Kade's breath came in short, panicked gasps as he crouched behind a pile of rusty barrels. The alley was drenched in the eerie glow of the approaching drones, their searchlights cutting through the rain like surgical lasers. His soaked hoodie clung to his skin, and his shock pistol felt useless in his trembling hands.
"What's the plan, old man?" Kade hissed at Gage, who was casually reloading a plasma revolver as if they weren't moments away from becoming swiss cheese.
"First," Gage said, snapping the chamber shut, "stop calling me old man. Second, the plan is: don't die."
The masked figure—still silent and unnervingly calm—turned to Gage. "You should leave. This isn't your fight."
"Oh, it is now," Gage replied, aiming his revolver toward the drones. "You owe me one for saving your ass back there, and I don't do charity."
The masked figure tilted their head slightly, as if amused. "Fine. Don't get in my way."
The first drone broke through the mist, its twin turrets glowing with a menacing red hue. Gage fired before it could lock onto them, a bright blue plasma bolt piercing its core. The drone exploded in a shower of sparks, but two more immediately swooped in to replace it.
"Kid, stay low!" Gage barked, diving behind the dumpster and returning fire. Kade didn't need to be told twice.
---
Above the chaos, perched on a dilapidated fire escape, a figure watched through a high-tech monocular. The rain didn't bother them; their gear was built for conditions like this. They focused on the silver case strapped to Kade's moped.
"Target acquired," they muttered into a comm link. "Engaging."
They leapt down, landing silently behind the masked figure. A flick of their wrist activated a blade that hummed with a faint, blue light.
---
Kade peeked over his cover just in time to see the masked figure spin around, narrowly blocking the blade with their plasma rifle. The attacker moved like a shadow, their strikes calculated and relentless. The masked figure countered with a precision that suggested years of combat training.
"Hey, uh, little help?" Kade called out, gesturing toward the melee.
Gage didn't look up. "You got a gun. Use it."
"This thing barely works on drones! What am I supposed to do against…that?"
"Aim for the knees," Gage replied, blasting another drone out of the sky. "No one likes getting shot in the knees."
Kade groaned, reluctantly stepping out of cover. He raised his shock pistol, hands shaking, and aimed at the attacker. He squeezed the trigger, and the pistol let out a pathetic zap, like a bug zapper on its last legs.
The attacker paused mid-swing, glancing over their shoulder at Kade. They looked almost… insulted.
"Really?" they said, voice dripping with disdain.
Before Kade could stammer an apology, the masked figure took advantage of the distraction, delivering a brutal kick that sent the attacker sprawling.
"Thanks, I guess," the masked figure muttered, reloading their rifle.
Kade gave a weak thumbs-up. "No problem. Totally planned that."
The remaining drones retreated, their operators likely recalibrating after the loss of so many units. The attacker, however, wasn't done. They rose to their feet, blade still glowing, and fixed their gaze on Kade.
"Hand over the case, and I'll let you walk away," they said.
Kade hesitated, glancing at Gage. The older man gave him a look that clearly said, "Don't you dare."
"I… I can't," Kade said, surprising even himself with the firmness in his voice.
The attacker smirked. "Your funeral."
They lunged, but Gage was faster. He stepped between them and Kade, catching the blade with a small energy shield strapped to his wrist. Sparks flew as the shield flickered under the impact.
"You're persistent," Gage said, his voice calm but deadly. "I hate that."
With a swift motion, he disarmed the attacker, sending their blade clattering to the ground. The masked figure raised their rifle, but the attacker was already retreating, disappearing into the shadows.
"Coward," the masked figure muttered.
Gage turned to Kade, who was still frozen in place. "You okay, kid?"
"Define okay," Kade replied, his voice shaky.
They regrouped inside a nearby abandoned warehouse, the rain still hammering against the corrugated metal roof. Gage lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around his weathered face as he leaned against a wall. The masked figure stood near the entrance, keeping watch.
"So," Gage said, exhaling a plume of smoke, "what's in the box?"
Kade shrugged. "I told you, I don't know. I'm just the delivery guy."
"You expect me to believe that?" Gage asked, raising an eyebrow.
The masked figure spoke up. "He's telling the truth. The case was sealed before he picked it up. Standard procedure for high-risk deliveries."
Gage frowned. "High-risk, huh? Then why'd you let a rookie like him handle it?"
"I didn't choose him," the masked figure replied. "He was… convenient."
Kade bristled. "Convenient? I'm risking my neck here, and that's all I am to you?"
The masked figure turned to him. "Would you prefer 'expendable'?"
Gage chuckled. "I like you. What's your name?"
The masked figure hesitated. "Call me Ash."
"Ash, huh?" Gage said. "Alright, Ash. What's really going on here?"
Ash glanced at the case. "Let's just say this package has the potential to change the balance of power in the city. And not for the better."
Gage took a long drag on his cigarette. "Sounds like trouble."
"It is," Ash said. "Which is why we need to move. Now."
Kade groaned. "I knew I should've taken that job delivering pizzas."