I am completely at a loss as to what may have prompted this dream. Although now that I think about it, it might have to do with a certain up coming holiday. And I don't mean Halloween. I guess you'll see when I get to it, but this dream felt more than a little jumbled.
I was walking around with family at night, which is strange in and of itself. Not so strange, my sister found a shop full of knick-knacks and felt compelled to browse. I figured I should follow along to keep her out of trouble.
It was surprisingly busy for how dark it seemed outside. There were a number of people browsing around and shopping. The shelves were stocked with small items, figurines and such, and nothing of any real value. Still, I picked up one or two things for a glance but for the life of me can't remember what they were. I also can't remember any of the faces of the people around. Now that I think about it, they all seemed a little blurred. Except for one face that even now stands out clearly in my mind.
Her hair was a blond that was brilliant without being ostentatious. Her piercing blue eyes stared at me from across the room as she stood by a cash register. I wasn't a thief or anything in this dream, which made her scrutiny all the more puzzling. Her eyes followed me around the room. And as I approached her, she settled into a defensive stance. A sound like a crackle of wooden blocks falling made me turn my head away from her for a second. That was when she struck. I felt it coming more than I saw it and swatted her arm aside. She moved forward throwing her other fist out, and I blocked again, pressing her arm as I stepped forward and behind her. I turned back around, and she was already on the offensive again. The anger in her eyes almost had a physical pressure, pressing along with her attacks.
I jumped back a few steps, lowered my stance, and brought my right hand up in a pose my brother would easily recognize as my mongoose style. She let loose with a flurry of strikes, and I batted them aside waiting for the right moment when she was caught up in her speed. My arm wrapped around hers and I guided her body with mine, turning her around back towards the register. I unwound my arm from hers and gave her a firm push, sending her stumbling back to where she started. I was chuckling. This was actually rather fun. She was still fuming. she pointed firmly towards the door and I gave a curt nod, leaving the shop. There was a man standing by the exit, someone about as tall as myself, although his face was blurred like everyone else's. I got the feeling he was highly amused at the fight, and something gave me the impression he was the girl's father. No idea where that thought came from. I just stepped out the door.
It was still dark outside. In the faint moonlight, I could see that the surrounding buildings were of the pueblo style, and it looked like a kind of market place. There was even a sizeable dining area with tables and benches. Yet the whole place was empty, not a soul around save for the shop behind me. I kept walking.
Just beyond the tables was a row of two long buildings, drastically different in architectural style. They looked like the wing of a school complex, rather like Bishop Amat High School. Except not. There was a grassy strip in between the buildings, and I followed this down towards a street. The sky started to lighten up, but became overcast as clouds and fog rolled in.
The grass lead to a broad swatch along the street corner, and as I approached a pair of school children came out from the fog, running and playing around. Their faces were blurred just like the people in the shop. Although this felt a little creepy. I slowly backed away and entered one of the buildings through a conveniently placed door.
Inside looked almost exactly like a school. There was a trophy case just inside the entrance surrounded by a dark wood paneling. I walked up to find a long narrow hallway lined on both sides by lockers and entrances to classrooms. The lights overhead weren't on, but there was just enough illumination to see the doors at the end of the hall. It took only a minute to walk down there, and I emerged from those doors practically back where I had started.
The market place was decked out with skulls and black streamers. It was populated by a crowd in costume. Skull masks. Calaveras. It was the day of the dead. There was a long table not to far away by a dead tree covered in streamers. A number of people were seated there, and I got the sense that they were family. Makes sense. They were speaking spanish and I couldn't understand a word. Their faces were blurred as well.
I walked over, took a seat at the head of the table, and then I was woken up by the sounds of the morning.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hm.
This was a strange one. I was in my backyard of my old house. While it was not unusual for me to have a machete while doing yard work, it was odd that I was using one to carve out a bokken from a branch. Once finished, I set aside the metal blade for the wooden one and made a few cuts with it.
My eyes caught sight of a strange aircraft overhead. It was shaped like an arrowhead with twin turbofan engines in the middle of the hull directed downward and the rest of the body being merely a frame and an open cockpit in the middle. It landed between the garage and the patio, it's pilot jumping out of his weird aircraft to enter the house through the backdoor. So of course I followed.
My bokken disappeared as I entered, and I strangely found myself in the kitchen I have at the place I'm staying at now. Along with the big orange form of Benjamin J. Grimm. The Ever Lovin' Blue-eyed Thing himself. Which is strange since I'm not a Fantastic Four fan.
After listening to him gripe for a minute, I continued on through the kitchen to emerge in a darkened room to see another member of the Fantastic Four, the Invisible Woman, doing battle with an armored foe. Not doctor doom, this was some kind of rust orange knight. Her force fields were illuminated with each blow, revealing themselves to be in an ornate shield shape. She seemed to be doing well until her foe teleported behind her. Reaching out a bronzed gauntlet, he touched the back of her neck and she fainted dead away.
Perhaps the most bizarre part of this dream, the armored warrior took off his helmet, revealing a tuft of black hair behind the collar. A head popped up, and a diminutive man jumped out, followed by another. Apparently he stood on this friend's shoulders in order to fill out the armor. They ran off in search of a treasure that would apparently restore their voices, although I'm at a loss to explain how I knew this.
The "camera" then floated through a barred window and outside to a darkened field. It was night, and I soon found myself in the middle of a strange zoo, with different animals both inside and out of the cages. There was a dog looking up at me with a strange smile, as well as a monkey hanging off a branch some distance to my right. Not knowing what else to do, I started slowly backing away and took a path to my left to get out of there.
As I walked down the path, a ghostly figure emerged from the darkness. As it drew closer, it was revealed to be a young woman in jeans and an unusual white sweater. I thought it was sleeveless at first, but rather the sleeves had a zipper going lengthwise which she had undone, revealing particularly skinny arms. I thought of Abigail Whistler in the latest Blade movie. Different outfit, but the same kind of sleeves.
Her hair was a dark brown that appeared almost black in this darkness. There was something behind her brown eyes. Picture a spotlight with a cloak thrown over it. Even though the cloak blots out most of the light, you can tell it would be blinding to look directly at it without it. That's what it felt like to look in her eyes.
I was wondering what a girl like her was doing in a place like this, and in reply to my thoughts, she said she was looking for a gyrfalcon. Unusual, since I didn't notice a falconer's glove on her arm, but I didn't question it. I walked on, and she stepped up next to me, following along. I don't recall asking her anything, but in due course I found out that she was taking classes at the local college. Something she wasn't too enthusiastic about as it was her mother's idea.
As we were walking on, I had the strongest urge to hold her hand, but as we've just met that would've been much too forward. But again, as if in reply to my thoughts, she threaded her arm around mine. The sky started to lighten in a morning twilight. Before long, it was a light blue, the day bringing out the orange in the leaves overhead and on the ground. The path lead through a small patch of trees and in between two gray apartment buildings.
It lead up a hill and as we climbed, I commented that she reminded me of someone. She did feel eerily familiar, even her smile, but she didn't reply. Instead, she said she was due at an engagement party. Again, her mother's idea, as was the marriage. I got the feeling she'd rather not go through with it. I said as much, and she said that she must "play her role". An odd thing to say, but I guess dreams are never normal.
There was a strong tension between us. I don't want to say sexual tension, although I'll admit, she was certainly more attractive than most of my dream girls. It felt like there was a lot left unsaid between us. Things that both of us knew without saying, should address, but are hesitant to do so. It felt like that almost from the beginning, and even moreso now with her arm in mine.
I blinked, and I suddenly found myself seated next to her on a couch in what appeared to be a hotel room. We weren't alone, there seemed to be a kind of party going on. People were talking, there were drinks in hand, and she looked rather alone. Someone had said she needed a snack, so I rose from my seat to get her something. There was an oven in the wall, and as I opened it, I took out a few bottles, closed it up, and turned it on before the absurdity dawned on me.
She seemed to have gotten impatient with the party. She grabbed my arm and pulled. The next thing I knew, we were standing in the middle of the street at the top of a hill. She walked on, and I followed, watching the sky darken overhead. I recognized this street. As we kept going, I knew we were going to find the mall, and she lead me down into the parking garage. The orange lights were on, but instead of parking spaces, I found a police station populated with all kinds of unusual people and men in uniform leading them to and fro.
As we walked on, she seemed to wither before me. She felt more frail, her hair whitened, and yet her face still kept some youthfulness, particularly in her eyes. At last, she stopped before a desk, took a seat, and said she had one last thing for me. She took a pen in hand and started writing on a plain sheet of paper left there.
A slight burning sensation in my chest had me gasping for breath. I had to stifle the urge to upchuck as I opened my eyes and sat up in bed. Waking up via acid reflux is not a pleasant sensation.
The first part of the dream I have no explanation for. Although yesterday, I did run into an old acquaintance of mine. She was heading towards the rail station, and I took the opportunity to catch up with her on the way. That's most likely where my subconscious got the idea of me escorting a lady. Except her eyes were green, not brown, and we aren't that close. I have her sister's number, something she reminded me of yesterday, but I rarely use it.
And we never did find that falcon.
My eyes caught sight of a strange aircraft overhead. It was shaped like an arrowhead with twin turbofan engines in the middle of the hull directed downward and the rest of the body being merely a frame and an open cockpit in the middle. It landed between the garage and the patio, it's pilot jumping out of his weird aircraft to enter the house through the backdoor. So of course I followed.
My bokken disappeared as I entered, and I strangely found myself in the kitchen I have at the place I'm staying at now. Along with the big orange form of Benjamin J. Grimm. The Ever Lovin' Blue-eyed Thing himself. Which is strange since I'm not a Fantastic Four fan.
After listening to him gripe for a minute, I continued on through the kitchen to emerge in a darkened room to see another member of the Fantastic Four, the Invisible Woman, doing battle with an armored foe. Not doctor doom, this was some kind of rust orange knight. Her force fields were illuminated with each blow, revealing themselves to be in an ornate shield shape. She seemed to be doing well until her foe teleported behind her. Reaching out a bronzed gauntlet, he touched the back of her neck and she fainted dead away.
Perhaps the most bizarre part of this dream, the armored warrior took off his helmet, revealing a tuft of black hair behind the collar. A head popped up, and a diminutive man jumped out, followed by another. Apparently he stood on this friend's shoulders in order to fill out the armor. They ran off in search of a treasure that would apparently restore their voices, although I'm at a loss to explain how I knew this.
The "camera" then floated through a barred window and outside to a darkened field. It was night, and I soon found myself in the middle of a strange zoo, with different animals both inside and out of the cages. There was a dog looking up at me with a strange smile, as well as a monkey hanging off a branch some distance to my right. Not knowing what else to do, I started slowly backing away and took a path to my left to get out of there.
As I walked down the path, a ghostly figure emerged from the darkness. As it drew closer, it was revealed to be a young woman in jeans and an unusual white sweater. I thought it was sleeveless at first, but rather the sleeves had a zipper going lengthwise which she had undone, revealing particularly skinny arms. I thought of Abigail Whistler in the latest Blade movie. Different outfit, but the same kind of sleeves.
Her hair was a dark brown that appeared almost black in this darkness. There was something behind her brown eyes. Picture a spotlight with a cloak thrown over it. Even though the cloak blots out most of the light, you can tell it would be blinding to look directly at it without it. That's what it felt like to look in her eyes.
I was wondering what a girl like her was doing in a place like this, and in reply to my thoughts, she said she was looking for a gyrfalcon. Unusual, since I didn't notice a falconer's glove on her arm, but I didn't question it. I walked on, and she stepped up next to me, following along. I don't recall asking her anything, but in due course I found out that she was taking classes at the local college. Something she wasn't too enthusiastic about as it was her mother's idea.
As we were walking on, I had the strongest urge to hold her hand, but as we've just met that would've been much too forward. But again, as if in reply to my thoughts, she threaded her arm around mine. The sky started to lighten in a morning twilight. Before long, it was a light blue, the day bringing out the orange in the leaves overhead and on the ground. The path lead through a small patch of trees and in between two gray apartment buildings.
It lead up a hill and as we climbed, I commented that she reminded me of someone. She did feel eerily familiar, even her smile, but she didn't reply. Instead, she said she was due at an engagement party. Again, her mother's idea, as was the marriage. I got the feeling she'd rather not go through with it. I said as much, and she said that she must "play her role". An odd thing to say, but I guess dreams are never normal.
There was a strong tension between us. I don't want to say sexual tension, although I'll admit, she was certainly more attractive than most of my dream girls. It felt like there was a lot left unsaid between us. Things that both of us knew without saying, should address, but are hesitant to do so. It felt like that almost from the beginning, and even moreso now with her arm in mine.
I blinked, and I suddenly found myself seated next to her on a couch in what appeared to be a hotel room. We weren't alone, there seemed to be a kind of party going on. People were talking, there were drinks in hand, and she looked rather alone. Someone had said she needed a snack, so I rose from my seat to get her something. There was an oven in the wall, and as I opened it, I took out a few bottles, closed it up, and turned it on before the absurdity dawned on me.
She seemed to have gotten impatient with the party. She grabbed my arm and pulled. The next thing I knew, we were standing in the middle of the street at the top of a hill. She walked on, and I followed, watching the sky darken overhead. I recognized this street. As we kept going, I knew we were going to find the mall, and she lead me down into the parking garage. The orange lights were on, but instead of parking spaces, I found a police station populated with all kinds of unusual people and men in uniform leading them to and fro.
As we walked on, she seemed to wither before me. She felt more frail, her hair whitened, and yet her face still kept some youthfulness, particularly in her eyes. At last, she stopped before a desk, took a seat, and said she had one last thing for me. She took a pen in hand and started writing on a plain sheet of paper left there.
A slight burning sensation in my chest had me gasping for breath. I had to stifle the urge to upchuck as I opened my eyes and sat up in bed. Waking up via acid reflux is not a pleasant sensation.
The first part of the dream I have no explanation for. Although yesterday, I did run into an old acquaintance of mine. She was heading towards the rail station, and I took the opportunity to catch up with her on the way. That's most likely where my subconscious got the idea of me escorting a lady. Except her eyes were green, not brown, and we aren't that close. I have her sister's number, something she reminded me of yesterday, but I rarely use it.
And we never did find that falcon.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Deja Vu All Over Again
It's been awhile since I've had one of my soldier dreams. I should have known that playing Halo 3:ODST would bring them back up again. This game actually reminds me of an earlier dream I had, except instead of minotaurs, ODST has ape like creatures called brutes. And I'll take a drop pod over a free fall any day.
It felt like one of my usual walkabouts, Glendale at night. Right in the alleyway behind my usual coffee shop, specifically. It leads off into some shops and restaurants, though quite a few of them have closed down thanks to the economy. My boots ground little bits of gravel into the concrete as I walked down the middle of the alley. The moon overhead gave plenty of light, but none of the electrics seem to be functioning as shadows enveloped the nooks and crannies in either side. Perfect for an ambush, but I'm keeping my eyes and my ears open.
I heard an animal like snarl up ahead and dove into one of those shadows, pressing myself against the wall. Stealing another glance into my hiding spot, I inched my way deeper and crouched between the wall and a ramp leading to a delivery entrance for a shop. I've no idea where the sub-machine gun came from, but I was staring along the suppressor waiting for a target. Slow, steady breaths. Twenty seconds later and I was starting to wonder if I had imagined it (can one imagine in a dream? I think so, oddly enough O_o). The sight of a furry paw holding a plasma rifle belied that thought, and I held my breath waiting to see if it would react.
As the creature walked on by, I listened and waited to see if it was alone before slowly creeping my way towards the corner. A quick glance around didn't reveal any followers. I emerged from my hiding spot and followed the creature. My gun went up as it stood straighter, slinging it's weapons across it's back. It continued down the alley, and I crept up behind it as quietly as I could. Then I gave it a solid buttstroke to the back of it's neck. For such a large, strong creature, it has surprisingly weak vertebrae.
Unlike in the game, it went down with an audible thump that blew up a sizeable cloud of dust, causing a loose piece of cardboard to tumble into the air. I swung my weapon around, but there didn't seem to be any other enemies in the area. Yet I kept alert as I walked back down the alley.
It opened into a small courtyard with a few short sets of stairs leading down towards the street and up towards the parking garage. And sitting on a bench right in the middle of it all was a statue of Benjamin Franklin. A curious place to find him, not as unusual as the brass pigeon feet atop the bench to his left. I've always wondered what happened to those birds. Was it an accident, or was some vandal feeling crazy one night? Probably the latter.
A sharp yelp caught my attention from the left. A troop of grunts, small simian like creatures wearing methane tanks that had a shape reminiscent of snails, and come around the corner, their leader spotting me. I drew the pistol from my left hip and aimed directly for the head. Three shots later had three of them on the ground. The fourth opened up with his needler weapon on full blast. I dove behind a planter, the needles locking onto Ben. He blew up in a crystalline crash and a puff of pink smoke as the needles exploded. He was avenged with another headshot a second later.
I checked the bodies to make sure, and scavenged a few plasma grenades while I was at it. They would help if I ran into some more heavily armored brutes. Walking on past an abandoned cafe, I made it to the main street. I had expected burning hulks of cars and charred debris with bodies strewn all over the place. That just made the emptiness all the more ominous. Not even an abandoned car in sight. Just dark buildings bathed in moonlight.
The crosswalk was usually lit, kind of a novelty but such things are expected in this town. And beyond that was the sculpture fountain in front of an office building that housed a few restaurants. The Olive Garden held some particularly fond memories for me. Other memories, not so fondly remembered, came to mind as well. As long ago as that kiss was, I could've lived without it. I pressed my hand against the window looking at that booth, remembering a face I would've preferred to have seen sitting across from me. And then I noticed the green glow and the loud whine if a charging plasma weapon.
Falling to my knees, I rolled to the side just as the window and a part of the floor had vaporized, leaving behind a molten slag around the edges. I barely had enough time to scramble to my feet and jump away as a huge blade came down on me. The monstrosity before me looked almost like an armored knight with a razored shield. Except instead of a sword or lance, it carried a plasma cannon mounted on it's arm. And the armor housed a colony of eel like worms, joined together with only one purpose. Destruction.
For a moment, I hesitated. The magnum had enough punch to take it down, but I'll need a few clear shots. Something the Hunter wasn't about to give me. If I strayed too far, I'd be an easy shot for that plasma cannon. But if I got too close, it'd cut me in half with that shield. That limits my options. So I took my pistol in my right hand and primed a plasma grenade in my left. It's blue glow lit up the night around us, and the Hunter hunkered down preparing to charge. Let's dance.
I sidestepped as it ran forward, swinging it's shield in an uppercut. I threw the grenade, watching it adhere to the exposed orange flesh of the eels. The Hunter swung it's other arm around to smack me with the cannon, and I jumped back letting loose a few shots from the magnum. My bullets pinged against it's armor, but the grenade blew with a gout of blue flame. The Hunter lurched with the explosion, but didn't fall.
It charged me once again, this time knocking me back a few yards. I could feel my ribs bruise with the impact but I didn't have any time to dwell on them as it opened fire with it's cannon. I fell back into the fountain as the green plasma bolts flew overhead. I wish I had planned that, but it worked for the moment. Vaulting back over to the floor, I ran right up to it, dodging it's next blow, and primed another plasma grenade. I fired a shot at it's exposed "neck" and it whirled, nearly decapitating me with the shield. I shoved my fist right through the body of worm-like creatures and released the grenade. As it flailed around, it knocked me back through the window of the restaurant, leaving a crack in my visor through which I saw it collapse with another burst of flame. This time, it didn't move again.
Walking back through the window, I nudged the charred armor with the nose of my SMG. It was dead alright. I was down a few rounds on the magnum, and I was out of grenades. It would be a lot harder to take down another one. And seeing another green glow off in the distance I remembered. Hunters always travel in pairs.
I let out a long burst from my SMG, hoping to deter it from firing. No luck. The plasma bolt washed over my arm, throwing me around with the impact. My gun was slagged along with my hand and a part of my arm. Oddly, it didn't hurt. But I didn't have time to dwell on it as another green glow caught my eyes. I picked myself up and shielded myself with it's defeated partner.
I could hear it edge closer, the pounding of it's feet punctuated by the shuffling of it's armor plates. I took up the magnum in my let hand. Without any grenades, this is going to call for some fancy footwork. Stepping up from my hiding spot, I ran, closing the distance with the Hunter. I fired a shot to it's faceplate and it slammed it's shield down to swat at me. I dodged clumsily, but managed to get behind it, shooting at it's exposed flesh. I got a few shots in before my pistol clicked, empty. Then I ran behind a pillar for cover.
A plasma bolt struck my hiding spot, raining debris upon my head. I was trying to figure out how to reload one handed when the sharp crack of a rifle broke the air. The sound was repeated, and I heard the crash of metal as the Hunter hit the ground hard. A glance around confirmed that it was indeed down, and I looked around to see where the help had come from.
Movement from a far rooftop had caught my eye, and a dark figure with a sniper rifle was waving. I couldn't tell if it was anyone I knew from this distance. But I knew how to get up there. I ran back across the street, and up the stairs of the parking garage. It was a simple jump from the third level, but I haven't tried it with one arm. Thankfully, I was still able to grab onto the railing and pull myself up. Grasping the lower rung of the fire escape was more challenging.
I had to swing my legs up against the wall awkwardly to make it, but I was able to make my way up to the edge of the roof. A firm hand grabbed the straps on my suit and tugged, helping me the rest of the way. I collapsed onto the rooftop, gazing at a pair of combat boots when the identifier tag for my helper lit up on my HUD. Yet before I could read it, or look at his face, I blinked my eyes with the faint sunlight coming in through my bedroom curtains.
Not that I mind getting down and dirty with the fighting, but I'm usually the one with the sniper rifle. What's up with that?
It felt like one of my usual walkabouts, Glendale at night. Right in the alleyway behind my usual coffee shop, specifically. It leads off into some shops and restaurants, though quite a few of them have closed down thanks to the economy. My boots ground little bits of gravel into the concrete as I walked down the middle of the alley. The moon overhead gave plenty of light, but none of the electrics seem to be functioning as shadows enveloped the nooks and crannies in either side. Perfect for an ambush, but I'm keeping my eyes and my ears open.
I heard an animal like snarl up ahead and dove into one of those shadows, pressing myself against the wall. Stealing another glance into my hiding spot, I inched my way deeper and crouched between the wall and a ramp leading to a delivery entrance for a shop. I've no idea where the sub-machine gun came from, but I was staring along the suppressor waiting for a target. Slow, steady breaths. Twenty seconds later and I was starting to wonder if I had imagined it (can one imagine in a dream? I think so, oddly enough O_o). The sight of a furry paw holding a plasma rifle belied that thought, and I held my breath waiting to see if it would react.
As the creature walked on by, I listened and waited to see if it was alone before slowly creeping my way towards the corner. A quick glance around didn't reveal any followers. I emerged from my hiding spot and followed the creature. My gun went up as it stood straighter, slinging it's weapons across it's back. It continued down the alley, and I crept up behind it as quietly as I could. Then I gave it a solid buttstroke to the back of it's neck. For such a large, strong creature, it has surprisingly weak vertebrae.
Unlike in the game, it went down with an audible thump that blew up a sizeable cloud of dust, causing a loose piece of cardboard to tumble into the air. I swung my weapon around, but there didn't seem to be any other enemies in the area. Yet I kept alert as I walked back down the alley.
It opened into a small courtyard with a few short sets of stairs leading down towards the street and up towards the parking garage. And sitting on a bench right in the middle of it all was a statue of Benjamin Franklin. A curious place to find him, not as unusual as the brass pigeon feet atop the bench to his left. I've always wondered what happened to those birds. Was it an accident, or was some vandal feeling crazy one night? Probably the latter.
A sharp yelp caught my attention from the left. A troop of grunts, small simian like creatures wearing methane tanks that had a shape reminiscent of snails, and come around the corner, their leader spotting me. I drew the pistol from my left hip and aimed directly for the head. Three shots later had three of them on the ground. The fourth opened up with his needler weapon on full blast. I dove behind a planter, the needles locking onto Ben. He blew up in a crystalline crash and a puff of pink smoke as the needles exploded. He was avenged with another headshot a second later.
I checked the bodies to make sure, and scavenged a few plasma grenades while I was at it. They would help if I ran into some more heavily armored brutes. Walking on past an abandoned cafe, I made it to the main street. I had expected burning hulks of cars and charred debris with bodies strewn all over the place. That just made the emptiness all the more ominous. Not even an abandoned car in sight. Just dark buildings bathed in moonlight.
The crosswalk was usually lit, kind of a novelty but such things are expected in this town. And beyond that was the sculpture fountain in front of an office building that housed a few restaurants. The Olive Garden held some particularly fond memories for me. Other memories, not so fondly remembered, came to mind as well. As long ago as that kiss was, I could've lived without it. I pressed my hand against the window looking at that booth, remembering a face I would've preferred to have seen sitting across from me. And then I noticed the green glow and the loud whine if a charging plasma weapon.
Falling to my knees, I rolled to the side just as the window and a part of the floor had vaporized, leaving behind a molten slag around the edges. I barely had enough time to scramble to my feet and jump away as a huge blade came down on me. The monstrosity before me looked almost like an armored knight with a razored shield. Except instead of a sword or lance, it carried a plasma cannon mounted on it's arm. And the armor housed a colony of eel like worms, joined together with only one purpose. Destruction.
For a moment, I hesitated. The magnum had enough punch to take it down, but I'll need a few clear shots. Something the Hunter wasn't about to give me. If I strayed too far, I'd be an easy shot for that plasma cannon. But if I got too close, it'd cut me in half with that shield. That limits my options. So I took my pistol in my right hand and primed a plasma grenade in my left. It's blue glow lit up the night around us, and the Hunter hunkered down preparing to charge. Let's dance.
I sidestepped as it ran forward, swinging it's shield in an uppercut. I threw the grenade, watching it adhere to the exposed orange flesh of the eels. The Hunter swung it's other arm around to smack me with the cannon, and I jumped back letting loose a few shots from the magnum. My bullets pinged against it's armor, but the grenade blew with a gout of blue flame. The Hunter lurched with the explosion, but didn't fall.
It charged me once again, this time knocking me back a few yards. I could feel my ribs bruise with the impact but I didn't have any time to dwell on them as it opened fire with it's cannon. I fell back into the fountain as the green plasma bolts flew overhead. I wish I had planned that, but it worked for the moment. Vaulting back over to the floor, I ran right up to it, dodging it's next blow, and primed another plasma grenade. I fired a shot at it's exposed "neck" and it whirled, nearly decapitating me with the shield. I shoved my fist right through the body of worm-like creatures and released the grenade. As it flailed around, it knocked me back through the window of the restaurant, leaving a crack in my visor through which I saw it collapse with another burst of flame. This time, it didn't move again.
Walking back through the window, I nudged the charred armor with the nose of my SMG. It was dead alright. I was down a few rounds on the magnum, and I was out of grenades. It would be a lot harder to take down another one. And seeing another green glow off in the distance I remembered. Hunters always travel in pairs.
I let out a long burst from my SMG, hoping to deter it from firing. No luck. The plasma bolt washed over my arm, throwing me around with the impact. My gun was slagged along with my hand and a part of my arm. Oddly, it didn't hurt. But I didn't have time to dwell on it as another green glow caught my eyes. I picked myself up and shielded myself with it's defeated partner.
I could hear it edge closer, the pounding of it's feet punctuated by the shuffling of it's armor plates. I took up the magnum in my let hand. Without any grenades, this is going to call for some fancy footwork. Stepping up from my hiding spot, I ran, closing the distance with the Hunter. I fired a shot to it's faceplate and it slammed it's shield down to swat at me. I dodged clumsily, but managed to get behind it, shooting at it's exposed flesh. I got a few shots in before my pistol clicked, empty. Then I ran behind a pillar for cover.
A plasma bolt struck my hiding spot, raining debris upon my head. I was trying to figure out how to reload one handed when the sharp crack of a rifle broke the air. The sound was repeated, and I heard the crash of metal as the Hunter hit the ground hard. A glance around confirmed that it was indeed down, and I looked around to see where the help had come from.
Movement from a far rooftop had caught my eye, and a dark figure with a sniper rifle was waving. I couldn't tell if it was anyone I knew from this distance. But I knew how to get up there. I ran back across the street, and up the stairs of the parking garage. It was a simple jump from the third level, but I haven't tried it with one arm. Thankfully, I was still able to grab onto the railing and pull myself up. Grasping the lower rung of the fire escape was more challenging.
I had to swing my legs up against the wall awkwardly to make it, but I was able to make my way up to the edge of the roof. A firm hand grabbed the straps on my suit and tugged, helping me the rest of the way. I collapsed onto the rooftop, gazing at a pair of combat boots when the identifier tag for my helper lit up on my HUD. Yet before I could read it, or look at his face, I blinked my eyes with the faint sunlight coming in through my bedroom curtains.
Not that I mind getting down and dirty with the fighting, but I'm usually the one with the sniper rifle. What's up with that?
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