Immortal Warheads: REIMAGINED

Chapter 5: An Arm and a Leg

    The truck slowly pulled in front of a small shop. It had a neon sign that was flickering on and off and had various trash cans and debris surrounding it. Aloe and Joseph got off the truck heading for the door. As they did, the door swung open, a man flying out and landing in front of them full of bullet holes. "Whoa, you sure the only thing that came from here was noise complaints?" Joseph asked looking down at the man then over to Aloe. "You know this city just as well as I do and yet somehow a man flying out of a chop-shop dead is surprising to you?" Aloe raises her eyebrow at him as Joseph shrugs and opens the door. "You'd think watching people die over and over would make you numb to it, but human is gonna human I guess." 

As the two walk in there sat a young Asian woman who was dressing a wound on her shoulder. She had black overalls on, one strap hung loose around her waist the other over her shoulder to keep it up, her free arm covered in snake tattoos, and snake bite piercings on her bottom lip. "Ngh, I'll be right with you two. Just finished with a real rowdy customer and you know how that goes." Joseph chuckles and sits in the doctors chair. "Trust me, I know." He leans forward lifting his hand up to cover his mouth from Aloe and speaking in a lower tone. "This one is always a handful when I gotta work with her." Aloe pouts and kicks the chair making Joseph spin. When she did the woman noticed and laughed. "You two must be close. What can I do for ya?" She stands up and walks over to them. Aloe holds her hand out. "My name is Aloe, I was wondering if you could help us out with some upgrades." The woman took Aloe's hand and stopped the chair from spinning. "Ah, going by nicknames I see. Then you can call me Nova." Aloe chuckles and shakes her hand. "And you talking upgrades, from what I could see from that kick you did there, you got some chrome on your legs." Aloe nodded and waved her hand so Joseph could get up off the chair. When he did she sat down and lifted her pants and took off her boots showing Nova her cybernetics.

"Hmmm...with this design I could craft up some real killer boots for ya." Nova said her hands going up and down Aloe's calves. Aloe sat there keeping her blush hidden under her hand. Joseph leaned on the chair and whispered to Aloe. "Never seen the Queen Bee fold for someone so easily~" Aloe shot up and went to grab Joseph by his tie but he leaned back laughing. Nova stood up and dusted herself off. "So, what do we owe you?" Aloe asked. Nova started laughing and shook her head. "Guess you didn't come here because you've heard of me. I don't take money for payment. I do favors." Aloe and Joseph tilted their head. Before Nova could speak the door to her shop swung open, men yelling as they pulled out their guns. "Alright Xiao, we have been humoring you long enough and you thank us by killing one of our guys!?" The three turned to face the men, Aloe standing up, Joseph crossing his arms and Nova stepping forward with her hands up. "He had it comin! He didn't even do the favor I asked of him and came in, just like you guys have!" The two men walked up to her, the other one pointing their weapon at Joseph and Aloe who stood there unphased. "Enough talk, give us your ware and we won't leave you hanging with that sign outside." Nova grunted, wanting to say something witty, but upon moving her arm she was reminded about the wound on her shoulder. "F-fine..." Aloe squinted her eyes before walking up to the barrel of the gun of the other guy. "You know, I don't take kind to bullies, or thieves." Joseph nodded and stepped forward in front of the first guy. "So we'll give YOU a choice. You leave-" Aloe grabbed the weapon from the second guy with her robot arm crushing it in her grip. "Or YOU will be hanging from that sign outside." The two men took a step back, the second guy reaching for a knife now. "Fuck that, we'll make examples of you two as well!" The first guy shouted, firing his gun at Joseph. Aloe leaping up blocking the bullets with her metal hand. Joseph charging forward and grabbing the first guy by his arm lifting him up and using his other hand to grab him by his belt, slamming the first guy into the floor by his neck. The second guy went to charge Aloe, stabbing her in her side, Aloe shifting just enough so he wouldn't hit anything vital and grabbing the guys hand using her normal hand to punch the guy straight in the jaw breaking it on impact causing him to fall down. Aloe picked him up before slamming him back down into the ground. Nova stood there in shock seeing two strangers take down two people with such ease when she struggled with just the one. "Whoa, y'know what, you guys just paid off your upgrades with that stunt." Nova leaned forward a bit seeing the knife sticking out of Aloe's stomach. "Doesn't, doesn't that hurt?" Aloe nodded putting her hands on her hips. "Extremely. Anyway, before we were rudely interrupted, I was going to ask if you wanted to continue what you're doing but in a more secure location." Nova leaned back up and crossed her arms. "Really? Of course! I just need to finish your boots here then I'll head over to where ever you need me!" Aloe nodded before patting Joseph on the shoulder holding the knife in her stomach and wobbling outside. Joseph shook his head and handed her a chip. "All the info you need is on here. I'll make sure Queen Bee out there doesn't start throwing up." Nova laughed and nodded.

XXX

    As Fire Team KZ00 lazed about Alex projected a few news articles on the wall for them all to look at. "Not much, but whenever this Covenant is involved it always has to be linked to the Black Market or kidnaps. All Supernatural's." Aloe grunted and turned her head straight so she would be staring at the ceiling hugging a pillow. "Why my kind? What do they think to gain from all this?" Shepard took a sip from his glass and shrugged. "I don't try to understand stupid or crazy, just try to stop it as best I can." As the team continued talking, a buzz came from the door. Joseph stood up and answered it. Nova standing there with a large backpack and a suitcase. "Hello!" Nova beamed as she entered. Shepard and Alex watched as Nova walked past them. "Take a picture boys it'll last longer." Alex turned away blushing and crossing his arms. Shepard smirked and stood up, Joseph grabbing his shoulder before he could do anything else. "Do not, chase her off..." 

Nova placed her backpack down and motioned Aloe to sit up. She did and leaned over to see what was in the bag. Nova pulled out a pair of grieves placing them in front of her. "Try 'em on." Aloe stood up slipping her feet into the bottom of the boots, them springing on and collapsing snuggly against Aloe's lower legs flaring to life with small boosters on the sides of her calves. "Whoa..." Nova stood up smiling. "You hit hard, but I can make you hit harder. I can make that arm swing harder too." Aloe shook her head and looked at her hand. "Nah, if I'm gonna kill the bastard that did this to me. Might as well be with my own hands." Nova nodded setting the suitcase on the coffee table. "So, who's next?"