The mech's sensors detected Shane, and it swiveled its head, targeting systems whirring to life. "INTRUDER DETECTED," a robotic voice intoned, devoid of emotion. "INITIATING NEUTRALIZATION PROTOCOL.
The mech advanced, heavy footfalls shaking the floor. Shane barely spared it a glance as he sighed. The machine's arm transformed, a gatling gun emerging and spinning up with a menacing whirr.
"Right," Shane said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's get this over with."
The mech opened fire, a hail of bullets tearing down the corridor. Shane dove to the side, rolling behind a support pillar. Bullets ricocheted off the walls, sparking and clattering. Shane peeked out, eyeing the mech's movements. It was fast for its size, but bulky. He could work with that. It then beamed a laser of energy at him.
Shane sidestepped effortlessly, the energy blast scorching the wall behind him. He continued his casual stride down the hallway, seemingly unconcerned by the massive machine bearing down on him. The mech's sensors recalibrated, tracking his every movement. It fired again, this time unleashing a volley of missiles.
Shane's eyes flickered with mild interest. "Fancy fireworks," he commented, ducking into a roll as the missiles exploded around him. Shrapnel and debris flew in every direction, but Shane emerged unscathed, his nonchalant demeanor unbroken. He dusted off his jacket, looking more annoyed by the dust than the attempt on his life.
The mech's targeting system seemed to grow frustrated, its movements becoming more erratic. Shane could see the heavy weaponry being prepared for another assault. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, sleek device—an Accelerator. He flipped it in his hand, inspecting it with the same indifference he had shown the mech.
"Time to shake things up a bit," he said, pressing a button on the device. A pulse of energy shot out, temporarily scrambling the mech's systems. The machine staggered, its sensors flickering and its weapons falling silent.
Shane used the brief window to sprint forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision. He darted under the mech's massive legs, planting the Accelerator on its undercarriage. As the mech regained its composure, Shane was already sliding to a stop several meters away, watching with a faint chuckle.
The Accelerator activated, sending jolts of electromagnetic interference through the mech's circuits. Sparks flew, and the mech convulsed, its movements jerky and uncontrolled. Shane watched, hands in his pockets, as the machine struggled against the Accelerator's influence. It managed to stabilize, its systems compensating for the interference, but the damage was done. The mech's movements were slower, its targeting less precise.
He grabbed the fire extinguisher, yanking the pin and aiming it at the mech. A blast of white foam sprayed out. The mech hesitated, its targeting systems recalibrating. Shane slid behind another pillar.
The mech's arm shifted again, this time deploying a pair of laser cannons. It fired, beams of searing energy slicing through the air. Shane dodged and ducked, feeling the heat singe the edges of his jacket. "Watch the coat," he grumbled, scanning the corridor for anything useful.
His eyes landed on an emergency maintenance panel set into the wall. An effortsome idea spread across his mind. He darted towards it, narrowly avoiding another volley of laser fire. He pried the panel open, revealing a tangle of wires and circuits. With deft hands, he began rerouting the system, bypassing security protocols and diverting power from auxiliary systems.
The mech's sensors cleared, and it locked onto Shane's position. "TARGET ACQUIRED," it announced, raising its weapons.
"Just a sec," Shane muttered, working quickly. He yanked a handful of wires free, causing sparks to fly. The hallway lights flickered, then dimmed as he redirected the power flow. The mech stepped forward, its footfalls shaking the ground.
"Almost got it," Shane said to himself, reconnecting the final wires. The mech charged, weapons primed to fire. Shane slammed the panel shut, and the facility's sprinkler system roared to life, dousing the hallway in a torrent of water.
The mech's systems sputtered and sparked as water cascaded over it. Shane smirked, watching as the machine struggled to adapt to the sudden change. He grabbed the fire extinguisher again, using it to bash a nearby fire alarm. The piercing wail of the alarm filled the corridor, and the emergency lockdown protocols activated.
Heavy steel shutters began to descend from the ceiling, sealing off sections of the hallway. Shane timed his movements carefully, darting through the gaps before they closed completely. The mech, larger and less nimble, found itself trapped in the shrinking space. Its weapons fired wildly, bullets and lasers ricocheting off the steel barriers.
Shane reached the end of the corridor, where a final shutter was descending. He rolled under it just as it slammed shut, leaving the mech isolated in the now-flooded section of the hallway. He stood up, brushing himself off and taking a moment to catch his breath.
The facility's PA system crackled to life. "EMERGENCY CONTAINMENT PROTOCOLS ENGAGED. PLEASE EVACUATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY."
Shane checked the time, then groaned. "They have been fighting for quite a while now, I doubt they'd need my help though." He took a moment to remember who he allied up with, and made his way to the direction of the basement.