Chapter 27
I lurch upwards as I am startled awake; My ear piece going crazy. Immediately I started getting up, reaching for my rifle and stuffing magazines wherever I could fit them. I heard someone approaching in a sprint. I knew it wasn’t an enemy, his heart was racing in a way that hinted at suppressed panic. It helped that it was too early for whatever caused the drone to go crazy to be here.
Reaching over to my backpack I quickly grabbed the satellite phone and sent a message to MARA of the situation while asking for assistance. I knew she was probably starting the process to rush here despite me being the only listed captain of the ship with barely any crew and the rather illegal act of taking off without prior authorization.
Someone opened the tent and I noticed it was that guard from earlier that belonged to the client. His eyes wide as he saw I was already preparing.
"Whats going on?" I asked calmly despite being in a hurry as I grabbed a final more special magazine. "There seems to be multiple vehicles approaching I'm guessing at least 16 people are in them."
"ETA?" I asked exiting the tent heading towards my MRAP. "1 minute I would guess they are hauling ass to reach us. I only noticed because the sun was reflecting off their vehicles. They seem to be using electric vehicles so it was pure luck."
I groan that would explain how they got so close electric cars are just quieter by default. Deciding I didn't have time I sprinted towards my vehicle. The only sound I could even hear was the undignifying yelp of the guard as I rocketed past him.
Fiddling with the key I quickly opened the door and jumped inside to start up the automaton. The start up would take a moment and it would be joining us as they approached. Nodding I quickly exited. Our uninvited guests were just seconds away.
Just as I exited the vehicle I suddenly had an idea that I immediately started to pursue. I was almost throwing myself up the tree, eventually reaching an especially good limb to hide on and cover me. I grabbed my special magazine that was short, barely sticking out of the bottom of the weapon.
Slowly I calmed my breath as the vehicles slowed and surrounded our camp. The guard seemed nervous, noticing I wasn't there. He thankfully proved smart enough to realize I was probably hiding somewhere waiting for a moment to strike.
Soon people stepped out of their vehicles. I could tell from their movements that they were somewhat skilled; they started looking around trying to spot an ambush. I carefully lined up a shot with my iron sights. My enemies proved far too confident only taking a single glance at their surroundings.
I stopped myself just as I was about to shoot. Someone close to the MRAP carrying an AT recoilless rifle. I slowly readjusted my aim to take him first. I noticed how he was always shooting glances towards my vehicle that still had one of its back doors open.
Someone at that moment chose to talk, "Say sir have spotted a woman nearby, white hair, red eyes, about the height of me? You see we were sent to find and take her back by a very worried client."
My eyebrow twitched. I should have guessed they would attack at this moment. They probably picked this location because we were hours away from any form of help. Mother is probably heading here just hoping that nobody will ask questions. I knew that was just fanciful thinking. Hopefully I can just blame it on my assistant rushing to my aid after I sent them an SOS. If anyone asks how she can fly I'll just say I taught her the basics in a simulator.
"I'm sorry but I am afraid I can't hand her over to you. You see, she has still yet to complete her contract with us. So if you turn around and disappear I'll not mention this little stunt to the person I am guarding." The guard said in a resigned voice. I nodded my head. He may be inferior but I still thanked him in my head.
I might hate humanity but I can't hate a soldier being prosented with a way to live but denying it to protect others. Shaking my head I took aim at the missile man. The automaton should be turning on any moment.
Glancing repeatedly at the MRAP I noticed a stomping sound coming towards the door. The man with the rocket also noticed I saw him quickly reading to fire, he however just pointed it but did not shoot. I imagine he wants to verify what is coming out.
'Well I am sorry but that's too bad but you're a little out of your depth.'
Snap
A quiet snap of something shooting through the air was barely audible but the sound of someone dropping dead and hitting the dirt wasn't. Taking their moment of surprise I quickly shifted my aim to someone that has a few tools that seem designed to take someone alive. Not that it would be easy; human sedatives don’t work on me—due to me being a different species that also has a built in natural general antitoxin for most poisons— but restraints would.
Snap
By the time they realized they were being shot at, two of their own had hit the ground. The only hint of what happened was the blood and grey matter flying out behind them. Immediately the guard raises his weapon a moment quicker than the enemy already realizing what happened before the second body even fell over.
With my last shot I was willing to use, I snapped my gun to aim at the leader of these mercenaries cosplaying as some organized criminals. This time I just shot him in the upper chest, the shot hitting perfectly. I eject the half full magazine and load one of the more normal subsonic magazines. The coil in this gun was only really there to hide myself thanks to the lack of a muzzle flash.
"Marksmen!" "Where is that fuck!" "Get to cover!"
Many things were yelled over the air already. I noticed the guard having to flee. The mercenaries tried shooting him, but were too busy trying to dodge nonexistent bullets to bother aiming.
Realizing my cover from the tree is close to ending, I decide to jump down as I have to handle the people that have encircled us. They noticed me immediately. I responded with burst fire taking one of them down with a gurgle—one bullet had chosen to fly through his throat.
My gun was nearly a whisper as I continued to rain fire towards them. They fled quickly taking cover.
"Someone please focus on the target, and for the love of God don't kill her!" Someone shouted from behind her car. Taking a moment from continuing to fire I took out one of the two grenades I had. Though I had to ignore the fact it was 30,000 years old. With an underhand throw I had it land just under the vehicle nobody seemed to notice as a few people peeked over to start returning fire.
BOOM
The concussion grenade detonated under the vehicle making the car flip over onto those sitting behind it. Rapidly the car's battery burst into flames that wouldn't go out quickly even if you dumped a dozen buckets of water on it.
I was forced to dodge fire as they kept trying to shoot my legs. This whole event had my blood boiling. I heard a pain scream from behind me and cursed as I saw the guard take a shot to the chest. My automaton was already opening fire on the group keeping them away from flanking me.
'Mara I would appreciate it if you can stop gatekeeping please.'
Without waiting for a response my vision slowed and I took time aiming my next few shots. Someone tried to crawl under a car and sneak a shot, but was rewarded for his effort with his head being pulped. Screams of pain and rage surrounded me as I kept the enemy from taking any accurate shots. By now I could confirm that half the people who showed up were dead.
The shoot out slowly shifted into a stalemate as both sides shot at each other. My automaton was probably running out of ammo but it was slowly closing the distance between its targets taking advantage of its metal body.
My side however refused to peek over their cars; content that I will eventually run out of ammo. Everytime I tried to conserve it they started peeking over. The first few died but now they were more cautious and most of my shots missed.
Click
I swore looking down for a new magazine but only finding the coil magazine left. I quickly slammed it into place and hid behind the tree as they started to return fire now that my ammo was almost dry. I peeked around the corner and aimed a shot at someone rushing over. I aimed and fired only to incapacitate him. He was out of the fight but could still fire his gun.
Suddenly I felt a white hot pain flash through my shoulder. I managed to stifle the scream but looked to my shoulder to find a bullet hole through every layer of my outfit. Gritting my teeth I dropped my weapon and pulled my last grenade that was left behind pulling the pin awkwardly I threw it in between me and my attackers.
I noticed some trying to sneak forwards grabbing my knife. I waited for the smoke to make a wall in front of me before rushing forward. I heard some yelling orders to rush through the smoke to chase after me, probably thinking I was running away. Sprinting into the opaque smoke I relied on my ears and my now superior reaction speed to locate my enemies. I quickly rushed to dispose of the wounded enemy. Jumping into the smoke my second kill didn't even notice me as I slashed my knife through his neck neatly decapitating him.
This process continued as I managed to take another person before they realized I was hiding in the smoke. Unfortunately my luck ended as I saw someone sprinting forwards. With a brief flash of surprise he quickly grinned as he knocked me flat on my back as he started to punch me taking no care and not holding his strength.
With a wet crunch I heard and felt the cartilage in my nose break from a punch and I growled in pain. I watched another fish rushing towards me. My enemy grinned as he thought me helpless; I would quickly prove how wrong he was. I lurched forward using every ounce of strength I had to get my jaws around his neck. Immediately I started draining him of his blood, his scream of agony as he was rapidly drained of half the blood in his body before I ripped the rest of his neck out.
I felt my body grow stronger thanks to that mysterious ability we never truly figured out as a species. Throwing him off me I managed to stand up just as something hard struck the back of my skull. My brain managed to keep me awake, but I could tell it wasn’t going to withstand a second hit.
I just managed to hear my Mother's voice on the ear piece as she screamed my name and yelled at me to close my eyes. Unfortunately or maybe forutnately my consciousness rapidly faded, falling into a deep dreamless coma.