Dexter kept his eyes on the descending ships, the flames of the ruined convention reflecting across his lenses.
"…Metal," he said quietly. "Do you know who they are?"
Metal hovered beside him, its optic dimming slightly as if recalling fragmented data. "They are likely the same force that destroyed the pirate vessel that captured me. Their technology signatures are consistent."
Dexter's expression hardened. "So… they followed you here."
"Affirmative."
Above them, the ships slowed, engines humming with controlled precision as they descended. They weren't massive warships, but neither were they small, sleek, purposeful, built for deployment rather than destruction.
One of the ships lowered closer to the ground.
Its hatch opened.
A line of figures marched out.
Monkeys or rather something close to them.
They moved in perfect formation, armored from chest to limb, their suits a fusion of military plating and alien tech. Some carried sleek energy rifles at their sides, while others held bladed weapons that gleamed under the firelight.
They stopped and parted.
From the center, one figure stepped forward.
He walked with unhurried confidence, dressed not in armor but in a sharp, crimson suit that resembled a formal tuxedo. His posture was straight, composed, completely at odds with the chaos around him.
He stopped a few meters away from Dexter and smiled.
"Good evening," he said smoothly. "Allow me to introduce myself."
He gave a small, respectful bow.
"I am Simion. Commander of the Apex Primate Legion… an elite division under the authority of my superior." His eyes flicked briefly to the floating construct beside Dexter.
"And you," he continued, "are in possession of something that does not belong to you."
Simion's gaze sharpened. "The Ultralink."
A small pause.
"I would advise you to hand it over."
Dexter crossed his arms slightly. "…I don't think I can do that."
Simion sighed faintly, almost disappointed. "Then… pardon me for my rudeness."
His hand lifted. A weapon slid seamlessly into his palm and fired.
FWOOM.
Dexter's mind reacted instantly. His body didn't. The shot was too fast but before it could hit a thin, glowing barrier snapped into existence in front of him, expanding outward from Metal in a split second.
The blast struck it and dispersed.
Simion's smile widened slightly.
"…A remarkable tool." He lowered his hand… then casually waved it forward.
The army moved.
They advanced in perfect sync.
Dexter exhaled slowly.
"…Alright." Dexter raised his wrist. "Let's see what you can really do."
Metal drifted closer and then Dexter tapped the limiter.
White and red nanotech surged outward in liquid streams, consuming his clothes and forming over his body in seconds. Plates of sleek alien alloy snapped into place, locking together with precise mechanical clicks. Crimson energy pulsed along the seams, sharper, brighter, more dangerous.
A helmet sealed over his head.
[Scanning Hostiles.]
Red markers locked onto the advancing troops.
The display zoomed in.
[Designation: Humanzee.]
[Classification: Bio-engineered primate soldier.]
[Genetic Composition: Primate base genome + human DNA integration + mutagenic catalyst.]
[Threat Level: High.]
Simion raised a brow, clearly intrigued.
"…So you've already bonded with it," he murmured.
Then he smiled again. "No matter. We will retrieve it all the same."
Dexter didn't respond.
He simply stood there, armor gleaming under the firelight, Arcee towering behind him, the burning wreckage framing them both.
For a moment…
It looked like a last stand.
Simion's smile widened slightly, almost approving.
"Such resolve."
Then—
Arcee moved.
Her form shifted instantly, metal folding and compressing as she transformed into her motorcycle mode in a smooth, fluid motion right behind Dexter.
Before anyone could react, Dexter turned and mounted.
The engine roared to life.
BRROOMMM!!
And then he accelerated straight past them. Gone in a blur of speed.
The entire formation paused as simion blinked.
"…He ran?"
____
Wind tore past as Arcee sped through the streets, flames and smoke fading behind them.
Metal hovered alongside, clearly confused. "…We are retreating?"
"Yes," Dexter replied calmly.
"But why?"
Dexter smirked beneath the helmet. "I'm not stupid enough to fight an army alone. Engaging now would be inefficient. I prefer outcomes… not risks"
Arcee weaved through debris at high speed as he continued.
"Besides…"
His eyes flicked briefly toward the city skyline.
"I'm not planning to fight them alone… I'm just buying time."