Maverick Hunters: Episode 1 Execution
Maverick Hunters: Episode 1 Execution.
Guard duty had never sat very well with Shepard. He had no unreasonable fear of the dark, nor did the cold bother him as his thick pelt saw to it that he was well insulated. No it wasn't where or when they were guarding as much as it was what they were guarding.
"They could at least tell us what they're building back there."
"Shepard" Leon said through his usual veil of apathy. "You know they don't care enough about grunts like us to let us in on their company secretes."
"I know that." Shepard said frustrated "I didn't go through 8 months of training just to be relegated to bitch work that could be handled by mall cops!"
Shepard sighed and watched his breath dissipate into the cold night air.
Suddenly a loud series of muffled steps shook the silence.
Leon immediately whipped around to face the darkness. Years of experience told Leon exactly what to do.
Shepard began to fall in line with Leon.
"Stay hear rookie." Leon swiftly whispered as he dashed off into the shadows.
Shepard could hear a loud swoosh followed by a series of spastic gun fire. He readied his AR15 and thought back to his training. Shepard steadied his nerves and took aim searching for movement in the shadows.
"Leon!" "LEON!" Shepard's barks were met with silence, his hands started to shake as Shepard moved slowly through the dark. Shepard saw what appeared to be jagged metal on the ground near his feet. The metal object quickly flew up above his head, Shepard felt nothing as his body was cleaved in two.
Rokki had often thought himself a connoisseur of the Coffees of Xenopren. He found the Colombian gave him the buzz he needed while making only throw up a little in his throat. Coffee House style seemed to blend the complexity of horse urine with the pleasant choke inducing smell of coffin dust. However Americano, Rokki could only shudder as he watch Prof. Dawn down her third cup of the brown, bitter, bean water.
A different scent filled the air as Rokki's ears pricked up and his tail began to wag sub consciously. Dawn took this as an omen that she could begin the presentation. A tall figure burst impatiently through the auto door. Blonde hair tussled and messy, blue eyes locking gazes with Rokie's longing for confirmation that he wasn't late.
"Damn, not my day," Jake thought as he shifted targets to the professor "Security scan...broke...strip search...butt touch...my" he blurted out between gasps.
Dawn shook her head eyes filled with disappointment.
"Take your seat, Jake. This meeting officially started ten minutes ago."
Jake promptly took the seat in front of Rokki and looked intently at the screen.
"As you know we've been tracking the disturbing increase of class S Neogenes over the past six months. Recently another project site was attacked by the Neogene known as the Executioner."
Just then the screen displayed a grainy security image of a gigantic hooded man as well as several grisly crime scene photos.
"Oh my god!" Rokki exclaimed.
"Was the project canceled as a result of the attack?" Jake asked calmly, as if the photos on screen were just a set of text boxes.
"Xenopren is remaining tight lipped about their latest plan" Dawn began. "However we have been told that the key component of the project was present at the time of the attack."
Rokki looked across the table as Jake's expression went from calm to worried and upset. Dawn responded with a look of concern and remorse, very out of character for her.
"So you need us to take down Macho Man before he strikes again" Rokki said trying to steer the conversation back to the point.
Dawn snapped out her trance. "Yes that's the plan in a nutshell. The target has been described as slow and incredibly strong. Based on the investigation unit's report Assault rifle rounds were discharged into the target to little effect."
Roki and Jake both looked up at dawn with renewed interest.
"So your telling us that Mortal weapons are useless" Rokki said.
"And the only ones who can put an end to this mad man's game" Jake continued.
"Is the most bad ass pair of super soldiers the bio-division has to offer" they both shouted in excited unison. The pair began to clamor nonsensically as Prof. Dawn's brow furrowed with rage.
"CHILDREN" she barked. "This...just try...grrrr...report to the tech division for further you equipment."
"Yes Ma'am" they shouted as they began to exit the room.
"Hold on Rokki, I need to discuss your inventory records" Dawn said.
Jake gave Rokki his "sucks to be you" face and continued out of the room.
"I swear I filed the claim on the broken cruiser and..." Rokki stammered.
Dawn interrupted him, "Rokki I haven't used full disclosure with you two. I have more information on Xenopren's project."
Roki's expression became serious "Project alpha" he said under his breath.
"Yes, I'm afraid that the S type Neogenes are attempting to make final contact with Saya. You see why I didn't want Jake to take part in this meeting."
Roki shook his head "you are aware that he is all ready suspicious "of this."
"Just keep these facts in mind as you go about your mission" said Dawn.
Rokki Saluted as he turned and exited.
Xenopren Pharmaceutical, the world largest supplier of state of the art medicine and cosmetics. Their success began in 2012 with introduction of the Nanogene injections_._ These nanomachines allowed anything from tumor removal to limb regrowth to be done as an out patient procedure. In 2015 Xenopren embarked on the Supreme life form project. The idea was to make a line of bio mechanical machines that could stay in the body indefinitely altering strength, reaction time, recovery, and paving the way for the future of both mankind and Beast-kin alike. These new genes were deemed Protogenes, unfortunately all test subjects were either disfigured or killed by the injections. It was found that the Protogenes could bond to the stem cells of unborn children. Nine children were selected and given Protogenes in the womb. The project was a success and resulted in nine superior beings showcasing several different abilities. Among these children were twins Jekyll and Saya Einsburn who displayed advanced compatibility with their Protogenes. However, in 2020 the the supreme being project made a huge stride with the creation of the Neogene system, a series of gene alterations that could be preformed on adults thus end the research on the Protogenes. The nine children were kept under close watch and it was determined that their abilities could be kept dormant. Fifteen years later the the project finished with the mass production of publicly available Neogene injections. While this was a far cry from Xenopren's vision of a perfect race, they were an incredible commercial success providing a faster more convenient alternative to the nanogenes.
The tech division was all ways a favorite place for Jake to visit. Their was very little difference between the tech division's office and the flight deck of an intergalactic star ship. Jake and Rokki didn't quite know haw to react to the sight before them. On a normal day they would be greeted by the smiling face of the receptionist Sasha. In place of Sasha there was a large twitching fox tail, bright orange with a cream colored tip.
"Ahem" Rokki placed a paw over his snout as he cleared his throat.
*THUD!*
"Owww mppphhh....." Sasha did here best to muffle her cries as she emerged from under her desk.
"Yeah I'm gonna go with Oww" Rokki said with Jake shaking his head in agreement.
"Oh! It's you two...ummm" Sasha frantically tried to regain her composure.
"Uh...oh right, Biggs and Wedge are ready to see you so..." Rokki reach out and placed a reassuring paw on Sasha's head.
"We'll just show ourselves in" Rokki said.
"Ohhhhhhh Kaaaaaay" Sasha said softly trying not to drool.
The duo walked down the brightly lit hallway, Jake couldn't help but shoot a look to Rokki.
"Since when did you get so smooth" Jake said snickering.
"What that? Come on I didn't do anything outside the norm."
"Don't be shy Rokki" Jake said placing a hand on Roki's back and opening the large metal door before them with the other.
Rokki and Jake's faces were instantly consumed by a massive wall of fur. Dr. Ton Biggs was tall, round and was described as affectionate by his coworkers when he was in the same room and insane when he wasn't around.
"How are my two favorite little customers Huh?" Biggs said wrapping the two of then in a great big bear hug. A calm yet stern voice rang out from across the lab.
"Biggs, remember what happened to Sasha last weekend when you did that?"
From out of the forest machinery emerged a slender Grey wolf with a white lab coat on over her dark red dress. Biggs quickly released them from his grip and turned to face the vision behind them. Dr. Rachel Wedge, head of research and development for Xenopren's tech division, was quite popular among the men around the office. This was mostly because of her large breasts and slim figure but also because of her undeniable aura of "Not gonna happen" she wasn't into men even though she could have anyone she wanted.
"The professor told us about your situation and we may have a solution for you" Wedge said teasingly.
"Come on Wedge don't mess around" Jake said excited "what do got for us"?
Wedge directed their attention to a table behind her containing two metal cases one large and one small.
Biggs relieved what appeared to be a leather glove connected to 4 iron chambers housed inside a dark green box.
"Upon you request" Biggs said brimming with pride "we have completed the MatildaMKII, it fires custom fifty caliber anti personnel rounds, far more powerful than the twelve gauge buck shot rounds you've been using until now. The chambers are have a spring ready release to allow for faster reload times and all four shots can be fired off all at once or one at a time."
Jake studied the device and punched the air a few times.
"The bullets are they explosive or mercury tipped?"
"Hollow point" Wedge said.
Jake looked a little closer.
"What's the effective range?"
"It's effective up to five meters, after that the accuracy suffers" Biggs said.
Jake's expression quickly turned to a wicked smile.
"It's perfection you two, I bet a weapon like this could even stop the executioner dead in his tracks."
The doctors quickly turned their gaze to Rokki who was eying the large case.
"Don't worry we have something special for you too" Wedge said smiling.
Biggs turned around, the now open case in hand showing off an arm mounted cannon.
"This is the prototype PLR anti-freak cannon_._ While not fully tested we're hoping this will be able to pulse able to disrupt the communication between Neogene nanomachines temporarily disabling their abilities."
Rokki's face was home to several emotion the most prevalent of which was confusion.
"Jake gets a boxing glove that shoots bullets while I play test dummy for your big stun gun?"
"Rokki don't be so harsh" Wedge said "You have to opportunity to stand on the cutting edge of science."
"I'll try to be excited about it" Rokki said as he and Jake packed their new equipment and left the lab.
Neogenes were only available through a special set of Xenopren trained doctors. Like with all drugs However, there are ways around this system. Black market trade of Neogenes became cheap alternative to the expensive and bureaucratic process of obtaining them legally. The Maverick Hunters are a secrete branch of Xenopren's security division devised to deal with the results of Neogene abuse. The hunters are assigned permanent partners on their first day of training. They pairs are given nanomachine injections that link their minds together, hunter teams could execute highly complex team tactics and adapt their strategies in the blink of an eye.
Rokki turned his snout upward and breathed deeply.
"Blood four meters north."
Moving in tight formation the Jake could see a flickering light at the entrance to the research facility. The door was broken in, blood covering the entrance and hall way.
"Looks like they're on back up power"
"So much for being subtle"
Roki and Jake's eyes met momentarily and Roki immediately climbed up the ladder to the roof, the last sight of him being the dim glow of his night vision.
Gore was something Jake had become very used to over the years. The severed limbs and pools of blood were all just part of the facility as far he was concerned. One pile of flesh stood out from the rest, it was in tact and most of all it was breathing. Jake removed it's helmet, a cascade of silky black hair, soft porcelain skin, green eyes that showed no fear, no pain. This was not the face of a fearless warrior, it was one of a young life driven insane by terror and death. She looked up at Jake with her dead eyes and reached out to him as if she was trying to grasp a single ray of hope. Jake removed his glove and took the small trembling hand in his, it was so cold. She smiled at Jake as their gazes met and a tiny shred humanity appeared in her blank eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but only coughed up blood, Jake took her head close his chest and held her as her eyes closed for the final time.
Rokki was on the roof studying a the blue print image of the facility on his wrist communicator.
"Jake, It seems the only way to the research site is to use the elevator. The power grid connection is on the same floor, I'm sure if you hurry you'll be able to intercept the target before he reaches the site."
Jake hurried down the hall, as he had feared back up power didn't support the elevator. Jake produced a small package from his satchel and placed it between the doors. Jake took cover behind an over turned table and pressed a small radio switch. He could feel a momentary force behind him as the smoke cleared and Jake charged into the elevator opening the roof hatch.
"Rokki, what floor?"
"Four floors up."
"Roger."
Cutting the cables of the door's open/close system was a simple was to gain access from the inside. Jake was met on the site floor by a scene of panic and terror. Before him was the target, roughly seven feet tall and three hundred pounds. In one hand was the corpse of another security agent, dragging on the ground behind was a large ax crudely fashioned from scrap metal. Instinctively Jake drew his USP from it's holster and fired six rounds into the target's head. The executioner turned a threw the dead body at Jake knocking him to the ground. With a loud roar he brought the ax down towards Jake, quickly rolling away Jake watched the ax as it slammed into the ground cracking the tile and sending shrapnel into Jake's left eye.
"Shit" He exclaimed "Rokki I've engaged the target, requesting assista..." the transmission was cut of as the executioner grabbed Jake's arm crushing the communicator and flinging him to the other side of the hall. The executioner began to march towards his prey, Jake looked up to the ceiling and counted in his head.
"Three, two, one...mark!"
Jake rolled into an open bathroom as the roof above him caved in with explosive force. Rokki dropped down through the hole and immediately crouched to dodge the now air born ax the enemy had thrown. The ax sliced through the air and smashed through the heavy metal door of the research site. "CONSUME!" The executioner bellowed as he lunged past Rokki and into the now open room.
"Damn, Jake we can't let him in there." Rokki brought Jake to his feet.
"Come on minor wounds like this are nothing to me." Rokki could see that Jake's bloody eye was already healed and functional.
The research room was circular, three rings of computer stations surrounded a capsule containing a female form. All eye's were on the entrance as the giant Neogene stomped into the room. An alarm sounded as the roof opened up reveling the night sky. As the executioner charged forward the center platform began to lift into the air.
"CONSUME!" It bellowed once more, preparing the ax for another throw. A bright flash shot across from the hallway. The beam struck the executioner in the back, it let out a mighty roar and turned around to see Jake Matilda in hand charging forward while Rokki covered him with the PLR. The executioner was unaffected by the beam and smashed the ax into the ground in front of Jake stopping his assault. The ax swept along the ground and caught Jake off guard smashing into his side and sending him into a set of computers.
Rokki, eyes filled with rage, raced giving the executioner a full charged blast from the PLR. Rokki slid across the ground to his partner's side. Clutching his partner's blood soaked hand Rokki fought to swallow the tears welling up in his eyes. The executioner's ax loomed over the two of them, when he brought it down to land the killing blow Rokki, holding Jake's body tight let out a primal cry of defiance.
"DAMN IT!!!"
At that moment the blood pool on the floor formed a pillar blocking the ax. Rokki looked on in disbelief as the pillar took liquid form once more and pooled beneath the executioner's feet. In seconds the giant speared by massive crimson stalagmite. The red ooze slithered back to it's host as the executioner fell to the ground.
Jake opened his eyes in time to see a helicopter taking the large capsule and the female figure away.
"Saya...Somehow...I knew" Jake felt a wet sensation on his cheek. Rokki had finally lost his fight and could no longer choke back his tears. Rokki buried his face in Jake's chest, in that moment all his fears and worries had been banished away the only thing that was undeniable was the fact that he and Jake were alive.
"Don't ever..." Rokki forced the words out through his sobbing. "Don't ever...Leave me...alone like that"
Jake wanted to reassure Rokki but he lacked the strength to even sit up.
"Never again" was all that he could whisper before loosing conciseness.