Zero Sum

The Bike Ride

John went off the beaten path for his morning bike ride today. Out in the country roads. Not another person for miles around.

The morning sun was glaring down at him. Wind raced against his face. It was along a stream on his route that he was attacked.

They struck first firing weapons from a spot hidden in the trees. It would have been a quick kill. Except that John saw the attack coming.

The glasses he wore not only protected his eyes from the UV rays. Built into the lenses was an AI that displayed on the inside where only he could see. Their purpose was to constantly analyze his environment and warn him of danger.

Before the first shot was even fired, these glasses warned him of the attack. He swerved his bicycle. Now perpendicular to the path he was on. Causing his bike to wedge itself in front of him as he simultaneously jumped from the seat.

When the shots fired hit, instead of landing on their intended target, they bounced off the reinforced alloy of his custom-made bicycle.

John himself hid himself in the brush to take cover and prepare his counterattack. He had pulled out a baton from a hidden compartment on his belt. Pressing a button on the weapon created a handle that turned the baton into a pistol. 

The display inside his glasses told him there were four attackers hidden in the trees. He leveled his gun in the direction of the attackers and took aim. He flipped a small switch on the side of the barrel which turned on a flashing strobe that blinded his attackers for an instant.

That instant was all he needed to take out two of the attackers. Only wasting three shots. His HUD told him that they were incapacitated.

Deactivating the strobe light, he was on the move again taking cover behind a tree on the enemy's flank. From this new position his HUD told him that more attackers were closing in behind him.

On his wristwatch he made a few gestures on its display. A holographic ring expanded from the watch and created a near invisible circular shield about 3 feet in diameter. He raises his watch turned shield hand in front of himself as he advances.

His HUD tells him that the enemy is trying to outflank him. He has to close the distance between him and the nearest enemy. Holding his shield and gun close and in front of himself, he charges forward through the brush.

The enemy's weapon fire bounces off the shield as he closes in. As the enemy fires his HUD shows him that enemy in red. As soon as the enemy stops to reload his HUD shows that same enemy in blue. He opens fire and lands a shot right between that enemy's chest.

Now he turns toward the other remaining enemies. His HUD counts half a dozen now. It also suggests he switches his weapon from pistol mode into rifle mode. John motions a gesture on the inside of his holo shield. His pistol barrel extends in length and the tube now measures the length of an automatic rifle.

This combination makes it look more like he is holding a cane rather than a rifle. But deception is part of this tactic. When he does fire a shot from his odd-looking firearm, it has all of the knockback but none of the bulk or recoil of a standard AK47 type of gun.

These unique armaments and the secrets behind them are part of the reason that John suspects that he has been made a target. 

Rather rude of them, he thinks.

As John moves through the bushes, an indicator on the inside of the shield tells him how much more damage it can take before it fails. About 67 percent left still. Enough for the time being but he needs to finish this quick before things escalate even further.

The unique shots from John's gun can penetrate the trees that his enemies are hiding behind. With his HUD telling him where the enemy is hiding behind, he fires a few shots taking out several others in a little less than a minute.

Less than half remain now, ready to end things he closes in on the remaining enemies. With more than half of his shield left, he feels confident that things will be over within the next minute or two.

That is when a shot lands right in his kidney. What an idiot he has been he thinks to himself. Sniper, of course.

He does not bother looking for him right now though. He rushes in the opposite direction while the adrenaline is still rushing in his system. Taking cover on the other side of a small ridge.

Screw it all, he thinks to himself. Motioning some gestures on the inside of his shield. This sends a signal to his fallen bike and the wheels kick into automatic and it stands itself up.

Thanks to the bravado or the stupidity of these enemies, they do not notice the automated bicycle turning itself to face them. Out of the bike frame pop out a pair of barrels that mow down another five or so of them.

Another gesture from John signals the bicycle to drive itself towards him. Automated servos and motors keep it from collapsing. But more importantly it is bringing him much needed supplies.

The bike is equipped with every conceivable type of detectors. These tell John that more enemies are approaching in a vehicle this time. He needs to start prioritizing instead of just having fun with the enemy.

A spray can is in the bike's bag. Stem cells loaded within alongside nanites come out the of bottle. John sprays his wound and grits his teeth as his kidney is healed by force and the nanites.

Slicing the air with his gun as if it were a switchblade, his gun glows and becomes more like a sword. He taps the heels of his shoes together and they launch him into the air.

Flying over the trees he lands in front of the vehicle of enemies. Before they can get out John slashes at them with his weapon which doubles in length as he does. It cleaves straight through the armored vehicle effortlessly.

The majority of the enemies inside collapse in two inside of the vehicle. Only a couple now remain, John throws off his weapons and lets them come at him.

The HUD on his glasses is more than enough to take care of these clods. At this close range the glasses isolate what arm or leg the enemies are going to raise against him. Red for danger, blue for blind spot. 

Effortlessly dodging their attacks now, striking them right in the neck, jaw or beneath the ribcage at just the right moment. Incapacitating these last few thugs with nothing but his fists.

He stands there for a few seconds in almost a sense of relief. Before remembering the sniper, who must have also been idling, but in shock rather than relief.

Besides the sniper, he now can see on his HUD more enemies in hovercraft coming up over the horizon in his direction as well.

John collapses against the enemies' vehicle. Making another set of gestures on his watch summons up his bike again. Which stands itself up and targets all enemies in the surrounding square miles and launches multiple rockets into the air.

These rockets fly towards the stratosphere but before that they separate and fall down on the hovercraft, any remaining enemies, with some extra explosions for good measure.