Kane's body started to move, towards Art.
Art continued inspecting the tubs holding her wrist close to record an image.
Her ears twitched.
Footsteps echoed from beyond.
Green lights flickered in unison.
Fluids bubbled at the same intervals.
The noise grew closer.
Art turned.
A golden hue shone in the darkness, revealing a black uniform.
"Protocol 23–"
A flagpole manifested in his hand.
Alde stopped before her.
"—eliminate all intruders."
Art reached for her railgun.
Alde readied his stance.
His flagpole pointed to her.
Kane approached, stopping next to her.
Art loaded a bullet.
"Kane don't—"
Kane stepped forward, unholstering his magnums.
His eyes focused beyond.
Art repositioned onto a pipe nearby.
He's not listening.
She took aim at Alde.
Alde watched her.
His stance remained focused.
Kane moved closer.
Alde waited.
Kane took another step.
Now.
Alde thrust his pole forward.
No contact.
He looked down.
He's not there.
A barrel came close.
His left eye widened.
Kane pulled the trigger.
A bullet shot quietly, as if the sound had been removed.
It hit metal a moment later.
Alde shifted his head, to avoid it.
He flipped back to regain his stance.
His shoulders twitched.
Another bullet flew by before he was fully recovered.
Kane had aimed.
Precisely.
Before he moved.
Alde regained balance focusing on Kane.
Art's finger rested on the trigger as she took aim.
Alde advanced, stopping next to Kane.
Their shoulders aligned.
Kane was centered in her sights.
Art relaxed her finger.
He's...
She began to reposition.
Alde exhaled.
His flag swayed in rhythm.
He swung his pole down.
Heavy.
Kane turned his body.
Correct.
The pole collided with the metal floor.
Alde backed away twirling his pole to rest on his shoulder.
He began to prepare a new stance.
His gaze tightened.
Protocol 12–
When standards fail...
Green lights flickered at different intervals.
His flag swayed fluidly.
... Adapt.
Alde proceeded.
His footsteps no longer matched his flag pole.
Kane advanced.
Accurate.
Alde swung down.
Slamming through the air.
Kane dodged.
His magnum was already positioned.
A bullet released.
Alde countered with his pole.
He closed the distance, thrusting at Kane's chest.
Kane shifted.
Leaving Alde slightly exposed.
Art observed Alde in her sights.
Alde straightened as he positioned past Kane.
Placing him in between.
Art lowered her gun.
She repositioned again.
Kane approached.
His gaze focused beyond.
Alde swung at Kane.
He dodged.
His body had moved.
Before Alde swung.
Alde spun the pole to strike again.
A barrel was aimed at his next position.
Alde moved into it.
Unknowingly.
A bullet shot.
Colliding with metal.
Alde avoided again.
Art observed their movements.
Each swing—
Dodged.
Every reposition—
A strike was placed or a bullet was released.
Their movements matched.
Alde—
Unpredictable.
Kane—
Controlled.
She tried to reposition.
Every opening—
Gone.
Before she could even aim.
A green light flickered.
Alde lowered his flagpole.
Kane moved forward.
His weapons were raised.
Alde burst to him, swinging his flagpole upwards.
Kane was staggered.
Alde thrust his flagpole.
Into his core.
Kane was forced back.
Unable to recover.
Alde began to move in.
His golden glow slightly flickered.
The air felt distant.
His stance—
Perfect.
His movement—
Fast.
Still—
Off.
Alde blinked.
Kane's posture was straight.
Unharmed.
His flag paused.
Alde hesitated.
Just a moment—
Enough.
The trigger squeezed.
A heavy shot rang in the corridor.
Alde's leg collapsed.
He fell.
Another shot.
His arm dropped.
The flagpole dissipated.
Kane slowly moved forward.
Art jumped down holstering her railgun.
She stood above Alde.
His breathing was slow.
He raised his head.
Art placed her hand on her pistol.
"Explain what th—"
Kane stepped in front of her.
Chains rattled.
A magnum raised.
A shot—
Silent.
Alde's head jolted back.
Dropping on the metal floor.
Blood pooled around.
Kane kept moving forward.
Holstering his magnums.
His gaze focused ahead.
Expressionless.
Calm.
Art's eyes widened.
This...
Mechanical humming surrounded her.
Kane's footsteps sounded further away.
She exhaled, calming herself.
...is what...
Art moved quickly towards Kane.
Passing him.
...you meant.
She headed towards the end of the corridor.
Kane's body shifted.
To follow.
In his hollow—
A crack shifted.
Open.