The brawl in The Rusty Cog was a swirling vortex of chaos. The air hung thick with the acrid scent of spilled liquor, the clang of metal on metal, and the grunts of struggling mechs. Kaelen, navigating the melee with surprising agility in his now slightly upgraded Iron Cradle, was a whirlwind of controlled violence. The Scrapper I, its blue-tinged energy humming with suppressed power, cleaved through the wreckage of tables and chairs as he made his way toward the back of the cantina.
The Rust Hounds, their movements unnaturally coordinated and brutal, were systematically dismantling the bouncer and any patrons foolish enough to interfere. Kaelen, witnessing their unsettling efficiency, couldn't shake the feeling that he was seeing something far more sinister than a simple bar fight. The System's "Cognitive Override Detected" alert echoed in his mind, a chilling reminder of the puppeteer pulling their strings.
He reached the door leading to Vargas's private office just as one of the Rust Hounds smashed it open, splintering the wood into shards. Inside, the office was a lavishly decorated space, a stark contrast to the grimy cantina. Expensive synth-leather furniture, polished metal accents, and a large holographic display screen adorned the room. Vargas himself, a corpulent man with a greasy smile and cybernetic eyes that darted nervously, cowered behind a reinforced steel desk, frantically tapping at a control panel.
Two more Rust Hounds stormed into the office, their weapons raised. It was clear they intended to eliminate Vargas, their former employer. Kaelen knew he had to intervene.
He activated the Iron Cradle's external speakers, his voice booming through the office. "Hold it right there!"
The Rust Hounds paused, their metallic heads swiveling toward Kaelen. For a moment, they hesitated, their programming conflicted. The System's "Cognitive Override" was powerful, but it wasn't absolute. There was still a flicker of their original personalities, a vestige of their former selves.
Kaelen pressed his advantage. "You don't have to do this," he said, his voice firm but compassionate. "You're being used. You're being controlled."
His words seemed to resonate with the Rust Hounds. Their movements slowed, their weapons lowered slightly. One of them even emitted a low, mournful whine, a sound that seemed to express pain and confusion.
Vargas, seeing his opportunity, leaped from behind his desk and made a dash for the back exit. Kaelen, however, was faster. He fired a grappling hook from the Iron Cradle's utility arm, ensnaring Vargas and pulling him back into the office.
"Get him!" Vargas screamed, his voice shrill with terror. "Kill him! He's a traitor!"
The Rust Hounds, their programming overridden, turned their attention back to Kaelen. Their hesitation was gone, replaced by a single-minded determination to eliminate the threat.
Kaelen braced himself for the attack. He knew he couldn't reason with them. He had to fight.
The ensuing battle was a chaotic blur of energy blasts, shattered furniture, and clashing metal. Kaelen, maneuvering the Iron Cradle with skill and precision, managed to evade most of the Rust Hounds' attacks, using the Scrapper I to disable their weapons and cripple their movements. He refused to kill them, though. He still believed there was a chance to break the "Cognitive Override" and restore their free will.
Just as he was gaining the upper hand, a new figure entered the office. She was a woman, tall and lithe, with short, spiky hair dyed a vibrant shade of blue. She wore a practical jumpsuit and carried a modified energy pistol. Her eyes, sharp and intelligent, scanned the scene with a cool detachment.
Kaelen recognized her immediately. It was Flicker, Gunner's scout.
"Need a hand?" she asked, her voice calm and collected.
Kaelen nodded gratefully. "I could use one. They're being controlled. Someone's messing with their minds."
Flicker nodded grimly. "I figured as much. Vargas has been dabbling in some shady tech lately. I'll try to disrupt their signal."
While Kaelen kept the Rust Hounds occupied, Flicker moved around the office, quickly disabling several electronic devices. She then produced a small, handheld device and began to scan the Rust Hounds, her fingers flying across the controls.
After a few tense moments, Flicker deactivated the device and stepped back. "I think I've got it," she said. "I've severed the connection. They should be back to normal now."
The Rust Hounds, their movements slowing, their weapons drooping, looked around the office in confusion. They seemed disoriented, as if waking from a nightmare.
"What…what happened?" one of them asked, his voice trembling. "Where are we?"
Kaelen stepped forward, his expression gentle. "You're safe now," he said. "You were being controlled, but it's over. You're free."
The Rust Hounds looked at Kaelen, then at Flicker, then at Vargas, who was still cowering on the floor. They seemed to realize what had happened, their expressions shifting from confusion to anger.
"He did this to us?" one of them asked, his voice laced with rage. "He controlled us?"
The Rust Hounds turned their attention to Vargas, their eyes burning with hatred. Vargas, realizing he was in danger, tried to beg for mercy, but his words were drowned out by the roars of the enraged Rust Hounds.
Kaelen watched the scene unfold, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. He was glad that he had saved the Rust Hounds, but he was also uneasy about the violence that was about to erupt.
He turned to Flicker. "We should probably get out of here," he said. "This is going to get messy."
Flicker nodded in agreement. "Good call. Let's go."
They left the office, leaving Vargas to face the wrath of the Rust Hounds. As they walked away, Kaelen could hear Vargas's screams echoing through the cantina.
Back outside, Kaelen thanked Flicker for her help. "I appreciate you stepping in," he said. "I don't think I could have handled them on my own."
Flicker shrugged. "You were doing fine. But I had a feeling something was up. Vargas is always causing trouble."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching the chaos spill out of The Rusty Cog. Kaelen felt a strange connection to Flicker, a sense of shared experience. She was the first person he had truly connected with since his reincarnation.
"So," Kaelen said, breaking the silence. "What do we do now? Do we still go after Vargas?"
Flicker grinned. "Are you kidding? Now's the perfect time. He's distracted, his security's down, and he's probably terrified out of his mind. It's like taking candy from a baby."
Kaelen chuckled. He was starting to like Flicker's style. "Alright," he said. "Let's do it. But this time, let's try to avoid any mind control."
As they prepared to confront Vargas, Kaelen couldn't help but notice Flicker's easy smile and her sparkling eyes. He felt a warmth spread through him, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. He was drawn to her strength, her intelligence, and her unwavering sense of purpose. Could this be the beginning of something more?
[SYSTEM ALERT: UPGRADE AVAILABLE]
The interruption of system messages broke the silence that formed and Kaelen immediately diverted his attention and activated the System to show it was now available.
[MECHA: IRON CRADLE]
Durability: 30/30
Power Core: 7/10
Available Upgrade Slots: 4
Available Upgrades:
Mobility Upgrade: [TITAN-FALL ACTUATOR] = Required: 1000 Metal Fragments, 1 TITAN-FALL ACTUATOR and 5 Minor Energy Crystals
Weapon Upgrade: [SCRAPPER II] = Required: 500 Metal Fragments, Scrapper I, 5 Minor Energy Crystals
Energy Core Upgrade: [Energy Optimizer I] = Required: 500 Metal Fragments, 5 Minor Energy Crystals
Armor Upgrade: [Titan-Fall Armor Plating I] = Required: 500 Metal Fragments, 10 Minor Energy Crystals and Tier 2 Power Cell
Kaelen analyzed what was available and there were a lot of resources needed. He was able to get a Tier 2 Power Cell from the Skitterer and had parts from doing salvaging runs that they could upgrade one thing at a time. "Flicker I'm gonna take a short break to do some upgrades and then we can handle Vargas. Can you scout ahead?"
Flicker had agreed and had begun. "Alright, but I'm still going to be compensated." As she winked.
With the upgrades. Kaelen was now ready to explore the world and begin his Titan-Fall Journey.