Book 4: Chapter 170: Punching Decisions

Book 4: Chapter 170: Punching Decisions

USD: Three days after Arrival Groundside

Location: Meltisar, Capital City, Theas Safehouse Warehouse

A dense fog shrouded the ground, casting an ethereal glow on the flickering neon signs while muffling the sound of air traffic overhead. Elis approached a side door and pressed her hand against its biometric sensor.

The tall towers around her pierced the sky, leaving the city streets below in perpetual shade. Morning had broken, but it would be hours before sunlight reached the cold asphalt.

With a beep, the sensor flashed green, and a heavy clunk indicated that the steel bars had released. As she entered, another clunk resounded as the door shut behind her, sealing her inside.

A short corridor led to an expansive space within the tower, sandwiched between a solid concrete floor and ceiling. Massive five-meter-thick pillars coated in metallic sheeting punctuated the area.

A dozen sleek, expensive looking aircars were parked nearby, but most of what filled Eliss view was bare concrete and steel. She turned left toward what had become her personal armory corner. There stood two imposing MK-IV-C power armor suits and a third one she had been servicing hung from two large hooks.

The suit was almost complete per her specifications; Nameless had done an excellent job recreating it from schematics, requiring only minor adjustments for her comfort preferences. Her fingers traced along the cool metal exterior of the suits thigh as she lowered it back onto solid ground.

A subtle thrill coursed through her at the thought of these state-of-the-art power armor suits belonging to her. Though she never considered herself materialistic, Federation-spec power armor simply didnt exist anymore from what she had researched.

She wasnt sure how Nameless had rebuilt them, but she wasnt going to question it either.

A chime in Elis ear comm announced Theas voice. Im coming in.

Elis glanced toward the vehicle bay as the large steel hangar door creaked noisily, lifting into the ceiling. Yeah, its clear.

Seconds later, a massive vehicle slid down the ramp and entered the open area opposite the warehouse. It dwarfed the fancy aircars with its heavy metal plating covering both chassis and turret.

Why do you have a hover tank? Elis questioned flatly.

A girls got to have her toys. Besides, youve got an entire set of Imperial Janissary suits, Thea shot back. The vehicle lowered itself until hovering just inches above the concrete floor, its fusion reactor humming like a contained beast. It quietly swiveled to point back towards the exit.

Theyre not Janissary suits; theyre Federation MKIVC Power Armored Exoskeletons, Elis corrected.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

The hatch on top of the new vehicle opened, and Thea popped out to face her. Girl, those things are twice as big as a person. Theyre Janissary suits! Sounds like youre compensating for something, she shouted toward Elis.

Elis bristled. Youre one to talkwith your dozen luxury aircars and now this tank! Whos compensating here?

Thea laughed and jumped down from the vehicle, landing lightly before approaching the armory. Are your toys ready for our operation? she asked.

Elis nodded confidently. Theyre good to go.

Great. Thea continued, Just make sure you stand behind me during all this action. I dont want Big Blue railing at me because I got her sister killed.

Elis froze and stared at Thea intently.

Thea raised an eyebrow, her expression challenging. Problem?

You should be the one standing behind me, Elis retorted, her voice firm. Youre just a tiny little thing, and Ive dealt with plenty like you before.

Thea met her gaze, unyielding. Are you picking a fight?

Yes, Elis declared without hesitation.

A grin spread across Theas face as her eyes sparkled with excitement. Excellent! Lets do it.

Elis turned and activated her suit, stepping inside. As she settled in, impact gel filled the interior, conforming to her bodys shape while micro A-Grav plates worked to mitigate the effects of inertia on her frame.

The HUD display lit up within the suita crystal-clear display that encompassed her entire peripheral vision and offered a simulated 360-degree view with a simple head turn. Readouts confirmed everything was functional; the hydraulic systems hummed to life, sending subtle vibrations through the surrounding structure.

Elis stood tall and followed Thea to an empty space between four of the towers structural pillars. Itll be a good test of the new hardware, she commented nonchalantly.

Mines working just fine, Thea replied confidently. But it will be nice to let loose and trash one of your toys.

Ignoring the agonizing noise from her damaged shoulder joint, Elis swung her other fist into Theas midsection. The impact launched Thea into the concrete floor with enough force to bounce back into the airstraight into another devastating punch.

Elis third punch slammed into the concrete as Thea evaded, rolling out of reach. Get back here! Elis spat, charging after her agile opponent. Thea nimbly darted out of sight behind a pillar, disappearing from view.

Suddenly, an explosion of nanites filled the air, obscuring Elis vision. Her HUD rapidly switched between modes before settling on a wireframe view that offered limited information. Quit running away! she yelled.

Following the faint footfall sounds her suit recorded, Elis pursued the elusive target. Her suit lit up with a possible locationbut too late, Elis realized that the nanites had mimicked the sound to deceive her.

As her gauntlet slammed into a pillar, Thea deftly dropped down and wrapped her legs around Elis suits neck from behind. With a firm grip on Elis waist, she strained to snap the suits spine backward. Can your stupid toy handle this? Thea taunted.

Metal groaned and shrieked as rivets began to shear loose under the pressurebut Elis didnt give Thea any more time to continue her assault. She swiveled around and launched herself backward, slamming Thea into metal-encased concrete with enough force to dislodge debris from the ceiling above them.

But Thea refused to let go.

Determined to dislodge the other woman, Elis repeated her attackonce more and then a third time. Finally, something snapped within her suits torso rotation joint; cursing in frustration and pain, she reached over her shoulder and grabbed hold of Theas ankle.

A piercing scream echoed through the warehouse as Elis unleashed a shotgun blast point-blank onto Theas ankle.

The noise flooded Elis comms, making her wince. A sudden stabbing pain shot through her leg as Theas railgun punctured her knee joint. Both of them collapsed in a tangled heap on the floor.

Despite her damaged shoulder joint threatening to break free, Elis rolled over and pinned Thea to the ground. Her shotgun gauntlet aimed at Theas face just as Theas railgun pressed against Elis breastplate, angling for her head. Both fighters heaved and panted, worn out by pain and exhaustion.

I guess this is a tie, Elis admitted reluctantly.

Thea hesitated before agreeing. A tie.

As they lay there in their stalemate, blue nanites gradually reassembled around Theas injuries.

Elis rolled off of her opponent and laid flat on her back, triggering a helmet command that caused the suits breastplate to loosen with a hiss of gas. Her HUD filled with red warning lights, informing her that it wouldnt detach on its own. Urgh.

Suddenly, a video feed sprung to life for both of them. Tia materialized on screen, her angered glare practically burning through the display.

What the fuck are you two doing!? Tia shouted, her anger palpable. You asked me to give you both as much privacy as possible, and now youre setting off emergency alarms inside my head!

Elis began to recover as her suit administered more painkiller cocktails directly to her shattered knee and elbow. We were just sparring, she grunted. No problems here.

It says your suit is totally flatlined! Tia hissed in disbelief.

I think the sensor is busted; my hearts still beating, Elis offered reassuringly as a pleasant sort of sensation fell over her. It felt like she was floating on a comfortable cloud.

A drone flew into the space, and its camera swiveled to point at Thea. Tias glare took on an even more pointed edge. Where is your foot!?

Thea waved her away nonchalantly while her nanites worked on creating something for her to stand on. Somewhere toward the corner, I think.

There was no need for both of you to go on this mission! Tia protested. Elis just got out of physical therapy! You cannot murder each other!

Relax, Im about to give her first aid, Thea replied dismissively.

First aid!? You blew out her kneecap, and her right elbow is bent backward! Tia objected, outrage clear in her voice.

Elis glanced down at her arm and saw that it was indeed bent the wrong way. Thankfully, the suits medical suite was designed to keep someone alive and in operation until the mission was completed. Im fine.

Youre high on whatever cocktail your suit is pumping into you, and your suit is totally busted! Tia shouted.

I have two more. Elis smiled back at her. As Thea knelt beside her suit, the woman shook her head at her.

Wow, this thing really is busted good. Im going to need a can opener. Thea remarked.

Elis giggled. You are not getting in my pants.

Thea glanced at Tias drone. Oh yeah, shes out of it.