Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Tower of Trials Chapter 7 Page 4

George easily spotted a machinegun sticking out of the top of some rocks. From there, he easily made out the buggy the weapon was attached to, though he could not see the gunner. The gun was firing at Tricia's power armor.

The Vixen had crouched behind a rock for protection and had a shielded arm up to protect her head. She tossed another smoke grenade to provide herself with more cover.

Most of the vehicle was behind cover so George doubted that he could hit it. Instead, he tried aiming for the weapon. A few of his shots knocked the gun's aim, giving Tricia a chance emerge from the cover of smoke. She sprinted the distance to the light vehicle.

Once the armored Vixen was among the rocks, the wasters sheltered there were in trouble. Tricia easily wreaked havoc with her pneumatic pike and enhanced strength.

"Keep the armors off me!" Tricia requested.

"This walking can's mine," Mabel claimed.

George saw the power armor marching in Tricia's direction. Before he could train his gun on the armor, he heard a crack. The armor jerked in response. He guessed that the Vixen sniper was hitting vulnerable parts of the armor to slow it down.

The armor twisted in the direction of Mabel's window, aimed an arm-mounted gun and fired. George turned his gun on the armor but resisted pulling the trigger when he noticed Tricia springing out of the rocks.

Tricia drove her pneumatic pike into the midriff of her opponent. Her weapon discharged a sharpened spike into her target, piercing through thick plate into vulnerable circuitry and systems within. She continued to savage the critical systems of her opponent.

"The other armor!" Tricia called out. It was a wonder that she kept track of her surroundings.

George looked around for the other power armor. However, Iona found it first. She leaped onto the metal warrior, knocking it to the ground. Then she started scratching furiously with claws. Somehow, her claws were able to rip pieces of protective plates off her victim.

The boy had no time to watch, though. For at that very moment, a spray of bullets hit his shield. George turned the gun around onto the source - another light vehicle from which a mounted machinegun and armed gang members were firing at him.

He was in danger! Fast moving pieces of metal, alloy and ceramic were flying all around him. His safety was threatened and he was allergic to pain. He had to make them stop!

George fired wildly. He was not sure if he was hitting anything. He could not see with all the sparks and shrapnel flying around him. His shield took a lot of hits. Bits of the shield broke off and scattered past him.

In his excitement, George squealed. It was that high-pitched girlie sort of squeal but he did not care. He was in an exciting gamble for his life. At anytime, he could get hurt or his opponents could stop firing.

Bullets were still flying past him. The shield was breaking up. He was sure at least a couple of bullets did hit him. But since he did not feel any pain, he assumed that his armor held. It was a contest to see who would last till the end.

The gang gave up first - they abandoned the vehicle. A moment later, there was a disappointingly small explosion at the back of the buggy and fire started to engulf the vehicle.

George let out one final high-pitched cry, one of victory! He had survived!

"Squirt!" Tricia called over the radio, interrupting his celebration, "I need some support here!"

There were few wasters left to shoot at. Seeing their comrades being smacked around by a Vixen in power armor or savaged by an armored panther was enough to unnerve most of them. Once the first few turned and ran, others started to follow.

Soon, they were all running away, on foot or on the remaining two buggies.

"Squirt, pack up and let's go!" Tricia ordered, "Quick, before they regroup."

George removed the machinegun and its ammo box carried them downstairs. The equipment was heavy without Tricia's help but adrenaline from the excitement of battle gave him strength.

Mabel dashed past him and reached the transport first.

George dropped his equipment and Mabel's into the back of the transport while the sniper started the vehicle's engine.

Then Tricia came in with a few pieces of souvenir - a few weapons, pieces of armor, and one vehicle engine. George had to clear some space in the back cargo area. He moved some of the equipment into the passenger cabin in the middle.

"Why'd you take the engine!?" Mabel exclaimed from the driver's seat, "Laura's not here to make anything of it."

"Habit. Maybe we can sell it for scrap," Tricia replied as she stuffed the engine in the back. "Squirt, close the door. You'll have to secure the engine with straps later."

"What about Iona?" George asked as he hit the button to close the transport's back door.

"We'll pick her up later," Mabel said, "And you might want to do something about your fashion."

"My what?" George looked down at his outfit. He was horrified to find that his coat had been torn in the fight. Pieces of his damaged effeminate armor could be seen. He hurriedly looked in the cargo for something he could use as a cloak.

Hopefully, no one else had noticed.

Once Tricia had entered through the side door of the transport, they were off for home.

***

No comments:

Post a Comment