The Villain
Researcher’s new project, dubbed “Weapon” was in full swing, with a prototype
in development, codenamed “Decim8r.” This creepy looking monster of a robot
had six arms, an extremity that looked like yet another arm that came over its
head, two legs and a weaponized tail. There wasn’t much of a color scheme,
since it was still in the development stage. The dark grey and metallic black
form looked eerie, especially with its flickering red eyes.
Just
as the Villain Leaders had said, Darkon, the head of the Villain Researchers
was given any materials he deemed necessary for this undertaking. The reasoning
for this project was mostly to create an extremely powerful, intimidating robot
capable of hunting down targets and bringing said targets back to the Villains;
dead or alive. It was planned for the creation to be tall, armed to the teeth,
able to withstand powerful blows to any part of the body and to take down
and/or apprehend any subject. The Researchers had hopes that this creation
would help them sniff out the Experiment, if it was still alive, roaming the
outskirts of the Capitol City, somehow. But, this fact was not revealed to the
Villain Leaders. The Leaders had hopes that the completion of Project Weapon
would assist in taking down the very Hunters who had killed a squadron of
Searchers.
In
the end, this… thing… was going to be deadly! Heroes and Strays alike would be
extremely lucky to survive an attack from this monstrosity.
--
In response to the
death of the Searcher squadron, the Searchers and City Guards were on high
alert, deviating from their normal searches from time to time to see if they
could catch anyone off guard. This was done by the request of the Leaders. But,
this became a concern for the Alliance. They now had to make full use of their
Square system, keeping an eye out at all times. They had to be more cautious
then they had before. Rumor eventually came around as to why the deviations in
patrols came about, and that made Drack, Sheer’s former partner, start fearing
a battle might ensue. Drack and his current partner, Cain occasionally spoke
about such things. But, for now, there was only one flare between a gang of
Hunters and the Searchers.
--
Jerin, Oran and
Callibur had just left the Hatch and were heading out to set up a new radar
scanner. Oran was able to get the parts needed to build the scanner from a
house and a shop quite a ways away from the House. It was a dangerous mission,
since it was outside the range of the Square radar scanners. But, Oran and
Callibur made it back home safely. A gang of Hunters had been scouring the area
the two Alliance members had been in, so they had to be extra cautious.
Fortunately, a squad of Searchers was on their regular patrol, and scared them
off. The Searchers took off after them, keeping that whole group of Villains
distracted while the Stray and Hero picked up what they needed and got back to
the Hatch as quickly as they could. Now, they had to take a risk to plant this
scanner in an inconspicuous place in order to keep track of the areas surrounding
Alliance hideouts. They’d been successful so far. If they’re able to place this
last scanner, they would have “eyes” completely surrounding the Hatch and the
House, helping them know who was where at all times in those particular areas.
The
two Strays were setting up the radar detector under some rubble inside an
abandoned garage. One of the other perks of having this scanner was to also
keep Villains from detecting the presence of Strays and Heroes. It would not
simply jam their machines. That would be far too obvious. No, this would keep
the blips of anyone, except other Villains, from showing up on the Villain’s
scanner display. A much more strategic way.
Minutes
passed, and there seemed to be no Villain presence, according to the Square
module Oran was holding. Oran, Jerin and Callibur felt relief in that fact. But,
then again, the small module itself didn’t scan as far as the radar domes they
had been secretly placing could scan. So, there was still a possibility of a
surprise. The three Alliance members knew that the City Guards and Searchers,
if they were on their usual patrols, would not be passing by for a little
while. But, there was always the possibility of a patrol deviation, because of
the recent actions of a Hunter gang. If those Hunters were low enough to have
killed other Villains, then who know what atrocities would be done to the
Alliance.
“We
just have to set up the solar panel to give this baby power,” Oran stated, in a
hushed tone. “Then, when this is set up, we’ll be able to track other things,
plus have communication abilities as well, since the domes boost radio and radar waves. But, we had better get
out of here as soon as I hook it up, and we know it works. Hmm… I feel like
someone is lurking around here somewhere…”
His
words trailed off as the three looked all around to see if there truly was anyone
watching. Oran plugged the solar panel in to the radar dome, which was covered
up, and hid the panel as well, but put it in a position where it would not be
spotted easily at all. The dome would run from battery power at night and the battery
would charge from the solar panel provided by day light.
“Alright.
Powering up in 3… 2… 1… Annnnndddd…. There we go! We have power. Let’s get out
of here, now.” Oran said.
The
Strays and Hero stepped out of the crumbled garage and into the open. Even
though they now had the radar hooked up to the Square devices, Jerin still felt
a sense of exposure. But, they could never be too careful. Snooping around was
still the option Jerin thought best.
“Though
we now have the radar, we should remain cautious during our venture to the
House. Who knows what might happen.” Jerin said as soon as they stepped out of
the garage.
“Wise
decision,” Callibur responded.
“Very
well then,” Oran also said.
So
that’s what they did.
Moments
later, Oran looked down at the monitor of the Square in his hand. Red blips
began appearing from their rear. A yellow dot, which indicates a projectile,
was heading straight for the three of them.
Oran
said to himself on the inside, “No, no, no! This isn’t supposed to happen yet!”
Oran
stated in an alarmed voice, “Incoming!”
Oran
turned around just in time to see a missile heading right for his face. The
Hero and other Stray did the same thing.
“AGGHHH!” The
three simultaneously shouted.
BOOM!!
Debris
was blasted everywhere.
--
Smoke arose from
the blasted zone.
“It
looks like the target was hit, Ma’am.” A City Guard stated, missile launcher
still in his hands, eyes still on where the missile struck.
“Very
good. But, you know how those Hunters scatter like frightened creatures. Send
in a squad to give me a full report of the damage and to see if we can catch
any of those sorry traitors,” Barah, a City Guard commander instructed. Though
there were few female Villains in commanding positions, she was seen as one of
the cruelest of the Guards. She rarely failed a mission, and was determined to
keep it that way. She was quite the strategist as well, depending as little as
possible on technologies such as radar to track down her targets.
“Move
it!” Barah commanded.
“Right
away, Ma’am!” her underlings said.
The
squad of Guards began running towards the targets, thinking they had just
blasted away a gang of Hunters.
“The
Leaders will be pleased to hear of this victory, Ma’am,” the Villain who
launched the missile said, as he rose from his crouched position.
“Indeed
they would be!” Barah said, with an evil smile, yellow eyes glimmering.
To Be Continued
