Gripping the hilt of her katana tightly in her left hand, Delta slipped down the metal-walled corridor. The bunker looked abandoned, she thought, but there was always the chance that someone had stayed behind precisely in case of an unwelcome visitor. Furthermore, the Rikti were no more stupid than their human counterparts, and they knew full well how to boobytrap an unused base. It was even, she told herself, likely that this entire bunker was one big trap just waiting to spring on an overly curious hero or government agent like herself to poke her nose into someplace it didn't belong. She could be almost certain that *some* sort of nasty surprise was waiting for her, it was just a matter of determing what kind of surprise it would be.
Still, she was not able to pay as much attention to her environment as she would like. If the weapon in her left hand was her only real defense, the radiation gauge in her right might well be her only warning. Intelligence reports indicated the Rikti had evacuated this base because of problems with radiation surges from their equipment. Since previous research had strongly implied that the aliens did *not* use nuclear power sources, this was viewed as both an odd and disturbing development, and she had been sent to find out why. That she might possibly have the opportunity to access the base's computer systems while there was nobody on hand to stop her was just a bonus.
Thus far, the gauge had barely flickered. Radiation levels were higher than normal, roughly five times the ten microroentgen per hour exposure one would experience above groud, but not so excessive as to pose a particular danger to human or Rikti. Either something more severe was going on deeper in the facility, or the intelligence reports were inaccurate. Again.
Was it a trap? Possibly, she told herself. That was the problem with traps, though; you could never be certain of one until you'd spring it. She continued to sweep the area with her eyes for movement, checking the gauge periodically for changes. She hated the distraction--it took her away from her established routine of an infiltration--but it was necessary. If there was anything she might encounter that her experimentally-amplified mutant regeneration powers would be unlikely to handle, it was a sudden lethal dose of radiation.
Nothing. The corridor was empty, and came to an abrupt end at a heavy security door. She pressed the meter up against the door, hoping to get some idea of what might be on the other side in terms of radation, but either there was nothing different or the door was too well-shielded to allow her a reading. Tapping at the electronic lock, she was surprised to see that it still had power. Whatever reason had provoked the Rikti to leave, they had done so quickly.
Or at least, she corrected herself, they had wanted it to look that way.
It took her only a about a minute to crack the lock; she had seen others much like this one before. The doors opened slowly, revealing a room full of heavy computer equipment... and a Rikti drone. The radiation gauge in her hand clattered to the floor as she held her sword in both hands, and she felt her heart rate surge as she tapped into her second mutant gift of superspeed. She leapt forward, intent on finishing off the machine before it could sound an alarm...
...then came up short. It was inactive, mounted on what looked to be some sort of diagnostic stand. The computers in the room appeared to still be running; stepping to one of them, she tapped at some keys. She didn't know enough of the Rikti language to try to crack this one, but she had equipment for that. Pulling up a device from her belt, she connected it to the computer's data-reader unit, and flipped it on.
Of all the equipment she had been given to work with, this automated code-cracker was the device she understood the least. In theory, it was supposed to be able to interface with any computer system, decipher its functions, then break its security and copy any data there might be to find. Practically, it was decidedly less effective than that... but they had learned enough, at least, about Rikti computers that it could crack *these* machines quite well. It took about thirty seconds, she observed, before data started scrolling across its tiny screen too fast for her to read.
She had almost allowed herself to become caught up in the little gadget's activity when she heard the sound. A footstep, she told herself. A *heavy* footstep, of metal boot on metal floor. Power armor, she told herself, and that would be Rikti. Another followed, then another, and another. They were getting closer. It must be a patrol, she thought to herself... one or two Rikti, by the footsteps, left here to watch for intruders. She cursed herself for not thinking of it sooner; in their power armor, they would almost certainly be shielded from any radiation issues of the base.
She was just reaching to reclaim her toy from the computer when the radiation counter at her belt shrieked an alarm. She looked down at the screen and her eyes went wide; the radiation levels in the room had just increased tenfold! Looking back up she immediately saw the reason. The far door was opening, and the radiation was flooding in from the far compartment. Worse than that, though, were the two Rikti in power armor and four drones standing on the other side of that door.
Too many energy beams, she thought. Even superspeed wouldn't get her out in time. Knowing escape was not an option, she invoked her first rule of battle: When outnumbered, attack. Charging at the first Ritki, she brought her sword around in a vicious arc even as he drew his blaster on her. The sword cut cleanly through gun and armored hand, and her follow-up attack clove helmet and head alike. By this time, the other Rikti had drawn his own sword and the drones had powered up their beam weapons. She rolled to the left to dodge the first volley of attacks, slashing out at the nearest drone as she moved. It exploded in satisfying fashion, and she leapt back to her feet to engage the others.
The drones were the bigger threat, she decided, as their beams could not be dodged. Tapping into her superspeed again, she danced through the searing strands of the interlaced web woven by the drones' beams, needing several steps to get close enough to the second to attack. Her sword flashed again, slicing the drone from bottom to top cleanly, and she moved after the third.
The Rikti's sword slashed past her then, grazing her right arm. She forced down the pain, and pushed her speed harder She needed every ounce of it for this fight, to take everything the experimental amplifications had bought her. She was moving faster than her eyes could adjust, fighting on instinct and memory. The drone had been there, she told herself, slashing out and hitting her target once again. One to go. She turned, leaping to close the distance...
...and then everything seemed to stop.
No, not stop. SLOW. Slow like she had not been since as long as she could remember. Still moving, but seemingly suspended in air for an eternity, she winced as she saw the drone's beam cannon build up for discharge. She couldn't dodge it, not like this. She closed her eyes, bracing for the pain she knew was coming...
...and it did, worse than she ever imagined it would. The cry of pain was torn form her lips as the beam struck her full-force, flinging her back against the one of the computer consoles. She dragged herself to her feet, her nerves afire. Searing pain in her right arm reminded her of the cut she had recived... it had not been that bad, had it? She tightened her grip on the blade, gritting her teeth, forcing herself to move. Still she was too slow, but her instincts were good, and training took over. One chance, she told herself. Rikti drones were relatively intelligent, but they never seemed to extrapolate on their enemies' abilities. She just needed to get a little closer. She could see the buildup as it prepared to fire again; without her speed, this would have to be perfect.
The drone fired, just as she pivoted to the left. Holding the sword in one hand, she thrust it outward as she rotated, executing a spinning attack with a bit more range than her sword appeared to have. The drone, as she expected, had calculated itself to be out of range, and was caught by the blade's tip. Only a scratch, but the impact knocked it off its balance, and by the time it corrected she had run it through.
Even as she pulled her blade free, though, the remaining Rikti had moved in on her. Its sword flashed again, and though she flung herself to one side there was no avoiding the swipe. It slashed across her body, tearing an inches-deep gash across her abdomen. She screamed, falling to the floor, clutching at her stomach with her right hand. The sword came down, and it was all she could do to roll out of the way.
Again the alien attacked, and she barely avoided it. She tried to push herself back up to her knees so she could stand, but the floor was slick with her blood, and she fell again. Rolling underneath one of the computers, she desperately fought for control; she wanted to retch, wanted to roll up in a ball, wanted to *die*, to surrender to the dizzying weakness that was starting to overcome her.
She refused. She would not die here. Not without finishing this fight. As the Rikti stepped closer, she forced herself to hold the sword with both hands again. She scrambled further underneath the computers, hoping she was out of reach. It would try to finish her off, she knew. If the Rikti had learned anything in their first days on Earth, it was that some humans were far more durable than they looked, and one could never be trusted to just die if left alone. She would play on that. It'd have to lean down with that sword of his to get to her, and she would have one chance.
That chance came. In power armor, the Rikti could not quite bend level to the floor, but it reached down with its arms, intent on skewering her with the blade. She slashed out with her own sword in that moment, cutting cleanly through one of its arms. The giant blade clattered tot he floor, and the Rikti stumbled backwards in shock and pain. She rolled out from her hiding place in that point, thrusting her sword upwards and running it through the armored torso. The alien fell backward, and before it could recover she pulled out her blade and rammed it in again with the last of her strength.
Then, finally, she fell forward, as unconsciousness took what she would not willingly give.
*****
This is the biographical information for my hero Dancing Edge. There will be a story following in this space soon, as soon as I have time to write it, but I wanted to get this out there so I could participate more effectively in the Open RP (because of Edge's background, there are certain people who might know things about her, and that's a useful RP tool...) Hopefully the first part of the story should be forthcoming in the next couple of days...
History File: Dancing Edge:
Public Version: (this is what would be known to anyone with connections in the Hero community)
Name: Not Available
Codename: Dancing Edge
Age: Unknown, speculated to be mid-twenties
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 125 lbs.
Hair: Red
Eyes: Green
Known Abilities: Mutant regeneration and superspeed powers. Combat training in multiple styles, with an emphasis in Eastern sword forms.
Favored Enemies: 5th Column, Rikti
Background:
There is at least as much false information to be found about the hero known as Dancing Edge as there is true, and even that which is known about her is difficult to positively verify. It is known that she served for several years as an agent of the United States government, though exactly what capacity she served in is buried under multiple levels of official secrecy. What official records can be obtained at low to moderate security clearance identify her only as Delta (note, it would take a certain amount of research to identify Dancing Edge with Delta if you don't fall into the category with access to her private information below). There is some reference to military training in covert and special operations, but she does not appear to have been military personnel. This has led to speculation that she worked for the CIA, NSA, or some other and even more secret organization. It is believed that she left government service in mid-2003 after an experimental treatment to amplify her mutant powers caused those powers to be burned out, but her recent re-appearance as a registered hero in Paragon City casts some doubt upon that theory... and raises questions as to whether she has actually left government service at all...
Private Version: (almost nobody knows all of this information, except those who employed her. Those with strong government/intelligence/military contacts would have access to bits and pieces of this information, though they are likely to know her more by her reputation as Delta than anything else. This is provided for those with strong miltiary/intelligence backgrounds as a reference, and also to provide certain clues to her personality. If you don't want to be spoiled about her story, skip this part.)
Name: O'Carter, Anna
Codenames: Delta, Dancing Edge
Age: 28 years (DOB 7/24/1976)
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 125 lbs.
Hair: Red
Eyes: Green
Known Abilities: Mutant regeneration and superspeed powers. Powers temporarily enhanced by experimental techniques, however this caused her powers to cease functioning entirely for almost six months. Powers have returned and appear to have stabilized at a level somewhat above her original natural capabilities. Combat training in multiple styles, has been practicing Eastern sword forms since she was old enough to hold a blade. Extensive training in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency techniques and tactics.
Favored Enemies: 5th Column, Rikti, Sky Raiders
Background:
Most of the truth of Dancing Edge's history is highly classified, but the widely believed rumors among those with connections are more correct than she would like to be known. Anna O'carter was recruited out of college at twenty-two years of age after her kenjutsu skills and mutant powers attracted the attention of government agents. Having a personality that was attracted to adventure, and feeling a high degree of civic responsiblity, she was trained as a counterterrorism and counterinsurgency specialist to deal with the rising threats of the subversive forces which would later come to be identified as the Fifth Column and the Sky Raiders. She acted in this role for several years, through a mixture of infiltration, sabotage, government-sanctioned kidnapping and assassination of terrorist leaders, and other activities whose details are still too highly classified to be revealed even to those who worked closely beside her. Her assignment was to a special counterterrorism task force which was formed as a one of numerous secret replacements for the failed Vigilance unit, to work behind the scenes... and dependent more on a few gifted personnel whose loyalty was certain, rather than a large unit of men and equipment. The Rikti invasion, however, necessitated a change in her operational parameters. For nearly a year after the invasion, she acted in a counterinsurgency role, seeking to foil the operations of the invading forces wherever they could be isolated. It was this role, which proved to be more dangerous even than her previous work, that led to the experimental effort to amplify her mutant abilities. The experiment was a partial success; she enjoyed the benefits of her boosted powers for several months before accumulated shock to her system caused the regeneration abilities to simply shut down, an event which was very nearly fatal. It was almost six months before her powers began to return, and it was a slow return, at that. Now it appears those powers are stabilizing at a level somewhere between her original natural ability and the amplified results of the experiments. Once she became confident in her ability to function in a combat environment again, she registered herself as a hero in Paragon City, her hometown. Though she is no longer in direct government employ, she cannot (and has not sought to) sever her ties completely with government service, and it is not uncommon for her reserve activation clause to be invoked when a specific threat arises...