[Enter Qin Shi Huang]
[2 Weeks Ago]
The adrenaline coursing through my veins was beginning to ebb as I watched Ivan's lifeless form collapse onto the grimy, concrete floor. My mind was still reeling, thoughts spinning like a cyclone, a sharp contrast to the sudden eerie stillness around me.
Both of us historical figures swept up into this twisted game in Paradise City. We were anomalies, vestiges of the past entangled in this present future, a clash of values and ideals from different eras.
Yet, Ivan IV Vasilyevich, the man once known as Ivan the Terrible, and I were both of the same cloth, rulers from a now bygone age, each driven by our unique quests for power and dominance. His rule was marked by terror and paranoia, while my reign focused on unification and regulation. But here in Paradise City, we were merely anomalies, stripped of our kingdoms, our power, our influence.
My hands clenched into fists as I recalled the sight of the scene where Alexander had his brutal encounter with Ivan. The young man was unlike anyone I had ever known, brave and passionate with an insatiable curiosity for the world. He was a beacon of hope in this dystopian world. To know that he was battered, bruised and beaten because of Ivan's cunning brutality had ignited a spark of rage within me.
I knew Alexander wasn't of my time or my kingdom. Still, I felt a strange sense of responsibility towards him - a duty to fight for him, much like the duty I felt towards my people back during my reign.
I glanced down at my hand, stained with Ivan's blood - a chilling reminder of the ruthless cycle of violence we were all trapped in. My heart clenched as I considered the reality of our situation. In avenging Alexander, I had merely perpetuated this cycle, no better than Ivan or any other perpetrators of violence in Paradise City.
Yet, deep down, I knew that given the chance, I would do it again. For justice, for Alexander, for the hope of a better unified future in this city. I couldn't stand by and watch as Ivan's deeds were left unpunished.
A bitter smile crept onto my face as I realized the absurdity of the situation. I, Qin Shi Huang, the man who once ordered the execution of hundreds of scholars and the burning of countless books, was now standing as a vigilante for justice. Ironic, isn't it? But Paradise City and this future has a way of changing a person.
As I walked away from Ivan's corpse, leaving the past behind, my thoughts drifted back to Alexander. I could only hope that he was safe, that he was strong enough to keep pushing through, just like he always did. Because we needed that spirit, that spark of hope more than ever.
Stepping out into the grim, industrial landscape, I felt a twinge of anticipation coursing through me. After the adrenaline of my battle with Ivan settled, I suddenly recalled Cyrene, mentioning the existence of a secret facility somewhere in this forsaken district when we interrogated her. A facility she said was made to hold other anomalies like me, Alexander, Joan and Musashi, historical figures extracted from their time periods.
The thought of others like me trapped here was unsettling. I was the First Emperor of China, a man known for his tyranny, but even I could see the injustice in such captivity. Each of us had lived a life before this, governed our lands, carved out our legacies. We didn't ask to be brought here, to this grim place.
I shook off these thoughts as I focused on my surroundings. The buildings around me were uniform in their industrial bleakness. I began to walk around, scanning each structure with careful scrutiny, noting the smallest details. I had ruled a vast empire once, I could certainly locate a single facility in this district.
As I moved, I felt an unusual ripple in the air. I followed it, tracking the subtle shifts, the unseen current that tingled against my skin. I walked with caution, my senses heightened, muscles coiled, ready to react at the first sign of danger.
Before long, I stood before a building that seemed nondescript on the surface but felt anything but ordinary. A shiver of anticipation ran down my spine. This was it. I could feel it.
I took a moment to survey the structure. It was designed to blend in with the rest of the industrial district, but there was a stillness, a silence around it that belied its apparent abandonment. I stepped closer, my heart pounding in my chest.
Images of trapped anomalies flashed through my mind. Other anomalies, historical figures like me, captive and subjected to whatever horrors awaited within those walls. A surge of anger coursed through me, followed by a sense of responsibility.
I was here. I could do something.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open, ready to face whatever awaited me inside.
Stepping into the gloomy interior of the facility, the chill of the air washed over me. I frowned. It wasn't unusual for these buildings to be unheated, yet this chill felt different, almost intentional.
The building seemed ordinary, with equipment and crates scattered around. From the dusty surface of the boxes and the general disarray, it was clear the place had been abandoned, at least on the surface. However, I felt a disconcerting draft flowing from somewhere deeper in the building, subtly chilling the stale air.
It was then that I noticed it. The tiles in a particular area of the floor appeared newer, less worn than the rest. They were subtly different, barely noticeable unless one was looking for inconsistencies. And the draft? It seemed to originate from this very section of the floor.
Bending down, I traced my fingers over the cold tiles, my mind racing. A secret entrance, perhaps? But how would it open? What mechanism was at play here?
As the First Emperor of China, I had constructed complex tombs and palaces. Hidden doors and passageways were not foreign to me. In fact, my own mausoleum was rumored to hold countless hidden chambers and traps to deter intruders. If I could design such marvels, I could certainly uncover them.
Running my fingers along the edges of the tiles, I tried to find any sign of a hidden switch or lever. My pulse pounded in my ears, the silence of the facility amplifying every sound. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves.
Just as I was beginning to doubt my hypothesis, my fingers brushed against a slight indentation in one of the tiles. Heart pounding, I pressed down and felt a slight click.
In an instant, the floor beneath me started to shift, the tiles sliding apart to reveal a hidden staircase plunging into darkness.
A sense of dread welled up inside me. This was it. I was on the brink of uncovering the secrets hidden in this facility. Swallowing hard, I forced my nerves to steady.
With a final glance at the world above, I descended into the depths, towards the unknown. It was a path laden with uncertainty and danger. But if I could save even one anomaly from their unjust imprisonment, it would be worth it. For them, and for me, I would bring the secrets of this facility to light.
The further I descended into the bowels of the facility, the more elaborate the security measures seemed to become. My path was repeatedly barred by towering security doors, cold and unyielding. I was faced with a seemingly impenetrable obstacle that neither brute strength nor a sharp mind could bypass.
As the First Emperor, I'd seen my share of formidable barriers. I'd united warring states, built a wall across the northern borders of my empire, and fostered an era of relative peace and prosperity. The doors that blocked my path now were made of steel, not the wills of men, but they proved just as challenging.
I attempted to ram the doors with my shoulder, to break through with sheer physical strength, but the doors did not so much as shudder under my attacks. I was taken aback by their resilience. As a man who'd been taught that the way forward was through sheer determination and willpower, this unyielding wall of steel was disconcerting.
Then there were the keypads mounted on the walls next to the doors, mocking me with their cold efficiency. I knew they held the key to open these doors, but without the right combination, they were useless to me.
With each passing minute, frustration bubbled within me, threatening to overflow. I'd never felt so powerless, so impotent. I, who had commanded the respect of millions, who had moved mountains and built cities, was brought to a halt by a simple door.
Yet, even amidst my frustration, a flame of determination sparked within me. I was Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor. I had faced greater challenges, battled stronger foes. This was but another obstacle on my path, a hurdle to be overcome.
I stared hard at the security door, my resolve hardening. I had to find a way through. There were people depending on me. I could not, would not let a mere door stand in my way.
"Let's see how you like a little taste of imperial power," I muttered, preparing to give the door another strike, but this time with a little more force, and a whole lot more conviction. "It matters not what stands in my way. You're in the presence of an Emperor. The path is where I lead!"
As if in response, a sudden warmth spread from my core, filling my veins with a power I had never felt before. It was similar to the adrenaline rush I experienced in battle, yet somehow different, more potent. I looked down at my hands, my eyes widening as they glowed with a soft, ethereal light.
Confusion set in. What was this? Was it a part of me? But I had never exhibited any abilities other than the physical strength and resilience from my battles and training. Yet, I felt that I could channel and control this newfound power to break through the door.
Steeling myself, I moved towards the door. The closer I got, the brighter the light in my hands became. I took a deep breath, feeling the power surging within me, and thrust my palm towards the steel door.
The impact was immediate. A bright flash of light erupted from my hand, the force of my punch sending me staggering backward. I blinked, my eyes stinging from the sudden brightness.
Slowly, my vision cleared, revealing the steel door now bent and mangled from my attack. It was a crude dent, but enough for me to rip the door open.
Amazed, I stared at my hands, the soft glow dimming. This... this was power. Power I had never felt before. And yet, I didn't understand it. Was this the manifestation of Qi energy? Was this the same inner energy that the ancient Chinese martial artists believed in?
I didn't know. But what I did know was that it could help me. It could help me open the doors that lay ahead, to uncover the secrets of this facility. And if it could help me save those unjustly imprisoned here, then I would harness it, master it. No matter what.
With renewed determination, I stepped through the twisted metal door, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
The sterile metallic cells stretched before me like a scene from a dystopian nightmare. Most of the cells were empty, their doors hanging open like mouths in a silent scream. But two cells were different, the occupants staring at me with wide, fearful eyes.
The first was a woman of striking beauty, but her eyes held the hardened gaze of a warrior. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice resonating with a strength that defied her captivity.
"I am Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China," I responded, trying to reassure her. "I'm here to help. What is your name?"
"Hua Mulan," she replied, the corners of her mouth lifting in a slight smile. I remembered reading about her from Alexander's research. She was a legendary Chinese warrior, a symbol of bravery and strength. Her presence here was just as baffling as mine.
In the cell next to hers was a young man, his gaze focused on me, analysing, calculating. He introduced himself as William James Sidis. The name was not familiar to me, but his description certainly was. He was known as one of the smartest people in history, a child prodigy with an intelligence reputedly higher than the great scholar Albert Einstein.
"Are there others here?" I asked, peering into the seemingly endless line of cells.
Both of them shook their heads. "Not that we know of," Mulan replied, her gaze steady on me. "We're the only ones left."
Sidis nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving mine. "They took the others... we don't know where."
A chill ran down my spine. We needed to escape this place, and quickly. But first, I needed to release Mulan and Sidis. And for that, I would need to channel the mysterious power within me once again.
Using my bare hands to pry open both of their cells had sounded the facility's alarms. My heart pounded in my chest as the alarms wailed in discordant harmony. Red emergency lights filled the hallway, casting everything in a harsh, bloody glow. But the metal doors to Mulan and Sidis' cells were open now, freeing them from their captivity.
However, our victory was short-lived. Mechanical guns dropped down from the ceiling, their barrels tracking our movements with unerring accuracy. I had an ominous feeling for what was to come next. "Get back!" I yelled, pushing both Mulan and Sidis back into one of the cells as bullets rained down around us.
Guns and the existence of gunpowder were things I had heard from Alexander, and having seen its power in the hands of the ruffians of Paradise City streets. A single weapon containing gunpowder could make a man capable of killing another with instant ease without the need to learn martial arts, sword techniques, nor conditioning of one's physical body.
Mulan crouched, her body coiled like a spring. Sidis, on the other hand, was trying to stay calm, his wide eyes darting around the room in search of an escape route. I could see the gears turning in his head, his brilliant mind working on a solution.
"We need to find a way out before more of them arrive," I said, peering out of the cell. The turrets swiveled in my direction, bullets ricocheting off the door frame.
"But how? We're trapped in here," Sidis replied, his gaze fixed on the turrets. His eyes were glassy with fear, but I could see the determination in them too.
Mulan let out a low growl, her fingers curling into fists. "I will not be trapped like a rat," she said, her voice a harsh whisper. "Not again."
I looked at the both of them, our odds stacked against us. But I was Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China. I had faced armies, rebellions, and the very concept of death itself. I wasn't about to be defeated by a couple of mechanical guns.
"We need to think of something, and quickly," I said, my gaze flickering between the mechanical guns and the alarm light. Time was running out, and the odds were against us.
Trapped in the tight confines of the cell, the mechanical guns searching relentlessly across the hallway at our last known position, I turned to Sidis. His eyes were wide, fear evident, but underneath it all, I could see a spark of intellect, a mind working overtime to solve our problem.
"Sidis," I started, my tone firm to get his attention, "you are one of the most intelligent people who ever lived, yes?"
Sidis blinked up at me, seeming surprised at the question. He swallowed, nodding his head. "Yes, but--"
"And you know how mechanical things work? The principles of physics?" I interrupted.
"Yes, but I don't see how--"
"Just think," I implored. "Those guns have a field of fire. They are bound by the principles of physics. They cannot see everywhere at once. Can you figure out a blind spot?"
Sidis blinked at me, then at the turret, his gaze thoughtful. A few tense moments ticked by as the gunfire continued to echo around us. Finally, he nodded. "Yes. Yes, I think I can."
As Sidis started to explain his calculations, I could see Mulan growing restless. But she kept silent, respecting the thought process of the young genius. We listened intently, our lives literally depending on his mental prowess.
His plan was audacious, a balance of timing, distance and our own human agility against the mechanical limitations of the turrets. It would require all of our courage and split-second precision.
"But, it is just a theory..." Sidis concluded, looking unsure.
I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sidis, right now, it's the best plan we have. We're going with it."
A look of grim determination replaced the fear in his eyes. And so, armed with nothing but the human mind's understanding of the world, we prepared to make our daring escape from the grasp of the automated turrets.
Under Sidis's direction, we moved, keeping low and swift, across the cells, eyes locked onto the rapid movements of the gun at every crossing. It was a strange dance, man versus machine, and we had to anticipate every motion, every turn of the gun while I destroyed each cell door and moved us across. Sidis's instructions were clear, but the constant whirring and blasting of the turret was deafening.
"Three more steps to the left, then a sharp turn to the right!" Sidis yelled over the racket, as we heaved ourselves along to the edge of the next cell. The gun was alarmingly fast, spinning on its axis, its sensors must be scanning for the slightest movement.
We had almost reached the end of the hallway when the turret abruptly pivoted towards Mulan. There was no time for thought, only action. With a yell, Sidis threw himself in front of Mulan, taking the brunt of the gun's fire. Mulan screamed, her eyes wide with horror, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.
"Sidis!" she cried, struggling in my grip, but I couldn't let her go back. Not when we were so close to the exit.
"No time, Mulan! We have to move!" I shouted, pushing her ahead.
With a surge of adrenaline, I focused my newfound power, charging at the gun, fist glowing with the same strange energy. I jumped and slammed into the gun with my palm, the shockwave of the impact tearing it from its mount and sending it skittering across the floor.
Turning back, I could see Sidis crumpled on the floor, lifeless. I knew the sight of a dead body when I saw one. There was no time. We had to leave him. His sacrifice had bought us the time we needed.
Mulan was crying, her shoulders shaking. I grabbed her hand, pulling her along with me. "We need to honor his sacrifice. We can't let it be in vain."
She nodded, wiping her tears with her free hand, and together, we sprinted towards the entrance. The last sound I heard was the echo of Sidis's brave act, resounding in the loud, flashing red, now gun-less hallway of the prison cell.
I could still see the fear and shock etched onto Mulan's face. As we burst out into the cool night air of the abandoned facility, making it up the stairs and now out of the underground prison, I paused, pulling her to a halt. The shrill sound of alarms was faint.
"We have to keep moving, Mulan," I panted, my words carving white clouds in the frigid air.
She nodded, her face hardening, but her eyes... they still held the rawness of what had just happened. "What about Sidis?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of the alarms.
I looked back at the building we had just exited, my heart heavy. "His sacrifice allowed us to escape. We owe him our lives, but now... we need to disappear before regime forces arrive."
I saw her swallow hard, her jaw clenching. She was struggling, that much was clear. But the determination in her eyes gave me hope. She was a warrior, just like her history painted her.
"Yes, you're right, Qin," she replied, her voice stronger this time. "We need to find a safe place. I think... I think I know where we can go."
"We have to be careful, Mulan," I warned her. "And fast. We can mourn Sidis once we're safe."
As we were about to slip out of the warehouse's dark confines, I heard the distant hum of machinery. A moment later, a handful of metallic figures entered the building, their footsteps echoing ominously off the cold, steel walls. I grabbed Mulan's arm and we stepped back, seeking cover behind some old equipment.
At the front of the metallic squadron, a woman emerged. Her long red hair flowed behind her, her green eyes glinting in the dim light. This must be Evelyn. Only a mayor of Paradise City could carry such an aura by simply being present.
"Qin Shi Huang and Hua Mulan, I presume?" Evelyn's voice echoed through the building, dripping with a sickly sweet condescension that made my blood run cold. "It's quite the honor to meet two such esteemed figures from history."
"We don't want any trouble, Evelyn," I responded, trying to keep my voice steady and calm.
She laughed, a chilling sound that bounced off the warehouse's steel surfaces. "Trouble? No, you misunderstand. You see, I simply wanted to offer my... appreciation."
"Appreciation?" Mulan snorted, stepping out from our cover. "By locking us up?"
Evelyn's gaze didn't waver, her smile never faltering. "Ah, my dear Mulan, you should understand that it was never personal. Only business."
"We have no business with you," I replied, stepping out beside Mulan.
"No? I think we do," Evelyn said, her smile growing wider. "You are, after all, my prime commodities."
"Is that so?" I countered, taking a step forward, my gaze never leaving her. "Well, Evelyn, as the first Emperor of China, I believe I have some knowledge of how to treat commodities. And you have treated us poorly."
There was a flicker in her eyes. She was taken aback, but she quickly recovered, her grin returning in full force. "I think you'll find that things have changed, Qin Shi Huang."
"I think you'll find, Evelyn, that some things remain the same," I retorted, keeping my voice steady. "The strong survive, while the weak crumble. You might have us outnumbered, but we are not weak."
Evelyn's grin faltered slightly. She hadn't expected resistance. She hadn't expected us to stand our ground. "Well, Qin, let's see how long your strength lasts," she said finally, motioning to her cyborgs.
As Evelyn signaled her cyborgs to advance, I did the same, unsheathing my jian. Its polished blade reflected the dim light of the warehouse, an extension of my defiance. I lunged at Evelyn, intending to cut off the head of this metallic snake before it could strike.
In a swift, fluid motion, I drew my jian, directing its sharp tip towards Evelyn. Time seemed to stand still as I launched myself towards her, my jian slicing through the cold air.
But before I could even reach her, one of the cyborgs intercepted me, its metallic arm deflecting my jian with a sharp clang. Evelyn's smirk grew wider, a gleam of amusement sparkling in her cold eyes. Without a word, she turned her back on us, disappearing into the darkness of the warehouse. The cyborgs took a step forward.
"Qin," Mulan's voice snapped me out of my frustration. "We need a plan."
"You're right," I replied, my eyes never leaving the advancing cyborgs. "I'll take the ones on the left, you take the ones on the right. We can funnel them into the middle and force them to bottleneck."
"No weapons," Mulan stated, her eyes narrowing.
"That won't be a problem for you, Mulan," I said, remembering the tales of her legendary skills. She gave me a quick nod before launching herself into the fray, her fists and feet flying in a flurry of calculated moves.
The cyborgs moved with a mechanical precision, but they lacked the fluidity and creativity of human motion. We had to use that to our advantage. They were stronger, faster, but we were smarter.
I charged at the cyborgs on my side, my jian flashing as I aimed for their joints, the weakest part of their construction. Mulan's martial arts were a sight to behold. She moved like a gust of wind, her strikes precise and powerful.
"Focus on disabling them, Mulan!" I called out, deflecting a cyborg's arm with my sword. "They're machines, they don't tire!"
She nodded, understanding my meaning immediately. Our fight was far from over, but if we fought smart and stuck together, we had a chance.
We weren't going down without a fight.
"Mulan!" I called out over the relentless sounds of battle. She was fighting fiercely, her martial arts unmatched. But even with her skill and my Qi-enhanced jian strikes, we were vastly outnumbered.
"I see them!" she replied, her eyes never straying from the cyborgs in front of her. Her movements were swift, decisive, but I could see the strain in her eyes, the sheen of sweat on her brow.
"These aren't normal cyborgs!" I grunted, lunging at another one. My jian, energized with Qi, sliced through its metallic arm, but another immediately took its place.
Mulan's eyes met mine, the reality of our situation mirrored in her gaze. We were up against forces far beyond the normal capabilities. It was clear Evelyn had put a lot of resources into creating these cyborgs. But there was no surrender in Mulan's gaze, just determination.
"We need to hold them off!" I told her, my voice resolute. "We can't let them overrun us!"
"I know!" she shouted back, landing a punch on a cyborg's chest, sending it stumbling backward. "But we need a better plan, Qin!"
I had to agree. But at that moment, all I could think of was to keep fighting, keep pushing. But as the cyborgs kept coming, one after another, in an unending wave, I knew we needed a miracle to escape from this. My fatigue from fighting Ivan earlier made itself known in my body's slowing movements. We simply couldn't overpower them, we needed to escape somehow.
"Try to push them back!" I called out, my mind racing. "We need to buy time!"
"Time for what, Qin?" Mulan shouted back, her eyes desperate. "We're running out of options here!"
"For a plan, Mulan!" I shouted, deflecting another cyborg's attack. "We need a plan to get out of this place!"
"Mulan!" I yelled above the cacophony of clanging metal and grunts of exertion. "I have a plan!"
She darted a glance my way, landing a powerful kick on a cyborg that sent it crashing into its companions. "What is it?"
"I'll clear a path, you need to run!" I said, not taking my eyes off the mechanical monsters crowding us.
"What?" she shouted back incredulously, "And what about you, Qin?!"
I gritted my teeth, readying my jian for what I was about to do. "I'll hold them off as long as I can. You need to get out, find help!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief, but before she could argue, I mustered all my Qi into my jian, and plunged forward. Every ounce of my strength, every bit of Qi, I directed it towards the line of cyborgs in front of me. The air around me crackled with the unleashed energy, and I felt the strain of it, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.
As I swiped my sword, a surge of Qi energy burst forth, tearing through the cyborgs in my path. Metal bodies were flung to the sides, clearing a way through their rank.
"Mulan, go now!" I roared, holding my ground against the shocked cyborgs. I could see the hesitation in her eyes, the unwillingness to leave me behind. But this was our only chance.
"I won't forget this, Qin!" she cried out, then, with a last resolute nod at me, she turned and sprinted down the path I had cleared, disappearing through the exit of the warehouse building.
I watched her go, feeling a strange mix of relief and determination. I turned back to the cyborgs, ready to hold my ground for as long as I could, hoping that Mulan had made it out safely.
Struggling against the monstrous strength of the cyborgs, my limbs began to betray me, my energy completely drained. My sword slipped from my hand, clattering on the cold concrete floor. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. The world seemed to wobble and spin around me, my consciousness threatening to flee.
Pinned to the ground, I craned my neck to see Evelyn approaching, a cruel smile on her lips. She was holding a pair of handcuffs, the metal gleaming ominously in the dull warehouse light.
"Well, well," she sneered, "The great Emperor Qin Shi Huang. You put on quite a show, didn't you?"
Despite the pain and fatigue, I looked at her squarely, holding on to my imperial dignity. "You use innocent lives, and for what?" I ground out, my voice weak but steady. "Power? Control? It's an empty pursuit."
Her smile widened, "And yet, here you are, powerless and at my mercy."
The cuffs clinked menacingly as she bent down, fastening them on my wrists. A wave of paralysis swept over me, my body going numb. The metallic cold of the cuffs seemed to seep into my very bones, robbing me of my ability to move.
Evelyn stood, motioning her cyborgs. "Take him. We have much to discuss."
As they hoisted me up, my vision blurred, my head spun. The rough hands of the cyborgs, the cold metal of the handcuffs, the jarring movement - it all felt so far away. But as I was loaded into their armored carriage, I made a promise to myself. I would get out of this. I would not let Evelyn win.