Artificial

The Maze: Phase 2

Operator Reach

Recruits flood through the door into my maze in small groups, bigger ones coming whenever Evo stops to reload. I watch this from atop a wall, then drop down and move ahead of the horde to set my trap. I shoot my grappling hook across the path, tripping up the unsuspecting Recruits, who soon devolve into a heap of tangled bodies. Many crawl over the pile in desperation, trying to get moving before Velox catches up. They're sent flying back into the pile by a fully charged blast from Shockwave's gauntlets. She walks out into the hall, standing tall and confident. I remove my helmet as I walk over to her, and she does the same. I take her into my arms for a kiss. A few of the dazed Recruits unite in an affectionate "aww" that sounds like it came straight out of a sitcom. The sound of rapid footsteps gets my attention. Without pulling away from Shockwave, I reach over her shoulder and fire my grappling hook. It latches onto the runner's back, then drags him back to me as Shockwave and I finish up. The claw retracts into its home on my forearm, and I throw my arm over his shoulders.
"Did you really try to pull a fast one on me while I was kissing my girl? That's not cool, dude." I shove him toward Shockwave. "Get him, babe." She sends him flying over the wall with a concussion blast, and he lands with a thud. There's the sound of him scrambling to his feet, accompanied by panic and fear.
"Fuck, no no no no no no!"
"C'mere, snowflake, I'll teach you to ruin a romantic moment!" Velox yells as she chases after him.
Ooh, bad luck.
A gunshot rings out.
"Thanks, babe!" She announces, followed by the faint sound of metal dragging on the floor.
"No problem," Evo replies over the radio.

"So you've trapped us," a Recruit near the top of the pile begins. "Now what?"
"Oh, you think we're the enemies?" I answer, pulling Shockwave closer. They look at each other, confused.
"Not even, man. Velox is the main event, we're just prepping."
"Oh, fuck no!" One yells as he scrambles from the pile. Shockwave quickly sends him airborne, and he lands at the top of the heap once again.
"This is fucked, dude," he comments, pouting.
"You knew you were in for a world of shit when you signed up. The toughest soldiers go through the toughest training."
Velox turns the corner, dragging the now-unconscious runner by his leg. She drops him, then jumps up and lands lying down atop the pile. She stretches, then places her hands behind her head as she lets out a satisfied sigh.
"Thanks, guys. I've always wanted a bean bag chair made of newbies. You can go suck face now."
Shockwaves takes my hand.
"Believe me, I plan on it," she says as she leads me away.
I've got this stupid smile on my face I can't control.
Somebody's feeling affectionate.