Kapitel 109: Rage Against The Machine 2
You know, I've never taken any type of drug throughout my life, other than prescriptions, and even then, I only used them when I was really sick.
But damn, consuming is a hell of a drug.
As the blacklight tendrils pull away from the two men, well, former men, that is, I see everything. Every taste, every touch, every sensation they felt, and it is amazing.
Years' worth of medical studies, as well as biology-based research, are downloaded into my mind in seconds. I remember every single word they uttered and every regret they ever had. But as soon as I feel it, it disappears, going into some corner of my mind.
Taking a breath, I stand back up as the alarm continues to ring. I reach for the door, try to pull on the handle, and find it locked. With a slight chuckle, I wind my fist back and slam it into the door.
It gives way after that single punch, flying to the opposite end of the hallway. As I walk out, I notice that all the rooms are empty. Not that I could see it, but I could smell it. There's no one in the building.
"Hmmm... pussies." Slightly disappointed with the lack of a greeting, I head towards the stairs and begin to climb down. Thankfully, I was only on the second floor of the building, and I was tempted to jump out the window, but I wasn't entirely sure how to manipulate my density to glide like the original Alex Mercer could. It's not on the level of Morphin Manhunter his is full density shifting.
Reaching the ground floor, I exit through one of the side entrances. As I step outside, I hear gunshots. Heading toward the source of the noise, I see Blackwatch soldiers standing over the bodies of GENTEK employees. They begin to fan out and separate. I can hear what seems to be helicopter rotors in the distance.
Looking upwards, I spot it just a couple of blocks away. I'm almost blown away by the improvement to my eyesight. In my previous life, I needed glasses to even see a quarter of this distance.
But I'm slightly distracted, and I suddenly feel the barrel of a gun pressed against my forehead.
"Identify yourself, now!" The soldier requests calmly as I stare into his goggled eyes. I see the others begin to form up behind him.
"Identify yourself immediately!"
"Why are you even asking, Jenkins? Just shoot the bastard!" The guy next to him fires off a couple of rounds. They go straight into me. I see blood begin to pour out, but it immediately returns to my body, and the bullets are spat back out.
"HahahaHAHAHAHAHA!" My laughter freaks them out as they all begin firing. Yet the bullets just go in and immediately come back out. The best part is, I don't even feel a thing.
Soon enough, they run out of ammo, and I look straight at them. I'm in front of them before they can react. All six of them pull out combat knives. I grab one by the face, slamming him into the ground, splattering his brain onto the concrete. Another tries to stab me, but I grab him, shank him through the neck, and stab him with his own knife.
I can feel the blacklight leaving my body as I absorb the two. The remaining four, having seen this, reload their weapons while calling for backup. As I finish consuming the two, I pick up one of their guns, but it feels dissatisfying, almost uncivilized to kill them like that.
As I turn around, I see them all shaking. I can hear their increased heart rates. A smile creeps onto my face as I charge straight at them. One opens fire, but the bullets don't do anything. I can slightly feel a drain on my body, seemingly the limits of my biomass.
I grab one by his gun, pulling him forward, and slam my fist into his chest, absorbing him in microseconds. The other three attempt to retreat, but I instinctively extend my biomass forward like a whip, dragging all three back toward me. Grabbing two of them by the legs, I slam them into a nearby wall, their bodies crumpling on impact. The last one tries to crawl away.
As I walk toward him, he turns around, and I can almost hear the gears turning in his head.
"Please, please, let me live. I'll tell you anything. I have money, drugs, connections. You don't have to do this." I pick him up by the neck and pull him close, shushing him softly.
And then: snap.
Before I can do anything else, a spotlight is forced upon me. Before I can react, the helicopter begins to spin up its minigun.
It seems like it's time to get out of Dodge. I immediately leap over the high fence and the wall. As I land, a pedestrian nearby screams as they're forced to the ground from the impact of my less-than-subtle landing.
Then, I take off running, yet I can't stop laughing. I haven't felt so alive… it's like I'm high, but I just can't come back down.
I don't even notice the fact that the gunfire behind me is trying to catch up the entire time. I focus more biomass into my feet, increasing the force I can output with each step. The ground cracks beneath me as I begin running up the side of a building, each footfall sending tremors through the structure.
I make it to the top, noticing a couple of antennas. Ripping one out of the roof, I fashion it into a makeshift spear. As the helicopter reorients itself in my direction, I throw it, using my whip to increase both accuracy and power.
Sadly, since I'm still a bit new to this, the antenna spear only grazes the side of the helicopter, forcing the pilot to adjust position. I pick up the second antenna and throw it. This time, it strikes through the glass and impales the pilot.
The helicopter descends rapidly, much faster than its occupants would prefer. It crashes into the street, but since it's nighttime, there are only a few cars nearby. I walk to the edge of the rooftop, surveying the wreckage below.
Jumping down, I arrive to see one of the helicopter's occupants holding a radio in his hand, probably calling for backup in his final moments.
I pick up the radio and put it in my… well, can I even call it a pocket since it's technically made from the virus? Things to think about later.
Before I can absorb any of the remaining crew, I'm suddenly hit by the impact of a missile. The explosion sends me flying into a nearby building, but honestly, it does more to annoy me than to hurt me.
I fall to the ground, deciding to play possum for a bit. Lying flat on the pavement, I hear ropes descending as a squad of Blackwatch soldiers, along with what seems to be a lieutenant, lands on the street. Before they can say anything, I spin myself 180 degrees with a smile on my face, grabbing one by the leg and slamming him into the other three.
I leap at the remaining soldiers before they can get a shot off, stabbing them with my claws. As I absorb their memories, I get what I wanted: the location of Alex Mercer's sister. As much as I would love to just leave this place behind, I can't.
There's a buzzing in my ears, in my brain. I can't leave the city until I kill all of them.
Randall, Greene, Cross. They all have to die.
And to be honest, while it's a little annoying, it's also a great way for me to get used to my powers. Even now, I can feel bits and pieces of instinct on how to form various weapons—from dual swords to claws.
Realizing the ropes are still attached to the helicopter, I leap upward and grab one. As I enter the helicopter, I grab the pilot by the head and crush it in my hand.
I direct the helicopter into an empty building, then jump out just before it explodes. As I land on the ground, the helicopter smashes into the building, and I decide to be a bit cheeky by forming some sunglasses.
For now, it's time to run. I've got a sister to save.
I take off down the street toward Dana's apartment, listening to their communications through the radio I grabbed.
[This is Cross. Any eyes on Zeus?]
[No, sir. We lost him. Both helicopters and their crews are gone. Subject Zeus eliminated all of them.]
[Dammit! I need eyes on him now! And make sure you get his sister to the Reagan.]
[Understood, sir. I've already sent out four more helicopters. We should be getting eyes on him soon.]
[We better. It's not just our paychecks at stake here. Cross out.]
It seems I'm going to have to hurry.
With that thought, I plant my feet on a building and start running along the exterior. Using my whipfist, I grapple to the edge of the roof and vault myself up.
Looking down, I take a deep breath. I can almost hear the What's Up Danger song playing in the back of my head. After getting some distance from the edge, I sprint toward it and leap, focusing every part of myself on feeling lighter.
As I do, I feel myself being propelled upward, gliding across entire blocks.
"WOOOOOHOOOO! I'm the fucking Rocket Man!" I can't keep myself from shouting, full of joy. I'm not technically flying, but I'm falling with style. Who knows, maybe I'll absorb a bird and be able to fly for real.
But for now, this is enough. After a couple of minutes gliding through the city, I reach Dana's apartment building. Instead of going in guns blazing, it's time for some Splinter Cell stealth.
Landing near the building, I transform into the lieutenant I had consumed earlier and walk inside.
I can almost hear a certain theme song playing in my head as I step into the role of an imposter. As I spread my senses through the building, I notice there are only two guys in the room with Dana.
It's time for lunch.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein