“Get in back,” Kevin basically forces Kai, Daamin and myself back. “We’re just here to make a way for you.”
I try to argue but he takes off towards the front and some of the members block us from moving up. We’ve been forced into being escort characters for our own mission. It’s an amazing courtyard, massive but filled with stone statues from around the word. Large stone benches obvious placed there for cover create and intricate design throughout that probably looks better from the sky. The center of the yard is obviously where the rocket or whatever is hidden but there’s a lot of place for fighting and mounted turrets. NPCs in business attire hang around chatting and drinking champagne. As Kai steps into the courtyard sirens begin to sound and turrets emerge. I shove Kai down behind one of the solid stone blocks as shots pound into it. They went right for Kai since he has the drive.
Kevin and Ashley’s gang, our gang, my gang, don’t show any fear. They rush forward without hesitation and engage even as more turrets, soldiers, bots and drones flood the arena. Laser guns and bullets alike start firing in unison. Some players rush into the open and others fire from cover but nobody backs down.
Kevin rushes forward with incredible speed carrying both swords. Kicking a man in the chest before cutting clean through a combat bot’s legs sending it to the ground. He follows up by cutting into two men attacking from different directions. I never did get to fight Kevin, now I’m wondering if I would have won or not? Kevin dives to the ground avoiding a flamethrower. Another member of the game puts two holes in the head of the flamethrower user before any damage can be done.
Ashley is carrying heavy machinery, something I didn’t expect. She keeps the enemies from forming groups with what seems to be a never-ending barrage of grenades, rockets and minigun fire. Even when she misses it feeds into the chaos and keeps the enemy from regrouping. Those random energetic outbursts make sense now.
Another member of the game has arms that are covered in what looks to be gold plates, components I hadn’t seen before. They must be costly if she can hide them in plain sight. She rushes from enemy to enemy delivering ferocious punches and kicks. I’ve never seen anyone melee effectively in the game outside of fight clubs but it’s effortless for her. Her afro isn’t even disturbed as she fights. I think she can be my new wife.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Despite the hard fighting and flashy spots our squad is getting overrun and I can’t watch them get killed. I know Kevin said stay back, but he didn’t say stay out of the fight. I set up a sniper rifle and take aim. I start by taking out the turrets that are too high for the others to reach.
“Kevin said stay back,” Kai shouts at me.
“I am back, way back. It’s a long range rifle. Can’t let them die for us.”
“They knew the risk.”
“But we asked them to take it,” I take out a drone scouting the field.
“We asked Kevin and Ashley.”
“You heard them, it’s their family. You already took one of their kids, you going to take another.”
Kai surrenders to me, and launches some of his micro drones into the field. “I’m just going to do a little hacking,” he sounds too eager to help.
“What can I do,” Daamin asks.
“Be my spotter, let me know if someone is in trouble or they send out a specialist.”
“I can do that.”
I don’t know if we help turn the tide of battle all that much, but the gang really picks up the pace. It could have been us just taking out remote defenses that helped them go wild. It could also have been a moral boost seeing us lend a hand. Maybe they just finally got an understanding of team work. Before everyone was working alone, trying to show off their best moves. Now people pulling out combinations. I watch as Ashley throws a grenade, only for Kevin to deflect a bullet, detonating the grenade in the process taking out several enemies in the process.
The ground shakes as someone has activated the launch. The fighting continues but a path to the rocket opens up for us. As the rocket rises from the ground I’m actually shocked and appalled. The shuttle is nowhere near finished. I’m starting to wonder if she called it the space needle because it looks like a regular space shuttle made extremely long and thin.
“I guess I see why the DLC wasn’t finished,” for once Daamin doesn’t seem excited either.
We make our way towards the ship joined by Kevin and Ashley to help clear a path. We all take the opportunity to take down a few enemies after being relegated to support. I stifle a laugh as the ship opens and reveals four seats and not much else. She never even finished the controls for the ship. Daamin climbs in first followed by me and Kai. We can’t seem to launch the ship with pass phrases and there are no buttons.
“I think we need to fill all four seats,” Kai shouts.
“Get your ass on the ship,” Ashley shoves Kevin in without hesitation.
The door closes behind him and he takes his seat, “I love that woman.”
There’s no countdown or launch sequence. As soon as Kevin sits down the door closes behind him and the ship slowly begins to float upwards. I expected all the explosive energy of an actual rocket launch but this feel more like a roller-coaster slowly climbing the first hill. We’re not even able to look back and check on the battle because Kay didn’t add windows.