Ultraya: Origins

Chapter 35: Ambush

28/05/4013 AD – 19:15 – Earth – Alton – Shopping Dome

Crystrx hid in an abandoned store; everyone else had been evacuated beneath the shopping centre. Crystrx peeked around a corner holding a pistol in her right hand and a crystalline spear in her left. Elimiphlaren was hovering slowly throughout the dome, searching for his prey. Veilure appeared just outside the room Crystrx was hiding in, stopping the Angel in his tracks. It was a clothing store, and she was hoping that the stylish mannequins would act as a distraction or that her opponent's knowledge of these Human-like displays would cause them to overlook her presence.

"She's definitely in here somewhere!" Veilure shouted. "I watched all other exits; nothing!"

"Any particular reason you are shouting?" Elimiphlaren asked.

"Well I figured that we should inform any eavesdroppers that I found a hatch", Veilure said smugly. Crystrx tightened her grip on her weapons.

"A hatch?" Elimiphlaren asked.

"Yes!" Veilure clarified. "You know like those hatches that the Humans hide in whenever we show up somewhere? Figured we could probably throw a grenade down there, pick up a couple-a kills?"

"Oh really? How many kills are we talking?" Elimiphlaren grinned.

"Well the street-based ones usually hold around one hundred people or so, but this one has to accommodate all of the staff and all the customers that were in the building at the time", Veilure smirked, proud of her vast knowledge. "This is the largest shopping centre in Alton; that could put the number around two-thousand!" Crystrx burst out from her hiding spot and emptied her pistol's magazine into Veilure; the shots were blocked by Veilure's spherical shield.

"Heh", Veilure raised her staff; the crystal-end pointed at Crystrx. "Too easy".

A blast of shaytrike energy was launched from Veilure's staff; Elimiphlaren had also began to prepare fireballs within his hands. Crystrx threw her spear to take the incoming attack and started running. Elimiphlaren opened his palms and hurled several fireballs at the Guardian. Crystrx dived into a nearby food shop and braced herself for the next wave.

'Dracolast, where are you?!' she thought. At that moment, a cursor appeared on her visor; a white arrow was showing her where to go. It pointed out of the shop and up above to a higher railing; white footprints indicated where she should stand.

'Back into the line of fire?' Crystrx thought. She knew that only a member of the Ultrayan Alliance could have sent her these instructions, and that only someone with a plan would tell her to stand in such an absurd spot. Crystrx put her faith in her team. She dashed out of the store and, much to Elimiphlaren's and Veilure's surprise, jumped up on top of the highest public railing in the dome. Veilure charged up a shaytrike burst and Crystrx moved to block.

"No, take the hit", Dracolast whispered over the communications.

'What?!' Crystrx silently screamed. She wanted to yell at him for suggesting such a stupid idea but knew that she couldn't alert her enemies. Veilure fired the bolt of shaytrike energy.

'I can't trust Dracolast!' Crystrx thought.

The bolt came closer.

'I won't trust Dracolast!' Crystrx thought. Her hands were shaking.

The bolt came closer.

'Damn it!' Crystrx thought as she allowed the bolt to hit her. The shaytrike sparks tightened around her body.