When Stars Collide, a BH6 x Dr Who crossover

Chapter Eighteen: Burning

Jack pressed his infrared goggles to his eyes as he scanned the area. "We've got activity," he announced over his headset. "Looks like three men. No. Wait. Something's coming out."

Everyone seemed to be holding a collective breath as more strange sounds came from the truck. They were loud, metallic, and followed a decided pattern.

Hiro leaned forward on Baymax's shoulder to better hear. "Sounds like footsteps," he commented.

The ramp rattled and a robotic foot settled briefly on the top, followed by a second one. An almost ovoid shape appeared, with jointed arms and legs coming from the sides. They were sleek, decidedly metallic, with exoglass allowing the man inside to see out.

The boy's pulse quickened at the sight. Everything in him screamed to run. "What is that thing?"

Fred's calm voice came over the radio. "I've seen those things before," he said. "They're like a second skin, only metal. In Blades of War, they called them exosuits."

"Exoskeletons," the Doctor breathed, half in awe. "Not good. Let's hope their pilots don't know how to use them yet."

The robotic creatures continued to descent the ramp until all six of them stood firmly on the ground. Hyper-spectral cameras lined the sides and back of each unit, giving the pilot an instant feed of what was going on in the blind spots. And each pilot wore some kind of headgear, though Hiro wasn't sure what for just yet. He couldn't get a good look, even when he squinted.

Energy seemed to buzz in the air, making the air almost shimmer. At least Hiro thought it did. He couldn't be sure, nor did he want to voice his observation. Like the time only he could hear the high-pitched noise, he didn't want to be the only one who saw it.

"Maintain position," Jack ordered over the radio. "I want to let them make the first move."

The exoskeletons began to move forward, spreading out in a semi-circle around the diesel truck. When they were equally spaced apart, they stopped once more.

GoGo pushed to see through the men she and Wasabi were standing behind. She didn't like that they'd been pushed to the back. "What are they waiting for?" she asked when they wouldn't let her get any closer.

As if in answer to her question, something flipped on each metallic body, a plate opening up as something poked out.

Hiro squinted again, having a better vantage than his friends, even though he, too, was further back in the lines. "Looks like..."

"We've got visible weapons," Jack broke in before he could finish.

Loud cracks sounded as the machines opened fire on the surrounding buildings, cutting through them like butter with a spray of bullets. Their mini turrets swiveled to get the maximum spread. Chunks of cement cascaded down from the warehouses they shot at.

Wasabi swallowed hard as he saw the falling concrete. "Heck no," he whispered, barely loud enough to be heard over the frequency. "I do not like the look of that."

"They opened fire," GoGo pointed out. "Let's go take them out!"

Jack's words stopped her in her tracks. "Wait." His barked command sent a shiver up the girl's spine, as it was filled with more authority than she was used to hearing. "It's obvious they're testing their equipment. We can't run in blind. I doubt that's all they've got."

Honey Lemon fidgeted, her hands poised over her chemical purse, ready to type in the first formula that came to mind. She wasn't sure she liked this waiting, but knew the captain was right.