With his back against the construction trailer, he searched for something he could use. He saw a small rock and picked it up. He chucked the rock into the opening pathway near the construction trailer. The guard took notice, tensing up, and taking the safety off his weapon. The guard began scanning the area, inching forward, searching for the source of the noise. Perfect. He’s jumpier than I thought he’d be, Caiden thought. The guard got closer to Caiden’s location. Caiden watched him intently, before slipping to his left and around to the front of the trailer.
“Alpha leader report. Potential intruder. Investigating possible intrusion,” Caiden heard the guard say. He stopped in his tracks and waited for a few seconds in silence. “Alpha leader, threat is nonexistent, I repeat, no threat detected,” the guard said, sounding relieved.
Before the guard could turn around he felt powerful kick to his left ankle. He tried to turn around but his legs were kicked out from under him. He felt someone’s arms reach around and cover his neck and mouth. He was in a chokehold so he couldn’t yell or radio in for help. Before long, the world around him slowly faded to black.
Like the secret agent in Prime Minister Honda’s yard, Caiden used a powerful takedown he learned from his former sensei to eliminate the threat. He searched the guard and found eight small EMP charges. He pocketed them and headed for the entrance. He made a note of every detail as he climbed the stairs to the second floor, stopped, and put his NOVO Lenses on standby.
“This is excellent. Such a stupendous occasion!” a gleeful Dr. Stein proclaimed at the mere sight of Caiden.
“Stein!” Caiden said with intensity.
“Welcome, dear boy!”
This mezzanine floor was built to have two levels on a single floor. There was approximately fifty yards of semi-open space. There were large support beams lying about as well as a bunch of concrete slabs. Dr. Stein was standing above, on a metal overpass, surveying the rest of the floor.
Yvora was tied up at the back of the room. This floor, like the others, was devoid of walls as the building was nowhere near completion. The building was open to the elements. It was a breezy night. The strong silver glow of the moon loomed over the building. Caiden could feel a surge of unbridled rage and disgust rise to the center of his chest as he bore witness to Yvora, tied up to a vertical support beam, barely conscious.
“Yvora!” he yelled.
“Caiden! You came,” she said. Her voice shook and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Yes, yes, of course. The she is sole reason you have come. The beautiful, perfectly proportioned Yvora Blue. Under other circumstances I would definitely love to taste…”
“Say another word and these bullets will find new residence in your fucking head, asshole!”
Caiden promised.
“Afraid I can’t let ya do that, kid,” a voice said as two figures emerged from the shadows behind thick support pillars.
Of course; the two heat signatures I saw earlier. Didn’t think it would be these guys, Caiden thought to himself.
“Oh, where are my manners? May I introduce to you to…” Stein said, before he was cut off.
“Franki Butcher and Neo Masamune. Shoulda known Zonos would make Chimera their lapdogs for something like this,” Caiden said.
“Hey, I remember this kid!” Franki said.
“Yeah, he was the asshole who bumped into us at the Bazaar!” Neo exclaimed.
“Stein, let Yvora go!” Caiden demanded.
“I can’t do that now. I want to have a little bit of fun! I finally get to see the Fayte bloodline in action! And I’ll be damned if I am denied such pleasures. None of my pleasures have ever been denied without consequence! If you don’t comply, I’ll shoot the girl! However, you may be able to save the girl if you can defeat these two gentlemen right now,” Stein said.
“The fuck kind of sick twisted antics are these? Why involve an innocent woman? Typical of a serial rapist and murderer, huh?” Caiden shouted angrily.
“Ooh, you are well informed of my artistic endeavors, aren’t you? Gentlemen, why don’t you go and have a little fun!” Stein said as he ordered the two hitmen to attack Caiden.
Caiden activated his NOVO Lenses. Neo’s extendable cybernetic arm shot straight at him with his massive katana in hand, leaving Caiden little time to react properly. Caiden calculated its trajectory with the NOVO Lenses, tucking and rolling to his left as the blade missed him by an inch. Before he could stand, Franki Butcher rushed him with surprising speed. Caiden pushed himself into a backward rolling somersault to evade Franki’s massive fist. Franki’s fist crashed into, and severely cracked the thick concrete.
Caiden fired multiple shots at both men, hoping to maintain a healthy distance between the two to thwart their offensive assault. Neo began swinging his sword at a high speed, deflecting the bullets. Franki picked up a thick concrete slab nearby to use as a shield. What the fuck are these guys!? Caiden thought to himself as he hid behind a support pillar. Franki and Neo suddenly appeared on each side of the pillar.
Caiden dodged the dangerous sword strike but was left with little room to block a powerful punch from Franki. He put his left arm in front of his head as he braced his body for the impact. Franki connected with a bone crunching punch that sent Caiden flying past Neo and into a pile of metal beams. Caiden’s entire body was in excruciating pain from the impact of the punch and
