Chapter 546: Player Puppet (1/2)

”Nix locked the home-made coil spring in place after using the weight of six HEP rounds to contract it. The two of them had managed to create a spring-fed breech chamber.

Pon was inspecting the right tube while his partner in crime finished loading them up. ”The springs will probably break after a bit.”

”Six shots from each tube is all I'm hoping for.” Nix jumped down from the rigged ladder and studied their monstrosity.

The golems were about 8 feet in height; each of them had long tubes that, for aesthetic purposes, could be referred to as arms. Raising the arms up forced a projectile into the chamber, effectively locking it. There was no safety; at this point, firing became the best option. From trial and error, the duo discovered that firing both simultaneously wasn't a good idea. The kick-back would either knock the golem to the ground or bend the fragile frame.

”Men and their toys.”

Pon's crabby face broke into a smile at the sound of Semmi's voice. ”Don't women have toys?”

Semmi kept her face expressionless. ”Sure... but that's a different topic altogether.

Nix peeked from behind one of the golems. ”Don't flirt in front of me; you both suck at it.”

Semmi walked around the Golem where Nix was working. ”You wanted to see me?”

Nix nodded. ”Hopefully, I'm about to head back to Haven for a few hours. I want you to assign a sniper team to the Keep. Have them target every open window they see. They should be able to get it done from the ocean.”

Semmi brought up her hud and highlighted the former Gladis crafters, Darsi's people had all become snipers. ”Toward what end?”

Nix placed the 12th HEP round inside the framed track and then closed the panel. ”I've been inside those rooms; each window has thick wooden doors that can be barred shut. I need those windows closed.”

”So you want them to stop firing when the windows are closed?”

Nix nodded; the thing he loved about Semmi was her ability to put things together. ”Yes. Once a window is closed, they stop firing at that one and move to the next.”

Semmi pursed her lips slightly while nodding. ”Why? There several areas in the upper Keep that have lookout nests that we can't get to. There's no way we are going to surprise them.”

Nix grinned because he knew he was one step ahead of her for once. ”Maybe I just like closed windows.”

Semmi sighed in frustration, a habit that blew the tip of her blonde bangs upward. ”Don't think I won't figure it out.”

Nix winked at her. ”I'll let you name these Golems if you do.”

Semmi rapped on the nearest tube-arm with her bare knuckles, an action that caused both Nix and Pon to flinch slightly. ”What? These things gonna blow up?”

The duo glanced at each other and then shrugged. ”Maybe,” they answered at the same time.

Semmi stepped away from the Golems. ”I'm on it, Nix. What are their names now?”

Nix nodded. ”PetraZi and...”

”Cuppiecakeninja,” Pon finished.

Semmi's pretty face broke into a wide smile. ”You two suck at naming. Going to change them to Thelma and Louise once I figure out your plans.”

Nix cringed slightly; he'd never let it happen. ”Sure, Sem.”

[You have been Summoned by Shae Balefire. Do you accept?]

”Yes. Cya guys!” Nix vanished from his spot behind the golems, leaving Pon and Semmi staring into the empty space.

Semmi had been expecting it, so it didn't surprise her. ”Hey, Pon. Why does he want the windows closed?”

Pon laughed loudly and shook his head. ”No way!”

The blonde officer wrinkled her nose at him. ”You don't even know.”

The old man shrugged and headed toward their crafting table. ”Won't work, Sem.”

****************

An instant later, Nix appeared on the balcony of his Haven Ranch. Three different people were smiling at him.

”Styxx!” Bev hugged her brother tightly for a moment before stepping back and watching her father do the same. ”Still hiding away in the Bone Fortress?”

Nix laughed when his father hugged him. The oddity of having his old man look the same age as him still surprised him. ”Hey, Dad. What's up, Froglegs?”

Bev shook her head slightly. ”Nothing. We were visiting Hyai.” His sister fixed him with a sly look. ”Little Styxx has been busy.”