Braxton did a quick inventory of his remaining armament. He had his pulse rifle and laser rifle, both used energy cells. He was down to four of those now. It was getting to be too late for the pulse rifle to be much use. It didn't have night vision.
The pulse rocket launcher was great but ate energy crystals like crazy. He had six left plus one in the railgun and rocket launcher.
He pulled out the laser sword and checked it out. It took a energy crystal too. He replaced it. If this thing came down to a melee that was his best weapon. The only problem is he hadn't tested it out at all. He activated it to make sure it would work. It lit up and he played with it for a couple seconds. Then he shut it off to conserve the energy.
"Alpha, do you have any information on how long the energy cell will power the laser sword?" Braxton inquired.
"Approximately thirty minutes." Alpha replied quickly.
"Thanks Alpha." He thought
"Looks like it's mostly going to be the Regal laser rifle. I can kill a dozen of them as long as they aren't great shots. If I shoot a few shots with the pulse rifle maybe they will think there are two people on the ridge. If those bastards group together, I'll blast them with the rocket launcher." Braxton ran through his battle plans as a way to prepare for the events about to unfold.
He was amped up. Waiting for what was coming. This part wasn't like a game. This was life and death. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just him, he could cut and run if shit got to deep. Other people were counting on him. He decided death would be better than giving in.
***
Vixen and Blaster made their way west. The pair were both battle hardened warriors. They found a rock to hide behind and set themselves up a defensive position. Blaster's nanites were busy repairing his armor. The water had gone a long way toward his recovery. He was moving much better and was able to speak again.
"Where did you find the kid?" Blaster queried.
"I didn't find him. He found me. I'd been on my own since to battle all those years ago." Vixen's voice carried a weight of loneliness in it.
"I feel your pain little sister. I've been in the same boat. I found one a few years ago. He got killed trying to cross this desert with me. They killed both of our mounts too. The kid's got sand. You think he'll make it through the night?" Blaster asked.
"He's got more weapons than we do. He's got a freakin pulse rocket launcher and a fancy laser rifle. He's good with the laser rifle too. I haven't seen him pressed and under fire like I expect to happen tonight. I'm not sure if he knows these critters have night vision or not yet." Vixen said with a hint of worry in her voice.
"That wasn't an answer, but it sounds like he will give it all he has got. He can't be all bad, giving away ammo to a complete stranger." Blaster stated confidently.
"I think he will do fine. We need to worry about ourselves more I suspect. I see them coming. They are out of range, but if you're set we should probably start drawing them in. If he blasts that rocket they will break and attack him. Here take another grenade." Vixen handed him the grenade.
"I'll do the honors. My pistol actually has some range." Blaster said with a smile.
Blaster took aim his weapon lit up and gathered power. A white light leapt forth and went screaming across the field and impacted. The white light seared into the lizards body then exploded. "That's why they call me Blaster you fucks!" Blaster raged.
***
Braxton surveyed the field in front of him. It was twilight but, it was brighter here than most places on this planet at night. The three moons were shedding their light into the area from the cloudless desert. He could see twenty lizard men marching his direction.
Braxton heard a little commotion off in the direction he left his companions. It wasn't enough to tell what it was exactly. The ones marching his way were spread out pretty well. Braxton activated his Combat Camouflage in a bid to by him some more time to scan the area further away for snipers. He summoned his Regal laser rifle and activated the night vision on the scope. He scanned the field for snipers and didn't see any.
The twenty attackers were between half a mile and a mile from his location. The rocket launcher was of no use. He calmed himself and took aim at the nearest one then squeezed the trigger. He picked his targets quickly. In rapid succession he dropped the first five. A few hand held weapons were fired in his direction. There were half a dozen near misses within a few feet. His weapon was out of ammo and he put it away.
He summoned the pulse rifle next. The nearest enemy was close enough he went up to one knee and blasted a hole directly into its chest. Braxton began to fall back. Laser beams spilt the air around him. He raise the rifle to his shoulder and took out another nearby attacker. The enemy were rushing all around him. He blasted another and the pulse rifle was empty.
He returned the pulse rifle to storage. Alpha chimed in "Auto reloading weapons. Combat mode activated."
Braxton pulled his 9mm pistols and cut lose at the two remaining nearby targets. He cut them both down. The adrenaline was coursing freely brought his veins and he unload thirty rounds in the blink of an eye. The weapon clipped dropped out and auto reloaded, he slipped in two fresh magazines. Then he paused for a minute. The enemy were massing to attack his single location. He couldn't see them yet as he had backed away from the crest of the hill. He could hear them though.
The plus side is they couldn't see him either. He summoned the rocket launcher and waited for them. When the mob reached the crest of the hill they roared. Then the rocket launcher roared in return. The close proximity of the explosion sent Braxton flying backward. The ten amassed lizard men were turned into mist, vapors and ashes.
Braxton flew back ten feet and his world went black.
***
Blaster and Vixen waited behind the rock. Laser beams and pulse blasts rocked the boulder they were taking refuge behind. Blaster fired another round but, he couldn't really take aim. His goal was more to drive them to the other side. Blaster knew how Vixen's pistol worked. It didn't have many shots per energy cell but in close combat it was nasty.
Blaster tossed a grenade out and shouted "Grenade!"
BOOM!
The cries of the wounded sounded on the battlefield. The laser fire dissipated on his side of the rock. Blaster leaned around the edge of his rock. He saw the enemy getting slower. The grenade took some of the starch out of them. He took advantage of the situation and tossed another one.
"Grenade!" He yelled again.
BOOM!
The dust was thick in the air now and he couldn't see shit. "Get ready!" He yelled as he summoned his sword.
The field erupted in a roar. Then Blaster saw five lizard men rush forward. He squeezed his trigger and took out another one.
Vixen's side had ten come out of the mist. Vixen's eyes met them with a murderous gaze. She aimed and pulled the trigger on her pulse pistol. The flash was blinding and the effect ended all their lives in the blink of an eye. She returned it to storage and moved around the edge of the boulder. She raised her sword looking for the nearest enemy. She emerged behind the four attacking Blaster.
The two old warriors locked eyes briefly and shared a wild eyed grin. Vixen put all her power into one swing. The weight of the heavy two handed sword carried it through three of the remaining lizards necks and knocked the last unconscious all in one blow.
The battle field went stone still. The only sound to break the silence was laughter.