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"... We spy another day, CASCADE..."
Branch
End of this branch
KALEIDOSCOPE hands still clamped on the bloody headphone ear.
"You did it, CASCADE... gave them what for and remained upright..."
Crusted blood around the bottom of his moustache.
"Didn't even touch me." (Pat your chest.)
"Bullets through a flock of crows..."
He pushes back his hood with his free hand.
The sunlight sears his blue eyes white.
"Thank you for saving me... I have colleagues I've known for years who wouldn't have done the same..."
"Of course. You're on my team."
"A dramatic finish... Away crowd can barely believe the scoreline..."
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"I appreciated the choice of exit music, by the way... I could feel my heart blazing, bucko..."
"Thought it might."
"... Always will." A bloody smile.
"Speaking of the Tyrant Queen..."
His free hand reaches for his music player, while the other presses the headphone to his wound.
From the loose headphone speaker, you hear the faint sound of an electric piano, followed by an unmistakable voice.
"A salving special move... Let her carry through me... Her voice in my blood." He closes his eyes.
The vibrations might actually promote healing. Or it might be weird sexual-violence crossed wiring...
Leave him at it. You're starting to feel icky.
"Valkyrie pop, the chant of death."
"'Darkness from me... On to you...'" He sings softly.
"Ease up on the perv stuff, please."
"Never." A bloody smile.
"Next gunfight, can we please throw down to some Ultra Violeta... I think it would stir my soul... might've even caught the bullet."
An Advanced Cognitive Manoeuvre no doubt far beyond him.
"You did catch it. With your chest."
"Distressingly painful... As you might've guessed." A bloody smile.
"Maybe next time. If you're good."
"Something to look forward to..." A bloody smile.
"Didn't want to rev up your perv engine."
"I keep it full throttle... No more revs available..." A bloody smile.
"You owe me big time."
"On top of the bullet I just took for your cause? Steep tab, CASCADE..."
"Welcome to the Crew. First save's free."
"... An honour." He musters a nod.
"Barely. I got hit too."
"Now you have the bullet and a story to go with it... Pretty good one too..."
"I'm just getting started."
"Why stop here... take out the whole Luzian cabinet..."
"We didn't all make it..."
"Too much to ask, regrettably..."