Veyra patted a heavy satchel. "Got a few parts. Shock equipment, bullets, and some... random bits." She smirked. "Never know what you'll need."
She turned and started back toward the airship, breaking into a brisk pace that Saber matched with a ground-eating lope.
the sand storm started too calm down
MEANWHILE
Raiji sat alone at the inn's bar, his posture rigid. His eyes scanned the empty room.
RAIJI: (To himself, a low mutter) "Where is everybody? I really should call Veyra."
The innkeeper, Sahara, placed a frosted soda and a plate of warm food in front of him with a gentle clink.
SAHARA: (Her voice kind and calm) "Maybe they're busy with something."
RAIJI: "Maybe."
He pulled out his comm device and dialed Veyra. She picked up after two rings.
RAIJI: "So. Where are you? I am ready to attack their base."
VEYRA: (Voice crackling slightly over the comm, background noise of wind and footsteps) "I am not ready yet. Need a few upgrades to my power suit. Stand by."
AT THE AIRSHIP
Titan worked with methodical precision, removing the old, cracked fuel tank from the Reaper's underbelly and installing the reinforced replacement.
TITAN: (Grunting with effort) "So, Kiro. Nice ship. Must be new. Ever thought of getting out of the Frontier?"
KIRO: (Leaning against a landing strut) "I did. That was the original plan. But first, explore out here, then head out. Got shot down instead. Fuel tank damage. New one replaces the old one. Long story."
TITAN: "Right." He heaved the old tank aside with a dull clang. "So, are you going to keep that owl?"
KIRO: "Can't keep it. Can't even keep Saber. No space."
TITAN: Wiped his brow, considering. "Maybe I can take them both in. For now. Got room in the back."
KIRO: A look of genuine relief crossed his face. "That would be great. Thanks."
VEYRA: (Arriving, voice sharp with purpose) "Hello! Status?"
TITAN: "Fuel tank's fixed."
VEYRA: "All fixed? As good as new?"
TITAN: (Slapping the new tank proudly) "Better than new."
Without another word, Veyra ducked into the ship's open hatch, immediately getting to work on her power suit's open panels, tools already in hand.
she puts the suit in cube off her body her clouths remain on the jacket and jeans.
then turn keep back to suit on armour stand too matains on it.
she start too look through data and see a empty spot the writs and ankle then start working
The sound of welding and frantic knocking came from behind a tarp.
KIRO: "She must be working on that suit."
TITAN: "A suit? A powered suit? Never saw one up close before."
KIRO: "Some sort of experimental one."
TITAN: "There are a lot of advanced suits out there now. Technology trying to keep up with the Gifted."
KIRO: "Like me? That must be cool."
TITAN: (Scratching his chin) "Come to think of it, I saw a bulky one once. But from a far. They were like early prototypes, maybe ten years back. They only had big, clunky versions then."
The tarp was thrown aside. Veyra stepped out, the suit now a sleek dark blue with glowing light armor segments. "Seems like I did it. Now it reloads my guns automatically, and it has a shock system if anyone grabs me again."
KIRO: "Grab you? You must be upset at someone. Do you need help with an upcoming fight?"
VEYRA: "Nope. You sit this one out. It's a revenge thing for me, and for Raiji... a fighting thing. For him, it's fun. But you can race me. Still haven't tested this suit's top speed."
KIRO: "Sure. Let's go. Titan, do the countdown."
They got into position at the edge of the workyard, facing the open desert.
TITAN: "3... 2... 1... GO!"
Both took off. Kiro's run was pure, basic power a blur of motion, a leap that carried him forward, the wind screaming in his ears. Fifty meters gone in a heartbeat.
Veyra wasted no time. She ran, not on the sand, but over it, her suit's propulsion kicking up a controlled plume of dust in her wake. The breeze from her own speed whistled past her helmet. On the ground, she matched his initial burst.
They raced. Kiro covered the total distance back to Scrap Town's outer wall in one minute flat.
Veyra crossed the same line in fifty-nine seconds.
KIRO: (Skidding to a halt) "I win!"
VEYRA: (Panting slightly, a grin audible in her voice) "I almost beat you. And you have a Cube."
This suit is powerful. It's a nice gift. Thanks, Atlas. Best gift ever.
Too bad he can't see it.
KIRO: "So, you like it? I'm heading back to the ship. Be careful."
They split up. Veyra and Raiji returned to the inn.
VEYRA: "I'm ready. Raiji, let's go."
Raiji set down his bowl, finally done eating. "Finally. I feel like my swords are rusting from the wait."
VEYRA: "So impatient. Couldn't you wait five minutes?"
RAIJI: "It's been hours. You took too long to prepare."
VEYRA: (With a sweet, false smile) "Sure. I just love making you wait."
Raiji got up, and they left for the Metal Skull compound.
As they walked, Veyra playfully slapped him on the back harder than necessary.
RAIJI: "Ow."
They arrived at the foreboding, rusted gates of the Metal Skull.
RAIJI: "Should we knock?"
VEYRA: "Allow me."
She knocked three times, sharp and clear. "We're here to collect our payment."
RAIJI: (Deadpan) "Really?"
VEYRA: "Come on, Raiji. We need the money."
The massive gate groaned open, revealing two hulking guards.
GUARD 1: "Who are you? Get lost."
Veyra didn't answer with words. Her leg shot up in a piston-fast kick that connected under the guard's chin, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing back inside.
Before the second guard could react, Raiji was a blur of motion. A single, fluid draw and slash.
SHING CLICK.
His sword was back in its sheath.
VEYRA: (Sighing) "Don't be so loud."
A line of red appeared across the second guard's chest. He crumpled, blood beginning to soak his shirt.
RAIJI: (Looking at the fallen men) "Who were these two? Weaklings." He raised his voice, a challenging bark that echoed in the compound courtyard. "Bring us to your leader!"
VEYRA: She immediately slapped a hand over his mouth, hissing. "You idiot! I just said not to be so loud!"
The alarm blared, a harsh, klaxon scream that echoed off the metal walls.
Doors slammed open, and a flood of gangsters poured into the courtyard. Tank tops, crude cybernetics, a forest of guns and blades.
RAIJI: (Eyes scanning the tide) "I estimate two hundred. Or more."
VEYRA: (Sighs in exasperation) "Oh, really, Raiji? Really?"
Her hands flashed to her hips, drawing two heavy revolvers. She spun the cylinders with a flick, loading two specialized, high-caliber rounds.
VEYRA: (Aiming) "Imagine that's you."
BLAM! BLAM!
Two deafening reports. Not just gunfire two thunderous explosions erupted in the center of the advancing horde, sending bodies and debris flying.
Before the smoke cleared, Raiji was moving. A single, flowing draw-cut. Not aimed at a person, but at the air itself. A crescent of compressed wind sliced forward, picking up ten men and hurling them backward like ragdolls.
Veyra was already in motion. She ran through the chaos, her suit enhancing every move. Bullets whizzed from her revolvers precise shots to knees and gun hands. She flowed into a kick that sent one man into two others, used the rebound to glide sideways, and knocked out a cluster with a spinning heel kick and a piston-fast jab.
A mountain of a man in scrap-plate armor lunged at her. She didn't flinch. A single, suit-powered kick to his chest plate lifted him off his feet and sent him sailing upward.
He roared, twisted in mid-air, and activated massive iron gauntlets. Jets of flame erupted from their backs like a crude jet engine, rocketing him down toward her with a building-shattering punch.
Veyra sidestepped with inhuman grace, raised a revolver, and fired a single round point-blank into his gauntlet's fuel line.
BANG-KABOOM!
A secondary, massive explosion engulfed him, sending his scorched form crashing through a shack roof.
VEYRA: (Shouting to Raiji as she reloads) "I'll go this way! Hoping my opponent's waiting. The leader must be in the main skull. Good luck! Enjoy the fight!"
RAIJI: (A faint, eager smile on his lips) "With pleasure."
He became a storm of silent, lethal motion. No wasted movement. Smooth draw-cuts, each releasing a scything blade of wind that cleared a path. He ran through the openings he created.
Another giant with jet-gauntlets blocked his way. Raiji didn't break stride. One cut—a horizontal flash and the man was lifted off his feet, hurled aside.
Then, a new threat: a slender fighter with jet engines grafted to his legs. He shot forward in a blur, delivering a devastating flying kick that caught Raiji in the side and sent him skidding across the courtyard.
Raiji caught himself, knees bent, one hand on the ground. He looked up, his expression unchanged. He dashed.
A single, clean slash.
He continued running, not looking back.
Behind him, the jet-legged fighter tried to take a step, coughed violently, and collapsed, a line of red opening across his torso.
Raiji entered the main skull structure. A long hallway stretched before him, lined with a few heavy doors. At the end stood a massive steel door.
He pushed it open.
Inside, a man waited. Brown hair, spiked and faded. He stood up from a throne of scrap metal, unfolding to a height of 6'1". He was slim, fit, and moved with a predatory grace. In his hand, he held a wicked, serrated blade.
RAIJI: "You must be the Sword Thief." Raiji's voice was flat, devoid of heat. "Nice to finally meet you. Hopefully, you're no fraud."
Meanwhile, outside the main structure, Veyra finally broke through the last cluster of gangsters.
A man stood waiting for her, blocking the entrance to a fortified side-building. He loomed at 6'5", all bulky muscle encased in thick, riveted armor.
VEYRA: (Cracking her neck) "Time for revenge."
RIGHT HAND CAPTAIN: "And who might you be, girl?"
VEYRA: "The one who's going to beat you up, steal your money, run you out of this town..." Her voice dropped to a cold, sharp edge. "...and get revenge on you for yesterday."
RIGHT HAND CAPTAIN: A cruel grin split his face. "Oh. You're that invisible spy. I'm going to enjoy this."
BRUCE: "Then my name... you can call me Bruce."
VEYRA: "Well, Bruce, you'll lose soon, and your name won't matter."
Her suit's core hummed to life, glowing with an intense, radiant blue.
Bruce didn't wait. He lowered his head and charged, arms wide like a battering ram.
Veyra stood her ground, raised both revolvers, and fired. BANG! BANG! BANG! Three explosive rounds slammed into his chest.
No effect. Just smoke billowing off his armor as he ran straight through it.
At the last second, she vaulted over him in a spinning 360-degree jump, using his own shoulders as a springboard to propel herself up and away, firing one more shot down at his back.
BANG!
BRUCE: (His voice a grating chuckle from within the smoke) "That won't work. I even covered my wrists. Your little shock trick can't reach me."
VEYRA: (Landing lightly) "Oh really? You're not the only one who came prepared. And I won't reveal my secret."
In one fluid motion, she threw a canister at her own feet. It erupted, not with explosion, but with a thick, grey smoke that instantly enveloped her, hiding her from view.
Bruce, momentarily blinded, roared and charged forward again only to rush through empty space. Four more canisters popped around the area, filling the entire courtyard with an impenetrable, churning fog.
Bruce stopped, snarling, his eyes darting. He saw a patch where the smoke seemed lighter, less disturbed. There. He lunged, a freight train of muscle and metal.
His massive hands closed on empty air.
VEYRA: Her voice echoed, impossible to place. "Too slow, Bruce. Are you all brute and no brains?"
He tried again, aiming for another distortion in the smoke. Same result.
VEYRA: "Stand still, weakling."
The sound of a cylinder clicking shut a reload came from his left.
BRUCE: "You know what? I know a way to get through your defense."
Bruce looked around, confused, then angry. "How?!"
VEYRA: "Too bad I didn't bring it. It's acid."
Bruce laughed, a deep, relieved boom. "Look who's prepared now!"
BANG! BANG!
Two shots, not at him, but at the ground near his feet. The rounds didn't explode
they splattered, releasing a torrent of viscous, sizzling liquid that began eating through the lower plates of his armor.
He stumbled back with a curse.
BANG! Another acid round from behind, melting the armor over his kidney.
BANG! A final, standard explosive round from the front knocked him off balance. Bruce fell forward onto his knees.
Before he could rise, another canister landed in front of him. This one released a billowing cloud of pink gas that smelled overwhelmingly of expired, cloying perfume.
BRUCE: (Coughing violently) "This stuff stinks! And you lied!"
The smoke began to clear. Veyra stepped forward, standing over him.
In a last, desperate move, Bruce shot out a hand and grabbed her ankle only for her form to dissolve in his grip like a cloud, dispersing slowly into the remaining mist.
From three meters away, the real Veyra raised her gun.
VEYRA: "Oh, before I forget... you lost. And do you feel the effect?"
BRUCE: (Staggering to his feet, vision swimming) "What did you do to me?!"
He saw not one Veyra, but ten ghostly afterimages shifting around him. He swung at one and met only air. Then he felt the cold press of a gun muzzle against the small of his back.
BANG.
The shot propelled him forward. Before he hit the ground, Veyra was there, delivering a final, piston-driven kick straight down, driving him into the dirt.
Bruce coughed, a wet, bloody sound. "I... Bruce... lose? Can't be..." His eyes, filled with fury and confusion, fluttered shut.