Blood and sweat ran down my face, the heat of my stims joining the exerted efforts of my muscles that were just trying to prevent me from dying. A battle hard fought, a war not quite won yet. Multiple super villains in one night. What had I been thinking?
Money was just the convenient excuse. Ego was a shade closer to the truth. Some latent calling that I felt in my soul was perhaps as honest as my murky memories allowed me to be, despite that sounding way too abstract.
My left hand shook. The hiss of the struggling V-Force boosters threatened to give out at any time. Somehow, my grip held.
The first needle of the villain was now about an inch from my eye, having pierced through my lense I can only assume I had some form of guardian angel blessing me to have been able to grab it right before it punctured and destroyed my sight. An innate reflex that might only be delaying the inevitable.
While I focused on not having my brain skewered, the second needle had come up into my side at an angle. The thin, cylindrical blade rotated in place slowly and gradually pushed its way in through my organs. Aiming for my heart, if I allowed it.
“Resilient but foolhardy,” Clauda said, shaking her head. “Egotistical to think you could fight us with no superpowers.”
[Fuck superpowers]
The phrase ejected from my vocalizer with as much venom as it could muster. A slip of the tongue, but I was under a lot of pressure.
“Terrible last words. Care to try again?”
I felt both blades creep toward me, the pressure of her force extending that little bit more. Wasn’t that good at one-liners yet. Would things have been much different if I had disconnected my vocalizer at the start? Didn’t really matter now. Notifications in my right lense were warning me of blood loss and damage to my internal organs. Too risky to stay put and test if my intuition had been correct.
The only thing I could do was gamble with my life. On the one shell I had loaded from my bandolier, hoping that I hadn’t read the situation wrong.
For the second time, I answered her spoken question with the pull of my trigger.
Her hands went up and focus withdrew momentarily, as she brought the shielding in to stop the shrapnel. The surprise on her face gave me hope that I had been correct.
As I hadn’t shot anything metallic at her.
Rubber shot bypassed whatever she was trying to accomplish, striking her clean on the arm and snapping the bone. I pulled the needle away from my face as she growled in pain and clutched at the wound. Stepped away from the second as it fell from my side, spatters of blood trailing on the floor as it clattered with a high pitch.
Strode towards her, feeling a little light-headed. Overcharge spooled up in my gun-arm.
Her eyes burned with anger as she looked back at me and walked backwards, arm hanging limp as the useful hand went to bring up the discarded needle.
It buried into my back as I approached, before pulling away and going for my head. Panic in her eyes as I didn’t stop, even as it cut across the side of my face. Nerves had severed both her accuracy and strength with the weapon. She stumbled as her foot caught on one of the corpses I had decorated the place with - but it was okay, as I caught her.
Muzzle up to her neck.
[Return to sender.]
Shotgun V-Force drive fired the other needle that I had stuffed down the barrel, piercing through her throat and out the top of her skull. I dropped her body and racked a normal shell. Double-tapped.
I allowed myself a few deep breaths before deciding that was a pretty terrible one-liner. I should cease the idea of doing them. Better than ‘ricochet this’, however - but there were no prizes to be won here. Other than the bounties for the murders.
Went and retrieved both the discarded revolver and the unsullied Sanguine stake.
Wavered slightly and hoped my stims would catch up. Bleeding both external and internal should seal up within a handful of minutes. Could I avoid danger for that long?
Two down, two to go. As luck would have it, the ones still breathing were the tougher of the gang. How well did I fancy my chances? I’d win or die trying, for certain. Unclipped the drum mag and put the Incendiary shot in.
Now, where would they be hiding? This level had no way to the offices, and if my memory was correct… the ones who went upstairs were going to the cyclops. I furrowed my brow. Or was that down? And the ones going up were rallying the gang?
Having only one lense in my goggles was awkward, but perhaps the blood loss was the true contributor to my… uh… my sluggish thoughts. Yeah, that was it.
Up it was.
Sharp pains up both of my legs as I ascended each dirtied step. My one round of cardio the other day somehow not making me a marathon machine of fitness. Unforgivable. Barely worth the effort.
Palmed the back of my head to double check my gray matter wasn’t leaking. More of a deep gouge than a graze. I was pretty sure I could touch my unbroken skull through the hair matted with blood and shredded skin that was trying to heal shut. Twice I had come an inch close to death this evening, and yet I persisted.
Even if Clara was watching the damage rack up, it seemed less likely that she was cluing Roxy in. While the super had always been oddly respectful of my work, I wasn’t sure she could sit idle watching my life spiraling the drain.
Not to mention the face she would pull, knowing I was killing off the gang she had arrested the leader of. Couldn’t wait to hear her side of the prison break story the League had given her. Or how they felt about the whole gang turning up dead.
I tapped at my stim pack as I hit the next floor. Still doing fine. The fighting had been brief, but incredibly exhausting. Even the durable suit hadn’t held up too well against the bladed attacks of the super villains. If the League weren’t already clued in on what I was, then they might raise an eyebrow at a sidekick who ruins a handful of super suits in as many days.
Just how much did they know, though?
Top floor had a similar arrangement to the two below, except the windows here were barely covered. The city looked calm. Serene almost - compared to what was going on in here. A dozen or so motorbikes were parked in loose rows on both sides. Parts and metal cabinets in places. Somewhere where they did repairs, perhaps - a doorway to the right leading to the car park looked as though they had built it themselves.
Far left had doors to the office block, which seemed to be my destination. Drawn to it.
Left arm ached like crazy. After being told that I shouldn’t use my gauntlet much until my bones had fully recovered, I had burned the drives out to save myself from sporting a foot of metal from my eye socket. A re-broken arm seemed preferable to a perforated brain.
Almost tripped over several inches of the needle I had blown through the telekineticist's head, the blade going halfway through to this floor. Took myself slowly between the rows of bikes. Smaller than mine by a few degrees - but all in the process of being painted purple or having the gang’s logo placed on them. An eye with five swords behind it.
I didn’t know what the villains got up to, to make them wanted criminals. This gave me a slight pause. League was keen to tar and feather anyone who didn’t play by their rules, so how terrible was this group, really? Some of the things Roxy had said to me would get her disgraced and labeled a villain. So, was I just kicking sand in the faces of my equals?
Gross. This is why hadn’t questioned things too intently before. Objective didn’t change no matter the scrutiny I gave the contract. Even if I called it quits now, I would be tracked down by the remnants of the gang - I’d not rest safe. Had to tidy up all loose ends.
Stopped in place at the sound of footsteps. Ahead of me from the offices. I was starting to think I had my directions mixed up.
Doors flung open to reveal a gathered group of henchmen. Shotgun lit them up immediately, some of their clothing and scenery beyond the opening catching alight from the Incendiary shrapnel. Before they had the chance to prepare, I was already there in melee with them.
Point blank revolver shot to the head of the first who was trying to cover his eyes from the scorch marks of my instigating blast. Elbow to push the next one back into his companions as empty shell ejected into the air - a second fire blast loading in ready. Gauntlet deflected the swing of a hand-axe as I thumbed at the hammer of the revolver, drawing it back.
A violent dance that echoed my training against the dummies. They couldn’t fall back to use their firearms due to my close proximity in this thinner corridor, so had switched to melee options. My shotgun had no such qualms, and I fired with reckless abandon. Each hit shredding through flesh and drawing long streaks of charred terrain across the walls and ceiling.
I moved like a cyclone, each strike or blast smooth and calculated. Stopped in place, as there was no further resistance.
Flames licked at the hallway of bodies, the walls blackened and warm. Last henchman was busy throwing up blood, but I interrupted to lift him up and press him against the wall.
[Where is your leader?]
“Eat shit,” he spluttered in return, blood still running from his mouth.
[I do not have a mouth. Perhaps you’d like to show me how?]
Pressed the muzzle of the shotgun against his stomach. I had actually used all my Incendiary shot, but didn’t have enough hands to reload anything. The threat was enough.
“Car park basement,” he said, trepidation in his voice. “Grugg will tear you apart, so it doesn’t matter.”
[And what of you? Has your loyalty kept you safe?]
His tongue caught in his mouth, unable to vomit out a concise response - although that could just be from the internal bleeding. I dropped him and gave him a knee to the stomach. He keeled over, spluttering once more as I switched mags back to the drum. Would need to walk all the way back to the start now, which seemed unfair.
Left the goon to continue retching. I tried not to humanize them, as it would make the job difficult. Didn’t pick up on their differing features, emotion behind their eyes, or cared to listen to the sob stories. It went unsaid that they might not all be evil criminals, but I never considered myself good or just either. We all suffered for our choices in one way or another.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Like how I was pretty sure Roxy would half kill me soon, just so that we could court properly. Was that even a thing? Once again, I struggled to believe I was in such a situation.
Stepped over the corpses on the way back to the top floor of the showroom. Almost a shame to leave the revolver behind, but my left arm was already shaking and weak. A lot of exertion and injuries sustained, but I hadn’t re-fractured it yet.
I wondered if this place had any mint chocolate chip ice-cream I could steal.
Out into the wider showroom. I stopped and turned my head to the side to look out into the city. Truly, I could never catch a break.
Large windows burst and shattered inwards as a figure landed and slid across the mucky marble flooring, sparks flaring up from their feet. I allowed myself a long sigh as the last non-cyclopean villain stood up tall.
Lady Peony Valoth. Part cyborg, part vampire, and positively out of my league when it came to combat abilities. Both her legs metallic, her feet pointed and sharp. She wore a business suit on her upper half, something drab with gothic flare to match her pale skin and wide-brimmed black hat. Eyes blazing bright scarlet, her hands clasped at an ornate longsword.
She grimaced at me, exposing her fangs as her head tilted in a snarl. The quadrant of her face over her right eye was also cybernetic, but didn’t seem to be replacing the orb itself. “Tell me who sent you, and I’ll make your death quick.” Her voice was eloquent, but dripped with her hatred for me.
[You’re the only one left to save your leader. Best to just kill me while you can.]
“You are bluffing…” Her eye unfocused, as if she was looking into something STAR-equivalent. “How did you… it was you who killed Barthelemy, wasn’t it?”
[Irrelevant.]
She adjusted her posture to something more relaxed but confident. “We could do with someone like you on our roster. How likely are you to be bought out?”
[Impossible.]
“You’d rather die than change sides?” A sneer returned to her face. “Just who do you think you are?”
[Irredeemable.]
I launched forward and fired off my shotgun. Didn’t matter what she said, there was no chance I would be joining anyone else. Pay didn’t matter. Workload didn’t matter. Benefits didn’t matter. I killed because I was a killer, and nothing would change that.
Well, almost nothing.
Her sword swiped through the air, blocking most of the shrapnel. Threat Level 65. I was really pushing myself to the limits of what I was capable of.
I loved it.
Boosters on her back lit her up and sent her toward me. I slid across the floor as her sword blew up dirt, scratching a groove through the marble. Spun around in place and slapped the chamber as she stepped past. Click of the trigger and the Tazer shot struck her right leg.
Crimson electricity started to crackle around the body as she became further incensed, the blast of my own arcing blue not enough to stun such a strong villain - but it had damaged her leg. Low grade cybernetics. The leg had now stiffened up and wouldn’t propel her forward to take advantage of my position.
Shame she had those boosters to move her.
Blade clashed against my gun-arm as I wielded it to block her swipes. Sparks and thrums radiated through the weapon. She didn’t have the speed of the ratman, but she was clearly experienced with the sword. While I could brawl to a degree, it wouldn’t be long before I’d get caught out and take damage.
Fired a normal shot into her from close range. Clothing shredded but… hardly any actual harm to the villain. As an offensive-based all-rounder, she had enough strength and resilience to resist a lot of what I was able to put out. Perhaps I had found my limit and should have left after the second kill.
Peony swung her sword around to strike me with the flat of the blade - and in blocking it, the force sent me sliding across the marble. Before I had a chance to adjust, her boosters sent her diving toward me, blade pointed out in a jab.
Reminded me of Skyblade in a way, and although she had more finesse to her attacks, there were also the clear signs of her increased ferocity in how she didn’t let up her assault.
Crossed my arms to stop the sword skewering me and I was sent even further back, now stumbling into the office hallway. I fumbled for my bandolier, but my fingers felt numb. Hitting the point where the stims had done their best, but my body was just giving out. At my human limits.
Like I would let that stop me.
Chamber closed, and Overcharge whirred into life. The vampire had taken a moment to give her leg some percussive maintenance to get it working normally and for the most part, it-
Vision blurred slightly as I stepped forward, left ear ringing. Turned my head to see the henchman who had been throwing up previously now holding a rifle, the telltale wisp of smoke still waving from the end. So much for my attempt at character growth. Gun-arm whipped round, and I blew the Rubber shot straight into his skull, the V-Force causing him to slam against the wall. Cracks form from the impact, signaling this area might not be so…
I turned back and was struck by a wave of energy. Followed the goon's path and slammed into the same wall, breaking through the thin wood and supports. Rolled to a crouch amongst the cloud of dust. Palmed at my neck. There was no stim pack.
Empty port, the side of which had been dented by the henchman’s shot, causing the pack to no longer fit and just eject somewhere back in the hallway.
Not entirely convenient.
Stood up on shaking legs as the woman ran to catch up to me. My chamber opened up, and I struggled to slap something new in. Ejected the drum mag, and then she was here.
A spinning kick with her metal foot had me stumbling backward, deflected, but only just. The follow-up was a sweep of her sword, followed by another kick. Powdered plaster fell down around us, where her attacks cut into the structure. Peony darted back, ready to leap forth and skewer me through my lagging defenses.
Clicked the trigger. Aim was slightly off, but the High Explosive Slug connected with her sword-arm, blowing a sizable chunk of her flesh away in a burst of crimson. Weapon bounced to the floor as she clasped at the injury, fresh anger in her eyes.
Instead of chiding me with furious remarks, she launched forward, this time lashing out with claws that had grown from her offhand. Hot lines of crimson radiated from my chest before I could push her away, barely stopping her from digging through to bone through my muscles. Stepped aside, and she twisted to swing another kick at my head.
Ducked, and I slapped in the other ten-mag. Barreled into her other leg while she recovered from her attack, but it didn’t knock her to the floor. We tussled and spun before she grabbed and threw me with a surprising amount of force. I broke through the wall and into the next office, rolling across decrepit furniture and piles of debris. Turned and fired the first shot of Taser through the opening.
Missed, as she wasn’t there anymore.
Pain flared in my left shoulder as she suddenly appeared and dug her fangs in.
Swung for her as she hopped away, almost clear to the other side of the room. Delight spread across her face now, my own blood running down from her lips.
“An interesting taste to you, killer. More worthwhile than you look.”
The clack of another Taser shell loading was my only response. Too tired to engage in conversation now. The aches of my condition started to crack at my psyche, the stims were no longer present and capable of turning this into a warm and numb experience.
Blood had empowered her further, and paired with my slowing body, I almost didn’t catch her movement toward me.
An exchange of blows and I slammed into the wall again, air knocked from my lungs and a nasty gash across my left thigh. Re-breather whirred as I tried to draw oxygen back around my system.
Lady Valoth held her left hand out, a coy smile across her face. Red light bloomed in her outstretched palm as she readied an attack. “Perhaps you should have reconsidered going against someone of my power.”
[You know how much your life is worth, despite your power?]
Her smile turned into a sneer, her attack brightening, but she held out.
[Twenty-five grand. Same as the rat and the needler. Power level means nothing, you’re all a paycheck to me.]
“Disgusting.” She bared her fangs. “Then let’s see how useful that money is for you in hell.”
She made her attack. A ball of energy flung towards me like a grenade. Funny thing was, I couldn’t really move. Muscles were locking up to the pain and exertion. Without my stims, there would be a limited amount of time I could stay conscious. Perhaps this was my limit. My chance to rest finally.
Red light washed over me before the flash of white blinded my eyes. A force that burned at my exposed skin and singed the edges of all the tears in my super suit. Vertigo and then a heavy thud as I landed somewhere.
Adrenaline hit me, and I refocused. Managed to get up to my feet amongst a clutter of debris. Running on fumes, my skin aching and cracked. Clouds of plaster and dust filled the area, the hole in the ceiling evidence that I had been blasted to the floor below. A broken water pipe sprayed a dabbling of water down onto the dirtied carpet around me. I turned and limped my way out of the door, closing it behind me to collapse against the wall of the next room.
“Shame you have no real neck,” the voice came from the above floor. “Would have loved to drain you dry for what you have done.”
I focused on my breathing. Had to be quiet, yet save my energy. I pulled myself across the carpet, unable to stand. Almost wanted to sleep right there. Managed to push myself up against the opposite wall to sit. One last clack of my shotgun and then I was silent. Eyes closed, and I allowed all my aches and pains to relax and wash away. Peace.
A thud from the room ahead as the villain landed. The crash of some debris kicked over to ensure I wasn’t hiding away. Perhaps she’d sense my blood, or decide I went through the door on this side of the office via process of elimination.
I sat and felt a little sorry for myself.
And then fired the Sanguine stake.
Gentle thud, and then silence again. Muscles burning, I pushed myself back up to my feet. Paused as vertigo almost had me collapse back down. With exhaustion once again taking control of me, I shuffled my boots across the floor and pushed the door open.
Peony was on her knees, both hands clutched to her stomach. Her eyes, now full of panic rather than fury, rose to see me. “How?” She asked, her own blood now running from her mouth.
I pointed my gun-arm at the water spraying down, as it loaded in another stake.
[Your wide-brimmed hat stopped the water striking the carpet, so I was able to assume your positioning. I didn’t account for your height, however.]
“A monster that hunts monsters.” She shook her head before coughing up a fresh handful of crimson. “Best leave in haste. Once Grugg finds you, you’re fucked.”
Shotgun fired the second stake through her heart, and the vampire-cyborg tipped over. Black, white, and red. The whole talking thing was tugging at the small part of me that was trying to be a more moral and well-rounded individual. Could I have been an ally of the woman in a different life and setting? How about any of the villains here, or that I'd meet in the future?
Either way, I was almost done here. Seventy-five thousand credits for a night’s turmoil was a fair shake, even though I had considered the initial bag a little on the light side. The big one-hundred was sitting there on the sidelines, trying to get my attention, but maybe I had to be realistic for once.
Maybe.
Allowed myself a slow groan of exhaustion. My drum mag was back up a floor, and I was keen to get that back. Hobbled around the offices until I found the stairs up. Refreshed the sideloader with stakes along the way. Drum retrieved and on my belt. Light-headed. Most of my physical form now stiff and figuratively on fire with every movement.
Made my way to the top of the showroom. Best bet might be to wheel one of these stacked bikes over to the car park doors and roll down the ramp until I can eject my body safely onto the street. Seemed like the best way of making a break without running into-
“Claudia? Gregor?”
A loud voice echoed up from the floor below. Guttural and angry beyond compare.
I eyed up the bikes intently. Any would do. Both arms shook as I selected my vehicle, while heavy footsteps vibrated through the structure. Barely managed to pull one away with my uncooperative limbs, three other half-built bikes falling over loudly to punish me for having some slight wedge of self-preservation in my mushy brain.
Silence for a moment, my entire being frozen.
The floor right beneath me shook, right before a large hand burst through, grabbing me by the leg.
I was pulled and thrown to the floor amongst broken masonry and marble dust. Out of the cloud above me loomed a singular eye, bright blue and practically on fire with fury. The large form of the cyclops emerged from the obscuring particles and grabbed me, a quick jerk of his muscle sending me across into the side wall. Air knocked from my lungs again as I created a cracked dent in the thicker stone.
Threat Level 87.
Pretty fucked. I stumbled away from the position, arm up. Fired a Taser shot that he just shrugged off. Not only was he ten feet tall and just as wide, but there was an aura around him that exuded strength. Wide mouth contorted into a grimace at having found the person responsible for killing his gang members.
I felt the rush of his response before I visually clocked it. Large club with a metal-tipped end. Couldn’t even raise my arm in time.
Brain struggled to keep me conscious as I slammed into one of the rusted vehicles on display, bucking the metal as I embedded into the side of it. Notifications screamed about broken ribs and split organs, just as blood pooled up through my re-breather.
I shuddered and couldn’t stand. Synapse controls weren’t working.
A large hand came down to give me a little assistance. Pulled me away from the wreckage and into the air, my head almost pressed against the ceiling.
“Grugg very angry, will make murderer suffer.”
Club bounced off the floor as he made good on his word. Hand came up and gripped at my left arm. I started to dissociate as he twisted it back. My brain took a few steps away and ignored the sounds. Pain was distant.
But it was in this far away land, where I wasn’t currently being split apart slowly by a cyclops, that I found something familiar.
A puzzle piece, catching the bloody high tide of my waning existence, seemed to wash far enough on shore to click into place.
Something obvious, perhaps. It had been lurking in my peripheral for a while.
A realization about my old life that filled me with rocketing excitement despite the circumstances.
I was created for the sole purpose of killing superheroes.