VIII. Ice Queen Cometh

Celestine and I froze in place. The market square was in disarray, glass shattered everywhere, store signs that hung up on the walls are now on the ground full of footprints. Smoke billowed within a few meters from each other, it almost formed a smoke screen throughout the place. They gave stunk of ash, burnt meats and fruits from the stalls. The odors sting our eyes, it was enough to make us squint, I took a mask and covered my nose while Celestine used her hand.

We walked into the chaos cautiously. With mild visibility, Celestine is at my tail and a hand on my shoulder. I drew out my guns then carefully led both of us to where Strife was. Celestine didn't need to ask me if I'm going in the correct way, heading straight ahead, because our ears could vividly pick up the exchange of gunfire close by.

Finally reaching the place of action, we saw Strife hiding behind a thick column, he was hugging Nico both for comfort and protection. The scene didn't look like a small encounter but a warzone. I wanted to approach him but before I did a barrage of beams hit the column where Strife was hiding, I instinctively traced the trajectory source of the beams, there I found a woman holding a beam rifle.

The assassin wore a rolled up leather jacket and short-shorts, I could see her ash white hair and snow white almost reflective skin. As she kept firing at Strife, I pulled out one of my guns and fired at the assassin giving Strife covering fire. As I continued firing at her I made sure to move and take cover at the pillar next to Strife.

"You didn't use one of my pick-up lines did you?" I jokingly told Strife in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"She took us by surprise." Strife replied.

"Well in this day and age anyone can make the first move." I replied still clearly using the pick-up line metaphor.

"Can it, Rover."

"Well… okay, how's the girl?"

"She's a little scared, but she's fine."

"Good." I remarked as I took out my other gun and joined them together with the other one to make their rifle mode.

I began to aim and fire at the assassin, forcing her to duck down on the roof. As I reloaded Strife took his turn to fire. This form of attack was enough to overwhelm the assassin into throwing a grenade. Before we could run away from our current position to avoid the grenade's blast zone, Celestine swooped in and slapped the grenade out of our way, as it then exploded elsewhere. Celestine continued suppressing fire as she moved to another column close to Strife.

"Is Nico okay?" Celestine asked.

"Yes and so am I." Strife simply replied.

"Thanks Captain Obvious." Celestine remarked.

I snickered and so did Celestine.

"Alright what's the plan?" Strife asked Celestine.

"We need to keep Nico safe, and also we need that woman for questioning. One would protect Nico, the other should ambush the assassin above, and the last one would either cover or back up the chosen one." Celestine instructed.

"Not it." I said first.

"Not it." Celestine seconded, although she's the one who suggested the whole thing.

Strife let out an annoyed growl.

"Rover, cover me. Celestine, take care of the princess." Strife expanded Celestine's plan further.

With everyone in understanding, I peeked out and released a barrage of cover fire for Strife as he handed Nico over to Celestine. Strife then quickly rushed towards the building where the assassin shooting at us was hiding, he quickly scaled the fire escape stairs.

"I'll back him up. Take Nico back to the Swift, we'll call you if we're in the very thick of it." I told Celestine as I holstered my guns.

Celestine nodded and provided me with covering fire as I entered the building to climb up the stairs.

Strife arrived at the rooftop, in a split-second he then lunged at the assassin, matching his speed the assassin dodged Strife's attack. Strife rolled and faced the assassin. Both of them drew their firearms at each other, then both fired at each other at the same time. As the bullets flew so did their bodies, dodging bullets and ricochet. Both are evenly matched in gun combat.

The women calculated where Strife would jump in next, she then fired near Strife's foot knocking him a bit out of balance. She shot the gun out of Strife's right hand. Strife saw that the assassin aimed her gun near his head, he used the gun on his left hand as a shield. the assassin fired and knocked Strife's remaining guns. As she prepared for a killing shot Strife pulled out something from his pouch and threw it directly at the assassin.

The assassin saw that what Strife threw looked like a hockey puck and not a grenade. She simply moved her head out of the way confident that it wouldn't explode. But what Strife threw isn't a grenade but a magnetic puck, it instantly activated and sucked in the assassin's gun off her hand. Strife took this opportunity to dash in and serve her a powerful jab.

Strife's surprise attack barely made the assassin flinch, as she quickly blocked and threw Strife on the ground. Strife, lying on the ground, quickly sweeped the assassin's foot hoping she'd fall. But the assassin simply stepped back and began kicking at Strife. Strife got out of the beating by clawing at the woman's shoulder. He quickly stood up and threw fast punches at the assassin. The assassin moved back as she dodged every punches and instead gave Strife a beat-down.

As both of them reached near the door, that was the moment I emerged, kicking the door the two of them were knocked down to the ground. Both their faces were in shock, only Strife was the one who smiled when he realized I was the one who did a kool-aid man entrance. I gave Strife a quick glance then I turn my attention to the assassin as I delivered my quip

"Here comes a new challenger." I announced as I aimed my guns at the assassin.