I guess this is my big 'hey glad the site is back' message. Figured that I had to make all that time the site was offline look somewhat productive and come back with another entry to this little story I'm throwing together. Anywho, for future reference, I’ve taken a couple liberties with psionic powers, which includes giving high-level XCOM psionics Psi Bolt and making Telekinetic Field block attacks rather than deflect/distort them. Getting that out of the way, I now present...
BOSS FIGHT REWRITE! PART 2!
December 31st, 2015
As I paused in my retelling, I noticed the Commander flipping through a file, complete with helmet cam images of the mission. Why would he need me to retell what happened if he already had our footage?
Then, as if sensing my thoughts, which was a possibility that you couldn’t rule out these days, the Commander said, “Everything with your story matches up so far with the accumulated data. However, after the appearance of the Uber-Ethereal, all outgoing feeds cut out. What happened in there?”
“It... it was a mess,” I said. “Everything happened so quickly, and it was just so...” I trailed off, leaving naught but silence in the room. Losing Aludra was something nobody expected. After all, she was practically invincible. And he was asking me to drag up even more memories from that op?
“Listen, from the moment we saw who didn’t come out of that Skyranger, it’s been nothing but mourning, despite our victory. I know you two were close, but I... WE need to know what the hell happened. So, if you could please continue...”
I sighed, knowing he was right. Summoning up my courage once more, I continued.
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[SEVEN DAYS EARLIER]
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“Shredder out!” Cockburn yelled as I dived for cover from the hail of plasma spewing forth from the twin plasma cannons on the Battle Suit. The pulsing of the Fusion Blaster projectile’s flight temporarily led to the hail of plasma ceasing. A blast echoed through the hall, followed by the rocketeer’s voice shouting, “No effect!” I took a quick peek out of my cover, and saw the enemy war machine hunkered in position.
“Dammit, how much can this thing take!?” I yelled, fumbling a new clip into my plasma rifle.
“Requesting suppressing fire!” Sitz commanded, and I decided to take my chances, spraying plasma wildly over the top of my cover. The MEC sprinted by me, the capacitors on it’s back charging. As it approached the enemy, a pulse of lightning flashed out from around the MEC, arcing across the metal frame of the foe. A cheer went up as the suit toppled backwards as the EMP short-circuited it’s leg servos, leaving it a spasming wreck.
As Sitz strolled up the cockpit of the battle suit to finish the pilot, Iliev shouted, “Wait, I can still feel it’s-!”
Reality tore apart under the MEC, turning the alloy-reinforced legs into naught but scrap metal. A cry of pain came from the pilot, as the enemy suit recovered from the effects of the EMP.
“The New One’s kin falls, and our fear grows, as we question the worthiness of our selection...” That damned voice echoed in our heads once more. Talking about us as if we were some lab subjects? As rage filled my mind and I moved to toss my entire bandolier of grenades at the mechanized monstrosity, a modulated voice echoed from under the boot of the foe.
“F-fuck you too, a-asshole...” A large beam of light, larger than what a particle beam cannon should have produced, shot out from the ruined form of Sitz, and pierced through the leg servo, and continued out the other end into the hull of the vessel. A small blast followed as the offending weapon was torn to shreds, and the Uber-Ethereal roared in pain.
Taking the chance, we survivors opened up on the damaged leg, but a raised fist brought up a purple field, which absorbed our attacks. Working quickly, the Ethereal grabbed the wrecked MEC in one fist, and began to squeeze. The alloys held for a second, then the cockpit shattered, the grey steel and red of Sitz’s blood splattering across the area, a final cry of anguish coming from the augmented soldier.
Finally free of the distractions of our super-heavy support, the Ethereal turned towards us. It’s massive plasma cannons took aim, and a short whirring sound preluded a barrage of plasma, spilling right towards us. Cockburn was quick, and our own shield was razed, the trooper straining under the mental pressure of holding the Telekinetic Field up. Then, from the heavens like the finger of God came three blobs of plasma. So distracted by the Psychic Heavy’s resistance, it didn’t notice the first two puncture the twinned plasma cannons, rupturing them and rendering the UFO-grade weaponry useless. However the third shot was caught in a small field of purple light. A momentary pause, and then realization. That ability-!
“Arriola look ou-!” I yelled, and then with a flash the pulse of plasma flew back towards it’s sender. The Sniper tried to dive for the safety of the Telekinetic Field, but it was too late. The round pierced through her armor, and into her jetpack, breaching containment and sending Arriola plunging towards the ground in flames. She was dead before she even hit the ceiling of the Telekinetic Field.
A wordless cry of rage echoed forth from Iliev, and then silence reigned for just those few moments, until the Ethereal turned towards us once again.
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Tears poured down my face, as I futilely struggled to hold in the sobs. So focused was I on that task that I didn’t notice the Commander move, his hand pressing on my shoulder. I looked at him, doing my best to look vaguely disciplined despite the tears and snot spilling out of my face.
“I think this is enough for today. We can continue this tomorrow. Is that alright with you?”
A silent nod was my only response.