The mech's sensors detected Shawn, and it swivelled its head, targeting systems whirring to life. "INTRUDER DETECTED," a robotic voice intoned, devoid of emotion. "INITIATING NEUTRALIZATION PROTOCOL.
The mech advanced, heavy footfalls shaking the floor. Shawn barely spared it a glance as he sighed. The machine's arm transformed, a gatling gun emerging and spinning up with a menacing whirr.
"Right," Shawn said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's get this over with."
The mech opened fire, a hail of bullets tearing down the corridor. Shawn dove to the side, rolling behind a support pillar. Bullets ricocheted off the walls, sparking and clattering. Shawn peeked out, eyeing the mech's movements. It was fast for its size, but bulky. He could work with that. It then beamed a laser of energy at him.
Shawn sidestepped effortlessly, the energy blast scorching the wall behind him. He continued his casual stride down the hallway, seemingly unconcerned by the massive machine bearing down on him. The mech's sensors recalibrated, tracking his every movement. It fired again, this time unleashing a volley of missiles.
Shawn's eyes flickered with mild interest. "Fancy fireworks," he commented, ducking into a roll as the missiles exploded around him. Shrapnel and debris flew in every direction, but Shawn emerged unscathed, his nonchalant demeanour unbroken. He dusted off his jacket, looking more annoyed by the dust than the attempt on his life.
The mech's targeting system seemed to grow frustrated, its movements becoming more erratic. Shawn could see the heavy weaponry being prepared for another assault. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, sleek device—an Accelerator. He flipped it in his hand, inspecting it with the same indifference he had shown the mech.
"Time to shake things up a bit," he said, pressing a button on the device. A pulse of energy shot out, temporarily scrambling the mech's systems. The machine staggered, its sensors flickering and its weapons falling silent.
Shawn used the brief window to sprint forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision. He darted under the mech's massive legs, planting the Accelerator on its undercarriage. As the mech regained its composure, Shawn was already sliding to a stop several meters away, watching with a faint chuckle.
The Accelerator activated, sending jolts of electromagnetic interference through the mech's circuits. Sparks flew, and the mech convulsed, its movements jerky and uncontrolled. Shawn watched, hands in his pockets, as the machine struggled against the Accelerator's influence. It managed to stabilize, its systems compensating for the interference, but the damage was done. The mech's movements were slower, its targeting less precise.
He grabbed the fire extinguisher, yanking the pin and aiming it at the mech. A blast of white foam sprayed out. The mech hesitated, its targeting systems recalibrating. Shawn slid behind another pillar.
The mech's arm shifted again, this time deploying a pair of laser cannons. It fired, beams of searing energy slicing through the air. Shawn dodged and ducked, feeling the heat singe the edges of his jacket. "Watch the coat," he grumbled, scanning the corridor for anything useful.
His eyes landed on an emergency maintenance panel set into the wall. An effort some idea spread across his mind. He darted towards it, narrowly avoiding another volley of laser fire. He pried the panel open, revealing a tangle of wires and circuits. With deft hands, he began rerouting the system, bypassing security protocols and diverting power from auxiliary systems.
The mech's sensors cleared, and it locked onto Shawn's position. "TARGET ACQUIRED," it announced, raising its weapons.
"Just a sec," Shawn muttered, working quickly. He yanked a handful of wires free, causing sparks to fly. The hallway lights flickered, then dimmed as he redirected the power flow. The mech stepped forward, its footfalls shaking the ground.
"Almost got it," Shawn said to himself, reconnecting the final wires. The mech charged, weapons primed to fire. Shane slammed the panel shut, and the facility's sprinkler system roared to life, dousing the hallway in a torrent of water.
The mech's systems sputtered and sparked as water cascaded over it. Shawn smirked, watching as the machine struggled to adapt to the sudden change. He grabbed the fire extinguisher again, using it to bash a nearby fire alarm. The piercing wail of the alarm filled the corridor, and the emergency lockdown protocols activated.
Heavy steel shutters began to descend from the ceiling, sealing off sections of the hallway. Shawn timed his movements carefully, darting through the gaps before they closed completely. The mech, larger and less nimble, found itself trapped in the shrinking space. Its weapons fired wildly, bullets and lasers ricocheting off the steel barriers.
Shawn reached the end of the corridor, where a final shutter was descending. He rolled under it just as it slammed shut, leaving the mech isolated in the now-flooded section of the hallway. He stood up, brushing himself off and taking a moment to catch his breath.
The facility's PA system crackled to life. "EMERGENCY CONTAINMENT PROTOCOLS ENGAGED. PLEASE EVACUATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY."
Shawn checked the time, then groaned. "They have been fighting for quite a while now, I doubt they'd need my help though." He faced the exit, then paused. He took a moment to remember who he allied up with, and made his way to the direction of the basement.