A Villain Through and Through

The patrol officer stood up and bulged his eyes out. “Wha—”

Out of sheer instinct, I whipped out my gun and blasted him through his head. He crumbled on the spot, leaving a stain on the wall.

Damn it, I forgot to scan the area before getting out! I cursed under my breath and rushed toward the body. I can’t believe listening to those stupid history lessons actually distracted me!

Before his system could detect his mortality, I shot out my wire and attached it to his wristband, trying to hack his terminal and stabilize it. But of course, its reaction time ran a hundred times faster than any advanced android like me could beat.

“System Alert,” the wristband announced, flashing bright red. “The Health Monitoring System has detected a sudden cessation of life from Officer Kai. Estimated location: east section of Nexus Pratum History Museum.”

I sighed in defeat and retracted my wire. “Well, if it isn’t the consequences of my actions,” I nonchalantly said out loud, hands on my hips. “Just great…”

Screw it, I’m killing that old geezer. Target or not. I spun on my heels and activated the boots, neon streaks of light sprouting into existence, twisting into wings of energy on each leg. With a surge of power, I shot through the halls, moving faster than a blur. I opened a mini radar on my watch and glued my eye to the marker on the map, picking up my speed.

When my radar flashed alerts of oncoming security, I stopped and scanned around the corridors. I could either break into a room and hide or go through the vents again…

But I chose the third and most fun option: murder.

I maniacally grinned, whipped out a handful of wires, and charged, making an abrupt, sharp turn at an intersection and facing the startled guards.

“Surprise!” I shot out my wires, activated the tasers, and coiled them around their necks, electrocuting them. Now limp, I yanked their bodies and slammed them against the wall.

Another wave of patrol guards arrived with drones, already brandishing their rifles. The moment they laid eyes on me, they wasted no time aiming at my head. As laser bullets rained toward me, I pulled up my force field. I glanced at the unconscious guards beside me and drew back my wires.

I could’ve used my own guns and gimmicks, but saving power and supplies would always be preferable if given the option to choose something else. Thus, I zipped toward the bodies, snatched their weapons, and fired, gradually closing my distance.

The guards took a few steps back but held their fire until I dived and kicked one of them down. The other guard charged and threw a jab, which I leaned away on time and parried. Safe to say, I was impressed when he successfully blocked it.

I smirked and threw a hook. He dodged and whipped out his baton, swinging it. I pulled out my force field and blocked it, and as his baton bounced away, I picked up a rifle and fired.

The guard dodged, and the bullet ended up hitting a drone, exploding it on impact. The lingering smoke it emitted caught the attention of the smoke detectors on the ceiling, arousing it from slumber.

The two of us winced when an ear-deafening alarm blared across the halls, followed by a flood of crimson lights.

“Attention: Smoke detected near the main section of Nexus Pratum History Museum,” the system snitched. “Please evacuate from the scene.”

I couldn’t help but lower my weapon and click my tongue, throwing a dirty look at the patrol officer. “Well played,” I simply said.

He grunted and raised his rifle, but I shot him down before he could fire.

I should probably work on my stealth skills soon. I heaved a sigh and clicked my heels together. “Here we go again,” I murmured, hovering back up. After stealing the guards’ stuff, I blasted forward, leaving a digital shock wave that left lights flickering and chairs quivering.

⫿⫼⟁⫼⫿

“H-Hey, what’s going on?” a panic-stricken guest asked, staring at the flashing lights. “Did a fire break out?”

“Yo, this is getting crazy!” A college student pulled out his phone and started recording. “I’m putting this on Mistagram!”

“Bro, are you for real? Now’s not the time!” hissed his friend.

More visitors began to raise their voices in concern. Meanwhile, Celia pulled out a holographic panel and tried amassing the situation, only to wear the same confused look as everyone else. “It… doesn’t say there’s a fire,” she murmured. “So why…?”

The tall man with green eyes and silver, slightly disheveled hair also checked on his watch, reading a holographic radar. When it flashed red, he let out a guttural sigh and started digging through his pockets. “Alright everyone, fun time is over,” he said, pulling out his badge in front of everyone. “Please leave the premises and let the law enforcement handle this.”

“Woah, wait, hold up. You’re an undercover detective?!” another visitor asked, bulging her eyes.

“Daaamn, what’s a cop doing here?” another person asked.

“Nothing for you to be concerned about,” said the detective, pointing at the exits. “Now, hurry up and get outta here.”

“Ehh? But we were having fun until now…”

The man squinted.

“Eek, okay, okay. Fine.”

The visitors shared disgruntled murmurs as they reluctantly left the scene, but as they walked closer to an intersection, they paused when a rumbling noise grew louder. They turned toward the clamor, only to widen their eyes and scream as a patrol guard flew in their direction.

They barely jumped out of the way as the guard zoomed past them, crashing into a wall and painting it red.

“Oh… oh my god…” A girl cupped her mouth and took a step back. “Wh-What…”

“Hurry up and get out!” the detective hollered.

Now realizing the danger, the visitors screamed, hastily sprinted toward a different intersection, and made their way through the emergency exits. Meanwhile, Celia pulled out a remote, and with shaky hands, called for a first-response drone. It arrived within seconds, and as she snatched the first-aid kid, she tried rushing toward the patrol guard before the cop grabbed her shoulder.

“Ma’am, I advise you to stay away—there could be danger nearby,” he warned.

“B-But sir, he’s still breathing! I know how to administer first-aid!”

When the patrol guard let out a pained groan, he loosened his grip for only a split second before his watch beeped and flashed red. He grabbed her arm and yanked her away right before a massive explosion blasted through the intersection.

Smoke and debris clouded the scene as the two hurriedly backed away, covering their noses and mouths with their sleeves. The cop pulled out a gun and raised a defensive arm before Celia, his muzzle aiming at the emerging silhouette with abnormal red and yellow eyes glowing through the dusty mist.

“Yo,” I sneered, hands in my pockets as I hovered out of the smoke. “It’s time for you to kick the bucket, gramps.”