Project Renegade : Invasion (Book 2)

Veronica

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Sky City...4:30 p.m.

Riot stood on the edge of a rooftop, staring at the sunset. His suit didn't even look fit for battle. Its right arm was completely missing. Its neck was scratched and marked. He held his helmet in his left hand, the face dented and slashed. Riot's dreads moved angelically in the wind, swishing and swaying back and forth. He exhaled sharply and closed his eyes, Vaxis appearing behind him. Riot yawned loudly, stretching his mouth open.

" You know, I remember when you were afraid of heights. " Vaxis mumbled.

" Uh-huh. "

" And, I also recall you never having it in you to kill anyone. "

" I killed Origin. "

" You were pushed past your limit. "

" Same here. "

" Ryan, you have NO energy. " Vaxis roared.

" I have a few more hours in me....maybe one or two left before I crash. " Riot grumbled, closing one eye and yawning again.

He closed his other eye and leaned his body forward, slowly falling off the edge. Vaxis quickly wrapped its tail around Riot's waist and pulled his master back onto the side. Riot thanked the dragon and sighed again. His heartbeats slowed down, his body getting comfortable and preparing to rest. He slapped himself in the face, keeping himself awake for a few more moments. As he continued to watch the sunset, it reminded him of the times he spent watching sunsets with his mother. A tear streaked out of his eye and down his cheek. Vaxis sighed and huffed. They both spent a moment of silence together, closing their eyes and reminiscing.

" So..Ashley? " Vaxis grumbled, " How ya feeling? "

" I...I just....went with the flow- damn it. " Riot facepalmed, " I actually feel nauseous. "

" Serves ya right champ. " Vaxis sighed, " Even I felt dirty. "

" I know...just by the time her lips were on mine like my head felt all woozy.  Couldn't think straight-" 

" Probably should've seen the red flags beforehand. "

" Yeah..." Riot looked at the sky, " I just...need to get back to normal you know? Everything's out of wack...I just need to kill Robin Thorne, then apologize to Alex, get Lady Sapphire happy again, fix this thing with Max, and- "

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

" REAPER!!! " Veronica crashed down behind him!

It choked him and dived off the building, carrying the hero to the street below. While falling, Veronica's tongue waved in the air. The organ straightened out and shot forward, ripping through the metal of his helmet like it was paper!

"SHIT! " Riot gasped as one of Veronica's heads grinned.

Desperately, Riot punched its faces, but Veronica took the weak blows without even flinching. Veronica flipped its enormous body in mid-air and flung Riot into the window of the building behind them! Riot tumbled violently inside, bursting through the concrete walls. He shot out the other side of the building! Like a blur, he crashed into another structure, banging the back of his head on an office desk. The light in one of his helmet's eyes slowly started to go out as Riot got to his feet and looked to his side. At least 20 employees stared at him through a glass wall.

" Oh, damn. " Riot slumped over and groaned.

Veronica roared and jumped through the hole in the glass window Riot made. It charged after him and grabbed him by the head. Swinging his body in the air like a ragdoll, Veronica flung him through the glass wall. The employees went into a panic, running around as Riot backflipped into an office cubicle. Veronica jumped onto the ceiling, ripping out the ceiling lights and the concrete.