Kidisti features creased as the gunshot let out--he knew it was irrational to care, but there was still something unnerving about watching his companion die. It stopped him, for a moment, from realising he didn't have to wait to cut it out himself, though. And after a paused, he grabbed a second pair of cutters from the toolbox he'd started with. He dropped it beside himself.
Kidisti to Gryff wrote:Drag him into a covered area in the target carriage, and cut it out yourself. Quicker that way.
Gryff shot Grayden a single time through the head with the submachine gun, a few seconds later when they went to retrieve the guard's heavy pistol, they noticed he'd already passed out. If he was still alive or not was a different matter, Gryff didn't bother checking. Instead they took the gun and dragged Grayden into the shell storage car.
Gryff kept their eyes on both doors while Kidisti continued cutting, knowing more guards lay in each direction. The doctor was sweating the whole time, as nervous as he'd probably been since The Collapse of 2113. With only a person he didn't even consider to be a person to protect him. After a couple of minutes a pair of guards both armed with submachine guns appeared at the SecHub doorway. They must have been the duo sent after Cid. "Damnit!" one exclaimed. They raised their guns right as the cars detached, at last Kidisti had finished cutting.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Gryff took cover, and leveled the SMG in the guards' direction, but didn't fire. "You've already lost! Just walk away and tend to your fellow officers, you might save a few sleeves! Grace got it pretty bad!" Their tone wasn't one of mocking or cruelty, but simple matter of fact.
Gryff wrote:>Kidisti, you got a weapon? We've still got a guy coming from the direction of the engine
>You already cut the connector between us and the front?
The pair of guards opened fire, their guns in full auto mode. Fortunately both Gryff and Kidisti had scooted behind cover and the distance between the carriages, currently a third of a meter, was growing rapidly.
However given that the train was still traveling forward, Gryff could correctly conclude that Kidisti hadn't yet disconnected them from the front carriage.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Kidisti, weapon in one hand, and bolt cutters in the other, began to move towards the other side of the carriage. He kept the aim of his weapon elevated, anticipating the arrival of the final guard. He hugged as close to cover as he could on his way there. If he made it to the door, he would lean up against it, using it for cover, and peer out into the next carriage.
"Get Grayden's greybox into one of the shell's, quickly. Then yous can go hunting while I finish cutting."
Kidisti was able to make his way over to the far door, ever so slowly and hid in the doorway, weary of the guard he knew remained ahead of them.
After about 10 seconds the shooting died down, after another 15 seconds Gryff looked out and could tell they'd gained enough ground on the carriages behind them that they were in the clear. From those guards at least, there was still the one guard up ahead and allegedly, reinforcements inbound by VTOL.
Both Kidisti and Gryff got a message from Mark.
Mark wrote:You still alive?
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Gryff looked ahead to the next carriage, also storage for various crates. They couldn't see anyone in the room. But plenty of crates were large enough to hide behind, so the AGI couldn't be sure it was actually empty.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
As Gryff ran to cover a guard in full armor poked up from behind a crate in the middle of the carriage and opened fire. Three bullets, none of them hitting Gryff themself but the surrogate could hear one whiz right past their ear. Gryff leapt behind the crate, into cover. Meanwhile Kidisti looking out saw the guard duck back down, hiding behind the crate once more.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Gryff to Kidisti wrote:>Get to cutting, I'll take him down
Gryff assumed a firing position behind the crate, both hands gripping the heavy pistol. If the guard popped out of cover, Gryff would aim for the head.
Hidden:
If the crate is low enough to allow it, Gryff'll have their elbows propped up on it. Good for stability. Otherwise, just...yknow, whatever can be managed. Out to the side.
Before they got the chance to shoot, Gryff saw the guard toss something over the crate, the metal cylinder clanked off the ground next to them.
White smoke began to shoot out of the grenade. It wasn't tear gas, thankfully, but it did cover the entrance to the target carriage in a thick obfuscating smoke.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Kidisti backed out away from the entrance into the other carraige, taking, if he could, a good six feet of distance, before raising his gun to point at it.
He'd look to open fire as soon as he saw the enemy emerge from the smoke.
Gryff's vision was quickly heavily obscured by the smoke grenade next to them. Their refusal to move left them blind and caught off guard when the guard charged and jumped the crate, tackling Gryff to the ground. The pair slammed onto the metal floor, the guard on top. Both were wearing the same armor and Gryff could see a heavy pistol in the guard's hand. The guard moved, trying to push their gun up against Gryff's head.
Kidisti could hear a struggle taking place, but couldn't see the pair due to the smoke.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Gryff
Grunting from the impact, Gryff fired off a message to Kidisti.
Gryff wrote:>Fire some rounds in here, aim low-ish, or we're [&@%!]
Gryff used both hands to grab the guard's wrist--both to keep the pistol aimed away from themself, and hopefully, to keep the guard in place between Gryff and Kidisti's bullets, if the guy would listen. Even if one this guard catches just one bullet, that might be enough.
Kidisti fired three shots and at least one hit the guard in the side of the torso as they gave out a pained grunt from inside the smoke.
This was also enough to give Gryff the upperhand in their struggle as they manged to pull the weapon from the guard's hand while the two were still lying on the ground.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
Gryff took aim with the snatched pistol and unloaded on the guard, aiming center of mass. Your body armour won't count for [&@%!] after it's been riddled.
Hidden:
Or will it? I imagine standard issue body armour in this world to be, at most, an advanced sort of kevlar. Good for taking one or two shots before the fiber weave is busted, and you might as well just be wearing denim for all the good it'll do at that point.
Kidisti took a large breath, adrenaline rushing through his body once again as his shaking arm removed the aim of his weapon from the struggle--or where he believed the struggle was. His breathing became somewhat more rapid as his fire was held--he'd shot a man, another man: it was something he knew he might have to do coming into this, but it was still a shock to his system.
Then he caught himself, restoring the aim to where he thought the pair were. He could do this. He could shoot again if needs be.
Gryff unloaded several rounds into the guard until they stopped moving altogether. With all resistance seemingly dealt with, they returned to the target carriage and Kidisti finished the cutting, finally disconnecting the target carriage from the rest of the train, leaving the pair alone with Grayden's corpse, the unconscious guard and numerous shells awaiting delivery.
It seemed all there was left to do was call the VTOL to come pick them up. Literally.
So we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally? The last thing you never see
"That got messy...but you did good." Gryff said to Kidisti, as though it was any other job.
They looked down at Grayden...no, his corpse, an empty shell. "I suppose we...I should get him out." Gryff took up a cutter, and began to carefully remove Grayden's box. If Gryff had to extract a bunch of surrounding bone and tissue to avoid potential damage to the box, so be it.
Kidisti was silent for a few moments, still catching his breath--he had holstered the weapon, his right arm now firmly clamped against the wound he had endured. "Where did you learn to do this?" He almost added 'bot' but figured better of it. He also wasn't sure whether he meant the breaking-and-entering aspect or perfecting not giving a [&@%!] that they'd probably wasted a bunch of people.
Kidisti looked down at the guard he had knocked unconscious--unconscious, he reminded himself--before dragging his gaze back to Grayden.
"Poor guy," he shook his head as the Greybox was removed--visceral as that might have been--remembering the savvy mercs last few moments.
He wondered how he would have reacted if it had been him.
