The metallic stench of ozone hangs heavy in the air. As Cafari Kaine pulls himself over the ledge, the Disavowed Operative freezes, his pulse pistol trembling in a grip locked by the EMP surge.
Enforcer
Target acquired. Discarding loose assets.
Cafari Kaine
The Corporation isn't here for him. They are cleaning the board entirely. I am the next piece to be swept away.
The Enforcer pivots with fluid, terrifying precision, his suppressed rifle tracking toward Kaine’s head. The hum of his heavy plating matches the rhythmic, artificial thrum of the cooling fans.
Cafari Kaine
Wait. You don't have to do this. I have the data he was trying to hide.
Enforcer
Lies. Everyone has data. Only the dead have silence.
Enforcer
Data is easily recovered from a corpse, Kaine. Stay still.
Quest Complete
Climb back to the roof and confront the operative
+ Story Quest Added
Survive the Enforcer's ambush
“Shoot endorcer”
FAILURE (Great Firearms, rolled -1)
Cafari Kaine jerks his pistol up, firing in a desperate panic. The round sparks uselessly against the Enforcer's reinforced shoulder plate, throwing his aim off balance. Before he can recover, the Enforcer lashes out with a heavy, armored boot.
Cafari Kaine
My ribs. Everything is turning to static.
The impact sends Kaine flying backward, his weapon skittering across the rain-slicked metal plating toward the abyss of the factory ledge. The Enforcer looms over him, his rifle barrel glowing with the residual heat of a pre-charge cycle.
Enforcer
Calibration error. You are slower than the logs suggested.
The Enforcer steps onto Kaine’s wrist, pinning him to the grating as the rifle settles against Kaine’s forehead.
Enforcer
Final request before I authorize the data retrieval?
Cafari Kaine
There has to be a way out of this. The coolant pipe. If I can just reach the valve...
+ Story Quest Added
Reach the coolant valve to escape
“Open coolant valve”
SUCCESS (Superb Agility, rolled +2)
Kaine ignores the searing pressure on his wrist. With a surge of adrenaline, he pivots his hips, driving his boot heel into the primary pressure seal of the coolant valve. The rusted locking mechanism groans, then shears off under the force of his movement.
Cafari Kaine
Now or never.
A violent hiss erupts from the pipe. A high pressure spray of supercooled liquid nitrogen jets directly into the Enforcer’s visor. The sudden thermal shock causes his HUD to fracture into static, and the Enforcer stumbles back, his grip on Kaine’s wrist slipping as his suit’s servos lock up from the flash-freeze.
Enforcer
Target acquisition... failing.
Kaine scrambles away from the freezing mist, his lungs burning, while his hand brushes the cold, metallic grip of his pistol just inches from the edge.
Cafari Kaine
The suit is seizing. He can't move. Do I take the shot, or do I make a break for the maintenance hatch while he is blind?
Quest Complete
Reach the coolant valve to escape
+ Story Quest Added
Escape the rooftop