Chapter 22: Carnage, Circuits, and Catastrophes
The rooftop wasn't just broken — it was dying.
Cracks spread across the concrete like a spiderweb of molten plasma. The shattered lights overhead buzzed one last time before finally shorting out. Sparks rained down, and every piece of broken tech sputtered with static.
But none of that compared to the storm still raging between Elliot and Nova.
His Neural Boost roared like a live wire under his skin — pulsing at 120% — raw electricity crackling from his fingertips to Nova's bioluminescent suit. The glowing neon lines along her ribs, waist, and thighs flickered violently, syncing with his surging Boost.
The feedback loop wasn't just alive.
It was hungry.
And now — Cipher was back.
Because of course he was.
The hovercraft roared overhead again — sleek, black, and predatory — lowering just enough for Cipher to leap back onto the rooftop, his damaged plasma arm still sparking, his red visor flickering.
His voice was a growl. "Did you really think I was going to run?"
Elliot blinked. "Yes! That's what retreating means!"
Cipher's visor flared. "I don't retreat."
The System buzzed to life in Elliot's head.
---
[New Mission: Big, Bad, and Overcompensating]
Objective: Survive Cipher's second attack.
Bonus: Don't let the feedback loop kill you… or Nova.
Hidden Reward: ???
---
"Great," Elliot muttered. "You couldn't come up with a better mission title?"
[Would you prefer Run, Rookie, Run? Because that's what I'd be doing right now.]
Nova didn't move — her energy blade still humming at her side, her bioluminescent suit still flickering in sync with the electric snaps jumping between her and Elliot.
Her voice was a low growl. "He's stalling."
Cipher's plasma arm whined louder — the barrel glowing bright blue, charging again. "I'm calculating."
Elliot's heart slammed into his ribs. "Calculating what?"
Cipher's visor flared. "How long it takes to dismantle you."
The plasma blast fired.
It screamed through the air — too fast, too bright — a burning line of molten energy ripping across the rooftop.
Nova shoved Elliot — hard — sending him skidding behind a broken vent just as the plasma blast detonated where he'd been standing.
Concrete exploded.
Sparks rained down.
Elliot coughed, brushing debris off his jacket. "Great. Another hole in my clothes."
[Congratulations! You're slightly less dead than expected.]
"Not helpful!"
Nova was already moving — a flash of violet light as she charged Cipher, her blade slicing through the air.
The feedback loop flared — Elliot's Boost reacting to Nova's movements — and another snap of static shot from his body to hers, sending a ripple of neon light across her suit again.
Nova gritted her teeth, mid-swing. "Rookie, you're still overloading me."
Elliot staggered forward, still crackling with stray electricity. "You're welcome!"
Cipher blocked Nova's strike with his plasma arm — the clash of energy and metal sending out a shockwave that made the rooftop shudder.
Elliot's Boost flared harder.
The feedback loop surged — syncing with Nova's attack — and another crack of static snapped from Elliot's hand to Cipher's arm.
Cipher twitched — his plasma weapon glitching for half a second.
Nova didn't hesitate.
She spun — her blade flashing — and sliced a glowing arc across Cipher's torso.
Blood and sparks sprayed.
Cipher staggered back, his red visor flickering wildly. "You glitched me again."
Elliot blinked. "I did?"
The System pinged.
---
[Achievement Unlocked: Accidental Badass]
Reward: +1 Combat Reflex.
Note: Don't let it go to your head. You still look squishy.
---
Nova smirked. "Yeah, you did."
Cipher's damaged plasma arm crackled, the blue glow flickering. "You're an unstable circuit," he snarled at Elliot. "A walking malfunction."
Elliot shrugged. "I prefer the term 'hot mess,' but thanks."
Cipher fired again — another plasma blast, this time aiming for Nova's chest.
Elliot didn't think.
His Neural Boost snapped — time slowing to a crawl — and he grabbed Nova's wrist, yanking her out of the line of fire.
The plasma bolt tore past them, scorching a hole through the rooftop wall.
Nova blinked — her glowing eyes locked on Elliot's hand still gripping her arm — another jolt of static snapping between them.
Her suit flared again — the neon lines along her ribs and thighs pulsing with every spark from his Boost.
She was still reacting to him.
Elliot's voice cracked. "Uh… sorry."
Nova's lips twitched. "You better stop apologizing—"
Another violent snap between them — sending a shockwave across the rooftop.
Nova's suit flared — the light rippling dangerously low again, flickering between her legs for a half-second before crawling back up her waist.
Her breath hitched.
Elliot's heart collapsed.
[Libido Meter: Critical Overload. You are officially the problem now.]
Cipher tilted his head, his visor flickering. "Fascinating."
Elliot swallowed hard. "Can you not watch whatever the hell this is?"
The System buzzed.
---
[New Side Quest: Don't Kink-Shame the Cyborg]
Objective: Survive Cipher's creepy observations.
Reward: A chance at dignity. (Spoiler: You won't get it.)
---
Nova snarled, stepping in front of Elliot. "We end this now."
Cipher's plasma arm charged again — the energy glowing brighter than before.
Elliot's Boost flared to 130% — his body crackling with raw electricity — the feedback loop climbing higher as Nova's suit flickered violently.
The rooftop felt like it was seconds from exploding.
Elliot's voice was rough. "Nova, I think we're about to—"
Cipher fired.
The blast roared toward them — a supercharged bolt of plasma — too fast to dodge.
Elliot didn't think.
His Neural Boost snapped again — sending a wave of wild electricity surging from his body.
The energy collided with Nova's glitching suit — the feedback loop surging to critical mass — and a violent shockwave erupted between them.
The plasma blast hit the shockwave — detonating in mid-air.
The force of the explosion sent Cipher flying — his plasma arm fizzling out as he crashed into the opposite side of the rooftop.
The rooftop itself cracked — neon sparks shooting out of every fracture.
Nova and Elliot hit the ground — both still sparking — the feedback loop flickering between them like a dying star.
Cipher lay motionless — his visor still glitching, his weapon fried.
And the only sound left…
Was the buzz of raw static between Nova and Elliot.
Her voice was a whisper. "We broke the blast."
Elliot's breathing was ragged. "I think we almost broke everything."
The System chimed.
---
[Mission Complete: Big, Bad, and Overcompensating]
Reward: +2 Reflex Boost.
Bonus Unlocked: Nova didn't kill you.
[New Mission Unlocked: Now What the Hell Do We Do?]
---
Nova's hand — still sparking from the feedback — dragged slowly down Elliot's arm again.
The static didn't stop.
Her suit was still glowing.
And between them…
The heat hadn't faded.
It had only ignited.