I fired my cybernetic wrist at Valeon’s holster, knocking the gun-free. It scrapped across the surface before Valeon could realise.

Valeon spun reacting without notice, sinking his foot in my chest in retaliation, which pushed me against Elhisia’s bed. A creak groaned from the wheels as it slid back.

I kicked myself only to meet a fist to my jaw, which sent me back to my knees. I swept my left leg, but Valeon danced back, then spun into me with a kick to my right side.

I blocked it, barely, but the momentum from his kick was so venomous it sent me to the floor, which made my brain shake and water trick down my eye.

It was like fighting a god damn tiger. Once I thought I had some reprieve, he didn’t allow me to get back up to find my rhythm. He has advanced training I muttered as I blocked three more kicks.

Valeon feinted right as I kept guarding my left, but skip back, then drilled his foot into my chest, sending me flying over Elhisia’s bed.

As I floated in the air, I could hear the sonogram beeping below me, indicating Elhisia’s heartbeat. I was not only flustered and frustrated but don’t right angry.

I left home to get credits, only to chase a faux kidnapping to return home to my wife and daughter were taken from me. The girl that faked her kidnapping is below me, in a coma, whilst I fight the man that killed her people in the waste.

If my life wasn’t shit, then surely I gotta sink any deeper into it.

“You know,” Valeon said, voice booming as he felt confident. “It’s been a while since I got a proper workout. You’re not bad, but you’re not good as Rikor. I’m interested to see how you won. No. You won because of that wrist of yours. No…not the wrist, knife. His chest cavity was caved in, which makes me believe there’s a knife in there. Let’s see how close you can get to me…Cypher.”

I guess my element of surprise was gone. I thought ruefully.

“We’re making our way to the fifth floor, Security Room will be breached, not sure how that’ll go, but hope Hexan and Cypher are ready. We can’t guarantee anything. “ Naedon whispered.

I hit the ground skating and the wall with a loud boom. Rikor this time, didn’t charge towards me, but stepped in front of me, blocking Elhisia. He waved his palms at me, gesturing me to attack and I god damn well planned to obliged him to it!

Beads of sweat trickled down my brow as I eyed Valeon. The man wasn’t taller than me, but I could tell he knew his body. I charged towards him, feinting left, then skipping back hoping he’d leave his right side open. He didn’t, but stepped forward, then dressed back, testing me. But I didn’t move a muscle doe.

I shifted to my left, keeping my hands up, ensuring the distance between us was out of his reach, but on my second step, he charged towards me like a fly. I tried to feint right, but he motioned to my right, sending a punch into my right side.

The blow winded me, and I retaliated, with a wild punch, which made him dance back. He stepped in, spinning and shifting right into the chest and flooring me instantly. “Get up get up get up! Don’t make this easy for me!” He growled. “I have to enjoy this!”

The glassy texture of the tiles was frosted and stole warmth from my hands as I got back up. I rolled my neck, feeling as my jaw and chest throbbed profusely.

Valeon began slowly approaching, using his heels, inching closer. I released a feint of a kick, and dressed back, hoping he’d take the bait. He dashed forward, arms raised to block.

I lowered my leg, sidestepping and buried my hand into his chest, but because my angle was poor, it grazed past him and he slapped the bottom of my jaw, sending me to the ground. Again.

“Is this it?” He asked, walking over to Elhisia’s body. “You got the best of Rikor? In fucking sand? Like this?”

I scoffed a laugh, wiping the blood away from my mouth, then spat a mouthful that pooled within a second. I stimulated my SMB, recalling my wrist and trained Rikor’s pistol right back at him.

“No,” I said breathing heavily. “I got him like this. My cybernetic wrist snapped into place, holding Valeon’s gun. The frantic expression his eyes showed made me smile bitterly. It was unexpected but well planned.

I fired a bullet into the middle of the bastard’s skull, watching brain matter and blood spill onto the floor and white walls like a water fountain. “So much for showing me what’ll happen.”

I walked over to Valeon’s body, looking at his shocked expression. I wasn’t one to goad, but for the love of God. When I get my hands on Akatani, it’s gonna be a lot worst than this.

“We have a problem,” I said through the comms. “I just killed Valeon, and I believe everyone heard the shot.”

“No shit Cypher, we heard,” Stelig said.

A collective groan fluttered through the comms, indicating I’d fucked up the plan. “I’m on the eastern part of the building. They have Elhisia attached to some devices here.”

“Medical induced coma?” Naedon asked.

“Not sure.”

“Fuck!”

“We’re on the sixth floor and just down three bodyguards, they’re searching for you!”

“Damn it!”

I turned on my X-Ray sight and watched as guards from out began converging on the building. Men on the inside, which I counter was twenty-five began sweeping through the building. “Between the sixth and tenth floor, twenty-five men.”

“Where are you?”

“8th floor…I think.”

“Which floor is the Commissioner?”

“6th.”

“I’ll get her!” Tryzer said.

“We’re coming Cypher, we just have to sweep the floor. We can’t do anything about the ones above you. How much between the 6th to 8th floor?”

“Fifteen men, the least.”

“Ten from above.”

“Don’t worry about me, I can hunker down myself for now…”

An array of bullets echoed through comms, followed by the sound of colourful language. I pushed Elhisia’s bed from out of them and into the uppermost corner of the room, then slam the door shut.

“HEXAN ACQUIRED!”

“TWO DOWN!” Stelig shouted.

“WATCH YOUR THREE…THEY’RE FLANKING.”

“RYNORD BEHIND YOU.!”

Two quick shots rumbled, then a loud groan, then a loud boom. Listening to the battle of the comms was not something I was used to, nor did I plan to engage in for too long.

Three men appeared within my peripheral field of vision, creeping down the corridor that led Elhisia’s room. I retrieved a clip from Valeon’s corpse, then shoved it in my pocket.

There was no cover for me to use, so I took the initiative and lay as flat as possible on the ground lying a few feet from Valeon, but ensuring I could see the door.

The door slashed open, and vapour flooded outside as warmth tried to rush into the room. The gunfire from down below came through like waves from the now deserted beach, chaotic as ever.

Speechlessness was written across the face of Valeon’s as they dropped their weapons, shocked from the sight of their boss’ leaking head. That was enough for me, because I shot through more bullets through their skulls, just to coincide with their boss.

“we’re pinned down Cypher, we can’t get to you!” Stelig growled.

“Fine, Then I’ll come to you!” I snapped

I unhooked Elhisia from the machines and slung her over my shoulder. I huffed over the dead bodies and crept down the staircase. Heading towards the ‘party.’ Using my X-Ray vision to ensure I could see around the corners.

“HEXAN’S RECOVERED!” Tryzer barked through the comms.

“HEAD BACK TO THE SECURITY ROOM FEED US THESE PIECES OF SHITS LOCATION” Naedon growled. “I’M NOT SURE HOW MUCH MEN WILL STORM THROUGH, BUT CYPHER…YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN FOR NOW.”

“GOT IT!” I answered

I went down the spiralling stairs, clumsy as ever. Elhisia wasn’t light and I’m sure she wouldn’t have liked me to say that out loud.

The clattering sound of tiles groaned above me, whilst feet scampered across to my left. I dropped Elhisia on the ground, firing two bullets as five men appeared around the corner.

The bullets went through two men’s throats and one in the other in his head. The luxury for me to fire at their chest wasn’t there, because more than likely their suits had bulletproof plates within them.

I held in that position for a minute, watching for more men to come, but pushed on down once I confirmed no one was coming and finally made my way to the patio upstairs.

Bullets and rustling grass were all I heard the moment I got to the patio. I couldn’t help but embrace it as I shot someone else in their neck, watching them fall to the ground hoping to stop the blood.

“I’m here!” I shouted, peaking over the staircase watching the firefight take place.

“ABOUT TIME YOU GET HERE!” Naedon shouted.