“User condition critical, medical attention advised.”

I ignored the repeated warning. It all seemed a blur. The sun rose without notice and again the dust cloud ahead closed in. They’d driven for at least twenty mega cycles straight, speaking volumes about the commitment of Titans Wrath members. More so, the stranger.

I bit hard on the inside of my cheek to keep a level head. Even under the influence of the combat enhancement, my body protested every movement. I forced myself past it. I was close. The rear most of the heathens was in clear view. And at the lead of the party, they’d closed the gap on the girl. Even now, it appeared they were attempting to disable her vehicle. There was a rapid string of actions and the front three by-wheels all crashed into a pile, hers included. Shit!

The entire line of pursuers stopped and circled around the wreck. Already at top speed, I willed the machine to go faster. The ground was flat brown-orange and sandy. The remnants of an ancient road poked through in jagged shards, creating dangerous traps. Come on, come on! I thought, swerving around them. There was a flurry of movement, meaning the battle had begun.

Finally, I made it. Unlike before, the group noticed my approach. Many trained weapons on me and sent a blistering array of light bolts. None hitting my body directly, but several light beams struck my vehicle. The motor released a sick moan. Hot sparks spewed as my travel speed slowed. It didn’t matter. “HAG, double excel.” The supplementary high hit me as I barreled from my seat to the ground. I darted towards the aggressors, who fired no additional shots. It was a mystery what Owls promised to keep them this committed to delivering us alive.

I approached without slowing. My first opponent, a tall figure with the trademark yellow pants, a reflector vest and a blue stripped mask. Dodging a long-bladed knife swung at my chest, I drove my boot hard against the attacker’s knee. As he crumpled over, I hurled a fist up to meet his chin, leaving him limp.

There was an abrupt slam at my back, knocking me forward. I spun to see a greasy faced man in yellow and blue, holding a thick club shaped object. His eyes narrowed as he swung again. This time, I sidestepped the attack, snatching his wrist and squeezing. The bones gave in my grip. A blow to his cheek cut his yowl short, and he joined his companion on the sandy ground.

The green haired girl skillfully drove back the hoard. Again, the Heathens stabbed at her with spears, keeping their distance. Her orange eyes were ablaze and focused. Her lean body threw punches and kicks so fast it blurred, then dodged attack after attack. She moved inside, past the tip of a thrusted pole and kicked high. Her boot contacted the wielder’s mask and their head spun unnaturally and the corps withered to the mearth. The girl reached for the felled enemy’s weapon but an all out assault forced her back.

We shortened the mobs numbers by three, then four. I brought down a fifth Heathen before receiving another wound to my right thigh. I hoped it was superficial despite the pain breaking through the HAG’s enhancements. The girl spared a glance my way, but I didn’t catch her expression before being drawn back to my own fight.

An unmasked man swung a spear wildly around. Even with combat enhancement and double excel, my movements were sluggish and sweat dripped from my chin. My lungs burned, but I wouldn’t be brought down now. I kicked up with my left leg, deliberately dragging my boot sole pulling a spray of sand with the movement. The enemy grimaced and ducked his eyes. With the distraction, I grabbed the collar of his yellow jacket and pulled down while bringing my knee up to collide with his nose. Another one down.

Wheezing and staggering, I readied for more combat. But to my surprise, there were only two enemies standing. The girl dispatched more of them in short order. One that remained had distanced themselves from us. The other skillfully fought off the now attacking green haired girl, despite her physical prowess.

“HAG at six percent. Excel feature unsustainable. Combat enhancement will remain active for 3 more cycles.” A slight draining sensation washed over me as the device reduced its assistance.

It would be fine. We could easily overtake the remaining two before my time was up. And if I got involved, perhaps they didn’t need to meet death. Apparently, all the girl’s foes’ life functions had ended upon her victory. I worked around one of the crashed by-wheels, headed to assist her. Movement caught my eye and my hope foundered. The Heathen that had moved off held a long, thin tube to their lips. They have a dart shooter! “No, no,” I said, suddenly angry that the HAG was letting me down. I couldn’t stop the dart without more speed.

The girl ran a spear into her last opponent, their skill not enough to overpower her. At that moment, everything slowed. A puff of red left the end of the Heathen’s tube, flew straight and sank into the girl’s shoulder. She yipped and spun, storming towards the dart’s origin. Only a few steps in, she staggered and dropped to one knee. Wobbly, she tried to stand again and again, with no success. I need to get to her!

I reached the girl just after the Heathen, who yanked her to her feet. Wrapping a yellow clad arm around the girl’s neck, with the other ripping off a blue striped half mask. Last, she pulled a blaster pistol and placed it against the girl’s temple. Automatically, I drew the contender and shakily took aim, analyzing the enemy. No, that can’t be!

Ratty brown hair hung loose around a weathered feminine face. Recognition instantly filled me with dread. The sniper from Starlight Rise. Her expression was fierce as she jerked the girl around, keeping her positioned between us. I continued to adjust, training the barrel on her form. I couldn’t believe this was happening. This shouldn’t have happened.

“HAG organics 3 percent. Combat enhance will remain active for one cycle. User condition critical, medical attention advised.”

Neither I nor the Heathen acknowledged the warning. Our eyes never breaking from each other. The girl mumbled, attempting to pull loose from her captor.

“let her go!” I spoke, my voice hollow. “Owls wants us alive, right? You don’t want to kill her.”

“I warned you, boy! I’ll end you both, I care not! No going back for me now!”

My head swam as I tried to think of a solution. Breathing seemed to burn my lips, and the shrill ringing in my ears made it hard to focus. This woman looked wild with desperation. She spastically scanned around, and her gaze only left me for moments at a time. It’s not a matter of if she shoots her, once she’s passed me, she will. The revelation felt heavy in my chest. There is no way out of this. A light clicking sounded as I drew the contender’s hammer back.

The woman took a hard step forward, keeping the girl close. “Move aside, Or I slaughter you first!” She said, taking another step.

“I would kill you even now, boy.”

“Heathens will kill ya if ya don’t kill them!”

“Stop Ex, you don’t want to kill anyone, no matter what.”

The memories were hard to control. They seemed to loop around and around. Repeating what I’d been told so many times and so long ago.

“I’ll kill you and this whore! Move, boy!” she stepped again.

Time stopped. No sound, no voices. There were loose hairs stuck to the woman’s slick forehead. This oddly stood out to me, so I aimed there. “I believe you.” I whispered. BOOM.

“HAG organics depleted. Augmentation terminated. User condition crit-.” The voice was far away. As though at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

I feel so numb. Am I asleep? There is no question she is dead. I’m as much a monster as the rest of them. Damn this place, the whole planet.