Psycho Pass: Out of Control

Coliseum, Round 5

 Adopting a tactical stance, Kogami cautiously stepped into the atrium. Knees flexed so that he could spring in any direction, he leaned slightly forward with the reconfigured Dominator supported in his outstretched arms. Feet should-width apart, he paused to quickly assess the situation.

No alarm lights went off in the darkness. No klaxons blared to announce an unscheduled departure. The light over the door was red, and remained so, casting a surreal light over him and the checkered floor of the chamber.

Projecting their perverted versions of the MWPSB mascots, the security drones were idle, as if waiting for him. When the Enforcer took another step, a score of bulbous, bobbing heads, and red eyes turned in unison to stare in his direction. For a moment the Enforcer felt as if he had been transported into a lucid, childhood nightmare in a room with malevolent jack-in-the-box toys. With the hissing of a wasp swarm, the drones' whirring blades could be heard in the stillness, and they immediately advanced on him.

"Attention. Attention. You are in a restricted area. Do not resist. Your execution will be immediate."

Kogami never hesitated. Choosing a purposeful direction to clear a path to the base of the escalators, he squeezed the trigger. "Move!"

The frenetic bolt that erupted from the Dominator was more powerful than anticipated and knocked him back against the wall. Scattered electromagnetic energy fanned outward from the muzzle and made contact with every target with its trajectory. Penetrating the drones' metal skins, the pulse caused havoc and fried the internal circuitry and command boards. The affected drones spun erratically in circles and crashed into each other in chaotic confusion before the severe electrical disruption in their systems caused them to implode.

Though the Dominator had the desired effect, vanquishing some fifteen drones, twelve more moved in to replace them. Outnumbered by the encroaching ranks, Kogami swore under his breath and again assumed a tactical firing position. "Virgil?"

"The Dominator did not quite have the affect I was hoping for, Cerberus," the AI said. "I'm increasing the output for the final shot."

"Make it good Masaoka!" Kogami yelled, taking aim for a second shot.

With Yemen perched over his shoulder, Masaoka ran for the escalators. "Gin and Sachi, stick close!"

"Right behind you, Mr. Masaoka!" Gin shouted.

Kogami covered them as Akane and Angel ran from the room in the rear position. Leveling the Dominator at the drones, he took a step up the defunct escalator behind the fleeing women and fired the second volley.

The closest drones vanished in an explosive wave of heat, light, and smoldering debris. On the periphery of his vision, Kogami saw a score of survivors quickly regrouping in the rubble. These few retreated from the base of the escalators and out of the Dominator's range of fire. Moving to the ramp to access the second level in pursuit, those remaining drones raced to intercept them.

"Kogami!" Akane shouted from the top of the escalator. She gestured in the direction of their pursuers.

"I see them!" While the odds had shifted, they were all in great danger. If the drones caught up to them, they would still be outnumbered and unarmed. The Dominator vibrated fiercely in Kogami's hand. He felt the intense heat building from the reconfigured weapon. The grip of the gun grew slick with perspiration. "Virgil, how much time before this damn thing blows?"

"Tell me you played sports in high school, Cerberus?" Virgil replied via the directional voice. "And tell me it wasn't golf."

"What do you have in mind?"