One to Capture
Whoosh!
A grappling line punched through the top of the shield, tearing the rest apart. I lifted my gaze up.
Barnaby—his craft hovered above us.
Buzz.
My earpiece clicked as it connected to Barnaby's craft.
"Grab on," his static voice said.
I looked toward White Watch.
"Grab on!"
She froze—processing, hesitating.
Not now.
I grabbed her arm and hooked it onto the grappling line.
She was slowing us down.
"Pull up!" I shouted.
"What-"
Before she could protest, she was yanked into the air.
I turned my attention toward Black.
"Follow my lead."
"Wait! What are you do–"
Shh-ip!
I pressed the trigger between my fingers—then teleported.
Shh-ip!
Black followed. The horde slowly turned to face us.
Interesting.
These things could detect us despite not having eyes.
"What are you planning to do?"
"Something. Just stay with me."
Black nodded.
I grabbed the extra barrier shield I had bought with my credits.
Shh-ip!
I blinked forward.
Shh-ip!
Black followed.
We moved toward the horde. The pink chip sat in my hand, ready. My fingers rolled the chip in my palm as I moved toward a single creature.
If I could isolate one, it'd be easier to capture.
I had to neutralize it first.
Nothing worked—neither my blasts nor Black's weapon.
But there must be a weakness. A single weakness will do.
"Knock it down?"
Black said, as if reading my mind.
I glanced at him.
Crazy idiot.
I smirked behind my mask.
Shh-ip!
Shh-ip!
I set my target on the golem on the outer ring. Easiest to take down.
Shh-ip!
Once I was close enough, I ran towards the thing. It was slowly making its way towards us like the rest of its kind.
I skidded to a stop a few meters away.
My gun shifted into heavy mode—built for impact. I aimed past it—at the horde behind—to clear space.
Black leapt in from the side, landing on the creature.
Hummm…
The charge built—louder, heavier.
I released the charged blast, sending the horde backward.
Huummmmmm.
It began charging again—slower this time.
Black Watch tried to stab the creature in its head, but nothing worked.
Again and again. He tried.
Until his weapon snapped before my eyes. Like glass, it shattered—raining down over the creature.
What the…?
Gradetanium**. It broke gradetanium.
My body tensed—
This thing wasn't normal.
The creature tried to reach up for Black.
Not again.
"Back off, Black!!!"
I shouted as the gun was almost charged up.
Black took my warning and jumped off, landing on the ground.
I fired at full charge.
The blast launched it across the courtyard.
Shh-ip!
Shh-ip!
We teleported to where it had fallen.
"What a fucking b–"
I cut him off by tossing the chip around it—activating the barrier.
"What are you doing?"
"Stella's order."
I connected my earpiece to Barnaby.
"Pick us up, man."
"Right."
He answered.
The aircraft hovered over us, a platform slowly lowered down for Black and me to step onto. A second mechanical arm lifted the barrier containing the creature.
As the platform raised, the view of the entire city was before me. Cold air blew against me. Dark, yet now it was lit by thousands upon thousands of blue dots of these alien creatures.
My eyes widened.
Blue shimmer blew across my face.
They were everywhere.
Not dozens.
Not hundreds.
Thousands.
This wasn't a two-man job anymore.
⋆
Notes:
Gradetanium: The strongest material known in the Milky Way.