by Eden Blue
Evan glanced down at Pris’s damaged shoulder. Thoughts of Ryan swirled in his head and filtered down to his heart. Ryan had told Evan that Nika was a little crazy. Seeing how she was acting wasn’t exactly a surprise, but the engineer balked at the idea of killing another player. Connecting to the emitter, he activated the drill missiles and reprogrammed one of them.
The head of the red exo-suit shook from side to side, “Too bad you don’t have the hunger to kill another player. I would have kept my distance and shot you down but this is too much fun. Enjoy your seven days in reality.”
Evan’s finger touched the trigger, “Nika, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? You piece of shi…” Nika screamed before she was cut off.
A small tube under the emitter lens burst with fire as a long miniature missile flared out. The missile closed the distance in the blink of an eye. The tip burst open to reveal a wicked looking drill bit. It spun into a blur just before it reached the exo-suit. Nika screamed as the drill burrowed through the side of her suit. Inside, she glanced down to see the drill pass close to her body, ripping inner equipment to shreds. The drill turned and did its work, staying under the outer hull of the suit and drilling through each part of equipment.
Nika continued to scream as she tried to fire. Firing mechanism was severed and her weapons did not respond. The drill came close to her body multiple times but did not cut her. Evan pulled away as Pris launched forward. The android slammed her palm into the exo-suit’s chest and sent Nika spiraling backwards. The drill missile exploded out of the back and flipped down onto the ground as Nika went tumbling down the hill.
Pris stared down as the suit landed on its back, not moving. “She is unharmed and trapped in the exo-suit. Most systems are damaged beyond repair.”
Evan nodded as he turned back to the battle, eyeing the Battle Net data and glancing beyond to Hera and Bruiser.
Krekken Forces
Dumon Troops: 1,712/20,000
Dumon Fighter Ships: 14/100
Rekkus Spire Shield: 100%
Rekkus Spire Auto Cannons: 40
Rekkus Spire Citizens: 6,491
Evan's Team
Shield Maiden: 100%
Hera: 100%
Bruiser: 100%
Pris: 76%
Titan (Ravager): 99%
Parasites: 75,341
Ravager pressed forward, nearly a hundred feet from the city shields. Parasites raced along like a mad horde, charging toward the remaining troops and citizens lined up. The city’s citizens fired everything they had into the incoming swarm until both sides clashed. Jamie Spiral moved, twisting her body and firing point blank into any parasite getting too close. The rag tag city militia engaged the parasites with everything from rifles, pistols, PE weapons, down to knives, relic swords and bats. Grisly, close-quarter fighting swirled as pale monsters penetrated the line and broke through.
Evan turned his attention to the titan as it moved closer. The city’s cannons continued their barrage as a large pincer folded out and slashed hard across. The city shield flared as it took incredible damage from the monster’s pincer claw. Loud screeching filled the night air as the titan drew back and slashed again. The shield flickered as it began to lose power.
The engineer lifted up the emitter and aimed it, focusing through the target screen and magnifying the feed. Hera and Bruiser were nearly to the titan. The Valkyrie shaped exo-suit held her PE sword while Bruiser hovered close behind. Evan looked at the scans and cursed under his breath. The angle was off. Even if they removed a pincer claw, the emitter would never hit it. Letting the emitter down, the engineer looked to the city and the tall buildings.
Evan turned to Pris who stood missing an arm and sparks flashing out from exposed wires, “We need to get to one of the buildings so I can get a clear shot.”
Pris nodded as she hefted up her plasma rifle with her remaining right hand. Evan held the emitter to his chest as he began to run down the hill with Pris close behind. They reached the bottom and ran past Nika’s downed power suit, her screams and shouts fading behind them.
Lydia gazed at the titan before her. Being so close, she could make out the twisted lines of the shell and putrid vile skin along the monster’s face. It spoke of something unnatural that needed to be put down. Hera’s thrusters blazed as she hovered, PE sword at her side. Glancing down to the city limits, citizens fought the parasite horde as the titan slammed a claw into the shield. City cannons fired with little effect on the titan, but some cannons ripped through parasites like hot steel through butter.
Krekken Forces
Dumon Troops: 685/20,000
Dumon Fighter Ships: 9/100
Rekkus Spire Shield: 29%
Rekkus Spire Auto Cannons: 40
Rekkus Spire Citizens: 3,890/6,491
Evan's Team
Shield Maiden: 100%
Hera: 100%
Bruiser: 100%
Pris: 76%
Titan (Ravager): 99%
Parasites: 69,141
Lydia calculated that one or two more swings of the titan’s claw would disable the shields. Looking once again to a folded pincer claw, the cyborg took in a breath, focused on the crease along the pincer arm and smashed the accelerator. Hera burst forth, sword at the ready.
The exo-suit whipped the PE sword up and drove the blade into the crease. Energy burned at soft tissue as she prepared to cut along it. The pincer claw unfolded and whipped outward. Hera barely held on before the sword dislodged and she was hurtling through the air. Lydia kept her calm as she fired thrusters and righted herself up. Hera whipped the sword around and dove in for another attack, this time, Bruiser at her side.
The large power suit opened its oversized hands, energy glowing over each long finger. Lydia watched as Bruiser activated his Plasma Edge fingers, arms out and fingers flexing. The two power suits slammed into the arm. Hera stabbed her sword deep as Bruiser began clawing at the thick shell. Chunks of hard shell flew off, but it was so thick, Bruiser hadn’t reached soft tissue yet. Hera stabbed down to the hilt, turned her body and thrusters flared. She managed to cut through about ten feet before the pincer whipped out again, throwing both exo-suits into the air.
Lydia grunted in frustration as she righted herself. The player knew at this rate, it would take forever to cut through the arm. Watching her Battle Net feeds, the sight of citizens dying and Jamie Spiral fighting tooth and nail with the parasites gave her an increased sense of courage. She was ready to go in again when a large ship hovered down behind her.
“We will keep it busy while you cut away,” Venna’s voice came over the com, smooth as silk.
Lydia smiled as thrusters blazed. Hera and Bruiser went in again. The Shield Maiden stared down the massive titan, eye to eye. Captain Venna let a smirk slip as she activated weapons. Quad cannons and both plasma streams burned bright. The titan screeched as it was pelted in the face by plasma fire. The noise was deafening as the Shield Maiden sent out bolts and streams of hot plasma. Quad cannons whirled, spitting plasma at an alarming rate. The two streams burned right above a large eye, trailing down to burn it out. A claw flashed outward, striking the Shield Maiden hard.
Hera sank her PE sword down into the titan only to see the Shield Maiden sent hurtling through the air. Venna and Nyn held on as the Shield Maiden’s shields collapsed. Nyn threw her arms into the controls, trying to stabilize before the ship went careening into the city’s shield. Venna’s tail coiled around the chair, pulling her body down as systems surged. Colors cycled over Nyn’s skin as she grunted and strained to right the ship. Thrusters flaring, the ship righted itself too fast. Venna barely had a hold before her body went swinging from the chair and crashing into the floor. The Shri-Ka lifted herself up, clawing onto a nearby panel when power surged and exploded.
Nyn turned her head, face expressionless as Venna clutched at her face and fell back, “Doctor, the Captain is hurt. We need you on the Bridge.”
“Keep the ship steady and I’ll be
there soon!” the Doctor said over comms.
Nyn looked to the main screen, the titan slashing at the city shield again as it flared before melting away. City cannons roared as they concentrated fire at the monster. Data poured in with Evan and Pris’s signatures as glowing dots, entering the city.
The Lyress pilot’s fingers danced across the controls as she rerouted weapons to her console. Taking hold of the control handles, she turned the ship and blazed forward to the titan as it moved onto the city edge. A pincer came down, smashing a small building, taking out a city cannon as the Shield Maiden moved into position.
Nyn was silent as her skin turned black. Fingers pressed down on her console, activating all Shield Maiden weapons. Quad cannons and plasma streams blazed out as the titan roared its annoyance. Nyn kept her hands steady as she maneuvered the weapon’s fire onto an eye. Pincers moved up to block the incoming plasma fire.
Krekken Forces
Dumon Troops: 335/20,000
Dumon Fighter Ships: 9/100
Rekkus Spire Shield: 0%
Rekkus Spire Auto Cannons: 39/40
Rekkus Spire Citizens: 3,002/6,491
Evan's Team
Shield Maiden: 79%
Hera: 100%
Bruiser: 100%
Pris: 76%
Titan (Ravager): 97%
Parasites: 58,234
Doctor Vickers stepped onto the Bridge and darted to Venna as she moaned. The doctor knelt by her and pressed his hand to the side of her face, gray liquid moving from his hand and crawling onto the Captain’s green skin. Nano drones worked as the large doctor curled his arms under her and lifted her up. Silently, he moved to the main entrance and down the corridor to the medical bay, the ship shifting under his feet as he fought to maintain his balance.
Nyn moved the ship to and fro as a pincer came dangerously close again and again. The pilot watched as Hera and Bruiser were once again in position. The titan closed its eyelid as bolts managed to make it through, pelting against the thick skin.
“Hera, maintain thruster control as we cut,” Lydia ordered the exo-suit as she sank her PE sword down to the hilt.
Thrusters firing, the Cyborg connected to the power suit. With a roar, Lydia connected fully and boosted the power suit’s systems. Energy blazed as thrusters fired. A ripping and tearing of soft flesh were drowned out by the suits power. Lydia became laser focused. Hera blazed down along the segmented crease, PE sword slicing through. She circled the claw, but went again while Bruiser was behind her. The large power suit dug its PE edged fingers into the soft flesh of the monster’s arm. Parts flew off as the two power suits made their way again and again around the pincer arm.
Ravager screeched as it reared up. Whipping the pincer arm out, Hera compensated to ensure the sword stayed buried in the flesh. Bruiser followed, long fingers raking away parts. Nyn watched as the suits turned into streaking beams of light going around and around the arm. The undamaged pincer sliced across at Hera. Lydia’s senses were dialed to eleven as she pulled away and blazed into the air, the point of the pincer just missing her. The Shield Maiden continued to fire as Bruiser latched on to the puss bleeding crease and took hold of each side. Hydraulic muscles surged as they worked the edges. A tearing and ripping could be heard just before the titan screeched. Nyn concentrated the plasma streams at the crease of the pincer claw, right below where Bruiser tried to separate it. Smoke and the smell of burning alien flesh blanketed the area until a massive ripping vibrated.
Nyn watched as one pincer claw broke and dangled. The plasma streams blasted at the dangling edge until they burned through. Lydia shouted in triumph as the pincer was sliced away and fell to the city streets with a thunderous boom!
The titan’s red eyes stared at the battle suits and ship. A deep growl caused the very air to tremble. The titan rushed the Shield Maiden with a roaring screech. Nyn pulled back, but the titan was quick. Nyn maneuvered the ship just as a pincer stabbed out. The end slid along the underside, sparks flying and metal bowing from the impact. Alerts popped up as Nyn’s skin remained black. She heaved the controls and turned the ship on its side to get away.
Lydia saw the Titan’s eye was wide open. Thrusters flaring, she charged at the monster with sword out. The Titan turned its big eye just as Hera stabbed the PE blade in to the hilt. The titan thrashed as it roared. Lydia smiled evilly as she twisted the sword again and again. The titan’s jagged stump came at the prone exo-suit. Bruiser launched himself forward, long fingers curling around Hera and throwing her in the opposite direction.
Lydia stared in shock, not sure what was happening until it was too late. Bruiser had enough time to throw her before the jagged stump slammed through his shields and into his metallic body. Bruiser went spiraling toward the city and crashing into a building, caving in a wall and disappearing into the structure.
***
Evan and Pris raced into a building and up a stairwell. Alerts appeared and the engineer climbed stairs as he drank in the battle data.
Krekken Forces
Dumon Troops: 175/20,000
Dumon Fighter Ships: 9/100
Rekkus Spire Shield: 0%
Rekkus Spire Auto Cannons: 38/40
Rekkus Spire Citizens: 2,202/6,491
Evan's Team
Shield Maiden: 64%
Hera: 100%
Bruiser: 59%
Pris: 76%
Titan (Ravager): 89%
Parasites: 46,888
Alert! Bruiser is offline, attempting to reactivate.
Concern coiled around Evan’s heart as he raced up the stairs. Booted feet jumped several stairs at a time with Pris close behind. The player knew in reality he was not this fit, but his stamina was high. He started to breath heavy when they reached the twentieth floor. Dipping his shoulder down, he crashed through the door and onto a roof.
Evan tried to keep the shiver from his spine as he stepped forward. The hulking titan seethed with a broken off pincer and closed eye. City cannons were trained on it, firing nonstop as the monster lurched forward. Tentacles for legs curled and moved the giant monster as its body crashed into nearby buildings. The player felt too close for comfort as Pris stepped behind him.
Evan hoisted up the emitter to his shoulder while activating his emergency exo-skeleton. Rods protruded from the E-pack and extended along arms, wrists, and fingers. Another pair of rods ran down the back of his legs, calves, and boots. Metal bands slid over his limbs, taking some of the weight of the emitter off his shoulder. Targeting engaged as Evan held steady, the exo-skeleton and emitter working in unison.
The titan’s remaining eye looked down at the Terran and his android for a moment before it continued to crash into buildings. Its remaining pincer slashed out, destroying building roofs and taking out city cannons. Nyn kept the Shield Maiden steady as its guns continued with suppressing fire. Hera sheathed her sword and pulled her rifle, blasting away with each quick pull of the trigger. Citizens fought on against the invading parasites, retreating with every step back. Jamie Spiral fought like an unchained beast, blasting anything that got to close. To her side, a Krekken Sub commander fought, keeping the parasites at bay.
Evan aimed as the target locked on a piece of hide right above the closed eye. The screeches of the titan sent vibrations through the air as it stumbled through buildings. The Engineer placed his finger over a trigger and held his breath. Barely a second later, he pulled the trigger and watched.
The second tube under the emitter roared with smoke and fire as a thin rocket surged out. The missile tore through the air with a long hiss. Metal casing blasted off as the drill began to turn. It streaked through the air and made a direct hit right into the titan’s hide. Drill spinning, it sunk into the thick flesh while the tail piece of the missile separated. Clamps stabbed into the thick hide and anchored on while a small antenna extended.
Evan kept his eye on the targeting screen as the word “Searching” flashed over and over. The drill continued to slice through flesh and
strange organs as it looked for a nerve stem. Seconds ticked away as Evan kept his stance. He was ready to pull the trigger again the moment the drill locked on a stem. The titan crashed forward, roaring as it whipped its pincer to and fro, smashing anything close. Pris watched and calculated as the monster approached their position, preparing to save Evan.
The drill head burrowed deeper and deeper until it touched something thick. Nano drones quickly scanned the piece and relayed they had reached a nerve stem. Evan’s heart leapt in his chest as the word “Contact” flashed again and again. Aiming the emitter, the Engineer pulled the trigger.
Green light bloomed and surged forward, lighting up the night with power. The beam struck the antenna a moment later, channeling the power into the titan and blasting at the drill embedded in the nerve stem. The titan grew sluggish as the green beam of light blasted at it. Evan gritted his teeth, holding the beam steady.
Ravager turned its attention to the Terran as the beam caused it to weaken. With a roar, it came barreling through the city, charging toward the little creature. Evan held steady as the emitter fired its neural paralyzing stream. The player hoped it was going to fully take effect soon or he and Pris were as good as dead. The beam powered on as the titan crashed through city streets, looming over the Terran. A pincer claw rose up, its shadow covering the Engineer.
Evan held down the triggers as Pris connected her rifle to her back. The pincer stayed up, trembling. The titan’s eye half closed. Tentacles underneath grew slack. The pincer came down, but not on the Terran and android. Instead it curled over part of the titan’s demonic face. The titan sank down, eye closing.
Evan kept the emitter firing as the giant titan crashed down onto the city streets. Tentacles curled underneath and the massive monster no longer moved. When there was no more movement, Evan let go of the trigger, hands shaking.
The remaining auto guns turned on the parasite invaders, mowing them down while the citizens blasted at them. In a matter of moments, the parasite horde was cut to pieces as the city’s people finished them off.