DUST AND THE SWEEPER
Chapter 7 - Canal Run
Beneath the tramlines is an access tunnel blocked off by a hatch door, opened from the inside. One train car passes by before Aniki, along with his and Lena's squad, crawl out. Seeing they're behind one of the factory walls near the underside, entering the lower paths of the canal system, stretched by rows of large pipelines leading through the curved walls and tunnels toward the gargantuan tower ahead. NecoJi is the first to exit the shaft, monitoring the area whilst helping people down onto the first maintenance catwalk. Underneath it is the main winding pathway where Dust, Blinx, and Picaro enter via another access door with a bolted ladder down. Lena, as well as Pelon and Chron follow suit.
With everyone in place, Aniki taps a communicator on his wrist, followed by a beep.
"Alright, Jimmy. We're outside. Just make sure the bunker's secure and listen out in case we need backup."
"10/4 Big Boss," says the shopkeeper on the other end.
Lena's quick to get started, grabbing two plasma pistols strapped to her belt.
"Ok guys," she starts, putting on her helmet, facing Dust, Blinx, and Picaro. "We need to make this as quick as possible. Pelon and I are gonna help you boys get to the tower unscathed. With any luck, there won't be any security there waiting for us."
"Sounds good, Princess," Dust nods.
"Since we're heading in the main walkways, there's bound to be robots on patrol. So we'll need to make a run for it."
"While you're at it, we'll be getting in the other facilities to do some real damage," Aniki adds.
"Hopefully with a scene like that, those blokes'll be comin' for us," says NecoJi.
"Nuff chit-chat then. Let's get it," Blinx proudly announces.
Those up above Blinx's team charge for a different direction across the catwalks. Those below move forward, quietly sprinting on a bridge across a wide river. Once the group's on the other side, Picaro activates the river console, raising the lift and smashing the controls with his metal arm should any bots come after them now. Lena's front and center to observe the next area where several of the pipes converge into a large pool to dump a constant stream of water. Only one bridge connects to the side where they need to be, into a short tunnel toward Maintainance guarded by two security droids. With her HUD, Lena's helmet zooms in on the door to the next room.
"There," she points. "Across this pool."
"These waters seem cleaner than expected," Ahrah comments.
"Oh it's gonna get a lot worse from here," smirks Picaro, flexing his wrist.
Lena borrows a strange ball-like device from Pelon, lobbing it over the pool toward the tunnel.
FLASH
It bursts an EMP disabling the bots at the door! As the team makes it there, a small aircraft hovers above the pit toward the catwalks, deploying a squad of troops from its lower hangar. These machines press immediately with heavy fire from the other side, forcing Dust to shield some of the shots with both Ahrah and his hat! As they sprint for it, Dust flings his sword to the side so fast it spins and slices the machines in a circular path back to the user! Blinx stops some of the shots from coming by pausing time on them, giving Lena enough time to shoot them back! Two of the robots fall, and another two are blasted by Pelon's rifle! Seeing more of the droids blasting from above, Picaro's metal hand folds back, deploying a gun barrel with a laser scope. He puts on his goggles, targets the back end of the bridge, then launches a single blast powerful enough to break the hinges leaving the droids to fall into the water beneath them! Another dropship hovers above with more robots coming down to the platforms while the teammates retreat toward the exit door. Picaro aims backward as the rest of the team proceeds into the large maintenance hall surrounded by one wall with several computers along a row of open windows revealing the rest of the waterworks. Over in the distance up high, Aniki's squad blast their way through a line of metallic soldiers, using an array of energy shields to charge at them with maximum force like a rampaging bull knocking them off the bridge! Said bridge takes them around one of the factory towers setting off an alarm. To continue, Picaro heads to the terminal controlling a lift lowering down to the end of the hall, doubling as a walkway.
"This oughta take us right where we need to be."
In seconds, the lift is shot to pieces by another dropship on the other side!
"Or not…"
Pelon looks around for another exit as more enemy units arrive from the entrance and the ceiling openings. To his surprise, another catwalk stretches over the waves toward a small dam and pumping station. He leaps out the gap to safety, landing perfectly on his feet with his Sweeper firmly grasped.
"Over here," he barks to the team, who each follow his movements only to be met with more gunfire from above. Picaro rapid fires at the attackers on the roof of the hall one by one while Pelon shoots another precision bolt at the dropship behind him, hitting one of the turbines on the sides! It comes plummeting into the waves below when another ship is sliced in two by Dust lobbing Ahrah at it. Though the shots from the shuttle travel to the team, Blinx vacuums all the bolts then sprays them all over the maintenance tunnel walls! The support beams attached to it break apart, and the entire foundation comes crashing onto the droids inside!
"Not bad," compliments the princess, who shoots twice at the troopers at the end of the catwalk to another exit point. The team's path is clear and they head back inside a smaller facility where the stench of toxic sludge and heat of molten metal clash in an array of heavy machinery, from huge pistons to acid pits.
"P.U, shouts Blinx," covering his nose with his neck brace. "What kinda place is this?"
"Well all the waste had to go somewhere," Picaro shrugs. "It's from processing the same material the droids use."
"Sure we're going the right way," Dust asks Lena.
"We are," she nods. "So long as we don't veer anywhere but North." Lena pulls out another pistol aiming for one of the waste carriers. "Start running."
In a single shot, the waste barrel's ingredients spark a flame that erupts across the lower deck! Soon several hundreds of the containers around the facility begin to burst into an inferno, forcing everyone outside the other end of the building. Any sentinels inside are blown to pieces along with the toxins, and those that aren't are deployed from another shuttle before the group at the balcony of the burning complex.
"Wait for it…"
The walls behind the team crumble and begin falling forward toward another rooftop above a huge gap! All but Lena start screaming on the way down but manage to leap off onto the platform in front of them at the last second! The collapse of the building leads to a huge explosion that burns the dropships above, but they continue to shoot, forcing Blinx to pause time once again. Only this time, Dust uses a strong whirlwind to blowback the bullets on both cruisers, grinding them to pieces!
"Oh yeah," Lena cheers. "I've been planning that one for a while!"
"So yer both a Princess and an expert in physics," Blinx snarks. "Heh. Go figure."
"I thought we were trying to head to the entrance undetected, not causing a scene," worries the Mithrarin.
"We are," the Princess nods. "All this is part of the distraction. They'll be so occupied with repairs, they won't have enough men to cover the main canals."
Looking forward, the tower's path is still clear, distant but traversable through the rest of the walkways beneath the complex.
"That way."
Elsewhere, within one of the factories run by waves of distressed Cat-Sith working on war machines like hover bots and dropship parts, guard droids, the same diamond-shaped robots floating above the floor with their guns aimed for the workers, monitor the progress of every operation. That is until one of them gets disabled by a precise bolt to the processor from behind. Chron, with but a pistol, strikes the rest of security very quickly, allowing NecoJi to come in front and center before a large audience of his brothers and sisters.
"Hey everyone," he announces, "BLINX IS BACK!"
Immediately, one of the workers pushes over a robot's body and trades for their guns. Everyone else does the same, taking up arms as they begin cheering loudly throughout the production line. Some in other rooms even hear the news, taking the Sentinel Bots watching them and tearing them to pieces when their guard is down!
"That went by a lot easier than I thought," Aniki says walking in. "Hope it doesn't mean security's moving to Lena's team."
Back down the winding walkways of the canal, Dust and Blinx fan out on either side to examine their surroundings, coming across no droids but a sizeable raft used for quick passage over the river.
"Good, there's still a raft here," Pelon says, beginning to man the controls to the side. "This oughta get us to the place quicker."
Everyone hops on board for their next move and the ship begins veering forward down the steady stream of sludge. On the way, swerving left and right through each curved path like a tube, another hovercraft, this time a bot on its own, arrives far behind them pointing its guns toward the raft. It rapidly shoots at it, almost hitting the hull when Dust deflects a bolt with his sword! In a single shot, Picaro completely explodes the ship from the gun barrel to the rest of the droid!
"MAN! Y'see that shot," Picaro gleefully remarks just before flinching from almost getting hit in the shoulder by another bolt! On the walkways, squads of the flying turret droids form up and shoot away at the raft, even after it picks up speed! Blinx slows down time long enough that Lena can fire back at the interlopers. However, she only manages to take out a few before more soldier types arrive. Very swiftly, Dust leaps off the raft onto one of the walkways, running straight into the smoke from the burnt turrets! He lunges Ahrah through an enemy aimed for the vehicle, then hides in the thick shades to half another! One by one, the robots are torn to pieces, and the few that attempt to focus on the raft are easily disabled by Lena's sharpshooting! Eventually, the Mithrarin hops back onto the barge the further it gets from the connection locks. To their left is another station connected to the floodgates, shielded by more soldiers. Pelon stops the barge to get two shots in on them, while Blinx fast forwards Picaro on his way to the heavy metal door. The cyber-armed Time Sweeper plugs a cable in a small control panel.
BUZZ
The entrance opens and everyone on the raft vacates and gets inside. They're met by more security; this time in the form of other Time Sweepers. At first, these people hesitate believing it to be the machines barging in. But Blinx, Picaro, and Pelon together quickly become the center of astonishment.
"Blinx," shouts the tallest worker. "You're still alive?!"
"In the flesh, Ian" he replies. "We're tryin'a get to Benito. Aniki's got his own team raidin' the other factories an' there's plenty o' broken droids outside if you wanna borrow their guns."
"Cool beans! But just be careful. Reports kept denying you even exist and alarms are going off left and right!"
"Wait, Burrito's gonna act like I'm dead, but he'll increase security lookin' for me?! He really does want'chu all in check."
"Walkway's downstairs if you wanna take it. It'll lead to the tower directly."
"Exactly where we're going," Lena nods.
She takes the steps down in the control room to a door outside where another set of long catwalks runs beside the wall of the canal over a deep dark pit where the pipes go down. At the end is the gargantuan Time Tower, larger from the perspective of those looking at it the closer they get. Right when the team is ready to sprint through, yet another dropship arrives from the pit and shoots the bridge into pieces! Blinx attempts to reset the damage with his Sweeper, but it's too much! Everything crumbles right before he can finish! The robots onboard deploy from the racks with jets and meet the group directly. Suddenly, Lena puts away her guns, strapping them to her sides in favor of putting her fists up at the first droid in front of her. She easily ramps her fist right through its head, then kicks another one so hard it falls into the trooper falling in behind it! Dust halves two more of the robots then flings Ahrah toward the ship before it takes off, severing the right turbine, sending it careening into the shield wall and into the darkness below!
"Agh, those damn droids blasted the bridge," Lena growls. "We'll have to take a more creative approach."
"No…," bemoans Ahrah. "Please don't. The last time someone said that, Dust and Fidget started an avalanche!"
"Don't worry, it's easy." she darts toward the sets of tubes under where the catwalks used to be. "Blinx, you and your squad're gonna have to head the rest of the way. Get on those pipes and head to the tower through there. You'll find a hatch that'll take you inside."
"Ok. But don't the pipes eventually go dow-"
Before the Time Sweeper can finish his sentence, she and Pelon had already ran back into the control room behind them.
"Try not to fall, guys," says Pelon as the door shuts automatically.
"Well…guess I'll go first," Dust nods, carefully sitting on the edge of the broken catwalk. He puts Ahrah back behind him and slowly brings his legs down to make the drop the pipes beneath him. He sticks the landing, and Picaro, only slightly taller than Blinx, motions for Dust to help him down. Lastly, he and Dust grab onto Blinx's sides when he drops, helping him stand upright while balancing. There's very little gaps between the fives tubes, but each one eventually bends straight into the pit the closer it gets to the huge facility at the end.
"You two don't need to hold onto me for balance, do you?"
"I'm gonna assume yer serious an' say nah," Blinx replies.
"Should be ok so long as there's no more robots," Picaro says, beginning to walk carefully. "And here I thought this would've been easy."
Very slowly, the three men begin their way across the deep pit making sure not to look down, which Blinx has serious trouble with. The path is long and treacherous, having the group balance between the lines by planting both feet with each step should they ever start to fall.
"Careful not to look down, men," Picaro suggests.
"Thanks, I wasn't tryin' to," snarks the fellow Cat-Sith.
HOOOOOOOOONK
Prompted by a loud siren from above, the facility's walls eerily begin to shift both upward and to the sides. The clock up top dings once it hits another hour, and from one of the hangars hundreds of feet high, swarms of machines, all shaped like diamonds, launch around the environment like a beehive! From this swarm, several drones descend toward the pit, unlocking their side gun barrels to fire immediately! They end up hitting the pair on the pipes, though each shot only stings slightly, not enough to kill or fully maim unless more bots arrive. However, some shots hit the ducts below, denting them; nearly leaving holes in the foundation!
"AH SHIIOOOOT," Blinx screams as he quickly brings out his Sweeper to shoot back at the machines!
Picaro joins in, switching his robotic arm to full auto for but a moment as the force of each shot throws off his balance! He almost falls down from blasting a droid when he's caught by Dust with one hand.
"God, would it kill ya to not burst the pipes," Blinx yells, firing the bullets back at the drones!
One of the bots aims for the conduits from the back, causing a burst in the water pumps. The dents in the metal start breaking open, spurting fluid out around the trio!
"OH NO," they scream, immediately bolting through the enemy in a mad dash forward! Two of the tubes end, going down to the abyss, leaving them with only three to run on, concentrating on the tower at the end of their sprint as the pipes begin to bend and snap out of place! One of them explodes, collapsing and forcing Blinx to continue running on the remaining two before they're met with only one; a fair distance away from where they started and near the facility. As the pipes burst behind them one by one, one of the drones comes down shooting rapidly at Dust, who deflects each bolt the closer it reaches him! But when he's about to slice the droid in half, he's struck against the hull! The bot rams into his stomach, carrying him into the air away from his allies! It's then that he holds on tight; his weight somehow not causing the bot to falter.
"GUYS, THEY'RE STURDY," the Warmblood shouts before swerving upside down!
Picaro pulls out a chord from his metal appendage and blasts one of the drones down in front of him. "Aw, screw this!"
He gets on one knee, opening a piece of the hull to plug the chord in. Soon the robot is reactivated but only responds to Picaro's commands, hovering upward so he can hold on. He tries to take Blinx's hand, but another robot shoots at them from above, causing the Cat-Sith to fall over! Right behind him, though, things go from bad to worse the more the conduits come apart!
"GRAB HIM, BLINX," Dust shouts, zooming past the two Time Sweepers!
Seeing the pipes exploding is enough for Blinx to try again, successfully catching Picaro's hand and flying with him. Albeit carried in the air over the abyss! The tubes finally collapse, leaving the men zipping and barrel-rolling out of control! Some drones nearby attempt to shoot, but Dust ends up crashing into them when he loses his grip! He falls onto another robot, which throws off its aim, shooting at yet another machine close to it!
"OH, WHY DIDN'T I JUST BRING THE SHIP," Blinx asks himself loudly, holding tightly onto his friend's arm.
Soon, they're sent hurdling onto the platform against the tower wall where the hatch door is lit by one LED. Dust is first to land, crashing the drone he's piloting onto the catwalk and disabling it with a lunge from Ahrah! Picaro and Blinx, thrown off by one of the shots breaking their robot's gravity, come flying at full speed!
"Let go on 3," Picaro says, lowering Blinx. "1…2…"
"THREE"
Both Cat-Sith release themselves from the drone right when it nears the tower for a brutal collision! They end up falling onto the catwalks, but Blinx lands scarily close to the edge. Luckily, he's rescued by Dust once again, who grabs his boot and drags him forward. The Time Sweeper, very much thankful for the save, gets up and hugs Dust and Picaro tightly when another two robots miss him. Picaro easily blasts them down with two shots of his own.
All their enemies so far have fallen and hordes of the mechanical monsters continue to sweep the city. Fortunately, the entrance to the big facility is clear. Only difficulty is that Blinx won't losen his grip on his two colleagues.
"…Dude, I get you're glad for the save, but you can let go now," Dust says as he pats Blinx's back.
"Mm-Mmm," he shakes his head. "I ain't doin' it till ya open the door."
Picaro reaches his metal hand backward to the door's control panel, palming the scanner and frying it, causing the hatch to open automatically. Finally, Blinx releases the pair, and they prep their weapons into the small underlit passageway to a ladder at the end.
"Gotta admit, I love watchin' you two work," Picaro compliments.
"Aaaw, all I did was reverse an' freeze stuff like always," Blinx replies, patting his foot.
"Yeah, but with this guy," he counters, patting Dust's shoulder. "We're steppin' in a hive here. We're not gonna be trapped with them."
"They'll be trapped with us," the three announce!