But instead of fleeing, the Heavy's stance shifts - profess…
But instead of fleeing, the Heavy's stance shifts - professional, determined. They drop the containment net, reaching for something at their back while moving to flank you. Your AI passenger flashes a warning:
[THREAT DETECTED: SPECIALIZED ANTI-PERSONNEL WEAPON] [CAUTION: SIGNATURE MATCHES ■■■■■■■ LABS PROTOTYPE]
You're still holding the Squad Leader as a shield.
How do you want to proceed?
Replies
pivot to keep the squad leader as a human shield, send enough charge through him to keep him alive but incapacitated... the fact that Heavy is flanking to get around Squad Leader means he cares enough to try and not hurt him, for now...
rogue, pull up file on Heavy, any kompramat? anything sensitive?
As you send a controlled surge through the Squad Leader - who goes limp but breathing - your AI partner races through fragments of corrupted data:
[ACCESSING PERSONNEL FILE - HEAVY] [DECODING... 68% DATA RECOVERED]
Codename: Bishop Former ■■■■■■
Special Forces Project Role: Asset Con■■■■■■■■
Note: Cybernetic ■■■■■ replacement after Incident ■■-7
Psychological Assessment: Subject displays extreme loyalty to ■■■■■■■
WARNING: Experimental w■■■■■■ integration specialist
The AI suddenly interrupts with a priority alert:
[TACTICAL WARNING] [ANALYZING MOVEMENT PATTERN] [ERROR: SUBJECT NOT SEEKING CLEAR SHOT - TRIANGULATING...]
Too late, you realize your mistake - Bishop isn't trying to save the Squad Leader at all. Their flanking movement is creating a triangular field between you, the walls, and their position. That prototype weapon isn't designed to shoot at all - it's part of a containment system!
You see a faint shimmer in the air as energy begins to build between these points...
What's your next move? You've got an unconscious Squad Leader, a tactical trap forming around you, and about two seconds to act
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxYzOCCeukc&list=RDHlwT_YJdJaQ&index=14
Fool... time to end this game, one last jolt to the squad leader... keep him out for a bit more, I'll deal with him later... rogue: calculate distance... back through the ceiling I go... sprint to Bishop's coordinates, punch through to ambush him from the top... !flux11
A bold move and a gamble. Success threshold is below 50. Roll a d100 and display only the result
36
The AI rapidly overlays trajectory calculations as you unleash a final controlled surge through the Squad Leader. Your nanobots surge with power, catapulting your massive frame up through the hole you created earlier. The warehouse ceiling groans as you sprint across it, your enhanced strength leaving footprints in the metal roofing.
[CALCULATING INTERCEPT] [STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY WARNING] [TARGETING BISHOP'S POSITION]
You bring your fist down through the ceiling directly above Bishop - the look of shock on their face is priceless as you descend like an avenging angel wreathed in blue light. The containment field fizzles out as its triangulation breaks.
BUT...
As your fist connects with Bishop's shoulder, sending them sprawling, you hear a distinct click. Bishop's lips curl into a pained smile as you realize - they've managed to attach something to your arm during the impact. A small device pulses with an ominous red light, and your nanobots near it begin behaving erratically.
[WARNING: LOCALIZED NANOBOT DISRUPTION] [AFFECTED AREA: RIGHT ARM] [SPREADING...]
The device is small, but its effects are immediate - your right arm feels heavier, slower, as if the nanobots are being suppressed or corrupted. Bishop may be down, but they've left you with a parting gift.
What do you want to do about this device before its effects spread further?
The EMP gun. Grab it. Send the nanobots to interface Rogue in... controlled burst. Point it at the device. Shoot. !flux11
A cold smile crosses your face as understanding dawns. The EMP gun - their own tech turned against them. Your nanobots flow through the weapon's interface as your AI partner integrates with its systems:
[ACCESSING WEAPON PROTOCOLS] [MODULATING FREQUENCY] [TARGETING: PRECISION BURST]
You aim the modified EMP gun at the device on your arm. The burst is precise, surgical - the device shorts out with a pathetic whimper, falling harmlessly to the ground. Your nanobots immediately begin returning to normal function, the blue glow steady once again.
Bishop lies unconscious at your feet, the Squad Leader is still out cold in the other room, and the Tech Specialist isn't getting up anytime soon. Through the broken windows and roof, you can see the neon glow of Night City beckoning. The warehouse's security systems are still in chaos from your earlier override, making this your perfect window for escape.
All around you is evidence of who you might be - the broken tablet, Bishop's weapon, the device they tried to use on you - but no time to investigate further. Sirens wail in the distance, getting closer.
What's your priority now?