---CORNERED---

BLUE SECTION
THRESHOLD STATION, CANTICLE SYSTEM, NOVA-VERSE
1514 HOURS, MAY 17, 3961 A.D.

While I awaited my pursuers to get me, I mentally scanned my immediate surroundings to see if any other reinforcements were on my way. Thankfully, I detected none – I had enough busywork to put up with on my office desk. One detail that troubled me, however, was that there was a rogue Vell-Os on board the station. Not that he would have posed a challenge, but the fact the pirates managed to enlist him was troubling enough.

While I am more than certain he detected my intrusion into his mind, my suit's built-in Psionic Jammers would make me harder to find. But what I saw in that troubled brain of his was a misguided agenda. The fittingly-named “Rogue-Mind,” he called it. Now, I want the Vell-Os free just as much as the next guy, but not if it means taking innocent lives, and certainly not if it's for a “master race” ideal.

There was another troubled soul I detected on the station. She seemed to be consumed by some dark force inside her – it was too brief for me to say, exactly, but it seemed to be demonic in origin. The thing was, it didn't feel like any normal demons I'd felt, like the one that's a part of myself (and more or less have made my own bitch, as an aside) – it seemed more plague-like in origin. Both details I would have to relay to HQ when I got the chance.

“This room's clear,” I heard a pirate say, “move on to the next one.”

Well, now for some fun, I thought happily to myself. I checked down the stairwell, and noticed they were about 2 floors below me. A quick glance around the room I was waiting in yielded a light switch. They say curiosity killed the cat, and I figured if the lights were off, they'd check the rooms, and their curiosity would be the end of them.

Sure enough, once the party reached my room, they sent 2 of their number in to have a looky-loo while the rest continued onward. Now all I had to do was wait.

I watched them check behind couches, holo-players, counters, anywhere that I could have been...except the blank corner just behind the entrance where I sat. The best hiding places, I've discovered, are the ones that seem too obvious to check. You'd be amazed how many times people have just walked past me when I was literally standing right in front of them.

“You find anything Laslo?” one asked.
“Nuttin', Jimmy,” said the other. “D'ya think he escaped?”
“How? We got the exits blocked off. Ain't no way he could get past us without us noticing.”
“I'll take that as a challenge,” I remarked, spooking them.

I made for the one on the right as I decloaked. The last thing he ever saw was a black, clawed hand reaching for his face, and splattering it all over the wall behind him. Before the other could shout out a warning, though, I immediately made a grabbing jab at his throat, paralyzing his vocal chords. I made a fierce swing at his ribs, making him double over in pain. I made good use of this opening by placing both hands on the sides of his head and quickly twisting the neck, causing him to slump dead to the ground.

I then chased after the others. Before the group had arrived at my floor, I made sure there were plenty of rooms with the lights off. Any room that was lit, I took a quick glance inside – if pirates were in it, I made sure they met a swift end. If not, I moved on.

It wasn't long before only “Boss” and his tank cannon-wielding sidekick were the only ones left. I found them on the top floor of the building, practically scared out of their minds. After their numbers were reduced to 5, I started taunting them through their own communicators. The last 3 idiots were just that much easier to kill.

“Well, now,” I said, walking into the room, “it seems most of your men are dead, 'Boss.' Guess that just leaves you and Goliath there. Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

---

Before the winged man could say anything else, the brute carrying the mammoth weapon sent a missile shrieking towards their would-be executioner. The round burst forth in a fiery red explosion, and sent the armored assailant flying backwards. When the smoke cleared, they found their opponent sprawled out on the floor in front of them.

“Boss” made a glance at his associate. “Make sure he's dead.”

The big lug walked over, held out a blaster pistol, and shot the man completely through the head. He studied the wound, making sure it was a clean shot.

“I'd say that's the end of that, boss,” he remarked, turning to face his superior.
“Good. Then let's get back to checking the rest of this section. We need to-”

Suddenly, a black tail had impaled itself completely through the muscular man's chest, blood splattering on his superior from the force of the impact. To his horror, their attacker was still alive.

“Wha-?! But...you're supposed to be dead!”

---

I loved that trick. There's no death quite as convincing as taking a bullet to the brain. If I were fully human, that would have killed me – but that's yet another boon of being a half-demon. I'd have to take a bit more abuse than that before I was offed.

“Yeah, I forgot to mention – it takes a bit more than just a headshot to kill me.”

I pulled my tail out of the meatbag's body. Dammit, I liked this suit. Now I'd have to get it washed again.

More pressing matters were at hand, however, as I saw him toss one of his incendiary grenades right at me. Wisely, I got out of the way before I got drenched with fire. The grenade managed to set the rest of the room on fire, though, and I knew the building wouldn't last long from the intense heat.

I lunged at “Boss” with my wings outstretched, slamming him into the wall, and a few others behind it. Soon afterward, we were in freefall down the stairwell. I took the opportunity to put him between myself and the floor as we plummeted towards the ground.

“You know what they say, 'Boss,'” I spat, mockingly. “It's not the fall that kills you...”

(SKRAAAASH!!)

“...It's the landing.”

The concrete spider-webbed upon impact, forming a nice, “boss”-sized crater where the man now lay dead. With no other threats present, I exited the building, calmly walking away from the structure as it collapsed in a fiery plume. All I would've needed was some shades to complete the picture.

“Well, I think I need a drink. Better head to the bar, I guess.”

---END TRANSMISSION---

---

NOTES N' STUFF:

Sorry for the wait - I meant to get this out on Sunday, but my Wii U diverted my attention. ^_^;;;

And with that, this segment of Ronnie's adventures is over. Don't worry, you'll see more of the half-demon in the next few posts. =P

This had to be one of the most vivid posts I've ever written - from the way it snaps between perspectives to the description of the tower in flames, it was one of those that I enjoyed every second writing.

See you next time, folks!

Nova-verse is © Ambrosia Software
Threshold Station is © its owner
The Empire, JR/VA, and all characters w/in is © me