Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 14: High Stakes

Gunmeister
This Human is bolder then those two wimpy presidents.

Gunmeister rose to his full height of six foot two, adjusting his sunglasses.

Gunmeister
Are you just going to pose with that or do you plan on using it? And don't worry yourself about diplomatic immunity. Come at me.

Kane
Diplomatic immunity doesn't absolve you of murder.

Gunmeister
That it doesn't. Guess somebody better grow some balls if they wanna take me in.

Kane stood staring at the Finan and his two companions, the latter didn't move a muscle after their family member got to his feet.

Gunmeister
They won't get involved. Now, don't be shy.

Kane(voiceover)
Shy, I was not. Seething is more like it. Which meant I had to control myself or fall to his baiting. Not that I wasn't tempted. I called my Will Blade in haste, now, he probably thought me a coward. I was deciding if I should dispel the blade when the decision was made for me.

Gunmeister
Guess you need a little push.

He raised his left arm and a lancer pistol smoothly leapt from inside his sleeve to his palm. The beam of energy came at him with the speed of light. Kane was elsewhere by the time it reached where he had been, that elsewhere was right next to Gunmeister.

Kane(voiceover)
I know it seemed like I reacted at light speed, but no, my Quickening is nowhere near that fast. I'm able to interpret movement into intention. Simply put, I can predict what my opponent will do based on body language. What I should have done was put the guy to sleep immediately with my blade. But he was such a jerk that I decided to taunt him instead. I was right next to him, so many things ran through my mind then. But what did I say?

Kane
Missed me, gun boy.

Kane(voiceover)
What the hell, me.

Gunmeister's reaction was a left cross that would have landed if Kane had not leaned back with practiced ease. A glint of afternoon light shining in from the window flashed off a metallic object to Kane's right. It was the only warning he received as a blast nearly takes him in the head. Instead, he felt a burning in his shoulder. He peeped a glance at his reddening skin, grateful there was no blood.

Kane(voiceover)
I'm tough, for sure, but this guy is using Tek firearms. I don't know squat about Tek other than it can withstand the test of time and are usually sneaky in nature. Their infamy and the fact most Tek is illegal to carry made me think one direct shot may just put me down. So what, I thought at the time. No way I'm letting this gun nut have his way with me.

That last blast had come from a tiny grey device about four inches in length and shaped like a ballistic firearm, yet lacked any seams and a trigger. It bobbled about as if on a string, aimed at him.

Short hair
Careful Gunmeister.

Medium hair
The Baron will be pissed if you cause a lot of damage for no profit.

He ignored them, rushing in at Kane, who figured it was a feint to draw his attention. Kane instinctively moves as another blast from a separate floating mini gun blows a hole in the wall leading to a bathroom. Gunmeister held a lancer rifle now that he fires at the same wall. The beam ricochets off a mirror and right into Kane's chest. The force sent him out the ten story window with a yelp of pain.

Kane(voiceover)
As I looked down and out at the cityscape, in the milliseconds before gravity took hold, the sheer magnitude of fanfare that transformed the city from its patterned formula into a place of excitement and adventure, amazed me. I'm not sure which culture influenced the other, but Topaz City reminded me of So-Hi, the place that sorta led me here.