"I hope this isn't some practical joke, Thane. My client is growing impatient." Victor strode into the warehouse with a crowd of bodyguards accompanying him.
"It seems like your client isn't the only one impatient," Thane jumped out of his chair, walking over as Victor made a b-line straight for the power armor, "I did everything I could. I tripled-checked every system diagnostic, etcetera. I just need someone to pilot the armor to see if there are any final kinks I need to smooth out."
Victor didn't look at Thane as he looked over the armor, "You already told me, or did you already forget?" Thane almost flinched when he saw the malice in the crime lord's eyes, "S-sorry I.."
Victor cut Thane off with an eye roll, "Enough, we don't have time for your prattling. Samantha, get up here."
Thane looked back to the group of thugs lingering by the door as Victor's second-hand Samantha, the bodyguard who had been with Victor every time he visited Thane's workshop. Instead of her normal jacket, dress shirt, and tie, Samantha was wearing a bodysuit made of a black elastic material.
"Will she be able to pilot the armor? You didn't specify if the pilot needed to have certain dimensions," Victor said curtly as Samantha stopped by his side.
Thane's heart started to race, but he couldn't understand why, "N-no..the armor can adjust to its pilot to a degree. She's close enough that it won't matter; you might want someone a bit bigger for the job, though."
Victor made a sound of acknowledgment before looking pointedly at Thane, waiting for him to activate the armor. Again Thane's heart raced, and his finger trembled as he lowered the display holding the armor, turning it around, so the back of the suit was facing them as it opened up to reveal the cushioned inside.
Samantha climbed into the armor without preamble, and when she was fully inside, the armor closed back up, leaving her fully encased. After a second, Samantha turned around, now towering over Thane and Victor, the armor bringing her height up to eight feet.
"Okay, so you can move, but how does it feel? Is there any delay between you trying to move and the armor following your commands?" Thane asked, his eyes flickering between his PRD and Samantha, who still hadn't responded.
"I-I feel so powerful as if I could tear down the walls if I wanted to. It's almost as if the armor isn't there. I don't feel any extra weight, just untapped power." Samantha then demonstrated her point by jumping high into the air and grabbing onto one of the metal roof beams nearly fifteen feet above their heads.
With a terrible screech of metal, Samantha landed back on the floor, her knees barely bending to absorb the impact. A section of the metal beam she had torn from the roof was in her hands.
Thane couldn't help but laugh as his mind replayed the spectacle repeatedly, "I can see why the BAF is so tight-lipped about their armor. If this is an older version, what the hell do the newer ones look like?"
Turning to Victor, Thane nodded, "Everything is in order. I believe that means I completed my part of the job. Am I free to go?"
Victor frowned, "I honestly didn't think you would be able to do it, I set you up to fail, but you did it anyways. You are smarter than anyone gives you credit for. You'd make a valuable asset Thane. Which is why it pains me to do this."
Before Thane could ask what Victor meant, he was blinded by a metal-encased fist striking him in the chest. Thane was vaguely aware of his feet leaving the ground as he was sent flying by Samantha, but the force behind the blow caused Thane's vision to darken.
When he hit the ground, Thane slid for a good while before his back crashed against the wall, another fresh wave of pain nearly made Thane blackout, but by some miracle, he was still conscious.
Thane watched the metal soles slowly approach him through hooded eyes, the heavy thump of each footstep the only sound in Adrain's ears. Helpless and weakened, Thane didn't try to muster up the strength to run. What did it matter? He was pretty sure his ribs were broken along with his spine.
As Samantha stopped before him, Thane closed his eyes, 'I should have seen that coming.' ---
Juliet was in position with the rest of her forces. They had quietly disposed of the few guards Victor had left outside. Now all they had to do was wait for the right moment to storm the building.
That was when everything started to go wrong. The surveillance team reported that someone was piloting the power armor. A pit formed in Juliet's stomach when she heard that her training at the Academy made her very aware of how dangerous power armor was.
Knowing those under her command were waiting for orders, Juliet gave the command that they would wait until the armor was deactivated before going in. However, that's when things went wrong. Less than a minute later, the surveillance team called out that a fight had broken out between those inside the building.
When Juliet asked who the team reported, the person piloting the power armor had sent a teenage boy flying into the wall.
"We're going in now, flash bangs out. Deal with the bodyguards, and under no circumstances will you engage with the power armor. GO GO GO!" Juliet screamed. The next second, everyone was in motion as people pulled on gas masks while others kicked down doors before throwing in grenades.
There were multiple flashes of light and what sounded like explosions before Juliet and her people began to stream into the building. Juliet surged into the warehouse without preamble, going straight for the power armor.
Knowing that the person inside the armor wouldn't be blinded, Juliet didn't try to hide her intentions as the pilot spun around to face her.
At her command, a familiar surge of energy ignited through Juliet's body as her speed nearly doubled. The pilot had no time to react before Juliet was on them. Lowering her shoulder, Juliet barreled into the solid block of metal without hesitation.
The pilot was sent flying into the warehouse wall, a cloud of dust shooting into the air from the impact. Juliet, however, wasn't even scratched as she followed up her attack as she mounted the pilot, trying to get out of the hole Juliet had put them in.
Stradling the armor's waist Juliet began to pummel the armor's midsection with her fist. Juliet's arms were phantoms as she moved so fast that each punch blurred together.
Inside the armor, Samantha was helpless as each punch felt like a sledgehammer, 'Is this what an Arbiter can do? Even without power armor, they can move faster than a lift car, and she sent me flying with a shoulder check. I must weigh at least three hundred pounds to hit solid metal that fast and leave without a scratch. Just what the hell did Victor get
us involved with.' That was the last thought that went through Samantha's head before she passed out.
Pausing her endless barrage, Juliet looked down at the armor. The metal was dented and chipped in multiple places where she aimed her strikes. Juliet didn't doubt whoever was inside the armor had passed out from the pain.
Pulling up her PRD, Juliet found the power armor's Leyline, used her colonel certification to override the armor's security measures, and deactivated it.
Extracting herself from the ruined mess of metal, Juliet looked around the room. The officers had quickly rounded up the gangsters and placed them in restraints. Juliet was also pleased to see that Victor Trevant had also been captured.
Then her eyes landed on a kneeling officer checking over the bloody body of Thane Vapos, walking over in a hurry. Juliet's heart was still racing, "How is he?"
The officer got to his feet and saluted, "Some internal hemorrhaging, broken ribs and spine. I've already called for EMTs, so he should survive. This has to be the worst part of the job. What the hell was someone this young doing in a situation like this?"
Juliet looked from the man to Thane, his chest barely rising and falling, "That is what I intend to find out. When the EMTs arrive, I will accompany them to the hospital. My superiors will want to speak with him if he survives."