Chapter Forty-Five - Gear On


    Chapter Forty-Five - Gear On


    Deus Ex: And then they said that I couldnt just talk the talk.Findd new stories at novelhall.com


    Hyper Cutie Zoom Ranger Sparkle Girl Bubble-chan: Makes sense, yeah.


    Deus Ex: They said I had to walk the talk too. How... how do you walk a talk? Whats that even mean?!


    Hyper Cutie Zoom Ranger Sparkle Girl Bubble-chan: ... Oh, Deus, sweetie, no.


    -R/GapMoeSamukawaii, Top post of 2053


    ***


    Myalis had landed me above the wreck of the building that toppled over. Which meant that I had appeared atop what was essentially a huge barrier blocking off an entire street. The horde couldnt pass here, not unless they were willing to climb up the wreckage.


    I groped for a gun, then slid my arm into my thigh holster and pulled out my Claw. I took a calming breath, then carefully planted a round in the middle of the chest of a model five which was busy scrambling over the ruined building.


    The wave had likely split off to run around the wreckage, but I had been busy before redirecting them this way. Now there were a lot of the fuckers waiting below to attempt their own climb over the wreckage.


    I spun then started to climb up the wreckage as well.


    The aliens didnt fail to notice me, of course. I was crawling right past a bunch of them and more had already made it to the other side and were resuming their charge towards New Montreal.


    I flicked up my back-mounted rails, but only one of them responded. It was enough for the moment, the railgun fired, poking a hole through the nearest model three.


    Myalis, need to get out of here, I said.


    We could replace the back section of your jetpack. You could fly out of danger.


    I glanced back down. The wave was shifting, more aliens heading my way as if they intended to gobble me up on the way over. Sounds good, I said.


    Something clunked on my back and the broken jetpack module fell. A box appeared on a flattish piece of concrete nearby and I tore it open while my railgun worked hard to keep the area around me clear.


    I slapped the jetpack on, then picked my Claw up again to fire a few rounds into the biggest aliens trying to catch up.


    The jets on my legs spurted, and the one on my back whined. Ready?


    Indeed. Where to?


    I glanced up. Got to be a spot around here thats safeish, I said.


    Checking... some security systems are still online. Here.


    The jets fired, nearly silent, and I was flung up and into the air. From above I could see the rubble of the fallen building, and some wreckage from other buildings too. The shelling hadnt been kind, and having one building ram into another created a huge fucking mess.


    The jets flew me sideways and then across the blockage created by the rubble.


    Can we have a vibrating function? I asked.


    ... Yes. I imagine this is for Lucy?


    And for myself, I added.


    Duly noted. Whats your budget here? That will help determine the quality of the arm. I dont believe I can get anything that will fit all of your requirements for below one hundred and forty points.


    Call it a thousand points? Its going to be semi-permanent, I think. At least until the next time a building falls on me.


    In that case... From your Sun Watcher Technologies tree, Id suggest the Lynx Nine. Its a modular design, which means it can come configured with the additions you want. A grenade launcher with an internal magazine, tactile receptors, and a vibration system with seventeen vibration modes. Its significantly more durable than your previous arm, though it is a little heavier. No more so than your own flesh and blood limb.


    Sounds perfect, I said. I glanced out of the room as I heard a distant boom. More artillery? We should speed this up.


    New Purchase: Lynx Nine Modular Arm


    Points Reduced to... 35,559


    A box appeared on one of the wooden benches next to me. I didnt open it just yet. Armour next?


    Certainly. Did you like your previous suit?


    Yeah, it was great, still kind of is, I said. I tightened my fist, then let it open. Something similar?


    A slightly upgraded model, perhaps? You wont be doing as much stealth-based activities in this active warzone, I dont believe. We can get you something a little heavier. More armour, with more hardpoints. Built-in jump jets and more power. Next time artillery strikes your position, you wont notice it as much.


    I laughed. Sounds good. I do like my stealth though.


    We can switch out the servos for higher-end, quieter models, the boots can have silent-running treads, and the jump jets can be designed to be whisper-quiet. The armour panels can also have adaptive camouflage, though it wont be as good as a suit entirely designed for stealth.


    Get it, I said. Price isnt much of an issue.


    New Purchase: The Tigers Mane, Mark XXI


    Points Reduced to... 34,159


    The armour that appeared before me wasnt too different to what I had on. It was bigger though, a least half a head taller than what I had on, and a lot bulkier.


    I also purchased some back-mounted guns, as you like them.


    Nice, I said.


    I pulled the release on my own armour and stepped out of it. It was time to gear up.


    Then, back to killing xenos.


    ***