Page 44 of True As Steel

“Considering liberating me played a part in Grellik’s anger, I’d say it’s my war, too,” Loreus said in a gentle tone.

“And even more so after what we’ve seen in his lab,” Jarog added.

Just as he spoke those words, the nose of the first Burrower located east of the city suddenly elongated into a drill. The tank tilted at a 45° angle, and a laser beam shot out from the tip of the drill as it began to burrow into the ground like a hellish giant bug.

“Let’s go teach Grellik a lesson.”

We spread out, syncing our coms to the combat channel. To my delight, the troops were disciplined, keeping all chatter to the strictly required sharing of information. The interface of the scanner integrated in our armbands indicated the position of the other people equipped with ultrasonic blasters scattered throughout the city. The pulsating red dot displayed the first Burrower digging its way underground, as tracked by the city’s deep scanners. Yelena called it and nearby troops closed in on her position to provide assistance. Moments later, two more pulsating dots appeared. Lanish called one, Jarog called the other.

With my man in the lead, we ran towards the city wall of 4thStreet as the current path of our Burrower indicated it would cross under our defensive walls around that location. Jarog placed his ultrasonic blaster on the ground and pressed it downward, activating the device. A holographic display immediately appeared at the top end of the staff. The electric tendrils inside its length took on an ominous red tinge. Focusing on the display, Jarog tilted the staff, moving it to try and get the Burrower into its crosshairs. The reddish hue of the electric coils grew paler, the closer he got. For a moment, I wondered why he seemed to be failing to get the perfect aim on it, then realized the tank was still a little too far as the axis on the interface began to shift.

Then the coils on the staff suddenly turned green, its base pulsating in a clear sign that the ultrasonic signal was being sent to the target. My jaw dropped when the number of souls onboard the Burrower and its integrity percentage appeared on the holographic interface of the blaster. That weapon wasn’t just lethal, it was freaking brilliant. The Burrower accelerated, the crew likely hoping to get through before they sustained too much damage. And at this new speed, they would.

Struck by an idea, I placed my staff on the ground a meter from Jarog’s and cast an inquisitive glance his way. Understanding my intention, he nodded his assent. I activated it, quickly getting the Burrower into my crosshairs. As soon as my beam turned green, the tank’s integrity percentage on both Jarog’s and my interface started dropping at an exponential rate. The Burrower slowed, stopped, and then reversed course.

I immediately communicated this strategy to the rest of our troops through the com. Although Yelena approved it, she also warned of the greater risks of terrain collapse, and to therefore be careful. Moments later, the pulsating dot of two more Burrowers appeared at the edge of our armbands.

“Finish him off,” Loreus ordered. “I’m catching the west one.”

Jarog and I nodded. For a split second, I considered pulling to go catch the second incoming dot currently unattended but changed my mind. With my blaster’s power combined with Jarog’s, we had a real chance of completely obliterating the one we were attacking, and the other Burrower was still far enough for us to get to it.

With malicious glee, I watched the number of troops onboard start going down along with their vessel’s integrity. Then it suddenly went from 37% to zero. The green beams inside our staves turned back to whitish-blue electrical coils, and a ‘Target Destroyed’ message appeared in the center of the holographic interface. On my armband, while the dot of Burrower still showed at the last position it had been while trying to retreat, it no longer pulsated and had taken a greyish hue. The ultrasonic waves had likely weakened its hull so much that the pressure of the ground all around it had crushed it, killing the remaining crew on board. A horrible way to die…

But now wasn’t the time to waste my pity on our would-be invaders.

“Go help him,” I told Jarog, gesturing at Loreus with my head who was blasting his target a block down from where we stood. “His is almost upon us. I’ll handle this one, and you all can come help me after.”

He hesitated for a split second then nodded before breaking into a run to catch up to the other Cyborg. I ran down one block in the opposite direction and started working on the new Burrower. In that instant, I realized how surreal all of this felt. The sky overhead was lit up with fireworks from the missiles our troops launched and the enemy ones that managed to pass through our defenses only to crash on the protective dome overhead. The deafening sounds of explosions surrounded us, accompanied by the battle cries of our units slaughtering the Fereins from the two Burrowers that had managed to pierce through, far to the east of Satos.

“Burrower in on 6thStreet,”Jarog said through the com.“We’re taking out the crew.”

A glance down the street showed me my man, shield and blaster raised, charging people I couldn’t see behind the buildings blocking my view. Despite the sliver of worry in my heart for him, I felt confident he would wipe out his foes with the help of Loreus. On top of them being badass warriors, the crew would be severely messed up from the effects of the ultrasonic blast they’d endured.

Although the acrid scent of smoke permeated the air, I was grateful for the absence of the metallic scent of blood and burnt flesh. This shouldn’t have turned into a bloodbath. Grellik had caused it. When this battle was over, he would answer for all those innocent lives he’d sacrificed at the altar of his ego and to sate his hunger for power.

However, all thoughts of retribution needed to take a backseat. My own target still was at 80% integrity, and climbing into the city at an accelerated pace.

“I need backup on 3rdStreet,” I said through the com. “Burrower coming hard and fast.”

“On my way,”Haelin said.

Heart pounding, I counted the seconds, debating how long I should go on blasting the tank before retreating. I would never survive the onslaught on my own. When the pavement on the street began to lift and crack about five meters in front of me, I finally caved in.

At the same time, Jarog’s voice resonated in my earpiece.

“Fall back, Tamryn! We’re coming!”

But I was already on the move, taking cover behind a nearby building. The worry clearly audible in his voice did weird things to me. So far, Jarog had done a great job at treating me like an equal, despite the strong protective streak I’d noticed in him. He hadn’t wanted to leave me to assist Loreus, but as he would have done it for another person, I appreciated that he’d shown me the same respect instead of coddling me. Right now, though, I couldn’t wait to have him by my side. I could see him and Loreus running towards me from three blocks away. But Haelin and four other Narengis turned the corner east from my position, reaching me just as a swarm of Fereins spilled out of the Burrower.

I threw a couple of concussion grenades before opening fire on them. The Narengis tossed a few of their own. Shields up, they joined the fray. However, as the Fereins rushed us, we had no choice but to switch from our blasters to our blades, daggers, and swords. We were fighting in much too close quarters to risk friendly fire.

Although the Burrower had still been at 68% integrity when it emerged, many of the Fereins displayed signs of injury from the ultrasonic blast. Many sported bloody noses, ears, and eyes. However, a few of them also seemed unsteady on their feet, as if slightly dizzy or out of balance. Therefore, even though they outnumbered us four to one, we mowed through them to the point that I almost felt guilty.

His movements sluggish, my opponent appeared to be moving in slow motion as I dodged his attack, slitting his throat instead with my blade. Spinning around, I stabbed another at the base of his nape as he was trying to strangle one of our allies. A Ferein attempted to grab me from behind. I threw my head back, headbutting him smack in the face, and felt his nose shatter from the strength of the blow. I turned around to finish him, but Jarog snapping his neck put an abrupt end to his shriek of pain.

A poor fool thought to exchange punches with my man, but a single one from Jarog shattered the bones of his face, dislocating his jaw in the process. His victim’s agony was short-lived as he struck him again, this time in the solar plexus, caving his chest in. The Ferein collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Loreus smashed the head of one enemy against the hull of the Burrower, making it explode in a shower of blood and gore, then lifted another by the neck, tossing him away like he weighed nothing. The Ferein went crashing into a wall before sprawling on the ground, stunned. He never got a chance to get back up as Haelin stomped her foot on his neck, crushing his trachea.

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