to find or make the tools necessary to make it. So I made do with alternative power supplies.
Picking up what will hopefully be my saving grace as I activate the datapad and contact Jeeves and the Risen now that I have a little time to go into detail about what to expect. With that they will have a better idea of what I am dealing with.
Brings a smile to my face when picturing my Risen killing all of these people. Who am I kidding they are nothing more than a distraction and they would be lucky to slaughter some of them in a surprise attack. A small voice in the back of my mind says to not underestimate them. They have potential.
Scoffing at that idea I send a quick message while I am at it explaining to Jeeves and the rest of the droids so they can further elaborate to the Risen on the situation. How many people with an estimate and what equipment they are using. Telling them to also expect bigger equipment and vehicles on the outside just in case.
With that part done and telling Jeeves where to meet me, I turn on the diagnostics and see what I have to work with as a frown begins to form on my face. The suit obviously doesn't have anywhere near the power it needs to help me clear out all of these people. The temptation to just try and transform surfaces but I let it go with the same arguments being rehashed.
I had known this but was hoping I would have more than a measly 10% to work with. Even if I had used the makeshift power generator it wouldn't have added much and would have fried it for good measure since the generator wasn't meant to last for prolonged uses.
Which may happen soon since it has been some time since the power was cut. Considering how power hungry this thing is, the generator wouldn't have lasted long if I did try to use it.
I stop and look at the suit's helmet for a long while still trying to decide as I peer into its black visor. After several agonizing moments of indecision I came to a decision. Redoubling my efforts preparing the suit.
I have just enough to get me through the forces in this hallway and make my exit from this building so long as I don't take any rockets to the face. As nice as it was to make this thing I am not trusting this metal to take one of those launchers head on with me in it. Still reeling after getting almost disintegrated from that grenade. But this thing will be handy all the same.
I'm broken from my musing as a dull boom goes off on the other side of the entrance to this apartment. The door and wall stood strong from the blast as I made sure to reinforce this one considering I would use this room arguably equally if not more than the others. If I ever fell asleep or was so hyper focused on my project that someone could sneak up on me then I might as well reinforce the door and walls.
I go through a few more checks to make sure everything checks out on the armor before I pause. Looking back around the corner at the door I hear a faint hissing as parts of the metal turn orange and red as my eyes widen. You have got to be kidding me… alright it's time to go.
After unplugging the power cord I pop open the latches to open the suit up for me as it opens almost like a coffin or iron maiden. Stepping in as it seals back up as I shift and move a little watching the HUD come up on the visor giving me diagnostics and readings. Especially the big indicator of low power. I can see they are making quick time on that door as they are nearly finished with whatever they are using to heat up and cut through the door.
The metal like the kind outfitting my power armor wasn't the greatest but it wasn't exactly weak either. Well not like it matters considering they are cutting through it all the same. Not wasting a moment as I move the suit as I walk with its bulky steps sounding like an elephant wearing jack boots. Having had enough of the loud steps casting a quick muffle helped set my nerves at ease.
Walking over with now silent steps that shouldn't be possible I pick up the blaster cannon I had taken from one of the first gangs I wiped out off the table. Now holding it like a makeshift rifle in the suit's hands easily handling the weight of it as I now feel
the anticipation of what is to come.
Not long after I hear a loud thud as I assume they are finally through the door as I see several moving lights alongside what looks like some form of advanced energy riot shield shaped like a diamond that leads the way into the room as the rest follow.
Illuminating the main room of the apartment with their flashlights as I quickly turn invisible with a flex of my mind readying the spell. A few seconds before they feel it's safe to move into the main room after shining their lights across it as they scurry about like the rats I know they are.
They check their corners like the restroom with the sonic shower that all of these apartments have. Eventually a few of them find their way to me.
Flashlights illuminate the room sweeping back and forth as they don't see the hulking killing machine in the same room with them standing against the wall to their left. They all come into the room now lowering their weapons and shields as one of them that looks like a goat pulls out a comlink.
"It's clearrrr?" He bleats out like a goat.
The comlink crackles to life as I hear my good buddy the lizard that I need to pay back for that oh so generous housewarming gift he gave me. "It can't be. This is the only room we haven't managed to get into and he was lasssst on this floor. Remember he has some form of sssstealth technology you idiot!"
Taking that as my que I raise my right arm and with a twitch of my hand activate the flamethrower as a whooshing sound mixed with a hiss makes their heads snap to me with wide eyes as I bathe the room and its new occupants in a brief sea of flame.
The screams as they run and roll on the ground is like music to my ears with their bodies illuminating the room into a hell like visage with my armor standing ominously in the flickering shadows.
Sporting a bloodthirsty grin that would give them nightmares if they could see it as I walked past them as a few others had decided to walk through the hole in my door and immediately started to panic. Shooting at me with little to no effect as I shrug off the few shots that land and raise my cannon to mow them down.
Booms are followed by screams being cut short as they are blown to pieces. Even the few that had shields raised did nothing to save them. One fell down onto his back as he screamed for his life. Raising a foot I bring it down onto his upper torso as I hear a wet crunch.
Another is screaming at me as he unloads his blaster as his back is against the wall next to the bathroom. Awww that's cute I think as a stray bolt hits my helmeted head doing absolutely nothing. Not wanting to waste a blaster bolt on him I raise my fist and swing for his head.
As soon as my fist meets his head as he watches it with bloodshot eyes I hear a wet squelch alongside the groans of metal and crunching of concrete as I pull back my fist and see the flattened remains of his head embedded in its new home in the wall.
Ignoring his headless body sliding to the floor in a pool of blood I focus on the last idiot that made a mess of my workshop. An idiot that tossed his blaster at me bouncing off my chest as he makes for the hole in the door in a panic fueled frenzy. Now that was just rude.
"Oh no we can't have that now." I say through the suits speakers as they distort my voice as he looks back at me a scream leaving his mouth before it is cut off by my cannon firing a shot into his back destroying all of his upper body turning it into bloody steaming chunks.
Stepping into the light of the doorway I see at least a hundred people standing and kneeling in it with fear clear as day on their faces all with weapons raised and ready to shoot me with numerous shields placed in front almost reminiscent of a shield wall.
Someone yells out "Open fire!" But before they can get a chance time slows to a crawl as I raise up my right arm and instead of fire a blue ball of swirling barely contained crackling electricity forms in the palm of the suit's hand illuminating my form in the darkness of the hall before I let it fly into a grunt with a rocket launcher aimed at me over one of the shields.
As soon as it hits it's on the move again zipping about the cramped hallway hitting and killing all in it as they don't even get a chance to scream as some even lower their weapons and try to run but are killed before they even make a step.
Lowering my hand back down as I look at the destruction and carnage that is left. Most of them look like swiss cheese with how many smoldering holes are across their bodies as smoke wafts off of them with black and red glowing spots in the hallway as the floor is littered with bodies in it. Enough that the floor can no longer be seen.
Walking forward ignoring the sweat that formed on me from that bullet time, uncaring if I step on the dead bodies as I wade through them and move to my exit. They come into my home blowing things up and making a mess. You don't get the luxury of me not desecrating your dead body.
"Retre-" silenced before he can finish that word. Steam wafts up from where his head once was with an echoing boom as I turn a corner seeing a horde of them running from me. That puts a big smile in n my face. This is almost therapeutic. I kind of wish I had transformed now. A smug feeling forms in my head but it goes ignored by me.
I unload into the horde as most are now just trying to run for their lives bumping into and running each other over as I massacre them with only a handful trying to shoot back.
Most of those being the ones who have rockets that can do something to me. I always make sure to prioritize them. I even chuckled a few times when some of them got stuck fighting each other to get into any of the apartment's doorways before I killed them.
One such person, a random human raises up a rocket launcher before I blast him and those around him into steaming meaty chunks. Walking further into the hall as I once more see the familiar sights of the life forces of the living as I turn left and fire another chain lightning.
I'm not concerned with them thinking I am using the force. If anyone asks I can just say it was a feature built into the suit. That or they will just come to that conclusion themselves. And by this point I don't care.
I only care about killing as many of them as possible as I leave. Preferably in brutal and horrific ways. I am going to send a message with these people's corpses as my envelope and their blood as the ink to whoever sent them. It's a compromise on my part considering I am being forced to run. From my own house no less.
Not even bothering to see the aftermath of what was several dozen people dying near instantly as I turn the other way and ignite the hall and carry on ignoring the screams of the dying as they are set ablaze turning the hall into something out of a nightmare straight from hell.
Two halls down as I run for my exit. Gunning down any poor souls unfortunate enough to not run fast enough as I massacre them. And in this trail of death and destruction I haven't seen the lizard even once.
Just you wait. I'll pay you back in due time. A group of stragglers that I see don't seem as panicked as the others slowly walk down the corridor if the lights through the walls are any indication. If anyone isn't panicking and running around it has to be the lizard and his squad.
Not wanting to give up an opportunity to get some payback I sprint forward breaking through the wall crushing the one watching the groups back under a section of the wall as they scream briefly before silence takes their place. "Oh yeaaahhh!" I yell out as they all turn around and start shooting.
To my annoyance as I look at them it's the horned ladies group… fucking damnit. Casually raising my cannon I gun down most of them before their glorious leader turns and runs as the others stand and fight.
Gunned down in mere moments I turn around to leave since chasing her isn't worth it. As I turn the other way a powerful blast splashes across my back making my step skid forward digging into the concrete floor. Turning around as another bolt is flying at me I casually side step it as it zooms past me. Ignoring the explosion of it hitting the wall behind me.
"Just die you kriffing bastard!" She yells out as she moves back behind the wall. Before she does anything further I aim and fire hitting the corner wall blasting it into rocky chunks with a few shots.
Groaning can be heard as I round the corner seeing her prone form on the floor as she turns her head with fear in her eyes as she raises one arm and tries to shoot me. My metal clad hand grabs the gun and her hand and squeezes making her scream out as I lift her up with blood running down her arm.
"Where is the lizard at?" I say calmly with no emotion to betray my current emotions.
She slowly calms down. Or about as much as anyone could when their hand has been crushed and fused with a blaster pistol while being interrogated by a metal giant. Grimacing, "I-I don't know." She says breathlessly as her body writhes in pain.
Before I can say anything her eyes widen as she focuses on me with surprising clarity as I hear a mechanical hum, "You killed my men. I may die but I'm-"
Taking a step and turning to the other hall as she is silenced as her body follows the path of my arm as I pull back and throw her down the hall at some lights coming along the t section. She meets the wall at the far end with a crunch and wet splat as her broken body peels off the wall and hits the floor.
The lights just around each corner ground to a halt before a familiar dome of fire and heat forms where her body was as it consumes the floor, ceiling, and all the unfortunate souls caught in the blast. Yeah if you're going to kill me don't monologue it and make it obvious what you are trying to do. I can't believe that I agree with the lizard. These people were idiots.
With that annoyance taken care of and me having scratched off of my bucket list pulling a kool aid man through a wall I continued on my slaughter-filled walk for my exit point as I neared a more dilapidated section of the complex after most of the attackers had now fled from this floor or were hiding.
That was needed as I feel my blood singing at that wonderful symphony I orchestrated. Though it is soured at not finding the lizard. The few still alive are too terrified and disorganized to put up any kind of resistance and most survivors have fled by this point. Looking around this section it makes the rest of it look like a luxury resort.
Breaking through the doorway to a trash ridden apartment ignoring the bodies like I have all the other former occupants in the other apartments. Standing in the entrance I take aim and fire on the far wall as one of the missiles flies forward to explode and bathe the room in a sea of flames and debris. Three left.
Despite stepping behind the wall for cover I still flinch with an instinctual fear of the fire that occasionally flickered out of the doorway. Not helped by the near death experience I had in that room. Once the debris and smoke from the blast had cleared I saw a hole leading out into an alley.
Running forward I leap through and land with a muted thud as the concrete beneath me cracks as I fall two stories down. Running down the alley with silent steps as my hud shows a message.
Jeeves is almost here with the cavalry. Good. Not wanting to stay here any longer I continue to run as I skid to a stop. Turning around and aiming with my cannon as I hear the familiar humming of a repulsor lift.
All shots hit their mark as a speeder bike in the distance was heading towards me before nose diving and blowing up as it crashes into the side of the complex before landing on the ground in a heap of burning metal.
More hums fill the air after that as I see several more moving in from a distance as I open fire while steadily moving back. Bobbing and weaving as best they can while opening fire as the blasts hit the walls and ground around me splintering it and blowing chunks out of it as my suit gets peppered with the debris. Several still get hit and become smoldering wrecks in the alley with my return fire.
The others open fire as their shots mostly miss besides a few that manage to hit me as they get closer. Parts of the metal that got hit warp and turn red as I get knocked back a step or two from the force of them but the suit holds up enough for me to shoot a few more down before the few remaining zoom past me.
Looking at my hud I see the chest and left arm are not doing so hot. Can probably take another blast each but after that they are done. The survivors ride up in the air as they move over the tops of the buildings and out of sight.
I can still hear their distant humming as I turn around and run, not wanting to give them another chance at a strafing run. It's surreal to not hear any steps from this thing when it's so big and heavy.
I am brought out of my thoughts as I hear something up above. Looking up I see many figures holding blasters with mounted cannons on the tops of the roofs. I immediately raise up my own and prioritize the cannons.
I manage to get a few shots off with me slowing down time again as I feel my body burn and being drenched in sweat as I destroy some of the cannons and the people manning them but there are too many.
The survivors opened fire as the bolts rained down from above. Making matters worse I don't have anything to use for cover besides the odd piece of trash in this alley.
Numerous smaller bolts hit my suit but I ignore them as I make an effort to avoid any of the big blasts coming from the cannons. Despite how big and cumbersome this suit is, and it not being anywhere near as agile as myself it's still by no means slow.
Not like that did me any good with the numerous smaller shots bathing my suit an unhealthy red as numerous warnings pop up of the suits integrity. Even if they are small arms blasters, enough of them together hitting the same spots over and over will damage and breach my armor.
Despite firing back and taking out many of them with my own cannon it wasn't enough. Releasing my bullet time as I heave out a breath I didn't know I had been holding as my breathing heavy and labored as I feel a burn all over inside of me.
Having had enough of this, activating the launcher on my shoulder. It whirs to life taking aim for one of the roofs with a crosshair on my hud blinking over the target before firing. At the oncoming missile they stop shooting and try to scatter but to no avail.
The roof is nothing but smoke and fire as it sends debris and smoke across the alley as I aim and shoot the last two missiles into both sides of the alley before running through it with the lull in blaster fire.
I take notice that I am slowing down as I look at the power gauge. Almost completely out of power. You served me well. Coming to a stop, popping open the suit and running down the alley despite my body's protests as my suit closes back up standing in the raining debris and smoke.
Turning my head to see my work get destroyed as the survivors after several seconds get back up along the roofs and their blaster fire hits it from all sides before it falls to the ground in shambles. Still somewhat intact just melted from all the blasters shooting it.
Turning back around I ran down the alley as slow as I was in my old body if not slower. Nearing the end of it I feel some relief flood me at it being almost over as my breathing is heavy and labored as I am drenched in sweat from overusing that bullet time.
Slowing down to a stop as I turn invisible and take a quick glance around the corner. What I see makes my eyes widen. Numerous speeder bikes and much larger vehicles are around this area in massive numbers.
Some of the vehicles look like cargo transports but as the loading bay doors open on them I see many people leaving them all armed to the teeth and looking similar to the people that were in the apartment complex.
Once done unloading the troops some of the ships stick around as they face the building I was once inside of with their cannons being aimed at it. The other ships just flew off. I can hear so much bustling activity despite most of the everyday denizens of this area being nowhere to be seen. These people have all but taken over the area.
Numerous weapons all aimed at the alley with more dotting the tops of the surrounding buildings on lookout. Others are just standing off in their own groups looking incredibly tense. What the hell… all of this just for me?
I get that I am good at what I do, but this is just ridiculous. Ignoring the fact I just killed well over a hundred people in the building a moment ago this is just excessive.
Then the signal happens. Blaster fire. Lots of it as explosions go off as well, not far off as it grabs the attention of all those surrounding the apartment complex as their weapons are raised in the opposite direction from me. A glow careens across the sky into the side of a transport just coming in as it smacks into its thrusters before detonating.
Smoking and trailing fire as its thrusters fail as it spirals out of control crashing into the apartment complex as it kicks up a storm of dust and smoke as everyone is engulfed in it. Blaster fire is now heard all across the area now as I see the red streaks fly all around as it becomes mass chaos.
Taking full advantage of the resulting chaos as my attackers are now leaving their posts to go engage my Risen or just running around in a panic. Not wasting this chance I run further down the street sticking close to the buildings as I see several of my minions fighting.
Despite how much dust and smoke is in the air making visibility difficult I can still see albeit with some difficulty what is happening around me.
Covered up in dull clothing with nothing of their bodies visible under their black and gray garb. They run forward shooting at their enemies completely fearless as they take numerous shots to their bodies but ignore it seemingly completely unbothered as they keep fighting weaving in and out of the alleys.
I look over at the other side of the street seeing one of them jumping off the top of a building holding two grenades in both hands as she lands on an entrenched group that was mowing down my minions before an explosion and fire spews forth from the alley adding further smoke into the air.
Despite getting gunned down however it takes way more blaster shots than would be considered normal to kill them as indicated by the steady retreat of the enemy forces as they sport horrified looks not understanding why they just won't die as they look all around themselves in hopes of spotting the next attack. And my boys and girls also do me proud by taking several of these people with them before dying. Again.
I even see a group panicking as they keep shooting as they get swarmed by my forces as some shoot back making them take cover while others charge with knives and machetes as they get in close and leap over their cover cutting and stabbing them to bloody pieces while their screams fill the air. Not a second later they are up and covered in blood hunting for more sporting new blasters.
Running along panting while drenched in sweat as I even see a different lizard but of the same species as the one in the apartment fighting off several of them as it shoots three of them downing them each with one shot as their chests smoke and steam before one fearlessly charges him grabbing onto his rifle.
The lizard tries to wrench the gun out of their hands twirling around with them not letting go, before getting thrown aside with the momentum sending them rolling across the ground before shooting them once but not hitting center mass and just hitting their leg.
Despite their leg being blown apart at the knee, they still try to get to them as they crawl across the ground before being shot several more times until they lay still and unmoving. More run up around the corner shooting at the lizard as he shoots back a snarl on his face before he is overwhelmed as he cries out before being killed as he is overwhelmed with blaster fire.
Not hesitating in the slightest as they move on to continue fighting as one runs up and pries the rifle from the lizard's hands before running off. Alright well in the future I need to get more of these guys. Especially if I can train them to be better than this. They would be unstoppable.
Running further down avoiding intermittent blaster shots and grenades of various kinds as it looks like an all out war is happening on this part of the moon.
I even see several of the modified droids I made along with Jeeves brothers joining into the fray with parts of the sky not blocked out by the dust and smoke as rockets and blasters equipped to their speeder bodies or the ones on the ground slaughter all in their path.
Dogfights in the skies above as speeders and ships maneuver about as they duke it out with my own little army as both my forces and that of whoever these people are get blown out of the sky or gunned down in the streets crashing and adding more to the smokescreen enveloping the battlefield.
Several Frankenstein droids move around on the ground helping the Risen acting as either a vanguard or sticking back picking off anyone they can with brutal efficiency. Now I know I need to change their name. After seeing all of this and what they have done, something like the 'Risen' just doesn't have the right oomph it needs for these guys.
Just as I stop watching the aerial battle above a blaster can be heard as a Risens body falls out of an alley onto the ground before another is sent flying out rolling along the ground before getting back up. A blaster bolt hits them in the head as they charge forward, sending them falling to the ground for good.
Looking over I see two energy shields like the ones from the apartment. But that's not what has my utmost attention as my eyes stare wide eyed. The lizard is in the center of the group as he and his men look around before his gaze snaps to me.
Oh hell no. Not giving him the chance I draw and shoot my 44 as he is taking aim with his own rifle. The bolt flies out as his men look over in surprise as it hits the lizard in his left shoulder. No. I was aiming for his head.
My chance at killing him escapes my grasp. I turn and run as fast as I can ignoring the burning protests of my body as I hear a blood curdling screech behind me as numerous blasters are fired behind me at where they last saw me or at least where my shot came from. They try and fail to hit me through the smokescreen.
Running down numerous alleys as I try to shake my attackers as they are in hot pursuit. Occasionally having to blind fire behind me when Inhear steps to close for my liking. Completely wiped and pushed to my limits I don't stop as I push myself to keep running.
After moving down several blocks by this point as I get back onto the streets I see Jeeves flying about in the distance with three speeder bikes harassing him as he bobs and weaves. He manages to shoot one down when he slips behind it but the other two are right on his tail. He needs help and he is currently my way out of here.
Pulling out my 44 I line up my shot ignoring the shaking of my hand before taking a big deep breath and holding it as I slow time to a crawl. Calculating and compensating for the distance and my own shaking hand I prepare the shot and then fire as I feel my body wanting to give out on me as it burns through my stamina. As Jeeves barely avoids their shots my own don't miss as they hit the two riders.
With the riders now dead the speeders fly off uncontrollably as their riders bodies are thrown off of them. Two delayed explosions after the bikes are out of sight are enough for me to know they are out of commission. I fall down exhausted as my body gives out on me.
Jeeves seeing the blaster shots from me near our meetup point flies on down to my position. Lowering down to my fallen form as I try to crawl to his open door as blaster shots are fired from behind me flying over Jeeves and me as I struggle to climb in. Looking back my eyes widened seeing the snarling face of the lizard with most of his men with him.
He has a nasty cut on his face with one of his eyes drenched in blood while his left arm hangs limply while he holds a pistol in his right. Just as I am about to shoot him, several blasters are fired from a nearby alley as my men run out shooting at the lizard and his group.
His men turn and open fire. The lizard ignores them as he rushes forward, weapon trained on me as Jeeves warbles something before rising up into the air as I struggle to fully get in as I hang off the edge with one hand as the edges of my vision blur, legs dangling in the air as my hand is ready to let him have it.
To my growing pride and joy several Risen run up getting in the way of the lizard with knives in hand as he shoots most in their heads and knocks down the few left. A cold fear grips my heart at seeing him solely running for me. Bringing up his arm as he takes aim I raise my own arm and rapidly fire back.
Most shots go wide as they don't even come close to him. Sloppy. The lizard shoots a bolt but it misses by a hair's breadth impacting where my right hip is on the speeder.
Aiming my pistol I fire several more shots each getting closer to the lizard as he ducks down to dodge a few. As he brings his rifle up to shoot it happened. A random bolt of numerous ones I shot hits him right in his chest.
The blast to my joy and elation knocks him on his back with smoke rising up from his chest. He begins to shift to my shock as he raises himself off the ground as he gazes at me with an intense gaze. One filled with anger and hatred. I can only give a smile a response even if he can't see it.
His remaining men form up around him as they take aim at me and the Risen coming in to harass them. Ignoring the protest of my arms with renewed motivation as both hands pull me slowly over the side laying in the floor as several blaster shots are fired at us as I hear a primal roar echo out over all the blaster fire and explosions as Jeeves zooms off with a few stray shots hitting his body.