"If you fools step out of line, those out-of-town doctors might be you as well," Trenchy explained.
The mercenaries opened their mouth, but said nothing. It was better not to ask or complain. They simply left through a side door as Trenchy played around with the pool. He muttered to himself, probably a call. Returned to the pool. A few minutes later, two more entered.
They were just as weird. One battle-suit inside shorts, a bra, and a flower hat strapped onto the helmet. Another battle-suit wearing a speedo and nothing else.
They were just f**king weird with a bizarre fetish. The other idea was that their leader was really sick in the head. He wanted to believe it was the former, a group of weirdos. They gave him a bad feeling so he retreated and connected to the line.
-Cadet Sikhail GodFiend here-
-What is it?-
-I got some weirdos in the basement-
(Explanation)
-You said the mercenaries were obeying them and that the current situation is a front for something else?-
-Yes. I don't want to engage them though. They got weird weapons, have not done anything destructive yet, and there's still a hotel with people inside-
-Good thinking. Let me relay this to the…-
-No need. I've fought them before. I'll restrain them again-
-Who is this?-
-Cadet Mike Buttercups and Persephone Demifiend-
-Look. Your safety is our concern. It's not relevant if you've fought them before. They have dangerous weapons this time-
-I saw. I was hiding in a corner. Cadet GodFiend must've been nearby. We saw the same thing. I know what to expect-
- (Extended sigh) -
-Wait for some backup in case they need to be suppressed-
Silence
-Alright. But if they start leaving, I won't just sit still-
-Understood. Wouldn't expect that of you-
He got up again and crawled through the vent once more.
"Did you actually kill all those doctors?" Trenchy asked.
"Diversion strategy. Leadership ordered it. Gave us time before the heavy artillery came in," *Flower* responded.
"Unnecessary bloodshed. We could've just snuck in unseen, and nobody would've noticed anything otherwise…" Trenchy replied unhappily.
"That's why you're a lackey and not the executive," Flower said out loud.
"Because I don't make stupid decisisions? Pretty low bar" Trenchy asked with ridicule.
"You don't think 10 steps ahead. That's why you're doing the manual labor and we're trusted with the more important tasks," Speedy replied.
"That's because the boss finds you attractive for some reason," Trenchy rebuted.
"So? Any advantage is a good advantage. If you weren't competent in combat, you wouldn't even become a *Field Agent*. You'd be the Office Intern all your life," Flower critiqued.
"So why aren't we leaving yet? I've already tested and confirmed everything," Trenchy asked.
"We need to test the new battle-suits. Light Coalition dummies are here so it's a perfect opportunity," Speedy replied as he aimed and fired his gun.
A door off to the side disintegrated under the relentlessly wind and pressure. As the dust settled down, there were broken battle-suits with half eroded bodies inside. There wasn't even a scream before they died.
(Omomomomomomomom)
The trio turned as several energy whips flew at them. They fired their guns but it was a little late. The whips circled around the compressed air as they continued flying. The trio stumbled back as they were all hit in the chests.
"This isn't a WMR. These energy whips are strange," Speedy said grimly as Mike ran into the room.
Persephone was right behind him, grinding down the compressed air with her own wind.
"Supernatural Entity? No. She's using her gun, but it's generating a field of wind around her," Trenchy said with a frown.
"Maybe it was programmed like that?" Flower suggested.
"A programmable gun? Like ours? It's not impossible. Many people have replicated our works," Speedy added.
"What should we do? We can't beat them," Trenchy asked.
"Strategic retreat," Flower ordered.
"Alright!" Trenchy and Speedy responded.
Sikhail decided against backing the two up, because it seemed like they could hold their own. He decided to stay behind because he felt extreme danger coming from the pool.
(Tick tock)
-Did anyone mess with the power system?-
-No-
-I've shot at the wall, but nothing's happened so far-
-Powers out on the 10th floor-
-9th floor too-
-All the way down to the 1st floor?-
-Be careful. Something odd is happening-
As he listened to all the power outage call-ins, all artificial light sources within the room began to dim as well.
(HummmmmMMMmmmm)
(Light giggle)
In the deafening silence, the sound of a girl's playful laughter shook him to his core. Her voice was so calm yet electrifying that he felt a pressure from deep within his soul. His measured breathing was the only thing calming him down.
***Those meanies are gone now, taking some of my toys without permission. Naughty. Naughty. I've only woken up and no one's said hello. The one hiding. I can feel your urge to help. You're kind. Should we be friends? I'll deal with them first, ok?***
(Light, louder giggle)
'The same telepathy? Is she a vicious killer too?' Sikhail thought.
***Oooh. That must be an analysis. Are you talking about my sister? Whatever her motivations, they are mines. If she died by your hands, so be it. It's very difficult to face her, unless she hadn't recovered fully***
'She can read my thoughts? Sikhail became vigilant.
***Silly you. That's a confirmation right? I can't read your thoughts, not exactly. I won't explain more. I think you're rather interesting! Your friends are chasing these meanies right? The metal you wear is similar. I want to chase them too, help out***
As the room was about to turn pitch black, a lightning strike made of puffy clouds arced into the pool. It danced, skating as a finger emerged from the depths of darkness. Of thunder and clouds, it turned towards him, and without a second thought, he backed up, back against the metal vent, his escape standing immediately to the right.
He stared back fearlessly, but cautiously.
***Gosh. Am I so scary? I hope we meet again. You seem nice. Formidable and capable too. I'll just deal with those 3 meanies. Toodles~***
(Loud giggle)
The cloudy finger disappeared the moment it appeared as everything powered back on. The pool was gone.
——|——|—|—|——|——
Trenchy, flower, and speedy were running while Mike and Persephone pursued. They escaped through an underground labyrinth that they had scouted beforehand. It was originally an exotic imports *snuggling* business. To avoid unwanted attention, a fairly standard business was set up as a front. The basement remained the most advanced floor despite future renovations above ground.
They locked every door behind them out of caution, but it was currently acting as a massive hindrance. Their stamina and ammunition was wearing down at an unsustainable rate compared to the energy whip pursuing them.
They knew these unfavorable circumstances could not continue. If they were captured, they would simply be extracted in some unknown grotesque method. Left with very little choice, they began to sabotage all the equipment around them, creating smoke, fog, unstable electric currents.
It slowed down the two a bit, but after a while, Trenchy and flower realized that speedy was gone. No scream. No last communication. Just silence. It was quite unnerving, but they didn't have the time to search.
They gritted their teeth and continued their sabotage. The energy whips stuck to them the way a fly craves sucking human blood.
"Not good! I'm just about out of fuel!" Trenchy said with a heavy voice.
"What about all this white smoke? It's kind of like clouds?" Flower asked.
"I got no other choice. I hope it does something practical," Trenchy sighed.
Trenchy raised his gun, ready to shoot their pursuers at a moments notice. He gently held down the trigger as the smoke was sucked in. To his shock, the gun suddenly aimed at Flower even as she widened her eyes in shock.
(Giggle)
The trigger fully deflated.
(Gahh Gahh Gahhh)
Before his very eyes, his partner begun to age in reverse. Her fingernails disappeared, revealing the soft tips underneath. Her hair shrunk until the follicles were just pointy tips on the top of her head. Her legs regressed as she collapsed on the floor. Her bosom's disappeared, revealing her flat chest.
Every cell de-aged until the last atom was uncreated.
***How fun. I didn't have these toys at all. You're so amazing, and also mean! How could you not share with me***
(Sniffle)
(Sob)
(Wail)
An extreme fear paralyzed his entire body as Trenchy struggled to understand what was going on. Telepathy? How? Who? What in the hell was this? He was vaguely familiar with the concept, but, his gun wasn't programmed to functi—
(Whoommmmmm)
An energy whip slammed into his chest before he finished that thought. He crashed into a wall as the wind pinned him down. He felt each bullet fragment on impact, exploding into a torrential vortex that fed itself.
These were special bullets! Carefully crafted according to specific parameters. It mimicked the way people thought Supernatural Entities fought. 2 people in front of him, but it might as well be 3. Not that different from how his gun was programmed. Just more practical in terms of ammo conservation!
"Wait! Let's mak…"
(Click)
(Splash)
A head shot before he finished his sentence.
Two figures, Mike and Persephone, stepped up to his dead body.
"Don't need you. Just need your equipment," Mike said casually as Persephone checked her weapon for any issues.
"You use it all the time…" Mike said helplessly.
"Not the regular mode. I primarily use its alternative fire mode," Persephone clarified.
"Where are the others though? And Sikhail?" Mike asked.
"Maybe they abandoned him, used him as a distraction. He probably got side tracked by another matter," Persephone suggested.
"Alright. Let's head back to base. Goddamn this thing is lighter than I expected," Mike shouted in surprise as he picked the gun up.
"Should we looked for the other ones?" Persephone asked.
"The military is going to do a full search and sweep. Let's see if anybody else needs help," Mike advised as the sound of footsteps ran up from behind them.
"Cadet Buttercups! Cadet Demifiend! We're glad to see you're alright"
"Catch. New tech. There are 2 others somewhere around here. Uses a new type of special ammo. The air," Mike said as he tossed the weapon to the senior who just spoke.
The group left, before the room turned darker and darker.
(Giggle)
***I hope that helps them. I hope he sees I'm friendly now. What did I have originally? I have to try somehow. That was nice but not so pretty***
Slowly, the room regained its power.