Chapter 48

Geralod had arrived just in time. Cy-Tech had opened fire on Gabriela, who was huddled somewhere amongst the humming turbines, and they were quickly fanning out around her.

Geraldo shouldered his weapon and opened fire, shooting the officers in the back. One dropped to his knees, arching his back and cried out, the other fell face first onto the cold hard floor, their body laid motionless.

Movement from the catwalk caused Geraldo to pivot and shoot as he moved closer to the catwalk stairs. An officer fell from the metal greeting, a sick crack echoed when they landed.

The remaining officers began to panic, caught in the crossfire between Gabriela and Geraldo. Gabriela managed to catch two more officers as they tried to retreat towards the stairs, giving Geraldo the opportunity to climb up the metal stairs. He ejected the magazine from his rifle as he rushed up the stairs two at a time.

Geraldo came face to face with another Cy-Tech officer who, judging by their lithe figure, was a woman. She raised her rifle, but before she could open fire Geraldo rushed her. She let out a gasp when his shoulder collided with her stomach. Geraldo's arm reached around her and lifted her off her feet.

The remaining officers began to shoot, the woman he was holding jerking with every slug that smashed into her body. Geraldo roared as he carried her across the catwalk and lifted his own rifle back up, firing it. The weapon bucked wildly in his hand, but the shots found their mark and the remaining two officers fell. One to their knees and the other to the ground below.

The officer raised his hands in surrender. Geraldo dropped the body of the woman at his feet.

“Please,” the officer begged. His hands were shaking.

Geralod put the butt of the rifle to his shoulder and pulled the trigger and the officer jerked with each round that ripped through him. Think red blood bubbled up from their neck, spilling over the Cy-Tech logo as he slumped forward. His black gloved hands desperately clawed at the wound in his neck.

Geraldo kicked the rifle away from the body, stepping over it as he exchanged another magazine before he bent over, his hands on his knees. The adrenaline and years of cigarette smoke was taking a toll, and Geraldo struggled to catch his breath.

There was a loud sound from the next room, followed by the unmistakable sound of Andrews’ voice.

Geraldo took a deep breath. He had loaded his last magazine, and the rifle wouldn't be much use against an Exo-suit. Geraldo thought about cutting his losses. He had just faced an entire Cy-Teck kill team and walked away unscathed. But in the end he decided against it. He took a deep breath.

“Fuck it.,” He wheezed before he trotted across the greeting, ready to face Andrews and end it once and for all.

He came into a small room. Gabriela was pinned behind a steel support, the Exo-suit which was undoubtedly piloted by Andrews, was slowly circling around.

Geraldo pulled the trigger twice, the rounds bouncing off the suit harmlessly, but they had the desired effect. The exo-suit stopped, before it slowly turned towards him.

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“This ends here, Andrews!” Geraldo roared.

“Detective?” Andrews’ Exo-suit swiveled, searching the cat walk for Geraldo. “What was it you said to me? ‘I thought I smelled lube?’” The gatling roared.

Geraldo lept to the side, the catwalk groaned and twisted under the onslaught of gatling fire.

Andrews paused. The Exo-suit slowly scanned the ruined walkway, looking for Geraldo’s body.

Geraldo laid on his back on the lip of the wall the greeting was attached to. He was out of sight, but had nowhere else to go. Geraldo took a deep breath and wiped sweat from his eyes. His heart was pounding so loud that he could hardly hear what was happening around him.

“I want you to know, Geraldo. This isn't going to end with you,” Andrews taunted. “When I kill you I'm going after your old flame, Tanya Woods.”

Fear sank into the pit of Geralod’s stomach, his hands around the rifle gripping so tightly they began to hurt.

“Didn't think I knew about that, did you?” Andrews asked as the Exo-suit began to move backwards, trying to get an angle on Geraldo. “I know all about you two, and the crip kid that slithered from her snatch. Vee, I think her name is? I know all about your secrets, Geraldo. And when I am done with her, her momma is going to be selling your little girl's implants on the street for crack.”

Gabriela opened fire. His rounds managed to hit a coolant line, causing a jet of coolant to burst out from the back of the exo-suit.

“Bitch!” Andrews roared, turning back toward her.

A thought slipped into Geraldo’s panicked mind. They couldn't break through the Exo-suit, but it wasn't invulnerable. The coolant lines, and most importantly, the optics were vulnerable from the outside of the suit, but only from the back. Exo-suits were front line warmachines, they were never designed to be engaged from the rear.

Geraldo stood up and took aim. The optics bundle was only four or five centimeters. It was an impossible shot, but it was all that Geraldo had. If he failed there was no doubt in his mind that Andrews would make good on his threat.

“God, let this work.” He prayed breathlessly before he took the shot.The suit's optics exploded in a shower of sparks, blinding Andrews. The suit stumbled around listlessly for a moment before the cockpit of the suit sprung open.

Andrews had given up the only advantage he had. He was now exposed. Andrews turned towards Geraldo and sneered, opening fire once more. Geraldo had nowhere left to run, no cover, and no place to hide, so he jumped. The Exo-suit leaned backwards trying to cut him down in the air.

Geraldo landed on the Exo-suits open cockpit, his rifle dangled from its trap around his neck.

“Mother fucker.” Andrews spat as he reached up to Geraldo with his own hands, the exo-suit mimicking his movement.

Geraldo braced himself with his left hand, gripping tightly to the open cockpit door above him, his free hand grasping the rifle's strap, pulling the weapon up, flinging the weapon up in front of them before he snatched it from the air and put the rifle’s muzzle to rest on Andrews’ chest.

A look flashed across Andrews’ face, a look that caused Geraldo to pause. The look was out of place, not for the situation, but for Andrews himself. It was the look of fear. It was the first real human emotion Geraldo had seen in Andrews.

The moment of surprise passed, and Geraldo pulled the trigger. The muzzle bucked and bumped off of Andrews’ chest. The Exo-suite stumbled backwards before it toppled over, flinging Geraldo away from it.

Geraldo landed hard, the breath rushing out of him in a long sigh, before he rolled to a stop and laid motionless for a moment. After a deep breath in, he groaned and pushed himself up.

The Exo-suite laid on its side. Andrews’ looked at him wide eyed, his breathing was rapid and shallow.

“What?” He painted. “No quippy fucking come back?”

Geraldo bent over and picked up his rifle, shouldered it and took aim.

“Vaseline.” Geraldo said.

Andrews blinked in surprise. “What?” He gasped, blood trickling from his mouth.

“I said ‘I thought I smelt Vaseline’ when we first met.” Geraldo corrected him before he pulled the trigger. Putting an end to the man.