As Kabela and Clint continue doing their repairs to the drill beam, Dante watches the battle taking place ahead of him. there ‘s so much happening, dust and flashes of laser fire are most of what he can see, with the occasional explosion illuminating the darkness of the night.
“I need three panels,” Clint says.
“I’ve got one here,” Kabela responds, “You’ll have to check the shack for the rest,”
_SHIELD STRENGTH: 59%
Clint jumps down and steps out of the drill beam to open a large panel on the ground beside Dante, revealing a large storage space with a ladder leading inside. He jumps down and turns on his torch before throwing up the various parts he needs.
“Gyro keeps overheating,” Clint grunts from the shack, “I can’t get the fans up to speed,”
“Check power supply and clear out all the dust,” Kabela responds.
“You don’t think I’ve done that already?” Clints mumbles into the comms.
“Assembly casing?” Kabela asks.
“... Good shout,” Clint says, throwing up a few more pieces before climbing out of the shack, carrying the more delicate ones.“
A bright light glints beyond the amalgamation of gunners and Krix vehicles battling in the distance and Dante feels a tingle going down his spine- His immediate presumption is that it’s a weapon, and the accompanying conclusion is that it’s aiming at them. He has no idea how much damage a blast like that will do to his shield but his first thought is that he will need to block this thing.
With his shield up, he runs towards the steering cart of the train, jumping over the gap between the carts and barely having the strength to make the gap. He posts up right at the front of the Drill beam train and takes the time to place his feet in a solid stance.
The light grows brighter, and in the centre of a bright orange light he can see the white sphere of energy forming in the centre- If anything, the brightness and size of that beam would destroy the train. It must be the same weapon that nearly tipped the drill beam train over, he realises.
“Kid, if you block that I will never make fun of you again,” Clint says.
“Uhh,” Kabela stammers, adding to Dante’s preexisting nerves.
Like a small sun below the horizon, the charging laser beam illuminates from inside the fog of warfare- briefly silhouetting all of the ally and enemy vehicles before the light suddenly flies through the fog and hurtles in Dante’s direction.
Without any time to react, the giant beam suddenly blinds Dante and it crashes into his shield and, before he can see anything the sound of a wrathful boom ignites the only thing he feels.
Fear.
Completely blind, Dante feels that his feet are not longer on the floor, and as the white light begins to fade, the sight of steel rapidly passing by his vision is the first thing he notices. Second to his HUD, with his shield’s command prompt posted in his vision.
_SHIELD STRENGTH: 7%
That didn’t destroy it? Dante realizes that the shield has dissipated, since he lost concentration and before he processes his motion, his body comes to a jarring halt as it crashes into the drill beam.
_HP: 19 (-81)
_MANA: 0% REMAINING
_DETAILS: 0/230
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
_NOTES: Multiple broken ribs. Muscular damage from stab wound to leg. Fractured vertebrae.
“Shit!” Kabela yells, running over to Dante.
“I’m okay,” Dante coughs as he catches his breath.
The shield took the brunt of the impact, and the only real source of damage was from crashing into the drill beam at high speed.
Far from the worst hit he’s had to take today.
“I’ve only got seven percent,” He calls out, getting up to his feet.
The pain, however, is almost unbearable at this point. He wants to scream or cry with each movement but he knows they’re almost done here since his shield is at its end.
“We keep working until five,” Kabela responds.
“Copy that,” Clint and Dante confirm, and Dante summons his shield again.
_SHIELD STRENGTH: 7%
No more big blasts, obviously. The shield can take a few more lasers but that’s about it- if Kabela and Clint can get it all done in the next minute or so they’ll be home free.
“How’s the gyro looking?” She asks.
“Sorted the casing, fans are a go,” Clint responds, “Mantlet is armored, I’m just locking them down. How about you?”
“Barrel’s cut and realigned. I’m welding down the reinforcement,”
“Looks like we’ll get home for dinner,” Clint chuckles.
“It’s in a working state, we just need to polish it up,”
A burst of lasers collided with Dante’s shield, still trained at the same point and the impact sends a ripple through his body- it’s not strong enough to hold its ground anymore, and if he can't do that, the shield is rather useless.
_SHIELD STRENGTH: 4%
“That’s that,” Dante calls out, “I can't take much more,”
“That’s time,” Kabela says to Clint, lowering down her equipment from atop the barrel before jumping down, “Drill beam is a go,” She says over comms.
“Copy that,” Captain Eddy says, “Let’s get her in the fight,”
“Charging,” Rebecca responds.
Clint also steps out of the core of the drill beam, carrying a bunch of materials and gear that he takes down to the shack.
“Almost time to haul ass,” Kabela says as she passes equipment down to Clint, “Ready kid?”
“Yeah,” Dante nods as a surge of laser collides with the shield.
_SHIELD STRENGTH: 1%
Clint climbs out of the shack, sealing it and screwing it ain't quicker than Dante’s ever seen someone use a screwdriver.
“Let’s move!” Kabela yells.
Dante lowers his shield right before two lasers deflect off the Drill beams mantlet, avoiding his energy ricochetting through his body again. He runs as fast as he can behind Kabela and Clint as the white light of the drill beam gradually brightens.
We did it, Dante’s mind processes the victory as he approaches the hatch that Clint is opening. What he’s most impressed with is how calm he was even at one percent shield strength. All the training has given him so much more confidence in the field, but-
_HP: 19 (-81)
_MANA: 0% REMAINING
_DETAILS: 0/230
_NOTES: Multiple broken ribs. Muscular damage from stab wound to leg. Fractured vertebrae.
He’s easy prey.
He hasn't been counting the number of Krix he’s destroyed, but he knows it isn't even a fraction of the number Cassie took out. Sure he’s useful, but I almost died too many times.
With weak arms, he struggles to make his way down the ladder without dropping to the floor and he sees Cassie and Nadia, both on the ground and with their eyes closed.
“Are they okay?!” He yells, before squirming in pain as the adrenaline in his body starts wearing off.
“They’re alright, worry about yourself for now,” Captain Hammond says, helping Dante to the ground.
Kabela steps over to Dante with the first aid kit and takes out a few painkillers for him before handing him a glass of water-
“That shield is pretty tough,” She chuckles, “Not quite their strongest laser, but you handled a big one,”
“Ours is bigger,” Clint chuckles, “But it ain't about size, y’know. It's about placement,”
“Drill beam is charged and ready to fire,” Rebecca calls out, “Beginning countdown,”
The chatter immediately stops, and everyone follows protocol- awaiting the countdown.