Gabi Analyzed the situation in his mind. "Hostile count: 7, Threat Leve: Medium, Synapse Users: Negative, Win Probability: Guaranteed."
Mark and Aiko lunge towards the ringleaders after waiting for them to miss their gun shots.
BOOM! Gabi uses his flintlock to shoot one of the ring leaders in the head, killing the person, then hides behind cover.
Mark pulls out a dagger and trades hits with the mans sword blow after blow, displaying his overwhelming strength and combat prowess.
2 other men try to pin down mark which is Mark is able to resist, and beat the hell out of them. Aiko picks out the ring leaders one by one while Mark distracts them all.
Gabi takes another shot to kill another ring leader.
Mark feints another dagger attack, provoking a parry from one of the attackers, then pulls put his blunderbuss and obliterates the mans chest.
The two other remaining ring leaders run away, not before saying "THE KEEPERS ARE GONNA KILL YOU ALL!!" BANG! and one is shot down by Gabi, only leaving one ring leader.
"You shouldn't have left one alive, its gonna cause trouble" Said Gabi.
"Bloke, what the hell was I supposed to do? There was like 3 men on me."
"So what are we supposed to do now? Report back to Detective Klein? Go back up and tell those white men in cloaks?" - Gabi
"They're called Guardians and no, lets meet up with Klein first, they are definitely going to get more people, and stronger people to kill us." - Mark
Two men in Overwatch Uniform rush towards the group, the group, vigilant as ever, readies their weapons. "HEY! ITS US!" - Klein
The group relaxes, Klein and Kurt stops infront of them to catch his breath. "Huff, Huff".
"I came here as soon as I saw your flare. What happened?" Klein said concerningly
"A bunch of chaps just came and tried to mess us up. We got them running away, kill em all but one." - Mark
"YOU LEFT ONE??!" - Kurt
"Lets leave as soon as possible, I got what I needed anyway. Lets go." Klein said in a hurried pace.
"Should we ask the Guardians to raid this place?" Gabi inquired.
"Yes, we can gain more intel if we do a full sweep of the damn city." - Kurt
The squad converses as they leave the city and move back up towards the upper civilization, only to find the vehicle they used to arrive here is missing.
"Where's that automobile thingy?" - Aiko said curiously.
"Damn, some random chap probably stole the thing. Shit why didn't I think of that..." - A dissapointed Klein responds.
...
"You guys seem like you're in quite a situation!" The cloaked man said in a jokingly way.
"Ah! Sorry I couldn't introduce myself.. Haha! My name's Ardin. Corporal Ardin. Get on! Ill bring you where you need to be."
"Oh thank the deities! Thanks for your help! We just lost our automobile.. Can you bring us to the Private Overwatch Safehouse in Farise?" Gabi gladly stated.
"We don't have time to go home and sit around and rest you dumbass, we need to raid TODAY or else they're all gonna escape. They literally saw us there." - Klein
"Corporal Ardin. We found an entire illegal city under this one, you can get in using the warehouse. Can we come help you raid it since there may be intel we need from the evidence collected in raiding the city?"
"An underground city!! Wow who could've known?? That's amazing man.. Sure I'll tell Colonel Starnit about it!" The man said, as if amazed of the city with no concern of the illegal activities..
"Just hurry up, bring about 12 people here so we can raid asap. We will standby here."
"Will do!" - Corporal Ardin
"Right then! Illegal underground city, eh? Sounds like a party!" He spun on his heel. "Stay put, boys and girls. I'll round up the cavalry."
He jogged back towards the warehouse entrance, whistling a jaunty tune. Gabi, Mark, Aiko, Klein, and Kurt watched him go. And the surviving ringleader's words... "The Keepers." Another name.
Ardin returned surprisingly quickly, leading a group of about a dozen figures. They wore similar white cloaked uniforms and coats to Ardin, moving with a casual, almost unnerving confidence. These were the Guardians.
"Alright team!" Ardin announced, clapping his hands together. "Listen up! Looks like we're taking a field trip downstairs! This is Detective Klein's crew."
He gestured vaguely at Gabi and his squad. "They found the place. They're riding along for cleanup and intel." He turned back to his Guardians. "Most of the rats probably scattered after the little shindig up here, but their nest needs cleaning out. Colonel's orders are minimal fuss, maximum results."
He tossed a bundle of dark fabric towards Klein. "Here. Gas masks. Put 'em on. There's one of theirs – uses chemicals. Nasty stuff. Can melt your insides if you breathe it in."
Klein caught the bundle, his expression hardening. "Chemicals? What kind of Synapse is that?"
Ardin shrugged, pulling a mask over his own cheerfully indifferent face. "Ah, who knows? Doesn't match the standard Seven. Prob'ly another weird Oath-user. Or maybe they just brew the stuff the old-fashioned way and have a Synapse user pump it out. Doesn't matter. Mask works. Don't take it off."
The squad exchanged uneasy glances but began pulling on the gas masks. The world took on a slightly distorted, rubbery quality, and breathing became a muffled effort. Gabi adjusted his, the smell of rubber strong in his nostrils.
Gas mask: Equipped. Function: Air filtration. Duration: Standard operational, roughly 8 hours. Vulnerability: Physical damage to mask seal. His mind, even behind the filter, ran its familiar checks.
"Right! Tactical approach!" Ardin's voice was muffled through the mask but still cheerful. "Entry point's the warehouse loading dock. We'll go in in three teams. Alpha Team, you're with me, clearing the main route. Bravo Team, you're flanking left with Kaporal Enya."
He gestured towards a stern-looking Guardian woman who gave a brief, sharp nod. "Charlie Team, you're with Detective Klein, flanking right. Stick to the plan, be efficient. Any questions? No? Fantastic! Let's go!"
They split up, the Guardians moving with fluid, disciplined efficiency that belied Ardin's casual demeanor. Gabi, Klein, Kurt, Mark, and Aiko formed Charlie Team, following Klein's lead as they approached a secondary entrance near the main loading dock – a heavy metal door that seemed to sink into the ground.
Klein gave a signal, and one of the Guardians accompanying them, a muscular man with glowing hands, melted the lock with a controlled burst of heat. The door swung inward, revealing a steep, dark stairwell descending into cool, damp air.
They moved down the stairs cautiously, weapons ready. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of stale water, refuse. The lingering chemical smell Ardin had warned about.
"Smells like victory," Mark muttered, his voice flat through the mask.
Environment: Subterranean urban. Air Quality: Hazardous (Chemical Agent confirmed). Visibility: Low (Dust/Particulate from Chemical Agent). Hostile Presence: High Probability. Gabi logged the internal data as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
They emerged into a dimly lit cavern that opened into a sprawling underground city. Buildings made of repurposed scrap metal, concrete rubble, and salvaged materials stretched into the distance. But this wasn't a ghost town of fleeing criminals.
They were met with resistance immediately. Barricades were hastily erected across the main thoroughfares, defended by lines of armed men – not the ragtag thugs from the streets above, but grim-faced individuals in patched armor, clutching rifles and blades.
They were fewer than Gabi might have expected for an entire city, but they were dug in and ready to fight. Most criminals had evacuated, leaving behind a dedicated, well-armed rear guard.
"Contact!" Klein yelled, already aiming his wrist contraption.
Hostiles: Confirmed. Numbers: 25?+, well-armed. Disposition: Defensive, entrenched. Threat Level: High (Prepared Resistance).
The battle erupted. Gunfire echoed deafeningly in the confined space.
"Klein!" Aiko shouted, already raising her repeater rifle. She squeezed the trigger, sending a burst of fire towards a group behind a barricade.
Aiko's ability: Molecular Destabilization (Utility/Area of Effect). Application: Rapid crumbling of inorganic matter (barricades). Mental Command Sequence: Identify material type -> Specify decay rate -> Apply Resonance trigger.
Aiko focused, her hands trembling slightly under the coat, aiming her will at the metal and concrete of the barricade. A section of it shimmered, then imploded inwards, turning to dust and creating a gap for suppressing fire.
Mark, ignoring the gunfire, charged the nearest barricade, dagger in hand. A man rushed at him with a sword. Mark met the attack head-on, his incredible physical strength allowing him to deflect the blow with his dagger and punch the attacker back with brutal force.
Mark's ability: Physical Enhancement (Possible Synapse Passive/Booster, or inherent trait). Application: Superhuman Strength, Resilience. Mental State: Aggressive focus, disregard for personal safety.
From the main route, where Alpha Team was pushing, a roar went up. "CLEARING THE WAY!" A Guardian, his body wreathed in intense heat, charged forward, melting barricades and attackers alike with gouts of fire.
Guardian ability: Pyrokinesis (Likely Apoy/Harmonizer variant). Application: High-temperature energy projection, area denial. Gabi analyzed the entire situation and everyone involved.
The Guardian internally prepares. Mental Command Sequence: Isolate oxygen -> Raise thermal intensity -> Shape flame -> Project vector.
Multiple flames engulf the battlefield. Supressing the defenses and causing burns.
Then, a thick, greenish gas began to seep from vents and canisters scattered behind the defenders' lines, quickly filling sections of the streets not covered by the Guardian fire user.
"MASK ON!" Kurt roared, his voice tight. He extended a hand towards the incoming gas, his expression one of intense concentration. The air visibly thickened in front of him, shimmering like a heat haze but dense enough to resist the gas.
Kurt's ability: Air Density Manipulation (Quantum Synapse). Application: Projectile/Area Barrier, Gas Filtration. Mental Command Sequence: Identify target volume (air) -> Specify density coefficient -> Apply Resonance trigger -> Maintain focus. Kurt strained, keeping the invisible barrier in place to protect their flank from the spreading chemical agent.
Across the way, another Guardian unleashed their ability – a wave of concussive force that sent defenders flying and structures collapsing inwards.
Guardian ability: Concussive Force (Likely Vector/Kinetical variant). Application: Area crowd control, structural demolition. Mental Command Sequence: Accumulate kinetic energy -> Focus release point -> Apply Resonance trigger -> Disperse vector.
Gabi, taking cover behind a pile of rubble, reloaded his flintlock. He peered through the distorted view of his gas mask, eyes scanning the chaotic scene. His analytical mind was working overtime, processing the new Synapse abilities, the enemy's defensive layout, the movements of his allies.
Combatants: Allied (Squad 7 + Guardians) vs. Hostiles (Rear Guard). Objective: Neutralize Resistance, Secure City. Variables: Chemical Agent, Unknown Enemy Abilities, Potential Traps. Opportunity: Exploit gaps created by Guardian abilities. Threat: Concentrated Fire, Chemical Agent, Possible Reinforcements.
He spotted a defender trying to flank Kurt's position. Raised his flintlock. Target: Humanoid (Hostile). Range: Medium. Trajectory: Standard. Windage: None (Subterranean). Lead: Minimal (Static Target). He took the shot.
BANG!
The defender crumpled. One less threat to Kurt. Gabi slid back into cover. This wasn't his preferred fight – no room to analyze complex movements, just chaotic close-quarters combat obscured by thick fog. But he could still contribute. He could still analyze the situation, identify targets, and use his basic training.
Even as a Null, wearing a mask, surrounded by the terrifying power of Synapse users and lethal technology and physical monsters, he could still be a variable. A deadly variable.
Multiple defenders of the city gasp desperately, their bodies weakening from the chemicals.