Servos began to spin, and a horn sounded before movement exploded downrange. Shapes and figures, barely visible for a moment, rapidly moved back and forth, although I only caught a momentary glimpse as I was quickly blinded by the barrage of rapid fire.

Natasha firing like an automatic turret, her movements wasting no energy or time, taking the shortest possible path to the next target and moving on fluidly.

It was impressive, honestly.

When the horn sounded again, it was barely audible as my ears were ringing and my vision was clouded by splotches of white, although I was still able to see the perfect score on the digital display above our heads...

“Thanks for the warning.” I said sarcastically to the two Sentires, not in need of ear protection and unconcerned with rapid changes in light.

“You’re welcome.” Natasha replied smugly.

We changed places as she rested the rifle in her arms, folding her hands with a practiced ease.

“Is there anything behind that far wall?” I asked the gunsmith.

“No, just more rock and dirt, the facility goes in the other direction,” He replied puzzled.

“Good.” I said simply and turned to the still smug but now slightly confused Natasha behind me. “I don’t believe my ground units’ competence were ever in question, so let’s test my aerial countermeasures.”

I willed energy into my shadow and widened my domain just a couple of feet as a figure rose from it wearing a bowman’s hood, while clad in a leather and cloth gambeson styled like a medieval archer and in its hand was a monstrous piece of curved bone strung with a dark string leaving a trail of crimson haze whenever it moved.

“First, a demonstration of power.” I said, the shadow responding by drawing an arrow from the quiver at its back and pulling back the bowstring.

The pure potential velocity could be felt in the air like a physical force, and when it loosed its arrow, I was quick to cover my ears and open my mouth as the explosion of power cracked the barrier of sound like a bomb, shattering a few lights above us and cracking the no doubt bulletproof glass the Custodes observed from.

When the chaos cleared, Natasha rose from the floor where she’d sought cover glaring at me, the gunsmith coughed waving away some of the dust kicked up by the rush of air, and as the exhaust fans drew out the particles in the air a hole the size of a torso came into view at the end of the range, continuing on for an undeterminable length as light didn’t reach the end.

“Thanks for the warning.” Natasha repeated sarcastically.

“You’re very welcome.” I replied with a gloating grin.

“Next, rapid fire.” I said with all the glee of a mad bomber as Natasha’s eyes widened and she spun around to the booth beside this one and took cover.

The shadow drew twelve arrows, three between each space of its fingers, the bow contracting and shortening by almost half.

Then I slammed the same button Natasha had hit earlier, and the servos kicked up once again, although the need for a slight bit of maintenance was audible after the blast moments ago.

The shadow drew back the string, but this time the haze moved independently of the black string, the arrow simply passing through it as if not even there, and when loosed, the shadow would draw back yet another hazy phantom string before the previous one finished its travel, layering phantom arrows on top of each other giving the appearance of multiple projectors showing the same, although delayed, image on top of itself.

The sound was bearable this time, only slight cracks as the small and lighter arrows whistled downrange, hitting targets at angles impossible with a conventional firearm.

The horn sounded again and its score was displayed above the booth, a full tenth lower than Natasha’s, but impressive none the less.

Natasha caught my eye to the side, her smile not victorious, but rather deep in thought. She’d seen the amount of shadows I could command at once, and had no doubt made the connection with this new version.

She might beat one, but could she beat ten? Fifty? A hundred?

“And lastly... Destruction.” I said, the bow morphing back into something resembling its previous state, although more manageable.

Natasha didn’t shy away this time as the shadow drew an arrow from its quiver riddled with jagged glowing lines along the length of its shaft and arrowhead.

As it drew back the string and released it, the arrow fired much like the previously less deafening arrows, however as it reached the midpoint towards its target it splintered with the sound of breaking glass, thousands of tiny pieces exploding forward in a cone shaped pattern eviscerating everything in their path before embedding themselves in the walls digging their way out of view.

Natasha looked at me with a conflicted expression as I turned towards the cracked glass pane behind us.

“This is a base unit, one of four specialized in separate areas of combat. Along with this, I have highly customized units which are capable of a far greater performance. An example of this would be the shadow you know as Arkos.” I explained to the stony expressions behind the glass.

There was no hostility in their gazes, but I felt several reevaluate my capabilities in their minds, no doubt silently sharing their thoughts as the one called William leaned forward and spoke as if for the group as a whole.

“We appreciate your support in keeping this valley safe and look forward to cooperating with you.” Then the mic shut off and the group left.

“Huh, haven’t seen that look since I showed them the MP18 submachine gun.” The gunsmith muttered, watching the departing Custodes.

“Bad day?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“The world went from fifteen rounds a minute to five hundred.” He said with a somber nod.

“Gonna be a lot of those days ahead of us. Hopefully, this will give our mindset some time to adapt.” I replied.

“Us, huh? Didn’t really like the thought of our clan supposedly being taken over by a single person... Still don’t, but I’m warming up to having you around. These rings aren’t half bad either.” The gunsmith laughed and walked back to the workshop, picking up Natasha’s rifle along the way.

“Sophia doing okay?” I asked, without turning around.

“She is. Better than okay, actually.” Natasha replied behind me, still looking at the carnage left in the wake of my demonstration.

“Still ain’t gonna let you back in the house, though. She’s stubborn like that.” Natasha said with a laugh and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Figured.” I said, as I turned to face her. She looked worried.

“I’ve fought witches before, other things too... But they don’t fight like this... this is war.” She said, gesturing to the destroyed target range.

“Magic has been a secret since before the industrial revolution. It hasn’t had to go to war and evolve. I wouldn’t be surprised if witches and warlocks are still taught ways to trip a horse on the field of battle.” I replied.

“I guess so.” Natasha smiled dejectedly.

“You guys still got a home-field advantage. You’ve spent a century honing the skills to fight like this.” I said, pointing at the gun range.

“No... I pulled out an automatic rifle from a piece of luggage that I’ll need to carry with me along with ammo, you summoned a piece of artillery, I’ll be damned if you couldn’t pull out another fifty without breaking a sweat, right?” Natasha accused.

“Technology will adapt and so will you. Once the energy in the air reaches a certain point, you’ll adapt too, and yes, they’ll have the same opportunity, but they lack the experience. Look at me, I might be able to field a hundred of those things, but a juiced up vampire with a high-powered rifle at the right moment and its lights out for me.”

“Didn’t take you down last time.” Natasha argued.

“I was still hopped up on a lot of raw energy and the only reason it didn’t was because they used a full metal jacket. Had it been lead, I wouldn’t be standing here.” I explained, leaning against the booth beside her.

We stood in silence for a moment, and I had a feeling our thoughts went to the same place.

“Life is fragile, huh? Even to beings like us.” Natasha muttered.

“That’s why we gotta protect it with everything we got.” I said as I noticed the gunsmith approaching again, this time carrying two large cases the size of himself effortlessly.

“One full combat load out and one discreet, took the liberty of adding in a bit of extra gear with the help of the measurements we had on file, so you better not have put on any weight.” The gunsmith joked, setting down the two boxes.

“Thanks Morris, you think of everything.” Natasha said, giving the man a hug.

“Anytime kiddo.” Morris replied, their relationship seeming closer now that they weren’t being observed.

Natasha’s attention then turned to the cases and her eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas. She was just about to reach out for them when both cases were swallowed by black flames and disappeared.

“Huh, that’s weird... Do your things go up in flames too, Mr. Morris?” I asked, feigning ignorance. Natasha spun to face me as her face reddened.

“Give them back.” She warned.

“What ever do you mea-” I started, but she interrupted me.

“Give. Them. Back.” She ordered sternly.

“Best do as she says boy, I’ve seen what that look leads to.” Morris laughed and quickly fled.

“Easy there. I’m just holding them for you. Think of me as an omnipresent gun locker.” I said, trying to appease her before I piss off yet another Sentire.

But I didn’t expect her to think about it and then nod her approval.

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” Natasha said, all anger evaporated with a worrying speed, and I felt I’d just shot myself in the foot again, so to speak.

***

It wasn’t until late in the day that we got back to my territory, Natasha dragging me along to raid multiple storehouses at the Custodes Facility before letting me leave.

“You know, we should get some vehicles in there too, a couple of off-road ones, maybe a helicopter... What’s your size limit?” She continued, as she had for the past six hours.

Summoning fifty shadows might not make me break a sweat, but creating a dedicated space for, and transporting, a couple of tons of gear and assorted items in rapid succession sure as hell did.

But before I could answer the little gun squirrel hiding away for winter, we both stopped dead in our tracks as we caught a whiff of something absolutely divine.

“Oh, that’s just cruel, even by my standards.” I whined.

“Can’t argue with you there.” Natasha said, walking up beside me. “Want me to sneak one of the drones a plate to bring to you?”

“I wouldn’t mind that.” I said, feeling a ray of sunshine appearing on my day.

“I want a Lockheed.” Natasha added impishly.

“Oh, come on!” I complained as she laughed.

“Well, I gotta go lover’boy,” Natasha said as she started walking towards the cabin, but before she got out of reach, I grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards me, which required a surprising amount of energy enhanced strength to accomplish.

As she lost her balance, she fell against my chest and I caught her; she looked up confused about to say something when I locked lips with her.

Sure, there were easier ways to create a connection to her, but spending a couple of days by myself had made me realize i’d missed her, Sophia too, although I doubt this trick would work on her.

We parted lips, and she looked up at me, vulnerable and entranced, then she gave me a light jab to the ribs and walked off, although I still caught sight of the blushed hue on her cheeks.

“Lockheed, that’s a helicopter, right?” I muttered to no one in particular as my eyes followed the enticing sways of Natasha leaving.

Almost made me wanna attempt a break in... Almost.