Iridescent

Chapter II - Hell's Highway

Immediately after exiting into the alleyway, another explosion shakes the building's weakened foundation. A single, jagged steel plate dislodges from the overhead wall, impaling firmly into the ground beside me as it narrowly grazes me. I'm left with a long, precise gash running down the length of my arm, tearing through the sleeve of my black undershirt.

Deep enough to sting sharply, but not deep enough to cause any lasting damage. I sprint out of the alleyway and take cover behind an overturned car. Corvus remains behind in the alleyway, using the outer corner to shield himself from incoming fire. For a brief moment, I peek over my protective barrier to assess the situation. I quickly duck back down once I catch a glimpse of our well-equipped adversaries.

An Icarus security detail makes its way towards us, trying to keep us down with suppressing fire. The newly advanced VTOL transport that dropped them off flies directly overhead, disappearing as another one descends to take its place - it appears that Icarus has upgraded its arsenal. More Icarus forces spill out of the troop carrier, the aircraft's side-mounted chainguns providing covering fire in a constant hail of bullets.

Once the footsoldiers find adequate shelter, their transport takes off. This particular one remains in the immediate area, providing additional close air support as their ground elements continue to push their way towards us. I look up at a three-story building across from me, spotting a single Patriot mercenary in a top floor window. The mercenary mounts a rocket launcher on his shoulder, aiming at the enemy repulsorcraft hovering above. Within a few seconds, he achieves lock-on and sends the projectile downrange.

A massive fireball overtakes the side of the VTOL, the explosion obliterating one of its repulsors and forcing the crippled hovercraft into a downward spiral. The maimed transport slams into a building down the street, disabling the other repulsor as the vehicle loses all remaining power. Suddenly, the VTOL dislodges from the impact site and crashes into the street below.

Another violent detonation engulfs the burning wreckage, illuminating the surrounding darkness like an eerily-lit bonfire. A single Icarus trooper stumbles out of the devouring flames, flailing his arms in a panic as the fire begins to consume him. I feel an unnerving chill travel down my spine as I listen to the blood-curdling screams. Soon enough, the screaming stops, the life extinguishing from the source of the screaming.

I shake my head out of a daze, trying to keep myself from being distracted. Corvus fires several bursts from his rifle, suppressing the enemy. I aim my sidearm and fire several rounds in tandem. Together, we force the security detail to entrench themselves behind heavier cover. They deploy several rectangular-block devices onto the ground, which erect into thick barriers of layered metal.

Collapsable shields, completely impervious to small-arms fire, judging by my wasted ammo. Every round I fire is deflected off the curved design. Ingenious engineering, by the looks of it. The conglomerate must have ramped up its military-industrial complex in the last few months, considering the brand-new technology at hand. Another one of Vox's soldiers creeps up behind me, priming a grenade.

"This should snuff 'em out." The mercenary says, tossing the grenade behind the deployable shields. I quickly duck behind the car, my only form of protection against the explosive meat-mincer.

BOOM!

A loud ringing permeates my ear canals, drowning out the rest of the world around me. Thousands of tiny pebbles rain down, showering me in dust and debris. I silently cough and wave my hand in front of my face, trying to clear the hard-to-breathe dust. I find myself having to blink the burn out of my eyes, meanwhile the ringing in my ears begins to subside. The mercenary helps me to my feet, brushing the dust off my shoulders.