The gunner guy becomes alert of my presence and raises his handgun at me. Goosebumps rise quickly from my back and I know if I don't move now, I'll be dead.
I jump forward just a second before gunshot echo in the area.
I roll on the ground again and land in front of the field's broken fence door.
Now I've landed in a more dangerous spot. Because I'm closer the gunner's line of fire.
But so does him in mine. I can have a clear shot from here. A pity I can't kill him, but I can still stun him a little. I point my gun to the gunner's hand and pull the trigger.
The bullet hits his hand and it made him drop the gun. I immediately run close and take it from him, then I dodge to the side as he tries to grab me.
I know it was a very risky move. But I'd rather have bruises from close encounters rather than being shot while I was running. It won't be very convenient for the mission.
I stand up and point the guns at them and grin. "Let's go for a run, eh, mofos?!" I pull the trigger and shoot at the wall where the other four are at. I missed them and the device, the first one on purpose but not the second one. But it's fine since it because I'm here only to distract them.
I blow them a raspberry before I run off with a maniacal laugh. The terrorists pursue behind me.
-
When Natalie saw him rolling over to the side, she became fully alert. She almost shouted his name due to worry, but she couldn't risk herself getting caught too. Her objective is not subduing the enemies but shutting down that device.
She waits until they're far from her position before running to the device. It was the same kind of contraption that was placed in the neighborhood. The team had a short time analyzing which gear connects to which, but they could figure out how the crystal was inserted. In just a few seconds, she's able to take the crystal by loosening the top part.
She examines the strange, purple crystal in her hand. It has the same outer texture with the one they've scanned in the neighborhood, which is not very smooth and looks like it was scraped in hurry. They have yet to figure out how this crystal really works, but she'll be keeping one of them intact for the report.
Gunshots ring in the air and it comes from behind the rows of building ahead.
"That's where he ran off. Hang on, Terrence." She fiddles with her Arrow for a few seconds before running to that direction. This place looks like a kind of warehouse area that isn't frequently used. There is a garage door on each of the building, there are also graffities decorating some walls, and there are smaller alleys with unknown ends.
She understands now why they chose this area. Aside from how deserted it is, it's also quite secluded.
Another gunshot rings in the air, and she becomes more worried. There are three smaller alleyways that she can take, but she doesn't want to waste time entering a wrong one.
So, she shortens her baton, turns it upside down, aims it at the top of the building in front of her. Then she presses a small button on the side. The small cap on the top bursts open and a string shoot straight up to the sky. It goes in an arch, over the roof's edge and to the other end. The tip unravels into a tiny anchor that latches itself onto the roof, similar to a grapple gun.
Then she presses the button again and is pulled upwards like in spy movies. It's unknown how that tiny string is able to handle her weight, but it surely enables her to get on the roof with ease.
"Now, where did you run off to?" She mumbles after securing her footing.
Another gunshot was heard. The sound gives away his direction, so she immediately runs to that direction. She jumps easily from one building to another, moving fast while looking down at the alley below. She spots a small crowd of men in no time in an alley that stretches to her west. It leads to a dead end, and her blonde trainee is in front of them while dodging the attacks thrown by the enemies.
She marvels his ability to dodge the rows of attacks, but she knows he won't be able to keep it up for long. So, she leaps to the next building and help him.
-
When I told Natalie about this area, I didn't mean I know it thoroughly. The game scene only ends in that field. There's no screen showing this alley in the game, so I really don't know where to go. That's why when I reach a dead end, I feel very… dead.
I gulp after I fired a shot past their heads. "Stand back! I don't want to shoot you!"
I see the man in the back, whom I found out is a knife-user, holds up a knife and throws it at me. I dodge it easily to my right, close to the wall. But it makes the guy at the front, the one with the sword, leaps forward with a slash. I quickly push myself from the wall and scramble backward with a yell.
I know this is very weird, especially since I'm the one in grave danger. But it's not like I don't want to shoot them. I can't! If I shoot them right in the body, I might kill them! Then I won't get—
The spearman comes next. He runs at me and thrusts his spear forward, aiming at my abdomen. But I can see his earlier movements, so I jump to the left, just barely crashing into the wall again. This opens a chance for the swordman yet again. He brings his sword back and slashes sideway this time. But I quickly fall to my back with a scream, barely dodging that one because I can feel the wind slashing right in front of my face.
"Ozzie! Can't you help me or something?!" I yell as I dodge another slash from the swordsman.
[You have not opened the feature 'Assistance'. I cannot help you.]
"There's a feature for that?! Are you serious?!" I step back as I dodge another slash. "I'm in mortal danger!"
[Yes.]
"You're yessing that?!" I squeak.
I guess Natalie is my only hope. She should've destroyed the device by now, but I didn't hear any ding goes off for the past minutes. Maybe it rang when I was panicking? I glance at the points above my head. But what I see makes thunder rumbles in my throat.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" I shout out loud.
My points are still 4/27. That could only mean that she hasn't destroyed the crystal.
But WHY?! Could she be ambushed by another terrorist group? Is she critically wounded? The system didn't indicate that I've failed the mission, so she couldn't be dead yet right? But then why hasn't the points updated then?!
I try to remember if there's anything I've missed about this place, but the spearman's movement stops my train of thought. He slashes at me again, but I jump backwards to dodge it. However, when I step back this time, I hit something behind me and I realize very quickly that I've already backed up against the wall.
Sh*t, I'm dead!
"NATALIE!! WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?!!" I yell to the top of my lungs as I point the guns at them again. Screw the mission! Screw all of this! I'll shoot them to save my own ass!
But as I was about to pull the triggers, the sky becomes darker. Suddenly, thunder roars loudly and a blinding white light pierce from above. It's so bright that I have to cover my eyes.
The light hammers down onto the enemies in front of me, electrocuting them all at once and stunning them right on the spot. Their body tremble greatly from the power like fishes out of water.
The thunder struck them bad for 5 seconds before it disappears in a flash. I open my eyes slowly and the terrorists are already lying on the ground.
I can see their body spasming every now and then. I don't know if they're dead or alive, this is not my world where humans can die with just a flick of thunder. So, I don't know. But all I care now is getting back to the field and destroy that crystal.
Feeling sure that they'll stay down for a good couple second, I move. I tiptoe carefully around them and quickly make my way to the other end. Their flinching bodies terrifies me a little as I walk over them, but I remind myself that time is running.
When I finally reach the other end, I look back at them to make sure they don't get up. Then, I sigh in relief.
I turn back around and a flash of orange suddenly lands right in front of me. I scream out of surprise, but when I realize it's Natalie, I sigh heavily. "Warn me the next time you plan on falling from above, will you? Besides, how did even you get up there?"
She smiles. "I didn't know you're a tenor." She joked, ignoring my question.
I look at her flatly. "La-la."
She chuckles. "Let's go back."
As we're running out of the alley, I immediately ask. "Did you destroy it?"
"That device is evidence. We can't destroy it just like that."
"But what if the other device is activated and it's catching up to the one here?" I asked.
"Don't worry. I removed the crystal." She smiles.
I've expected that answer since it's the most logical thing one would also think. Remove the main ingredient and you won't have a complete product. I don't know if that is true for this device, but I don't care. Destroying the crystal is the main priority for this certain target, and I have to make it happen to raise my points.
But the question is where did she hide it? In her pocket? Inside her br—I mean, undergarment? Am I confident enough to grab it from her?
I was suddenly reminded of that thunder before. She must've been the one who casted it, there's no doubt because she's excellent in magic. And imagining me lifting up the skirt of someone capable of doing that…already gives me the creeps.
No. I am not that low. The answer is exactly no. But how can I destroy it then?
As I rack my brain for a solution, we finally return to the field. The device is still there, intact like she said. I suddenly got an idea. If I can't take it forcefully, I'm going to make her give it to me.
"Whoa, that's that the device?" I stop right in front of the field and peer at the device.
She stops nearby. "Yes. I was thinking we should bring it, but—"
"It's gonna be heavy on the bike." I told her.
"Exactly. So, let's wait here until the others arrived. I've notified them before coming to get you." She fiddles with her Arrow.
Wait… If the others are here, then I can't take the crystal! My idea shatters immediately when I heard that. That can't happen.
Then I must do it fast before more people notice me intentionally tampering with evidence. Because with only the two of us, I only have to convince her.
"Wait here, I'll call them." She starts walking away while working with her Arrow.
I throw my ideas down the drain and ask straight away. "Can I look at the crystal?"
"No." She does not even turn around. But I'm not a quitter.
"Come on! Just a bit! I promise I won't shoot it this time." I reassured.
She turns back and looks at me. "Hm. Alright. Just until I'm done calling."
I nod excitedly like a little kid. She pulls out the crystal from her pocket and I hold myself not to grab it right away. She then gives it to me and I pretend to be amazed at the thing.
She turns back around and starts talking to her Arrow.
Now, I just hope this certain Terra Gemma isn't a solid diamond. I peek at her once to make sure she's occupied before saying my prayers.
'Dear Gods, Goddesses, elders, and any guardian angels governing this world… Please let it be broken, let it be broken…'
Glancing once at her again to make sure she really isn't looking, I let it fall to the ground. She still doesn't turn around when it hits the ground with a soft 'chink' like sound. Then I raise my foot up and bring it down to the small rock.
CRACK
A loud crack echoes in the area.
The loud sound made Natalie immediately turn around in surprise. She sees me with my foot on the ground, with small fragments of purple crystals around it. I glance down hesitantly before faking a panic 'Oops'.
She looks like she wants to strangle me.