Knight in Cyber Armor

by Bard Constantine

  Beef and Jisei.

  Tatsu. The memories flooded. Waking up to morning light on her face, the rare smiles she gave to him like secret gifts when they were alone…

  No, they're dead. These are just cheap imitations. And you have to take them down.

  "Proto. Activate Riot Control."

  "Charging."

  He kicked the nearest attacker back and held out his hands. His display lit up with targets, focusing the crosshairs on every person's head. The g-spans flooded with blue light before discharging multiple blasts from each fingertip. Once, twice, three times in rapid succession. Nearly thirty bodies dropped as the concussive force struck in explosions of azure energy.

  He jogged forward, stepping over groaning bodies. Beef and Jisei were already getting to their feet, their armor taking the brunt of the blasts. Vigil pulled the neo-thermic handgun from its holster and fired an incendiary round into Beef's chest, shattering the armored plating and setting him on fire with the secondary explosion. Vigil tried to ignore the screams.

  They're not people. They're just protein-based machines with stolen memory data.

  Jisei dropped to one kneed and opened fire with twin rapid-fire handguns. Vigil opened an energy shield from his g-span, deflecting the rounds. Jisei responded by rolling two thermal grenades in his direction. He raised his gauntlets upwards, forming a protective dome as the detonation tore the vicinity apart in a bloom of flame and razor-edged projectiles. The downed gang members suffered much worse, bodies burnt and shredded by the explosion.

  He dropped his shields and peered into the smoke, but Jisei vanished like a ghost.

  He tapped his com. "Lost one, Incognito."

  "I know. Lots of interference there. Unfortunately, your ECMs cut both ways."

  Vigil glanced at the pair of triangular-shaped devices that whirred in wide, interloping circles around him. "Yeah, I forgot. She'll pop up somewhere. She'll be heading back to rendezvous with the team."

  "I'll scan for them. Are you okay, Vigil?"

  He sighed, walking over to where Beef smoldered on the ground. "Gotta admit, this hits hard. I just killed a member of my own team. Or it feels like it, anyway."

  "Synoids aren't human. They're machines programmed to serve a function. Keep that in mind and focus on the mission."

  "Yeah, I'm focused. I'm assuming they were attacking the gang because their targets were here."

  "Yeah, I ran a scan on their holobands. Three of them took part in the execution."

  "Well, they're dead along with a few of their friends. Any luck finding Nora Brewers?"

  "Keep at it. Meanwhile, I'll head in Agent Banks' direction."

  "Yeah, you might want to rethink that."

  "Why would I?"

  "It's like the girl said. You're recognizable to the people that know you. You've already been outed once tonight. I know you trust the girl—"

  "She's not a threat, Incognito."

  "Not saying she is. But she's a liability. You can't afford many of those. You can't afford any, but it is what it is now. No point getting any closer to Agent Banks than you have to. Vigil is a shadow, not a symbol. Anything else and your career will be a very short one."

  Vigil nodded. "Okay, I get your point. I'll keep my distance. Now, you need to get me a target. Because this isn't over yet."

  Ⓥ

  Ronnie and Isaac followed from a safe distance until Big Top and Rosy were picked up by their armored floater at the harbor. It lifted off vertically and shot toward the city, where Haven Core glimmered like a polished pearl, oblivious to the violent events occurring around it.

  No, not oblivious. They just don't care.

  "Damn it. No way we're going to catch them in time."

  Isaac glanced behind them. "You kidding, Banks? How did you think I got here?"

  She turned in time to see the RCE zip bike turn the corner and head their direction.

  "You had it tailing us on autopilot the whole time?"

  "Yeah. Wanna take a ride?"

  She grinned. "Let's go."

  They zipped across the bay, cutting across the water like a blade, keeping low to avoid detection. The Hellrazor's floater showed up as a blip on their tracking screen.

  "Looks like they're headed for the Brickland District."

  "That's where Nora Brewers lives. We've already been there. Scanned the building. No one was home."

  "Well, she had to come back eventually. They either found out she's there or they're staking out the place."

  "Hope it's the latter because these guys hit fast and hard. We might not make it in time to save her."

  "Better step on it, then."

  They shot forward, streaking toward the rage and noise of the angry city. The clamor and darkness swallowed them, forcing the zip bike to slow down and avoid the raging hotspots where rioters still clashed with the RCE Peacekeepers. Larger bipedal mech walkers stomped through the streets, curtailing the area and closing in with smoke, pepper spray, disorienting light flickers, and sick bombs. Behind them were heavily armored RCE troopers in riot shields and gear, ready to finally make arrests.

  It'll be over soon. The Hellrazors will have to move quickly.

  "Slow down. The address is just around the corner."

  They parked the bike and advanced on foot. Weapons ready, moving back to back, sweeping every corner for an ambush. They were in the Warrens, where stacks of shipping container apartments soared so high that they were lost to sight. They formed rusty metallic walls, creating a haphazard maze of tenements that didn't collapse only because they were connected by a network of support braces that served as walkways and bridges from one stack to another. Cold drizzle dripped like rain from the snash that fell on the rooftops, melted and dripped down.

  Good thing I already know where Nora Brewer's flat is, otherwise I'd be lost in this mess. It made her suddenly grateful for her small but tidy apartment in Manhaven. At least she had a view of something other than dirt and rust. She recalled that Jett lived somewhere in the Warrens. She hoped he was safe.

  "Look out!"

  Isaac folded his arms around her as the world exploded. Heat rippled over her, the ground erupted, and they sailed through the air in a bloom of flame and brilliant light. Her breath punched from her lungs when they slammed into a wall with the force of a car crash. Coppery blood filled her mouth from biting her tongue, waves of dizziness threatened to shove her to unconsciousness. If Isaac hadn't taken the brunt of the blast, she would have been dead.

  "Have you been having fun, Agent Banks?" Big Top's voice echoed from the walls. So much like Jett's.

  An armored mech clomped around the corner, painted in urban camouflage. It stood ten feet and looked like a humanoid beetle. Big Top was secured inside the armored interior, manning the controls. The exterior was armed with high-powered turret guns and cannons. It was enough to level the entire block. The robotic head turned in her direction.

  "You and your friend have been having quite the night. Killing my men. Time to turn the tables."

  Isaac stood. Uniform shredded, metallic shell exposed. He glanced at her. "Get out of here, Banks."

  She shakily raised herself and tightened her grip on her handgun. "Not on your life. We’re partners."

  "Then leave the mech to me. The rest of his squad have to be around here too. Now go!"

  They spit directions as Big Top fired again. Ronnie leaped away from the blast, leaping to her feet and firing at Rosy as she leaped from behind a dumpster. The rounds found their mark, dropping Red before she could fire her weapon.

  People were everywhere. Running from their flats in mass panic, screaming and shouting. The crossfire cut some down immediately, ruthless barrages from Big Top's turret guns. Ronnie seized a frantic woman and her child, hustling them away from the line of fire.

  "Go. Keep running!"

  She looked behind. Isaac's arm altered in shape, whirring and shifting into an ionized plasma channel. A high-pitched whine pierced the air as it charge
d, firing an electrolaser bolt that flashed like lightning when it struck Big Top's mech. The robotic machine staggered as its electrical systems malfunctioned.

  Crushing impacts struck Ronnie like heavy punches to the chest, knocking her down. She rolled, avoiding another barrage from Jisei, who leaped from a third-story balcony, still firing. Ronnie scrambled on all fours, trying to make the corner before more rounds struck her. Her chest was on fire; she was sure her armor was penetrated.

  A pill-shaped metallic explosive clattered a few feet away.

  The detonation lifted Ronnie from her feet. Debris followed, striking with the velocity of bullets. Her eardrums vibrated; everything became distorted, overwhelmed by the intense ringing. She tried to breathe but could only manage choking gasps. Her muscles turned to water, refusing to respond.

  She rolled on her back, vision blurred and body on fire. Blurred shapes ran past; distant screams echoed around her. She faintly saw Jisei approaching Isaac as he grappled with Big Top. The masked woman wielded a long, laser-edged blade that cut through Isaac's arm as if it were made of cheese. She dropped to one knee and slashed through one of his legs, dropping him to the shattered ground. Big Top's systems flashed back on, and he made the most of it by aiming his arm cannon and firing at point range, blowing Isaac to pieces.

  Ronnie tried to scream, but could only manage a dry rasp. Her breath rattled in her lungs, and darkness closed in from the edges of her vision. Her last sight was of an armored figure in a silver helmet, leaping from the gloom at the lumbering mech like some ancient champion upon a primordial demon.

  Chapter 21

  Vigil arrived just in time to see Ronnie go down, followed by Isaac. He quickly surveyed the scene.

  "Too many people in the line of fire. How do I shut down the mech, Proto?"

  "Short-range EMP. You have one in your utility belt."

  Vigil extracted it and hurled it down. "Shut down all systems for the length of the blast."

  "Shutting down."

  Vigil dropped from the building ledge as the EMP detonated. The lights in nearby buildings winked out along with any working electronics. The mech suffered no better. It froze in place, rendered useless until its backup systems kicked in. Vigil figured he had thirty seconds at most. The control system winked back on inside his visor as his systems came back online.

  He landed on the mech's shoulder, planting a remote explosive inside the collarbone groove. Barely pausing, he leaped off and fired g-span pulse blasts at Jisei, who flipped and span around the bombardment like a dancer.

  Vigil landed, rolled, and flung a handful of thin magnetic explosives. The pull yanked them to the mech, where they discharged like deadly fireworks, weakening the shell.

  "Barely a scratch," Big Top's voice boomed out. "My backup systems are loading right now, and when they're done—"

  "Blow it, Proto."

  The remote explosive detonated, blowing the mech's armor apart. The skeletal remains staggered and tumbled to the ground in a drunken display of smoke and sparking wires. The armored control panel protected the man inside from most of the damage. Vigil couldn't help but to stare.

  It was like looking in a mirror.

  Proto's voice buzzed. "Behind you."

  Vigil's energy shield opened as he turned, catching Jisei's sword before it cut his arm off. Even with the laser edge nullified, the blade was still razor sharp. He used the shield as a battering ram, shoving her back before dropping it to fire a pulse blast at point blank range. She bent over backward to avoid it, propped on her hands, and came back with a flashing spin kick.

  "Damn it, Tatsu. I don't want to hurt you."

  She paused at the mention of her name, tilting her head as if studying him. Her eyes were barely visible through the darkness of her mask. He wished he could drop his helmet, show her the truth. But it didn't matter. Tatsu was dead.

  He attacked, she dodged. She attacked, he defended. They moved in a synchronized flow, so much like the sparring lessons they practiced repeatedly. He wondered if she felt it too. The familiarity. If she did, she'd ignore it. Focus past it. Try to find his weakness. Distract him long enough for Big Top to free himself from the mech, prime his weapon, and join the battle. He probably was circling around, waiting for Jisei to position Vigil for a clean shot.

  That's what I'd do.

  When the moment was right, he felt it. He just knew, and ducked a second before the shot fired. The blast grazed his shoulder and struck Jisei in the chest, punching through her armor. She went limp, body crashing to the ground.

  "Tatsu!"

  Vigil thought it was his scream, but Big Top was the one that rushed forward, eyes burning with pain and rage. It was Vigil's face. It was Vigil's pain. He knew Big Top wanted to rush over to Jisei, but also knew he wouldn't. He had to kill his enemy first.

  They both leaped to the side at the same time, mirror images as they fired their handguns simultaneously. Both scored shots to the chest, flying backward in opposite directions. Vigil bounced across the ground before finally skidding to a halt.

  He groaned as Proto's voice buzzed over. "Chest armor at eighteen percent efficiency. Your assailant used incendiary explosive rounds. It will take some time for the nanites to reconstruct. You won't be able to withstand another immediate direct hit."

  Vigil glanced over at Big Top. "I won't have to."

  He grimaced, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in his chest as he limped over. Big Top's chest was still on fire from the smoldering cavity that Vigil's shot left behind. Blood trickled from his mouth.

  "Tatsu?"

  Vigil shook his head. "Gone. A long time ago."

  Grief etched Big Top's perspiring face. "Should have been me first. Not her."

  "I know."

  "Who…are you?"

  Vigil stared down for a long time before finally answering. "I'm all that's left."

  Big Top didn't respond. His eyes glazed over as the last shuddering breath left his body.

  Vigil turned away from his doppelganger, walking over to where Jisei lay. He knelt down, unclamped the face shield and removed it. Tears blurred his vision.

  It was the same face he remembered. The same look as when she passed away in his arms. He caught her wrist as she tried to ram a stiletto dagger into the vulnerable part of his neck. He knew her too well, knew she would give it one last try before she succumbed to the fatal injury.

  "It's okay, Tatsu. You can let go. I'm sorry. Sorry I couldn't save you. Sorry for a lot of things."

  She stared uncomprehendingly, all of her efforts put into trying to push the dagger into his neck. Finally, her wrist went limp, and her body sagged to the ground.

  "Proto?"

  "Scan shows the subject is terminated."

  Only then did he let her go.

  Incognito's profile flicked on his visor display. "I'm showing multiple RCE units heading your direction, Vigil. Time to go."

  Vigil stood, looking over where Ronnie lay unconscious. "They'll be too late. Proto says Agent Banks is in critical condition."

  "Nothing you can do about that."

  "We can. Get an AHPP ready."

  "What? You can't bring her here. It will compromise everything."

  Vigil scooped Ronnie in his arms. She felt broken. "We'll keep her sedated. Just get it prepped, Incognito. I'm headed your way."

  Activating his boot thrusters, he leaped for the rooftops.

  Ⓥ

  Good evening. You're with Cam Danvers on another NYN news Fast Break. The rioters finally succumbed to the strategic pressure of RCE Peacekeepers and troopers, marking the end of hours of property damage and looting.

  The following night, Tim LeBlanc watched the news in Kermit's bar. Thinking. It had been a helluva night, but he's spent it at home waiting it out. The rioting was just another incident in a long string of incidents. He'd watched a few hours on the picjector, made sure his pad wasn't in the line of fire, then turned out the lights and slept like a baby. Figured things would be bac
k to normal by morning. It always was.

  All estimates aren't in yet, but we've been told the damage is in the ballpark of seven hundred million and counting. Not to mention the lives lost.

  "Hey, LeBlanc."

  He glanced over as Jett sat at the bar beside him, motioning to Kermit for a Horse Piss Lager. Kermit grunted and slid one over.

  LeBlanc smiled. "Well, well. Looks like you survived the night."

  Jett shrugged. "Stayed out the way of things. Figured it would blow over."

  "Funny—same thing I thought. And here we are, back to normal."

  "Yeah. Back to normal." They clinked bottles and got to drinking.

  "I ever tell you about my daughter, Jett?"

  "Don't think you have."

  "Her name's Deborah. Lil' Debbie is what I call her. She's my life. Bright as can be. A lot smarter than her old man. Way prettier, too."

  They shared a chuckle.

  "Her mom passed a year after she was born. Had cancer. Couldn't afford the cure. You know how it is. Left Debbie and me to ourselves. I tried the best I could to take care of her. Took a lot of jobs to keep a suitable roof over her head, food on the table, toys in her hand. Got into some business I shouldn't have. Led to questions I didn't need to ask. Mortals don't need to tread in the orbit of angels if you know what I mean."

  We've been told that many of deceased appear to be individuals associated with different gangs. Some of the evidence points to execution-style killings. Were the riots a cover for a full-blown gang war? Or was there something else afoot?

  Jett kept his eyes on the screen. "Angels. Yeah, I know what you mean."

  "I was warned. To back off, let things alone. But I was too into it at that point. Invested, you know? So I kept digging. And then something happened."

  "They came for your daughter."

  "In a way of speaking. She won the lottery. Got her a one-way trip to the Haven."

  "Wait, isn't that a good thing?"

  "Like going to heaven, they say. Thing was—I never put her name up. Why would I? We were all we had. I'd never intentionally separate us, not even for a chance of a lifetime."