CHAPTER ONE
It was just another clean up quest in the mines. It seemed these were the only quests available lately. Volt Opt's machines had finally been pushed back to level two but there they remained. Jamie Dawson, code name Ridgerunner, was a fairly new HUmar wearing a yellow uniform, but he had enough experience now to make short work of these little toys. He gripped his twin sabre tight, muscles tensing with anticipation as he waited for the next wave of robots to appear. He turned his head to the right taking a quick glance at his team mate Bombshell, a bulky green RAcast. Beside Bombshell stood Stardust the teams FOnewearl dressed in baby blue and white. He was pretty sure her real name was Christy or Christine. On Ridgerunners left stood Axel the quiet black HUcast. He had known these people for over a week now and was quickly becoming very close friends with each of them.
"What do you think he's waiting for?" Bombshell asked.
"He's trying to break our focus." Stardust replied, "As soon as we relax he'll send in the bots."
"Maybe that's it for this room." Ridgerunner shrugged.
"One way to find out." Axel grumbled.
He stepped through the door stopping just on the other side of the door jam. The door at the far end remained locked but still no machines appeared. Axel tapped his sword against his shoulder then turned to the group.
"He plays this game well." He mumbled.
The others cautiously entered the room with Ridgerunner bringing up the rear, but still no machines appeared.
"This is too odd." Bombshell said scratching his head.
The metallic screeching it created caused a shiver to run up Ridgerunner's spine. He shook it off and went over to the locked door, pounding it with his fist. The dull clang echoed through out the room. It was followed with a much louder metal on metal clang, clang that came from directly behind him. He slowly turned to see a Sinow Red standing right behind him. He let out a yelp and ducked just as the Sinow's dagger brushed over his head. A second delay would have brought that dagger right through his throat. The others spun to see what the source of the noise was.
"Sinow!" Stardust cried.
"Finally." Bombshell grinned, "Action, Hang on little buddy."
The Sinow Red took several swings which Ridgerunner easily blocked with his twin sabre. He followed up with a series of quick jabs which resulted in just a couple burn marks on the sinows armour. Stardust blasted it with Zonde. The shock briefly shorted the Sinows systems caused it to pause for a brief second. This allowed Ridgerunner to make a couple strong stabs at it's chest. The Sinow quickly recovered and took a one two swipe at the unprepared hunter catching him in the left fore arm. Ridgerunner jumped back in surprise saving him from taking the second dagger in the chest. He stumbled back tripping on an equipment crate. The Sinow quickly stalked in for the kill. It raised its right dagger preparing to drive it deep into the hunters chest. A rifle blast took the right hand clean off at the wrist.
"Now that's what I call a shot!" Boomshell cheered and feeling quite pleased with himself.
Stardust unleashed a blast of Barta freezing the droid solid. Axel strolled up to the block of ice, tilted his head slightly as he watched the ice begin to melt. With a shrug he brought his sword down cleaving the machine in half.
"Too easy." He muttered as he turned and walked back to where Stardust was standing.
Bombshell nugged the head with his foot then yelled at the ceiling.
"How about giving us a real challenge!"
As if to answer him the lights went out plunging the room into perfect darkness.
"What’s going on?" Ridgerunner called.
"I don't know." Axel replied, "This is most unusual."
There was a short female yelp.
"Stardust, are you all right?" Ridgerunner asked.
Seconds passed but she didn't reply. The lights suddenly came back on blinding him for a split second. His vision quickly cleared and he looked around searching the room but Stardust was gone. The door was now unlocked. The group stood in shock for a moment.
"They must have taken Stardust this way." Bombshell said waving at the door.
"Seeing as this is the only way they could have gone." Axel began.
"You got a problem little bot." Bombshell growled as he got right up into the shorter androids face.
"That depends on you." Axel replied.
"Guys, that's not going to help us find Stardust!" Ridgerunner interrupted.
"True." Axel nodded and strolled right through the door.
This room remained empty and the door at the far end was already unlocked. The trio quickly made their way to the door. The next room they entered was locked and contained a Garanz. It launched a volley of missiles at them. Bombshell gripped his rifle and charged.
"Bombshell wait!" Ridgerunner called.
"No good son." Axel said, "He's in kill mode."
Ridgerunner sighed and ran after the android. Three missiles locked on to him. He jumped sideways just as the missiles impacted the ground. Bombshell fired as quickly as he could, ignoring the damage from the missiles. Axel attacked from the rear while Ridgerunner was forced to run from the missiles.
"Why do they always come after me?" He grumbled.
The Garanz quickly fell under the pounding from the android ending in an explosion of parts. The lights winked out plunging the room in darkness. They came back on after only a minute. Axel was gone.
"Bombshell, what's going on here?" Ridgerunner asked.
"We are being hunted by something." Bombshell replied, "I don't like being hunted."
"Neither do I." Ridgerunner replied.
Bombshell headed through the next door with Ridgerunner in tow. Ridgerunner had heard rumours about hunters disappearing in the mines but he never thought he'd actually see it happen. They past through several more rooms with no resistance. The next room was dark. Ridgerunner was reluctant to enter but Bombshell strolled right in.
"Bombshell wait." Ridgerunner called after him, "Why does he never listen. One day he is going to get us all killed."
He immediately regretted that last statement in light of resent events. The door slammed shut behind Bombshell and locked.
"Bombshell!" Ridgerunner yelled pounding on the door.
After a moment the door unlocked and slid open. Ridgerunner slowly entered the now bright room. Bombshell was gone. Ridge runner slowly crossed the room to the next door. It opened as he approached. The next room was dark too.
"No way." He shook his head, "You’re not getting me."
He raised his hand and cast Ryuker. A telepipe formed around him but before he could trigger the transporter the lights went out. When they came back on all that remained was an unused telepipe.
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