PTS-V

The guy he'd just attacked looks at David after the knife breaks, despite his Sandevistan still being active...

Alarmed, David unloads his pistol into the guy's face, backing up as the guy tries to swat him with a heavy-looking arm. Some bullets hit and deflect off of the guy's face, but some find purchase, piercing his cheek, nose, and eyes.

His body felt incredibly sore, which was a telltale sign his Sandevistan was nearing its end. He throws himself backwards, utilising the slowed time to easily backflip behind another car to use as cover.

*SHWOOP!*

Time resumes, his target roaring in agony as he clutches his bleeding and sparking face, unable to react to Maine and Pilar's assault due to his injuries.

[Nice one kid!] Maine shouts over the comms as they bring the guy down.

David lets out a tired breath and grins as he reloads his pistol. He takes another peek over the car and sees two of the guys still standing, locked in a fierce firefight with Maine and Pilar.

[Kid, that bitch is running, catch her!] Maine exclaims as a figure runs out from behind the car towards an alleyway leading out of the lot.

[Got it!] - David

He sprints after her, occasionally firing a shot off but not managing to hit, the running throwing off his aim. The woman fires back with her own pistol, but he ducks behind cover to avoid it.

"Alright, outrun this." he mutters, activating his Sandevistan for a second time. He speeds through the alleyway in pursuit, turning a corner and but losing sight of his target... He glances at the nearby dumpsters but disregards that option. Instead, he looks up, spotting the woman climbing up a pipe to reach a fire escape.

*Bangbangbang!*

He fires shots at her, some hitting the pipe she was clambering up while others enter her legs, calves and thighs.

*SHWOOP!*

Time resumes and she topples off, her legs losing strength and her hands losing grip. She falls straight to the floor, landing heavily on a dumpster before bouncing off and falling into a pile of trash.

David looks down at her gun that'd just slid to his feet, the woman groaning in pain and reaching for her now empty holster... "Looks like this is it." he mutters, shoving the gun in his jacket pocket and walking over to her.

"F-fuck... Y-you got me good..." she chuckles helplessly, stopping her slow crawl away and rolling onto her back. She sniffles slightly and leans forwards, getting a good look at him. "Well? You aren't gonna keep a girl waiting?"

David pauses his steps and raises his gun...

"Come on... All of us know it's gonna end like this, everyone gets their turn." the woman smiles, "Never thought I'd get done in by some kid... Before I even got started too."

David forces his eyes away from her, the similarities to her and... The way his mother had looked made it almost unbearable. "Not everyone..." he can't help but offer.

She snorts, "Yeah, y-you must be greener than me then... Sorry, but that's how it is... Edgerunners, you run on the edge and you're bound to fall." she snickers to herself.

"H-how long have you been a punk...?" he can't help but ask.

"Couple months..." she sighs self-deprecatingly.

"W-what's your name..." he asks, trying to force his shaking hand still.

She smiles sadly, "Just V, nowadays... Don't suppose I could get a cremation...? Getting sold piecemeal by Scavs don't sound too nice-" she suddenly throws herself to the side, ignoring her wounded legs and grabs a metal pipe before hiding behind a dumpster, "Like I'm gonna die that easy! Bring it!"

...

David stands there, still pointing his weapon down the alleyway.

[Kid, update?] - Maine.

Growling under his breath, he activates his Sandevistan, walking past the dumpster where V was waiting, ready to retaliate with her makeshift weapon. He stops behind her, the woman unable to react as he raises the gun to her temple...

...

Again, his hand shook. he applied pressure to the trigger, feeling as if his whole arm was straining against it.

Come on. You need to prove yourself!

If you can't do this, what can you do!?

Who's gonna die next before you get it into your head!?

Maine!?

Kiwi!?

Pilar!?

Dorio!?

... Lucy!?

*BANGBANGBANGBANG!*

*SHWOOP!*

Time resumes, and David lowers his gun... Breathing hard as he eyes what he'd done...

"W-what...?" V mutters, her ears ringing as she stares at the divots where the bullets had hit the dumpster, barely missing her face...

"J-Just go..." he grouses, "If I ever see your face against you're dead... Go!"

V doesn't need any more convincing. She drops her pole and legs it. Running as fast as she can away from the superspeed-kid who'd spared her for some reason.

With her gone, David drops his gun and vomits into a nearby dumpster, unable to hold his stomach.

He was pathetic. He let a target go, why? Because she was a woman? Because she looked like his mother? Because she was like him?

"Kid! What happened!?" Maine exclaims as he runs over some minutes later.

"S-she got away..." he admits, forcing himself not to retch in front of the large man.

"That so..." he mutters spotting the fresh blood stains on the floor, "Well, whatever." he claps David on the back, "Good job back there, all but took down that gonk by yourself." he grins toothily.

"You aren't mad...?"

Maine shrugs, "We got what we needed, doubt that bitch is going anywhere near this place now. Far as I'm concerned, job done."

"I-It's done?"

He nods, "Yeah, Falco's got the driver and the goons're only leavin' in a body bag. Come on, we've gotta clean up, then we'll grab some drinks and chill." he pulls David along, ignoring his weak steps. "Think you can hold a beer down?"

"N-nah, don't think so..." David admits, feeling his stomach protest from the movement.