Aegis

Caleb is on his way to VaultTech. He quickly went into the basement where the VaultTech is actually hidden.

Using the HoC is an effective diversion.

"It was awesome but I think it would be the last," he chuckled as he continues to find his way in the duct. "I wish I could see his face after realizing that he's just playing with my clone, ha!"

After finding the grille that leads him through the VaultTech, he halts and then waits.

"BOOM!"

"That's the signal!" Caleb said as he stomps the grille and jumps down.

"After doing this stunt, I better find another way into this damn building. Darryl might be pissed and then put lasers or something in the duct after this, ha!" he snickered. "Since Caleb II is buying me some time, I should— OH SHIT!"

A plasma cannon shot him but he manages to dodge it on time. An alarm was activated but it suddenly shuts down.

Caleb II had done his mission on turning off the alarm! he thought.

Dodging it causes the other VaultTech defenses to engage. Battle droids charges as paralyzing laser cannons started to shoot him. Security drones are already bugging him by shooting him with tranquilizers.

"Orion, Whip!"

Caleb whips everything that moves. He whipped the droids and drones that keep attacking him, cutting them in halves. One droid got closer and nearly hit him but he swiftly dodges the blow.

"Fuck! I'm making sure you'll pay for it! Orion, Spear!"

His outrage over the droid let his guard down and got blasted by a plasma cannon. Luckily, his jacket was strong enough to withstand the blast. His jacket uses carbon fiber as fabric.

"Ugh!" he grunted. "These cannons and drones are a pain in the ass!"

He stands up and charges towards the droid again and yelled, "Orion, Power Sword!"

Security drones, battle droids, and plasma cannons are being destroyed, one after the other. After eliminating the drones and the cannons, the droids are next. Caleb didn't show mercy to the droids. All of the droids guarding the lower grounds immediately left their post and start to head towards the VaultTech after receiving a sudden drop in numbers of Guarding Droids in the vault. After destroying all the ground forces, the high voltage platforms and the wind turbine have been activated. The strong blow of wind and high voltage floors started to make his heist a bit difficult.

"The turbines become stronger and stronger every time I visit but it is nothing compared to my plasma cannon!"

Caleb shoots the engine of the wind turbines which damages the power lines of the high voltage platforms.

"That was actually my plan!" he claimed even though that was just mere luck.

Caleb then gazes at the huge vault lock of the VaultTech.

"This would be tough. Orion, Dagger."

Caleb then throws the dagger into the scanners as it fries the whole system and blows up. Scanners have been successfully destroyed but the vault door remained locked.

"If this was a movie, that would totally work," he grumbled. "I guess Darryl fixed the issue where it automatically opened after frying the system."

He picks the dagger and said, "Orion, laser cannon."

As the Orion transformed, he elevated the power level and pulled the trigger. The laser cannon started to charge powerful blue energy and blasted a blue ray of plasma towards the vault door.

"This baby is amazing."

He then turns back the Orion onto its original form after breaching the VaultTech. He started searching for the device in the VaultTech Computer.

"Let's see," he said as he starts to type the word 'latest'.

As he enters his query to the computer's search bar, results appeared on the monitor.

"Aegis?" he mumbled as he looks for its location on the monitor. "Section A2, Fortification Inventory."

He then wanders and looks for the device. He thought it would be a robotic armor covered in blue paint and whatsoever. As he reaches the Fortification Inventory, he saw the Aegis. However, his expectations didn't match reality. Aegis is just an oval shape metal that has a blue button at the center, it is smaller than his palm. Caleb just stands in front of the device with a look of disappointment. He's been staring at it like a jackass that had been fooled.

"This is it? This is his latest invention? Worthless scrap metal with a fucking blue button? That Red guy is gonna pay for this!" Caleb infuriated. "Well, I already caused trouble."

Caleb grabs the Aegis and studied it.

"That asshole might be telling the truth. But knowing Darryl, there must be something hidden in this device."

Caleb pushes the blue button and the device started to glow. Suddenly, the device produces a holographic monitor with all the information he needs about the device. Caleb reads its details and studied them.

"I'm the Aegis, the guardian. Blah blah blah! Please choose an option from the selection that will blah blah blah!" he read in a bored tone as the Aegis flashes a small hologram of tables of options.

Caleb was astonished when he saw 3 options; Orb of Aegis, Aegis Field, and Aegis Belt.

"Three? I thought it was a single-functioned device?" he wondered as he reads each one of their information. "Orb of Aegis is an indestructible orb that can cover a vast space. This option allows the Aegis to become a barrier that can withstand any type of damage taken. This option will last until there's no enough electrical energy to power it."

Caleb was amazed by its abilities.

"That's wicked! This must be what Darryl is talking about. I don't know how this works but it sounds awesome!" he bemusedly exclaimed. "This option requires proper equipment and structures that can utilize Aegis' fortification power. Without those types of equipment, it can only cover a village-size area."

Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder that startled him.

"Fuck! That was new?" he mumbled in wonder. "I better hurry."

Caleb continues to read.

"Aegis Field," he uttered as he scrolls down, trying to find its details. "That's weird. Where's the description?"

He keeps looking for the information of the Aegis Field but he failed. He tried to select it but there was no response.

"This must be broken. Anywho, how about the Aegis Belt? What does it do?" Caleb asked himself as he ignores the lack of data about the Aegis Field.

"Aegis Belt is a wearable armor… I knew it," he muttered as he beamed in triumphant. "So, it can protect the user and becomes a shield."

Caleb felt extreme joy, knowing that his heist is worth it.

"This option has a limited capability. The shield that this option would produce is not as strong as the Orb of Aegis produces. Also, it does not absorb any kind of energy like the Aegis Field."

After reading the last sentence, he was perplexed.

"It does not absorb any kind of energy?" he emphasized.

"Why would he create something that absorbs energy?" he asked himself. "What is he up to?"

All of a sudden, the HoC started to beep, alerting him that the clone is no longer existing. The clone usually has an hour or a half, depends on how intense the activities it does.

"I better hurry!" he said as he put the Aegis inside his fanny pack.

He walks towards the vault door and escaped the VaultTech. The elevator is the only way to access the lower ground however, the ventilation system also has clear access to the underground basement. He decided to use the elevator instead of the vents. He knows that it is stupid and risky but he wants some action after getting bored at the VaultTech.

To access the elevator, you need to enter the security code. He doesn't know the code but he knows how to bypass the security. Caleb has a master key. It is a tool of a thief which can open any locks. He installs the master key on the access control system and it successfully bypasses it. He presses the ground floor level and waits. As the elevator took him to the ground floor. He took the Aegis as he presses the blue button and selects the Aegis Belt. The Aegis fastens itself on his waist and produces an invisible force field. The Aegis also changes in color and blends with the color of his clothing making it undetectable.

"This is awesome!" he exclaimed.

Suddenly the security alarm of the building suddenly activated and all corridors started to shut, including the elevator. He was stuck between the -3 and -2 levels. The VaultTech is at -5 level. He climbs the emergency trap door of the elevator and ordered the Orion to become a grappler. After a series of climbing and leaping, he had managed to reach the ground floor level. In there, he found a duct and uses it to escape. He crawled his way out of the place. After crawling for a minute, he found a grille and peeks on it. He saw the entrance already been shut with numbers of security droids guarding it. The alarm was still on as droids and drones roam around, looking for him. A man stops right in front of the grille as he saw Darryl walking towards the man, giving orders.

"Secure the building! No one gets in and out!"

Caleb was about to leave the grille when the man replied.

"How did he even enter this place for the fourth time?" the man glared at Darryl with suspicion. "You didn't even inform me about this."

"The ventilation system might enlighten us and don't give me that look!" Darryl replied. "I had nothing to do with this!"

"Empires will laugh at us after knowing this, Mr. Richard! What's the use of me being the head of DPS?" the man groaned in disappointment. "If you're still mad about what I said about the relationship I have with—."

"Seriously?" Darryl exclaimed. "I don't give a fuck about that

because I know you're just using her against me."

"Can't you just accept the truth that she likes me, can you?" the man retorted. "Truth hurts and that's the truth!"

"I don't have time for this! This is pointless! We are in a middle of a crisis and you still choose to talk about that!" Darryl groaned.

Darryl glared at him before he left. After Darryl left the man, Caleb heard the man scoffed.

It sounds like the man is enjoying it.

"Ooh, love rivalry!" he muttered excitedly. "I'll bet all of my money to this man!"

He was about to leave the grille when he accidentally hit his head on the duct. A drone heard it and flew towards the grille to investigate. It quickly activated its scanner and started to scan the whole wall. As it continues scanning, it immediately turns its alarm after detecting an unknown individual.

"I guess, change of plans!"

Caleb immediately blasted his way out of the duct and revealed where he was hiding. Droids immediately attack and tried to capture him. Employees run away and find a cover. Caleb slashes every charging droid. A series of running and hiding was performed by both parties. He then saw Darryl returned as he pushes some commands on his watch. More droids were showing on the battlefield. He's getting outnumbered but it wasn't just the case. There are people around and they might get hurt by the battle. He decides to use a plasma cannon and blasts a hole in the facade of the building which caused the main monitor outside to be destroyed, leaving debris on the road. All the lights flickered as another alarm turned on. The Orion turned into a grappler and hooks his way out. He stayed in the hole he created as he waits.

"We got you!" Darryl yelled while droids pointed their guns and shoot him.

All of the ammunition directly hit him because he didn't bother to dodge. As the smoke coming from the assault covers him, the droids suddenly stop firing.

"Hold fire!" Darryl ordered.

The smoke disperses and revealed Caleb, unharmed. A bright yellowish dome of shield appeared and protects him from all the assault. He then burst into laughter as he gazes into his watch.

"This device is worth it. And it's about time!"

He then saw Darryl received an alert coming from the Bionic Electric Power Station (BEPS).

"Sir! A monkey has infiltrated the station. And he is trying to—"

The NTC's power suddenly shut down. The backup power started to activate however, the lights keep flickering. Something must have been damage.

A moment later, the backup power failed to lit up the NTC. Everything becomes dark and the whole building shuts down because of the lack of power.

"What the fuck have you done!" Darryl infuriated.

"Payback, I guess?"

"Payback for what?" Darryl shouted, looking so frustrated.

He didn't give him an answer but instead, he showed him an angry expression. It's an easy way out for him now since he cut off Bionic's whole power supply.

He knows that the EnGen is in the NTC.

Disrupting the connection means losing power. It's much easier to roam around the empire without power because most of their defenses will shut down because of the lack of power. Droids stop from catching him and started to leave the building. The entrance was blocked but the droids destroyed it to leave the building.

In this kind of crisis, droids are programmed to initiate the Manual Security and guard the Imperial Walls since turrets and other defenses won't be functioning. Bionic must give equal attention to both external and internal defense because once the Emperial Wall is breached, Bionic will fall. It will be much harder for Darryl to give orders now since the Command Center along with the Control Room were destroyed. In addition to that, communication will be impossible since communication towers will also shut down.

Caleb then saw Deither arrived and climbs up to his shoulder.

"Good job, buddy!" he praises as he caresses Deither's head. "We better head out now before those droids reach the outer wall."

Every section of the building was dark. The streets were also dark. Only the droids and drones we're giving light to the empire. Before he could flee away, he heard Darryl yelled in anger at him.

"Congratulations, Caleb!" Darryl announced as he claps, slowly. "You successfully put the lives of millions of people in danger by cutting the power supply. Now, the empire is open to all threats!"

Caleb clenches his fist with rage. He jumped down and rushes towards Darryl to hit him in the face. Darryl tumbles down to the floor. Blood flowed down from Darryl's nose.

"Isn't Bionic the City of Defense?" he ridiculed. "Make use of it!"

It wasn't only the reason why he got mad and hit him. There is something much deeper explanation of why he did that, it's a personal matter. It was his first time hitting Darryl.

"I want to beat the light out of you but I am not like you!" Caleb groaned. "Didn't my clone told you that I'm pissed at you?"

"What are you babbling about?" Darryl replied with confusion.

"How about you figure it out!"

He then left the NTC and flees away. As he runs in the streets, a familiar group of droids came into his path.

"This sounds trouble!" he confessed.

The SFD droids, the second strongest droids in the empire, more powerful compared to the droids in the NTC.

The SFD now handles his case.

"I have no time for this!" he grunted.

The Special Force Division or SFD is one of the advanced branch of the Department of Protection and Security (DPS) that captures anonymous people that enters the empire. Everyone who wants to enter the empire needs to register themselves in the database. The droids know every people in the empire. They know their names, their location, their age, everything. It sounds creepy but it's for their safety. Caleb quickly made a sharp turn towards an alley and started to climb the buildings to escape the droids. The retractable grappler gun is the most used form of the Orion. He uses it all the time. Upon reaching the rooftop, he continues to run away and leaps from building to building. It wasn't an easy task but he manages to evade the droids.

"Why was there no SFD droids back at the NTC?" he realized. "Is something up?"

After a series of running and leaping, he finally reaches the last building of Droid City and reaches the wall. He avoided using his usual passage to keep it hidden and decided to climb the walls.

Bionic really lost all of its power.

Droids and drones are the only things that give light. It is much easier for him to spot droids because of their lights. He can clearly hear people grumbling and complaining about the sudden blackout. He hooks his way up to the walls. Upon reaching the top, he saw the whole Bionic Empire with no power at all.

"You deserve this!"

He then uses the grappler gun form to slowly climbs down the wall. Upon reaching the ground, he immediately blended into the streets and walk his way towards the hidden entrance. He immediately sneaks towards the forest and threw the Bike on the ground.

Several droids suddenly come out from the gate and started scattering and roaming.

"Manual Security, I think?" he speculated. "I guess it was a bad idea cutting their power. Well, I can't undo what was already done."