Just Shoot Them
(
Previously)
My flames block the shotgun blast easily, but my headache gets worse as hospital-gown sees me. Then they're moving again, outrunning the flames, which burn their burrowing-shell too slowly to reach them. Even with the whole surface on fire.
These cyborgs aren't terribly durable, they just have a
lot of regen for their shield. I have the scale to overcome that, if I just burn a deep enough pit, but it'd take a while. I don't think I have the time.
So I sacrifice another breath of comfort/safety/future selfhood, pull a gun, and give it the weight of that devil set free. The bullets tear through their hillock as it strafes, spraying blood and rock chips, then traveling on to wherever they may. Given the flames and the Nine, that risk is... nothing I haven't chosen already. The cyborgs burn.
The smoke smells like sulphur.
I still don't know where Jack is, but I think the Nine will be fleeing. Whatever else they are, they aren't stupid - when caught out, scatter and retaliate from a distance. He's probably with the Siberian, or will be if he thinks he can reach.
The Siberian was...
that way. A forest, opposite side of the river from the creek. But if I was in their position, I'd have Manton hidden among the prisoners, and keep the telefrag statue right in the best spot to ambush heroes who won't be playing the game.
The Protectorate has learned not to play their games.
Also, the sandstorm is descending - it's not dense enough to get through my flames yet, but the buildings are starting to disintegrate and I can't use the roads quite as freely. It
might be worth the detour to kill Shatterbird. And Nonstop is like a minute out, although the storm's been playing merry hob with our comm signal.
[ ] The Creek
[ ] The Forest
[ ] Shatterbird
