TriPlex: Hello World!

Chapter 0.3: Wherever He Goes

"Consider it done"

Yash replies, as he lowers his weapon.

The woman smiles behind her metal mask in response. Her arms slightly extending sidewards as a pose of triumph.

"Now that wasn't so har-"

POP

The very next thing the woman and her guards would see was the sight of Yash's gun barrel smoking. A portion of her face, along with her left eye just above the metal mask has been scraped off entirely by a bullet.

"Open FIRE!"

One of the guards shouted, before all of them simultaneously pull the trigger of their firearms.

Yash however, reacted swiftly, leaping behind one of the metal freezers immediately after firing at the woman's face.

The room soon echoed with the sounds of gunfire and ricochets.

"You four, eliminate the intruder, I'll take the administrator to the evacuees, the paramedics might be able to help."

One of the guards ordered.

"Leave it to us"

A guard replied, as he continues to open fire towards Yash's location.

"Y-you will suffer for this....S-suffer!"

The woman shouted,

"That's enough ma'am, let's get to the paramedics so we can patch you up"

The guard advised, as he carries her away from the laboratory.

Yashindo on the other hand knew that his cover wont hold up much longer, being unable to peek for new cover due to the swarm of bullets flying his way, he waits for the guards to reload their weapons, and when they did, he quickly slid out from behind the freezer, shooting them in the head as he motioned out. His efforts however, were to no avail, as the guard's armor was so thick that pistol rounds weren't able to pentrate them at all. Realizing that shooting them was futile, he quickly jumps behind a metal crate a few meters away from where he was shooting, narrowly escaping another batch of bullets from the guards as they were just done reloading.

Yash, knowing that he would be unable to catch the administrator quickly activated his headpiece, contacting Zherik to tell him about the situation.

"Z, I've found the ones behind this operation, they're trying to escape with the evacuees outside. Start the assault now, don't let them escape"

Yash quickly ordered, his voice a bit shaky and out of breath due to current circumstances.

"Roger Sir"

Zherik replied, after brief moment of Silence. The communication cut off right after his response.

Now with that out of the way, the only thing left for Yash was to deal with the problem at hand, the rain of bullets that were trying to find a way to his face. Time was ticking, he had to think of something fast. While thinking of an escape, Yash heard the sounds of magazines dropping to the floor, indicating that the guards were reloading. Something clicked in his mind. Not wanting to waste a second more, he jumps out of his hiding spot, rushing towards what looks like an oxygen tank located at the opposite side of the room.

"There he is boys! Light Im' Up!"

A guard shouted, as he finishes reloading his firearm.

Yash acted swiftly and efficiently, grabbing one of the tanks just right before the guards fired another burst of bullets. He already remembered the lab layout the moment he entered the room, as he had already scanned most of it. Due to this, he was well aware of the surroundings, saving him the time of looking for one to hide in. The tank flew right in front of the guards, catching the bullets as holes started to form on its surface. Yashindo, knowing the outcome of his actions, quickly jumped inside one of the freezers, closing the lid right away.

"Ah shi-"

A guard ranted, just a moment before the room turned into a fiery blaze.

The explosion was so strong that a slight vibrations could be felt from above. Nothing was left, the guards which stood near the lab's exit were scorched to oblivion, leaving a pile of combat armor with burnt corpses inside of them.

The freezer's lid slowly opened, revealing a perfectly fine Yashindo a few seconds after the explosion.

"Ah crap-"

He muttered, realizing that the physical evidence about the lab's existence turned into nothing but ashes.

Remembering that the administrator was trying to escape. Yashindo immediately rushed outside the lab, passing by the burnt ruins of what was left of it.

The administrator and her bodyguard on the other hand who were still at the stairwell heard the explosion from the lab, causing them to hasten their actions.

Meanwhile

"Target combatants only! Use non-lethal force when subduing civilians!"

Zherik commanded.

Outside the facility, a large scale firefight broke out between the two parties, with the PMC having a significant edge due to the fact that most of their men were armed with better equipment. The fight went on for a few more minutes, neither side willing to surrender.

"Sir the evacuees are trying to escape!"

One of the corps members alerted, pointing towards the general direction of where the employees could be sighted boarding an armored truck in order to flee.

"Tsk- can't believe they're actually tryna hotfoot outta here. Rock, you're up"

Zherik said.

"Heh, kept me waiting"

A voice from behind replied.

Suddenly, a container truck from the vicinity which was concealed before the operation burst open, revealing what looked like a large man.

Rock stepped forward, unveiling a towering figure standing at about twelve feet in height. It was man piloting a mini-mech, resembling that of a humanoid. The mech's exterior boasted thick plating reminiscent of a medieval knight's armor. Its arms wielded a large hammer-like weapon, well known for it's small thruster at the opposite end, enhancing the impact speed in order to conmpensate for it's lack of armor penetration due to it's blunt edge.

The mechanical behemoth wasted no time; the moment Zherik gave the order, it lunged forward. The ground shook beneath the thunderous charge, resembling a raging bull storming towards the armored vehicle. The opposing forces, desperate to protect their caravan, unleashed a barrage of gunfire upon the charging mech, hoping to create a buy time for their evacuees. Yet, their efforts proved futile as the machine simply brushed off their onslaught.

"Darn It-! Take out the RPGs boys! Bullets dont do squat to this thing!"

The enemy captain ordered.

The enemy combatants swiftly responded to the order, brandishing military-grade weapons capable of vehicle destruction.

"Aim... Fire!"

The captain commanded.

In unison, the men opened fire, launching a barrage of explosives toward the mech. Upon impact, a massive explosion erupted, shrouding the area in thick smoke. The intensity of the blast momentarily halted both sides.

"That must've done it. Well done, boys!"

The captain remarked.

The men celebrated with high fives, believing they had delivered a significant blow to their enemy. However, their joy was short-lived. Emerging from the dissipating smoke, the mech remained unfazed by the assault, closing in on the armored truck.

The soldiers, gripped by horror, witnessed the mech's hammer sweeping them away. Relentless, it plowed through the enemy ranks until it reached the armored truck. With a mighty swing, the mech shattered its engine, causing the truck to swerve and crash against the wall. Though shaken, the passengers inside escaped harm.

"Objective captured! Advance, men!" Zherik commanded, signaling with determination.

His forces moved forward, gunfire echoing as they capitalized on the chaos caused by Rock's charge. Zherik's unit overwhelmed the facility's security, almost entirely eliminating the opposing forces.

"Piece of cake,"

Rock commented, smashing the truck's doors open to reveal its occupants. They were scientists and utility staff-non-combatants seeking refuge within the truck.

The mech pilot, uninterested in interrogating them, waved his hands in the air, signaling to Zherik that he had potential witnesses who could pinpoint their leader's location.

Zherik seeing that side of the battlefield, already sorted out decided to check out the witnesses himself. He hastily ran towards the location but was greeted by a singular entity who happened to stood right in front Zherik as he walked.

It was a woman, unarmed but wearing a tattered uniform from the facility. Zherik, recognizing that she must've been one of the fleeing workers, cautiously extended his hand, attempting to grab her as a potential witness.

"You're coming with me, Ma'am,"

Zherik ordered. Just as he was about to make contact, the woman skillfully sidestepped, evading his grasp and delivering a swift, devastating punch to his sternum. Zherik was sent flying back about ten meters, crashing into a stack of crates.

Zherik's men, witnessing the unexpected attack on their leader, reacted out of their emotions. They opened fire, a hail of bullets filling the air, each shot aimed at avenging their fallen commander.

"That b***h! Get her!"

one of the men shouted, squeezing the trigger as he aimed at the woman.

Undeterred, the woman agilely maneuvered through the gunfire, displaying remarkable speed and grace. She sought refuge behind an armored car, using it as a shield against the relentless barrage of bullets. The metallic clangs echoed in the chaos as the rounds hit the car's surface, leaving the mysterious woman unscathed for now.

"You can run, sweetheart, but you can't hide! Get those mags reloaded, and we'll turn her into Swiss cheese the moment she peeks out again!"

The boisterous soldier proclaimed, a grin on his face as he rallied the others with an air of rowdy determination.

The woman however, didn't wait for them to finish. As they were reloading, they were bewildered by what they saw next. It was the same woman earlier, lifting the car off the ground with her bare hands.

"Holy mary mother of Joseph"

The same corpsman said, frozen in place as he watched the extraordinary unravel before him.

She wasn't finished yet. Immediately after lifting the car, she tore it apart, splitting it into two pieces with a loud crunch of metal. The corps members attempted to shoot, but it was too late. She had already hurled the pieces of the armored car towards them, resulting in explosions that echoed through the compound, injuring and even killing some of the pursuing corps members.

Rock, who had been observing the chaos from a distance, couldn't just stand and watch any longer. Despite his shock at the sudden turn of events, his innate bravery propelled him forward, his mind tensed with rageq as he charged toward the newfound threat.

"Why, you little..." The mech pilot's voice trailed off as he aggressively surged towards the woman, mirroring his earlier assault on the armored truck.

Witnessing the woman's incredible strength, he abandoned restraint and unleashed his rocket-propelled hammer with full force, aiming to obliterate her like a mere insect.

"Eat this, you filthy ani--"

CLANG!

In a split second, the hammer shattered into a thousand pieces against her formidable fists. Rock recoiled in astonishment at the unexpected turn of events, but his instincts kicked in, compelling him to discard the shattered hammer's handle and utilize the mech's fists in direct combat. He unleashed a barrage of combinations, each punch fueled by the mech's immense power, yet the mysterious woman effortlessly dodged and weaved through his onslaught.

The relentless exchange continued for several tense seconds, frustrating the mech pilot as his attacks failed to connect.

"Z! Don't just sit on your ass, help me out!" he bellowed, still attempting to land a blow amidst the flurry of punches. "Scan her equipment. Find any weaknesses we can exploit!"

Zherik, having just recovered from the earlier assault, retrieves a device resembling a gun with a screen attached. He takes aim at the woman, a faint click echoing as he activates the device.

"Scanning subject..." the interface announces.

"What the hell... There's... There's nothing," Zherik mutters in horror.

"Unable to identify equipment. Try again later," the interface displays.

"What do you mean nothin'?" Rock's voice booms with fury, his relentless assault on the woman still raging on.

"It's blank, Rock. She's... she's doing it all by herself," Zherik's tone is grim, his words heavy with realization.

Ignoring Zherik's assessment, Rock presses on with his attack,

"I don't know who the hell you are, but I'll make sure every bone in your body aches," Rock taunts, his anger fueling his determination.

Infuriated, the mech pilot pushes his bot into overdrive, amplifying both its power and speed at the cost of increased energy consumption. His relentless barrage of attacks accelerates, each strike drawing closer to the elusive woman.

Then, the perfect opportunity presents itself. Rock sees his chance to land a decisive blow.

"Gotcha! All I need is one good hit, and you'll be finished!" Rock roars, his mech's fists charged as he winds up for a singular, devastating attack.

He releases his fists, sending them hurtling towards the woman mid-air as she dodges with uncanny agility.

"This is it, see you in the depths of hell," Rock thinks, confident his attack will land.

Closer and closer they draw, until-

CRUNCH.

In an instant, the same arm Rock used to attack is severed from the mech's body. Shocked by the turn of events, Rock feels a surge of determination. Refusing to let the fight end on the woman's terms, he forcibly uses the mech's left arm to launch another assault.

"WHY YOU-" Rock shouts, his voice echoing with defiance as he throws the mech's weight behind his final leap of faith.

But his efforts prove futile. Before he can even extend his arm, the woman wields the severed mech limb as a weapon against the mech itself. Slamming it with tremendous force, she sends Rock staggering backward, crashing into the facility walls. The impact is so intense that the high-grade walls shatter upon Rock's collision.

"Rock! WHAT IS YOUR STATUS?" Zherik's voice crackles through the built-in comms system.

Rock, voice weary but resolute, manages to somehow give a reply.

"S-She got me-"

"Hold on, Rock, I'm coming-"

"D-don't, she ain't done yet," Rock insists.

As Zherik looks toward the crash site, he spots the woman approaching what remains of the mech. With swift movements, she leaps onto the mech's dysfunctional body, staring at its head with an eerie intensity before digging into its metal plating with her bare hands.

Zherik, attempting to assist, fires pistol rounds towards the crash site. His arms were still shaking from the earlier attack, causing his shots to go wide. Helpless, he watches from a distance as his comrade is slowly cornered by the strange woman.

It wouldn't take long for her to finally break the mech's helm, revealing the bare face of the mech pilot right in front of her. It was a Samoan man, his face bloodied from the impact earlier. The woman, with an air of vengeance, raised one of her hands, sharp, claw-like appendages gleaming menacingly.

"H-heh, do it," Rock taunted, a grim smile playing on his lips as he braced himself for the inevitable.

Without a single word, the woman prepared to s***h the man's throat wide open. But just before she could deliver the fatal blow, a sniper bullet pierced the air, striking her in the head with deadly precision. She staggered backward, momentarily disoriented, and then tumbled off the mech's body, her form disappearing into the smoke and chaos below.

A stunned silence fell over the scene as everyone processed what had just happened. Zherik's eyes widened in disbelief, his gaze darting to the source of the shot.

"What was that-?" Zherik muttered, his voice barely a whisper amidst the chaos.

"Good job, Z. You're definitely a valued member of this team," a familiar voice from behind greeted, dripping with reassurance and pride.

"Y-you're here!" Zherik exclaimed, a mix of relief and disbelief coloring his tone.

"Indeed I am. Now, please hold onto this while I attend to some unfinished business," Yash replied, tossing the rifle towards Zherik with a determined glint in his eye.

Yashindo wasted no time and dashed towards his target, his eyes glinting with the same yet slightly different determination Rock had earlier. As he sprinted, he withdrew a small bladed weapon from his coat, its sleek design resembling a one-edged sword. Its sheath, equally sharp, hinted at the lethal nature of the blade. With a click of his headpiece, he summoned his virtual assistant to aid him in the upcoming encounter.

"Check energy stability levels," Yash requested.

"On it sir... Energy levels are stable, sir," the assistant replied promptly.

Upon hearing this confirmation, Yash tightened his grip on the weapon's handle and drew it from its sheath. Sparks flew as the blade emerged, its sharp edges imbued with energy. This energy allowed the blade to increase it's heat levels, rendering it capable of slicing through metal with ease.

The woman's eyes narrowed as she observed Yashindo's approach, calculating his movements as he closed the distance between them. With a feral determination, she leaped from the mech, her claws glinting in the night. As she charged towards Yashindo, her footfalls echoed against the floor, adding a tense rhythm to the impending clash.

Yashindo's focus sharpened as he braced himself for the confrontation, his senses heightened as adrenaline surged through his veins. He anticipated her attack, his muscles coiled like springs ready to react to her movements. With a swift sidestep, he narrowly evaded her initial lunge, the air crackling with the force of her strike.

Seizing the opening, Yashindo swiftly countered, his blade flashing in the dim light as he struck with precision. The pommel of his weapon met the woman's face with a resounding thud, momentarily staggering her and creating an opportunity for Yashindo to follow up with a calculated s***h across her chest.

Despite the wound, the woman's resolve remained unbroken, her movements fluid and relentless as she retaliated with a flurry of strikes. Yashindo danced gracefully around her onslaught, his movements a testament to his training and agility. Each dodge and parry was executed with precision, the rhythm of the battle unfolding like a carefully choreographed dance.

The battlefield fell into an eerie silence, the chaotic symphony of gunfire and explosions replaced by the tense anticipation of the unfolding duel. Zherik and his men stood guard by the armored truck, their eyes fixed on the spectacle before them.

As Yashindo and the mysterious woman engaged in their fierce combat, whispers of awe and disbelief rippled through the ranks of Zherik's men. They watched in awe as their captain, a figure of unwavering resolve and skill, faced off against a seemingly unstoppable adversary.

"How... how is he doing that?" a hushed voice murmured from behind Zherik, the question echoing the thoughts of many.

Zherik turned to face the wide-eyed corps member, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "He's our captain," he replied with quiet pride, his voice carrying a mixture of admiration and reverence. "And where he leads, we follow."

The words hung in the air like a rallying cry, infusing the soldiers with a renewed sense of determination. In that moment, they were not just bystanders; they were witnesses to a decisive battle, and they stood ready to stand by their captain's side, no matter the cost."

The battle reached its c****x as Yashindo, with a calculated precision, countered the woman's relentless assault with a decisive kick to the face, disrupting her momentum. Seizing the opportunity, he launched a barrage of lightning-fast strikes, each blow finding its mark with deadly accuracy. Despite her best efforts to evade, the woman found herself unable to escape Yash's relentless onslaught.

With a final, decisive s***h, Yashindo struck true, causing the woman to lose her balance and fall to the ground. Sensing victory within his grasp, Yash moved swiftly, pressing his blade against her neck.

"Don't move," his voice commanded, firm and absolute.

As Yash initiated contact with Zherik, a sense of urgency hung in the air. The virtual assistant's response was swift, connecting them with their comrades on the battlefield.

"Z, I've got her," Yash declared, his tone resolute. "We can't afford to let her slip away. What's the situation on your end?"

Zherik's response was tinged with disappointment, yet determination. "No luck identifying the leader, but one of my men spotted someone escaping by helicopter. Must've been them."

Yash's mind raced with possibilities, but his focus remained unwavering. "Secure the target," he instructed, his voice echoing with resolve. "And get Rock out of that mech. It's time to bring this operation to an end."

Just as victory seemed within reach, the woman, consumed by rage, struck out with a sudden ferocity, catching Yash off guard and sending him crashing to the ground. The impact left him momentarily stunned, but Yash refused to yield.

"You've left me no choice," he muttered. With a swift movement, he activated a hidden function on his headpiece, plunging the world around him into a surreal blue hue.

In this altered perception of time, Yash moved with a fluid grace, dodging the woman's frenzied attacks with ease. With a quick maneuver, he planted a device on her back.

"Let this be a lesson," Yash taunted, his voice carrying a note of defiance as he restored the flow of time with a simple press of his headpiece.

As reality resumed its normal pace, Yash walked away from the confrontation, his expression showing confidence.

The woman, now bewildered and disoriented, attempted to locate her target but found herself unable to comprehend the situation. Observing Yash's nonchalant walk triggered her frustration, compelling her to lunge at him once more. However, before she could go any further, the concealed device activated, delivering a powerful shock that surged through her body, rendering her unconscious.

Yash turned back, his demeanor calm, as he ordered the virtual assistant to scan her vitals. The confirmation of her stable condition surprised him.

"Her vitals are stable, sir," the assistant informed.

Yash, displaying a mix of surprise and contemplation, remarked, "That was quite a gamble. Didn't expect her to survive a device meant to shut down mechs."

Zherik, witnessing the events unfold, rushed towards Yash, expressing his admiration. "Well done, sir!"

Yash, though appreciative of the victory, couldn't shake off his disappointment about the leader's escape. Zherik, attempting to uplift the mood, remarked, "A victory's a victory. We're lucky you came in time; otherwise, this would end up being a one-man operation."

"Maybe you're right," Yash conceded. He instructed Zherik to secure the evacuees and evidence, signaling the end of the mission.

As both men walked toward their comrades, the aftermath of the battle lay evident - fires, smoke, and fallen soldiers. Despite the chaos, the night marked a crucial triumph for Yash's PMC. Thoughts about the orchestrator and the administrator's motives lingered in Yash's mind. There was much to uncover, and Yash felt a renewed determination.

Little did he know that this night would alter the course of his PMC and his life in the near future.

PROLOGUE END