Clone Earth: MELVIN

Chapter Thirty-Seven: ARI

"A sword?" Ari almost laughed. "You're going to attack that thing out there with a sword? It will tear you apart!"

"Sounds about right." The girl flashed a grim smile. "Not much of a choice, really... that armor they're wearing is specifically designed to repel gun and laser fire."

Ari frowned. She hadn't noticed it before, but now she recalled a glint of protective armor on the beast's torso. Squinting past the broken glass, Ari managed to get a better look: military-grade metal and Kevlar breastplates, armbands, thigh, and shin guards. This creature was as securely protected as any special forces operative. "How does something like that get high-tech gear?"

The girl shook her head, understanding the look on Ari's face. "There are a few breaks in its construction. Right now, close combat is the best way to hit those weak spots." Her head tilted. "What do they teach you at that school?"

Ari barely managed to keep her face blank. "What school?"

"You have 'Arrogant Military Academy Brat' written all over you." She said, her tone indifferent. "Which, of course, means you'll follow me no matter what I say." Ari decided not to correct her; in fact, she was slightly flattered to be mistaken for a military brat. She kept the smile from her face and instead watched the girl pull a revolver from her belt. "Here. Just try not to shoot me in the back; gunshots burn like hell."

Stunned by the weapon resting in her palm, Ari struggled to understand why she used a sword when, "You had a gun?"

"It was on the street, but its metal quality isn't any better than this aluminum door." She waved the sword, causing Ari to flinch.

The girl jumped to her feet, keeping low, and slinked her way across the wall to the front. Bewildered, Ari gave the gun a quick once-over. It was an antique-style revolver, made with up-to-date materials. Sturdy plastics and some kind of projectiles, no tech, which made it light to carry. She opened the cylinder and gave it a small spin. Dirty and scuffed but fully loaded, its parts moved as needed. Taking a brief moment to appreciate the time she hadn't waisted reading multiple weapons manuals, Ari snapped the cylinder into place and moved to follow her mysterious companion out into the open café.

Sounds became distant as the creature stalked further down the street. Seizing the opportunity, Ari scooped all she could into her duffel and slipped the strap over her shoulder. She looked up to see the girl pick her way through the glass-strewn entry. When she reached the large picture window, she managed to slip through the broken glass with barely a sound.

Ari's heart jumped into her throat, and she rushed across broken glass and fallen monitors to peer through the bits of glass hoping to see the girl, but what she saw was much more.

Across the street, water gushed from broken pipes in the adjacent building, quickly freezing into icy pools on the ground. The glistening surface reflected sunlight onto the street, highlighting the creature's bulk as it paced, searching intently for something. Its large, pawed hands clawed through tables, lamps, and other items that had once been neatly displayed on the sidewalks.

Prying open damaged vehicles, the sounds of twisting metal and shattering glass echoed down the alleys, drowning out the crunch of snow underfoot as the creature tracked muddy prints across the paved street. The strange girl was probably counting on access noise to hide her quick shuffle through an array of broken glass which she was managing quietly—until the heel of her boot crunched against one of the larger shards.

Instantly the creature whipped around, its sharp eyesight finding her and launched itself at its new target. With eight long strides, it closed the distance between them but the girl didn't flinch. She waited for it to reach her, then, slicing upward with all her might, the blade caught the feline across the nose. It recoiled, hissing, then swiped a heavy armored paw down at her head. She ducked and retaliated by throwing the butt of her sword into the creature's gut.