Post by TheNewBreed on Sept 23, 2023 22:57:38 GMT -5
Mr. Newton... welcome to the big stage, Sir. Up here the limelight burns bright and the cheers of the fans are deafening... but you already know that, don't you? Even though I have decades of wisdom about this industry, a guy like you can't learn anything from anyone... at least not until you fail a few times.
No... a guy like you walks into a company like this with a chip on your shoulder and an ass too big for your britches... and it's not a good look on you, kid. I'll be honest. You got tons of potential to make a name for yourself on the world's stage, but your ego is holding you back, and one day... you're going to realize I'm right... but it'll be far too late to save you from BRAWL.
You treat the world like it owes you something, son... and you seem like just because you had it rough to start, you think that somehow entitles you to luxury and comfort because you worked to get out of the shit scenario you grew up in... but you never worked to change your mentality... So realistically... have you overcome those circumstances, or have you just gotten more money than you had before and now you use it as a shield from the tragedy of being poor?
All I see is a bratty, egocentric teenager bragging to anyone who will listen to him about how great he is and how he's going to change the industry.
The truth is, Clyde... if you would just shut the fuck up and do it for once instead of just talking about it, you wouldn't have to tell anyone how great you are.
You'd never have to sing your own praises because everyone would do it for you, Clyde.
Look at Cholo. The guy might be a lush, but he's a textbook definition of a humble Champion. He takes on all challengers with respect and honor for their talents and ability, and he humbly gives praises for a hard fight. Most of the media outlets eat that shit up... and he gets more screen time than JMont for it. There's a new video on WGWF Network every week of some party Cholo's at and how much fun he's having with the fans out there around the world.
He's a goose laying golden eggs for the WGWF, and they make sure he's as invested in this company as they can make him.
See, there's a lot to learn here, Clyde, but you won't take the lessons... you won't learn the skills... you won't change your mentality... you just want the world to hand over it's treasures and stand by watching while you squander it all for nothing. You don't deserve shit you ain't willing to go out there and take, Clyde... and Monday night... at the WGWF Anniversary Show... you're climbing into my ring... in a tourney for my Belt... and I am going to show you what a battle with the Beast is all about.
The WGWF is my legacy, no if, ands, or buts about it... and come Monday night in Vegas, Newton, you're a speedbump in my path to regain my Title at long last... and I'm coming through you like a semi truck, kid.
I'm sure you're words'll be chock full of bravado and boasts. I'm sure you're going to approach this match like any of your other matches. I'm sure you are more than confident in your ability to pull this win on me... and I'm sure you're looking at my record just like everyone else is and underestimating my threat to your run here in the WGWF... and just like everyone else flapping their gums about how few wins I have this year... you're missing the bigger picture.
The truth is... I take on the most capable opponents in the industry week in and week out. I face every challenge head on with a shit eating grin plastered across my disfigured face... and I wouldn't have it any other way. I came back at Relaunch because I know that the best talent in the world comes through these doors... and I'm here to face that... week after week... show after show... Melee... BRAWL... Pay Per View... House Show on Dark... wherever there's a ring with a challenger in it worth my time... I'll be there... and this week... it's your turn, Clyde.
There isn't another roster member in the WGWF who can say they have a harder schedule than I do. There isn't anyone else in the locker room who can say they’ve faced the caliber of talent I have this year, and not only survived... but thrived... but I do... every week... and this show will be no different, Clyde.
I have waged many wars in this ring... and I'll wage many more before I hang up these boots. For me... this is but a stepping stone in my journey back to my Title, Newton... but for you... it's about to become your Waking Nightmare.
* * * * *
* * * * *
“I want this plane loaded and ready in five!” Darina shouts over the hustle and bustle of the Lock Down crew moving ammo boxes and equipment crates onto a cargo plane resting on the private New Breed runway at JIA in Jacksonville, FL.
A brown haired man with the obvious bearing of a military professional approaches her near the loading bay ramp and hands her a clipboard of papers. He stands at ease nearby as Darina looks over the papers and hands them back to the man.
“Looks good, Carlson. Make sure you double check the crate numbers when we get them all in. We don't need to leave anything behind this time, OK?” she says to him with a smirk and a wink.
“No, Ma'am. No we do not. No worries. I double checked them all when we loaded the flats for transport, and I'll double check them again when we get them all loaded up.” Carlson said with a sheepish grin, knowing the ins on the joke of some mishap from long ago.
“Good. Let's get this done so we can get in the air and I can finally take a nap.” she laughs as she starts to turn to walk towards the hangar.
“I don't know how you sleep on the trip. I'm always too in my own head to sleep.” he says offhandedly, to her, but more-so to himself.
“After growing up like I did, you take your naps when you can get 'em. God forbid you ever get as comfortable with what we do as I am. Keep yourself on edge, Carlson... it's better that way.” she replies over her shoulder sadly as she walks away.
There is a swift knock on the door to the hangar office before it slides open slowly just a few inches.
“Come in.” John's gravelly voice echoes inside the small, sparsely furnished room before the door opens fully into the office.
“Plane's almost ready. I figure about ten more minutes and everything'll be stowed and checked, so really... just waiting on you, John.” Darina says as she comes into the room. Her blonde braids fall down her back in thick ropes draped over her body armor as she double checks her gear and pouches before they depart.
“Good. I'm almost ready... just going over some of the technical sheets for the new armor IDEA built the guys. I've got some stuff to show you on the plane, but I won't be able to SHOW you everything until we get to Nevada. I can't wait to see your face when...” John says excitedly as he flips through some papers in his hands, before Darina cuts him off.
“I don't like this.” she says flatly.
“Don't like what?” John asks, surprise evident in his tone from beneath the plain black ceramic mask tied around his head with black silk ribbon.
“I don't like putting my guys in some future tech suits built by some robot assassin you got from some old guy in the future after he told you that you were the chosen one he'd been waiting for. It sounds fucking ridiculous... AND... I don't trust that fucking thing. I saw what it did to...” Darina start to get herself fired up, her passion about this particular topic reaching a boiling point since the incident at the hangar not that long ago.
“Look... Darina... I know how you feel. Trust me... do you have any idea how surreal it was for me to be sitting there, at a table in the future... being told that I was the Chosen One of Prophecy? Yeah... that's a pretty big fucking pill to swallow... I won't lie.” John said looking at the desk before him, not at Darina in the doorway.
“You gotta kno...” She started to say before John looked up at her and his stern, steely glance cut her words from her throat in an instant.
“No... You gotta know... if I have a chance to make sure that I can save humanity from suffering any more than they have to, I will do whatever it takes... whatever it takes... to see that future come to pass. I have to... I have to try, Rina... and if that means I have to just have faith... then faith is what I'll have. I understand your trepidation... and I want you to keep telling me when you have them. You have a great mind, and I trust your instincts... but in this... I have to try. I have no reason to distrust R2. It saved my life, and the lives of many others since it came to our timeline, and until I see something that changes that perception... I'll continue to understand that it's a very dangerous weapon that we really don't understand very well... and as long as it keeps using its weapons for good... I'll keep trying to ensure the future I saw becomes a reality. I don't have a choice. I very well may be humanity's only hope in finding a peaceful future, and I cannot fail in that. I just can't.” John says, his tone flat and serious.
“Yeah... I get it, Boss. No worries. Anyway... we should be all set to go when you're done. See you on the plane then?” Darina said, her somber tone betraying the hurt as she backed out the door and closed it.
It had been four days since the squadron had arrived in Nevada and debriefed on the new armor that IDEA had built. They had been getting used to the new gear and training how to use it for the last two days non-stop, and so far, the work had paid off. They had been making great progress, and John was proud of the crew Darina had chosen for this unique mission. Some of them were a little more than rough around the edges, but this sort of work wasn't for the average Bouncer in a nightclub. Only the most hardened of the mercenaries Darina had in her employ were selected for this opportunity, and they were paid well for their service.
John had spent the better part of a week wondering when the next attack would come from another dimension, and trying desperately to figure out how to solve this problem that seemed to have no solution, and failing to find some way to figure it out meant a catastrophic event for the timeline and the future of humanity.
No pressure.
He still hadn't been able to shake the feeling of being stuck in a dimensional void, and the knowledge that he would've been stuck there forever if it hadn't been for R2 didn't help matters any. It was worse than unnerving... it made him feel insignificant in the scope of things, and he hated the way it gnawed at his mind.
He had always had this existential dread thinking about the multiverse, and in the last decade or so, his time in other dimensions had shown him that he knew very little about the working of the universe, but no matter where he found himself, there was always someone working to take away something someone else had worked diligently to build up.
It seems liked a universal constant at this point.
No matter what you did, there was always going to someone around who wanted to tear your sandcastle down grain by grain.
John hated it.
Life was hard enough without having people actively work against the effort you put into surviving... let alone the pitfalls of trying to help anyone else succeed. Tragedy and heartache have plagued humanity throughout history, and the modern era of mankind was no different. For all of the technical marvels and medical advancements people had made over the centuries, death was still undefeated. Our personal demons still tormented our thoughts and the world still struggled just to survive.
John's thoughts strayed over the new armor suits as he looked over the technical sheets again. They were amazing. Simple, yet elegant in their use, they were based on nanobot technology utilized by R2-IDEA that had a myriad of uses and applications just waiting to be tapped into and used to improved the lives of millions. John had come up with several dozen uses in the last few days to revolutionize his manufacturing operations and mining facilities alone that would make far more efficient use of the employees in those facilities and keep many more of the men and women who worked in his resource gathering facilities safe while they could easily increase their productivity.
It was while his thoughts swirled around the uses for this new tech that the face of his watch flashed red in the dimly lit bedroom within the dessert compound they had occupied this week. The sudden flash of color startled John briefly, as he sat up on the side of the small cot.
“R2? What's going on?” he asks in a whisper.
“I have detected dimensional rift signatures nearby, John Cable. Standby.” the buzzing tone of R2 chimed into the room in answer.
John slid his boots on, and put a black tank top on before sliding his leather face mask over his gnarled features. His heart thudded in his chest as his breath caught in his throat. Nervously, he stood beside the cot and started to make his way towards the door, but thought better of it and went back to the cot at the far end of the room.
After what seemed like forever to John in the silence, the quiet was sundered by the blaring of a yard alarm.
“ATTENTION: INTRUDER ALERT. COURTYARD WEST. ALL HANDS - FORMATIONS.” a voice called over the compound communications speakers as the alarm wailed over and over.
John made his way over to the door then, peering out the small window into the hall outside. Booted feet thudded heavily up the hallway as a line of armored men trotted down the hall. The plates of the suits were dark, like voids of light rather than the color black, and were outlined in bright red light shining from within the seams between each one as they interlocked. They were massive too, easily seven foot tall in the exo-suits, and just over half as wide, only fitting a single file down the center of the hall as they made their way towards the doors to the main courtyard. Their faces were covered with a sleek red sheet of hard-light that went from their forehead to their chin in the armored helmet, and in each of their hands they carried a sleek rifle with the same red light glowing down the sides of the polymer barrel in a sharp line.
“John Cable. My remote FTV Engine function has been jammed. I am working on a fix for that. In the mean time, stay where you are. I will make my way to you immediately. Copy?” the buzzing tone of R2-IDEA came across from his watch this time, strangely, while usually calm, R2's tone told a tale of panic now.
“Yeah R2. Stay put and wait for you to get here. Heard. What's going on out there?” John says as he watches the line of soldiers make their way out into the courtyard and disappear outside.
“There have been several dimensional rifts opened on the premises. Currently there are two hundred and seventeen unknown entities detected. We have engaged the intruders in three points on the west end of the complex. Current formations are converging on the west courtyard to contain the intruders. More information momentarily, John Cable.” the strange electronic bass tones of the combat AI buzzed through the watch matter of factually.
“Fuck... OK, John...” he muttered to himself as he made his way back over to the cot and grabbed his ballistic vest as he strapped it on.
Then, as John turned back towards the door, a beam of light flashed through the window from outside, like an LED flashlight, bright, white, scanning across the room slowly. John dives behind the cot and rolls under it just as the light crosses his side of the room as he holds his breath in terror. Just as suddenly as the light flashed into the room, it was gone, and yet, John still held his breath, panic making him forget to draw air for a few moments.
“R2... are our guys over here outside the barracks?” John whispers then pulls a long ragged breath.
“Negative, John Cable. Stay down, Stay quiet. I will be there momentarily.” the combat AI answers softly from the watch.
Moments passed as the alarm wailed outside, but in the brief quiet between the blaring alarm, John could swear he heard something at the window. He closed his eyes, and strained to hear with every fiber of his being, and yes... surely in the moments of quiet, he could hear a tapping on the window, like the skittering of many metal feet across the glass.
He slid slowly towards the other side of the cot to get a look up at the windows, and as he craned his neck to peer out, his heart stopped in his chest. There, clinging to the glass were three metallic spider-like things with purple lights arrayed across their front like a set of eyes On their backs, rose a small square pod attached to a couple of cables that glowed with a purple light as well. They were about the size of an average sized cat, and were crawling across the glass on six spindle-like metal legs that ended in sharp looking spikes. Their purple 'eyes' roved across the room, as if they were looking for him, and terror truly gripped him.
One of the spider-bots tapped the glass then... once, twice, then a third time. The next time, it pulled two of it's legs high up next to it's side, and punched the glass with the spikes. The glass shattered with a tinkle as the shards fell to the floor, and the spider drone began pulling away at the pane making a larger hole to gain access to the inside. One of the other spider-bots skittered over and began pulling at the hole as glass fell and shattered on the floor below. Eventually, they had made enough space to squeeze through and climb inside, crawling across the glass and making their way down the wall to the floor.
John looks across the room at the door from beneath the cot... and knew he would never it make that far. He knew his choices were either bide his time and wait for R2 to get there, or take his chances right here, right now. He knew being trapped under this cot wasn't the best place to get caught right now, but he didn't dare move and alert them to his location. No... he had to be smart... and quiet.
God he hoped R2 would hurry up already.
He heard their metallic spikes skitter across the floor as they spread out across the room, and he lost sight of two of them, but he could still see the third one, it's purple 'eyes' roaming around the room looking for him as it got closer and closer. Finally, John knew he couldn't wait any more as it got close enough he thought he could hit it with the cot. He reached up slowly, gripping the side rails of the frame with his hands, his fingers grabbing on as tight as he could, drawing in a slow breath and trying in vain to calm himself.
In a sudden flurry of movement, John rolled to his side and smashed at the spider bot with the cot, floating over it and using the cot to hold the bot on the ground beneath him.
The other two came skittering from the far end of the room in an instant, their purple 'eyes' focused on him, the boxes on their back pulsing purple before four beams of purple laser light lance across the room tearing into John's shoulder as it rips past him and chars the wall behind.
John screams out in pain as the smell of burnt flesh fills his nostrils and he leaps backwards to make some space between him and the other two spider bots out of desperation.
The second spider-bot pulses purple then, and four more laser beams streak across the room narrowly missing John as he dives behind a table and tosses it on it's side for whatever cover it might provide. The third bot struggles a moment but then frees itself form the cot and the three form up and begin to make their way towards the upturned table before chucks of wood and concrete spray across the room as the wall implodes from outside.
There, staring through the massive hole, was the R2-IDEA in full combat mode, it's bright red 'eye' blazing like the sun as the nanobot suit writhed around it in a maelstrom of destruction and swirled in through the hole, sweeping the three of the spider bots up into its mass.
“John Cable. I have arrived. We have to go. Now.” it boomed at him as John peeked from behind the table nearby.
No... a guy like you walks into a company like this with a chip on your shoulder and an ass too big for your britches... and it's not a good look on you, kid. I'll be honest. You got tons of potential to make a name for yourself on the world's stage, but your ego is holding you back, and one day... you're going to realize I'm right... but it'll be far too late to save you from BRAWL.
You treat the world like it owes you something, son... and you seem like just because you had it rough to start, you think that somehow entitles you to luxury and comfort because you worked to get out of the shit scenario you grew up in... but you never worked to change your mentality... So realistically... have you overcome those circumstances, or have you just gotten more money than you had before and now you use it as a shield from the tragedy of being poor?
All I see is a bratty, egocentric teenager bragging to anyone who will listen to him about how great he is and how he's going to change the industry.
The truth is, Clyde... if you would just shut the fuck up and do it for once instead of just talking about it, you wouldn't have to tell anyone how great you are.
You'd never have to sing your own praises because everyone would do it for you, Clyde.
Look at Cholo. The guy might be a lush, but he's a textbook definition of a humble Champion. He takes on all challengers with respect and honor for their talents and ability, and he humbly gives praises for a hard fight. Most of the media outlets eat that shit up... and he gets more screen time than JMont for it. There's a new video on WGWF Network every week of some party Cholo's at and how much fun he's having with the fans out there around the world.
He's a goose laying golden eggs for the WGWF, and they make sure he's as invested in this company as they can make him.
See, there's a lot to learn here, Clyde, but you won't take the lessons... you won't learn the skills... you won't change your mentality... you just want the world to hand over it's treasures and stand by watching while you squander it all for nothing. You don't deserve shit you ain't willing to go out there and take, Clyde... and Monday night... at the WGWF Anniversary Show... you're climbing into my ring... in a tourney for my Belt... and I am going to show you what a battle with the Beast is all about.
The WGWF is my legacy, no if, ands, or buts about it... and come Monday night in Vegas, Newton, you're a speedbump in my path to regain my Title at long last... and I'm coming through you like a semi truck, kid.
I'm sure you're words'll be chock full of bravado and boasts. I'm sure you're going to approach this match like any of your other matches. I'm sure you are more than confident in your ability to pull this win on me... and I'm sure you're looking at my record just like everyone else is and underestimating my threat to your run here in the WGWF... and just like everyone else flapping their gums about how few wins I have this year... you're missing the bigger picture.
The truth is... I take on the most capable opponents in the industry week in and week out. I face every challenge head on with a shit eating grin plastered across my disfigured face... and I wouldn't have it any other way. I came back at Relaunch because I know that the best talent in the world comes through these doors... and I'm here to face that... week after week... show after show... Melee... BRAWL... Pay Per View... House Show on Dark... wherever there's a ring with a challenger in it worth my time... I'll be there... and this week... it's your turn, Clyde.
There isn't another roster member in the WGWF who can say they have a harder schedule than I do. There isn't anyone else in the locker room who can say they’ve faced the caliber of talent I have this year, and not only survived... but thrived... but I do... every week... and this show will be no different, Clyde.
I have waged many wars in this ring... and I'll wage many more before I hang up these boots. For me... this is but a stepping stone in my journey back to my Title, Newton... but for you... it's about to become your Waking Nightmare.
* * * * *
* * * * *
“I want this plane loaded and ready in five!” Darina shouts over the hustle and bustle of the Lock Down crew moving ammo boxes and equipment crates onto a cargo plane resting on the private New Breed runway at JIA in Jacksonville, FL.
A brown haired man with the obvious bearing of a military professional approaches her near the loading bay ramp and hands her a clipboard of papers. He stands at ease nearby as Darina looks over the papers and hands them back to the man.
“Looks good, Carlson. Make sure you double check the crate numbers when we get them all in. We don't need to leave anything behind this time, OK?” she says to him with a smirk and a wink.
“No, Ma'am. No we do not. No worries. I double checked them all when we loaded the flats for transport, and I'll double check them again when we get them all loaded up.” Carlson said with a sheepish grin, knowing the ins on the joke of some mishap from long ago.
“Good. Let's get this done so we can get in the air and I can finally take a nap.” she laughs as she starts to turn to walk towards the hangar.
“I don't know how you sleep on the trip. I'm always too in my own head to sleep.” he says offhandedly, to her, but more-so to himself.
“After growing up like I did, you take your naps when you can get 'em. God forbid you ever get as comfortable with what we do as I am. Keep yourself on edge, Carlson... it's better that way.” she replies over her shoulder sadly as she walks away.
* * * * *
There is a swift knock on the door to the hangar office before it slides open slowly just a few inches.
“Come in.” John's gravelly voice echoes inside the small, sparsely furnished room before the door opens fully into the office.
“Plane's almost ready. I figure about ten more minutes and everything'll be stowed and checked, so really... just waiting on you, John.” Darina says as she comes into the room. Her blonde braids fall down her back in thick ropes draped over her body armor as she double checks her gear and pouches before they depart.
“Good. I'm almost ready... just going over some of the technical sheets for the new armor IDEA built the guys. I've got some stuff to show you on the plane, but I won't be able to SHOW you everything until we get to Nevada. I can't wait to see your face when...” John says excitedly as he flips through some papers in his hands, before Darina cuts him off.
“I don't like this.” she says flatly.
“Don't like what?” John asks, surprise evident in his tone from beneath the plain black ceramic mask tied around his head with black silk ribbon.
“I don't like putting my guys in some future tech suits built by some robot assassin you got from some old guy in the future after he told you that you were the chosen one he'd been waiting for. It sounds fucking ridiculous... AND... I don't trust that fucking thing. I saw what it did to...” Darina start to get herself fired up, her passion about this particular topic reaching a boiling point since the incident at the hangar not that long ago.
“Look... Darina... I know how you feel. Trust me... do you have any idea how surreal it was for me to be sitting there, at a table in the future... being told that I was the Chosen One of Prophecy? Yeah... that's a pretty big fucking pill to swallow... I won't lie.” John said looking at the desk before him, not at Darina in the doorway.
“You gotta kno...” She started to say before John looked up at her and his stern, steely glance cut her words from her throat in an instant.
“No... You gotta know... if I have a chance to make sure that I can save humanity from suffering any more than they have to, I will do whatever it takes... whatever it takes... to see that future come to pass. I have to... I have to try, Rina... and if that means I have to just have faith... then faith is what I'll have. I understand your trepidation... and I want you to keep telling me when you have them. You have a great mind, and I trust your instincts... but in this... I have to try. I have no reason to distrust R2. It saved my life, and the lives of many others since it came to our timeline, and until I see something that changes that perception... I'll continue to understand that it's a very dangerous weapon that we really don't understand very well... and as long as it keeps using its weapons for good... I'll keep trying to ensure the future I saw becomes a reality. I don't have a choice. I very well may be humanity's only hope in finding a peaceful future, and I cannot fail in that. I just can't.” John says, his tone flat and serious.
“Yeah... I get it, Boss. No worries. Anyway... we should be all set to go when you're done. See you on the plane then?” Darina said, her somber tone betraying the hurt as she backed out the door and closed it.
* * * * *
It had been four days since the squadron had arrived in Nevada and debriefed on the new armor that IDEA had built. They had been getting used to the new gear and training how to use it for the last two days non-stop, and so far, the work had paid off. They had been making great progress, and John was proud of the crew Darina had chosen for this unique mission. Some of them were a little more than rough around the edges, but this sort of work wasn't for the average Bouncer in a nightclub. Only the most hardened of the mercenaries Darina had in her employ were selected for this opportunity, and they were paid well for their service.
John had spent the better part of a week wondering when the next attack would come from another dimension, and trying desperately to figure out how to solve this problem that seemed to have no solution, and failing to find some way to figure it out meant a catastrophic event for the timeline and the future of humanity.
No pressure.
He still hadn't been able to shake the feeling of being stuck in a dimensional void, and the knowledge that he would've been stuck there forever if it hadn't been for R2 didn't help matters any. It was worse than unnerving... it made him feel insignificant in the scope of things, and he hated the way it gnawed at his mind.
He had always had this existential dread thinking about the multiverse, and in the last decade or so, his time in other dimensions had shown him that he knew very little about the working of the universe, but no matter where he found himself, there was always someone working to take away something someone else had worked diligently to build up.
It seems liked a universal constant at this point.
No matter what you did, there was always going to someone around who wanted to tear your sandcastle down grain by grain.
John hated it.
Life was hard enough without having people actively work against the effort you put into surviving... let alone the pitfalls of trying to help anyone else succeed. Tragedy and heartache have plagued humanity throughout history, and the modern era of mankind was no different. For all of the technical marvels and medical advancements people had made over the centuries, death was still undefeated. Our personal demons still tormented our thoughts and the world still struggled just to survive.
John's thoughts strayed over the new armor suits as he looked over the technical sheets again. They were amazing. Simple, yet elegant in their use, they were based on nanobot technology utilized by R2-IDEA that had a myriad of uses and applications just waiting to be tapped into and used to improved the lives of millions. John had come up with several dozen uses in the last few days to revolutionize his manufacturing operations and mining facilities alone that would make far more efficient use of the employees in those facilities and keep many more of the men and women who worked in his resource gathering facilities safe while they could easily increase their productivity.
It was while his thoughts swirled around the uses for this new tech that the face of his watch flashed red in the dimly lit bedroom within the dessert compound they had occupied this week. The sudden flash of color startled John briefly, as he sat up on the side of the small cot.
“R2? What's going on?” he asks in a whisper.
“I have detected dimensional rift signatures nearby, John Cable. Standby.” the buzzing tone of R2 chimed into the room in answer.
John slid his boots on, and put a black tank top on before sliding his leather face mask over his gnarled features. His heart thudded in his chest as his breath caught in his throat. Nervously, he stood beside the cot and started to make his way towards the door, but thought better of it and went back to the cot at the far end of the room.
After what seemed like forever to John in the silence, the quiet was sundered by the blaring of a yard alarm.
“ATTENTION: INTRUDER ALERT. COURTYARD WEST. ALL HANDS - FORMATIONS.” a voice called over the compound communications speakers as the alarm wailed over and over.
John made his way over to the door then, peering out the small window into the hall outside. Booted feet thudded heavily up the hallway as a line of armored men trotted down the hall. The plates of the suits were dark, like voids of light rather than the color black, and were outlined in bright red light shining from within the seams between each one as they interlocked. They were massive too, easily seven foot tall in the exo-suits, and just over half as wide, only fitting a single file down the center of the hall as they made their way towards the doors to the main courtyard. Their faces were covered with a sleek red sheet of hard-light that went from their forehead to their chin in the armored helmet, and in each of their hands they carried a sleek rifle with the same red light glowing down the sides of the polymer barrel in a sharp line.
“John Cable. My remote FTV Engine function has been jammed. I am working on a fix for that. In the mean time, stay where you are. I will make my way to you immediately. Copy?” the buzzing tone of R2-IDEA came across from his watch this time, strangely, while usually calm, R2's tone told a tale of panic now.
“Yeah R2. Stay put and wait for you to get here. Heard. What's going on out there?” John says as he watches the line of soldiers make their way out into the courtyard and disappear outside.
“There have been several dimensional rifts opened on the premises. Currently there are two hundred and seventeen unknown entities detected. We have engaged the intruders in three points on the west end of the complex. Current formations are converging on the west courtyard to contain the intruders. More information momentarily, John Cable.” the strange electronic bass tones of the combat AI buzzed through the watch matter of factually.
“Fuck... OK, John...” he muttered to himself as he made his way back over to the cot and grabbed his ballistic vest as he strapped it on.
Then, as John turned back towards the door, a beam of light flashed through the window from outside, like an LED flashlight, bright, white, scanning across the room slowly. John dives behind the cot and rolls under it just as the light crosses his side of the room as he holds his breath in terror. Just as suddenly as the light flashed into the room, it was gone, and yet, John still held his breath, panic making him forget to draw air for a few moments.
“R2... are our guys over here outside the barracks?” John whispers then pulls a long ragged breath.
“Negative, John Cable. Stay down, Stay quiet. I will be there momentarily.” the combat AI answers softly from the watch.
Moments passed as the alarm wailed outside, but in the brief quiet between the blaring alarm, John could swear he heard something at the window. He closed his eyes, and strained to hear with every fiber of his being, and yes... surely in the moments of quiet, he could hear a tapping on the window, like the skittering of many metal feet across the glass.
He slid slowly towards the other side of the cot to get a look up at the windows, and as he craned his neck to peer out, his heart stopped in his chest. There, clinging to the glass were three metallic spider-like things with purple lights arrayed across their front like a set of eyes On their backs, rose a small square pod attached to a couple of cables that glowed with a purple light as well. They were about the size of an average sized cat, and were crawling across the glass on six spindle-like metal legs that ended in sharp looking spikes. Their purple 'eyes' roved across the room, as if they were looking for him, and terror truly gripped him.
One of the spider-bots tapped the glass then... once, twice, then a third time. The next time, it pulled two of it's legs high up next to it's side, and punched the glass with the spikes. The glass shattered with a tinkle as the shards fell to the floor, and the spider drone began pulling away at the pane making a larger hole to gain access to the inside. One of the other spider-bots skittered over and began pulling at the hole as glass fell and shattered on the floor below. Eventually, they had made enough space to squeeze through and climb inside, crawling across the glass and making their way down the wall to the floor.
John looks across the room at the door from beneath the cot... and knew he would never it make that far. He knew his choices were either bide his time and wait for R2 to get there, or take his chances right here, right now. He knew being trapped under this cot wasn't the best place to get caught right now, but he didn't dare move and alert them to his location. No... he had to be smart... and quiet.
God he hoped R2 would hurry up already.
He heard their metallic spikes skitter across the floor as they spread out across the room, and he lost sight of two of them, but he could still see the third one, it's purple 'eyes' roaming around the room looking for him as it got closer and closer. Finally, John knew he couldn't wait any more as it got close enough he thought he could hit it with the cot. He reached up slowly, gripping the side rails of the frame with his hands, his fingers grabbing on as tight as he could, drawing in a slow breath and trying in vain to calm himself.
In a sudden flurry of movement, John rolled to his side and smashed at the spider bot with the cot, floating over it and using the cot to hold the bot on the ground beneath him.
The other two came skittering from the far end of the room in an instant, their purple 'eyes' focused on him, the boxes on their back pulsing purple before four beams of purple laser light lance across the room tearing into John's shoulder as it rips past him and chars the wall behind.
John screams out in pain as the smell of burnt flesh fills his nostrils and he leaps backwards to make some space between him and the other two spider bots out of desperation.
The second spider-bot pulses purple then, and four more laser beams streak across the room narrowly missing John as he dives behind a table and tosses it on it's side for whatever cover it might provide. The third bot struggles a moment but then frees itself form the cot and the three form up and begin to make their way towards the upturned table before chucks of wood and concrete spray across the room as the wall implodes from outside.
There, staring through the massive hole, was the R2-IDEA in full combat mode, it's bright red 'eye' blazing like the sun as the nanobot suit writhed around it in a maelstrom of destruction and swirled in through the hole, sweeping the three of the spider bots up into its mass.
“John Cable. I have arrived. We have to go. Now.” it boomed at him as John peeked from behind the table nearby.