The central floor of the level was a full story lower down, with stairs and a ramp leading down to a heavy duty looking elevator up against the wall on the far side.

The one with a humanoid shaped war machine standing in front of it, the one which was probably the reason they needed the two story high ceiling here.

The Mech was rougher, more industrial looking than the Genius made ones I had seen back at the Palace in Concentric City. More like something built by a committee than someone with a full concept in mind.

But even with exposed wiring and open panels, the force field visibly holding back the gush of flames washing over from Phoenix was more than enough to protect it.

Most of the group was backed up in a corridor far enough back to put them at an angle to the heavy industrial laser mounted on the chest of the machine, which had left scorch marks and melted lines of metal along the wall and corridor ahead of us.

What did they want me to do about it? "Can't Buzz take it down?"

Falco looked back as I yelled and gestured to where Buzz sat against the wall with both of his hands over his face. “They're trying to vent the air to this whole level, he’s a bit busy.”

Ouch, that would be bad news for us, and all the wounded Space Force guys sprawled out in the hallways behind us.

I turned to the white feathers Talon boy, Heron. “I’ll be back.”

The Grenade launcher looked to be a six shooter and as far as I could tell still had three shots left in it. The softly groaning guy who had been carrying it didn’t seem to have any more rounds on him. “Sorry guy, but carrying something like this around just made you more of a target.”

Which was going to be true for me too, wasn't it?

Rejoining the group I found the elder Talon sibling still playing tag with the Mech while everyone else stood back. Falco looked happy to see me.

I held the Launcher up. “Phoenix torched this thing pretty good, everyone might want to get back in case it blows up when I try to shoot it.”

Which it might. Why am I shooting it then? Oh yeah, I got to get to the booster. If Falco and company get stopped here. It stays in the government's hands for whatever they might use it for and I live in the blast radius of Concentric City.

Plus a lot of people I’ve grown to care about. As well as some of my favorite stores.

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I'm delaying, aren't I?

Running up to the end of the hall, I shouted out, “Fire in the hole!”

The thing had a bit of kick and sounded like a potato gun.

The sound of the shell hitting though… wasn’t as bad as standing a few feet from it going off in a narrow corridor, but it was still loud.

I didn't wait to see what the effects of the first shot were, but instead fired a second, and then the third and last. The third shot sounded different, like tearing metal.

Bracing myself, I jumped to the top of the guardrail on the balcony over overlooking the room below and leaped out in the clearing smoke.

Right into the three fingered mechanical hand of the Mech which the pilot had thrown up in a protective gesture.

Not that he was in enough control to close the shut on me, but in my attempt not to fall I ended up clutching onto the end of the arms as the pilot began spinning in place, screaming inside the cockpit as something inside overheated and shot sparks around the inside of the vehicle.

With me being twirl a whirled around with him.

What do I do? Let go and I maybe get shot with the chest laser thing? Hang on and I’m not doing anything until the driver decides to crush me or begins whipping its hand up and down like he's trying to shake off a spider.

Fortunately, I didn't have to figure it out as the older two Talons both grabbed hold of the Mech's leg and toppled the whole thing over, before tearing the pilot out of the cockpit, somewhat to his relief since the now burning machine ended up lying on top of the exit hatch in the back.

All of this while I was thrown spinning across the floor.

No inner ear loss of balance in a corpse, but it was still disorienting.

By the time I was sitting up, the pilot was being held up by Shrike in one hand and had tried to pull out his sidearm to shoot her in the face.

She gave me a sad look before turning back to him. “We have strict rules about idiots pointing guns at people in my family. So consider yourself lucky to get off lightly.”

Then she crushed his wrist in her hand.

Ouch. But at least he's still alive. Trust me, buddy, there are plenty of people who would trade places with you.

Phoenix raced off and began sealing vents under Buzz's directions while everyone else bunched up around the elevator to the seventh floor. Falco waved from the Mech to Teamster.

“You sure boss? I’m running a little low on innovatory space.”

His boss looked thoughtful but finally nodded. “We can always dump it later if we need the space, but I know a guy that will drop at least a quarter mill on even a wrecked one.”

Buzz gave the overhead vents a last look before heading over to slowly approach the elevator door. Grinding sounds came from behind it before he turned and gave us a shrug of his shoulders. "It doesn't want to move, I think they got it locked down mechanically somewhere down below, or they wreaked it somehow.”

Falco nodded. “Plan B, the Brute squad is up.”

Heading to the left while Shrike and Phoenix took the right, we pried at the door. Our first try failed to budge the door, then Phoenix set his hands on a few key points while talking about structural key points, and after a moment the metal began to visibly turn a soft red. "Try it now."

It is always nice when you can put your education to practical applications.

The door didn't so much tear as stretch before things began to rip free and I had to jump out of the way as it toppled over. Below the drop measured a mere two story drop to the top of an elevator car.

Whatever mechanism lifted it up and down looked to be mounted below, it. In the light gravity, we didn't even need the ropes to make the drop. Although most of the non brutes hang dropped.

Teamster didn’t and hurt his ankle. Since he had our suits I guess he at least didn’t have to worry about being left behind.

The roof of the elevator was a lot easier to open, as was the door out of it a moment later.

Behind the door was a formal looking lobby.

Along with a cackling man in a lab coat with an ominous humming device held in both of his hands with a thick power cord running back out of the room.

The purple white energy which shot out of it went past Shrike as she jumped aside and it lashed right into me.