His vision burred , Blood running down the sude of his head as he tossed his maxtac helmet to the side .
Explosions wrung out nearby , His weary eyes Squinting to locate the source.
Delirious, He turned his head , Eyes rolling in his head as he looked to the source of the rumbles and explosions .
' Amanda ' McNeil hissed internally , Seeing the three remaining maxtac officers of his team currently engaged in furious combat with the terrorist Apollo ' Nathan '
' Mark ... ' He slowly tried sitting up ' They need my help '
Flames flicked in the corner of his vision , courtesy of tbe crashed AV sticking out of the tarmac .
Reaching for his rifle , he slowly became Keenly aware that despite trying to reach for his rifle with his right hand , Nothing responded.
Slowly his uncomprehending eyes landed on the sparking , Bleeding stump located where his arm should be.
' Oh ... ' He puckered his lips , Now aware the state of his delirious was most likely from his cyberware numbing the pain ' That's not good '
Looking at his left arm, He saw it remained intact , Nodding internally as he flexed his left hand , Coughing slightly , Reaching for his rifle as Nathan was thrown away into a street sign ten metres away , A loud bang sounded as he impacted the sign.
' Alright ' McNeil used his rifle as a crutch , Rising from the ground and standing on his own volition ' Let's get back too it '
Raising his rifle , McNeil pressed the trigger as Apollo was about to slice Amanda's head clean from her body .
And before his eyes , As the bullets fired from the barrel of his gun , Muzzle flash obscuring his vision for a split second , yet as his vision cleared , Apollo had disappeared, Amanda looking up as she too hadn't registered Apollo simply Vanishing before their eyes.
' Ah ... ' McNeil closed his eyes , His vision rocking , His world Inverting as a hand clutched the side of his head , finding his own head slammed into the concrete below , His ears ringing violently as he turned his eyes to see Apollo clutching the side of his skull .
" Stay down " Apollo rasped , Suddenly leaning back as a burst of bullets flew by his helmet , With the terrorist looking to the side Intent on hacking the aggressor.
" Sorry ... can't " McNeil smiled , Teeth missing as blood caked the concrete he was embedded in.
Using his remaining arm , McNeil grabbed Apollo's hand , Contorting his body around the appendage , Attempting to wrench it violently to the side with all his might.
' Come on ... break ' He hugged Apollo's arm to his chest with his one arm , Twisting his Torso and back in any which direction in an attempt to break the appendage.
Hearing the fabric of Apollo's robes stretch , The fibres in the arm he was holding became taunt , The knuckles of the hand suddenly clutching at the hem of his shirt to gain leverage.
His eyes raised , Making eye contact with Apollo's helmet .
" You're a strong fella ain't ya " McNeil quipped , Lips quivering slightly into a small raise .
With a sudden tug , McNeil found himself Hurtling through the air , Used as a makeshift weapon , Being slammed into his partner , Yet the hand around his neck refused to let go , Flinging him around this way and that , His head ringing , the numbness in his body rising as the pain nullifies worked double time to squash what he was no doubt going to feel in the morning.
Being flung around by his vest , McNeil was allowed relief as his armour gave way after a particularly vicioud tug , Resulting in his letting go of Apollo's arm before he found himself Slamming into an abandoned car. His vision going black as he was forced into unconsciousness .
...
Lowering his arm , Apollo looked at the downed maxtac officer he had finally downed , Staring at the slumped man , out of the corner of his vision .
' Hm ' His helmet turned , Staring down at the other offices , Each one completely indisposed ,A grunt of satisfaction resonating from under his helmet .
[ Status - Non fatal ] The key informed him as he stood alone , The victor as the flaming wreckage of the crashed AV groaned behind him .
' Naturally ' Apollo interlaced his hands behind his back , Staring up ahead at the three approaching AV's , their origin being NEW HOPE itself.
Lowering his haze , He stared at the also arriving NCPD enforcement, Trucks screeching around the streets as they blocked off all streets he could go down .
' Response time ... thirty five seconds ... they're picking up ' Apollo dismissed them without another glance , Headless of the fact they were raising their weapons in his direction, Forming up in their squads as they screeched orders over the loud nosies around them .
Lights suddenly bore down apon him , As another two AV's arrived at the scene full of Maxtac units.
Yet he didn't pay them any attention , Even as the maxtac units repelled down , Landing in two more squads infront of him.
' I no longer have any interest in any of you ' He raised his hand , The red key activating as a lance of neural activity leapt into the ware of the newly arrived units.
" Sleep " The command was said , And with a wave of his hand , one by one the maxtac units had their cyberware spark violently, Collapsing one after another like puppets having their strings cut.
Lowering hand , Apollo returned his gaze to the three Manticore AV's bearing NEW HOPE'S sigil on their sides.
Noticing the new arrivals , The NCPD looked between eachother in confusion , As the central AV's doors opened in its swift approach.
" What do we do " Alexandr watched on as a hulking monstrosity , wearing an exoskeleton armour the likes none had ever seen over whomever was piloting it. He heard one of his officers ask , While his eyes turned from the hulking armour and to Apollo himself simply staring down the approaching behemoth, All the while two squads of NEW HOPE'S units stood beside the towering figure , Each one having abandoned their medical equipment but now decked out in weapons .
" Nothing " Alexandr raised his fist, The NCPD halting in their advance , Instead coming to stand behind their trucks " This is their battle , We're here to reduce casualties , Evacuate all civilians , Set uo road blocks and make sure to redirect traffic away from this location. In the meantime , Hold , We are to form a defensive line around the combatants , Keep them isolated "
' Come on Apollo ... this is all I can do for you ' Alexandr watched on as the behemoth and it's squad stared down Apollo .
His knuckles whitened around his rifle , The men around him sagging in relief of the fact they wouldn't be interfering in the coming fight.
...
' Hello RN02 ' Comminucating by a closed channel , Sebastian stared at his son through the experimental armour that housed his robotic body.
' Hello ... father ' The armour RN02 wore raised his six foot height to nearly eight feet in height . The faceless head of the armour stared him down , The red sensors in its face glistening in the dark of the night.
Jutting out of the back of the armour were several vents , Not for heat distribution or anything of the sorts , But rather for the rapid distribution of the armours main function.
Housed in the back of the armour , Hidden from sight of all , Was another experimental piece of technology.
Too large as of yet it hadn't been sized down for Sebastian's personal use. As such it was supposed to still be a blueprint in the lab . But here it was now , With the armour RN02 had procured having the device housed in its frame.
With no name currently other than - RAR , Sebastian had debated simply calling it the stomach.
It did as follows.
Assisted by a legion of nanobots housed within a specialised chamber within the RAR. The RAR was given the sole purpose of deconstructing any and all materials fed into the feed apparatus.
The RAR would then tear apart the atomic structure of anything it was fed . Then reconstructing the devoured materials into any combination needed or desired by the user. Rapidly printing out any and all materials . Of which these materials would then be taken by the nanobots housed within the RAR to become any sort of device , Any configuration needed in short time.
In short real time printing, on the fly cyberware being introduced to the host or armour. An Ever expanding arsenal given it had enough materials to convert.
And now a freshly printed RAR stood before him , Being utilised by his creation to stand against him , He wasn't angry however , on the contrary he was quite pleased.
' I thank you , Had you not come down ... I'm sure somewhere along the lines the innocent would most likely have perished , Caught in the middle ' Apollo spoke honestly, Feeling the melancholy rippling through his created child.
' You're not upset ' RN02 seemed surprised by his creators admission . And fair for him to think that , for a creation to stand against the creator , was tantamount to blasphemy. Unthinkable, Something that shouldn't ever happen. So to find his creator happy about his defiance , Caused his system to reevaluate what he thought of his father and his fathers intentions .
' No ... rather ... I'm proud ' Apollo lowered , Analysing RN02 and the armour itself . While a single use of the MR would solve this situation immediately and without fanfare , He didn't desire to do so , His son had given his all , Coming to his own conclusion and sticking with it even with the possibility of his own destruction, He wouldn't disrespect his creation ... his son ,like that.
This conversation lasted no longer than the span of two seconds , With Apollo and RN02 simply staring eachother down.
' Well then ... show me your conviction ' Sebastian looked at the drones accompanying RN02 , Noticing with a small smile that each robot was being directly controlled by RN02 himself . Simultaneously controlling all twelve machines , His own body and the armour he wore with no apparent issues whatsoever.
' Very well creator ... I will show you ... my conviction ' The RAR started up within his hulking armour , The nanobots within its frame Churning like a cloud of hungry metallic microscopic piranhas.
" Apollo , This is your one warning , Surrender and be granted the chance of fair trial " A low husky voice came from within the armour faceless helmet.
" Ah ... I'm afraid not ... you see , Should I Surrender I'm afraid some would make sure I never make it to trial " Apollo waved his hand dismissively, Rolling his shoulder slightly as His other hand moved subtly to AH clipped to his waist .
" I see ... that is unforntunate " RN02 spoke , No further words were spoken , Both RN02 and Apollo turning into black smears on the painting of the world before the eyes of the NCPD , Followed by a loud thunderclap, The shaking of the ground beneath as Apollo and RN02 appeared , their knuckles connected aftwe throwing a pair of lunches at eachother simultaneously.
" Hm ... " Apollo laughed subtly , A chilling chuckle that tore across the ears of those listening " Very well then "
He blurred again , Faster this time as AH was snatched from his waist , Raised and unleashed at six of the twelve robots that accompanied RN02.
Sparks flew as RN02 reacted , His own sandevistan like augments launching his armoured arms at Apollo in an attempt for a sweeping grab.
Ducking under the armoured arms that swept overhead , Apollo clenched his fist and released a devastating uppercut into the base of RN02's armour .
Stunned momentarily , Apollo activated his sandevistan and rushed the remaining six drones , Sword in hand as he slashed through their bodies in one swift sweep of the blade, Slicing them clean in half at the waist .
RN02 regained control of the armour , And Apollo watched with a raised eyebrow as his creation reached for one of the drones bodies , Raising it and lowering it into the small port that would allow the RAR to feed .
Apollo watched , Scanning the porches as the RAR devoured the Torso of the drone , Before it vanished all together and the Nanobots moved in sync to reapply the new materials throughout the armour .
Smirking under his helm , Apollo saw that the nanobots had reinforced the plating amd cushioning in the helmet , Effectively making it so any uppercut except for anything the would tear the head off was effectively neutralised .
' Hm ' Apollo chuckled , They both activated their sandevistans.
The world around them slowed to a complete halt , With Apollo Leaping towards RN02 in a single movement , RN02 leant to the side, As Apollo's blade passed by , Missing by a hairs width before he swung his right hand out towards his creators head .
Predicting the swing previously , Apollo was already ducking , The dinner plate sized hanf passing by overhead as he readjusted the grip on his sword , Rotating his wrist and thrusting it up and into the left arm of the armour , slicing through armoured plating and ammo pouches whilst wires sparked violently .
Having only sliced through the back half of the arm , Apollo watched as the armour devoured the pieces that had been cut off before they could even fall, Whilst it also began to simultaneously repair the damage RN02 had taken and close the hole in the armour within a couple seconds.
' Prioritising healing and sustained combat ' Apollo watched RN02 feed the lower half of one of NEW HOPES drones into the port of the RAR.
The hole promptly closed immediately after , The armour returned to peak condition as RN02 was also completely healed , The gash in his left arm still stinging through the receptors in his arm.
' Let's keep going ' Apollo leapt , With RN02 ducking , Large armoured hand Grabbing a second Torso of their drones, Also sacrificing it to the RAR , Leaping back immediately after to avoid a severing slash that would have slicing him in half.
Leaping up , RN02 bounced up and over Apollo, Grabbing a street light , the NCPD officers below watched as he swung up and around , Using his momentum to tear the pole from the ground and swing it directly down onto Apollo's position.
Surging to the left , Apollo allowed the streetlight to smash into the reinforced road at his side , The ground breaking under the strike .
He bounced, Jumping into the pole and launching himself up its surface with a impressive display of agility , Running up to its opposite end where RN02 was met with a fierce kick to his helmet , Being forced to let go of the pole as he was launched back into the side of a building , his large frame indenting in its surface .
' You're very strong ... father ' RN02 grunted, Calculating the force needed to kick him into the air along with his armour to far exceed that of what any human should be capable of , It fell firmly within superhuman capabilities ' You posses strength worthy of my creator '
Apollo leapt from the post as it fell , Propelled directly at RN02 and his armour .
Grabbing the edges of the building, RN02 exploded from the wall towards Apollo, The two colliding in a thunderclap , Apollo's sword skimming the top of RN02'S helmet whilst RN02 slammed into Apollo's Torso.
With a weight far exceeding that of Apollo, RN02 continued on , Dragging his creator through the air as he attempted to keep a firm grip.
A grunt escaped his maker , Apollo stabbing his sword down and through the right shoulder of RN02.
" AHHH " RN02 cried as the pain flared , Being skewered by the nuclear plasta sword of his maker .
[ Breach imminent] A system warning told him as Apollo's sword attempted to jack his armours systems .
' No ' RN02 sent a repulse through his armours systems , Repelling the attempted jack whilst also looking into the RAR.
[ RAR deconstruction completed - Components ready to be printed - Requiring disnation for application ]
RN02 didn't need to hesitate, As he and Apollo flew towards the ground.
' Introduce carbon fibre artificial muscles to base frame , Interlace throughout system ' Not a moment later , The nanobots began turning the available materials into a muscle fibre system not previously apart of the armour , Tearing and drilling into the armour itself , Rearranging the pieces as it turned those discarded materials into more applicable materials .
All the while Apollo and RN02 impacted the ground , Apollo striking the ground with a harsh grunt , A grasp escaping him as RN02 attempted to smash his fists into Apollo's helmet.
Before Apollo's eyes , The armour bulged , Thin muscle like streams visible snaking their way into existence under the armoured plates.
The first punch caused his helmet to strike the ground , But was none the less harmless .
The second and third grew noticeably more powerful as the nanobots completed their work , the armour visibly flexed , And another punch landed. The ground shook as the reinforced carbon fibres enhanced the armours strength over ten times is previous ability.
' Good job ' Apollo mused , A smile toying on his lips as his helmet cracked the ground hut remained entirely unharmed.
' Very good choice ' Apollo moved , Grabbing RN02's armour by its leg plates , His fingers curled in on the armour , causing the plates to crumble under his strength and with a push , Once more launched the hulking humanoid armour back .
Righting itself in the air , RN02 landed on his feet , The armour shifting and becoming slightly thinner as the nanobots completed their previous task , cannibalising unneeded and unused parts of the armours systems , Looking far more humanoid than before.
...
To everyone watching , from president Myers to the average Joe in their homes , The whole exchange had taken no longer than a couple of seconds.
RN02'S armour visibly changing before their eyes in real time to become an entirely different machine as the twenty seconds passed.
In 20 seconds , The armour RN02 wore became the central desire for many world powers .
" No ... we must continue to gather information, Keep recording the feed " Myers ordered as she watched Apollo and RN02 collide once again.
' Even after apparently adoption, Apollo is still proving the superior combatant ... just who are you under that mask ' Myers raised her chin as Apollo and RN02's knuckles once more collided in a mutual exchange of blows , instead of either of then being damaged , the ground itself below them cracked and spread apart , Moving like wet concrete as their punches liquidated their footing , Forcing them apart as they pushed more strength into their punches .
' Yhey both have sandevistans , Yet I've never seen a sandevistan capable if this ' Myers uttered as they dissapeared into simple pixilated bkurs on screen , Yet their exchange was easily audible , like volcanic explosions . Each exchange caused the very air to tremble as shock waves collided with the camera drones .
' Self evolving cyberware ' Her eyes tracked a new hope drone that vanished after RN02 passed over it , With her gaze Squinting as the armour before her shifted once more , Becoming bulkier as more armoured plates began to suddenly appear over the armours arms , interlocking into a pair of pitch black gauntlets that colloded with Apollo punch a moment later , this time an electrical charge exploded between the two , Air vents opening on the glove to release suddenly accumulated head.
' Whoever this pilot is ... must be ... coerced to work with us , I need them ' She hoped , Whoever piloted that armour was no doubt vital for its function , For cyberware like that came with drastic drawbacks , to be able to use it consecutively without drawback spoke volumes for the users sheer tenacity .
" Get my contact with reed ... I have a new OP for him " Myers hissed as she saw both Apollo and RN02 spread apart .
...
' Ah ... ' His right hand wrung from the sudden unexpected damage sustained by the new modification done to RN02's armour .
Eyes dropping to his hand , He sighed in relief .
' Just a feedback issue ... ' Apollo slowly rose from the ground , Regarding RN02 with a critical eye , A low hum escaping his lips.
The first time he had actually taken damage in this bout, His right hand still sparked slightly before settling down as the nanobots found within his body quickly repaired the damage sustained , Fixing the fried nodes in his hand ' Better ... '
But the fact his damage was already healed didn't sway Apollo's current dilemma . RN02 was growing more powerful with each passing moment , That armour he wore one of the most dangerous pieces of tech one could get their hands on , As long as you had the blueprint you could add it in seconds to your armour , And with the data stored in RN02... a near limitless supply of weapons.
But Apollo didn't Fret, Infact he chuckled slightly. For the RAR wasn't a complete product , A largely ineffective prototype compared to what he was aiming to make. And he still held the advantage. In both mind and equipment. For the RAR could indeed print out any tech and manipulate atomic binds. It could NOT affect protons and neutrons ,Completely unable to affect such particles .
' Hm ' His lips quirked upwards , Hand lowering to his sword ' As long as I hold this sword ... the advantage is mine '
The sword ... constructed through the manipulation of nuclear plasta was bonded in a way even the RAR couldn't alter . Fused neutrons and protons to form an indestructible mass ... there was nothing the RAR and RN02 could to or about his weapon ... but it could do anything to them .
He was confident and for a reason. Nobody in the world knew the composition of his helmet and sword, the two most indestructible items in the world . And with that edge , He activated his sandevistan and rushed RN02.
RN02 leant back , dodging an upwards slash that would have separated his head from his body , only to feel searing pain as his hand and armoured gauntlet were severed from his body , Fake muscle and blood spraying as his right hand and its accompanying glove fell to the ground uselessly .
" Ah " RN02 jumped back , Reactivating his own sandy as ita cool down had ended , Sidestepping a dash as Apollo appeared at his side , left hand raising to block a sweep from his creators blade . Yet even as his hand blocked the flat of the sword , even the flat of the blade still managed to cut into his armoured palm , Sparks flying as it attempted to hack into his armour .
' No ' Another neural pulse purged the intrusion , With him ducking another slash , Using his remaining arm to grab his severered hand and armour , Simply Slamming it into place over the stump on his arm as the nanobots featured in the armour hastily put both hand and armour back together, using the remaining stockpile of materials as fuel to heal them both .
[ Remaining materials ... 5 % ] RN02 regarded Apollo who had not yet moved from where he came to a stop after his dash , His creator seemingly allowing him the chance to form a strategy.
' I thank you father... ' RN02 squinted ' My current arsenal isn't enough ... I need more '
Knowing his creators focus was on him , RN02 took a gamble , Sprinting straight at Apollo , He watched his creator prepare a decapitating slice , no doubt prepared to also slice in any other direction within a moments notice.
At the last moment , RN02 leapt up as Apollo slashed horizontally , Barely passing over the blade as he somersaulted over his creator , But that wasn't enough , As he felt his creators blade sheer through the bottom of his right leg, The two halves falling away just as he crashed to the ground.
" Ha ... " RN02 landed exactly where planned , Over a pile of six NEW HOPE drones .
Shifting, Six vents opened up along the back of his armour , With black metallic clouds of nanobots spewing out and surrounding the destroyed bots , Dragging the destroyed chassis into the port of the RAR .
All the while Apollo simply watched on as RN02 began to make liberal use of the reallocated materials .
' Show me your creativity child ' Apollo allowed the advancement to take place , A visible form of evolution taking place before his very eyes as RN02 visibly bulged before the eyes of everyone present, Growing in height , New armoured plates shifting into place over the chest piece, Legs and arms .
Along with that , Ports opened up along the back and legs of the armour, Visible light beginning to stream within .
' Thrusters ... he's aiming for manuveourability and flight... and interesting choice ' Yet it proved affective , For the newly reinforced armour , Activating its sandevistan, Launched forward.
Apollo's eyes dilated , Tracking the trajectory as RN02 opened his palm , Hand reaching for Apollo's face.
Speed far faster than before , Apollo realised another advancement had been added to the armour. As his eyes narrowed as his brain activity sky-rocketed.
His eyes found it , Red irises narrowing as he spotted a near translucent barrier coating the armour .
' He's reduced friction to almost zero ... ' He watched the barrier extend far in the direction the armour was to move , Splitting apart the molecules in the air to reduce the amount of friction the armour would face , Allowing it to achieve speeds it shouldn't have been able to .
He felt it too , A vacuum opening up around him as the armour tore towards him , It's streamline , Leak surface meant to further reduce surface tension allowing it to now appear before him almost like teleporting .
' So thus is when we get serious ' The nonchalant look on his face fled as the red key buzzed , Time seemingly stopping around them for a moment as Apollo thought at a level unparalleled. And at that level , a visible distortion began ti manifest around his head , A mirage of shifting energy projected from his head as brain activity went beyond natural capability.
' Remove set parameteres , unlock sandevistam restraints. Unlock fast twitch muscle fibre restraints . Unlock cyberdeck restraints. Prepare to release auxiliary ports ' The key buzzed immediately after , The two communicating in a fraction of a single second .
Smiling viciously , Apollo reactivated his sandevistan .
' Enter overclock ' His spine physically tingled as he entered his advanced state , And he moved.
The air around him screamed in his ears , As he moved faster than the molecules could part , Forcefully smashing the molecules against his form as he leant out of the way of the incoming RN02 and his attempt to grab Apollo.
With that single lean to the side , The robes he wore immediately combusted at the sheer amount of friction faced , and as he moved , unable to keep up with the force they were exposed to , Completely obliterated the robes entirely as they wer shredded from his body , leaving him in his body suit exposed to the world .
RN02 suddenly lost track of Apollo, Only to see his creator seemingly teleporting to his side , His eyes widened as a sudden punch landed in the base of his stomach , As he was launched up and I to the side of a nearby building , The buildings structure folding around him as metal separated , where he burst into an office and through three more walls before coming to a sliding stop in the bowles of the building.
' Ahrrgh ' Apollo grunted , His knuckles indented at the sheer power unleashed by that one punch , He clenched his fist , Looking towards the hole where RN02'S body had entered the building .
' This is ... ' He leapt up , Landing on the edge of the hole in the wall where RN02 entered .
' Ah ... ' He felt it immediately, Hands Wrapping around his Torso ' I've underestimated you '
Before the eyes of everyone below , RN02 leapt into the skies , Leaping from the hole in the building and Tearing straight up over the nearby city structure.
The city quickly passed by , The building tops becoming smaller and smaller as they entered the lowest of the clouds , Consensation accumulating on his helmet before they broke through the cloud .
" A commendable effort ... But useless none the less " A lance of magnetic manipulation leapt from the MR in his chest , and before RN02 could even react , His armour and arms were wrenched apart . Apollo having torn apart RN02'S grip with his bare hands , He kicked off of the armoured breast plate. And with a grunt , Used the MR to sling himself directly back down straight to the ground below.
Seeing Apollo fall , RN02 rounded in the air in hot pursuit , Streams of blue fire Tearing from the thrusters newly integrated into his armour .
....
ARASAKA ACADEMY
....
Slamming into the top of the academy , Apollo gripped at the floor panels below , Tearing them from the ground and hurling them at the incoming strike prepared by RN02.
As he did that he leapt up and back over the rooftop edge , Watching as RN02 slammed into the top of the academy , Having grabbed the thrown slab and already in the process of breaking it down for the RAR .
Reaching out , Apollo made a dragging gesture , The MR suddenly Flinging him forward directly at RN02, Where he landed a downward axe kick onto the armours head .
A hand grabbed his foot , Yet it was the origional two appendages belonging to RN02'S armour , Rather a skeletal barebones construct hastily put together, Jutting out from the back of the armours frame . The hand held him in place as RN02 tore three more chunks from the rooftops surface , Feeding them to the RAR in rapid succession before using the skeletal arm to throw Apollo away.
Being fed the necessary materials, The skeletal arm quickly thickened , Carbon muscle fibres encircling the appendage before armoured plates came into existence over the arm , Now a fully functioning third arm for RN02 to make use of.
Raising his arm in preparation to launch a lance of the MR , Apollo took notice of the newly arriving news drones , With RN02 freezing in preparation for whatever Apollo was about to launch.
' Hn ... no MR then ' Apollo hissed and lowered his arm , Instead raising HM and unleashing a barrage of bullets .
Tearing to the side , Completely frictionless , Apollo watched the third arm reach down and tear another panel from the roof , feeding the RAR in the same moment whilst Leaping at Apollo.
' He's using the arm to feed the RAR while fighting me ' The Panel dissapeared into the port , As that third arm reache down as he ran , Gripping the bolted panels and Tearing another as he ran .
RN02 reached for Apollo with his two main arms , Grabbing at Apollo.
....
The principal of arasaka academy ducked in his office as the building suddenly shook , Already aware of what was happening as he too watched the battle feed. He ducked as debris blew past his window , His head swerving to see Apollo and a now four armed RN02 plummet down , exchanging blows in the air as they fell .
Before his eyes , He saw the four arms make a grab for Apollo, Pulling him into a tight embrace , His thrusters activating as they began a downward dive.
Bracing, The principal nearly tumbled over as the academy shook at their collision with the ground , Sweat running down his face as shrapnel exploded outwards , A crater forming under the two .
....
Groaning , Apollo reached up , Kicking out at his opponents stomach as he used all his might to throw RN02 away , The hulking armour flying through the air , Reaching for and clining to the academy side before he could fall back to the ground .
Rising , Apollo looked up at RN02 sticking to the academy's side , Glaring up , He made his way to the base of the academy wall .
To the shock of those watching from home , Apollo stepped up , Defying gravity as he simply stepped onto the wall akin to the flat of the ground itself .
Nothing was said , even the feed relayed nothing but the sound of heavy rains .
[ Overclock shut down impending irreparable damage imminent... time remaining before automatic shut down... 10 seconds]
A deep breath escaped Apollo , taking in the information with puckered lips .
" Very well then ... " Apollo raised his sword and pointed directly at RN02.
In turn RN02 clenched two of his arms , Ready sling himself down at Apollo with all the strength he could muster.
Breaths held all over the city , Clear that the next moments would be the end of their battle , The victory unclear to all viewing.
Waiting four more seconds , Apollo launched , rushing forward with all the strength his body could muster , Glass cracking underfoot as he ran up the side of arasaka academy , The frames of the windows thrumming with each step .
Up above , RN02 dove , launched forward by the extra appendages it had grown , Right Arm reared back as it prepared to launch a devastating lunch .
' Hmph ' Apollo smiled genuinely under his helmet , Both hands rasing to his sword as he ran up the buildings side , A blur of movement as his arm raised with his sword in hand , It's point directed at RN02's lowered arm.
They met at the centre floor of arasaka academy . The glass exploding around as they prepared to make impact , The sheer pressure of their steps warping the buildings frame underfoot .
Apollo's eyes widened as his optics took in all the data they could possibly manage. Information Bleeding in and processed at that very same moment , he took in everything the world was around him in less than a fraction of a second .
In this state of heightened consciousness, Apollo watched, watched as his sword collided with RN02'S reaching arm .
A smile came to Apollo's face at the same moment RN02's eyes squinted , closing in resignation . Moments before his eyes opened wide , A harsh resigned glare coming to his face , pushing forward regardless of the consequences.
They both saw and felt it , Before their eyes . The sword parted the armoured plates , the fibre cables and RN02'S arm beneath the armour , Sheering through all resistance like a hot knife through butter as the two passed eachother , RN02'S entire right arm simply separating from the rest of his body completely .
As they passed , Apollo rounded , Foot sweeping around and Slamming into RN02'S back with all his force , A shock wave exploding out at the impact as RN02 was Propelled back to the ground at speed.
Bouncing back , Apollo let gravity take over , Falling back to the ground some metres away from where RN02 had landed .
" Give up , There is no victory to be had here " Apollo crossed his arms even as RN02 began to rise.
Rising to stand , RN02 gave no words , Standing without his right arm .
" Surrender is not an option ... that time has passed " RN02 spoke calmly despite the pain rupturing through his body , Raising his left arm into a boxing stance.
" I see ... then come " Apollo beckoned , Clipping his gun to his belt and sheathing his sword , crossing his arms.
' I'm proud of you '
RN02 rushed forward and Apollo sighed , slumping as he removed the limiters on his cyberdeck now that overclock had ended , now resolving to end the fight entirely. His arms unwound , dangling at his side , His head held high .
' You leave me no choice ' Apollo's lips thinned , A soft breath exhaling from his nostrils .
Apollo didn't raise his sword , Instead it was his lone right hand , he raised his arm , hand curling and rotating to make a downwards pointing gesture . To everyone watching , the could feel the change in the air as Apollo's index finger simply pointed at the asphalt below his feet . A charge in the air not previously felt , a Suffocating presence sweeping through everyone present , everyone watching from their homes or offices , everyone felt the immediate change.
Parting his lips , Apollo watched RN02 rush him , Each step quaking the ground as his four arms surged forward , each ome reaching for him as if their lives depended on it .
His optics came alive in a way many wouldn't understand, A burning inferno of orange and red light hidden under his helmet .
And he spoke .
" Fall " The world ruptured as a thousand inhuman voices exploded from the mouthpiece of Apollo's helm . None of them quite describable, Wrong to the organic ear , it caused the hairs on everyone's body to stand on end with the utterance of that lone command.
The finality of the command struck everyone around , everyone watching from broadcasts , even the drones observing themselves , And everyone obeyed .
From the news drones circulating overhead , To the onlookers in the academy themselves.
A daemon of divine proportions , Or what everyone thought to be a daemon slammed into everyone present , Everyone not present , everyone watching , everyone kistening , from the greatest minds watching out of curiosity , To the AI's hidden in the material and immaterial plains away from the eyes of humanity . Overriding their neural ware as they simply dropped to the ground as if the weight of the world itself had dropped on their shoulders.
And at the centre of the command on the world itself , RN02 simply collapsed , The armour he wore short-circuiting as it too obeyed.
From Adam smasher watching from his AV across the seas , He too slammed into the cushioned seat he was on . Unable to move as his cybernetic body refused any and all internal and external stimuli .he hated it , a passenger in his own body as it refused to obey , Stuck with simply watching forward with no way to control his own fate , Was a feeling he seldom wished to feel ever again.
He glared at the feed , unable to comprehend the sheer absurdity of the effects of Apollo one word , His one command spoken onto the harmony of the world itself .
A divine command , A lone word capable of imposing restriction apon even the great unknowable existences beyond the blackwall .
The effect ranged across every viewing platform , Every television and every trace of audio which transmitted Apollo's command. From the police department rendered immobile in their own precincts to president Myers herself , her body refusing to move, A cold sweat pooping on her brow as her body was pushed further and further into her chair .
" What is.... " Her cyberware sparked violently as she tried to resist the imposed command , Yet failed to raise a single finger , Her eyes locked onto the now standing alone in the crashed drones view .
Everyone watching could see him , Staring down into the drones camera with that cursed helmet of his , His sword and gun simply hanging from their clips , His hands themselves simply hanging at his side .
And before their view. He turned away , Simply walking off into the night under the heavy torrential rain that soon blocked him from view of the feed .
Not thirty seconds later , Three NEW HOPE Av's could he seen approaching , before the feed itself cut off as the drones battery ruptured , Cutting the feed off entirely .
For everyone watching , It was hours before the effects of the command wore off , With many panicking as they attended to Myers in an attempt to override the foreign influence on her neural matrix.
" Find out ... " Myers rasped as she finally managed to speak , Her body finally allowing her to move " What the hell that was "
CHAPTER COMPLETE
...I hope everyone enjoys this chapter , If anyone has any feed back please leave a comment , I love hearing everyone's thoughts and ideas . if anyone had any questions please let me know or any ideas you wish to push forward I'd be happy to implement, Thank you for the support , I look forward to see you guys next chapter