Perfect World VR (11) - Command and Conquer

A skill that was implemented on all Guardian suits. There were always situations whereby a Guardian would not be able to get the help of a Defender class.

This scenario was put into consideration and thus, [Lifeline.], Was created. It allowed one to manifest their tachyon directly as a protective bubble.

This wasn't as effective as the shields produced by the Defenders and it came with even more drawbacks but it was a handy skill to have. Especially for Leah and Nathan.

Leah activated it and immediately regretted it as she felt almost thirty-five percent of her tachyon core reserves disappear with just one attack.

The sudden depletion was so forceful that it caused her to suffer internal bleeding. "If I get hit like that again, we would both get wiped out." Leah was well aware of her capabilities.

Another bombardment like that and they could kiss their chances of escaping goodbye. "Nathan, please." At that moment, what she dreaded was about to occur.

The Drones charged up again and were about to shoot. Just then. "Got it." She was jolted from her melancholic thoughts by Nathan's optimistic exclamation.

The door released a static sound after which it slid to the side, revealing an exit for them. It was at this point that Nathan realized that Leah was holding onto him.

He deactivated [Eyes of Laplace.] As he broke free from her hold and turned to find several Drones swarming at them. He also noticed the faint blue barrier that protected them. "Leah…"

It took a glance to figure out Leah's condition. It wasn't good at all. "Let's go." He held her palm and dragged her into the exit. At the same time, the Drones fired at them.

***Boom***

An explosion occurred blasting them forward into a hallway of sorts. Nathan had made use of his [Lifeline.] To protect himself and Leah. "Ugh." He groaned as he struggled to his feet and carried Leah along.

***Whir***

Nathan could hear the Drones approaching, they had to go faster. "Just leave me. I am exhausted, I'll only hold you back." Leah remarked weakly. "Nah, I can't do that."

"Just go. I'm dead weight." "You seem to forget that you are the one that's meant to hack the Crawler. I'm a Mechanic at heart, you are the Codebreaker.

"So drop it with the whole sacrificial attitude. I still need you. The team needs you." Leah remained quiet for a second as they hurried through the hallway.

"Alright then, I'm sorry for trying to sacrifice myself. I'll do my best not to hold you back." "That's good to hear."

***Pew***

A red plasma beam whizzed passed his cheek, drawing blood as it hit the ground below. They remained still for only a moment. "Run!!!" Nathan picked up Leah and bolted down the hallway.

"I'll slow you down, let me run with you." "Don't mind that just tell me where I need to go. I need you to figure out where the main control room would be stationed."

Leah felt the need to argue but ended up doing as she was told. "Thunder pull up the design structure for the Crawler and signify where the Control room is located."

[The Crawler is the Machine's equivalent of The Mammoth. Based on the data, it is safe to say that both would share similar structures.]

"Yes, that is true." [Calculating coordinates and cross-referencing with the Mammoth design, It is safe to say that the Control room of the Crawler is located in this area.]

A blue screen floated from her wristwatch with a 'probable' design structure of the Crawler shown on it. There was a green dot that was currently in motion, signifying herself and Nathan.

At another point, a large area was marked red with the words, 'Control room', written over it. "What's the probability of this being correct?" [86.4%]

"I think that's good enough," Nathan commented while breathing heavily. Running alone was already a chore and now he had to add that with carrying a grown-ass lady. His endurance was to thank for not immediately collapsing.

"The earmarked location is a little over one hundred and fifty meters from our current location. Do you think you can carry me all the way there?" Leah felt doubtful. "I'll manage."

At that moment.

***Pew***×{unknown}

Several red plasma beams were headed their way. "Shit." Nathan struggled to move out of the way while Leah activated [Lifeline.] Their combined efforts allowed them to escape unscathed.

"Ugh." She coughed up a mouthful of blood. Her activation of [Lifeline] had drained twenty percent of her tachyon core gauge forcefully. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

"You shouldn't have done that," Nathan said through gritted teeth. He was feeling rather helpless at this point. "Just go," Leah replied. He picked up the pace, the Drones following just behind them.

It seemed convenient though that the Drones were unable to overtake them and instead remained just a few meters behind them, ensuring they did not dare to stop.

This was all because of the level of difficulty at which the test was set. If it had been higher, they would have long since been disintegrated.

***Pew***

The constant fire kept Nathan on his toes. For the first time, he was thankful for the endurance training they had been subjected to by Captain Rodgers. In the end, they still had to train their bodies. If a vessel was weak, no matter how much power was added, it would not change its state.

***

"Almost there." How long had he been running for?... he could not be bothered to find out. The only thought in his mind was getting Leah safely to the checkpoint. He ran with everything he could muster within him.

"Turn right." He took a hard right just in time to avoid yet another bombardment, blowing up the area just ahead of them, the shockwave throwing them to the ground. They didn't even have the time to lament the pain they felt.

"Unlock it." There was a door before them, the same as the last one. No handles or scanners to make use of.

"Shit," Nathan swore underneath his breath.

***Whir***

The sound of the Drones approach caused him to stand to his feet and activate [Lifeline.]

He was well aware that Leah would not be able to handle activating the skill again thus he took it upon himself but the problem now was how they were supposed to open the door since he was occupied.

At that moment, he felt a hand on his trouser. He looked down to find that Leah had pulled out his pistol. "What are you doing?" Before he could get a response though.

***Pew***

"Ugh." Several red beams slammed into the barrier and caused him to cough up blood. His core had been drained of a whopping forty percent of its content.

He would last for only one more barrage before the barrier would fall. "This is the disadvantage of possessing a weak tachyon core, to begin with."

The amount of energy required for certain skills would be more demanding on him than the others. He could only blame his bad luck for his weakness. "Are we going to fail like this?"

Just as he was about to fall into deep melancholic thoughts, Leah's voice floated in from behind. "Fire in the hole." Upon her weakness, there was still a certain strength hidden within.

***Boom***

Nathan did not even have the chance to respond as the explosion pushed him forward, [Lifeline] disabled as a result. Smoke covered the area but the red lights from the Drones were unmistakable.

He slowly struggled to his feet only to get dragged away and towards the door. "Crawl with me." He did not bother to question anything as he followed as he was instructed.

"We are in." Leah struggled to say. Nathan put up his head and true to her words, they had somehow found themselves inside the main control room of the Crawler.

"But how?" His question was half answered as he turned to find the sorry state Leah was in. She looked so drained of energy, it was a miracle that she was still conscious. "What did you do?"

He asked worriedly as he rushed to aid her. "I did what I had to do… Pretty cool, right?" Nathan swallowed the scolding he wanted to dish out and slowly nodded. "Mn, it's pretty cool."

She had squeezed out almost everything from her tachyon core gauge to blow up the cartridge from Nathan's pistol. It was a necessary sacrifice to get into the main control room and thankfully, it was not in vain.

"How much energy do you have left?" "3%... Just enough to keep me awake long enough to hack the system."

She said weakly. "Let me help you." He said as he picked her up and moved towards the control panel for the Crawler. At the same time, his body glowed a faint blue hue.

"What are you doing?" Leah could feel her vitality returning. It was obvious that Nathan had a hand in that. "Don't worry about it. It might not be pure enough, but I hope it helps you, even if it's just a little bit." He said with a smile on his face.