Lei wasn't feeling good. Honestly…when was the last time she ever felt okay? Too long ago to remember. As she forced her legs to keep moving, she glanced over her shoulder. Myers was looking at her differently. As expected. No surprise there.
'Guess who's back!' A playful voice resounded in the merc's head.
'So did you find a safe place? Ready to help now?' A bit of sarcasm tinted Lei's words.
'Yeah yeah, let's see. Dogtown museum, headed to the elevator? Nice. You're right on track, Drifter.' The Korean woman exclaimed.
'Of cour-' Her words stopped.
At this moment, reality disappeared before the sickly girl. All that remained was the pulse of her heart. Its beat was irregular, warning her. A powerful message that couldn't be ignored. Something had changed. Loralei felt dread deep within. It was instinctual.
BADUMP BADUMP BADUMP
'......No....' She thought.
Somehow, Loralei's inner alarm was screaming. Not about an enemy…but about her illness. The next time it took hold, there was no telling what would remain once she reached the other side. It wasn't looking too good…and to be honest…well…the sickly girl was getting tired.
Tired. Not like physical exhaustion. It came from deep within. She could feel herself slowly…disappearing. Her body always felt pain. She was tired of fighting that pain. This was another reason Lei could tell that this next episode wouldn't spare her. It was already encroaching on her mind. Her drive. Her motivation.
Like an old person who knew it was their last day. Lei was feeling the same…and it scared her…but it also filled her with relief. If she didn't make it through, at least she could finally rest. It was unknown what the conversion rate of her illness was currently, but the way she suddenly felt…had it reached her br-?!
"......................."
The sickly girl could feel everything she worked for crumbling in front of her. Her life goals and aspirations. Newly made connections, friends, new family…The people she killed to get this far. The evil things she made herself do. That she became numb to doing. Was it truly all for nothing?
"Drifter?" Myers spoke up. Her voice snapped Loralei back to reality.
Somehow, they'd already been inside the elevator for some time. When had they even entered? Focus…Lei needed to focus. Only once the mission was over could she-
'Repeating myself again.' She thought. Her mind was slowing down.
"It's not moving…what floor are we looking for?" The president continued. Lei hadn't pressed a button yet.
"Wait. Let me ask Songbird."
"She's talking to you right now?" Myers questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"...Mnn."
'Floor 3. There's a passage that takes you closer to the Elizabeth Kress.' Songbird answered.
'Hotel?'
'Bingo.'
The merc clicked the button, but the elevator doors didn't close. The button didn't light up either. Was it broken?
SCRAPE KRRRRRR
Something heavy and metallic sounded far beneath their feet. It was deep and ominous. Then came the sound of something charging…as if preparing to fire! Lei immediately dragged the president out of the elevator.
VSSSHHHHH
A blue plasma beam punched through the elevator, turning it into molten scraps. It continued on, finally stopping at the top of the elevator shaft. Fear immediately gripped Myers' heart. If it wasn't for Drifter, she'd be dead.
The duo peeked out of the door frame and looked down. Maybe five or more floors below, a red light was gazing up. It was a massive armored mech. The beast had six shielded legs, and was slowly climbing up the elevator shaft. Pursuing them.
"The Chimera." President Myers commented. Lei glanced over. "It's almost impossible to kill. A weapon created during the wars. Heavy firepower and defense. Titanium plated with tungsten innards. Energy cannon on its head. Missiles, bullets, lasers, everything."
"...I'll handle it." Drifter casually hummed.
"You'll die."
"I won't~"
'Be careful.' Songbird said. Loralei shook her head.
'Songbird…Put Johnny back on.'
'What? That would ruin the connection.'
'Then disconnect. Unless you want to throw up from motion sickness and vertigo.'
'...Fine. Let me know when the coast is clear.'
A weird sound echoed in her head before it was replaced by Johnny's voice. He appeared beside her while leaning on the wall. The first thing he said made her smile.
'Fuck that bitch. Thinks she can just put me on timeout like that.' Johnny Silverhand growled.
'Hey. Missed you too.'
'Doubt it. You probably enjoyed the peace and quiet.'
'I did miss you. Would much rather have you in my head than Songbird.'
'Bet you'd rather have me in your mouth too.' Johnny commented while making fellatio gestures, pretending as if he was fucking her face. Lei rolled her eyes.
'Something I wanna tell you.'
The sickly girl leaned out the shaft and looked down again. The mech's red gaze locked onto her. It was waiting. Lei finally took a step into the empty air, allowing her body to fall.
'Save it. Already know what you're thinking.' Johnny answered.
As the merc gained more and more falling momentum, the mechanical beast started charging up another plasma beam. Only two seconds passed before the hyper beam was launched directly at the merc.
Time slowed to a crawl as she tapped her feet on the wall. This brought her to the opposite wall, the momentum allowing her to sprint down the elevator shaft. The beam passed where she used to be, biting up into the ground by the president. Myers was forced to dive away as it drilled through infrastructure and hit the museum's ceiling.
'You didn't even let me finish.' Lei complained.
'You're going back on our deal. Gonk. I can see it on your face.' Johnny commented with a blasé tone. Nonchalant.
'It's not because I don't want to…it's because-'
'You're giving up. I didn't say you could do that. Get your fucking head right.'
As the sickly girl dodged beam after beam of plasma, she quickly reached the mid range distance. The chimera immediately switched tactics. It was intelligent. Releasing its grip on the shaft walls, it began to slide down. Trying to gain distance.
Parts of the mech opened up, sending a hailstorm of gatling fire. The drifter's beam saber ignited. Her surroundings were tinted red. With a blur of her arms, some of the gunfire was deflected.
She dug deeper into her speed…turning into a red streak of light. Had to outpace a multiple ton mech plummeting at high speeds, after all. Not as easy as it sounds.
'Johnny, I can feel it. I might not survive this one. For real this time.'
'You said that last time.'
'Don't worry. I'll pass you off to someone that will help you. Nana will definitely help. Especially if I ask.'
'Passing me to your spared enemies?'
'They're good people. I'm the bad guy here. They won't help me, but they'll definitely help you.'
'Damnit, Loralei! It's not about that, dumbass. You're going to make it through. You fucking hear me?! Focus!'
'I'm focused, Johnny. That's why I'm telling you this.'
Scatter missiles shot out of the chimera's titanium plating. There were over 30 of them…and they blanketed the space between Lei and the mech like an ocean. Quickly evading a plasma beam, she weaved between the missiles that allowed it while cutting down the others. Her movements were flawless and precise like a machine.
Rings of air pressure appeared behind Loralei as she reached a speed she didn't normally try to reach. This was biting into her body. It had reached the point where the sickly girl stopped holding back. For what? She may die shortly after this anyways. Might as well end it quickly.
A few milliseconds later, she was upon the mechanical beast. The barrel of the plasma cannon was point blank with her body. Seeing the bright blue energy charging up, she dodged in advance.
Her feet were already on top of its head by the time the beam shot toward the shaft ceiling. Loralei immediately placed a hand on the beast's hull and looked into its mechanical optics.
"Enough. Join and serve." She muttered.
Immediately, the mechanical beast grabbed onto the walls again. Sparks flew everywhere as it tried to slow down its fall. It took a while, but it eventually stopped.
The chimera's red gaze flickered as it processed Lei's demand. After a few whizzes and mechanical noises, its weapons retracted. The merc heaved a sigh before sitting on top of the mech's head.
"We're going back up." She announced. The machine answered her demand. It was slow so the climb would take a while…but that was okay. Johnny and Lei would have time to talk.
'You're going to survive this. Then you're going to do what you have to. I'll be right here. Not going anywhere.' Johnny said.
Lei smiled softly under her breather. She couldn't help but shake her head. This man…look at him go. It was quite funny hearing the usually arrogant merc say these words. Since when was he so nice to her?
'Okay.' She hummed.
Something had changed.