X-Com's Finest (An X-Com 2 play through)

Operation Bone God

Campbell sat back in the booth, her feet propped up on the seat across from her. Her pretend beer had long lost any pretense of being palatable as it sat untouched and warm in front of her. Her gaze sat unstaring at the wall across the room, the Wall of Heroes. It was a wall listing the warriors that had lost their lives in the quest of bringing the alien menace to an end. Her fellow sniper had been taken out in the last mission. It could have very easily been her. All it took was one bad call, and lives had been lost.

Corbin slipped in across form her. After a few uncomfortable seconds, Corbin cleared her throat. Finding that ignoring the nuisance wouldn't make it go away, Cambpell decided to go the direct route.

She stared at the girl unblinking, "What." It wasn't even a question.

Corbin paused briefly, "We have another mission, you are needed."

Campbell looked up at the wall, "What, so I can be the next one up there?"

Corbin looked back behind her looking at the wall, then looked back. "If that's what it takes to win this war, then yes."

"Easy to say by someone who spends all her time behind a desk. Just wait until you're wrapped up in snake coils, slowly crushing you to death. I'm guessing you won't have your bravado then..."

"If I had my choice, I'd be RIGHT UP THERE WITH YOU! Apparently the Commander has different plans for me right now..."

Campbell looked back up at the wall. "Whatever...." She picked up her sniper rifle and headed out. As Campbell was walking out, something caught Corbin's eye. On the butt of Campbell's rifle, the name of "Bonnie" had been scratched out to be replaced with "Hal."

***

Zalewski had managed to find a stepladder and had been studying SPARK in detail. SPARK, with no threat detected withstood the inspection without complaint. It wasn't until Zalewski had pulled out his utility tool to open the brain casing did SPARK respond with a small electric jolt. Zalewski snatched his hand back. "I'm sorry, you do not have authorization to access my internal systems. Until Dr. Shen gives you authorization I must ask you refrain from attempting this again."

Zalewski didn't hear him and had already begun attempting to unscrew the brain-casing again.

The second shock sent Zalewski off the ladder and onto his back several feet away. Bastion, sensing its owner was under attack immediately began defensive maneuvers and opened up its electric prod. Spark, sensing hostility from the small robot simply unsheathed his autocannon and began internal targeting procedures. The rest of the squad began scrambling for cover with Bomber Van Dyke happily loading grenades and looking around expectantly.

It was about then that the Commander and Shen walked into the Avenger's hangar bay. Shen immediately jumped into action, "SPARK! DECIST!"

Spark immediately went back into ready mode and turned back to the Commander. Bastion, seeing the opportunity to avenge its owner's tormentor went screeching at SPARK, shocking it with its electric prod. Spark, either out of electric reflex or defensive intent, backhanded the small robot sending it skidding across the floor to land next to the still recovering Zalewski.

Zalewski, finally recovering and rubbing his hand a bit, looked up to see Shen and the Commander looking at him. "That thing is SOOOO cool. You have GOT to get me one! Where can I get one! Can I build one?!?"

Shen just shook her head, "when you prove you can act responsibly, we'll talk. Until then..." Shen just shrugged her shoulders. But Zalewski wasn't ready to give in yet, "But, I've gotten a LOT better! Just look at Bastion!"